Since the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission decided that Florida Power & Light’s plan to store radioactive waste and contaminated water in an aquifer connected to South Florida’s drinking water supply was no big deal, South Florida environmentalists decided they had no choice but to respond with a Change.org petition.
From the article:
“Obviously, the concern to me is there are too many unknowns,” says Sam Van Leer, the Urban Paradise Guild’s president. “The idea that there is some level of ‘acceptable risk’ when it comes to our water supply is unfortunately being given credence. There is no ‘acceptable level of risk.’ Even if there is a 1 percent chance, or a quarter of a percent chance, that there could be a nuclear contamination of our groundwater, that is too much of a risk.”
As of this writing, 1,006 of the 1,500 supporters needed had signed. Please consider forwarding this to your friends and sign as well. Once the signing period is over the letter will be sent to 36 elected representatives in Florida, including Miami State Sens. Jose Javier Rodriguez, Anitere Flores, Daphne Campbell, Rene Garcia, and Frank Artiles.
The letter says,
“We, the people of South Florida demand protection of our drinking water from Nuclear Waste and contamination.
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission threw out a legal challenge to a plan by Florida Power & Light to begin storing radioactive waste below Biscayne Aquifer, which is South Florida’s primary drinking water source.
The area is known as the Boulder Zone – FPL claims it is “hermetically sealed” which would mean its contents would not leak into the Biscayne Aquifer.
A 2015 study by the US Geological Survey of seismic reflection stated there are faults along the aquifer that “…could provide high permeability passageways for groundwater movement.” Limestone is known for being porous, as demonstrated in numerous other studies.
If a leak occurs, it will be impossible to clean up. The risk is unacceptable.
If we do not act to stop this plan, radioactive carcinogens such as cesium, strontium 90, and tritium could leak into the drinking-water aquifers.
We urge the Legislative Delegations of Miami-Dade and Broward county in Tallahassee and Washington to stop this practice before it starts.
Water is Life. We cannot allow this reckless gamble with the future of our children.”
While governments used to inject industrial waste into the Boulder Zone, in October of 1970, studies showed that more care was needed to make sure the wells didn’t leak into the drinking-water sources. So, as of the 1990s, the majority of the dumping has been sugar wastewater, made of mostly organic material.
Obviously, environmentalists warn that any waste injected into the area is a bad idea. And we would agree.
Source: Miami New Times
