Just this week, Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has reported that a panel of agency judges could allow the Energy Department to pull its pending Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository license application, but only if done in a way that leaves open the possibility of the project being resubmitted for approval in the future.  NRC staff said DOE should not be permitted to withdraw the Yucca license "with prejudice," as requested by DOE to carry out the Obama administration's effort to kill the Nevada repository project. The phrase "with prejudice" is important because it would make it tough, if not impossible, for future administrations to re-submit the Yucca license application for NRC approval. This could leave the door to Yucca Mountain still open. In a morning press conference at the National Press Club on April 28, 2010, the SRSCRO Yucca Mountain Task Force presented 19 strongly worded resolutions objecting to the Federal Government's decision to abandon Yucca Mountain as its preferred option for nuclear waste storage from political and economic development entities ranging from the South Carolina House of Representatives to chambers of commerce and small towns near the Savannah River Site. The press conference was available on live web cast and is archived on the SRSCRO web page. For more information go to http://www.srscro.org/community.html or contact Rick McLeod.

 

The Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future (BRC), co-chaired by former Congressman Lee Hamilton and former National Security Advisor General Brent Scowcroft, held its first meeting in Washington, D.C on March 25th and March 26th. At the direction of President Obama, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu established the Blue Ribbon Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of policies for managing the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle and to provide recommendations for developing a safe, long-term solution to managing the Nation's used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste. The SRSCRO provided verbal comments during the first meeting. The next BRC meeting is scheduled for May 25th and May 26th.  The SRSCRO has provided comments to be presented by the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA). The meeting will be web cast. For more information go to http://brc.gov/events.html or contact Rick McLeod.