[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 96 (Thursday, May 21, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S2583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CONFIRMATIONS OF DAVID A. WRIGHT AND CHRISTOPHER T. HANSON

  Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. Mr. President, today, the Senate confirmed the 
nominations of David Wright and Christopher Hanson to serve as 
Commissioners on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NRC. While I am 
pleased that these nominees will provide the NRC with a full 
Commission, I remain deeply concerned with Mr. Wright's history of 
strongly supporting efforts to move the Yucca Mountain repository 
forward and oppose his confirmation today.
  Shortly after Mr. Wright joined the Commission in 2018, the State of 
Nevada called for Mr. Wright to recuse himself from matters pertaining 
to Yucca Mountain licensing. He refused. Mr. Wright is on the record 
calling for the ``expeditious implementation of the Yucca Mountain 
program'' and founded the Yucca Mountain Task Force. His refusal to 
recuse himself denies Nevada its right to an unbiased Commissioner on 
the NRC and furthers the distrust that plagues the Nation's management 
of nuclear waste.
  More than 30 years ago, Nevada was thrown into the center of the 
nuclear waste debate, when Congress dismissed the siting process it 
established in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 and named Yucca 
Mountain the sole nuclear waste repository for the Nation over the 
strong objections of Nevadans. The site is physically unsuitable and 
puts at risk the safety, security, and economic well-being of the 
State. The decision broke the trust of the American people in the 
government's ability to responsibly manage nuclear waste. The 
reappointment of Mr. Wright to the NRC does nothing to regain the trust 
of Nevadans or establish confidence in nuclear waste repository 
licensing processes.
  Commissioners serving on the independent agency must be neutral and 
unbiased in order to ensure confidence in the guidance, regulations, 
and determinations issued by the NRC. Mr. Wright can make the decision 
to recuse himself from Yucca Mountain licensing matters, and it is my 
hope that he will chose to do so to bring integrity to the Commission 
and to restore the rights of the State of Nevada.
  I also acknowledge the importance of Mr. Hanson being confirmed to 
the NRC today. He will help bring balance to the Commission with his 
decades of experience on nuclear energy and waste issues.
  I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to ensure 
Congress continues to utilize its authority to oversee the work of the 
Commission and hope all Commissioners will approach all matters, 
including those that pertain to Yucca Mountain licensing, without 
preexisting bias and conflicts of interest.

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