After over a decade of intense struggle, a broad coalition of environmental, social justice and Native American activists, scientists and elected representatives have defeated the ill-conceived nuclear waste dump at Ward Valley. Plans were to bury long-lived and highly dangerous radioactive wastes in shallow, unlined trenches above an aquifer, 18 miles from the Colorado River, in the midst of critical habitat for the threatened desert tortoise and on land considered sacred aboriginal territory for five Native American tribes. Some of the country's most powerful corporations poured millions of dollars into a project that was defeated by a movement built with tenacity and heart.

All that remains is for Governor Gray Davis to withdraw the State of California's application for federal land at Ward Valley -- then the dump project will finally be dead.

Following a number of recent events including studies exposing both the dangers and economic inviability of the dump, a historic occupation of the site in defiance of a federal eviction order, analysis by state legislators that the method by which the State of California tried to obtain federal land at Ward Valley was illegal, relentless pressure by environmental and social justice groups, cities and counties and Indian tribes and a recent ruling in federal court against the dump contractor US Ecology, the notorious nuclear waste management company has finally conceded defeat.

The repercussions of this great victory are many and far-reaching. Nuclear power has been exposed as a dangerous and expensive way of producing electricity especially when cleanup and containment costs and the risks to public health are revealed. Shallow land burial of nuclear wastes results in contamination. Polluting industries can no longer target minority communities as repositories for their waste products without broad opposition insisting on environmental justice. The protection of endangered species leads to the preservation of the wide web of natural resources. Multi-cultural coalitions can work together effectively to create strategies to protect both culture and the environment. A spiritual connection to the land is a potent tool for protection. A few dedicated people can make a big difference.

MAKE ONE LAST CALL IN DEFENSE OF WARD VALLEY.

Call Governor Gray Davis and tell him to stop the dump once and for all.

Tell him to withdraw the state's application for the land NOW and to withdraw from a lawsuit in the Federal Court of Claims in which California is still in partnership with US Ecology asking for reimbursement from the federal government (taxpayers) for all they spent all these years attempting to open the dangerous dump.

CALL TODAY (916) 324-3501

Future generations will be protected because you cared enough to act.

Victory at Ward Valley has become a reality because of you!

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Bay Area Nuclear Waste Coalition
2760 Golden Gate, San Francisco, California 94118
(415) 752-8678 * (415) 868-2146
http://banwaste.envirolink.org