SNP condemns European deep level nuclear dumping proposals
An EFA press release by MEP Ian Hudghton (SNP)
SNP President Ian Hudghton MEP has today (Wednesday) condemned proposals from the European Commission for EU member states to dispose of nuclear waste by means of deep geological burial. The suggestions come in proposed new EU legislation on the management of radioactive waste.
Mr Hudghton attacked the "out of sight, out of mind" attitude of the Commission and called for nuclear waste to be retrievably kept in near site, near surface facilities where it can be safely monitored.
Mr Hudghton commented:
"The nuclear industry has left a long-term toxic legacy which will be with us for generations to come. This legacy in itself should point policy-makers around the world towards developing more renewables to meet our future energy needs - and away from the dangers of nuclear.
"Nevertheless, decades of nuclear power have left us with a problem we must deal with and the storage and disposal of radioactive waste must be addressed.
"Nuclear waste should not be simply shoved underground with unknown consequences for future generations.
"The European Commission today has revealed an 'out of sight, out of mind' approach which is wholly unacceptable.
"We owe it to our children and grandchildren to make up for some our past mistakes in energy policy - and not to leave them an underground nuclear time bomb with potentially devastating consequences."
