Pahrump Office Tonopah Office Nye County Govermnent Center Nye County Courthouse 2100 F. Walt Williams Dove William P. Beko Justice Facility Suite 100 P0 Box 153 Palmimp, NV 89048 Tonopah, NV 89049 Phone (775) 751-7075 Board of County Phone (775) 482-8191 Fax (775) 751-7093 Comnussioners. Fax (775) 482-8198 Nye County, Nevada

April 30, 2019

The Honorable John Barrasso The Honorable Thomas R. Carper Chairman, Committee on Environment and Ranking Member, Committee on Public Works Environment and Public Works 410 Dirksen Senate Office Building 456 Dirksen Senate Office Building United States Senate United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510

Dear: Chairman Barrasso and Ranking Member Carper:

On behalf of the Nye County Conmiission, along with eight other Nevada counties (out of a total of seventeen) I strongly urge you to support the Senate bill to jump start the licensing hearing for the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository. This position is in accordance with the law, supports the objective scientific studies on the safety of the repository and has the support of local governments in Nevada. It is the right thing to do.

As you know, funding for the license process has been denied for nine years on purely political grounds. The overwhelming body of scientific studies done on the proposed repository have demonstrated that it can be built and operated safely. This includes the safety reviews done by the professionals at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Further, the funding we are requesting will be used to conduct further scientific reviews by the NRC. The opponents of the repository will have every opportunity to show that the repository is unsafe, if they can make that case based on facts.

Despite the claims by the State of Nevada that everyone in the State opposes the license proceeding, nine of the rural counties that surround Yucca Mountain favor the resumption of the license proceeding. Nye County -- the site county -- has favored a full and fair review of the science by the NRC for years. We want decisions to be made on Yucca Mountain to be based on facts and science and not empty rhetoric and fear mongering.

As long as Yucca Mountain is stalled, nuclear waste is gathering at existing and closed nuclear power plants all over the country. It is far better for the American public to have the waste stored safely in a remote desert mountain than to be in locations near population centers, lakes and rivers.

Again, please \d the resumption of the license proceeding for Yucca Mountain.

Leund \J Nyc Cunty Bod of Commissioners Nuclear Waste issues representative

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19-0165LB Nye County is an Equal OpportunityEmployer and Provider