|
 |
         |
|
US TRANSPORT COALITION STATEMENT BY MAY 6, 2002 In recent weeks, the "just say no to Yucca Mountain" gang has subjected the American people and the Congress to a big myth via a steady stream of disinformation regarding the number of projected shipments to Yucca Mountain. They claim the number of shipments will total as many as 100,000 or more, requiring thousands of shipments annually through American neighborhoods. They allege "every truckload of nuclear waste going to Yucca Mountain on our highways is a potential dirty bomb." We said a few weeks ago that, fortunately, the tactics and disinformation of the anti-Yucca Mountain opponents would not stand up to scrutiny or the test of time. And these claims and this big myth are no exception. The fact is that there will be no armada of shipments to Yucca Mountain. In fact, the number of shipments to Yucca Mountain will be no more than a couple hundred annually. In fact, most of these shipments will be by rail, amounting to about one rail shipment a week. In fact, the security risk will be minimal given the required safeguards and security. In fact, the number of shipments will represent an infinitesimal portion of the more than 300 million annual shipments of hazardous materials transported in the U.S. In fact, with the opening of Yucca Mountain and the subsequent "greenfielding" of up to 20 shutdown commercial nuclear and government sites, there will be less potential terrorist targets, not more.
|