November 18, 1998

Mr. Bill Richardson
Secretary of Energy
U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20585

Dear Secretary Richardson:

The undersigned organizations, on behalf of our combined memberships, request that you immediately disqualify the Yucca Mountain, Nevada site and declare it unsuitable for further consideration as a high-level nuclear waste repository. Recent scientific studies have brought forward convincing information that triggers disqualification as defined in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA), as amended. The NWPA provides for the disqualification of the site from further consideration pursuant to the General Guidelines for the Recommendation of Sites for the Nuclear Waste Repository (10 CFR Part 960).

The NWPA (Section 113 (c) (3)) states that if the Secretary at any time determines that the Yucca Mountain site is unsuitable for development as a repository, the Secretary shall terminate all site characterization activities (emphasis added). The basis for suitability is defined in the Site Suitability Guidelines. The Guidelines (Section 960.3-1-5) state that a site is disqualified at any time during the siting process if the evidence shows that any disqualifying condition exists. These disqualifying conditions are described in detail in the Guidelines.

The Department of Energy has within its possession, evidence and data that support the immediate disqualification of Yucca Mountain. In fact, the enclosed petition concretely establishes two disqualifying conditions and three other unresolved concerns. However, the NWPA dictates that even if only one disqualifying condition exists, the site must be disqualified. It is time that DOE comply with the NWPA. The evidence and data are:

• Using chlorine-36 as a tracer, residues from rainwater less than 50 years old have been detected at the level of the proposed repository. This significant discovery contradicts earlier models of rainwater flow (travel time to the water table). This coupled with the groundwater flow model indicates that the site likely meets the conditions for disqualification under the Hydrology Guideline, 960.4-2-1 (See Appendix III, Application of the Guidelines). This guideline states that a groundwater travel time to the accessible environment of less than 1000 years shall be grounds for disqualification.

• The proposed Yucca Mountain repository will likely result in significant amounts of radionuclides degrading the quality of off-site supplies of groundwater that are presently suitable for and used for human consumption and crop irrigation. This significant discovery contradicts earlier rainwater infiltration models and the site likely meets the conditions for disqualification under the Hydrology Guideline, 960.5-2-6. This concern violates Guideline: 960.5-2-6 Preclosure Disqualifying Condition for Socioeconomic Impacts.

• Additional concerns including seismic activity, volcanic activity and human intrusion negate any suggestion that Yucca Mountain will ever prove to be an appropriate site for nuclear waste disposal.

For these reasons listed above, we are confident that our request to disqualify Yucca Mountain is appropriate and necessary. Therefore, we demand, consistent with the NWPA, that the DOE cease all site characterization activities and restore the site. Furthermore, it would be irresponsible for you to expend any more of the Nuclear Waste Fund (NWF) that comes from a limited source, the electricity ratepayers who pay for nuclear power. DOE should hold the NWF fees in escrow until an environmentally acceptable waste isolation approach is initiated.

In a related matter, we further demand that the Department halt all revisions of regulations for the high-level nuclear waste program that are designed to ensure the recommendation for and licensing of a repository at the Yucca Mountain site, regardless of its deficiencies. These revisions are designed to water down the standard by which DOE judges Yucca Mountain. The scientific approach and indeed, existing law, dictates that DOE disqualify the site, not remove the regulations. The worst examples are the proposed revisions to the Guidelines and objections to any EPA groundwater standard. The NWPA envisioned a set of rules designed to protect humans by ensuring scientific credibility. The DOE, in its efforts to ensure the unsatisfactory Yucca Mountain, has laid aside this critical goal. The false crisis of storage space, so often invoked by the nuclear industry, does not require that DOE put aside science in favor of politics. A dogged belief by career DOE officials, the nuclear industry, and their Congressional allies, that Yucca Mountain must be found suitable has effectively destroyed the credibility of the investigation. Nuclear waste isolation is the goal of the nuclear waste repository program. No compromise is acceptable.

We would be pleased to work with you in an effort to responsibly minimize the environmental consequences of high-level nuclear waste. It is clear that phasing out production of nuclear waste would improve the likelihood of the goal, nuclear waste isolation. Therefore, this should be our path to progress, both technically and politically, on this difficult issue.

