March 10, 2015

Las Vegas, NV – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-1) and Congressman Joe Heck (NV-3) introduced the Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act, the House companion to the Senate bill introduced by Nevada Senators Harry Reid and Dean Heller. The Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act permits the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to authorize construction of a nuclear waste repository only if the Secretary of Energy has secured written consent from the governor of the host state, affected units of local government, and affected Indian tribes.  

“No other state or community would stand for the kind of political targeting that we have faced since passage of the “Screw Nevada Act,” said Rep. Dina Titus. “For far too long, supporters of the proposed Yucca Mountain repository have ignored the concerns of Nevada and its local communities. In doing so, they have relied on bad politics, not sound science, thus creating a dangerous boondoggle. This bipartisan, commonsense bill ensures that our voices are heard and respected when it comes to our state’s future.”

"The people of Nevada deserve to have a seat at the table in the nuclear waste storage conversation," Rep. Joe Heck said. "Allowing the governor, local government units, and Indian tribes to review proposals and make a determination on the project is consistent with the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future recommendations and, more importantly, will ensure the safety of Nevada's citizens and our environment. I'm pleased to join with members of the delegation on this bill and look forward to moving it forward in a bipartisan, bicameral process."   

The Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act is consistent with recommendations made by the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future, stating that:  “We believe a good gauge of consent would be the willingness of affected units of government—the host states, tribes, and local communities – to enter into legally binding agreements with the facility operator, where these agreements enable states, tribes, and communities to have confidence that they can protect the interests of their citizens.” Additionally, it is consistent with the approach taken in bipartisan draft legislation circulated last Congress by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which provided for a consent-based process for siting a future nuclear waste repository and interim storage facilities.