Majority Statement

• Daniel K. Inouye

  Senator
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  Majority Statement

  Daniel K. Inouye

  Accomplishing the safe and secure transportation of nuclear waste is one of the more complex challenges facing our government. Spent nuclear fuel is the by-product not only of the nuclear power industry that supplies electrical energy to millions across the country, but also is created by our armed forces. This fuel retains its radioactive qualities for thousands of years, and is currently stored at 77 temporary and interim storage sites across the country.  
  
  We are not here today to discuss the merits of the Department of Energy’s selection of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as the site for a permanent underground geological repository to store nuclear waste, or its current license application. Rather, we must ensure that all shipments of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste are held to the highest safety and security standards.  
  
  Today, nuclear waste is transported by rail, truck, and barge, all of which are under the jurisdiction of this Committee. The risks of transporting nuclear waste must be fully understood and evaluated and a system of transportation must be designed to fully address those risks.
  
  In this hearing, we will examine the current regulatory regime for nuclear waste transportation, and hear from researchers and a representative of the rail industry in order to more fully understand the challenges of transporting nuclear waste. It is this Committee’s obligation to evaluate these challenges and to ensure that spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste is transported in ways that minimize the safety and security risk to the general public.  
  
  

Opening Remarks

• The Honorable John Ensign

  United States Senator

  Nevada

• The Honorable Harry Reid

  United States Senator

  Nevada

Testimony

• The Honorable Edward Sproat

  Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management

  U.S. Department of Energy
  Download Testimony (21.87 KB)

• Mr. Michael Weber

  Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards

  U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
  Download Testimony (84.37 KB)

• Mr. Ted Willke

  Associate Administrator for Hazardous Material Safety, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

  U.S. Department of Transportation
  Download Testimony (125.33 KB)

• Mr. Ed Pritchard

  Director, Office of Safety Assurance and Compliance, Federal Railroad Administration

  U.S. Department of Transportation
  Download Testimony (125.33 KB)

Witness Panel 2

• Dr. Kevin Crowley

  Senior Board Director, Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board

  National Academy of Sciences
  Download Testimony (58.80 KB)

• Dr. James Ballard

  Associate Professor, Department of Sociology

  California State University
  Download Testimony (490.59 KB)

• Mr. Edward Hamberger

  President and CEO

  Association of American Railroads
  Download Testimony (34.85 KB)

• Ms. Sandra Schubert

  Director

  Environmental Working Group
  Download Testimony (302.78 KB)