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Embargoed Until Thursday, April 19, 2018

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‘Don’t Waste Idaho’ Aims to Stop More Nuclear Waste Shipments

Goal to protect 1995 agreement, educate Idahoans ahead of governor’s race

BOISE, Idaho (April 19, 2018) —The rupture of a barrel of nuclear waste last week at the Idaho National Laboratory spotlights growing citizen concerns and a new public outreach campaign called “Don’t Waste Idaho.”

The campaign was launched today in an effort to stop the federal government from bringing in more nuclear waste and weakening the terms of the 1995 Nuclear Settlement Agreement to do so. The U.S. Department of Energy wants to bring 7,000 cubic meters of nuclear waste to Idaho from Hanford, WA, but only if state officials will go along with the plan.

Transporting that waste safely by rail and on public highways through some of Idaho’s most populous communitiesis amajor concern. Once here, Don’t Waste Idaho leaders say—even if all goes according to plan—it could end up staying here in violation of aone-year time limit set in the 1995 agreement.

“I’m grateful they are trying to get the agreement carried out,” said former Republican Governor Phil Batt. “I want to stop any weakening of the agreement that I negotiated and signed with the federal government in 1995.”

Many residents of the fastest growing state in the nation are unaware of Idaho’s nuclear threat. TakeAmber Labelle. When she moved to Boise four years ago, nuclear waste was the last thing on her mind. Clean air, fresh water and access to the outdoors led her family here.She says she had never heard of the 1995 agreement or the fact that the government injected nuclear waste into the Snake River Aquifer as a disposal technique, clear up until the 1980s.

“When I learned that the federal government now wants to truck nuclear waste on I-84,right through Boise, I was horrified,” said Labelle, a veterinary specialist. “As a mother and a scientist, I was shocked to learn about Idaho’s history of being used as a nuclear waste dump.”

Leslee Reed co-owns Onsen Farms in Buhl with her husband James Reed. They hope that Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and Gov. Butch Otter will make sure there is a clear plan for any additional nuclear waste that comes into Idaho leaving within one year.

“If we don’t enforce our existing agreement with the federal government, the Hanford waste could get stranded in Idaho and threaten our water,” said Leslee Reed.

Last week, a barrel of plutonium-contaminated waste ruptured inside a building at INL. It had been shipped to Idaho from Colorado decades ago. Snake River Alliance’s Executive Director, Wendy Wilson, said the explosion increased her organization’s concerns about more barrels of nuclear waste coming to Idaho.

“It is time for Idahoans to get involved and protect Idaho’s water,” said Wilson. “People can go to the Don’t Waste Idaho website and sign a petition to state leaders and get involved.”

“We need to know where our candidates stand on protecting Idaho’s water from nuclear waste,” shecontinued. “We hope this campaign sparks gubernatorial candidates on both sides to educate themselves and speak out to protect what we all love about Idaho.”

ABOUT

Don’t Waste Idaho is supported by the Snake River Alliance, Idaho’s nuclear watchdog and clean energy advocate. The campaign’s Advisory group includes: Former aide to Democratic Governor Cecil Andrus Marc Johnson, Former state Representative Donna Pence (D-Gooding), Buhl-based farmers Leslee and James Reed, Twin Falls City Councilman Chris Talkington and Gary Richardson of Boise. Learn more at DontWasteIdaho.com or by calling (208) 344 9161.

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