While there was bi-partisan support in the House Energy Committee for Yucca Mountain (and consolidated storage), the bi-partisan opposition in Nevada continues.
Here is junior NV U.S. Senator, Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto's, statement:
June 28, 2017
Cortez Masto Statement on House Bill to Revive Yucca Mountain
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, released the following statement on H.R. 3053, a bill that was approved this morning by the House Energy and Commerce Committee and would allow for the revival of Yucca Mountain to move forward:
“Any proposed nuclear repository site or storage facility should require the consent of the host state before it can advance. It is unjust and unfair to force Nevadans to live next to a nuclear waste dump that could harm both their health and livelihood. We also cannot ignore the scientific analysis that has deemed Yucca Mountain unsafe and unfit for nuclear waste storage. This bill ignores the detrimental impacts to Nevada’s communities and economy if Yucca Mountain moves forward. The state of Nevada stands ready to fight any and all proposals that seek to revive Yucca Mountain, and I’m prepared to take on this fight in the Senate.”
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The Now Report has covered Sen. Cortez Masto's statement.
On June 28, 2017, NV's senior U.S. Senator, Republican Dean Heller, also responded to the House bill's passage by the committee:
Heller Statement On Nuclear Waste Policy Act Clearing House Energy Committee
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) released the below statement after the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, legislation proposed by Congressman John Shimkus (IL-15) that amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, which names Yucca Mountain as the country’s sole nuclear waste repository.
“This legislation is dead on arrival in the Senate. The only real solution to our nation’s nuclear waste problem is through consent based siting like in my bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act,” said Heller. “We owe it to the American taxpayer to move past the failed policies of Yucca Mountain. I will continue to stand with the State of Nevada and fight this reckless proposal every step of the way in the U.S. Senate.”
In April, Heller appeared before the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment during a hearing on the Nuclear Waste Policy Act. In his testimony, Heller encouraged the consideration of his Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act, legislation that permits the construction of a nuclear waste repository only if the Secretary of Energy receives written consent from the governor of the host state, affected local officials, and affected Indian tribes.
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Permalink: https://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/6/heller-statement-on-nuclear-waste-policy-act-clearing-house-energy-committee