Washington, D.C. – Senate Energy & Natural Resources Chairman Pete V. Domenici today, following a full-committee oversight hearing on Yucca Mountain, announced plans to vigorously pursue new recycling technologies while Yucca problems are being resolved.

He also said it is his intention as Chairman of the Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee to fully-fund the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership at the level requested by the Administration. GNEP includes a substantive investment in spent fuel recycling technologies.

Chairman Domenici’s statement:

“We must reconcile Yucca Mountain and the GNEP program. We are not talking about delaying Yucca Mountain beyond its existing uncertain and delayed schedule. In fact, there are legislative actions we can and should take to further the progress of the program.

“However, we should also take advantage of these unavoidable Yucca delays to pursue new recyling technologies that will increase the capacity of Yucca Mountain as well as the likelihood of success in licensing the repository.”