The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“FUNDS FOR ROAD EXPANSION TO TRANSPORT HAZARDOUS WASTE” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Senate section on pages S12052 on Nov. 7, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
FUNDS FOR ROAD EXPANSION TO TRANSPORT HAZARDOUS WASTE
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask that the text of a concurrent resolution passed by the Texas Legislature, be printed in the Record.
The text of the concurrent resolution follows:
House Concurrent Resolution No. 202
Whereas, Compliance with international disarmament treaties to curtail the proliferation of nuclear arms and defuse weapons of mass destruction has created new challenges for the United States related to the dismantling and cleanup of nuclear missiles; and
Whereas, The development, production, and disassembling of nuclear weapons produce transuranic waste, a highly radioactive conglomeration of contaminated laboratory gloves, tools, dried sludge, and other substances from testing and production facilities; and
Whereas, To create a safe and environmentally responsible method for permanently disposing of transuranic waste, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) has designed the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in southern New Mexico that will set the standard for deep geologic disposal of defense-related radioactive waste; and
Whereas, The transuranic waste to be deposited at the WIPP facility will be shipped by truck from all across the country, traveling through many states, including Texas, which is a major thoroughfare for radio active materials coming from South Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, and Ohio; and
Whereas, While a majority of the proposed route through Texas is on Interstate 20, a segment runs along U.S. Highway 285; this portion of the route, which begins in Pecos, Texas, and continues into New Mexico, is a treacherous and narrow two-lane road; and
Whereas, The State of New Mexico, in a prudent move to protect the public safety of its citizens, has dedicated part of the impact funds received from the DOE for housing the WIPP to widen its section of U.S. 285; this highway is a dangerous and inadequate road that has already been the scene of one accident involving an empty WIPP transport truck; and
Whereas, There are currently no federal funds allocated for the State of Texas to take the same necessary safety precautions by widening the section of U.S. 285 running through our State; the health and safety of United States citizens residing in the Lone Star State is no less important than that of our neighbors to the northwest; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby respectfully request the Congress of the United States to allocate funds for road expansion in Texas along the designated route for transporting hazardous waste to the WIPP project; and, be it further
Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state forward official copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate of the United States Congress, and to all members of the Texas delegation to the Congress with the request that this resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.
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