We await your action.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mary Olson, Nuclear Information and Resource Service

Auke Piersma, Public Citizen

cc: Council on Environmental Quality, Linda Lance
Environmental Protection Agency, Carol Browner
Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Lake Barrett
Office of Management and Budget, Elgie Holstein
United States House of Representatives
United States Senate

Acting Also on Behalf of the Below Signatory 219 Environmental and Consumer Organizations

National Organizations

Susan Gordon, Alliance for Nuclear Accountability, Seattle, Washington

Daryl Fagin, Americans for Democratic Action, Washington, DC

Francis Macy, Center for Safe Energy, Earth Island Institute, Berkeley, California

Gawain Kripke, Friends of the Earth, Washington, DC

Kalee Kreider, Greenpeace Energy Campaign, USA, Washington, DC

Winona LaDuke, Honor the Earth, St. Paul, Minnesota

Brent Wilkes, League of United Latin American Citizens, Washington, DC

Michael Mariotte, Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Washington, DC

Judy Treichel and Rick Neilson, Nuclear Waste Citizens Coalition, Las Vegas, Nevada

John Passacantando, Ozone Action, Washington, DC

Gordon S. Clark, Peace Action, Washington, DC

Lisa Ledwidge, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Washington, DC

Ellen Thomas, Proposition One Committee, Washington, DC

Anne Anderson, Psychologists for Social Responsibility, Washington, DC

Joan Claybrook, Public Citizen, Washington, DC

Scott Denman, Safe Energy Communications Council, Washington, DC

Corbin Harney, Shundahai Network, Las Vegas, Nevada

Dan Becker, Sierra Club, Washington, DC

Ken Bossong, SUN DAY Campaign, Takoma Park, Maryland

Tom Goldtooth, The Indigenous Environmental Network, Bemidji, Minnesota

Anna Aurilio, US PIRG, Washington, DC

Representative Nan Grogan Orrock, Women Legislators Lobby, Washington, DC

Kimberly Robson, Women's Action for New Directions (WAND), Washington, DC

State and Local Organizations

Anthony Guarisco, Alliance of Atomic Veterans, Topock, Arizona

Betty Schroeder, Arizona Safe Energy Coalition, Tucson, Arizona

Steve Brittle, DON'T WASTE ARIZONA, INC., Phoenix, Arizona

Andy Bessler, Flagstaff Activist Network, Flagstaff, Arizona

Roxane George, Flagstaff Opposed to Nuclear Transportation (FONT), Flagstaff, Arizona

Pat Birnie, GE Stckholders Alliance, Tucson, Arizona

Ann Carl, Sky Island Watch, Tucson, Arizona

Richard Boren, Southwest Toxic Watch, Tucson, Arizona

Rachel Spigler, Student Environmental Action Coalition, SW, Tucson, Arizona

Jack & Felice Cohen-Joppa, the Nuclear Resister "a chronicle of hope", Tucson, Arizona

April Ambrose, Student Activists that Value the Earth (SAVE), Conroy, Arkansas

The Arkansas Public Policy Panel, Little Rock, Arkansas

Marion Pack, Alliance for Survival, Costa Mesa, California

Derek Chernow, Americans for a Safe Future, Santa Monica, California

Philip M. Klasky, Bay Area Nuclear Waste Coalition, San Francisco, California

Jane Williams, California Communities Against Toxics, Rosamond, California

Ernest Goitein, Californians for Radioactive Safeguards, Atherton, California

Michelle Sypert, CALPIRG, Sacramento, California

Daniel Hirsch, Committee to Bridge the Gap, Los Angeles, California

Lyle Talbot, Desert Citizens Against Pollution, Lancaster, California

Mha Atma S. Khalsa, Earth Action Network, Los Angeles, California

Joe Mirable, EcoBridge, San Francisco, California

Barbara Wiedner, Grandmothers for Peace International, Elk Grove, California

Eva Bluestein, Gray Panthers of LA West, Los Angeles, California

Jennifer Olaranna Viereck, Healing Global Wounds, Freedom, California

Don Loweburg, Independent Power Providers, North Fork, California

Life on Planet Earth, Atascadero, California

Michael Welch, Redwood Alliance, Arcata, California

Molly Johnson, Save Ward Valley, Needles, California

Nancy M. Broyles, The Green Party of Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara, California

