Yucca Mt. FOR DUMMIES Situated on Western Shoshone lands in Southern Nevada, Yucca Mountain has been the only location under study since 1987 for deep burial of the nation’s entire burden of highlevel nuclear waste. Research has continually proven that the site cannot meet required standards for waste isolation. Instead of finding a better site, the rules have been repeatedly changed.

Western Shoshone people and supporters continue to gather for renewal ceremonies each spring on the mountain that they call ‘Serpent Swimming West’.

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Should Yucca Mt. be the place for nuclear waste?

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In 2004, project was cited by UN as a racist human rights violation of Western Shoshone treaty lands. Water rights belong to Nevada, who oppose the Yucca Dump. There are 33 geologic faults in the area, 2 through the repository. It is a Class 4 earthquake zone. Nearby cinder cones show potential for volcanic activity. Hot groundwater infiltration is possible from below. Rainwater infiltration will come through fractures from above. Increased seismic stretching here causes movement of Earth’s crust. The groundwater will eventually become undrinkable. Nearby tourism communities will suffer economic impacts immediately from intense waste transportation, and health impacts in the long term.

Nevada is the 3rd most earthquake prone state. A 5.2 quake 8 miles south of Yucca Mt. in 1992 caused over $1 million in damage to DOE’s own buildings.

FACT: The best storage for high-level waste is deep geologic disposal.

Myth Yucca Mountain will provide deep geologic disposal of irradiated nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste.

Truth 90% of all protective barriers at Yucca Mt. will be manmade. This could be built in many places in the U.S.

Myth Waste will be isolated 1,000 feet below the surface and 1,000 feet above the water table as long as the radiation remains dangerous.

Truth DOE’s own estimates expect canisters to corrode and the waste to leak out long before then. The canisters are also made of highly toxic metal alloys, and their decay alone will create a Superfund site.

Myth The dry desert environment means no danger from water.

Truth Desert flash floods can cause terrible damage in just minutes to roads, trucks and surface facilities, carrying toxins downstream at 4 mi/hr.

“Third Annual Hundred Year Flood”, July 22, 1984 The DOE SEIS notes that groundwater is connected as far south as the dry lake by Eagle Mountain, but fails to state where water goes from there. This Amargosa River flood is draining that lake on the west side of Yucca Mt. It completely removed 300 feet of Highway 127, closing the road for 3 months. Note the car in picture for reference.

On August 14, 2004, 1/3 of an inch of rain in Death Valley wiped out miles of road in just 45 minutes, killing 2 people and rolling cars like beer cans. The main road into the park was closed for over a year and a half.

Accidents are Inevitable

Myth “Yucca Mt. groundwater does not flow into any lakes, rivers, or oceans.”

Truth DOE’s own maps have long acknowledged the Amargosa River. It is the third largest in the Western US. Congress is currently considering it for Wild and Scenic River status and protection.

Truth Desert lakes and rivers can be visible, go below ground or just disappear until the next rain. In 2004, people kayaked on Lake Manly, usually the Badwater salt flat.

Truth In 2004, the Amargosa River ran above ground for many months, from its headwaters north of Beatty all the way to the Badwater basin. Tributaries run on both sides of Yucca Mt.

It is true that the Amargosa River watershed is a closed drainage system, as far as we know. It also covers thousands of square miles and is home to many rare and endangered species, human communities, the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, and the Death Valley National Park. They are not disposable as the nation’s nuclear trash can.

Myth

Truth

Yucca Mt. isolates nuclear waste from concentrations of human population and activity.

Pahrump and Las Vegas are the fastest growing communities in the U.S. Nuclear waste transportation will take the most deadly toxic substance on Earth within ½ mile of 50 million Americans.

How you can help: Send your written comments on the Yucca Mt. Project by 1/10/08 to: EIS Office, US Dept. of Energy Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Mgmt 1551 Hillshire Drive, Las Vegas NV 89134 Take a copy of our Talking Points with you, or find them at www.h-o-m-e.org.