[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 4138]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     YUCCA MOUNTAIN BY THE NUMBERS

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to share with you some 
disturbing numbers regarding the shipping of high-level nuclear waste 
to Yucca Mountain, Nevada.
  First, let me tell you it will take over 96,000 truck and rail 
shipments for this material to get there. These shipments will go 
through 44 States, 703 counties, and at least 109 major population 
cities. More than 7 million people live within one-half mile of the 
nuclear transportation routes. Close to 50 million people live within 3 
miles of these shipping routes. And contrary to what the DOE espouses, 
nuclear waste currently stored at 77 reactor and storage sites in 39 
States, is not just going to magically appear at Yucca Mountain. These 
shipments will come through your communities for over 38 years.
  The cost associated with cleaning up just one accident in your 
community is over $13.7 billion taxpayer dollars, not counting the 
health care costs associated with those affected.
  That is the story, Mr. Speaker, by the numbers. The sad truth is 
these numbers just do not add up to a plan which protects the safety 
and security of all Americans. I urge my colleagues to oppose the Yucca 
Mountain bill.

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