Nevada's Democratic Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto have introduced a bill to repurpose Yucca Mountain into a possible data center, a command facility for defense activities, a scientific research center, or other alternative uses.
The Jobs, Not Waste Act also would withdraw and terminate the licensing proceeding for Yucca Mountain from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s review process.
It would also require the Department of Energy to reclaim and mitigate any adverse environmental impacts to the site as result of the application review.
“Nevada has made it abundantly clear that we will not be the nation’s dumping ground for nuclear waste,” said Senator Rosen. “I’ve been fighting alongside colleagues on both sides of the aisle for years to prevent Yucca Mountain from moving forward. As House Republicans attempt to revive this project, I’m introducing legislation to ban Yucca Mountain from being a nuclear waste repository and instead examine other uses for it to create good-paying jobs.”
“Nevadans do not want nuclear waste in our backyards, and any attempt to restart the failed Yucca Mountain project is unacceptable,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Senator Rosen to ensure no nuclear waste comes to Yucca Mountain and to explore alternative uses that support working families and prioritize the safety of all Nevadans.”
