[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 33 (Friday, March 14, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S2331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                    NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY ACT OF 1997

 Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, yesterday the Senate Energy 
Committee voted to approve the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997, S. 
104, which would establish the construction of an interim facility to 
store spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste produced by the 
electric industry and by the military.
  As a member of the Energy Committee, I voted against S. 104 for two 
reasons. First, I think today's markup of this legislation was 
premature. Only 2 days ago the Senate voted to confirm the new head of 
the Energy Department, Secretary Federico Pena. Clearly Mr. Pena hasn't 
had an opportunity to fully examine this complex issue. He will need 
some additional time to study S. 104 and offer his views and 
recommendations about it. Second, I still have some concerns about 
whether this bill will facilitate or frustrate getting approval for a 
permanent disposal site of our Nation's spent nuclear fuel.
  Having said this, I want my colleagues to understand that I think 
that this is an issue that needs immediate attention. The 
administration and Congress must sit down to negotiate a final solution 
to this problem as soon as possible. I hope some compromise can be 
reached that will allow me to vote for this legislation on the Senate 
floor.

                          ____________________