CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2001–2002 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Joint Resolution
No. 22
Introduced by
Assembly Member
Mountjoy
(Principal Coauthor(s):
Senator
McClintock)
(Coauthor(s):
Assembly Member
Aanestad, Briggs, Cogdill, Cox, Daucher, Dickerson, Hollingsworth, Leslie, Robert Pacheco, Richman, Runner, Strickland, Wyman)
(Coauthor(s):
Senator
Haynes, Johannessen, Johnson, Knight, Oller)
|
July 23, 2001 |
Relative to the Yucca Mountain radioactive materials repository.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AJR 22, as introduced, Mountjoy.
Yucca Mountain radioactive materials respository: nuclear facilities.
This measure would urge the United States Secretary of Energy to expedite the review of the scientific data regarding Yucca Mountain’s suitability as a permanent federal repository, and would memorialize the President of the United States to move forward with the licensing of Yucca Mountain as a permanent repository. The measure would also declare the intent of the Legislature that the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission make an expedited finding that the State of California is ready to accept nuclear facilities, upon successful completion of the federal government’s actions.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee:
YES WHEREAS, California’s acute shortage of electricity generating capacity presents an immediate threat to the health and safety of its citizens and the prosperity of its economy; and
WHEREAS, In order to secure a safe and prosperous future for its citizens, California must dramatically expand its capacity to generate clean, cheap, and abundant electricity; and
WHEREAS, California needs a broad portfolio of energy supply options to hedge against fuel price fluctuations, fuel shortages, and import disruptions; and
WHEREAS, California’s nuclear powerplants have proven to be safe, dependable, economic, and environmentally benign sources of electricity to California citizens, producing 16 percent of the electricity generated in California today; and
WHEREAS, Nuclear power requires minimal land intrusion, and prevents the release of millions of tons of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, thus being critical for compliance with air quality laws and regulations; and
WHEREAS, New advanced standardized nuclear powerplant designs with increased safety and reliability features have been recently certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and are ready to meet the strict siting requirements set forth by the NRC in its regulations; and
WHEREAS, California law precludes approval of new nuclear powerplants until an appropriate site for a high level nuclear waste repository has been approved by the federal government; and
WHEREAS, Over $7,000,000,000 has been spent on studies of Yucca Mountain, Nevada that show that the proposed site is an ideal repository to safely contain radioactive materials, with a capacity sufficient to meet all foreseeable storage needs; and
WHEREAS, Studies of Yucca Mountain have yielded the scientific information necessary for a decision by the United States Secretary of Energy that there are no technical or scientific issues that will prevent Yucca Mountain from serving as a permanent repository, clearly supporting a recommendation by the United States Secretary of Energy to the President of the United States to proceed on licensing a permanent repository at Yucca Mountain; and
WHEREAS, Since 1983, consumers of electricity from California’s existing nuclear powerplants have committed more than $817,000,000 into the federal Nuclear Waste Fund to finance site assessment and nuclear waste management; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California hereby determines that nuclear energy is a necessary source of electricity generation, with no detrimental impact on its citizens and environment; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California urges the United States Secretary of Energy to expedite the review of the scientific data regarding Yucca Mountain’s suitability as a permanent federal repository and make his recommendation to the President this year; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California memorializes the President of the United States to move forward with the licensing of Yucca Mountain as an ideal site for a permanent repository; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California hereby declares its intent that, upon successful completion of the federal government’s actions finding that Yucca Mountain is an acceptable site for the licensing of a permanent high level waste repository, the California Energy Commission should make an expedited finding, in accordance with Section 25524.2 of the Public Resources Code, that the State of California is hereby ready to accept nuclear facilities certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on sites approved by the commission, for the purpose of providing clean, abundant, reliable, and affordable electricity for the families of California, and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the United States Secretary of Energy.