Speak out Against Negligent Environmental Rulemaking

In 2012 federal courts forced the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to suspend all licensing of U.S nuclear facilities for at least two years to create a court-approved Environmental Impact Statement on the permanent storage of radioactive nuclear waste. The NRC will hold hearings and accept comments by email on the Waste Confidence Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement and Proposed Rule. PSR feels that the Draft EIS is completely inadequate and we encourage our members to comment at these events. 

PSR Arizona Holds Climate Conference

Climate Smart Southwest was a roaring success with 44 co-sponsors, 300 registrants and another 300 attendees the prior evening to hear Dr. Eric Klinenberg speak about Heat Waves. Plenary sessions by eminent climate scientists focused on what to expect from climate change in the Southwest, workshops by national organizations and federal, state and local elected officials showed how to take political action effectively, and afternoon workshops got everyone engaged in one of 6 areas of climate change vulnerability. People in Tucson and the desert Southwest are galvanized!

PSR Organizes Senate Briefing on Dangerous Chemicals

PSR organized and chaired a briefing for the U.S. Senate last week, highlighting the urgent need for effective regulation of dangerous chemicals in consumer products and the environment. The briefing, which featured presentations by a research scientist and two leading academicians, examined the proposed "Chemical Safety Improvement Act." The CSIA is somewhat stronger than the ineffective law that now exists, but has notable weaknesses, including a failure to protect children and pregnant women, a lack of timetables and deadlines for implementation, and an override provision that would reverse effective policies implemented at the state level.

PSR Comments on EPA's Radiation Cleanup Guidelines

The EPA has implemented revised radiation Protective Action Guides (PAGs) before seeking public comment. Originally devised for a terrorist attack, these guidelines now apply to any radiological event such as a Fukushima type accident or a dirty bomb. By markedly loosening radiation water standards and not providing total radiation exposure limits, PSR is concerned that this change of standards paves the way for the nuclear industry to avoid responsibility for damage after accidents and leaks and puts the public health at risk.

We are concerned that this is an attempt to make further radiation poisoning of our environment acceptable. The relaxed standards should be withdrawn.