Nuclear Waste Could Pass Through Upstate South Carolina

Paraphrased by Steve Waldrop
July 3, 2002

Approval of the Yucca Mountain, Nevada nuclear waste project by the Unites States Senate could mean that radioactive materials will soon travel through several upstate South Carolina counties.

The United States Department of Energy has proposed routes that will take the high-level nuclear waste through Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties on its journey to Yucca Mountain. Vehicles hauling the radioactive materials could pass within a mile of public schools, colleges and hospitals.

The final routes for shipping the radioactive materials have not been decided, but South Carolina's networks or rail lines and interstate highways put the area high on the list of ways to haul the waste.

The project, which calls for the transfer of accumulated nuclear waste from power plants in 39 states, including South Carolina has already been approved by the House of Representatives. Nearly half of the Senate is leaning toward approval. Both senators from South Carolina support the Yucca Mountain move. A vote could come this month.

Some officials from the upstate are worried that the necessary resources and equipment are not in place to handle emergencies that are caused by accidents involving the shipments.

Proponents of the Yucca Mountain plan point out 3,000 shipments of nuclear waste have been made in the United States since 1964, with only seven accidents.

U.S. Rep. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., supports the program out of concerns for safety. "In South Carolina, we have a lot (of nuclear waste) above ground," he said. "That's any easy target for terrorists."

DeMint said moving the spent fuels from the state is less dangerous that leaving it in place.

Efforts to make Yucca Mountain the nation's repository for nuclear waste began 20 years ago. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 required officials to find an underground site for the spent fuels and radioactive wastes that are generated by power plants, the military and manufacturing.

At least six locations in the West and Midwest were considered as repository sites. Site selection, scientific studies and public hearings have been ongoing since the passage of the act.

Even if the Nevada site is approved, shipments of the wastes would not begin until 2010. Nationwide, there are 77, 000 metric tons of the radioactive materials from 131 locations that must be moved to a repository. Nearly 6,000 metric tons of spent nuclear waste are being stored in South Carolina.