[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 117 (Thursday, July 24, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H6756]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRANSPORTING LIQUID NUCLEAR WASTE

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise to express my serious concerns 
with the Department of Energy's proposal to transport liquid nuclear 
waste from Ontario's Chalk River Research reactor to the Department of 
Energy's Savannah River Site, across several States and over the Peace 
Bridge, which is located in my western New York congressional district.
  Unlike spent nuclear fuel, which can be safely transported in solid 
form, in liquid form, it is more radioactive and complicated to 
transfer. Most concerning is that in the event of a spill, liquid 
highly-enriched uranium would be difficult to contain.
  A major contamination in the Buffalo-Niagara region could potentially 
have dire consequences on the Great Lakes, the Niagara region, and the 
greater Buffalo-Niagara population.
  Madam Speaker, a plan that carries this level of risk should not be 
done without a thorough review. The Department of Energy must undertake 
a formal environmental impact statement before proceeding.

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