Congress Might Put Nuclear, Energy Programs Behind Closed Doors - August 25, 2003 Vol.4 No.17

August 25, 2003 Vol.4 No.17:

Published: 08/25/2003

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Congress Might Put Nuclear, Energy Programs Behind Closed Doors

House and Senate conferees will have to decide whether the federal government's nuclear waste and energy programs can be closed off from media and public scrutiny. Included in the House version of the defense authorization bill (H.R. 1588) is a provision that would grant the Department of Energy (DOE) the ability to restrict unclassified information on these programs.

The Department of Energy already has the authority to restrict public access to unclassified information relating to nuclear weapons. The debate over what to do with the nation's growing stockpile of nuclear waste raged for years as Congress, scientists, and others considered the merits and risks associated with storing nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain, outside Las Vegas. This provision would allow government officials to preclude open, public discussion of the government's handling of nuclear waste. Public Citizen put together a letter opposing this action signed by a diverse set of 16 other groups, including National Security Archive, OMB Watch, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and 20/20 Vision.