As early as this weekend, South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges may get a chance to make good on his threat to use his own body, as well as state troopers, to block shipments of plutonium into the state.
The Associated Press reports that a federal judge Thursday denied the governor’s request to delay the shipments to the U.S. Energy Department’s Savannah River site from Colorado’s Rocky Flats facility. The governor planned to file an immediate appeal.
The Energy Department says the weapons-grade plutonium will be converted to fuel for nuclear reactors over the next two decades. But Hodges is afraid the government will leave the plutonium in the state permanently, possibly making the area a terrorist target.
The shipments were set to begin May 15 but were delayed by Hodges’ lawsuit. The governor wants the shipments delayed until new environmental studies are done, a process that could take years.
Hodges has threatened to use state troopers to block roads and has even vowed to lie down in the road himself.
The Associated Press reports that a federal judge Thursday denied the governor’s request to delay the shipments to the U.S. Energy Department’s Savannah River site from Colorado’s Rocky Flats facility. The governor planned to file an immediate appeal.
The Energy Department says the weapons-grade plutonium will be converted to fuel for nuclear reactors over the next two decades. But Hodges is afraid the government will leave the plutonium in the state permanently, possibly making the area a terrorist target.
The shipments were set to begin May 15 but were delayed by Hodges’ lawsuit. The governor wants the shipments delayed until new environmental studies are done, a process that could take years.
Hodges has threatened to use state troopers to block roads and has even vowed to lie down in the road himself.
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