SRS article left questions unanswered

The recent article on the Department of Energy's ongoing plutonium and nuclear waste "shell game" ("Waste could end up at SRS," July 7) was full of disturbing and confusing double-talk.

As a downstream citizen concerned about the Savannah River Site, I've surmised that DOE never really had a solid plan to responsibly deal with the waste at SRS - not only the toxic crud in the tanks, but now the plutonium from other weapons sites.

Although DOE said, "We're not going to leave it there," they can't honestly say where the waste will go, or when or how. Only that it is here, that more is coming and that we should just hold tight.

Others further muddled the plot, stating, "DOE says it doesn't have a disposition path. That does not mean there is no disposition path. It's not a basis for alarm."

What?

Sorry, but this is cause for alarm. We're not talking about yard clippings here. The department "in charge" lacks a plan other than dumping plutonium in South Carolina, which sounds awfully similar to what they want to do with the nuclear waste left in the tanks. Hmmm - actually, maybe DOE does have a "plan" to ship plutonium to SRS and abandon the high level waste already present there.

Hear the alarm yet?

Sara Barczak
Savannah

(Editor's note: The writer is the safe energy director for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.)