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Mothers for Peace take on nuclear waste storage

Mothers for Peace take on nuclear waste storage Associated Press 22 Jan 09 By ERICA WERNER – 2 hours agoSAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) — At the western edge of a largely dormant anti-nuke movement, three generations of mothers are tilting at nuclear reactors. But their mission is less quixotic than it might appear.Wielding a novel argument about the potential impact of a terrorist attack on nuclear facilities, San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace is aiming to set legal precedent requiring tougher environmental reviews for nuclear power plants and radioactive waste storage nationwide.It’s the latest chapter in a long-running battle that pits the all-volunteer group of aging hippies, activists and teachers against the federal government, Pacific Gas and Electric Co., and PG&E’s Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, nestled on a gorgeous stretch of coastline nearby.”This whole town — it’s like this veil is over our town. Of denial, is what it is,” said Mothers for Peace member Linda Seeley………………………..f Mothers for Peace has its way, no new plant would get built, nor storage facility approved, without an in-depth review of the environmental impacts if terrorists attacked such facilities.

Adding that level of review is an unwelcome prospect for the industry, as it would add another, potentially steep barrier to getting projects under way………………….Meanwhile, challenges on similar grounds were filed elsewhere, setting up the potential for a conflicting opinion from another federal appeals court that would have to be resolved in the Supreme Court. The nuclear industry might hope to get a more favorable outcome in that setting than from the 9th Circuit, viewed as liberal-leaning — but Mothers for Peace might also be in reach of its goal of setting new precedent for the nuclear power industry.

The Associated Press: Mothers for Peace take on nuclear waste storage

January 22, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics