EnergySolutions seeks yet another exemption for depleted uranium
An emergency meeting opens a public comment period regarding the company’s exemption request to store depleted uranium munitions
By Grace Olscamp
On Aug. 30, Utah’s Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control Board held an emergency meeting to take action on EnergySolutions’ latest request to be exempted from the current rule that places limits on the amount of depleted uranium that can be brought to Utah.
“No matter which form it’s in, depleted uranium becomes increasingly radioactive over time.” —Ashley Soltysiak, director of the Utah Sierra Club
The board opened the exemption request up to public comment, which will be open for 30 days beginning Sept. 6. HEAL Utah and the Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club are concerned by the precedent that this exemption sets.
The comment period will allow input on EnergySolutions’ request to seek an exemption on mass and concentration limits for depleted uranium, or “DU,” solid metal penetrators, which are the core of military-grade bullets. Currently, the law places a concentration limit of one metric ton and 5 percent or greater on all DU shipments. Any amount greater than one metric ton requires a performance assessment be conducted to determine the public and environmental health and safety risks.
“This is the third time in a year that EnergySolutions has asked for an exemption from the laws which regulate their operations and that were put in place to safeguard public health and safety,” said HEAL Utah’s executive director, Dr. Scott Williams. “If this exemption is granted, it will establish a dangerous precedent that skirting the law is business as usual for EnergySolutions.”
The exemption would allow EnergySolutions to dispose of an undefined amount of DU penetrators in Utah and to bypass a performance assessment that evaluates the public health and environmental risks associated with DU materials. EnergySolutions claims that its sudden request was spurred by an inquiry from and time frame set by the Department of Defense.
“No matter which form it’s in, DU becomes increasingly radioactive over time,” said Ashley Soltysiak, director of the Utah Sierra Club said. “This waste persists for millennia and eventually will violate our state standards for nuclear waste storage. Ultimately, EnergySolutions is trying to rush this process through, putting profits over human health.”
Utah’s Department of Environmental Quality has already been engaged in the review of EnergySolutions’ performance assessment on DU for the past seven years.
“DEQ’s final evaluation of DU is expected in the coming months,” said Williams. “Even with a request by the Department of Defense, it does not justify the regulatory process, which has been placed into rule by the board itself, be bypassed. This issue has a long history in Utah, and our citizens deserve a full assessment of the risks associated with storing DU here.”
Comments on the exemption request can be made to the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control beginning Sept. 6. The comment period will be open for 30 days. EnergySolutions and HEAL Utah will both present at the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control Board meeting Sept. 13 in Salt Lake City.
HEAL Utah has been an environmental advocate, watchdog, and strategic influencer in Utah for nearly 20 years. By empowering grassroots advocates, using science-based solutions, and pursuing common-sense policy, HEAL has a track record of tackling some of the biggest threats to Utah’s environment and public health — and succeeding. HEAL focuses on improving air quality, promoting renewable energy, combating climate change, and protecting Utah from radioactive waste.
The Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club works to protect Utah’s wild places, wildlife, and waters as well as the people and communities who depend on them. The chapter’s activism and advocacy are based on strong grassroots networks, citizen-based leadership, and the guidance and skillsets of professional staff support. With over 35,000 members and supporters across the state of Utah, it works to protect public lands, promote renewable energy, and support initiatives that promote clean air strategies. It maintains a presence at the Utah Legislature to advocate on the full spectrum of environmental issues to amplify the voices of our members.
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