Following is the text of a February 15 letter from President Bush to
leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate, explaining his
recommendation to proceed with development of a nuclear waste
repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada:

(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
February 15, 2002

TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
February 15, 2002

Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)

In accordance with section 114 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of
1982, 42 U.S.C. 10134 (the "Act"), the Secretary of Energy has
recommended approval of the Yucca Mountain site for the development at
that site of a repository for the geologic disposal of spent nuclear
fuel and high level nuclear waste from the Nation=s defense
activities. As is required by the Act, the Secretary has also
submitted to me a comprehensive statement of the basis of his
recommendation.

Having received the Secretary's recommendation and the comprehensive
statement of the basis of it, I consider the Yucca Mountain site
qualified for application for a construction authorization for a
repository. Therefore, I now recommend the Yucca Mountain site for
this purpose. In accordance with section 114 of the Act, I am
transmitting with this recommendation to the Congress a copy of the
comprehensive statement of the basis of the Secretary's recommendation
prepared pursuant to the Act. The transmission of this document
triggers an expedited process described in the Act. I urge the
Congress to undertake any necessary legislative action on this
recommendation in an expedited and bipartisan fashion.

Proceeding with the repository program is necessary to protect public
safety, health, and the Nation's security because successful
completion of this project would isolate in a geologic repository at a
remote location highly radioactive materials now scattered throughout
the Nation. In addition, the geologic repository would support our
national security through disposal of nuclear waste from our defense
facilities.

A deep geologic repository, such as Yucca Mountain, is important for
our national security and our energy future. Nuclear energy is the
second largest source of U.S. electricity generation and must remain a
major component of our national energy policy in the years to come.
The cost of nuclear power compares favorably with the costs of
electricity generation by other sources, and nuclear power has none of
the emissions associated with coal and gas power plants.

This recommendation, if it becomes effective, will permit commencement
of the next rigorous stage of scientific and technical review of the
repository program through formal licensing proceedings before the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Successful completion of this program
also will redeem the clear Federal legal obligation safely to dispose
of commercial spent nuclear fuel that the Congress passed in 1982.

This recommendation is the culmination of two decades of intense
scientific scrutiny involving application of an array of scientific
and technical disciplines necessary and appropriate for this
challenging undertaking. It is an undertaking that was mandated twice
by the Congress when it legislated the obligations that would be
redeemed by successful pursuit of the repository program. Allowing
this recommendation to come into effect will enable the beginning of
the next phase of intense scrutiny of the project necessary to assure
the public health, safety, and security in the area of Yucca Mountain,
and also to enhance the safety and security of the Nation as a whole.

Sincerely,

GEORGE W. BUSH

(end text)
Sources
Washington File