Energy & Transportation Update
An Information Service of the AFI Energy and Transportation Committee
January 12, 2001
Volume II, Number 1b
Bush Names Former Michigan Senator as Secretary of Energy
On January 2, president-elect Bush appointed former Senator Spencer Abraham (R-Mich) to head the Department of Energy (DOE). Abraham formerly served as deputy chief of staff to Vice President Quayle and as Michigan's Republican Party chairman. He was elected to the Senate in 1994, but lost in a re-election bid last November. Abraham served on the Senate Budget, Commerce, and Small Business committees. Ironically, as Senator he actively sought to dismantle the DOE.
Abraham shares President-elect George W. Bush's desire to establish an energy policy that will include finding ways to meet rising energy demand through increased domestic production. One of the primary means of reaching that goal is to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas drilling. Members in the energy industry generally support the appointment, while many environmental groups seem less enthusiastic about the appointment citing Abraham's voting records opposing environmental regulations and fuel efficiency standards. The Sierra Club rated last year's Congress on environmental issues. Abraham was rated the lowest.
Amtrak Legislation Fails to Slide Through
Amtrak legislation (S. 1900), which would sell $10 billion in bonds to raise capital for high-speed rail, failed to squeeze into the final omnibus-spending bill. There was a desperate effort by key proponents Monihan (D-NY) and Lautenberg (D-NJ) to include the measure as they served out their final Senate terms. Senators McCain (R-AZ) and Gramm (R-TX) were strongly opposed to the legislation. Senators Lott (R-Miss), Daschle (D-SD) and Byrd (D-W.Va) have pledged to push the Amtrak bill early this year.
Amtrak reported that the version of the bill that will be resurrected is the language approved by Senator Roth (R-DE) that was adopted in the "Community Renewal and New Markets Acts" tax bill. Apparently, Senator Biden (D-DE) has been active in attempting to re-introduce the legislation this year.
EPA to Issue Yucca Mountain Standards
The EPA is scheduled to issue radiation standards for a proposed nuclear waste site in Yucca Mountain, Nevada by January 20, 2001. EPA released a proposal in 1999 setting standards for radiation exposure for Yucca Mountain. Many supporters of the Yucca Mountain repository criticized the 1999 standards as too strict and would thwart the project. Many environmentalists are hoping the standards will be set before the Clinton administration leaves. Their fear is that the standards may not be as tight under George W. Bush. The Nuclear Policy Amendments Act passed in 1987, specified Yucca Mountain, Nevada has a site to study for a possible repository for high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. Because several temporary waste sites are waiting for a permanent site to open and because the site is the only location being studied, there is strong pressure to select the Nevada site. Senator Reid (D-NV) has consistently opposed the site, as the nation's only high-level nuclear waste dump, arguing Nevada has never invested in or benefited from the nuclear power industry.
NCSL Staff:
Eileen Doherty
Committee Director
AFI Energy and Transportation Committee
(202)624-8687
Laurie Holmes
Staff Assistant
AFI Energy and Transportation Committee
(202)624-8695
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