Nuclear Waste Transportation Along the Amargosa River in Inyo Co. CA |
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We often hear that the Yucca Mountain Repository is a Nevada issue, but few realize that California is only 17 miles away. (Map) And most radionuclides that escape the repository will end up in California, carried by wind or water. Death Valley, less than 20 miles away, suffered over $15 million in damages to roads on August 15, 2004, when only 1/3 inch of rain fell in the area. 2 died and repairs took 2 years. In southeastern Inyo County, CA, the Amargosa Valley runs from Yucca Mountain in NV south towards Baker CA. The Amargosa River, considered by some to be the largest and longest underground river in the world, crosses under Highway 127 thirteen times, before making a U-turn to run north, empty into Death Valley and evaporate. All runoff from Yucca Mountain (seven tributaries) and from parts of the Nevada Test Site (NTS) drains directly into the Amargosa River. Flash floods are common and dangerous (see our extensive photos), and there are no alternative routes, pullouts, rest stops or places to turn around. This route, basically a paved unimproved wagon trail, is already used daily to haul low-level nuclear waste to NTS and other toxic waste to the US Ecology toxic dump in Beatty, NV. 1860 barrels of transuranic waste were shipped from NTS to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico between January 2004 and November 2005. In addition, many of the nearly 1 million visitors to Death Valley each year travel this narrow road in oversized RV vehicles. We have one County Deputy, one CHP officer, and a few volunteer rescue workers. The Amargosa is one of the biggest rivers in the Western U.S. Some experts say that it is the longest underground river in the world. It is large, and fast. A few portions always exist above ground always, like the Tecopa Amargosa Canyon, now being promoted by the BLM for additional tourism. Other portions only overflow during flash floods.
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