Congresswoman Shelley Berkley - Legislation: Press Releases 2000

Mr. Speaker, first, I want to go on record and state that I am adamantly opposed to S. 1287 and its intent to ship over 77,000 tons of nuclear waste across 43 States to be stored at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.

As a Member from Nevada whose district is frighteningly close to Yucca Mountain, and whose 1.2 million constituents live less than 90 miles from Yucca Mountain, it is outrageous to me that the Republican leadership would even consider a closed rule and not allow me or my colleagues to offer my common sense amendments. I represent southern Nevada. This legislation will ship over 77,000 tons of deadly nuclear waste to be permanently stored in Nevada. It will destroy the economy of the State of Nevada and the health of the people living in Nevada.

My amendments are for the express purpose of protecting the health and safety of the people of my district and all the people that live along the transportation routes that the 77,000 tons of lethal waste are to be transported on.

My first amendment would have prevented the transportation of radioactive waste if it would preempt any State health and safety laws or transportation regulations. And may I remind my colleagues that this House has long prided itself on the ability to recognize and respect States' rights. This issue certainly is just as much a State issue as a Federal issue.

My second amendment would have prevented the establishment of a nuclear storage facility if, after sound scientific geologic testing, the facility site was found to be in an active seismic zone, within 10 miles of a potential volcanic eruption, or found to be threatened by migration of groundwater. All of these things have been found scientifically to exist at Yucca Mountain.

My third amendment would have prohibited the transportation of nuclear waste by highway or rail if the route was within five miles of any hospital, school, or college. It is unconscionable that we would risk the safety of our most vulnerable citizens, our children, our elderly, and those confined in a hospital and subject them to the possibility of lethal contamination by nuclear waste

. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against this unfair, unjust, and unreasonable rule.