Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Paul Tonko (D-NY) delivered the following remarks on the House Floor during consideration of H.R. 3053, Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act:
M. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3053, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act.
First, let me recognize the hard work done by Mr. Shimkus on this bill. He has been tireless in this effort, and to his and his staff’s credit, he has worked with us to make what I believe are a number of improvements to the bill.
Regardless of your position on nuclear energy, we have to acknowledge the reality that tens of thousands of tons of waste already exist.
This is a problem for over 120 host communities across the country, and it will not be solved by continuing to ignore it.
But even if you do not represent one of those communities, all of our constituents are paying for this waste.
Decades ago, the federal government entered into agreements to remove it from nuclear plants. Deadlines have been missed, and now all taxpayers have a legal liability of over $34 billion, which is being paid from the Treasury’s Judgment Fund.
In my view, the most important thing this bill does is set up a path forward on interim storage, which will allow spent nuclear fuel to be stored in a consolidated location on a temporary basis while a permanent repository is pursued.
The bill includes language, based upon a proposal developed by our colleague Doris Matsui, to allow the Secretary of Energy to enter into an agreement to establish an interim storage pilot program, which can move forward directly after enactment.
Consolidating waste at a small number of sites- instead of 121 communities across the country- will help ensure waste is managed more safely and securely while allowing those 121 sites to begin to be redeveloped for other purposes.
I know a number of our colleagues have concerns with this bill. I understand their position.
And many Members that support this bill, including myself, have not passed judgement on the merits or final disposition of the Yucca Mountain project.
That is why members of the minority demanded a number of troubling Nevada-related provisions be removed from the bill during the committee process.
This bill will not rubberstamp the Yucca permitting application. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will still need to adjudicate the many remaining issues with the application, and it will need appropriations in order to do so.
I know we will hear about the challenges of transporting spent fuel to a final repository.
But the reality is nuclear material is already moved around this country today without incident due to strict safety requirements.
The only alternative to not moving this waste is keeping it spread out in 121 locations for tens of thousands of years.
Overall, this bill is a step in right direct toward beginning to address our nation’s very difficult nuclear waste issues, which is why it was reported out of Committee by a vote of 49 to 4.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
