Matheson Introduces Bill to Ban Importation of Foreign-Generated Nuclear Waste

Washington D.C.—Congressman Jim Matheson today introduced a bipartisan bill to ban the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from authorizing importation of foreign-generated nuclear waste. Matheson—a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee—joined fellow committee members Bart Gordon of Tennessee and Ed Whitfield of Kentucky in sponsoring the legislation.

“I’ve long said that Utah should not be viewed as the dumping ground for nuclear waste,” said Matheson.  “Foreign countries should not see the United States as a convenient place to dispose of waste when our own considerable storage needs are limited.”

Matheson has already written to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission about his opposition to a license application by EnergySolutions to import 20,000 tons of waste from decommissioned nuclear reactors in Italy, process it in Tennessee and dispose of the final product—approximately 1,600 tons of Class A waste—in its Tooele County disposal cell.

Matheson noted that last week, the Utah Radiation Control Board adopted a resolution urging federal regulators to deny the application as well.

Federal regulations require approval of the state and the Compact in which the disposal site is located.

Matheson’s bill would prohibit the importation of nuclear waste unless the material originated within the U.S.  The president could grant specific exemptions only if an application showed importation would serve a national or international policy goal, such as a research purpose.

Matheson noted that several European countries are in the process of decommissioning a number of nuclear power plants but they do not have sites for the large volume of low-level waste that will result.

 

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