S-0984.2  _______________________________________________

                    SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8005

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Senators Hale, Loveland, Rasmussen, Bauer, Haugen, Oke, Horn, Morton and Deccio

Read first time 01/29/97.

Petitioning for use of the Fast Flux Test Facility to meet critical national needs.

    TO THE HONORABLE WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO HAZEL R. O'LEARY, THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY:

    We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

    WHEREAS, The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) is the nation's most advanced test reactor; and

    WHEREAS, Numerous independent studies have suggested that the facility could one day be used to produce cancer-curing medical isotopes; and

    WHEREAS, The facility has also been considered by the Department of Energy (DOE) for short-term production of tritium for our nation's defense needs; and

    WHEREAS, Utilizing the FFTF for this purpose could help postpone construction of more expensive options for tritium production, thus freeing federal dollars for environmental purposes during DOE's "Ten Year Cleanup Plan"; and

    WHEREAS, This would protect Hanford clean up from budget pressures during this time frame and ensure that the federal government fulfills its responsibilities under the Tri-Party Agreement; and

    WHEREAS, Private sector involvement in the FFTF project could further reduce federal expenditures needed for tritium production; and

    WHEREAS, DOE and President William J. Clinton have announced their decision to keep the FFTF on standby for potential use for medical and tritium purposes; and

    WHEREAS, This decision could lead to the development of a major cancer treatment center in Washington State; and

    WHEREAS, Sixty-nine nationally recognized cancer researchers have expressed their strong support for preserving the FFTF, and have argued that they would find it "unconscionable to shut down the FFTF without a full review of its potential for future operation, including isotope production";

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Congress and executive agencies approve and endorse the plan to fully and fairly evaluate the FFTF for use in meeting critical national needs, and urge that the long-term best interests of clean-up activities at Hanford and cancer research be given top priority by DOE in arriving at its decision.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United States, Hazel R. O'Leary, the Secretary of Energy, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

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