Shelley Berkley: “I feel like the skunk at the office party, but I rise to oppose the funding for the Yucca Mountain project contained in…”

“I feel like the skunk at the office party, but I rise to oppose the funding for the Yucca Mountain project contained in this bill. This bill shortchanges water projects and energy technology research and development, research into technologies to harness the sun and wind and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Yet there is 15 percent more funding for Yucca Mountain than there was in last year's bill despite the fact that this project is unsafe and riddled with problems and, in my estimation, can and never will be built. I want to update my colleagues on the recent developments regarding Yucca Mountain, and I sincerely hope that they listen. Last month, the Department of Energy revealed that scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey who were working on the water infiltration and climate studies at Yucca Mountain actually falsified documentation. Water infiltration and climate are two of the most fundamental factors involved in establishing whether or not the proposed repository can safely isolate radioactive waste and prevent groundwater contamination. In all my years fighting this project, I knew Yucca Mountain was not scientifically sound, but I never dreamed and never thought that Federal employees would purposely falsify documents to cover up the lack of basic science.…”