Washington Report, August 1987

United States Senator Chic Hecht's Washington Report VOLUME 1 NUMBER 10 WASHINGTON, D.C. AUGUST, 1987 - S - - V - ^ j T FIFTH ANNUAL CHAT WITH CHIC TOUR Dear Fellow Nevadan: Senator Hecht waving to crowd during the Fallon Parade on the 1984 "Chat with Chic" Annual Tour. Sincerely, " aLJr" P.S. Please fill out the Nuclear Waste Questionnaire on the next page and mail it back to me as soon as possible. NUCLEAR WASTE: LEADERSHIP VS. POLITICS AS USUAL In my view, the question of how this country handles its nuclear waste is the most im-portant issue facing Congress today. This decision could have profound implications for America ? and the world ~ far into the future. It's obviously an important issue for Nevada, too - much too important to allow self-serving politicians to use for personal political gain. Nuclear waste is too hazardous not to be handled in the safest, most effective way we can possibly find. For these reasons, I have introduced legislation in the Senate to address the nuclear waste issue. It has become clear the bureaucrats at the Department of Energy, and some politicians both in Neva-da and Washington, are more interested in using this issue as a political "football" than in searching for realistic, worka-ble solutions to the problems. I have studied the issue This coming August 23 through September 8, I will be making my fifth annual "Chat with Chic" tour throughout Nevada. As always, the tour will make the rounds through the entire state. We'll make it a point to visit as many areas as humanly possible, covering Nevada for 1,500 miles and visiting more than 20 communities statewide, before winding up amid Labor Day activities in Fallon and Carson City. Along the way, with 11 of my staff members from Nevada and Washington, I will visit with Nevadans during a series of Town Hall meetings, advisory boards, county commission hear-ings, and local coffees, luncheons, and dinners. We will also tour the new Hi-Shear facility near Sparks in Storey County, we'll receive an all-day briefing at the Nevada Test Site, and we'll conduct a special forum for Veterans in Clark County. Taking this tour every year builds on the pledge I made when I was elected five years ago: to stay in touch with Nevada - and in touch with Nevadans -- while I am serving in the nation's capital. I've found that this tour always brings to light the issues important to Nevadans, and it allows me to return to Washington and imple-ment their wishes. Some examples of this are the new 65-MPH speed limit, the Nellis VA Hospital, and my tough but practical stand on the nuclear waste issue. My schedule for the tour is attached. As always, I'm looking forward to getting back to the state, and meeting with Nevadans like you on all the important issues. Please check the schedule and make a point to come out and meet me and my staff. See you there! NUCLEAR WASTE (Continued) since becoming a member of the U.S. Senate, discussing the subject with every expert and scientist I could find. Af-ter considerable research, and with the help of some of Amer-ica's finest scientific minds, it became clear to me our current approach toward disposing of nuclear waste is wrong. Deep geologic storage is wrong. I am opposed to this method, which means I am opposed to con-structing a waste repository in Nevada, or anywhere else. I have developed the following legislation as a practical solu-tion to the problems: ? A bill requiring waste to be stored for 50 years, to allow the waste to "cool" before it is handled. No matter what ap-proach is taken for finally deal-ing with the waste, this ap-proach will make the waste safer and less expensive to handle. ? A bill requiring regional, temporary storage of the waste, using a system called Monitored Retrievable Storage (MRS). This approach will al-low the waste to cool, again making it safer before it is transported great distances for storage or disposal. ? Two bills creating safety standards and strict guidelines for the transportation of high-level nuclear waste. These bills would assure that local govern-ments have a strong voice in deciding how, where, and how often waste is transported through our cities and towns ~ and it would assure them that when shipments finally occur, the greatest care is taken to protect against disaster. ? A bill calling for a two-year study of recycling nuclear waste ? to get the most for our energy investment, and to use up as much of the radioac-tivity in the waste as possible before we finally dispose of the residue. ? A bill calling for a study into "subseabed disposal" as an alternative to storing the waste underground. Subsea-bed disposal would mean stor-ing the waste under the ocean floor, under thousands of feet of water. Geologists and nu-clear scientists have told me this is a much safer alternative to the current plans for areas like Yucca Mountain. ? Twelve amendments to a bill introduced by the Chair-man of the Energy Committee, which incorporate provisions of the legislation above, and other concerns I have about the safe-ty of any nuclear waste pro-gram. ? And an additional amendment to this bill which incorporates a Joint Resolution passed by the Nevada State Legislature, calling for financial assistance for social and eco-nomic costs and any environ-mental damage to a state if it is required to host the reposi-tory. As you can see, this