Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, today released the following statement on the Department of Energy’s pilot program for interim nuclear waste storage:

“It is clear there is a pressing need for interim nuclear waste storage capacity to address a potentially dangerous and increasingly expensive problem for the country. 

"I am pleased the Obama Administration has endorsed a pilot program for interim nuclear waste storage.  The strategy aligns with the pilot program proposed in the Senate Appropriations Committee's Fiscal Year 2013 Energy and Water Bill and makes substantial progress toward implementing a long-term, consent-based solution for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel.

"Delaying the creation of a long-term policy on nuclear waste would simply make the problems more complex and dangerous—particularly with the development of a generation of new small modular reactors.

“Regardless of whether the United States proceeds with Yucca Mountain or another geologic repository, this country will need interim storage for more than 20 years.   I look forward to continuing to address this issue with the administration."

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