Jean Bernstein, Women For - Orange County Chapter, Laguna Beach, California

Byron Plumley, American Friends Service Committee, Colorado Office, Denver, Colorado

Tom Marshall, Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, Boulder, Colorado

Mag Seaman, The Colorado Environmental Seminars, Denver, Colorado

Jean Gore, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

Sal Mangiagli, Citizens Awareness Network , CT Chapter, Haddam, Connecticut

Susan Perry Luxton, Citizens Regulatory Commission, Waterford, Connecticut

Tom Sivegny and Amy Vas Nunes, Connecticut Green Party, Hartford, Connecticut

Peg Ryglisyn and Mickaey Albrizio, Connecticut Opposed to Waste, Broad Brook, Connecticut

Jennifer Selgrath, E3 (Earth, Equality, Education), Middletown, Connecticut

Susan Alzner, Earth Challenge, Inc., New Haven, Connecticut

Bernadette Del Chiaro, Toxics Action Center, West Hartford, Connecticut

Lizzy Poole, Lower Florida Keys Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Summerland Key, Florida

Virginia Dollar, Alternatives In Action!, Atlanta, Georgia

Adele Kushner, Action for a Clean Environment, Alto, Georgia

Glenn Carroll, Georgian's Against Nuclear Energy, Atlanta, Georgia

Kathy Dorn, Irradiation Free Food Hawaii, Big Island of Hawaii, Hawaii

Beatrice Brailsford, Snake River Alliance, Pocatello, Idaho

Liane Casten, Chicago Media Watch, Evanston, Ilinois

David Kraft, Nuclear Energy Information Service, Evanston, Ilinois

Christopher Williams, Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, Indianapolis, Indiana

John Blair, Valley Watch, Inc., Evansville, Indiana

Clark H. Coan, The Southwind Group, Lawrence, Kansas

Dr. Albert Fritsch, Appalachia Science in the Public Interest, Mt. Vernon, Kentucky

Irene Wilkenfeld, Safe Schools, Lafeyette, Louisiana

Anne D. Burt, Friends of the Coast -Opposing Nuclear Pollution and Earth Day Commitment, Edgecomb, Maine

Richard Lasken, DC Solar, College Park, Maryland

Debby Katz, Citizen Awareness Network, Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts

Mary Lampert, Don't Waste Massachusetts, Duxbury, Massachusetts

Rob Sargent, MASS PIRG, Boston, Massachusetts

Matt Wilson, Massachusetts Citizens For Safe Energy,, Boston, Massachusetts

Laura Beavers, Women's Action for New Directions of Western Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts

Dr. Don Cooney, Bertha Cappan Reynolds Society/Social Workers for Justice Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Gabriela Bulisova, Chernobyl Children's Project, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Kay and James Cumbo, Jr., Citizens for a Healthy Planet, Emmett, Michigan

Gary Karch, Citizens for Environmental Protection, Niles, Michigan

Aaron Hesse, Citizens for Safe Energy, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Richard Jordan, Citizens in Support of the Western Shoshone Indian Nation, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Michael J. Keegan, Don't Waste Michigan, Monroe, Michigan

Korie Bachleda, Earth Day Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Angie Wilson, EnvOrg Student Environmental Organization, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Dale Anderson, Kalamazoo Area Coalition for Peace and Justice, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Roger Ulrich, Leonard Peltier Support Group, Pavilion Township, Michigan

Jen Seamons, Non-Violent Student Organization, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Mike Martin, Palisades Watch, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Mary Ellen Gondeck, SSJ, Peace and Justice Office, Sisters of St. Joseph, Nazareth, Michigan

Phil Wintermute, People Against Unsafe Nuclear Transportation, Portage, Michigan

Trevor Darnell, People's Food Co-Op, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Ronald J. Riley, Professional Inventor's Alliance, Grand Blanc, Michigan

Earl Hall, Stop the Mobile Chernobyl!, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Virginia Salkowski, Students for a Sustainable Earth, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Susan Fisher, World Tree Center for Peace, Justice and Mother Earth, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Michael Noble, Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Saint Paul, Minnesota

