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Court to hear Hawaiian challenge against depleted uranium storage

Hearing next week on challenge to Army license for depleted uranium I Lind.net, Ian Lind,  January 6th, 2010

The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, an agency of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, will hold a hearing next week on challenges filed by four Hawaii residents to an Army license to possess depleted uranium at Schofield Barracks on Oahu and the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island.

Those challenging the Army’s depleted uranium license are Big Island residents Jim Albertini, Cory Harden, and Isaac Harp, along with Luwella Leonardi of Waianae.

The Army wants to leave depleted uranium deposited during past training exercises in place both in these two Hawaii sites as well as training areas across the country.

Critics say depleted uranium can cause public health problems, especially when it has burned and created fine radioactive dust particles.

Depleted uranium is very heavy and has been used in various U.S. weapons, including some bullets and bombs, and some heavy armor…………………..

The hearing before three administrative judges on Wednesday, January 13 will be in the board’s hearing room in Rockville, Maryland. Army representatives will appear before the board in person, while the challengers will participate by videoconference from the University of Hawaii’s Hilo campus.

The hearing will be also be streamed live via the Internet and available for later viewing on the NRC’s web site, although I don’t yet have the URLs.

The Army contends that none of the four challengers has the necessary standing to challenge its handling of depleted uranium because they do not live near the sites and have not proven any actual harm or damage they would personally suffer if the license is granted. In addition, the Army says the arguments raised against the licensing are not specific enough or sufficiently documented to prove that there is a “material issue of law or fact”…….http://ilind.net/2010/01/06/hearing-next-week-on-challenge-to-army-license-for-depleted-uranium/

January 8, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, wastes | antinuclear, depleted, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, uranium