[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 37 (Thursday, March 20, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2731-S2732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY ACT OF 1997

 Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, high-level nuclear waste and 
highly radioactive used nuclear fuel is piling up at 80 sites in 41 
States. It is stored in populated areas, near neighborhoods and 
schools, in the backyards of people across America.
  An example is the Palisades Plant in Michigan, which is within 100 
feet of Lake Michigan. Another is the Haddam Neck Plant, in 
Connecticut. A U.S. Senator has observed that he can see it from his 
house.
  Without objection, I would like to place in the Record an editorial 
from today's Hartford Courant that observes that ``with the closing of 
the Connecticut Yankee Plant at Haddam Neck, the issue of what to do 
with the State's high-level nuclear waste has moved from the 
theoretical to the here and now. . . . Experts say Connecticut Yankee's 
spent fuel could be stored at Haddam Neck for another 30 years if 
Congress fails to approve a temporary facility. Unfortunately, the 
hands of the clock can't be turned back to a time when nuclear waste 
didn't exist. In terms of its disposal, a remote desert site in Nevada 
is the lesser of two evils.''
  The waste was supposed to be taken by the Federal Government for 
safer, central storage by 1998. Will that happen? The answer is ``no.''
  Even though $12 billion has been collected from Americans to pay for 
storage--and even though a Federal court reaffirmed the Government's 
legal obligation to take the waste by 1998--there is no plan for 
action.
  By 1998, 23 reactors in 14 States will be full. By 2010, 65 reactors 
in 29 States will be full.
  A conservative estimate is that 25 percent of our nuclear plants will 
not be able to build onsite storage and will be forced to shut down. 
That would mean the loss of over 5 percent of our Nation's total 
electricity generating capacity.
  But Yucca Mountain won't be ready until at least 2015. Therefore, the 
Nation needs a temporary solution.
  That solution--S. 104--passed the Energy and Natural Resources 
Committee with a solid, bipartisan vote (15-5). Almost half the 
minority members and all majority members voted in favor of the bill.
  Americans have waited too long for a solution to this environmental 
and public safety challenge--we must not wait any longer. There is a 
critical need to construct a safe, central storage facility to 
eliminate the growing threat to the environment and to the American 
people.
  I have worked with Members on both sides of the aisle to solve any 
problems they have with this bill. We accepted several amendments from 
the democrat side.
  We continue to meet with Democrat Members and the administration to 
resolve remaining concerns. We will continue to work with new Secretary 
Pena and his staff at the Energy Department, now that the Secretary has 
the portfolio to resolve this pressing problem.
  Over the recess, committee staff will be available to work on 
proposed compromises which can be considered in April. Senator Bingaman 
has been very constructive in this regard.
  Much of what he is proposing appears acceptable. However, the bottom 
line is the need for a predictable path to interim and permanent waste 
storage. We simply cannot leave trap doors that allow central storage 
to be delayed for decades.
  We now have an opportunity for bipartisan action. Let's seize that 
opportunity.
  It is no secret both Nevada Senators will do what they feel they need 
to to derail this important bill. They consider it a political 
necessity to oppose it.
  There will be allegations that the science is bad and try to scare us 
with references to mobile chernobyl. They will imply that if this bill 
doesn't pass, nuclear waste will not be transported through this 
country. That is not true. The fact is that there have been 2,500 
shipments of used fuel across this country in the last 20 years.
  This is not just history--it is happening today. Doe is transporting 
spent fuel from nuclear reactors all over the world into the United 
States, virtually as we speak--by truck, by train, by barge, by boat.
  If the Nevada Senators do not tell you about this, there's a reason. 
Its because these shipments have been, and will continue to be, 
completely uneventful. In short, these spent fuel shipments are safe, 
and they aren't news.
  At our hearing in February, all four members of the Nevada delegation 
admitted there was no process and no level of scientific proof that 
would decrease their opposition. This is about politics, and little 
about science.
  Senator Bryan was once in favor of sending high-level materials to 
the Nevada test site. As a State legislator, he voted for A.J.R 15, 
which was signed by the Nevada Governor in May 1975, which asked the 
Federal Government to do just that.
  I think he was right the first time. It is safer, smarter, and 
cheaper to contain these materials at one location in the remote nevada 
desert.
  The Nevada test site was used for decades to explode nuclear bombs. 
It helped win the cold war--now it can help us win the war on 
radioactive waste disposal. High-level nuclear waste is our legacy: Now 
it's our obligation to dispose of it.
  It is irresponsible to let this situation continue. It is unsafe to 
let dangerous radioactive materials pile up at 80 sites in 41 States. 
It is unwise to block safe storage in a remote area when the 
alternative is to simply leave it in 41 States. This is a national 
problem that requires a national solution. We need to pass S. 104.
  So far, the administration's attitude toward nuclear waste storage 
has been to simply ignore the problem and disregard the Governments 
contractual obligation to take this waste. The American people deserve 
better.
  Safe nuclear storage should not be a political issue. It is a 
scientific and an environmental issue--and we need a solution now. 
Sadly, the administration has turned a blind eye and a deaf ear. In 
addition to threats to the environment and safety, 22 percent of our 
electric capacity is at risk--22 percent.
  Starting in January 1998, taxpayers may have to pay billions of 
dollars in liability payments because the Government has not met its 
obligation to take waste. Estimates of taxpayers' liability under a 
recent lawsuit brought by States run as high as $80 billion. That's as 
much as $1,300 per American family. Here's how the damages break down:
  Cost of storage of spent nuclear fuel: $19.6 billion.
  Return of nuclear waste fees: $8.5 billion.
  Interest on nuclear waste fees: $15 to $27.8 billion (depending on 
the interest rate used).
  Consequential damages for shutdown of 25 percent of nuclear plants 
due to insufficient storage (power replacement cost): $24 billion.

