III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 153 

Recognizing the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 14, 2011 

Mr. LUGAR (for himself and Mr. KERRY) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear 

disaster. 

Whereas at 1:23 A.M. on April 26, 1986, during an experiment, a major explosion occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Unit 4, a RBMK 1000-type, graphite-moderated nuclear power reactor in Pripyat; 

Whereas the initial explosion dispersed a stream of radioactive particles over nearby towns, farms, and eventually 

to many other countries; 

Whereas 500,000 brave firefighters, engineers, technicians, 

and emergency workers worked for more than 6 months 

to minimize one of the worst civilian nuclear disasters in 

history; 


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•SRES 153 IS 

Whereas radioactivity emanating from the Chernobyl disaster 

has been detected in Belarus, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, and other areas; 

Whereas since the disaster, serious health, environmental, 

and socioeconomic repercussions have been identified in 

many areas near the Chernobyl plant; 

Whereas the Chernobyl Forum, an initiative by the International Atomic Energy Agency in cooperation with the 

World Health Organization, numerous United Nations 

agencies, and the governments of Ukraine, Belarus, and 

Russia, was launched in 2003 to examine the scientific 

evidence of human and environmental effects of the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl; 

Whereas the Chernobyl Forum’s examination of the catastrophe has contributed to the understanding of the effects caused by the nuclear disaster; 

Whereas, the Chernobyl Forum found that more than 

5,000,000 people lived in ‘‘contaminated’’ areas in 

Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and other countries; 

Whereas the lives and wellness of people in the affected areas 

continue to be impacted by the catastrophic Chernobyl 

nuclear disaster; 

Whereas the government of the United States, the people of 

the United States, and the international community have 

provided contributions to humanitarian organizations to 

address the effects of the Chernobyl disaster; 

Whereas the Chernobyl Shelter Fund (CSF) was established 

in December 1997 by the G7, in cooperation with 

Ukraine; 

Whereas the purpose of the CSF has been to construct a safe 

confinement over the damaged Chernobyl Unit 4 and to 


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•SRES 153 IS 

convert the site to a stable and environmentally safe condition; 

Whereas the Nuclear Safety Account (NSA), supported by 

the United States and 16 other donors, finances the Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility that allows for the decommissioning of Chernobyl Units 1 through 3; 

Whereas April 26, 2011, is the 25th anniversary of the 

Chernobyl nuclear disaster; and 

Whereas the ongoing crisis in Japan at the Fukushima nuclear power plant serves as a reminder to the United 

States and the international community of the need to 

make strong commitments to nuclear security throughout 

the world: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the 25th anniversary of the 

3 Chernobyl nuclear disaster and the courage of the 

4 Ukrainian people in persevering to address the con5 sequences of the disaster; 

6 (2) commends efforts to mitigate the con7 sequences of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, includ8 ing the assistance that the United States and the 

9 international community have given to the Chernobyl 

10 Shelter Fund and the Interim Spent Fuel Storage 

11 Facility; and 

12 (3) requests that the Secretary of the Senate 

13 transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the 

14 Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States. 

Æ 


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