The US Senate has given a huge boost to the nuclear industry both in the US and world-wide by approving the designation of Yucca Mountain, Nevada as the site for a national repository for spent fuel and high-level radioactive waste.
Approval of the resolution, which was passed without a formal vote, paves the way for the Department of Energy to prepare and file a licence application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and to begin developing a transport policy and plan.
The resolution has already been overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives, and the Senate decision means both houses of Congress have now formally over-ruled objections by the state of Nevada to the nomination of the site by President George Bush.
Senate consent came immediately after senators approved by a margin of 60 to 39 a 'motion to proceed' to bring the resolution to the floor (see News No. 223, 25th June). By mutual agreement between Senate leaders, there was no recorded final vote on the resolution itself.
Joe Colvin, the president and CEO of the US Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), said in reaction: "This is a great day for US energy security and common-sense environmentalism. A bi! partisan group of US senators from all regions of the country had the courage of their convictions to choose good public policy in the face of intense political pressure.
"The Senate's approval of the Yucca Mountain resolution is a clear signal of continued congressional support for nuclear energy and the reliable, clean electricity it supplies to one of every five American homes and businesses. Consolidating used nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants and high-level radioactive waste from US defence programmes is good for US energy security, national security and our environment. It is also vitally important that our government keep faith with the millions of electricity consumers who since 1983 have committed 18 billion dollars to finance the government's nuclear waste disposal programme.
"Twenty years of unprecedented scientific evaluation of every geologic and environmental aspect have clearly determined Yucca Mountain's suitability as a repository for used nucle! ar fuel. It is important that the government continue to move forward on the Yucca Mountain project as long as science deems it prudent to do so. Today's vote rightly allows the Yucca Mountain evaluation process to proceed to the licensing phase.
"The industry fully realises that safe transportation of used nuclear fuel and defence waste is critical to the success of the Yucca Mountain programme. It is dedicated to maintaining its stellar record of the past 38 years that has witnessed more than 3000 shipments without a single incidence of a release of radiation.
"The industry appreciates the leadership that President Bush, energy secretary Abraham, senators Bingaman, Murkowski and Craig, speaker Hastert, congressmen Tauzin, Dingell, Barton, Boucher and many other members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have provided to advance this programme. They are all to be commended for their vigorous efforts to protect the environment and strengthen our nation's energy security."