is a lot of legislation. But I have carefully chosen every word to protect the people of Nevada, and the people of this country, from hasty decisions on the nuclear waste issue ? deci-sions made selfishly, for short-term political expediency, which could come back to haunt all of us for generations to come. Let me share with you some of the background to my approach on this issue. The ease with which oil supplies to the West can be disrupted has been made very clear by recent events in the Middle East. With that danger imminent, global vulnerability to the Middle East is continually assured. Clearly, if we are ever to achieve ener-gy self-sufficiency, we must develop alternative energy sources. The list of alternatives simply must include nuclear power. Clearly, we have accom-plished a great deal - but much is yet to be done. We must work together to solve the problem of safe nuclear waste disposal ~ we must re-fuse to be side-tracked by po-litical promises or quick-fix so-lutions. It won't solve anything to simply say, "bury it any-where but here," and hope it goes away. I hope you find this infor-mation as helpful and useful as I have. I know you share my concern for the welfare of Nevada, and for the energy in-dependence of this country. Working together, I know we can solve the problem of safe disposal of nuclear waste. We owe it to ourselves, and to our children and grand-children. Hecht's Nuclear Waste Alternative Package -C o cfb I I I I I I I I I I The nuclear waste issue is important to all Nevadans. In order to serve you better, I would like to know exactly how you feel about this problem. Please help me out by filling out and returning this questionnaire. ? Senator Hecht, I support a constructive, rational approach to the problem, and a search for realistic, workable alternatives to a repository in Nevada. ? Senator Hecht, I think we should ignore nuclear waste and hope it goes away by simply saying we don't want it. ? Senator Hecht, please send me more information on the nuclear waste issue, and on what you've done to keep a repository out of Nevada. NAME: ADDRESS: Please clip and mail this to: Senator Chic Hecht SH 302, Hart Building Washington, D.C. 20510 J CHAT WITH CHIC RURAL TOUR AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 7, 1987 Monday, August 24 8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 12:00 noon Tuesday, August 25 8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 26 9:00 a.m. 10:25 a.m. 12:00 noon Breakfast meeting with Washoe County Adviso-ry Committee, Board of Washoe County Commis-sioners, and Reno and Sparks City Councils at Air-port Plaza Hotel, 2nd Floor. No-host $7.00 Tour Hi-Shear Technology Corporation, Storey County Tour UNR Medical School. Senator to address College Students at Student Union Building Breakfast in Carson City, Douglas and Storey County Advisory Committees at Ormsby House, 2nd floor, Ballroom " C . " No-host $6.50 [Interested public invited.] Meeting at Douglas County Courthouse with Douglas County Commissioners in Minden. Tour Bently Plant, Minden, Nevada "Chat with Chic" BBQ and town meeting at Com-munity Center, Weed Heights. No-host $5.00 3:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 27 8:30 a.m. Lunch Arrive Hawthorne Army Depot. Meet at Building No. 1. Update by Jerry Lamason, Plant Manager Meeting with Mineral County Commissioners, Hawthorne, Public Invited Lunch at El Capitan with Mineral County Adviso-ry Committee and interested public. No-host $5.50 Meeting with Nye County Commissioners in Buck-board Room of Tonopah Convention Center. Pub-lic Invited Reception at Station House, no-host $3.00, with Nye County Advisory Committee and interested public Breakfast with Esmeralda County Advisory Com-mittee, Goldfield officials and interested public at Esmeralda County Courthouse. Lunch in Beatty at Community Center with in-terested townspeople. Tour of Pahrump. Public Invited Town meeting at Saddle West Motel 3:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. Friday, August 28 All day Tour Nevada Test Site, Mercury Saturday, August 29 9:00-3:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Sunday, August 30 12:00 noon Veterans Forum, Senator Hecht speaking, Ameri-can Legion Post #8 Hall, Public Invited "Catch the Wave," Luau, 1245 Rancho Road & Waldman, Hawiian buffet & entertainment. 5:30 p.m. cocktails, 6:30 buffet. Adults, $15.00, chil-dren 12 & under $7.50. Public Invited. Conference/Lucheon, "Youth 2000", Senator Hecht, keynote address, Cashman Field. Public Invited Monday, August 31 8:00 a.m. Las Vegas High School Tour. 10:00 a.m. Investiture of Judge Phil Pro, Foley Federal Building-Courtroom, 300 Las Vegas Boulevard, South. Press conference. 