Skip to main content
Image
Photo of the U.S. Capitol dome

Wilson Introduces the Sensible Nuclear Waste Disposition Act

January 11, 2017

Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) issued the following statement after introducing the Sensible Nuclear Waste Disposition Act, critical legislation to prevent the Department of Energy from constructing a new defense waste repository until the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has made a final decision regarding the outcome of Yucca Mountain:

"The federal government has dedicated enormous resources to completing the nuclear storage facility at Yucca Mountain. However, the Obama Administration has tried to do everything in its power to stall the completion of the facility, holding up construction under political red tape—the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's own safety evaluation has found that Yucca Mountain far exceeds the regulatory standards and would not be a threat to the local population of Nevada.

"Now, in the twilight of the Obama presidency, the Administration is trying to abandon Yucca Mountain and find a new repository for nuclear waste—leaving communities across the United States, including the Aiken-Barnwell community in the Second District, to bear the burden of storing nuclear waste that the federal government has promised to remove, while perpetuating a possible threat to communities nationwide.

"American taxpayers have put over $3.7 billion into Yucca Mountain—they deserve to see it completed. This legislation will prevent a new facility from being constructed until the Nuclear Regulatory Commission makes a decision regarding the license for Yucca Mountain."

Importance to South Carolina:

"This legislation is especially important to the residents of South Carolina. South Carolina ratepayers have invested over $1.3 billion into Yucca over the last 30 years—that's in addition to the billions other taxpayers have put into Yucca. Starting over with another project would cost billions from taxpayers and South Carolina ratepayers and would take decades to complete. Meanwhile, South Carolina would remain a de facto repository for nuclear waste. The federal government should finish what they started—or, at the very least—should make an official decision on Yucca before wasting billions of dollars on a duplicative facility."

Bill Text Available Here

Issues:Energy