And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
From: "Inform" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
A 500 word version of this letter is supposed to be printed today in the =
Needles Desert Star.=20
To: Robin Richards, Editor of the Needles Desert Star
Date: Friday, April 09, 1999 1:30 PM
Subject: Status of Ward Valley/ Response to your front page articles of =
April 7, 1999.
On February 24, I was in Sacramento attempting to convince legislators =
to introduce PARD's proposed radiation health & safety bill which would =
outlaw dumping of nuclear waste by the shallow burial method (now AB =
1397). On that same day, the "Save Ward Valley Coalition" happened to be =
in Sacramento lobbying the Governor to withdraw the State law suit =
against Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt. The County Supervisors =
(who previously roadblocked our attempts to get county law against =
nuclear dumping) wanted this too. But PARD opposed withdrawing the =
lawsuit, wrote to the Governor and asked why should the lawsuit be =
withdrawn now when 1) the weight of the evidence was in favor of Babbitt =
and 2) a decision would be very helpful in stopping the dump, and 3) a =
determination would allow PARD's complaint to move forward (see below).=20
The state complaint/lawsuit was not withdrawn and Judge Emmet G. =
Sullivan's decision was a major victory for PARD. What would have =
happened if the lawsuit was withdrawn as the coalition had wanted? As =
usual, you do not mention PARD's hard work in getting new legislation =
(AB 1397) introduced or our efforts to force a judicial determination. =
Instead you cite out-of-town organizations.=20
However, by upholding Bruce Babbitt's 1993 decision not to transfer the =
land without the environmental analysis being completed, Judge Sullivan =
did NOT say that the land could never be transferred. As I understand =
it, 1) the State still intends to proceed with tritium testing, 2) has =
not asked for the application for land to be withdrawn, and 3) =
USEcology's license has not been revoked. Clearly, USEcology does not =
need to appeal Sullivan's decision for this project to move forward.=20
It is PARD's lawsuit against Interior, that has stopped the tritium =
testing and the dump project from moving forward. Our complaint alleges =
that it was illegal for Interior to have ever accepted application for a =
nuclear dump or related enabling activities (such as tritium testing), =
in that 1) no provision exists for disposing nuclear waste in the =
California Desert Conservation Area and a "Desert Plan Amendment" has =
never been completed, 2) Ward Valley was misrepresented as a "closed =
basin" giving the appearance that it was "suitable", and 3) the nature =
of the waste to be disposed was misrepresented and deceitfully =
classified.=20
The PARD case was pending and would not be heard by our Judge =
(McLaughlin) until a determination on the lawsuit being heard by Judge =
Sullivan had been made. Meanwhile, PARD was in Sacramento trying to get =
law passed to outlaw the current disposal method. When I spoke with Dan =
Hirsch from Bridge the Gap while in Sacramento, he did not know if he =
could support the bill I had in my hand. He and Ward Young (among other =
coalition members) were in Sacramento to get the Governor to withdraw =
the State lawsuit. Then your paper cites Dan Hirsch and Ward Young and =
gives credits to the County for the legislation. Supervisor Jon Mikels =
"colleague" Assemblyman John Longville introduced the bill (AB 1397) =
which is actually a chopped up version of PARD's original legislation, =
like "throwing PARD a bone". We have supported it hoping that it could =
be amended, however, on Wednesday, the very same day your article =
announced the bill, it was learned that Longville pulled it from =
committee.=20
Despite continued request, neither the "Save Ward Valley" coalition, the =
City nor the County has filed amicus on PARD's complaint which asks for =
relief for the local people in Needles. In other developments MWD/Cadiz, =
County and State legislators plot to swipe the Ward Valley water. Also, =
a couple of weeks ago our Judge, McLaughlin died from injuries sustained =
in a one vehicle car accident. Sound like Silkwood?=20
Regards,=20
Ruth Lopez=20
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Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
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