Energy chief shifts course on storage of nuke waste

Mark D. Preston

Thursday, Feb. 25, 1999 | 11:10 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- The Department of Energy this morning proposed managing the nation's nuclear waste at power plants across the country rather than requiring Nevada to become the interim dumping ground for the spent nuclear fuel.

The proposal, however, would not derail federal efforts to determine whether Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, should become the permanent repository for the nation's nuclear waste. The location for a permanent repository is expected to be determined by 2001, although the DOE is considering only Yucca Mountain at this time.

Energy Secretary Bill Richardson unveiled the federal government's new proposal for nuclear waste to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee during a hearing to discuss his agency's $17.8 billion budget request for fiscal year 2000. Richardson was careful to note that the DOE is not endorsing the proposal, but he described the idea as a "promising concept."

From New Hampshire to Oregon, nuclear waste is piling up at 72 power plants in 33 states, and the federal government has failed to meet its 1998 legal obligation to begin managing the used nuclear fuel. This has caused a showdown between the nuclear industry, which wants the waste removed from the power plants, and Nevada lawmakers, who are angry they might have to accept the nation's nuclear waste even though there is no nuclear power plant in their state.

While members of Nevada's congressional delegation appeared pleased with the news, supporters of placing an interim nuclear dump in Nevada appeared skeptical of the plan. Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Alaska, said the country's waste policy is in "shambles" and the Clinton administration has a "nonexistent" track record on the issue.

Murkowski, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said he wants some definite dates on when the spent nuclear fuel will be removed from the power plants.

"What we demand is a date certain; otherwise, we are just going down rabbit trails," Murkowski said.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., questioned whether the DOE is capable of managing multiple interim storage sites when the federal government is not even able to agree on a permanent repository.

"I am troubled that if the federal government can't handle one centralized site, how can we manage 72 of them?" Wyden said.

But Richardson warned the Senate and the House not to fast-track legislation on the interim storage issue through Congress, reiterating the president's vow to veto it. Richardson said Clinton opposes making the Nevada Test Site an interim storage facility because it doesn't make sense to transfer spent nuclear fuel all over the country without first determining whether Yucca Mountain is a suitable permanent repository.

Richardson appealed to Congress to "avoid an unnecessary legislative showdown this year." Historically, progress on the interim waste issue has been gridlocked because neither supporters nor opponents have been able to find common ground.

"The way to avoid another confrontation is to begin to work within the next week and ... flush out the proposal," Richardson said. "My thought is we should seize the moment and move ahead."

"Give me some time before you pass a bill," Richardson said.

At least one member of the committee, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., appeared receptive to the idea.

"I am pleased he is open to new ideas of how to solve this nuclear waste issue," Bingaman said. "I am optimistic we can make progress in nuclear waste ... before the year is out."

Noting that the DOE is spending $4 million this year to study the potential for accelerator transmutation for the waste, Richardson also told the committee he is interested in learning more about this disposal method. He described it as "intriguing research."

As part of the DOE's $17.8 billion budget request, $409 million would be earmarked for the ongoing Yucca Mountain study, an increase of $52 million from last year, Richardson said.