U.S. House votes 340 to 72 to "Screw Nevada," again -- and perhaps New Mexico and Texas, too, while they're at it!

One of the six toes, on one of the feet, of the Yucca Dump Mutant Zombie (see image, left), twitched yesterday. By a lopsided vote of 340 to 72, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of "Screw Nevada 2.0," a reprise of the 1987 "Screw Nevada" bill, that singled out Yucca Mountain for the country's highly radioactive waste dump-site in the first place. This was the biggest vote on nuclear waste in the U.S. House in 16 years, and seeks to overturn the Obama administration's wise 2010 cancellation of the unsuitable Yucca Mountain Project.

In addition to approving H.R. 3053, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2018, the House, "in its wisdom" (or lack thereof!), similarly voted down an amendment offered by Dina Titus (Democrat-NV), that would have required consent-based siting for a dump like Yucca, per the 2012 recommendations by the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future. Thank you to everyone who contacted their U.S. Rep. urging opposition to H.R. 3053.

Please check this link for more info., including to see how your U.S. Rep. voted on the Titus amendment, and the overall bill. Then please thank or "spank" (express your disappointment to) your U.S. Rep., accordingly, and point out the high-risk "Mobile Chernobyl" impacts of shipping 110,000 metric tons (an increase from the current legal limit of 70,000) of highly radioactive waste, by truck, train, and/or barge, through 44 states, dozens of major cities, and 330 of 435 U.S. congressional districts, if H.R. 3053 becomes law.

In addition to expediting the opening of the Yucca dump, by gutting due process and environmental and safety regulations, H.R. 3053 would authorize centralized interim storage facilities (CISFs, or de facto permanent, surface storage, "parking lot dumps"), as targeted at Holtec/ELEA, NM and WCS, TX. Re: Holtec/ELEA, please continue submitting environmental scoping public comments to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission by the May 29th deadline -- see how, and for more info., at this link.

And please also contact both your U.S. Senators, urging them to oppose bad, dangerous nuke waste dumps targeted at NM, NV, and/or TX, and the inevitable Mobile Chernobyls they would launch: call your U.S. Senators via the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121, and fill out and submit Food & Water Watch's webform!

To learn more about the Yucca dump scheme, CISF proposals, and nuclear waste transport risks, please see the corresponding Beyond Nuclear website sub-sections.

NRC press release: NRC to Hold Additional Public Meetings in [Gallup & Albuquerque,] New Mexico on Holtec’s Proposed Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility‌ [Public Comment Deadline on Environmental Scoping Extended, from May 29 till July 30]

Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Press Release [See PDF of press release, here]

No: 18-018 May 11, 2018

CONTACT: David McIntyre, 301-415-8200

NRC to Hold Additional Public Meetings

in New Mexico on Holtec’s Proposed

Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility‌

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has announced two additional public meetings to be held in New Mexico to seek public comment on the scope of the agency’s environmental review of Holtec International’s application to build a spent nuclear fuel storage facility in the southeastern part of the state. The meetings will be held on May 21 in Gallup and May 22 in Albuquerque, N.M. [See an update below, an urgent action alert from Janet Greenwald of CARD NM, about a May 21 Albuquerque City Council meeting, at which a memorial opposing Holtec/ELEA due to transporation risks, will take place.]

The May 21 meeting will be held at the Gallup Downtown Conference Center, 204 W. Coal Ave., in Gallup. The May 22 meeting will be held at the Crown Plaza Hotel,1901 University Blvd., in Albuquerque. Both meetings are scheduled to run from 6-9 p.m., with an open house beginning at 5 p.m., for members of the public to meet informally with NRC staff.

Holtec submitted its application for a consolidated interim storage facility for commercial spent nuclear fuel on March 30, 2017. The NRC formally docketed the application on Feb. 28, and published a Federal Register notice on March 30 requesting public comments on the scope of its environmental review. The NRC staff held public scoping meetings on April 25 at agency headquarters in Rockville, Md., and the week of April 30-May 4 in Roswell, Hobbs and Carlsbad, N.M.

At the scoping meetings, NRC staff members involved in reviewing the application will make a brief presentation about the review process. The bulk of the meetings will be devoted to allowing members of the public to make statements. Comments will be transcribed and used by the staff to define the scope of its environmental review. Spanish-speaking staff will be at each of the meetings to assist with translation if needed.

In response to requests from the public, NRC staff is extending the deadline for submitting comments from May 29 to July 30. [emphasis added] Comments may be submitted through the federal government’s rulemaking website, www.regulations.gov, using Docket ID NRC-2018-0052. A notice will be published soon in the Federal Register with additional information about the upcoming scoping meetings and how to submit comments. Meeting notices for Gallup and Albuquerque are posted on the NRC website.

