Issa presses Department of Energy for long-term nuclear waste storage solution

U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) pushed on Monday for a nationwide nuclear waste storage plan and for the removal of nuclear waste from the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station (SONGS).

Issa highlighted the “urgent need our nation has for the department to develop and execute a national plan to store waste” in comments submitted to Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz on consent-based siting processes for nuclear waste storage and disposal facilities.

“A 2011 Government Accountability Office report estimated over $15 billion has already been spent toward the development of a nuclear waste repository,” Issa wrote. “The department estimates an additional $11 billion will be spent. Yet, the permanent designated site of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, is nowhere near opening while the nation maintains thousands of pounds of radioactive nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel (SNF) scattered throughout the country.”

SONGS, which is located in Issa’s congressional district, is in the process of decommissioning. By mid-2019, 3.6 million pounds of SNF from the site will be ready for the Department of Energy (DOE) to remove, transport and dispose of.

“Thus, it is particularly important for the residents of southern California that the department find a solution to radioactive waste,” Issa said. “I know many from our community surrounding SONGS are too commenting on this process at the department’s request; I ask the Department of Energy to pay special attention to their opinions and recommendations.”

Issa highlighted the importance of ensuring a fair process for site selection and noted that, “Evaluating the safety, health and environmental concerns will impact the timeline, costs and risks associated with the collection and transportation of radioactive waste but they are imperative components.”

“The department has the duty to maintain an open dialogue with local stakeholders by hosting community forums, asking for public comments and reviewing them carefully, and providing information and resources to those who live near a prospective site to ensure they are current,” Issa added.