Cortez Masto, Rosen Introduce Bill to Overturn Law Establishing Yucca Mountain as Nuclear Waste Repository, Consider New Uses for Site

Washington, D.C. – Today,U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) re-introduced legislation to ensure Yucca Mountain will never be used as a repository for nuclear waste and require the U.S. government to consider other uses for Yucca Mountain that would create jobs and stimulate Nevada’s economy. The Jobs, Not Waste Act follows the Trump Administration’s proposal to scrap Yucca Mountain as the nation’s sole nuclear waste repository and instead allow states to willingly host such facilities. “Nevadans have been clear from the beginning that our state cannot and will not house the nation’s nuclear waste,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “While I welcome the Trump administration’s recent move to leave the unworkable Yucca Mountain proposal behind, we cannot take anything for granted. It’s time to pass our Jobs, Not Waste Act to explore other uses for the Yucca site and allow states who want to store nuclear waste to do so.” “Nevadans have always been clear that we will not allow nuclear waste to be stored at Yucca Mountain – and that any proposal to establish a nuclear waste repository needs to be centered on the consent of the surrounding community,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m encouraged by the recent proposal from the Trump Administration that acknowledges Yucca Mountain is not an option for nuclear waste storage, which is why I hope they will support this legislation to ensure Yucca remains dead. We have an opportunity to consider the benefits of other uses for the Yucca Mountain site to create jobs for Nevadans and grow our economy.” The Jobs, Not Waste Act would repeal the law that established Yucca Mountain as a repository for nuclear waste, require the Department of Energy (DOE) to withdraw and terminate the licensing proceeding for Yucca Mountain at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, require DOE to reclaim and mitigate any adverse environmental impacts to the site, and require the Office of Management and Budget to conduct and submit a study to determine the viability and benefits of other uses for the site. Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen have been leading the fight against storing nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain. During the first Trump Administration, they were part of successful efforts to stop the Administration’s attempts to restart the Yucca Mountain licensing process by preventing funds for the failed site from being included in every final appropriations bill. At the beginning of this Congress, the Senators introduced a bill to guarantee state, tribal, and local officials are given a meaningful voice in the decision-making process when a nuclear waste repository is proposed in their community. ###