Official backs radioactive dumping

[bananas]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5627661.html

March 17, 2008, 11:59PM
Official backs radioactive dumping
Residents near the West Texas site worry about risks to water

By JANET ELLIOTT

AUSTIN — The executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is recommending approval of a Dallas company's license to dispose of radioactive uranium waste in Andrews County.

The license application, which now goes before the three-member commission, is one of two sought by Waste Control Specialists, a politically connected company that wants to operate the nation's largest privately run radioactive waste dump.

The site, on the New Mexico border about 130 miles west of Midland, has been controversial because of the potential risk to groundwater. Four geologists and engineers last August recommended that the license for a low-level radioactive waste dump be denied.

<snip>

The company is owned by Harold Simmons, one of the state's top political donors. He has contributed nearly $500,000 since 2001 to Gov. Rick Perry, who appoints the environmental commissioners.

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[Eric J in MN]

1. This shows the importance to limiting camaign donations...

...to the enforcement of environmental regulations.

Especially if this gets approved and people get radioactive waste in their water.

[ColbertWatcher]

2. Welcome to the reason Waste Management exists!

Thank you for posting this!

Waste Management, the Halliburton of municipal contractors, has been growing slowly around America and has been a part of the GOP's privatization agenda for quite some time.

They will make it easier for companies like Waste Control Specialists (wonder if they're related?) to change franchise agreements from individual city control to state or federal. Think I'm kidding, check out what cable companies have been doing.

Oh, GOP, is there nothing you can screw up?