The Leader in the Fight to Stop Yucca Mountain, Heller Demands Information on the Proposed Reclassification of High-Level Radioactive Waste

5 Oct 18, WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) is today demanding additional information from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) regarding any potential changes to the classification of “high-level radioactive waste” so as to ensure that the reclassification will not warrant storage of any type of nuclear waste in the State of Nevada. On Thursday of this week, DOE announced that it had opened a 60-day comment period in an effort to interpret the term “high-level radioactive waste,” which, at this time, encapsulates all waste that has been created as a byproduct of used nuclear fuel.

“As Nevada’s senior Senator and the person whose leadership has stopped Yucca Mountain from getting the green light, it is important that I ensure your Department’s proposed redefinition of high-level nuclear waste is not part of a larger ploy to defeat the will of Congress and the clear and consistent opposition of the State of Nevada,” wrote Heller. “As someone who has worked repeatedly with the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senate leadership to ensure that not a single dollar goes toward funding the failed Yucca Mountain project, I am troubled by any action, such as the reclassification of high-level nuclear waste, that could potentially be undertaken to disrupt or circumvent the restrictions on Yucca Mountain that I marshaled into law.

The full text of the letter can be found HERE or below:……….https://www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=2A0F1C28-88A2-470C-BD01-3F9EEEB981C9