As Chernobyl anniversary looms, group works to improve worker and animal wellbeing

The Clean Futures Fund, co-created by Beyond Nuclear Board member, Lucas Hixson, with Erik Kambarian, is working with Ukrainian partners to improve safe working conditions and long-term care for Chernobyl workers and individuals in the affected areas. Hixson and Kambarian have made a number of visits to the area where they have participated in radiological training since 2013. These experiences led them to conclude that giving back to the community was important. The first project is taking place in the town of Slavutych.

In addition to worker support, the CFF is embarking on a spay/neuter and vaccination program for the stray dog population that surrounds the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Hundreds of stray dogs, descendants of pets abandoned during the 1986 disaster evacuation, live around the plant and within the exclusion zone. More about the dogs can be found on Twitter at #DogsofChernobyl. 

Read the CFF press release.

Speak against WCS high-level radioactive waste parking lot dump: call-in comments to NRC, Thurs., 4/6; written comments due 4/28!

Potential radioactive waste transporation routes to WCS, TX. As Eddy-Lea, NM is close by, the routing to there would be very similar.The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has extended the deadline for public comments on the environmental scoping of Waste Control Specialists' proposed centralized interim storage facility for commercial irradiated nuclear fuel in Andrews County, Texas until April 28th. Please submit comments! You can also make oral comments, on Thurs., April 6 from 7 to 10pm Eastern, during an NRC public comment teleconference/call-in meeting (Bridge Number: (800) 619-9084, Pass Code: 3009542; please register in advance by contacting Ms. Antoinette Walker-Smith at (301) 415-6957, or by email (to <antoinette.walker-smith@nrc.gov>). Please spread the word on these public comment opportunities!

NRC has also just extended the deadline for legal intervention against the WCS de facto permanent high-level radioactive waste parking lot dump, till May 31st; Beyond Nuclear fully intends to intervene, along with a coalition of environmental groups and concerned citizens, not only residing near the dump, but also along transport routes throughout the country. (See map, left; for a larger version, click here.) For more information, click here.