| Congress Gives Yucca Mountain Final Okay | |
Dateline: 07/10/02
Overriding Nevada's veto by a vote of 60-39, the U.S. Senate on Monday cleared the way for final licensing and construction of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage facility, located some 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
With the Senate's action, the Department of Energy may now apply to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a license to build and operate the Yucca Mountain, Nevada nuclear waste storage facility, scheduled to open by 2010.
Under provisions of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) of 1982, Nevada's Republican Governor Kenny Guinn filed an official notice of disapproval with the U.S. Senate on April 8, 2002. In order to allow the project to go forward, both the House and Senate had to approve resolutions overriding Gov. Guinn's veto. President Bush has indicated his support for the project.
The House of Representatives approved the action on May 8, 2002 by a vote of 306-117.
With construction costs estimated as high as $96 billion, the Yucca Mountain repository is projected by the Department of Energy to hold an estimated 77,000 tons of radioactive material from over 131 nuclear power plants, military reactors and weapons facilities located in 39 states.
Over the objections of numerous environmental and public safety advocate groups, highly-radioactive nuclear waste will be transported by road and rail to Yucca Mountain from sites across the country to be buried for permanent storage.
Opponents Vow to Fight On
Lawmakers who have long fought the Yucca Mountain plan still hope to stop the project.
During the Senate's debate, Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, Democratic Whip and leader of the anti-Yucca forces said, "if they think this is the end they are sadly mistaken," adding that he would continue to fight federal funding for the project and would assist the State of Nevada in suits against its construction.
"We are going to make sure that all I's are dotted and all T's are crossed, which hasn't been done with the jam job of George W. on this issue," said Sen. Reid.
In addition, several lawsuits filed by the State of Nevada challenging the safety of the project are pending in federal courts.
Governments Says Site is Safe
Since its inclusion as part of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) of 1982, the Yucca Mountain project has racked up over $4 billion worth of scientific and environmental studies which, say government experts, prove the site poses no threat to nearby residents or to persons along nuclear waste transport routes.
Background of Debate
Here are a few highlights from more than 20 years of debate on the feasibility and safety of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage facility:
- DOE Approves Nevada Nuclear Waste Site - Citing "compelling national interests," the Department of Energy decided to recommend to President Bush that construction of the controversial Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump go ahead. Nevada Gov. Guinn stated, "This decision stinks."
- Nuclear Waste: Coming sooner to a cave near you? - A 1999 amendment to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) of 1982 puts Yucca Mountain on the fast track, reducing the time required for environmental assessments.
- Nuclear Waste: From Both Sides Now - Can radioactive waste be shipped safely across the county through some of our most densely populated cities and towns?
