Home Owner and Small Business Advisory

Nuclear Waste Accidents Not Covered by Most Insurance Carriers

We are currently urging all homeowners and small business people to check with their insurance companies to determine whether or not existing insurance policies will cover their property in the event of a nuclear waste accident in their area.

It is critical for you to determine your coverage.

If Congress Passes HR 45, The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1999, it will bring nuclear waste within one half mile of 50 million Americans in 43 states as it is transported across the country to Nevada and dumped at a temporary site.

The Department of Energy's projections for an accident leading to a small release of radioactive material (1380 curies) in a rural area show that it would:

- contaminate a 42 square mile area

- require 460 days to clean up

- carry a $620 million price tag for clean up

Nuclear Waste remains hazardous for 1,000,000 years and there is currently no known technology for the safe disposition of nuclear waste. Thus transporting nuclear waste now, when the final disposition of waste is unknown, may require another round of transport from Nevada. Why is Congress going to mandate this dangerous transport when it may have to be moved all over again?

Most insurance companies will not compensate homeowners and businesses effected by an accident of the type described above. If there are reasons to not move it, why is Congress risking your home or small business?

DO YOU WANT NUCLEAR WASTE TRAVELING THE SAME ROADS USED BY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY???

We urge you to:

1. Call your insurance company. Does your homeowners policy or small business policy cover the clean up and/or relocation costs in the event of a nuclear waste spill in your community?

(See web site of American Insurance Association at http://www.aiadc.org/  for links to insurance company sites)

2. Call your Member of Congress. Voice your concerns about the transport of nuclear waste. Demand that your Member of Congress vote against HR 45, The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1999.

(CMEP's Energy Votes section has the contact information for each Member of Congress at http://www.citizen.org/cmep/dbases/energy_votes.html)

3. Write to your Member of Congress explaining why you oppose HR 45.

4. Write a Letter to the Editor of your local paper.

5. Send us a copy of anything you get printed.

Suggestions for your phone call and letters may be found in our Talking Points for H.R. 45: The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1999 and in the Sample Op-Ed for H.R. 45.

The only way Members of Congress will know how you feel is if you tell them.

Make your voice heard.

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