    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [February 15, 2002]
    [Pages 234-235]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Letter to Congressional Leaders Recommending the Yucca Mountain Site for
    the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and Nuclear Waste
    February 15, 2002

    Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. President:)
        In accordance with section 114 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of
    1982, 42 U.S.C. 10134 (the ``Act''), the Secretary of Energy has
    recommended approval of the Yucca Mountain site for the development at
    that site of a repository for the geologic disposal of spent nuclear
    fuel and high level nuclear waste from the Nation's defense activities.
    As is required by the Act, the Secretary has also submitted to me a
    comprehensive statement of the basis of his recommendation.
        Having received the Secretary's recommendation and the comprehensive
    statement of the basis of it, I consider the Yucca Mountain site
    qualified for application for a construction authorization for a
    repository. Therefore, I now recommend the Yucca Mountain site for this
    purpose. In accordance with section 114 of the Act, I am transmitting
    with this recommendation to the Congress a copy of the comprehensive
    statement of the basis of the Secretary's recommendation prepared
    pursuant to the Act. The transmission of this document triggers an
    expedited process described in the Act. I urge the Congress to undertake
    any necessary legislative action on this recommendation in an expedited
    and bipartisan fashion.
        Proceeding with the repository program is necessary to protect
    public safety, health, and the Nation's security because successful
    completion of this project would isolate in a geologic repository at a
    remote location highly radioactive materials now scattered throughout
    the Nation. In addition, the geologic repository would support our
    national security through disposal of nuclear waste from our defense
    facilities.
        A deep geologic repository, such as Yucca Mountain, is important for
    our national security and our energy future. Nuclear energy is the
    second largest source of U.S. electricity generation and must remain a
    major component of our national energy policy in the years to come. The
    cost of nuclear power compares favorably with the costs of electricity
    generation by other sources, and nuclear power has none of the emissions
    associated with coal and gas power plants.
        This recommendation, if it becomes effective, will permit
    commencement of the next rigorous stage of scientific and technical
    review of the repository program through formal licensing proceedings
    before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Successful completion of this
    program also will redeem the clear Federal legal obligation safely to
    dispose of commercial spent nuclear fuel that the Congress passed in
    1982.
        This recommendation is the culmination of two decades of intense
    scientific scrutiny involving application of an array of scientific and
    technical disciplines necessary and appropriate for this challenging
    undertaking. It is an undertaking that was mandated twice by the
    Congress when it legislated the obligations that would be redeemed by
    successful pursuit of the repository program. Allowing this
    recommendation to come into effect will enable the beginning of the next
    phase of intense scrutiny of the project necessary to assure the public
    health, safety, and security in the area of Yucca Mountain, and also to
    enhance the safety and security of the Nation as a whole.
             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

    [[Page 235]]

    Note: Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the
    House of Representatives, and Richard B. Cheney, President of the
    Senate.