Political Quotes

“very soon, we must make an important decision which will lead us to a safer future for all Americans. Mr. President, today we have highly radioactive nuclear waste and used nuclear fuel that is accumulating at over 80 sites in 41 States, including waste stored at DOE weapon facilities. Here is a chart showing the locations of used nuclear fuel and radioactive waste destined for geologic disposal. Each Member can see where used nuclear fuel is stored in his or her own State. Out at Pearl Harbor, we have naval reactor fuel. In Illinois and New Jersey, for example, we have commercial reactors. In many States, particularly on the east and west coasts, we have shut down reactors with spent fuel on site. We have non-Department of Energy research reactors, as indicated by the green, in various States. We have DOE-owned spent fuel and high-level radioactive waste scattered in across the country. The purpose of this chart is to show each Member that used fuel is stored in populated areas. It is near neighborhoods, it is near schools, it is on the shores of our lakes and rivers, and in the backyards of our constituents young and old all across our land. Now, as you can see, this nuclear fuel is being stored in highly populated areas, near where most Americans live. It may be in your town, my town, your neighborhood, my neighborhood. Unfortunately, used fuel is being stored in pools that were not designed for long-term storage.”