Walters Takes Steps to Remove Spent Nuclear Fuel from Orange County

March 14, 2018

Contact: T.W. Arrighi

(202) 225-5611

Walters Takes Steps to Remove Spent Nuclear Fuel from Orange County

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mimi Walters (R-California) released the following statement regarding the bipartisan letter she signed in support of funding to restart the licensing process for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.  You can read a copy of the letter here.

Said Rep. Mimi Walters, “Just south of California’s 45th district, 1,800 tons of spent nuclear fuel sits at the inactive San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS).  Unfortunately, our Nation’s nuclear waste management system is broken and spent fuel sits at nuclear sites like SONGS with nowhere to go.  By law, the Federal government is obligated to take ownership of, and safely store, spent fuel at a permanent repository.  Yucca Mountain is intended to be a permanent storage facility for spent nuclear fuel, but politics have gotten in the way of its development.

“For over 35 years, California ratepayers have paid over $2 billion toward the establishment of a permanent repository.  By providing the Department of Energy with the funds it needs to resume its review of the Yucca Mountain license, we can begin the process of moving spent nuclear fuel out of our communities and into interim and permanent storage sites. 

“I am hopeful the letter I signed will ensure funding to restart the Yucca Mountain license process will be included in the omnibus funding bill.  I am committed to continuing my work to ensure the safety of Orange County residents by moving fuel out of our community and to a permanent storage site for spent nuclear fuel.”

Walters represents California’s 45th District and serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Ethics Committee.