Sample Letter

Here is the text of my letter. Please feel free to copy this text and use it as a starting point for yours.

March 21, 2006

Pam Schuller
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
Salt Lake Field Office
2370 South 2300 West
Salt Lake City  UT 84119

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the application by Private Fuel Storage (PFS) to cross BLM lands with spent nuclear fuel (SNF) casks.

The health and safety issues related to this move are undeniable with the intermodal facility only yards from I-80 and the narrowness of SR 196 causing transportation hazards. Additionally, the proximity of the intermodal facility, highway, and Skull Valley storage site to military testing ranges creates unnecessary risk. Finally, the 20-year movement of these casks provides enormous opportunities for terrorists to cause harm.

Over the years Utah has contributed heavily to national security in many ways which have produced risk to her inhabitants. Notably, Utah has endured the storage of dangerous nerve gas in Tooele County for many years. Fortunately, incineration of the nerve gas is nearing completion. It would be irresponsible to replace nerve gas with SNF just as the nerve gas is eliminated.

Finally, BLM’s Pony Express Resource Management Plan states, “Public land will not be made available for inappropriate uses such as storage or use of hazardous materials (munitions, fuel, chemicals, etc.) and live artillery firing.” I urge BLM to uphold its own RMP and deny the permit sought by PFS.

Sincerely,

[Your name and address here]

Send your letter to Pam Schuller at the BLM by FAX (801) 977-4397, by email at pam_schuller@blm.gov or by letter to the following address:

Pam Schuller
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
Salt Lake Field Office
2370 South 2300 West
Salt Lake City UT 84119

Thank you. This may be one of the most important thing you'll do this year.