Ensign Testifies: We Cannot Afford to Continue this Project

ENSIGN TESTIFIES: WE CANNOT AFFORD TO CONTINUE THIS PROJECT

Senator John Ensign testified today before the House Government Reform Subcommittee regarding the possible falsification of data used at the Yucca Mountain Project and the e-mail communication between federal employees about the project.

The following are excerpts from Senator Ensign's testimony:

"Mr. Chairman, the quality assurance program was put in place as part of the NRC licensing process to verify the accuracy and credibility of work that has been completed to protect public health and safety. The fact that the alleged fraud deals with the issue of water infiltration is critical because it impacts the corrosion of casks and the containment of radioactivity."

"We're not talking about how realistic this scenario would be for a science fiction novel or a movie script. The corrosion of casks and the containment of radioactivity are frightening realities that Nevadans and all Americans face should this project proceed based on fraudulent science."

"And at what cost do we forge ahead with the Yucca Mountain site? To bury it in a location where science has taken a back seat to fraud and politics is completely reckless. We cannot afford to continue this project."

"If there is a positive side to this potentially criminal activity regarding Yucca Mountain, it has given impetus to the nuclear industry and other supporters of enhanced nuclear power opportunities to be open to other ideas for waste disposal. I hope that our nation gives a long hard look at other options because $58 billion is a lot to pay for a repository that is not based on sound science and will not be licensed in the foreseeable future."

http://ensign.senate.gov/media/pressapp/record.cfm?id=236011&&