WCS Disposal Vote Passes
By: Jackie Smith
Updated: January 4, 2011
ANDREWS -- In a 5-2 vote the Texas Low Level Radioactive Waste Commission passed important amendments to rules that will now allow 36 other states to possibly join Texas and Vermont. In throwing out their radioactive waste into the new Waste Control Specialist facility in Andrews County.
The meeting took place at the James Roberts Center and got heated today as commissioners went back and forth on ways to amend export and import rules of this compact, that will now potentially allow 36 other states to dispose of waste at this new facility.
The community of Andrews came out in big numbers on both sides of the spectrum. and even though this ruling passed, the disposal site was going to go up anyway.
Born and raised in Andrews. Julia Wallace was not shy about pointing out the minority of people who disagree with the radioactive waste disposal site.
"It's already there, were not asking to create it, were asking to dispose of it safely," said Julia Wallace, supporter of WCS.
And although the supporters ruled. The few in the Andrews community who disagree, stood proudly.
"All I have been asking for since '95 was for them to be upfront and honest, to do what they told me they were going to do, and not to lie." said Peggy Pryor, opposer of WCS.
This woman has been fighting since 1995, when the first disposal site went up. Even though commissioners aren't going to stop this radioactive waste disposal from going up, she wants more testing to be done before bringing the nations waste to her backyard.
"Andrews does have a high cancer rate among children. We need a base line study," said Pryor.
Another reason Pryor's upset, is because she feels cheated. Saying that the dozens of e-mails she sent to the commission were returned or set aside.
"They have had 5,000 comments, for him to say he read them, he more or less gave me the impression that he read through them and threw them aside. I feel like were not being part of the process," said Pryor.
And although Wallace and Pryor stand divided. The disposal site is being built and more waste is on its way.
"Those who have a vested interest in Andrews, and in the future of Andrews, by and large support WCS, we are really ready for our citizens to have a say in our future," said Wallace.
WCS told me that, if 36 other states do join this compact, it could bring in $10 million dollars a year to the Andrews community. Still, those who oppose this site say there health is more important and more testing needs to be done.
Jackie Smith can be reached by e-mail at jsmith@kmid.tv.
The meeting took place at the James Roberts Center and got heated today as commissioners went back and forth on ways to amend export and import rules of this compact, that will now potentially allow 36 other states to dispose of waste at this new facility.
The community of Andrews came out in big numbers on both sides of the spectrum. and even though this ruling passed, the disposal site was going to go up anyway.
Born and raised in Andrews. Julia Wallace was not shy about pointing out the minority of people who disagree with the radioactive waste disposal site.
"It's already there, were not asking to create it, were asking to dispose of it safely," said Julia Wallace, supporter of WCS.
And although the supporters ruled. The few in the Andrews community who disagree, stood proudly.
"All I have been asking for since '95 was for them to be upfront and honest, to do what they told me they were going to do, and not to lie." said Peggy Pryor, opposer of WCS.
This woman has been fighting since 1995, when the first disposal site went up. Even though commissioners aren't going to stop this radioactive waste disposal from going up, she wants more testing to be done before bringing the nations waste to her backyard.
"Andrews does have a high cancer rate among children. We need a base line study," said Pryor.
Another reason Pryor's upset, is because she feels cheated. Saying that the dozens of e-mails she sent to the commission were returned or set aside.
"They have had 5,000 comments, for him to say he read them, he more or less gave me the impression that he read through them and threw them aside. I feel like were not being part of the process," said Pryor.
And although Wallace and Pryor stand divided. The disposal site is being built and more waste is on its way.
"Those who have a vested interest in Andrews, and in the future of Andrews, by and large support WCS, we are really ready for our citizens to have a say in our future," said Wallace.
WCS told me that, if 36 other states do join this compact, it could bring in $10 million dollars a year to the Andrews community. Still, those who oppose this site say there health is more important and more testing needs to be done.
Jackie Smith can be reached by e-mail at jsmith@kmid.tv.
