Prairie Island Indians seek removal of nuclear waste

WASHINGTON - A representative from the Prairie Island Indian Community was on Capitol Hill on Wednesday urging legislators to make Nevada's Yucca Mountain a permanent nuclear waste repository.

By Nina Petersen-Perlman, Star Tribune

Last update: November 1, 2007 - 9:55 AM

WASHINGTON - A representative from the Prairie Island Indian Community was on Capitol Hill on Wednesday urging legislators to make Nevada's Yucca Mountain a permanent nuclear waste repository.

Prairie Island, about 50 miles downstream from Minneapolis on the Mississippi River, is situated 600 yards away from a nuclear waste storage site owned by Xcel Energy. Tribal Council member Ron Johnson said the waste needs to be moved to a safe facility that can be monitored.

Currently, no one from the Department of Homeland Security guards the site, which could be a terror target, he told the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

"Developing a safe, permanent storage facility for spent nuclear fuel is critical to the health and welfare of the millions of Americans who currently live near temporary nuclear waste storage sites," the tribe said in a statement.

Johnson met with staff members of Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Norm Coleman, and Rep. John Kline, who represents the Prairie Island community.

"The Yucca Mountain storage facility is a permanent solution to the nuclear waste storage problem facing Minnesota communities," Kline said. "I remain committed to removing this dangerous nuclear waste from Prairie Island and the Red Wing community."

Congress passed the Nuclear Waste Policy Act in 1982 and voted to make Yucca Mountain the site, overruling objections from Nevada voters as recently as 2002. The U.S. Department of Energy has been studying the site to determine if it would be suitable for the nation's first geologic repository for the 72,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste currently stored at more than 120 sites nationwide.

Democrats on the Senate committee came out strongly against using Yucca Mountain as a definitive solution, noting that the site is in an earthquake-prone area. And both Nevada senators testified against the plan.

Kline, a Republican, said he was "dismayed that [Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.] and others continue to obstruct completion of the project."

If the Yucca Mountain project continues to face strong opposition, Prairie Island could continue to host nuclear waste for decades to come.

Nina Petersen-Perlman • 202-408-2723

Nina Petersen-perlman • nperlman@startribune.com