Update on May 17, 2018 by admin

This urgent action alert comes from Janet Greenwald with CARD (Citizens for Alternatives to Radioactive Dumping) in Albuquerque, New Mexico:

SPEAK OUT

Against High Level Nuclear Waste Coming to New Mexico!

Monday, May 21, 5pm 

Albuquerque City Council Chambers

City Councilors consider a memorial to stop commercial high level nuclear waste from being shipped through Albuquerque.

Please ask your councilor to support memorial 1

a.  Councilor Isaac Benton: ibenton@cabq.gov, Policy Analyst Diane Dolan: ddolan@cabq.gov, (505) 768-3186
b.  Councilor Klarissa Peña: kpena@cabq.gov, Policy Analyst Nancy Montaño: nancymontano@cabq.gov, (505) 768-3127
c.  Councilor Ken Sanchez: kensanchez@cabq.gov, Contact Policy Analyst Elaine Romero:eromero@cabq.gov, (505) 768-3183
d.  Councilor Brad Winter: bwinter@cabq.gov, Policy Analyst Rebekka Burt: rburt@cabq.gov, (505) 768-3101
e.  Councilor Dan Lewis: danlewis@cabq.gov, Policy Analyst Rachel Miller: rrmiller@cabq.gov, (505) 768-3189
f.  Councilor Pat Davis: patdavis@cabq.gov, Policy Analyst Sean Foran: seanforan@cabq.gov, (505) 768-3152
g.  Councilor Trudy Jones: trudyjones@cabq.gov, Policy Analyst Aziza Chavez: azizachavez@cabq.gov, (505) 768-3106
h.  Councilor Diane Gibson: dgibson@cabq.gov, Policy Analyst Chris Sylvan: csylvan@cabq.gov, (505) 768-3136
i.  Councilor Don Harris: dharris@cabq.gov, Policy Analyst Dawn Marie Emillio: dmemillio@cabq.gov, (505) 768-3123

If you are from outside Albuquerque

 Send an email to all City Council members: www.cabq.gov/council/find-your-councilor/contact-all-councilo

5/11/18: NRC to hold additional public meetings in New Mexico on Holtec's proposed spent nuclear fuel storage facility

See the NRC OPA press release.

Nuclear waste issue divides candidates

As reported by Michael Coleman in the Albuquerque Journal.

Michelle Lujan Grisham, U.S. Rep. from n. NM, and a leading Democratic candidate for governor, spoke forcefully about the risks of so-called "interim storage" becoming de facto permanent, by default:

Lujan Grisham said that if Holtec was licensed as a temporary storage facility and then Yucca Mountain never opened, New Mexico would be stuck with the waste.

“This bill will only create more uncertainty by creating a dangerous loophole that could permanently strand nuclear waste in New Mexico without any guarantee that a long-term strategy will eventually be agreed upon,” Lujan Grisham said. “Storing and transporting nuclear waste is incredibly dangerous. Singling out New Mexico and Nevada, and making massive policy changes based purely on political considerations is completely irresponsible.”

Breakdown of Congressional Progressive Caucus members' votes on H.R. 3053 on May 10, 2018 [H.R. 2699 in 2020 session]

Breakdown of CPC members' votes on H.R. 3053 on May 10, 2018 [H.R. 2699 in 2020 session]

CPC Members: 98 <https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/caucus-members/>

********************************************************

CPC Members voting FOR H.R. 3053/Ayes/Bad Votes/Voted Wrong: 32 <clerk.house.gov/evs/2018/roll179.xml> {See below}

****************************

CPC Members voting AGAINST H.R. 3053/Noes/Good Votes/Voted Right: 40 <clerk.house.gov/evs/2018/roll179.xml> {See below}

***************************

CPC Members NOT VOTING on H.R. 3053: 25 <clerk.house.gov/evs/2018/roll179.xml> {See below}

***********************************************************************************

CPC Members voting FOR H.R. 3053/Ayes/Bad Votes/Voted Wrong: 32 <clerk.house.gov/evs/2018/roll179.xml>

1. Katherine Clark (CPC Vice Chair) (MA-5th)

2. Debbie Dingell (CPC Vice Chair) (MI-12th)

3. Donald Norcross (CPC Vice Chair) (NJ-1st)

4. Jamie Raskin (CPC PAC Co-Chair) (MD-8th)

5. Alma Adams (NC-12th)

6. Nanette Barragán (CA-44th)

7. Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30th)

8. Don Beyer (VA-8th)

9. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-At Large)

10. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1st)

