HomeMy WebLinkAboutR85-23 oppositon to storage and transport radioactive substances in I-70b
Commissioner �(�Sr/L�SbI� moved adoption
of the following Resolution:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COLORADO
RESOLUTION NO. 85-
DECLARATION OF OPPOSITION TO THE STORAGE
AND TRANSPORTATION OF RADIOACTIVE NUCLEAR
WASTE SUBSTANCES IN THE COUNTY OF EAGLE AND
ALONG INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I -70, U.S. HIGHWAY
NOS. 24 AND 131, AND EAGLE COUNTY ROAD NOS.
P -293 AND P -301
WHEREAS, the County of Eagle, State of Colorado, is a
body corporate and politic existing under and by virtue of the
Constitution and laws of the State of Colorado with all of the
powers conferred thereby; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of the
County of Eagle, State of Colorado, hereinafter the "Board ", is
intent upon pursuing every legal and financially feasible
possibility to maintain and protect the County of Eagle as a
"Nuclear Free Zone "; and
WHEREAS, the Board finds that contamination by
radioactive nuclear waste substances within the County of
Eagle, by accident or intent, would have extremely detrimental
effects upon the health, safety and welfare of the residents
and visitors of, and businesses and wildlife within, the County
of Eagle, as well as outside the territorial boundaries of the
County of Eagle, and
WHEREAS, such detrimental effects referred to in the
paragraph next above include, by way of example only, the
potential contamination of domestic water supplies of local
municipalities, in addition to the potential contamination of
the Colorado River upon which the lower basin states rely
pursuant to The Colorado River Compact, and upon which Mexico
relies pursuant to the Mexican Treaty of 1944; and
WHEREAS, because Interstate Highway I -70 is the
primary ground route for visitors and inhabitants traveling to
and from the County of Eagle, the Board opposes the
transportation of radioactive nuclear waste substances along
Interstate Highway I -70; and
WHEREAS, the Board notes the already high accident
rate involving truck traffic on Interstate Highway I -70 over
Vail Pass and in the vicinity of the easterly entrance to the
Glenwood Canyon during the winter months, primarily due to
adverse weather conditions, the limiting nature of the natural
geologic formations in such areas, and, with respect to Vail
Pass, the steep grades; and
WHEREAS, since U.S. Highway Nos. 24 and 131, and
Eagle County Road Nos. P -293 and P -301, located within the
County of Eagle, State of Colorado, could also be readily
improved to accomodate the transportation of radioactive
nuclear waste substances through the County of Eagle, the Board
also opposes the potential transportation of radioactive
nuclear waste substances along the aforementioned
transportation routes; and
WHEREAS, the Board is aware that certain court
decisions have limited the ability of local governments to
prohibit or regulate transportation and storage of radioactive
nuclear waste substances on state and federal highways; and
WHEREAS, in light of the foregoing, the Board desires
to voice its support for a congressional hearing to elicit and
review in depth, substantive facts and the potential adverse
effects pertaining to the transportation and storage of
radioactive nuclear waste substances and, based thereon, to
enact legislation prohibiting and /or effectively regulating the
same; and
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WHEREAS, the Board further desires to declare its
opposition to the storage and transportation of radioactive_
nuclear waste substances in the County of Eagle and along
Interstate Highway I -70, U.S. Highway Nos. 24 and 131, and
Eagle County Road Nos. P -293 and P -301 and, therefore, desires
that the Countv Manager and County Attorney participate with
other local governments in a program for prohibiting or
regulating the storage and transportation of radioactive
nuclear waste substances within the County of Eagle and the
other respective jurisdictions, consistent with such local
governments' legal authority in such matters.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COLORADO:
THAT, the Board hereby declares its opposition to the
storage and transportation of radioactive nuclear waste
substances in the County of Eagle and along Interstate Highway
I -70, U.S. Highway Nos. 24 and 131, and Eagle County Road Nos.
P -293 and P -301.
THAT, the Board advocates a congressional hearing to
ascertain and determine the substantive facts and the potential
adverse effects surrounding the storage and transportation, and
the possible contamination therefrom, of radioactive nuclear
waste substances and, based thereon, to enact legislation
prohibiting and /or effectively regulating the same.
THAT, the Board further advocates the permanent
storage and /or disposal of radioactive nuclear waste substances
at the site of origin of the same.
THAT, the County Manager and County Attorney are
hereby directed to participate in the development of
recommendations with other similarly situated local governments
to determine what positive steps such local governments can
take, within their respective legal bounds, to prohibit or
effectively regulate the storage and transportation of
radioactive nuclear waste substances within the County of Eagle
and the other respective jurisdictions.
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THAT, the Clerk of the Board shall certify a copy of
this Resolution to the Governor of the State of Colorado, and
such other local, state and federal officials, as the County
Manager deems appropriate.
MOVED, READ AND ADOPTED by the Board of County
Commissioners of the County of Eagle, Sta}te of Colorado, at its
regular meeting held the 5&- day of,&4985.
COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COLORADO
By and Through its
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
By. {� %�`� �J By
lerk of the-Board' of
County Commissioners
vonaiCL H. Welch, Commissioner
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i
l
Commissioner 61 tt..l0j, seconded adoption
of the foregoing resolution. The roll having been called, the
vote was as follows:
Commissioner David E. Mott2
Commissioner Richard L. Gustafson
Commissioner Donald H. Welch
This Resolution passed by Nr- �//�9�C /S vote of the Board of
County Commissioners of the County of Eagle, State of Colorado.
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