Political Quotes

“while I have the attention of the Senator from Minnesota, the Department of Energy did a comprehensive analysis called ``The Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation System,'' which I think encompasses a good deal of the concerns of the Senator from Minnesota. I encourage that he review it at his leisure. I also remind my colleagues that the issue before us is simply licensing and the authority that this body gives the Department of Energy to proceed with the license. That licensing process will legitimately conclude in an evaluation of the adequacy of the transportation proposals either by rail, road, or a combination of both involving the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, and the National Academy of Sciences. They are judged to be the best experts as opposed to those of us who obviously are not necessarily specialists but generalists in this area, although we have some expertise in legislation. I also remind my colleagues that this is the formal process of some 20 years in evolution of addressing the procedure to address the waste. I am sensitive to the needs of my colleagues from Nevada who obviously do not want the waste in their State, but I remind my friend from Minnesota that there are 835 metric tons of nuclear fuel stored in Minnesota in two locations, and that Minnesota has three nuclear units--Prairie Island 1 and 2 and Monticello.”