Chernobyl Nuclear Accident Congressional Hearings Transcript

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The Chairman. Senator Domenici.
Senator Domenici. On that last question, so that our distinguished
friend from Ohio is not back here in 3 weeks when they
submit their answers, to make sure we understand—we don't want
a bunch of guesses. If they don't know, because there is not enough
information—are they not permitted to tell us that? We do not
want somebody to guess, and tell Senator Metzenbaum 100,000 to
150,000, or so.
The Chairman. I would suggest to the Senator from New Mexico
that if indeed the witnesses feel they are incapable of answering
the question, that is what their answer will have to be.
Senator Domenici. I thank the chairman. I would appreciate the
opportunity to ask a few questions.
I was listening here and two things come to my mind. Would the
Senator from Ohio stay.
Senator Metzenbaum. There was a Judiciary Committee hearing
I was trying to get to, but for you, I will wait.
Senator Domenici. I greatly appreciate it. I am not sure you will
when I am finished.
But let me say, the first thing that came to my mind as I listened
when humankind first rubbed some sticks together and started a
fire, I am grateful that we did not have either this committee or
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission around, because I guarantee
you, if they had a slight bit of clairvoyance and a little bit of computer
capability, we would be frozen to death, but we would not
have had the fires we have had.
Having said that, let me say, I really do not appreciate at all the
insinuation from my good friend from Ohio that our Government,
represented here by these people, are trjdng to hide environmental
facts about Chernobyl.
Senator Metzenbaum. I was only quoting from one of the members
of the Commission.
Senator Domenici. I just do not believe it. Not only do I not believe
it, but let me tell you, I believe they are just as interested in
the information about Chernobyl, and TMI, as they are about the
effects of coal-burning plants in the United States on the health
and welfare of our people.
I believe that they are just as interested and doing just as good a
job, or just as poor a job, evaluating the health effects on American
people from the pollutants coming out of the smokestacks that are
burning coal as they are about nuclear. I believe your people in
Ohio are just as interested, and if they are not, they ought to be.
If we are going to insist on a new study, I am going to ask that
they do a study about the effect of the failure of the coal-burning
plants in the State of Ohio to yet today meet the ambient health
standards of the United States.
Senator Metzenbaum. I have no problem with your request.
Senator Domenici. I think we ought to do that.
think that whatever the Senator from
Senator Metzenbaum. I
New Mexico thinks we should do, he ought to do. That is the Senator
from New Mexico's decision.
I am much more concerned about the potential problem
Senator Domenici. Mr. Chairman, I would ask that the Senator
from Ohio, as I did for him, be permitted to make my statements