(September 9, 2011 -- Washington, D.C.) Reacting to a ruling today on Yucca Mountain by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Congresswoman Shelley Berkley vowed to continue her fight to block funding for Republican efforts to turn Nevada into the nation's nuclear waste dump. The Commission ruled 2-2 that it would take no action on a decision by a lower board regarding the ability for the Department of Energy (DOE) to withdraw a license application for Yucca Mountain submitted under President Bush and opposed by a majority of Nevada families and businesses.
"The nuclear industry and its Republican allies in Congress are trying every trick in the book to keep spending alive on Yucca Mountain and I am proud that we have been able to slash funding for this $100 billion ‘hole to nowhere' in the Nevada desert. Those pushing Yucca Mountain know they have a fight on their hands and they know my record of opposing their efforts to resurrect more wasteful spending on this boondoggle that threatens to destroy lives and Nevada's tourist economy," said Berkley.
The NRC ruling directs that actions be taken by the Construction Authorization Board (CAB) to preserve information associated with adjudication of the Yucca Mountain license and orders the board to complete all case management activities, including disposal of all matters currently pending before it, by the end of September.
Berkley continues to call for nuclear waste to be stored at existing plant sites utilizing hardened, dry-cask storage containers.
"Nuclear power plant operators should be acting now to secure radioactive waste in dry cask storage where it can safely remain for the next 100 years," said Berkley.