Chernobyl Nuclear Accident Congressional Hearings Transcript

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Senator Domenici. Thank you, very much. Did you recommend
the tax on just nuclear power?
Dr. Beyea. At this point, yes, sir.
Senator Domenici. Why do you not put the tax on coal generating
power, also?
Dr. Beyea. Well, we might go along with that, too, but in terms
of the political climate, I think there is a political possibility at this
time to put a tax on nuclear power that the public would accept.
Senator Domenici. Well, I think some of us would more readily
accept it if it were shared. Environmental problems are not unique
to nuclear. If we invent a new reactor, it apparently would be
available also to solve some of the problems that coal presents;
would it not?
Dr. Beyea. If you are trying to suggest that I would oppose a tax
on coal, I would not necessarily oppose a tax on coal.
Senator Domenici. No, I really was not. I was just wondering,
and you gave me the answer. You think it is more vulnerable now
so it would be supported, if I understand you correctly.
Dr. Beyea. I think there is a recognition on the part of the public
that nuclear power has problems—at least this generation of
plants—has problems that are not desirable. And I think that you
must do something to respond to that concern. One response that
you have heard today by Howard Denton is to do little immediately;
perhaps work on the GE containment.
Another response is to go back to the public and say, we recognize
there is a problem and we want to do something about it. It is
going to take some money to do that, and will you support that
kind of tax?
Senator Domenici. Let me ask you one other question. The Audubon
Society has—you work for them?
Dr. Beyea. That is correct.
Senator Domenici. What kind of scientific staff, aside from you,
do they have? Are you it, or do they have a number of them?
Dr. Beyea. We have, in terms of scientific staff, we have about
six Ph.D.'s that cover all our topics, mainly wildlife; most of the
Ph.D. staffs are associated with wildlife. There are two Ph.D.'s that
are relevant to this field. I have a staff of three full time people
who also work with me.
Senator Domenici. Since you are telling us that recommendations
have not been made yet but they are going to be obviously, at
some point, you are giving this committee advance of what you are
thinking about, if I gathered your testimony right.
What is the process by which the Audubon Society will make
their decision?
Dr. Beyea. What we will do, and what we have done with our
previous reports on energy is to circulate them to a wide range of
people, our friends and our enemies, to get their response. We will
be circulating these ideas to other environmental groups to see if
they can generate any support among those groups.
We also will be sending this testimony, these ideas, to people in
the nuclear industry to see what their comments are.
We believe that it is time that we talk to each other and we
intend to do that.