[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 59 (Thursday, May 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H2354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             NUCLEAR WASTE

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, legislation is pending that will cause 
great economic and environmental harm to communities all across this 
country. It will require that toxic nuclear waste be shipped near 
homes, playgrounds, churches, schools, et cetera, on its way to a 
central storage facility in Nevada.
  If an accident were to occur, disaster would be imminent as dangerous 
radioactive materials could be released into the environment. Studies 
estimate that even minor damage in an accident would be sufficient to 
contaminate an area half the size of the city of Las Vegas. Cleanup 
efforts would take well over a year in a rural setting and even longer 
in an urban area.
  Before we place the property, health, safety, and welfare of American 
citizens in jeopardy, much more detailed scientific studies are 
necessary to safeguard against such accidents. I urge my colleagues on 
both sides of the aisle to oppose storing nuclear waste at Yucca 
Mountain.

                          ____________________