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ENGROSSED
SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8005
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Passed
Legislature - 1997 Regular Session
State of Washington 55th
Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By
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 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, 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.
