N.M. ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS DEMAND US GOVERNMENT TO HOLD NRC ACCOUNTABLE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                              Monday, Oct. 24, 2011 N.M. ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS DEMAND US GOVERNMENT TO HOLD NRC ACCOUNTABLE PRESS CONFERENCE 3 p.m. TODAY Albuquerque, N.M. —To call attention to suffering from the health and environmental effects from 60 years of uranium mining in N.M., the Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment has called a press conference today at the Albuquerque Marriott, 3 p.m., before the U.S. Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice conference.  The speakers at the press conference will address why permits for uranium mining in and around the Grants mineral belt should not be granted.  “We’re sick of environmental injustice,” says Petuuche Gilbert, Laguna-Acoma Coalition for a Safe Environment.  “Our land and water is being used as a national sacrifice area,” adds Laura Watchempino Laguna-Acoma Coalition for a Safe Environment. The press conference is set immediately before the U.S. Federal Interagency Working Group (IWG) in Albuquerque, NM. The Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice (EJ IWG) was established in 1994 under Executive Order. Items addressed at the conference include:

1. MASE demands clean up of uranium mining and milling sites to pre-mining and pre-milling conditions.
2. MASE is against all uranium mining and milling projects due to the long lasting uranium legacy in the Grants Mineral Belt.
3. MASE demands the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to conduct a siting study and exploration for a permanent repository for legacy waste.
4. MASE demands Council on Environmental Quality and U.S. Government Accountability Office hold oversight hearings on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s purpose and accountability. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission does not address environmental justice concerns and public health. MASE demands communities take the lead with technical support from other agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New Mexico Environmental Department in efforts regarding uranium legacy issues.
5. MASE demands the Nuclear Regulatory Commission sign the Environmental Justice Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).  An Aug. 4, 2011 MOA recommits the 17 agencies and departments that signed the deal to implementing the Clinton-era Executive Order (EO) 12898, which generally required agencies to make environmental justice part of their missions and established a federal Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Environmental Justice.
6. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is disguised as an independent regulatory agency when in fact they use taxpayer money to promote and shield the nuclear industry.WHAT: Press Conference held by the Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment (MASE) immediately before the U.S. Federal Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice. The National Public Meeting for the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) meets Oct.25-26 at the same location. WHERE: Entrance to the Albuquerque Marriott, 2101 Louisiana Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM WHEN: Monday, October 24, 2011, 3 p.m. SPEAKERS INCLUDE:  Nadine Padilla, Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment and Candace Head-Dylla, Milan, NM resident.

The Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment (MASE) is rooted in the experiences of uranium-impacted communities of the southwestern U.S. We are communities working to restore and protect the natural and cultural environment through respectfully promoting intercultural engagement among communities and institutions for the benefit of all life and future generations. MASE Core Group of Alliances Bluewater Valley Downstream Alliance, Dineh Bidziil Coalition, Eastern Navajo Diné  Against Uranium Mining (ENDAUM), Laguna-Acoma Coalition for a Safe Environment,  Post-71 Uranium Workers Committee   MASE Affiliated Groups and Allies Amigos Bravos, Moquino Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association, New Mexico Environmental Justice Working Group, McKinley Community Health Alliance, New Mexico Environmental Law Center, Office of Peace, Justice and Creation Stewardship, Partnership for Earth Spirituality, Ramah Navajo Community, Red Water Pond Road Community Association, Sierra Club Environmental Justice Office, Southwest Research and Information Center, Stewards of Creation, NukeWatch, Think Outside the Bomb, Western Mining Action Network, Wise Uranium  www.masecoalition.org