NEWS RELEASE

Bipartisan Nuclear Waste Management Measure Moves Toward Senate Floor Action

WASHINGTON—The following is a statement by John Kane, NEI vice president for governmental affairs, on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's 14-6 vote today to approve S. 608, the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1999.

"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.

"Continued federal inaction in safely isolating used nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from defense programs is not acceptable. Nuclear energy provides one-fifth of U.S. electricity needs, and safe, effective management of used fuel will help enable the nation to maximize the economic and environmental benefits from this emission-free technology.

"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."