State expertise needed on new Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future

For Immediate Release
May 24, 2010
Contact:  Alex Schroeder (303) 588-0056 

DENVER -- Western governors today called on the U.S. Department of Energy to include states on the President's new "Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future," given their long, successful history related to the transportation and storage of both radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.

In a letter to Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Western governors said the 15-member commission is impressively credentialed, but states also need to be at the table. The letter was signed by the Chairman of the Western Governors' Association, Gov. Brian Schweitzer (Mont.), and Vice Chairman, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter (Idaho).

The governors noted that states have worked with the DOE for 25 years on issues related to Yucca Mountain, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Hanford, Idaho National Laboratory, the Nevada Test Site, and a proposed private fuel storage facility.  In addition, Western Governors signed a Memorandum of Agreement in 2009 with the Secretary of Energy on the transportation of transuranic waste.  

"Western states are arguably the best source of insight into the intergovernmental and local consideration of policy choices for the safe and effective transportation, storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste," the governors said. 

They said the commission's charter allows subcommittees to be formed to undertake fact-finding and analysis on specific topics and to provide appropriate information and recommendations to the commission. 

"Accordingly, we recommend that DOE establish and fund a subcommittee to the Commission consisting of gubernatorial appointees to establish a state role in a reformulated program for managing the nation's spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste," the letter stated.  "U.S. Territories should also be included in the discussion should they be impacted by any of the deliberations of the Commission."  

The governors said states should have a full opportunity to participate in the reformulation of the nation's policies for managing these wastes.  To neglect the states' role in the process, they added, could undermine the effectiveness and public acceptability of the commission's recommendations. 

The Blue Ribbon Commission is scheduled to meet May 25-26 in Washington D.C.