In the February issue of D Magazine, Laray Polk wrote a story for us about Harold Simmons titled “Dallas’ Evil Genius.” It was about how a company controlled by the billionaire, Waste Control Specialists, has rigged the political system to get permits to bury radioactive waste on a West Texas site that some scientists say is not suited for such use. Laray is continuing to advance the ball on this issue. Today the magazine In These Times publishes another installment from Laray, titled “How Does Your Water Glow?,” about Waste Control Specialists. One of my favorite graphs:
WCS’ success can be traced to the flexibility of the TCEQ. As the lead environmental agency for the state, it is not only responsible for granting licenses for nuclear waste disposal, but it is also charged with monitoring the state’s water quality. Yet in the case of WCS, TCEQ spokesperson Terry Clawson says it is the licensee’s responsibility to implement ongoing water monitoring. In other words, the TCEQ gave WCS, the operator of the nuclear waste site, the responsibility to monitor itself. In other words, safety of the water in the Ogallala Aquifer — the same aquifer that 1.9 million people get their drinking water from — is in the hands of a company that operates a radioactive waste site.
Then Laray goes on to talk about the little problem of earthquakes.
