[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 60 (Thursday, April 29, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S4428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, more than 15 years ago, Congress directed 
the Department of Energy (DOE) to take responsibility for the disposal 
of nuclear waste created by commercial nuclear power plants and our 
nation's defense programs. Today, there are more than 100,000 tons of 
spent nuclear fuel that must be dealt with. Over a year has now passed 
since the DOE was absolutely obligated under the NWPA of 1982 to begin 
accepting spent nuclear fuel from utility sites. Today DOE is no closer 
in coming up with a solution. This is unacceptable. This is in fact 
wrong--so say the Federal Courts. The law is clear, and DOE must meet 
its obligation. If the Department of Energy does not live up to its 
responsibility, Congress will act.
  I am encouraged that Congressmen Bliley, Barton, Upton, and the rest 
of the House of Representatives have begun to address this issue. It is 
good to see a bipartisan effort for a safe, practical and workable 
solution for America's spent fuel storage needs. The proper storage of 
spent fuel is not a partisan issue --it is a safety issue. The solution 
being advanced is certainly more responsible than just leaving waste at 
105 separate power plants in 34 states all across the nation. There are 
29 sites which will reach their storage capacity by the end of this 
year.
  Where is DOE? Where is the solution? All of America's experience in 
waste management over the last twenty-five years of improving 
environmental protection has taught Congress that safe, effective waste 
handling practices entail using centralized, permitted, and controlled 
facilities to gather and manage accumulated waste.
  Mr. President, the management of used nuclear fuel should capitalize 
on this knowledge and experience. Nearly 100 communities have spent 
fuel sitting in their ``backyard,'' and it needs to be gathered and 
accumulated. This lack of a central storage capacity could very 
possibly cause the closing of several nuclear power plants. These 
affected plants produce nearly 20% of America's electricity. Closing 
these plants just does not make sense.
  Nuclear energy is a significant part of America's energy future, and 
must remain part of the energy mix. America needs nuclear power to 
maintain our secure, reliable, and affordable supplies of electricity. 
Nuclear power, at the same time, allows the nation to directly and 
effectively address increasingly stringent air quality requirements.
  Both the House and the Senate passed a bill in the 105th Congress to 
require the DOE to build this interim storage site in Nevada, but 
unfortunately this bill didn't complete the legislative process because 
of time constraints. We ran out of time. I challenge my colleagues in 
both chambers of the 106th Congress to get this environmental bill 
done. The citizens, in some 100 communities where fuel is stored today, 
challenge the Congress to act and get this bill done. The nuclear 
industry has already committed to the federal government about $15 
billion toward building the facility. In fact, the nuclear industry 
continues to pay about $650 million a year in fees for storage of spent 
fuel. It is time for the federal government to honor its commitment to 
the American people and the power community. It is time for the federal 
government to protect those 100 committees.
  To ensure that the federal government meets its commitment to states 
and electricity consumers, the 106th Congress must mandate completion 
of this program--a program that includes temporary storage, a site for 
permanent disposal, and a transportation infrastructure to safely move 
used fuel from plants to the storage facility.
  Mr. President, this federal foot dragging is unfortunate and 
unacceptable. Clearly, the only remedy to stopping these continued 
delays is timely action in the 106th Congress on this legislation. By 
moving this process, which must also include the work of the Senate, 
the House's work can be improved. Let's move forward and get this bill 
done.

                          ____________________