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.
“SOLVE OUR NATION'S NUCLEAR WASTE PROBLEM” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E92 on Feb. 4, 1998.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SOLVE OUR NATION'S NUCLEAR WASTE PROBLEM
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HON. CHARLIE NORWOOD
of georgia
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, February 4, 1998
Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, before the larger issues of election year politics and balancing the federal budget eclipse this short legislative cycle, there is an urgent need for Congress to solve the nation's nuclear waste problem.
For 16 years, we have witnessed the Department of Energy's (DOE) hesitation to move this project forward, despite a clear statutory obligation established in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. As we are aware, January 31 marked the deadline for DOE to begin accepting used nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants and defense facilities in 41 states and storing it in a single, federally monitored location.
This failure by DOE to act is simply irresponsible. I can find no reason that the department has disregarded the deadline other than a slate of serious consequences or the miscarriage of its fiscal duty and unconscionable behavior.
For one, DOE had a clear obligation to accept used nuclear fuel, not only according to a federal statute, but also according to federal court. In two rulings since 1996, a federal appellate court reaffirmed DOE's legal obligation to take nuclear fuel under a contract with electric utilities.
As if those rulings were not enough, DOE's offense could land it in court again--this time to defend challenges that utilities and electricity consumers are entitled to a full refund, plus damages for financing a disposal program that never materialized. Those damages could amount to $56 million by some estimates. Where will that money come from? Taxpayers, no doubt. Whatever the source, one thing's for certain--any refund or damages owed to utility customers undermine this Congress's efforts to balance the federal budget. It also puts all taxpayers at risk of paying a hefty lawsuit for capricious delays.
For these reasons, it is essential that the House and the Senate leaders appoint conferees to negotiate minor differences in the nuclear waste reform bills passed overwhelmingly by both chambers last year.
I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation as early as possible, so that it is not obscured by other weighty matters that await us this session. Let us solve the nuclear waste problem swiftly, for the sake of taxpayers--our constituents--who have already sent $14 billion to the Nuclear Waste fund without getting anything in return.
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