10 January 2002

Abraham to Recommend Use of Nevada Nuclear Waste Site

U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham says he will recommend to President Bush that a site in the state of Nevada called Yucca Mountain should serve as the nation's long-term geological repository for nuclear waste.

In a January 10 letter to Nevada officials, Abraham said that the desert site about 150 kilometers northwest of Las Vegas is scientifically sound and suitable for development as a repository and would meet "compelling national interests."

"Spent nuclear fuel, high-level radioactive waste, and excess plutonium for which there is no complete disposal pathway without a repository are currently stored at over 131 sites in 39 states," Abraham said.

He said moving these nuclear wastes to one location beneath Yucca Mountain that is far from population centers would help protect against terrorist attacks and ensure that nuclear power, which provides 20 percent of the nation's electricity power, remains an important part of domestic energy production.

The Congress mandated the Yucca Mountain site as the only candidate for storage of all nuclear waste generated in the United States almost 20 years ago. The government has already spent $6,800 million in preliminary planning and development of the site, with a goal of opening the repository by 2010.

Nevada officials and environmentalists oppose the plan, asserting that scientific evidence shows that storage of 77,000 tons of radioactive waste beneath Yucca Mountain, as the government proposes, could contaminate groundwater because of long-term leaching.

Following is the text of a press release containing Abraham's letter:

U.S. Department of Energy

January 10, 2002

Department of Energy Notifies Nevada of Intent to Recommend Yucca Mountain as National Nuclear Waste Repository

Sound Science & Compelling National Interests Lead to Secretary's Recommendation of Yucca Mountain

Washington, D.C. - As required by the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham today notified Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn and the Nevada Legislature that he intends to recommend to President Bush that the Yucca Mountain site is scientifically sound and suitable for development as the nation's long-term geological repository for nuclear waste, which will help ensure America's national security and secure disposal of nuclear waste, provide for a cleaner environment, and support energy security.

The Secretary of Energy phoned Governor Guinn at 2:10 p.m. to inform the Governor of his decision. The Secretary's letter of notification was transmitted to Governor Guinn and the Nevada Legislature immediately following the call.

Following is the text of the notification letter:

Thursday, January 10, 2002

Dear Governor Guinn:

This letter is to notify you, in accordance with section 114(a)(1) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, of my intention to recommend to the President approval of the Yucca Mountain site for the development of a nuclear waste repository. In accordance with the requirements of the Act, I will be submitting my recommendation to the President no sooner than 30 days from this date. At that time, as the Act also requires, I will be submitting to the President a comprehensive statement of the basis for that recommendation. First, and most important, that recommendation will include the basis for and documentation supporting my belief that the science behind this project is sound and that the site is technically suitable for this purpose. Second, there are compelling national interests that require us to complete the siting process and move forward with the development of a repository, as Congress mandated almost 20 years ago. In brief, the reasons are these:

A repository is important to our national security. We must advance our non-proliferation goals by providing a secure place to dispose of any spent fuel and other waste products that result from decommissioning unneeded nuclear weapons, and ensure the effective operations of our nuclear Navy by providing a secure place to dispose of its spent nuclear fuel. A repository is important to the secure disposal of nuclear waste. Spent nuclear fuel, high level radioactive waste, and excess plutonium for which there is no complete disposal pathway without a repository are currently stored at over 131 sites in 39 States. We should consolidate the nuclear wastes to enhance protection against terrorists attacks by moving them to one underground location that is far from population centers. A repository is important to our energy security. We must ensure that nuclear power, which provides 20% of the nation's electric power, remains an important part of our domestic energy production. And a repository is important to our efforts to protect the environment. We must clean up our defense waste sites permanently and safely dispose of other high level nuclear waste.

As I indicated earlier, pursuant to section 114(a) of the NWPA, I will be submitting my recommendation to the President no earlier than 30 days from today, together with the other documentation the statute requires. I will provide you with a copy of those materials at that time.

Sincerely,

(signed) Spencer Abraham


Secretary of Energy

In addition to the notification letter, the Department also released today a document entitled Yucca Mountain "Commonly Raised Topics," which includes a map of nuclear-waste sites. This document is reflective of the most commonly raised topics and includes a description of the step-by-step decision process as required by law.

In addition, as required by law, the Secretary of Energy's basis for recommendation and supporting materials will be available to the public once the formal recommendation is delivered to the President.

For an online copy of the "Commonly Raised Topics," a map of the nuclear waste-related sites, and the Secretary's letter to Governor Guinn, visit the Department of Energy's website: www.energy.gov

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