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Dozens of CA events this weekend honor Latino Conservation Week; Kamala Harris joins Oprah Winfrey in emotional campaign event; Report finds poor working conditions in Texas clean energy industry; AI puts on a lab coat, heads to technical schools.

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Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Maryland Would See More Nuke Shipments Under Bill in House

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Friday, July 28, 2017   

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Environmental groups have a warning for the nation's leaders: Haste will make more waste.

A House vote could come soon on legislation known as the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2017.

The bill would mean building more temporary storage facilities around the nation to hold high-level radioactive waste from nuclear reactor sites, both current and closed.

David Kraft, director of the Nuclear Energy Information Service, says it would double the amount of this waste coming through almost every state by road, rail and barge.

Maryland would see shipments via truck and rail.

"The bill, if it passes, is calling on the re-institution of the Yucca Mountain facility in Nevada, which has been shown to be flawed,” he states. “And in addition it's calling for the construction of new waste sites around the country, which are both expensive and unnecessary."

HR 3053 is sponsored by Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), who says it would modernize the energy infrastructure and environmental laws and enhance the nation's energy security.

Anthony O'Donnell, a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners representing Maryland, has urged completion of the license review for Yucca Mountain, citing the investment taxpayers already have made in the project.

Kraft points out the Shimkus bill serves the interests of a nuclear power industry that is in decline. Instead, he maintains the nation needs an environmentally responsible plan for a permanent disposal facility.

"We at NEIS and many other environmental groups definitely want action taken on what to do with the nation's nuclear waste problem,” he states. “We think this particular bill is really going 180 degrees in the wrong direction."

Dozens of environmental groups oppose the legislation and call the plan "mobile Chernobyl." They warn it would send spent fuel rods from nuclear reactors through 100 major cities in 44 states and 370 congressional districts.







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