consent-based | Heal Fukushima

‘ From Beyond Nuclear

June 11, 2023

The US Department of Energy on June 9 announced it will direct $26 million to “groups of university, nonprofit, and private-sector partners” who will help communities decide that they want to be the recipients of the country’s irradiated reactor fuel.

Having abjectly failed to find any safe, long-term radioactive waste management “solution” — possibly because there is none — while also failing to halt the production of nuclear waste, the DOE has now moved to what it calls “consent-based siting”.

The DOE’s interpretation of this term is that the recipients of the $26 million will “work with communities interested in DOE’s community-centered approach to storing and disposing of spent nuclear fuel.” In addition they would “ensure transparency and local support.”

But if past examples are any indicator, the “consenting” communities are likely to be those most deprived of resources, especially Indigenous communities and communities of color, who may feel pressured to accept the DOE largesse along with the fatal outcomes of living alongside high-level radioactive waste.

While U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm, insists that “it is vital” that “DOE works to be good stewards of the nation’s spent nuclear fuel,” the end result is more likely to be dumping radioactive waste on communities whose “consent” and willingness is driven by economic hardship.

energy(dot)gov/articles/doe-awards-26-million-support-consent-based-siting-spent-nuclear-fuel

https://beyondnuclear.org/consent-based-or-bribery/

DOE wants to dump their nuclear waste in your state. They are looking for “stakeholders” who will “consent.”

These are the remaining meetings, starting with Tuesday, April 26, in Sacramento, California.

Sacramento, California on April 26, 2016 at the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza – Sacramento

Denver, Colorado on May 24, 2016 at the Embassy Suites Denver – Stapleton.
Boston, Massachusetts on June 2, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Boston.
Tempe, AZ n June 23, 2016 at the Marriott Phoenix Tempe at the Buttes.
Boise, ID on July 14, 2016 at Boise Centre.
Minneapolis, MN on July 21, 2016 at the Hilton Minneapolis.

DOE is controlling the commenting, only allowing a 45-minute Q&A following the panel, and a 30 minute public comment period after a break. Even the California Public Utilities Commission allows a longer comment period during its local public hearings for matters of relatively minor import. This is a matter of great public and national importance. DOE plans to break up the audience and spend 1 hour, 45 minutes in small groups. This is a divide and conquer approach, where opposition can be fragmented. Demand that all industry leaders make comments in open meeting, and that all comments and questions from the audience be made in the open meeting to be heard by everyone. No small groups.

The meetings are listed here, together with links to register and to view the meetings online. They are requesting registration, but it is unknown whether this is a requirement.

Please copy and paste these links into your browser rather than going directly from the links.

http://www.energy.gov/ne/consent-based-siting

California April 26 meeting information: http://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2016/04/f30/Pages%20from%20CBS%20Public%20Meeting-Sacramento-%20Updated%20Agenda.pdf — agenda

http://www.energy.gov/ne/downloads/meeting-materials-consent-based-siting-public-meeting-sacramento-april-26-2016

MEETING MATERIALS: CONSENT-BASED SITING PUBLIC MEETING IN SACRAMENTO (APRIL 26, 2016)

The Department will host a public meeting on consent-based siting on April 26th in Sacramento at the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza. The purpose of the consent-based siting public meeting is to hear from the public and interested stakeholders on what matters to you as the Department of Energy moves forward in developing a consent-based process for siting the facilities needed to manage spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The agenda includes a presentation from the Department of Energy’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, John Kotek. Mr. Kotek will discuss the nuclear energy activities that have brought us to this point, as well as describe the Department’s vision for an integrated waste management system and the need for a consent-based approach to siting. This presentation will be followed by a panel session with several experts providing diverse perspectives on the primary issues that need to be resolved in the design and implementation of a consent-based process. Participants will then have the opportunity to comment or ask questions to the Department and the panelists.

Following this session, there will be facilitated small group discussions on a variety of topics related to consent-based siting and integrated waste management. These small group discussions will provide the opportunity for participants to engage more closely on topics of interest to them. The Department intends for these small group discussions to be frank and open sessions on key topics that will inform the design of a consent-based process. The consent-based process will in turn serve as a framework for working with potential host communities in the future.

The agenda also includes a public comment period and two open houses with poster sessions before and after the formal meeting. The open house sessions provide participants with an opportunity to engage in less formal discussions with the Department and other meeting attendees.

The consent-based siting public meeting will also be webcast. We look forward to your participation!