Radioactive Waste Forum at the Texas Capitol - Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Texas

News provided by

Feb 04, 2011, 01:59 ET

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the League of Women Voters of Texas:

WHO: The League of Women Voters of Texas

WHAT: Educational Forum for Texas Legislators and the public: How Can Radioactive Waste Be

Stored Safely, Protect Texans, the State Budget and the Environment?

Experts will discuss the importation and disposal of low-level radioactive waste in Texas. The Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission, with six Texas appointees and two Vermont appointees, voted January 4th to allow radioactive waste importation from 36 or more states, instead of just Texas and Vermont. Topics include increased liability risks, budget impacts, short and long-term oversight and maintenance of the site, contamination risks, and safety and security issues.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 8th, from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: Texas State Capitol, in Room E1.010 (1100 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas)

WHY: Texas Legislators had no say in the Compact Commission vote to allow the importation of radioactive waste from 36 or more states, although the state has financial liability for the waste and could be impacted by accidents or contamination. The waste must be protected in perpetuity.

Speakers include:

Rodney Baltzer, President of Waste Control Specialists LLC, the waste storage site operator
Bob Gregory, Texas Compact Commissioner and Texas Disposal Systems owner and CEO
Dr. Arjun Makhijani, nuclear expert and president of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
Michael Herrmann, President, Legacy Risk Solutions, environmental insurance and risk management consultant
Glenn Lewis, former member of Texas Commission on Environmental Quality panel that reviewed the WCS license application for the radioactive waste facility
Anita Privett, League of Women Voters of Texas, Advocacy Vice President
Tom "Smitty" Smith, Director of Public Citizen's Texas Office