The American people do not want 77,000 tons of High Level Nuclear Waste transported through 43 States. The American People do not want 109 Cities with a population of 100,000 or more affected as 96,000 shipments pass through their borders for the next 25 to 30 years.
The American people know that the transportation of High Level Nuclear waste on this scale poses an extreme security risk. The American people know that this is a States Rights issue and that the Federal Government has overreached its authority. The American people know that Congress has acted against the will of the people.
The transportation of 77,000 tons of High Level Nuclear Waste can be stopped through the same mechanism as has been used to resolve issues in 23 individual States and many foreign countries.
In 23 States and many foreign countries when a Legislative body has acted against the will of the people the issue would be placed on the ballot as a Referendum.
While the United States does not have a provision for National Referendum, (though a Time magazine poll showed that 76% favored National Referendum), Congress could vote to place on the ballot a National Referendum Question on the Transportation of High Level Nuclear Waste.
The people of the United States, for over 90 years, have voted on issues at the ballot box on the Statewide level. In 23 States there are provisions for Referendum and Initiative on the Statewide level. In 49 states the electorate, in a Referendum, must approve State Constitutional Amendments. Local Referendums and Town Meetings take place in States across the country.
All over the world people are directly deciding, through National Referendums, major issues at the ballot box. In Russia the people have voted in a National Referendum for a new Constitution. In South Africa the people voted in a National Referendum on "continuing to negotiate an end to apartheid". In France and Denmark the people voted in National Referendums on economic unity of Europe. in Ireland the people have voted in a National Referendum on the issue of abortion.
In the history of the United States there have been times when Referendums played a decisive role in the passage of such unsolvable issues for their time, such as Woman Suffrage and Direct Election of United States Senators.
James Madison, a signatory of the United States Constitution and the forth President of the United States, believed that the "supreme authority" is the people. A National Referendum on the Transportation of High Level Nuclear Waste would allow the "supreme authority" - the people - to be directly engaged and decide the issue of the Transportation of High Level Nuclear Waste.
The Bush Administration has decided, and Congress has voted, to designate Yucca Mountain in Nevada for the permanent storage of 77,000 tons of High Level Nuclear Waste. This Nuclear Waste will have to be transported through 43 States to get to Yucca Mountain in Nevada.