[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 155 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY ACT OF 1997

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                               speech of

                           HON. DAN SCHAEFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 29, 1997

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1270 to 
     amend the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982:

  Mr. DAN SCHAEFER of Colorado. Mr. Chairman, the manager's amendment 
makes a number of noncontroversial changes to H.R. 1270, reflecting the 
views of the Committee on Commerce, Committee on Resources, and 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
  First, the amendment directs DOE to use highway and rail routes that 
minimize transportation through populated areas, to the maximum extent 
practicable. This provision was offered by Representative Sawyer of 
Ohio in the Commerce Committee, and incorporated into the manager's 
amendment at his request. The Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee has no objection to this change.
  Second, the amendment directs the Secretary of Transportation to 
establish procedures for the selection of preferred rail routes for 
transportation of nuclear waste to the interim storage facility and 
repository. DOT is direct to consult with State emergency response 
officials in the development of these preferred rail routes. This 
provision was included in the manager's amendment at the request of 
Representative McCarthy of Missouri, and incorporates the views of the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Both Representative 
McCarthy and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee have 
indicated a desire to make some revisions to this language, and I will 
work with them in conference to that end.
  Third, the amendment makes technical changes to provisions governing 
emergency response training.
  Fourth, the amendment deletes section 207 of the bill, which provides 
for the development of private interim storage facilities. This 
provision was included at the request of our colleagues from Utah. In 
recent years, there has been interest in development of private interim 
storage facilities. H.R. 1270 as reported by the Commerce Committee 
included a provision that directed the NRC to review license 
applications ``at the earliest practicable date, to the extent 
permitted by applicable provisions of law and regulation.'' Section 207 
also directed DOE to encourage efforts to develop private storage 
facilities by providing requested information and assistance.
  The deletion of section 207 does not modify NRC's existing 
responsibility to review license applications and issue licenses for 
private interim storage facilities. In the same manner, the deletion of 
section 207 does not diminish DIE's obligation to provide information 
and assistance to the developers of private storage facilities.
  Fifth, the amendment clarifies that nothing in H.R. 1270 affects the 
application of Federal rail and highway laws. This provision was 
included in the manager's amendment at the request of the 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
  Sixth, the amendment adds separability provisions to assure if a part 
of H.R. 1270 is held invalid, the remainder is not invalid. This 
provision is identical to the provisions in the current Nuclear Waste 
Policy Act of 1982.
  Seventh, the amendment provides for establishment of training 
standards for emergency responders. This language is important to 
assure that firefighters are adequately trained to respond to 
transportation accidents.
  I urge my colleagues to support the manager's amendment.

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