[[Page S2732]]

  Inaction is not an option. Inaction is irresponsible.
  Many of the opponents claims are also irresponsible: Interim storage 
at the Nevada test site will not delay construction of Yucca Mountain. 
A viability assessment will occur before the interim site is built. The 
President will have a choice of interim sites after the viability 
assessment.
  This Nation faces a major decision: either continue storing high-
level radioactive materials at 80 locations in 41 States indefinitely, 
or more safely contain them at one, centralized facility.
  The option is clear--it's safer and cheaper. The time for action is 
now.
  The editorial follows:

               [From the Hartford Courant, Mar. 20, 1997]

                        The Lesser of Two Evils

       With the closing of the Connecticut Yankee plant at Haddam 
     Neck, the issue of what to do with the state's high-level 
     nuclear waste has moved from the theoretical to the here and 
     now.
       The dilemma for Connecticut--and for other states that are 
     home to any of 109 nuclear reactors--is whether to continue 
     to store the spent nuclear rods on site or. . . . Or What?
       Or begin shipping the radioactive waste to a temporary 
     repository in the Nevada desert, but only if Congress 
     approves such a facility. Senate action is expected shortly.
       Already, utility ratepayers have contributed $13 billion 
     nationally, and $500 million in Connecticut, for the purpose 
     of disposing spent nuclear fuel at a central repository. But 
     the federal government is more than a dozen years behind in 
     developing a permanent underground vault at Yucca Mountain, 
     Nev., thus heightening the need for a temporary holding 
     place.
       To be sure, concerns about transporting 85,000 tons of 
     waste in 15,000 shipments over 30 years should in no way be 
     minimized. Any leak, accident or terrorist attack would have 
     disastrous consequences for the 75 percent of the nation's 
     population who live along the designated truck and rail 
     routes.
       But nuclear engineers have done everything humanly possible 
     to ensure the integrity of the operation. The casks that 
     contain the radioactive material have been dropped 30 feet 
     onto hard surfaces, engulfed in 1,475-degree fires, submerged 
     under three feet of water and crashed at 80 mph into a 700-
     ton concrete wall. In every test, the casks survived intact. 
     In the seven transportation accidents that have occurred, no 
     radioactivity was ever released.
       Although the risk will never be eliminated, the alternative 
     is unacceptable. High-level nuclear waste cannot continue to 
     be stockpiled at the 73 existing sites. Many reactor sites 
     either have been decommissioned or are running out of room. 
     Experts say Connecticut Yankee's spent fuel could be stored 
     at Haddam Heck for another 30 years if Congress fails to 
     approve a temporary facility.
       Unfortunately, the hands of the clock can't be turned back 
     to a time when nuclear waste didn't exist. In terms of its 
     disposal, a remote desert site in Nevada is the lesser of two 
     evils.

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