Checkpoint: Ethics 125 Wk 6legislation Legacy

CheckPoint: Legislation Legacy

A current issue facing the Native American people across the United States is the use and prior use of their lands for the dumping and storage of nuclear waste. The communities such as the Prairie Island Indian Community in Red Wing, Minnesota has “called on President Barack Obama to follow the law and deliver on the federal government’s decades-old mandate and promise to establish a permanent repository for the nation’s commercial nuclear waste.”(Staff Reports, 2009) This urging by the tribe follows the approval of FY 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill by Congress that has cut the spending for the nation waste repository in Yucca Mountain, Nevada. This site is a secure permanent storage site for nuclear waste. Due to the decrease in funding, many communities such as the one in Red Wing, which is a temporary and unsafe storage facility located 600 yards from the Indian community, will continue to be threatened by this toxic waste. Currently this temporary storage site consists of dry cask units, sitting on a cement pad in the floodplain of the Mississippi River; virtually in an indefensible position.

The people of Red Wing recognize that no one truly wants nuclear waste in their back yard. According to Staff Reports (2009), “Tribal Council Ron Johnson stated, “We did not ask for a nuclear neighbor, and we know the people of Nevada have not asked for one either. However, we believe that storing nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, a remote, militarily-secure facility the government has designed and designated for permanent storage, is a better solution.”” Until a solution for a safe permanent storage facility is found, many communities will find that they are faced with every increasing risk to toxic wastes. Government needs to do more to secure these wastes as they are continuing to pile-up on many Native American lands.

Sources

Staff Reports. (2009, October 23). Tribe needs nuclear waste solution. Indian Country...