George Crocker, North American Water Office, Lake Elmo, Minnesota

Lea Foushee, Prairie Island Coalition, Lake Elmo, Minnesota

Kay Drey, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, St Louis, Missouri

Billy Stern, Native Forest Network -- West, Missoula, Montana

Rick Neilsen, Citizen Alert - South, Las Vegas, Nevada

David Buer, Nevada Dessert Experience, Las Vegas, Nevada

Lisa Guzman, Nevada Empowered Women's Project, Reno, Nevada

Judy Treichel, Nevada Nuclear Waste Task Force, Las Vegas, Nevada

Paul Brown, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada

Susan Lynn, Public Resource Associates, Reno, Nevada

Grace Potorti, Rural Alliance For Military Accountability, Reno, Nevada

Don Vetter, Truckee River Yacht Club, Reno, Nevada

Sean Donahue, New Hampshire Peace Action, Concord, New Hampshire

Jane Nogaki, Coalition Against Toxics, Marlton, New Jersey

Norm Cohen, Coalition for Peace & Justice, Cape May, New Jersey

Madelyn Hoffman, Grass Roots Environmental Organization of New Jersey, Flanders, New Jersey

Gary Novosielski and Joe Mosley,, Green Party of New Jersey, Trenton, New Jersey

John Guinan, NJPIRG, Trenton, New Jersey

Nancy McGreevy and William deCamp Jr., Oyster Creek Nuclear Watch, Island Heights, New Jersey

Peggy Prince, Peace Action New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Shawn Onsgard, Progressive Student Alliance of the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Don Hancock, Southwest Research and Information Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Barbara K. Hickernell, Alliance to Close Indian Point, Ossining, New York

Susan B. Griffin, Chenango North Energy Awareness Group, South Plymouth, New York

Tim Judson, Citizens Awareness Network/New York, Syracuse, New York

Kyle Rabin, Environmental Advocats, Albany, New York

Fish Unlimited, Shelter Island, New York

Alice Slater, Global Resource Action Center for the Environment (GRACE), New York, New York

Sonya Ostrom, Metro New York Peace Action Council, New York, New York

Bill Smirnow, Nuclear Free New York, Huntington, New York

Larry Shapiro, NYPIRG, New York, New York

Ellen Andors, Peoples Video Network, New York, New York

Dr. Helen Caldicott and Scott Cullen, STAR (Standing for Truth About Radiation), East Hampton, New York

D.P.Ransford Bowers, Syracuse Food Not Bombs, Syracuse, New York

Simon Morrin, Syracuse Nuclear Action Group, Syracuse, New York

Jayne Murray, The Working Group on Disarmament of the Western New York Peace Center, Buffalo, New York

Tina Bell, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, NY Metro, New York, New York

Lou Zeller, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, Glendale Springs, North Carolina

Paul Gallimore, Long Branch Environmental Education Center, Leicester, North Carolina

Jim Warren, North Carolina WARN, Raleigh, North Carolina

Harvey Wasserman, Citizens Protecting Ohio (C-Pro), Bexley, Ohio

Chris Trepal, Earth Day Coalition, Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio

Gerry Moll, Walk Across America for Mother Earth, Columbus, Ohio

B.J. Medley, Earth Concerns of Ok (ECO), Tulsa, Oklahoma

Grace Thorpe, National Environmental Coalition of Native Americans, Prague, Oklahoma

Chuck Johnson, Center for Energy Research, Salem, Oregon

Lloyd Marbet, Don't Waste Oregon, Boring, Oregon

Paige Knight, HANFORD WATCH, Portland, Oregon

Beth Newberry, Indigenous Support Coalition of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon

Nina Bell, Northwest Environmental Advocats, Portland, Oregon

Bill Bires, Northwest Veterans for Peace, Milwaukie, Oregon

Michael Carrigan, Oregon Peaceworks, Salem, Oregon

Pacific Party of Oregon (Greens), Portland, Oregon

Dr. Leon Glicenstein, Central Pennsylvainia Citizens for Survival, State College, Pennsylvania

Dr Judith Johnsrud, Environmental Coalition on Nuclear Power, State College, Pennsylvania

