Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) announced the House of Representatives has approved H.R. 677 the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Intelligence and Information Sharing Act of 2017.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Martha McSally, includes language included by Rep. Higgins requiring the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a risk assessment prior to the transport of nuclear materials including the Department of Energy’s (DOE) planned transport of highly enriched liquid nuclear uranium across the Peace Bridge. A similar bill was approved last session but was not considered in the Senate.
Approval of the legislation comes as a ruling on a related court case is imminent. Last summer a coalition of organizations filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Energy seeking judgement related to the requirement of an Environmental Impact Statement prior to authorization of the shipment of highly enriched liquid nuclear waste. As a result the court directed and parties on both sides agreed no shipments would take place prior to a decision which is expected on or before February 15, 2017.
“We continue to fight for appropriate environmental and safety assessments as the Department of Energy plans, for the first time, to move this hazardous material through our community,” said Higgins, who has repeatedly expressed concern and taken action following the DOE’s announcement that it will proceed with the transport of waste from the Chalk River Research reactor in Ontario over the Peace Bridge, through Western New York and other states en route to the Savannah River site without conducting a full environmental review. A summary of some of Congressman Higgins’ actions on this issue is below:
July 24, 2014: Congressman Says Further Investigation Necessary Before Nuclear Waste Crosses Peace Bridge, Warns of Mobile Chernobyl
May 20, 2015: Higgins Wins Approval For Amendment to Require a Risk Assessment Prior to Planned Transport of Liquid Uranium Across Border
June 24, 2015: House Passes Bill With Higgins’ Amendment Requiring Risk Assessment of Proposed Nuclear Waste Transport Across Peace Bridge
October 1, 2015: Higgins’ Bill Requiring A Threat Assessment of Hazardous Materials Crossing the Border Is Approved In Committee
October 21, 2015: House of Representatives Approves Congressman Higgins’ Bill Requiring A Threat Assessment of Hazardous Materials Transported in the U.S.
January 6, 2016: Higgins Pushes Back on Department of Energy Attempts to Move Forward with Nuclear Waste Transport Without Proper Review
March 18, 2016: Higgins Asks Feds to Keep Highly Enriched Uranium Shipments out of WNY
from Congressman Brian Higgins via IFTTT
