Nuclear Waste Bill Has Battle Lines Being Drawn

Mar 14, 2008 by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) Utah Congressman Jim Matheson and Congressman Bart Gordon of Tennessee are co-sponsoring legislation that would ban the Nuclear Regulatory Commission - the NRC - from authorizing the importation of nuclear waste generated in foreign countries. Utah based Energy Solutions questions the need for such legislation.

"We believe that Congressman Gordon's legislation stripping the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of it's jurisdiction over an issue within its purview is unwise, unwarranted and unnecessary. The NRC has the scientific and technical expertise to make thoughtful decisions based on facts," Energy Solutions Spokesperson Mark Walker says hwile reading from a company statement.

The bill would stop Energy Solutions' plan to import 20,000 tons of nuclear waste to the U.S., which would be processed in Tennessee before 1,600 tons makes its way to Utah for storage. Vanessa Pierce, executive director of the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah, says in no way does the legislation strip the NRC of its ability to regulate waste.

"At some point we have to look at the broader policy implications, et al. And there are huge political implications when you look at disposing huge quantities of nuclear waste in one country," says Pierce. "It's not appropriate for regulators to make policy decisions. That's what Congress is for."

Matheson has already written a letter to the NRC in opposition to the Energy Solutions plan. Utah's Radiation Control Board is also urging denial of the application.

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