Kempthorne: N-waste plan wrong

Associated Press

IDAHO FALLS – Proposed legislation allowing the Energy Department to avoid removing radioactive sludge from a South Carolina nuclear site may threaten a court settlement between the agency and Idaho, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne said.

A Senate committee approved the change, sought by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., last week. If passed, the legislation would allow the Energy Department to avoid removing thousands of gallons of highly radioactive sludge from South Carolina. Graham said the change was needed to implement an agreement reached between the Energy Department and the state.

Energy Department officials expressed hope that the change would also help them reach agreement with Washington and Idaho officials on the treatment of liquid radioactive waste kept at DOE facilities in those states.

Kempthorne said he opposes the agency’s attempt to get around the current law, which requires it to treat and dispose of all high-level nuclear waste.

“This legislation would be a huge step backward, reinforcing public fears about our nation walking away from nuclear cleanup obligations,” Kempthorne said. “I am also concerned this legislation will negatively impact DOE’s compliance with its 1995 court settlement with Idaho.”

Like South Carolina, Idaho and Washington have stored liquid high-level waste left over from reprocessing spent fuel rods.