Nuclear Waste Storage bill
Tuesday afternoon, the Vermont House, suspending its own rules and without public notice, passed a watered down version of the bill negotiated with Entergy Nuclear and the Dept. of Public Service.
The Senate is not in quite such a hurry. Although the Senate may still vote on the bill this week, it is uncertain at this point. Some senators want to examine the whole issue in more detail, with a final bill next year.
There is still time to contact Senators to let them know the bill that passed the House is unacceptable. Environmental safeguards, like
real-time radiation monitoring by the Dept. of Health and
protective earthen berms, were removed and the bill passed with only minor environmental elements attached.
The funding for the Renewable Energy
Fund is now in this back door deal, dependent on the power increase uprate being approved, and ends
in 2012.
In the original bill, there was an annual fee for waste
storage, and an additional fee linked to increased power production.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Tell the Senators to oppose the bill passed by the House. Before the Senate gives ENVY the OK to store nuclear waste far into the future, senators need to thoroughly examine the options.
CONTACT WINDHAM CO. SEN. JEANETTE WHITE. She needs to hear from you. 387-4379 jwhite@leg.state.vt.us
CONTACT THE SENATE PRESIDENT, PETER WELCH. (802) 828-3806
rramos@leg.state.vt.us
CONTACT ANY OTHER SENATORS YOU KNOW. To find contact info for Senators
and Representatives, click
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/findmember.cfm
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/alpha.cfm?Body=S
ASK YOUR FRIENDS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE TO CALL THEIR SENATORS.
Senators need to know this doesn't just affect Windham Co.
GO TO MONTPELIER THURSDAY NIGHT. The Vermont State Nuclear Advisory Panel will hold a belated meeting on nuclear waste Thursday night, June
2, 7 pm in the State House.