Energy, environment congressmen address policy on nuclear waste management

U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chair Greg Walden and Subcommittee on Environment Chair John Shimkus
sent a letter Monday to Energy Secretary Rick Perry, regarding the nuclear waste management policy.

“You have a challenging task ahead as you constitute DOE’s senior leadership team and develop your priorities and policies,” the letter said. “We request that you work with us and committee staff to identify constructively a path forward to manage our nation’s spent nuclear fuel as you fill out your leadership team and senior staff at the Department.”

The letter applauded the President’s decision to include funding to restart the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository licensing process, which has stalled in recent years, in his budget.

The letter also cited legislation regarding spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW) currently being considered in Congress and requested that Perry take certain actions to support these laws.

The congressmen suggested that Perry reconstitute the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, reassess the decision to pursue a defense waste only policy and provide funding to the State of Nevada and the Nye County Commission to assist with activities during the Yucca Mountain licensing process.

Perry was also asked to continue sending monthly DOE reports on nuclear waste disposal accounts and activities and invited him to join members of Congress on a tour of the Yucca Mountain site.