Nuclear Energy Information Service
Illinois' Nuclear Power Watchdog for 25 Years

Conference to Set Record Strait on Reactor Security and Yucca Mt.

REVISED PRESS ADVISORY -- 6/6/02

Nuclear Free Great Lakes Action Conference
and
Radioactive Roads & Rails Wagon Train of Conscience:
Setting the Record Straight on
Yucca Mountain & Reactor Security

When:

Conference - Sunday June 9, 2-9 p.m.; McCormick Lounge, Coffey Hall, Loyola University Lakeshore Campus, Chicago (Bldg. #33, www.luc.edu/info/maps/lsc/index.html )
Wagon Train - Monday, June 10, 7:30 -10 a.m., morning Rush Hours, on Chicago-area Interstates
WAGON TRAIN PRESS CONFERENCE, Monday, June 10th, 10:30 a.m.,
Public Forum: Yucca Mt. ?? Exploding the Myths, video presentation and Q&A, Monday, June 10, 7?9 p.m., McCormick Lounge, Coffey Hall

Where:

Conference - McCormick Lounge in Coffey Hall, Loyola University, Lake Shore Campus, Chicago
Wagon Train - Chicago area interstates
PRESS CONFERENCE, Parking Lot P2, Loyola University, W. Albion Street, Chicago (in case of rain, McCormick Auditorium, Coffey Hall, Sheridan Road near the bend by Lake by the Science Library; (www.luc.edu/info/maps/lsc/index.html)
Public Forum - McCormick Lounge, Coffey Hall, Loyola University

What:

PRESS CONFERENCE: Three, scale-sized simulations of high-level radioactive waste shipping casks will be available for photos, and Q&A. Team drivers are from all over the U.S., doing the tour as a public education and awareness project. Caravan of six casks will rendezvous in Washington D.C. on June 18th at the Capitol.
THE ISSUES: Two issues of major import for Illinois - the state most heavily reliant on nuclear power for electricity - are up for major decisions in the immediate future:

in a post-9/11 world, nuclear facility security and safety has to improve greatly; and
the U.S. Senate is about to register an historic vote on whether Yucca Mt. Nevada will become the Nation's first high-level radioactive waste (HLRW) dump.
The record is overflowing with accounts demonstrating the inferior condition of reactor security to withstand terrorist assault "from a determined intruder," with little obvious meaningful improvement occurring since the attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
The record on the suitability of the Yucca Mt. site is equally grim; yet the Congress is poised to select a demonstrably inferior and potentially dangerous site, a decision more of political expedience than technical merit. Should this happen, Illinois will need to brace itself for a torrent of HLRW shipments when the site opens in 10 years.
This Conference and Road Tour is designed to "set the record straight" on these serious issues. The pubic parts of the Conference will feature nationally renowned experts in reactor safety and security; and radioactive waste disposal and transportation issues. Participants will have the opportunity to have questions answered, and get involved to correct these glaring deficiencies in nuclear industry performance.
Members of the media will be given opportunities to meet directly with these experts and conference participants. They can arrange for live and taped interviews, solicit guests for shows, and will be given numerous photo opportunities. Members of the media are invited to travel with the Wagon Train during the Chicago leg of its trip, the mornings of June 10th and 11th (as they leave town for other destinations). A copy of the full Wagon Train itinerary is available through NEIS.

Who:

Paul Gunter, Reactor Safety Campaign, Nuclear Information & Resource Service
Jim Riccio, reactor security specialist, Attorney, Greenpeace USA
Judy Treichel, Nevada Nuclear Waste Task Force
Steve Frischman, geologist, State of Nevada
Brennain Lloyd, Northwatch Canada
Bob Halstead, transportation and cask specialist, consultant for State of Nevada
Jim Hall, (invited) former director National Transportation Safety Review Board
Lisa Gue, Yucca Mt. Project director, Public Citizen
Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Project and Wagon Train of Conscience coordinator, Nuclear Information & Resource Service

CONTACT:

Dave Kraft, Director
Nuclear Energy Information Service
(847)869-7650; -7658 fax
neis@neis.org
http://www.neis.org
Ashley Collins
Citizen Action of Illinois
(312)427-2114, x6; -2307 fax
ashley@citizenaction-il.org

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