Since January 1977, significant progress has been achieved in resolving
three critical problems resulting from the use of nuclear energy:
radioactive waste management, nuclear safety and weapons proliferation.
In 1977, the Administration announced its nuclear nonproliferation policy
and initiated the International Fuel Cycle Evaluation. In 1978, Congress
passed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Act, an historic piece of legislation.
In February 1980, the Administration transmitted its nuclear waste
management policy to the Congress. This policy was a major advance over all
previous efforts. The principal aspects of that policy are: acknowledging
the seriousness of the problem and the numerous technical and institutional
issues; adopting a technically and environmentally conservative approach to
the first permanent repository; and providing the states with significant
involvement in nuclear waste disposal decisions by creating the State
Planning Council. While much of the plan can be and is being implemented
administratively, some new authorities are needed. The Congress should give
early priority to enacting provisions for away-from-reactor storage and the
State Planning Council.
The accident at Three Mile Island made the nation acutely aware of the
safety risks posed by nuclear power plants. In response, the President
established the Kemeny Commission to review the accident and make
recommendations. Virtually all of the Commission's substantive
recommendations were adopted by the Administration and are now being
implemented by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The Congress adopted the
President's proposed plan for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the
Nuclear Safety Oversight Committee was established to ensure that the
Administration's decisions were implemented.
Nuclear safety will remain a vital concern in the years ahead. We must
continue to press ahead for the safe, secure disposal of radioactive
wastes, and prevention of nuclear proliferation.
While significant growth in foreign demand for U.S. steam coal is foreseen,
congestion must be removed at major U.S. coal exporting ports such as
Hampton Roads, Virginia, and Baltimore, Maryland. My Administration has
worked through the Interagency Coal Task Force Study to promote cooperation
and coordination of resources between shippers, railroads, vessel broker/
operators and port operators, and to determine the most appropriate Federal
role in expanding and modernizing coal export facilities, including
dredging deeper channels at selected ports. As a result of the Task Force's
efforts, administrative steps have been taken by the Corps of Engineers to
reduce significantly the amount of time required for planning and economic
review of port dredging proposals. The Administration has also recommended
that the Congress enact legislation to give the President generic authority
to recommend appropriations for channel dredging activities. Private
industry will, of course, play the major role in developing the United
States' coal export facilities, but the government must continue to work to
facilitate transportation to foreign markets.