Sylvester Turner: “it is not every day that we see the Texas delegation on the floor of this House divided. Normally, we are a group who…”

“it is not every day that we see the Texas delegation on the floor of this House divided. Normally, we are a group who hangs together. It is true, however, that six of our members, out of 31, have opposed this compact, I think primarily because it is a local issue with them, and I understand that. I fought a low-level nuclear waste disposal facility in my legislative district when I was a member of that body in 1981, and I understand where they are coming from. But I think it is important for the other Members of this body to understand that, though six Texans out of 31 oppose this compact, that this compact really is not about the selection of the site. In fact, under this compact, the State of Texas and the Low-Level Nuclear Waste Disposal Authority could select any site. It just so happens that the Sierra Blanca site is the site now under consideration. But that is a matter that will remain under the control of the Low-Level Nuclear Waste Disposal Authority in Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to share a little bit of history. The State of Texas created a Low-Level Nuclear Waste Disposal Authority in our State in 1981 when I was a freshman member of the Texas House. We did it because we were having an increasing problem at our medical facilities and with our utilities and finding out where we could permanently dispose of low-level waste. What we decided to do was create a State commission to select a permanent site. It was the right thing to do.”