Rosen Introduces Legislation to Repurpose Yucca Mountain and Create Nevada Jobs

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Jacky Rosen (NV-03) introduced the Jobs, Not Waste Act. This legislation would prohibit the Secretary of Energy from taking any action relating to the licensing, planning, development, or construction of a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain until the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) submits a study to Congress on the economic viability and job-creating benefits of alternative uses of the Yucca Mountain site.

As outlined in the bill, the job-creating benefits and alternative uses for the Yucca Mountain site could include: defense activities, such as a command facility for unmanned aircraft systems; a secure electronic data center; the development of renewable energy sources; or scientific research.

"I stand with the overwhelming majority of Nevadans who have made their case for decades against reckless plans to turn Nevada into a dumping ground for the rest of the nation's nuclear waste," said Rosen. "My bill would prohibit the Department of Energy from moving forward with its dangerous and costly nuclear waste repository plan until it considers a number of other job-creating alternatives for this project. This Administration should stop wasting our time and taxpayer money on this failed project, and instead find an alternative use for Yucca Mountain that creates jobs without threatening the health and safety of Nevada families."

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