12:00 noon Nevada Federation of Republican Women Lunch-eon. Senator Hecht keynote address Holiday Center Strip, No host $7.00. Public Invited 3:00 p.m. Nellis AFB - Briefing and tour. Tuesday, September 1 8:30 a.m. Citibank tour, 8725 W. Sahara Avenue 10:00 a.m. Centel tour, 330 So. Valley View. 2:00 p.m. Las Vegas City Hall, Press Conference with Mayor Lurie & Senator Hecht Wednesday, September 2 12:00 noon "Chat with Chic" luncheon at Caliente Girls School, Multipurpose Room with members of Lin-coln County Advisory Committee, public officials and interested public 3:30 p.m. Pioche City Park - meet with public Thursday, September 3 10:00 a.m. Meeting with White Pine County Commissioners Courthouse. Public Invited Noon White Pine Advisory Board luncheon at Nevada Hotel, Bristlecone Room. Public Invited, $5.00 5:30 p.m. Dinner at Golf Club in Wells with members of Elko County Advisory Committee and Public Officials. Public Invited Friday, September 4 7:30 a.m. Breakfast meeting in Humboldt Room of Red Lion Hotel and Casino with members of Elko County Advisory Board. Public Invited, $5.00 All day Elko Parade and Fair Saturday, September 5 9:00 a.m. Lunch Tour Battle Mountain Gold Company mine along with members of Lander County Advisory Com-mittee. Miners Stew luncheon provided by Battle Moun-tain Gold Company 3:00 p.m. Parade and Rodeo, Winnemucca Sunday, September 6 8:00 a.m. Breakfast meeting with Humboldt County Advi-sory Committee and interested public in Banquet Room of Winners Inn. No-host, $3.00. Coffee and donuts Noon Luncheon in Lovelock; at Surgeon's ($5.50) with members of Pershing County Advisory Commit-tee and interested public Monday, September 7 (Labor Day) 8:00 a.m. Pancake Breakfast in Fallon; parade 12:30 p.m. Luncheon with Churchill County Advisory Com-mittee at Fallon Nugget, Steak House. Public In-vited $5.00 3:00 BBQ in Carson City, Mills Park. Public Invited SMALL BUSINESS PROCUREMENT CONFERENCE SLATED FOR NOVEMBER 5 IN LAS VEGAS, CASHMAN FIELD On November 5th, I will, once again, be sponsoring my Small Business Procurement Conference, The conference, to be held in conjunction with Local, State and Federal agen-cies, will provide businesses the opportunity to find out how much funding will be available through government contracts and how these contracts can be obtained. Representatives will be on hand to "walk you through" the contracting process, which at times can appear very intimidating. The conference will give you a chance to find out how much money, may be available to your particular business. Joining me in sponsoring and coordinating this effort will be the Small Business Admin-istration, the Nevada Minority Purchasing Council, local Chambers of Commerce, UNLV Small Business De-velopment Center and the Nevada Procurement Outreach Program. The various contractors in attendance will include the Department of Defense, the University of Nevada System, Department of Energy and the prime contractors at the Neva-da Test Site. Attendance is limited, so if you want to at-tend or for more information, call my Las Vegas office at (702) 388-6605. Senator Hecht Appointed Deputy Assistant Republican Leader Recently, I was named to a po-sition in the leadership of the U.S. Senate. Senator Robert Dole, the Senate Minority Leader, appointed me Deputy Assistant Republican Leader. I found this to be both a great honor and a tremendous re-sponsibility. In this position, I am charged with assisting in the management of Senate colleagues of upcoming votes and issues, and occasionally replacing Republican Leader Dole in control of the Republi-can side of the aisle. Coming from a small state like Nevada, this is an exceptionally great privilege. Before me, Key Pittman and Paul Laxalt had been the only Nevadans ever to hold leadership positions in the Senator Hecht conversing with minority Leader Robert Dole on the steps of the Capitol about his new leadership role. SOME ISSUES OF CONCERN TO NEVADANS Nellis Air Force Base, 474th Wing Budgetary pressures have forced the Department of the Air Force to try the disband the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing at Nellis Air Force Base. I am op-posed to doing so and will offer an amendment to the Depart-ment of Defense Authorization bill that would prevent funds from being spent to remove the 474th from Nellis. Nellis Air Force Base is a vital element in the defense of this country and its capabilities must be main-tained. I believe such a move is ill-advised and will continue to work with the Secretary of the Air Force and Armed Serv-ices Committee to prevent the move. 55 MPH Speed Limit By now, Nevadans are aware that on the nation's rural inter-state highways, the speed limit has been raised to 65. I am happy to report that Nevada has lead the way. On my first Chat with Chic I tour, every-where I went, I heard com-plaints about 55. As a result, I introduced legislation that modified the speed limit. To-day, as a direct result, on rural interstates American motorists can travel up to 65 MPH. With speeds now raised on rural interstates, the time is right to take the next step. I have, therefore, introduced legislation to allow the speed to be raised up to 65 on all roads. The initial step for interstates has been successful. We must return the job of setting speed limits back where it belongs, with the states. Veterans Hospital for Nellis Air Fore Base As a direct result of my very made aware of the acute need for a Veterans' hospital in Southern Nevada. Since that time, I have worked with the Veterans Administration and the Air Force to ensure that the building of a Veterans Hospital at Nellis Air Force Base is given the highest priority. The con-struction of this facility has been moved up by one year to fiscal year 1990. The new hospital will provide acute medical and surgical care for uniformed services beneficiar-ies and Veterans. This is good news for Nevada's veterans. UNITED STATES SENATE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20510-2802 u.s.s. BLK RT CAR.RT SORT Postal Patron NEVADA