4th District Legislators

Madden, Mayer, Moriarty: Radioactive Waste Should be removed from Newfield
Legislators restate opposition to plan allowing nuclear waste to be capped on Site

(Turnersville) State Senator Fred Madden, along with representatives for Assemblymen Dave Mayer and Paul Moriarty attended the Nuclear Regulatory Commission hearing to re-state their position that the NRC should deny Shieldalloy Metallurgical Corporation's request for a long term control license to cap radioactive waste in Newfield for 1000 years.

"We believe that low level radiation should not be kept in Newfield," said Senator Madden (D-Gloucester/Camden). "We will continue to work with local officials and the DEP to urge the NRC to deny Shieldalloy's request for a long term control license."

The Legislators have raised concerns regarding the thousand year time frame in terms of cost to maintain the site because there is no certainty as to the value of a dollar in 1000 years. They have also questioned the testing standards for safety regarding levels of exposure as current guidelines are written for adults, but do not take the effects on children into consideration. What is believed to be a safe level of exposure today may not be acceptable years from now. The NRC’s own regulations note that signs, caps and fences shouldn’t be relied upon for more than 100 years--Shieldalloy is asking to bury the waste for 1000 years. "The risk of moving the material pales in comparison to the concerns facing the residents should this nuclear waste remain," said Assemblyman Mayer (D-Gloucester/Camden). "Shieldalloy has made millions of dollars off the backs of the residents in Newfield for many years. Leaving low level radioactive material in this small town will devastate its economy and possibly jeopardize peoples' health."

The Legislators have also voiced apprehension over the long term economic impacts facing the town of Newfield should Shieldalloy’s request for storing the waste be granted. The town will lose any future ratables for the property and local property values will certainly be impacted as well by having a radioactive pile for a neighbor

"The first option should be to remove the waste, not come up with solutions for storing the waste," said Assemblyman Moriarty (D-Gloucester/Camden). "There are more questions than answers regarding the 1000 year time frame for this plan."

The 4th Legislative District includes the towns of Clementon Borough, Franklin Township, Glassboro Borough, Gloucester Township, Laurel Springs Borough, Lindenwold Borough, Monroe Township, Newfield Borough, Pitman Borough and Washington Township.