The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, June 04, 1980, Page Page 6, Image 6
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N -Waste storaoe
still a problem
Last week, Gov. Dick Riley signed into law some tough legislation
dealing with the transportation and handling of nuclear wastes in South
Carolina.
The state Department of Health and Environmental Control will
enforce the new law. The measure will give DHEC and other state
agencies the power "to effectively control the quantity and quality of
nuclear wastes" in South Carolina, according to Riley.
Riley said the new law is unique and that "the measure, for the first
time, places the responsibility and accountability on each actor in the
nuclear waste cycle ? generators, carriers and disposal site
managers. ' The governor added that the new law puts "teeth" into the
enforcement process.
These new regulations are a landmark accomplishment, but they do
not do anything to help rid South Carolina of its image as the nuclear
dumping ground of this country. The regulations do not change the fact fi
that each year 57 percent of the nation's low-level nuclear wastes and
over 40 percent of the nation's high-level nuclear wastes are buried in
South Carolina.
Until last year, Chem Nuclear Systems Inc. in Barnwell buried 85
percent of the nation's low-level wastes. Riley did order Chem Nuclear
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buries a substantial portion of the nation's nuclear wastes.
The new state law does make the rules governing the shipment of
nuclear wastes within the state more stringent, but one must not be
lulled into believing that the new rules will do anything to stem the flow
of nuclear waste into South Carolina.
In signing the new legislation into law, Riley said that certain
classified activities of the federal government and some radioactive
waste shipments from federal operations will be exempted from the
regulations. South Carolina should not allow the federal government to
be less careful than private companies in shipping nuclear wastes and
radioactive materials through the state. The federal government should
have to play by the same rules every other shipper must follow.
IT IS CLEAR THAT the storage of nuclear wastes is a problem that
South Carolina must deal with in the future. Even if Riley and the
Legislature work to stop the flow of nuclear waste into the state, the
wastes still must be buried somewhere.
Several scientists have recently discussed sending rockets full of
nuclear wastes up into orbit around the Earth or the Sun. The scientists
believe that the wastes would be safe in outer space and that this
solution may be the only viable alternative to burying the wastes on
Earth.
One must consider the dangers involved in this type operation. If a
rocket malfunctioned or misfired and came plunging back to Earth
a^wmg lus liieciuus cargo an over me piace, one couia only nope that
the death and destruction would be minimal.
Nuclear waste storage is clearly a big problem. Riley and the
Legislature should be working to correct the real problem rather than
just scratching on the surface by passing legislation dealing with the
transportation and handling of nuclear wastes in South Carolina.
Carter should debate
President Carter's consistent refusal to debate John Anderson
because he is a third party candidate points to a weakness in his
character that may cost him votes in the November general election.
Carter contends that in order to preserve the two party system Anderson
should not be allowed to debate the Republican and Democratic
candidates after they are chosen by their National Conventions. Carter
said he is afraid that if Anderson is allowed to participate in a nationally
televised debate it will set a precedent for candidates who do not win
their parties' nomination to set out on a third party candidacy.
Carter continually refers to Anderson as a Republican and said he
saw no reason to debate two Republicans in a national forum. Carter's
attitude is dangerous for him politically, especially since Ronald
Reagan has openly admitted that he would like to debate both Carter
and Anderson.
Q amepock Opinion
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WASHINGTON ? The evidence keeps mounting benefi
that President Jimmv Carter called off the Iranian hwan?
hostage rescue mission because of threats made by
Jthe Russians over the Moscow-Washington hot line. ~.
Our intelligence sources have confirmed that the
hotline definitely was in use during the rescue attempt.
