Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, I appreciate the opportunity to provide comments for the hearing record, on this issue of critical importance to the nation and the state of Nevada. For the record, I served as Governor of Nevada during the years 1979-1983, and previously served as Attorney General of the State from 1971-1979. My firm, The Robert List Company, provides consulting services to a number of clients including the Nuclear Energy Institute.

As a Nevadan, I welcome you, Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, and I appreciate your attention to this issue which is so vital to those of us who live in Nevada. I am especially proud of the priority that Congressman Porter places on assuring that the health and safety of our citizens is appropriately protected.  

At the outset, let me draw attention to what I believe is an extremely important development concerning this project. On December 23, 2003 the Department of Energy announced a preferred rail corridor for movement of used fuel in Nevada to the Yucca Mountain repository and designated the Caliente corridor, based on its more remote location, diminished likelihood of land use conflicts, concerns raised by Nevadans and national security issues raised by the U.S. Air Force on the Caliente-Chalk Mountain corridor. A formal Record of Decision on this announced preference has been made, and initiation of the EIS process for specific rail alignment could begin shortly.

For years, state officials and local representatives from Clark County and its municipalities, including Las Vegas, have expressed deep concern about the implication of shipments through this populous, and rapidly growing community. In a survey of Nevada residents conducted by Voter Consumer Research last year, a majority of Nevadans indicated that transportation by railroad away from major urban areas was an acceptable approach, but opposed transportation through the Las Vegas Valley. DOE has now indicated its preference consistent with those concerns.