Tony Hall: “Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, transporting hazardous waste is a dangerous business, and transporting nuclear waste is…”

“Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, transporting hazardous waste is a dangerous business, and transporting nuclear waste is certainly the most dangerous business of all. That is why I rise in opposition to this rule and to this legislation which would seriously undermine our efforts to keep our communities safe from nuclear waste. Over the past 10 years my own State of Massachusetts witnessed more than 2,200 transportation-related accidents that resulted in the release of hazardous materials. Fifty-two of those accidents resulted in individual injuries costing more than $5.25 million in damages. Fortunately, we do not ship a great deal of nuclear waste. Over the past 30 years we have shipped less than 2,500 truckloads of this incredibly dangerous material. But if this bill becomes law, my State of Massachusetts will see over 100,000 more shipments over the next 30 years. That is more than a 4,000-percent increase. If only 1 percent of transported radioactive waste were released, the Department of Energy has estimated that it would contaminate 42 square miles, would require 460 days to deal with, and would cost over $620 million to clean up. That would spell disaster for families throughout my district and all across this Nation.”