STATE LEGISLATURES CALL ON CONGRESS TO ACT ON BLUE RIBBON WASTE REPORT

The National Conference of State Legislatures is urging Congress to move forward quickly on the waste disposal recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future. The BRC report released in January “represents an important opportunity to find a permanent, safe and secure solution to America’s nuclear waste problem,” says a March 9 letter from the organization to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The letter notes that BRC includes several recommendations that were endorsed by the state legislature organization, including the development of interim storage facilities, the inclusion of states and local governments in siting facilities and a reform of the Nuclear Waste Fund. “NCSL has a long history of working on issues related to nuclear waste management and welcomes the opportunity to work with Congress to continue to advance the conversation forward and build on the recommendations of the BRC final report,” the letter states.