Craig: Nevada site could survive veto

Friday, June 6, 1997 | 5:48 a.m.

And Craig's claim comes amid speculation that he may not need the extra votes because President Clinton may not veto the bill as Nevada's senators have said they have been assured would occur.

The proposition, which cleared the Senate two votes short of a veto-proof majority and is now making its way through the House, not only sets up the temporary dump near where the government is contemplating a permanent one but also opens it to government waste as well as commercial waste.

That provides an outlet for the government to meet its commitments under the unprecedented 1995 waste dumping deal it signed with Idaho Gov. Phil Batt.

Craig's bill died in the House last year because of the administration's promised veto.

Since April's vote on his bill, Craig says he has picked up the support of Illinois Democrat Richard Durbin and another senator he is refusing to identify.

The legislation has stirred strong opposition in Nevada, where one GOP congressman warned his colleagues he could be ousted by voters if the measure became law.

But University of Nevada, Reno political scientist Eric Herzik speculates that Clinton may not veto the bill since it is not an election year and he does not have to worry about offending Nevada's Democratic senators and losing that state's electoral votes.

In addition, a federal court has ruled the government must take responsibility for commercial nuclear waste in 1998. If not, it will have to assume storage costs from utilities.

"All Clinton has to do is say we've lost the court case and there have been some changes in the bill that now make it more acceptable," Herzik contended.

The proposed permanent dump at Yucca Mountain is already 12 years behind schedule.

But the Nevada congressional delegation remains unalterably opposed to what they call a multibillion-dollar subsidy for the nuclear power industry.

"Why endanger Americans when it is infinitely safer and seven times cheaper to keep the waste on-site?" freshman Republican Rep. James Gibbons said.