NEWS RELEASE

NEI Applauds House Energy and Commerce Committee Vote on Yucca Mountain

WASHINGTON—The House Energy and Commerce Committee today passed by a vote of 41 to 6 House Joint Resolution 87 approving Yucca Mountain, Nev., for the development of an underground repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and used nuclear fuel, pursuant to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982.

Before consideration by the full committee, the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality on April 23 voted 24-2 to pass the Yucca Mountain resolution. The following comments on H.J.RES. 87 are from John Kane, senior vice president of the Nuclear Energy Institute:

"We, along with millions of Americans, applaud the committee for its strong, bipartisan vote in support of the proposed Yucca Mountain disposal facility. This action highlights the broad support-across regional, ideological and party lines-and sends a strong signal that the federal government's used nuclear fuel management program should move forward expeditiously.

"The industry salutes committee Chairman Tauzin, Ranking Member Dingell, subcommittee Chairman Barton and Ranking Member Boucher in particular for their leadership in advancing this important resolution in a careful, thoughtful and timely manner. By endorsing the recommendation of the scientific community following 20 years of scientific studies at Yucca Mountain, Congress can fulfill the federal government's obligation to safely isolate these materials and advance the nation's energy and environmental security."


The Nuclear Energy Institute is the nuclear energy industry’s policy organization. This news release and additional information about nuclear energy are available on NEI’s Internet site at http://www.nei.org.