Extraordinary dangers accompany the transportation and handling of this material. Every step in this perilous journey presents enormous risks. In the US, a Congressional bill to authorise the annual transport of 1500 shipments of waste from nuclear power plants across the country to Nevada over the next 30 years has been opposed by communities throughout America. In other words, Pangea's radioactive waste would produce deleterious mutations in the genetic material of plants, animals and humans here. Although Australia's geological situation has been relatively stable for eons, earthquakes do occur, and our climate is changing rapidly.
Some scientists predict massive rains for central Australia as a result of global warming.
Yet the stainless steel, waste-filled casks that Pangea proposes to bury would rust within several decades, particularly if exposed to water. Some argue that because we produce uranium, we should accept waste. The Howard Government is being hypocritical in promoting uranium mining while claiming to be opposed to Pangea's plans. The truth is there would be no market for our uranium if we refuse the waste. Australia can best serve the world not by obsequiously accepting the waste, but by refusing it.