SCIENCE SHOWS IT IS NOT SAFE -- (House of Representatives - October 17, 2000)

[Page: H10033]

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   (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

   Mr. GIBBONS. Madam Speaker, this Wednesday, scientists will present a research paper on Alloy 22, the material the Department of Energy has proposed to be used for the disposal canister for spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.

   The DOE has based the safety of storing high-level waste at Yucca Mountain almost solely on the performance of these waste canisters, since the existing conditions at Yucca Mountain are so poor.

   However, this latest research shows that the safety of the canister itself proves to be just as poor.

   In fact, scientists induced significant corrosion on the Alloy 22 within only 15 days, raising serious questions whether the material would survive even the first 1,000 years in Yucca Mountain, let alone the 10,000 years needed for safe storage.

   It seems that yet again that science is proving that storing high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain would be a disastrous and deadly decision.

   I yield back this administration's nuclear storage plan, which is obviously based on trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

   Madam Speaker, I include the following advisory for the RECORD:

   OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR,

   AGENCY FOR NUCLEAR PROJECTS,

   Carson City, NV,

   ADVISORY

   Scientists working for the State of Nevada will present the results of preliminary research on Alloy 22, the material the Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed to be used for the disposal canister for spent nuclear fuel and high level waste in the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The presentation will be made to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste at their 122nd meeting Wednesday, October 18, 2000 at Two White Flint North, Room 2B3 11545, Rockville Pike, Maryland.

   The Department of Energy has assigned more than 95% of the performance of Yucca Mountain to the waste packages because the existing conditions at the Yucca Mountain Site are so poor. In preliminary tests, scientists working for the State of Nevada have, within 15 days, induced significant corrosion on the Alloy 22 which raises questions whether the material will survive even the first 1,000 years in the Yucca Mountain environment. The Department of Energy has conceded that Yucca Mountain itself cannot contain the wastes and that if the metal containers fail rapidly in the Mountain's environment, DOE will be back to square one in their attempts to make Yucca Mountain work as a repository for high level waste and spent nuclear fuel.

   If you would like additional information concerning the Advisory Committee meeting or the Alloy 22 research, please contact the State of Nevada Governor's Agency for Nuclear Projects at the above phone number or address.

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