In fact, according to insiders, British in- It c<
telligence agents monitored the conversations bet- the e
ween the White House and the Kremlin. However, the Capiti
English agents will not tell their CIA counterparts howtl
what they heard because they don't want to admit to ? R
the United States that they tapped the hotline. on his
The British also feel that if President Carter payer
wanted his intelligence analysts to know what was ?
said on the hotline, he would tell them. possifc
Defense Secretary Harold Brown has denied that the pu
the Russians threatened Carter, but at least one thevii
Senate committee is expected to demand the full ? I
facts in an upcoming secret session. taxpa;
water
The Kremlin, meanwhile, is preparing to counter
the effect of any American naval blockade of Iran EW
with a massive truck convoy. Our intelligence 1
sources report that a force of 3,000 supply trucks has
been assembled in Soviet towns near the Iranian It's
border, on both sides of the Caspian Sea. the fr
In fact, so many trucks have been sent to the Statei
Iranian border that Soviet commerce along the to-go^
borders with Czechoslovakia and Hungary has been some
disrupted. Some of the towns have even experienced Socia
food shortages. check
Even though the truck-convoy preparations have Treas
meant that some Russian citizens are going hungry,
Kremlin leaders have vowed to meet their export
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Soviet Union, has been shipped to France in boxes
labeled "pickles." The phony labels are designed to
conceal the beef exports from Russian workers. ^
Prisoner Benefits
focus
It is no secret that the Social Security system has Cong
been milked dry to pay all the benefits that Congress so fai
keeps adding. But there is something that the Social And i
Security Administration would prefer to keep secret, says,
It pays out millions of dollars each year in disability
and survivor benefits to convicts.
A spokesman admitted that the agency does not ?* j
keep tabs on how many convicts collect benefits. But Vv 3
our reporter Tom Toch talked to investigators for
Rep. G. Willia Whitehurst, R-Va., who have conducted
surveys in five typical prisons. They estimate Ha
that 30,000 convicts around the country are raking in destr
$60 million a year in disability benefits alone. serio
bars
want
An inmate at the Indiana State Reformatory, for Ther
example, was convicted of murdering his 5-year-old could
stepdaughter and sentenced to life imprisonment. In payei
1968, he applied for Social Security disability benefits Fch
on the grounds that his record rendered him unfit for Watc
society and he was therefore unable to work. He has govei
received some $1,200 a month for the past 12 years. WAT
In Michigan, a 16*year-old youth was convicted in D.C.:
1973 for killing his parents. Not long afterward, in
prison, he began collecting $300 a month in survivor
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ts from the Social Security Administration ?
se he was an orphan.
igressional Benefits
jsi me taxpayers more tnan $239 million to pay
xpenses of our elected representatives on
)1 Hill last year. Here are some examples of
ley spent the money.
:ep. Don Young, R-Alaska, put a $41 laundry bill
> official office tab; he also charged the taxs
for $38 worth of tips to bellmen.
Lep. Jack Kemp, K-N.Y. ? who is considered a
?le running mate for Ronald Reagan, charged
iblic nearly $6,000 for a newsletter that extolled
rtues of his economic theories.
lep. Nicholas Mavroules, D-Mass., asked the
yers to foot the bill for $84 worth of spring
>eze Benefits
not just the Iranians who have suffered from
eeze on that country's assets here in the United
?. The freeze order prohibits any governmentfernment
exchange of money. That means that
50 Americans living in Iran who are eligible for
I Security payments cannot get their monthly
;s. The money is being held for them by the
;ury Department.
A A
gry /Artist
xjrtrait of the retired Senate dean, James 0.
and, D-Miss., hangs in the hearing room of the
te Judiciary Committee. But it may become the
of a rhubarb between the portrait's artist and
ress. The painting was hung two years ago. But
\ artist Charles Mount says he hasn't been paid,
unless the legislators come up with $13,000, he
he may take a knife to the canvas.
itch on Waste
lfway through the construction of 20 new
oyers, Navy planners decided there were
us problems with the ships' galleys ? the salad
came after the hot foods. The Navy brass didn't
to confuse the patrons about the fare,
efore, all the ships were changed so the sailors
I serve themselves salad first. Cost to the taxrs:
$1.7 million.
stnote: Those who would like to contribute to our
h on Waste feature can send their examples of
rnment extravagance to Jack Anderson's
CH ON WASTE, P.O. Box 2300, Washington,
20013.
Copyright, 1900
United Feature Syndicate, Inc.