11. André Carson (IN-7th)

12. Matt Cartwright (PA-8th)

13. Judy Chu (CA-27th)

14. William Lacy Clay, Jr. (MO-1st) [Has since changed his position on this bill]

15. Steve Cohen (TN-9th)

16. Dwight Evans (PA-3rd)

17. Marcia Fudge (OH-11th)

18. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34th)

19. Joe Kennedy III (MA-4th)

20. Dan Kildee (MI-5th)

21. Brenda Lawrence (MI-14th)

22. Ted Lieu (CA-33rd)

23. Alan Lowenthal (CA-47th)

24. Gwen Moore (WI-4th)

25. Frank Pallone (NJ-6th)

26. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20th)

27. Linda Sánchez (CA-38th)

28. Brad Sherman (CA-30th)

29. Bennie Thompson (MS-2nd)

30. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12th)

31. Peter Welch (VT-At Large)

32. Frederica Wilson (FL-24th)

*************************

CPC Members voting AGAINST H.R. 3053/Noes/Good Votes/Voted Right: 40 <clerk.house.gov/evs/2018/roll179.xml>

1. Mark Pocan (CPC Co-Chair) (WI-2nd)

2. Pramila Jayapal (CPC Co-Chair) (WA-7th)

3. Barbara Lee (CPC Chair Emeriti) (CA-13th)

4. Ro Khanna (CPC First Vice Chair) (CA-17th)

5. David Cicilline (CPC Vice Chair) (RI-1st)

6. Ruben Gallego (CPC Vice Chair) (AZ-7th)

7. Sheila Jackson Lee (CPC Vice Chair) (TX-18th)

8. Jan Schakowsky (CPC Vice Chair) (IL-9th)

9. Mark Takano (CPC Vice Chair) (CA-41st)

10. Mark DeSaulnier (CPC Deputy Whip) (CA-11th)

11. Lloyd Doggett (CPC Deputy Whip) (TX-35th)

12. Adriano Espaillat (CPC Deputy Whip) (NY-13th)

13. Karen Bass (CA-37th)

14. Earl Blumenauer (OR-3rd)

15. Brendan F. Boyle (PA-2nd)

16. Yvette Clarke (NY-9th)

17. Danny Davis (IL-7th)

18. Peter DeFazio (OR-4th)

19. Lois Frankel (FL-21st)

20. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-2nd)

21. Jared Huffman (CA-2nd)

22. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8th)

23. Hank Johnson (GA-4th)

24. Grace Meng (NY-6th)

25. John Lewis (GA-5th)

26. David Loebsack (IA-2nd)

27. Zoe Lofgren (CA-19th)

28. Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12th)

29. James McGovern (MA-2nd)

30. Jerrold Nadler (NY-10th)

31. Grace Napolitano (CA-32nd)

32. Chellie Pingree (ME-1st)

33. Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40th)

34. José Serrano (NY-15th)

35. Adam Smith (WA-9th)

36. Darren Soto (FL-9th)

37. Juan Vargas (CA-51st)

38. Nydia Velázquez (NY-7th)

39. Maxine Waters (CA-43rd)

40. John Yarmuth (KY-3rd)

************************

CPC Members NOT VOTING on H.R. 3053: 25 <clerk.house.gov/evs/2018/roll179.xml>

1. Raúl Grijalva (CPC Chair Emeriti) (AZ-3rd) -- Was in Congress on 5/10/18, but did not vote

2. Veronica Escobar (CPC Vice Chair) (TX-16th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

3. Joe Neguse (CPC Vice Chair) (CO-2nd) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

4. Ilhan Omar (CPC Whip) (MN-5th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

5. Deb Haaland (CPC Deputy Whip) (NM-1st) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

6. Andy Levin (CPC Deputy Whip) (MI-9th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

7. Katie Porter (CPC Special Order Hour Convenor) (CA-45th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

8. Rashida Tlaib (CPC Special Order Hour Convenor) (MI-13th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

9. Bernie Sanders (CPC Member, but a U.S. Senator, not a U.S. Rep.)

10. Gil Cisneros (CA-39th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

11. Angie Craig (MN-2nd) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

12. Madeleine Dean (PA-4th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

13. Rosa DeLauro (CT-3rd) -- Was in Congress on 5/10/18, but did not vote

14. Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-4th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

15. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

16. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large) -- Was in Congress on 5/10/18, but DC delegate is not allowed to vote on the House floor

17. Steven Horsford (NV-4th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

18. Andy Kim (NJ-3rd) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

19. Mike Levin (CA-49th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

20. Joe Morelle (NY-25th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

21. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

22. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

23. Ayanna Pressley (MA-7th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

24. Mary Gay Scanlong (PA-5th) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18

25. Lori Trahan (MA-3rd) -- Was not in Congress yet on 5/10/18