Matsui Calls for Interim Storage Solutions for Spent Nuclear Fuel at Energy & Commerce NRC Budget Oversight Hearing

Washington, D.C. Today, at a House Energy andamp; Commerce Joint Energy and Environment Subcommittee hearing on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Fiscal Year 2019 budget, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) called for continuing work to license interim storage solutions for our nation's spent nuclear fuel. Congresswoman Matsui supports legislation that would facilitate the consolidation of spent fuel. Matsui delivered the following remarks at the hearing:

I'd like to echo the Ranking Member's support for efforts to license an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel.

As this committee is aware, it's absolutely critical that we allow communities to redevelop shutdown reactor sites by moving forward with the process to consolidate spent fuel. The current storage reality is wasteful of taxpayer resources and detrimental to communities.

We've all seen the efforts to build a permanent repository repeatedly stall. But, right now, we have a path forward to license a consolidated storage facility, meaning there is an opportunity to move the nation's spent fuel to one location.

I'm pleased that the NRC has docketed two applications for interim facilities and that the Commission is requesting the funding necessary to evaluate both concurrently.

I look forward to hearing more from our Commissioners about the NRC's work on the spent fuel storage licensing process.

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