[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 155 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S12052]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         FUNDS FOR ROAD EXPANSION TO TRANSPORT HAZARDOUS WASTE

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask that the text of a 
concurrent resolution passed by the Texas Legislature, be printed in 
the Record.
  The text of the concurrent resolution follows:

                  House Concurrent Resolution No. 202

       Whereas, Compliance with international disarmament treaties 
     to curtail the proliferation of nuclear arms and defuse 
     weapons of mass destruction has created new challenges for 
     the United States related to the dismantling and cleanup of 
     nuclear missiles; and
       Whereas, The development, production, and disassembling of 
     nuclear weapons produce transuranic waste, a highly 
     radioactive conglomeration of contaminated laboratory gloves, 
     tools, dried sludge, and other substances from testing and 
     production facilities; and
       Whereas, To create a safe and environmentally responsible 
     method for permanently disposing of transuranic waste, the 
     United States Department of Energy (DOE) has designed the 
     Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in southern New Mexico 
     that will set the standard for deep geologic disposal of 
     defense-related radioactive waste; and
       Whereas, The transuranic waste to be deposited at the WIPP 
     facility will be shipped by truck from all across the 
     country, traveling through many states, including Texas, 
     which is a major thoroughfare for radio active materials 
     coming from South Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, and Ohio; 
     and
       Whereas, While a majority of the proposed route through 
     Texas is on Interstate 20, a segment runs along U.S. Highway 
     285; this portion of the route, which begins in Pecos, Texas, 
     and continues into New Mexico, is a treacherous and narrow 
     two-lane road; and
       Whereas, The State of New Mexico, in a prudent move to 
     protect the public safety of its citizens, has dedicated part 
     of the impact funds received from the DOE for housing the 
     WIPP to widen its section of U.S. 285; this highway is a 
     dangerous and inadequate road that has already been the scene 
     of one accident involving an empty WIPP transport truck; and
       Whereas, There are currently no federal funds allocated for 
     the State of Texas to take the same necessary safety 
     precautions by widening the section of U.S. 285 running 
     through our State; the health and safety of United States 
     citizens residing in the Lone Star State is no less important 
     than that of our neighbors to the northwest; now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 
     hereby respectfully request the Congress of the United States 
     to allocate funds for road expansion in Texas along the 
     designated route for transporting hazardous waste to the WIPP 
     project; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state forward 
     official copies of this resolution to the President of the 
     United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives 
     and the President of the Senate of the United States 
     Congress, and to all members of the Texas delegation to the 
     Congress with the request that this resolution be officially 
     entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the 
     Congress of the United States of America.

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