Boston (Mary 30, 2017) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today criticized the decision by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to begin the process to restart the Yucca Mountain licensing process. During the Obama administration, the Department of Energy withdrew its license application for Yucca Mountain, while Congress started to slash funding for the project.

“When it comes to nuclear waste storage, seismic matters,” said Senator Markey. “The Yucca Mountain has two fault lines running right through it and is in an active earthquake zone.  There have been hundreds of earthquakes within 50 miles of the site within the last two decades. The nuclear disaster at Fukushima has shown us how an earthquake and seismic activity can impact spent nuclear fuel in the most alarming way. Restarting the licensing process for Yucca Mountain would reach new heights of scientific irresponsibility. The Obama administration was right to stop the licensing process for Yucca Mountain, whose selection was based more on political science than on real science.”