Volume 143, No. 144 covering the 1st Session of the 105th Congress (1997 - 1998) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“NUCLEAR WASTE” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Senate section on pages S11022 on Oct. 23, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
NUCLEAR WASTE
Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, today Richard Wilson, who is the Assistant Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Air and Radiation, has announced that they have given preliminary certification to the waste isolation pilot plant in Carlsbad, NM. To Idaho and to the Nation, this is good news, because for the first time in decades we are on the threshold of beginning to move radioactive waste to a permanent repository, and the waste isolation pilot plant in Carlsbad will handle the transuranic waste, a majority of which is stored in my State of Idaho. This is consistent with an agreement that DOE struck with the State of Idaho over a year ago. EPA's action today is also consistent with a request by Congress that EPA review the facility in Carlsbad, NM, to make sure that it met the standards that we had asked for human safety, environmental protection, and of course dealing with any potential radiation. They believe it does not. Now they must go to the public process.
We hope they will move as quickly as possible in that, because Idaho and the rest of the country deserves to know that by 1998 we will begin to see nuclear waste moving to a safe, permanent repository that this Government and this Senate has asked for well over a decade ago.
I thank my colleague from Alabama for yielding.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama.
Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished Senator from Florida.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida is recognized.
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