Recent claims that putting high-level nuclear waste near the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in southern New Mexico, either for permanent disposal or interim storage, is environmental racism are disingenuous and sensationalist. Siting WIPP in this region of New Mexico was one of the few truly science-based decisions in America's history. It had nothing to do with culture, history, racism, or anything sociological. It is simply the best place in the world [country?] geologically to put nuclear waste, either for disposal or storage. The climate and physiography of the region around WIPP has long been inhospitable, even for ancient peoples. It takes 600 acres to support one cow. There is little rainwater. The surface waters are brackish and briny because it is a closed basin. Shallow groundwater is at the edge of being potable, and deep waters are salty. No Native Americans within 200 miles have to deal with the nuclear waste at WIPP or any that could come anywhere near WIPP.
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