[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 31 (Thursday, March 19, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2250-S2251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I listened to my friend and colleague 
from the State of Nevada speak relative to the movement of high-level 
nuclear waste across various States. I think it is important to reflect 
on two points. I won't extend the debate at

[[Page S2251]]

this time, because we will have an opportunity to do that, hopefully, 
in the near future.
  I point out that what we are advocating in the pending legislation is 
to authorize the storage of waste in a temporary repository in the 
general area of Yucca Mountain, where we have already expended more 
than $6 billion to develop a permanent waste repository. The idea of 
moving it there and putting it in temporary storage is simply to 
alleviate the situation in some of our nuclear power plants where they 
have reached the maximum storage capability allowed by their respective 
States and State regulations.
  My purpose in bringing this up is simply to note that while we are 
attempting to move this material and get the authorization out to the 
Nevada test site, where we have had tests for some 50 years, high-level 
radioactive nuclear tests, the issue of moving is, I think, relative to 
the reality associated with when Yucca Mountain receives certification 
and licensing, then the waste will have to be moved and simply go 
there. By moving it now, we simply allow our nuclear industry to 
continue to provide the 22 percent of the power generation until we get 
the permanent repository licensed and certified.
  The point is, we will move it sooner or later. So the question of 
moving it safely, while a legitimate point, eludes the reality that we 
have to move it. And whether we move it now or later is simply a matter 
of recognizing that the Government entered into a contract with the 
nuclear industry some 14, 15 years ago. The Government has collected 
about $14 million from ratepayers over that period of time, and the 
Government agreed to take the waste this year. So the Government is in 
violation of its contractual commitment. This is another full 
employment act for the lawyers here in Washington as they represent the 
various power companies that are suing the Federal Government for 
nonperformance of a contract to take the waste.
  I encourage my colleagues to recognize that while efforts are being 
made to put the fear of God into the various States and communities 
where the waste would move, the reality is that at some point in time 
we will have to address the issue. We have been moving military waste 
and high-level waste throughout the country and throughout the world 
for many decades and can certainly do it safely.
  I urge my colleagues to evaluate the merits of reality and recognize 
the contribution of the nuclear power industry.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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