Resolution Addressing Used Nuclear Fuel Management for the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future
WHEREAS, the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL) was created to provide strategic resources to women leaders for leadership development and effective governance and NFWL is a non-partisan, non-profit educational foundation and exists to intellectually equip past and sitting women legislators, local, state and federal elected officials, and tribal leaders by assisting them in the process of legislative debate, public opinion molding and leadership; and
WHEREAS, the NFWL Energy, Natural Resource and Agriculture Policy Committee is on record supporting execution of an enhanced and balanced portfolio of energy choices such as nuclear, bio-energy, hydropower, clean coal, oil, gas, geothermal, fuel reforming and related alternative and renewable energy research, development, and deployment; and
WHEREAS, comprehensive federal energy legislation signed into law in 2005 provides for the expansion of nuclear energy for the production of electrical power and hydrogen, as well as the development of bio-energy and other alternative fuels to reduce dependence on foreign sources of oil, a truly balanced portfolio of energy options; and
WHEREAS, Americans' support for nuclear energy has climbed over 70% as it provides clean, safe, reliable power and has an important role to play as we build a low-carbon future and is crucial to the U.S. ability to combat climate change, enhance energy security, and increase economic prosperity; and
WHEREAS, the current Administration has committed to restarting America's nuclear industry and, even though it is terminating the Yucca Mountain Repository Project, has stated that it recognizes the federal obligation to remove used fuel from commercial nuclear power plant sites; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Energy has established the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future, comprised of, and lead by, impressive scientific, policy, and industry experts, that is to provide recommendations for safe, long-term policies and programs for managing the nation's commercial and defense used nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste; now
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that NFWL's National Policy Committee on Energy, Natural Resources & Agriculture supports the development of policies and programs for managing used nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste that will withstand the test of time, support nuclear power, and are based on sound scientific and technical analysis; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission should look at all options for used nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste management, including central interim storage, enhanced fuel utilization technologies, recycling and geologic disposal, and a broad range of technological and policy alternatives by analyzing issues such as the scientific, environmental, economic and management or other issues surrounding the alternatives it considers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission's recommendations include flexibility and stability in rules and regulations, involve innovative technology yet learning from the past, include recommendations for meeting the Federal obligation, and will enable the United States to once again lead the work in these technologies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NFWL will forward a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, The Secretary of the U. S. Department of Energy, Members of the Blue Ribbon Commission and Leadership in Congress.