GLOBAL CLIMATE DEBATE

Bipartisan Measure Seeks to Revive Yucca

Can Yucca Mountain be resurrected as a nuclear waste site?

A group of House Democrats and Republicans introduced a resolution to stop the Obama administration from ending the nuclear waste repository program.

The resolution of disapproval aims to stop the Energy Department from using appropriated funds to end the project and to preserve "all scientific and site specific file and data related to Yucca Mountain."

Earlier this month, the DOE officially filed to withdraw its license application for the nuclear waste repository.

But Reps. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., and Jay Inslee, D-Wash., say that is not acceptable for states with nuclear waste sitting on-site.

"Taxpayers have already spent more than $10 billion on Yucca Mountain, compiling 20 years of data that inform us that Yucca is the best choice to securely store tons of nuclear waste.," said Inslee.

Meanwhile, the Blue Ribbon Panel called for by President Obama to review nuclear fuel issues and recommend alternatives for storage meets for the first time Thursday.

Former Congressman Lee Hamilton and former National Security Advisor General Brent Scowcroft co-chair the commission.