Duncan Faircloth: “if ever we have had a commonsense solution to a complex problem come through the Senate, it is S. 1936. It is a sensible…”

“if ever we have had a commonsense solution to a complex problem come through the Senate, it is S. 1936. It is a sensible way to deal with the high-level radioactive waste that has been accumulating in 110 commercial nuclear units throughout the country. Regrettably, Mr. President, this bill has been met with wave after wave of opposition based on emotion and ulterior motives rather than the true scientific facts of what we are dealing with. It is now time for this Senate to stand up and make workable decisions using the facts, those facts that we know and have been proven, and ignoring the conflicting rhetoric, no matter how loudly it is expressed. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Clean Air, Wetlands, Private Property and Nuclear Safety, I am fully confident S. 1936 is a proper approach that will ensure the storage, disposal, and transportation of spent nuclear fuel and will be accomplished under all necessary safety requirements. Mr. President, it has been brought up that safety is not really the issue here. Opponents wish to use safety as a stalking horse, because by keeping spent fuel in a state of uncertainty, they can argue that no more nuclear plants should be built and current plants should be closed. The strategy is very simple: Confuse the debate when you do not have a legitimate argument. This is really not about disposal of spent fuel. What we are really talking about here is the future of nuclear energy as a generator of power in this Nation.”