WASHINGTON (June 10, 2011) -- Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), the Ranking Member on the Natural Resources Committee and a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Inspector General report:

“The NRC Inspector General report is a vindication for Chairman Jaczko and confirms that his decision to close out the Yucca Mountain program was consistent with both the law and his authority, contrary to accusations made during a Republican witch-hunt that his actions were 'illegal.'
 
“While the nuclear industry and their allies in Congress may be frustrated that Yucca Mountain has not opened, the fact is that Secretary Chu, not Chairman Jaczko, made the decision to close it. I think that decision was entirely justified, given the fact that the proposed nuclear waste storage site was going to be located on an earthquake fault line.  Others may disagree.  But Chairman Jaczko had the authority to cease licensing activities on this facility once the Department of Energy made the decision to shut it down.”  
 
“The irony is that had Congress not made the political decision to limit DOE to only investigating Yucca Mountain’s suitability to be used as our nation’s high level nuclear waste repository, we might be much further along right now in getting to practical solutions about how best to safely store this deadly waste."

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