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Governors challenge nuke waste proposal
Gov. James Douglas and other leaders are taking issue with a proposed change in national energy policy that could leave the state, instead of the federal government, responsible for long term storage of nuclear waste from Vermont Yankee.
BRATTLEBORO - Gov. James Douglas and other leaders are taking issue with a proposed change in national energy policy that could leave the state, instead of the federal government, responsible for long term storage of nuclear waste from Vermont Yankee.
On Wednesday, the Coalition of Northeastern Governors sent a letter to the U.S. Senate expressing opposition to a proposed federal law that would change the government's approach to spent nuclear fuel storage.
Right now, the U.S. Department of Energy is ultimately responsible for the waste produced at the nation's 103 nuclear power plants. For years, the plan has been to transport it and permanently store it at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.
The proposed change in the law would require commercial spent fuel to be stored at local or regional storage facilities in up to 31 states across the nation.
The letter from the Coalition of Northeastern Governors expresses opposition to the change.
In the letter, the governors concede that waste storage is a complex policy issue, but they say that the proposed federal legislation isn't the solution.
"This provision sets a hasty timetable that does not allow adequate consideration of the many safety, security, environmental, infrastructure and transportation impacts associated with keeping these waste in current sites," the letter reads.
Douglas heads energy policy for the coalition of governors. Jason Gibbs, spokesman for the governor, said the legislation, if it becomes law, would shift ultimate responsibility for waste storage away from the federal government.
"It would implement storage requirements without any discussion with state leaders and local communities," he said. "Gov. Douglas thinks it's the wrong way to go."
Rob Williams, spokesman for Vermont Yankee, said the plant does not oppose the legislation.
"The interim storage has always been an option," he said. "It leaves open the possibility of recycling the fuel through reprocessing."
Williams said that wouldn't be an option if spent fuel were immediately buried.
LA Times Letter to the Editor