Advocates for Responsible Disposal in Texas

Principles 

    It is in the public interest of all citizens of Texas to have a safe, technologically sound system to permanently dispose of low-level radioactive waste. Low-level radioactive waste is generated as a result of beneficial activities such as air pollution free electric power production and other industrial applications as well as medical, diagnostic treatment, and research applications. Therefore, it is essential that low-level radioactive waste be consolidated, properly packaged, monitored and ultimately disposed of in accordance with stringent federal and state safety and environmental standards. While this waste has been safely managed and isolated for years, the federal and state governments have recognized that the existing disposal sites, now scheduled to be closed or restricted in access, need to be replaced with additional sites in individual states or groups of states. The Advocates for Responsible Disposal in Texas (ARDT) supports the State of Texas' efforts to identify, evaluate, and after thorough public input, establish a system that will manage and ultimately provide permanent disposal of low-level radioactive waste. 

Organization 

    The Advocates for Responsible Disposal in Texas (ARDT) is supported by S.T.P. Nuclear Operating Company, TXU, Vermont Yankee, and individuals from the health physics, medical, and university research communities. ARDT is governed by an Executive Board made up of representatives from these charter members. 

Purpose 

    The Advocates for Responsible Disposal in Texas' purpose is to support the State of Texas' efforts to identify, evaluate, and after thorough public input, establish a system that will ultimately manage and provide permanent disposal of low-level radioactive waste. These ideals have evolved into the following goals of the group:

• To provide the public, decision-makers, educators, scientist, and physicians with information about the need for and merits of a system for managing the waste safely and developing a facility for permanency disposal. · 

• To provide a forum through which the advocates of such a system and facility can demonstrate their support .