House Vote to Advance Yucca Mountain Is a Step Toward Nuclear Disaster

Washington, D.C. – This morning the House voted to approve H.R. 3053, legislation that would advance plans to develop a vast nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. In response, Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter issued the following statement:

“Simply put, today’s House vote is a big step toward nuclear disaster. If built, the Yucca Mountain facility itself would immediately threaten Nevadans. An aquifer lies beneath the site that is utilized for both drinking water and irrigation by many communities. The area is crisscrossed by more than 30 fault lines and lacks fundamental geologic stability. Radioactive leaks triggered by tremors would be catastrophic. Nationwide, more than 50 million Americans in 44 states live near potential rail, road or barge shipping routes to Yucca. All of these people would be threatened by the possibility of accidents turned into nightmare scenarios by radioactive discharge.

“Instead of spending millions more taxpayer dollars on Yucca Mountain, we should begin immediately to halt the production of nuclear waste and transition aggressively towards a future of 100 percent clean, safe, renewable energy in America.”

Contact: Seth Gladstone - sgladstone[at]fwwatch[dot]org, 347.778.2866