Victory!

On Friday, September 27, 2002, Governor Davis signed SB 2065, nuclear industry oversight legislation, by Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), and sponsored by the Bay Area Nuclear (BAN) Waste Coalition and Greater Bay Area Physicians for Social Responsibility.

Finally, hundreds of low-level radioactive waste generators will be required for the first time in California history to systematically report to the Department of Health Services (DHS) on the waste they generate, treat, store, transfer and ship for disposal. The bill also mandates that DHS prepare annual analyses of the information for review by legislators and the public.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for the overwhelming outpouring of calls and faxes to the Governor's office in support of SB 2065 -- it really helped to pass this bill, in spite of opposition by the big utilities Pacific, Gas &Electric, Southern California Edison, the CalRad Forum (the nuclear industry trade group), Boeing and the Navy!

Now communities and watchdog groups will have an opportunity to review this essential baseline data to protect public health, identify the largest generators -- the nuclear power industry and the military, encourage waste minimization and contribute to informed decisions about radioactive waste management.

THANK YOU again for being part of an important victory for the protection of public health and the environment!

-- from the staff, board and volunteers of the BAN Waste Coalition.