PUBLIC LAW 106-255—AUG. 2, 2000 114 STAT. 641 the treatment of low-level liquid radioactive waste from the decommissioning of nuclear submarines docked at naval facilities in the Arctic region of Russia. (B) The Environmental Protection Agency has also initiated a project to construct an 80-ton prototype cask for the storage and transport of civilian-controlled spent nuclear fuel, much of it damaged and currently stored onboard an aging vessel anchored in Murmansk Harbor. Currently in the design phase, this project is scheduled for completion in 2000. (13) Working with the countries in the region to address these environmental problems remains vital to the long-term national interest of the United States. (14) The United States and other countries are currently negotiating a number of agreements with Russia which will provide internationaly accepted legal protections for the United States and other countries that provide nuclear waste management assistance to Russia. Regrettably, it has not yet been possible to resolve remaining differences over liability, taxation of assistance, privileges and immunities for foreign contractors, and audit rights. (15) Concluding these agreements is vital to the continued provision of such assistance and to the possible development of new programs. (16) With the election of Russian President Vladamir Putin, the opportunity presents itself to surmount these problems, to conclude these outstanding agreements, and to allow assistance programs to move forward to alleviate this problem. (17) The United States Government is currently studying whether dismantlement of multi-purpose submarines is in the national interest. (b) PURPOSE. —The purpose of this Act is to demonstrate concrete support for continued cross-border cooperation in Northern Europe and immediate efforts to assist in the clean up of nuclear waste in that region. SEC. 3. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS. It is the sense of the Congress that— (1) the United States Northern Europe Initiative is a sound framework for future United States involvement in Northern Europe; (2) the European Union should move expeditiously to authorize and fund the proposed "Northern Dimension" Initiative at appropriate yet substantial levels of assistance; (3) the United States should continue to support a wideranging strengthening of democratic and civic institutions on a regional basis to provide a foundation for political stability and investment opportunities, including cross-border exchanges, in Northern Europe; (4) the United States should demonstrate continued commitment to address environmental security challenges in Northwest Russia, in cooperation with partners in the region; (5) recently-elected Russian President Vladamir Putin should rapidly conclude pending nuclear waste management agreements to enable assistance programs to go forward; and (6) assistance to Russia on nuclear waste management should only be provided after issues related to liability, taxation
�
