For 5 years, the nuclear industry had demanded that their waste be shipped Out of Sight, Out of Mind

"Mr. Chairman, one thing is clear: used fuel must be stored properly. The question is, does it make more sense to store it in more than 100 locations across the country or at one location in the Nevada desert?" (Testimony of Erle Nye, Chairman and Chief Executive of Texas Utilities Company on behalf of the Nuclear Energy Institute. March 24, 1999 Before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee U.S. Senate)

Industry has balked at the DOE proposal to leave waste onsite and continued their insistence that the waste be shipped across 43 states and past 50 million Americans

"By passing legislation, Congress can ensure that [the] repository program continues and that federal management of fuel until that time is done more efficiently at one location—not at federal sites scattered across the United States." (Nuclear Energy Institute press statement Feb 25, 1999 - DOE Proposal To Take Title of Used Nuclear Fuel Would Create 72 Federal Nuclear Waste Storage Sites)

Now, the nuclear industry has done a U-turn and supports continued onsite storage of their waste

"The nuclear energy industry applauds Senator Murkowski and the Energy Committee for their creativity and leadership in developing a measured, streamlined approach that deservedly received bipartisan support … With Democrats and Republicans endorsing this legislative compromise, we are moving in the right direction to address one of the nation's top environmental challenges." (Nuclear Energy Institute press statement June 16, 1999 - Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's 14-6 vote to approve the new Murkowski bill)

Maybe There is No Crisis and They Just Want the Money

For more information contact: Wenonah Hauter 546-4996 or whauter@citizen.org

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