Group Starts Petition To Keep N-Waste Out

The Snake River Alliance is seizing on the statewide outcry over nuclear waste storage to start a petition drive against shipping more waste into the state.

The group of environmental and peace activists announced Friday that it will distribute petitions urging Gov. Phil Batt and the state’s congressional delegation to block future shipments.

The Energy Department is considering storing certain types of spent nuclear fuel at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. If it settles on the preferred alternative leaked Jan. 24 to an Augusta, Ga., newspaper, the department would ship up to 1,800 loads of the waste to the INEL over the next couple of decades.

The Snake River Alliance petition reads: “ENOUGH NUCLEAR WASTE! Let’s stop the shipments. Let’s create a tidal wave of Idahoans, rising to stop DOE’s waste shipment plans.”

The group plans to run copies of petition forms in newspapers throughout the state.