House panel backs bill to revive Nevada nuclear waste dump
WASHINGTON — A House panel on Wednesday approved a bill to revive the mothballed nuclear waste dump at Nevada’s Yucca Mountain, while also moving forward with a separate plan for a temporary storage site in New Mexico or West Texas.
A company wants to create a temporary storage site for spent nuclear fuel rods near Carlsbad. A second company has proposed a temporary storage facility in West Texas near the New Mexico border but has put that plan on hold.
Supporters said the Yucca Mountain bill represents a comprehensive package to solve a nuclear-waste management problem that has festered for more than three decades. The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the bill, 49-4, sending it to the full House. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., was among those voting against the measure.
Republican Reps. Greg Walden of Oregon, Fred Upton of Michigan and John Shimkus of Illinois said in a joint statement that the bill is good for taxpayers, communities and ratepayers. Walden chairs Energy and Commerce, while Upton and Shimkus chair energy and environment subcommittees.
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