Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson questioned Energy Secretary Steven Chu on DOE’s commitment to abide by the Idaho Settlement Agreement during an Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee hearing today.
 
The Idaho Settlement Agreement is an agreement between the State of Idaho and the Department of Energy that requires DOE to remove all spent fuel and high level waste by 2035 or face fines for non-compliance. Simpson questioned Chu about maintaining the agreement during the hearing.  “Secretary Chu, whether or not I agree with it, I recognize that you have made a decision to shut down Yucca Mountain. As you know, DOE has an agreement with the State of Idaho to have all the waste of out Idaho by 2035. Given the decision on Yucca Mountain, will you guarantee me that the Department of Energy will abide by the Idaho Settlement Agreement and withdraw all waste from Idaho by 2035?”

Chu responded that DOE fully intends to fulfill its obligation to the Agreement. “My answer is yes,” he said. 
Simpson also asked the Secretary about the DOE loan guarantee program. Areva has applied for a $2 billion loan guarantee from the Department to build a uranium enrichment facility named the Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility in eastern Idaho. Simpson pointed out that this application has been under consideration for 18 months. “This has been under review long enough to make a decision,” said Simpson. “Could you tell us when you expect to see a decision made?”  Secretary Chu agreed that it was time to finalize the application and make a decision and stated that he expected to see a decision released soon. 

Simpson is a member of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over funding for the Department of Energy and the Idaho National Laboratory.

To watch Simpson discuss the Idaho Settlement Agreement with Secretary Chu, visit his YouTube site.