William Bryan: “Absolutely. Indeed, I would go further. It seems to me that it would be incumbent upon the department that wants to…”

“Absolutely. Indeed, I would go further. It seems to me that it would be incumbent upon the department that wants to shift this, talking about 835,000 metric tons--we are talking about 17,000 shipments over a period of a number of decades--it would seem to me that the department would have the burden of going to Governors who have concerns, talk with them, and to say, ``Look. This is what we are doing. This is how we propose to protect the shipment route to go through your State.'' That seems to me to be a reasonable basis. I know that there are others who want to take the floor and will have a chance to discuss this some more. But I would like to conclude by saying that this is something that gives every Governor an opportunity to protect his or her citizens. And I say with some measure of envy that the Senator from Alaska can speak with a far greater degree I suppose of comfort level because whatever occurs or does not occur in this body, his State is thousands of miles from the field of action. I wish I were so fortunate. But it becomes my responsibility representing the people of Nevada who I represent, and who are my primary responsibility, to make sure that we provide all of the protections that can possibly be secured for their health and safety. And I will continue to do so. This is an offer by my colleague from Nevada and I to try to provide a safe piece of legislation, if indeed this is to be enacted into law. I yield the floor.”