[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 60 (Friday, May 3, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S4663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY ACT OF 1996

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, for all the right reasons our Nation has 
been a generator of radioactive material for nearly five decades. Most 
of this material is a byproduct of two principal activities: national 
defense activities and commercial nuclear powerplants, which generate 
more than 20 percent of America's electricity.
  These two major activities have worked to benefit all Americans. 
Therefore, I believe managing these radioactive wastes is a national 
concern and responsibility. We cannot and must not walk away from this 
responsibility. To not address this responsibility would be unwise, 
irresponsible, and unsafe.
  With specific regard to electrical generation, every American 
benefits from the richness and diversity of our country's natural 
resources and their use. Through interconnecting transmission lines 
that traverse the land, we have one of the world's most reliable and 
powerful electricity supplies that drives our economy.
  Nuclear powerplants are at work in more than 30 States in every 
region of the country. Supplying more than 20 percent of the Nation's 
electricity, nuclear energy is part of the foundation for our Nation's 
high standard of living and economic growth.
  For this reason, there is broad consensus and support for ensuring 
that the Federal Government meet its responsibility to provide a 
central storage facility for used nuclear fuel and high-level 
radioactive material from the defense program. Senate bill 1271 allows 
and directs our Federal Government to meet that responsibility.
  As I know many of my colleagues have discovered in meetings, phone 
calls, and in their mailrooms, support for S. 1271 is coming from all 
quarters, including State and local government officials, public 
utility commissioners, newspaper editorial boards, labor unions, 
chambers of commerce, national trade associations, and electric 
utilities, just to name a few groups. I am very pleased to have the 
bipartisan support of 28 cosponsors for my legislation.
  Lawsuits have been filed by 18 States against the Federal Government 
over inaction of the Government to follow their statutory direction to 
manage radioactive material. This clearly demonstrates the importance 
and urgency of fulfilling the Federal Government's obligation to accept 
spent fuel. That obligation has been directed in law since the 1982 
Nuclear Waste Act, and it is reaffirmed by my legislation.
  Since the late 1950's, scientists have been studying, testing, and 
successfully employing storage technologies. And since the early 
1970's, the Nevada test site was singled out as one of the nine leading 
sites to consider for a radioactive waste repository. Hasty decisions 
are not being made here. S. 1271 is directing action be taken as a 
result of the science and technology and testing.
  Electric customers have committed nearly $12 billion solely to study, 
test, and build a radioactive waste management system. Already more 
than $4.6 billion has been spent, much of it to assure public safety. 
Now is the time to act on the Nevada site.
  Broad-based national support for the nuclear material waste 
management program and S. 1271 is based on the fact that this issue is 
clearly a national concern requiring a national solution. Furthermore, 
support is buttressed by the positive work that is ongoing at the 
Nevada test site, which is an isolated, unpopulated, dry desert 
location that has a long history of uses for some of the most extreme 
research known to man.

  For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to join with the many State 
and local officials, labor leaders, business leaders, and scientists 
throughout the country in support of S. 1271. Allow our citizens the 
comfort of knowing our Government has acted responsible to assure safe, 
environmentally sound long-term storage and disposal of spent nuclear 
fuel and radioactive material.
  Mr. President, with that, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk called the roll.
  Mr. PRYOR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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