Ann Goeke, Green Party of Pennsylvania, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Charles Sherrouse, Greens of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Gene Stilp, No Nukes, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Katharine Dodge, Northeast Pa. Audubon Society, Honesdale, Pennsylvania

Alec Meltzer, Pennsylvania Consumers Action Network, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Karl Novak, Pennsylvania Environmental Network, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania

Scott Hunter, Philadelphia Solar Energy Association (PSEA), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ben Stone, R.E.S.C.U.E., Nicholson, Pennsylvania

Scott D. Portzline, Three Mile Island Alert, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Michael Casper, Voices of Central Pennsylvania, State College, Pennsylvania

June Lange, Women in Black, Lancaster Group, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Donald Gagnon, Citizen's League for Environmental Action and Recovery (CLEAR), Manville, Rhode Island

Harry Rogers, Nuclear Issues Coordinator Carolina Peace Resource Center, Columbia, South Carolina

Lilias Jones Jarding, Bison Land Resource Center, Brookings, South Dakota

Harry Williams, Coalition for a Healthy Environment, Knoxville, Tennessee

Ralph Hutchison, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Jacqueline O. Kittrell, Physicians for Social Responsisbility, Knoxville, Tennessee

Ann Mesrobian and Tom Dureka, Bastrop County Environmental Network, Bastrop, Texas

Richard Simpson, Border Environmental Network, Alpine, Texas

Charles Chambers, SRA, Chambers Appraisal Service, Odessa, Texas

Michael R. Wyatt, El Paso Chapter, National Lawyer's Guild, El Paso, Texas

Mike Cormier, El Paso Solar Energy Association, El Paso, Texas

Susan Lee Solar, Grandmothers and Mothers Alliance for the Future, Austin, Texas

Phyllis Glazer, Mothers Organized to Stop Environmental Sins (MOSES), Dalles, Texas

Pete Altman, SEED Coalition, Austen, Texas

Bill Addington, Erin Rogers, Sierra Blanca Legal Defense Fund, Sierra Blanca, Texas

Don Moniak, STAND (Serious Texans Against Nuclear Dumping), Amarillo, Texas

Mick Petrie, Native Forest Network, Eastern North America, Burlington, Vermont

David N. Pyles, New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution, Brattleboro, Vermont

Clay Turnbull, Solar Action for Vermont, Townsend, Vermont

Dave Rapaport, Vermont Public Interest Research Group, Montpelier, Vermont

Liegh Hauter, Virginia Consumer Action, , Virginia

Chris Zeller and Maya Miller, Environmental Center, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington

Lynn Stembridge, HEAL (Hanford Education Action League), Spokane, Washington

Greg Wingard, Waste Action Project, Seattle, Washington

Dave Blouin, Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

Bonnie Urfer, Nukewatch, Luck, Wisconsin

Michael Vickerman, RENEW Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

Susan Young, Wisconsin Green Party, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Stephanie Kessler, Wyoming Outdoor Council, Lander, Wyoming

International Organizations

Cam Walker, Friends of the Earth - Australia, Sydney, Australia

John Hallam, Friends of the Earth - Sydney, Sydney, Australia

Graham Daniell, People for Nuclear Disarmament, Western Australia, Australia

GLOBAL 2000, The Austrian Environmental Organisation, Vienna, Austria

Pol D' Huyvetter, For Mother Earth International, Gent, Belgium

Rosalie Bertell, Ph. D., GNSH, IICPH, Toronto, Canada

Tom Clements, Greenpeace International, Washington, DC

Solange Fernex, French Section of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), , France

Paxus Calta, Friends of the Earth - International, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Daniel Swartz, The ZHABA Collective, Amsterdam, Netherlands

World Information Service on Energy - WISE, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Carrie Dann, Western Shoshone Defense Project, Crescent Valley, Nevada

Jane tallents, Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Helensburgh, Scotland

Sven Broquist, Friends of the Earth - Sweden, Helsingborg, Sweden

Green Party of Helsingborg, Helsingborg, Sweden

Birgitta Mo:eller, Swedish Anti Nuclear Movement, Helsingborg, Sweden

Prof. Michel Fernex, MD,, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Switzerland, Rodersdorf, Switzerland

Prof. Michel Fernex, MD,, Physicians for Social Responsisbility, Rodersdorf, Switzerland