Bad Nuclear Waste Legislation
to be Filed in the U.S. Congress Again!

Call Your U.S. Representative and Senator Now to Stop Nuclear Waste Transportation

The Nuclear power industry wants American taxpayers to pick up the tab and assume the risk for the premature transportation of high-level nuclear waste across the country and through Indiana. This legislation, titled the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997, can put millions of people at risk from a nuclear accident and cost taxpayers billions of dollars.

Citizen and environmental groups have dubbed this nuclear attempt as "Mobile Chernobyl" because of the very dangerous provisions in it. Last year, two (2) slightly different versions of the legislation passed: S. 104, which passed the U.S. Senate, and H.R. 1270, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives. However, due to a procedural glitch in the Senate, a new bill must be introduced to pass both the House and Senate. It will probably have a different bill number, but the text will be essentially the same.

The President has vowed to veto any bills like H.R. 1270 or S. 104. However, the nuclear industry, behind its $12.8 million in contributions to Congress and the U.S. Senate since January 1995, is lobbying hard to win enough votes to override a presidential veto. Currently, there are just enough votes, 34, against the legislation in the Senate to sustain a presidential veto. However, only 120 votes of the needed 146 votes were garnered in the U.S. House of Representatives to sustain a presidential veto.

The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997 (Mobile Chernobyl) would:
· Order the Department of Energy to begin interim storage construction without approval of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission before a permanent solution is approved.

· Mandate the transportation of radioactive waste through 43 states, including Indiana, over the next 30 years. Based on current safety statistics, at least 15 accidents involving radioactive waste per year can be expected on U.S. highways and railways if this bill passes.

· Transfer title and liability of high-level nuclear waste from the nuclear power industry to taxpayers before a repository for the waste even opens. This means that the public will pay for transportation and disposal costs, and any liability incurred as the result of accidents. According to the Department of Energy, one bad accident could cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

· Preempt or curtail state and local environmental and safety laws and standards regarding nuclear waste transportation and storage as well as curtail public participation in developing and enforcing those laws and regulations.

Please urge your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators to oppose the premature transportation of nuclear waste!

What you can do to help protect Indiana:

Of the Indiana Congressional Delegation, 6 voted against H.R. 1270 and 4 voted for H.R. 1270. In the U.S. Senate, Senator Dan Coats voted against S. 104 and Senator Richard Lugar voted for S. 104. Please contact your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators today!

• If they voted against H.R. 1270 or S. 104, thank them for their vote and urge them to stay the line against the nuclear industry. Ask them to vote against any similar legislation.
• If they voted for H.R. 1270 or S. 104, ask them to reconsider their vote and follow the lead of their colleagues.
• In addition, please call the White House and thank President Clinton for his promised veto.

Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
White House: 202-456-1414

Congresspersons who voted against H.R. 1270
(Pro-Consumer/Environment Vote)

Congresspersons who voted for H.R. 1270
(Anti-Consumer/Environment Vote)

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