Nuke-dump comment period extended

Friday, March 21, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

For the second time, the U.S. Department of Energy has extended the period for public comment on its proposed amendment to siting guidelines for the proposed Yucca Mountain high-level nuclear waste dump.

The first comment period was set for Dec. 16 through Feb. 14. But public requests for more time pushed the closing date for comments to March 17.

An extra 30 days has now been granted, bringing the new deadline to April 16.

The proposed amendments would ensure that Yucca Mountain would be found safe if it passes an overall performance analysis. The original agreement stated that if any of several specific qualifications were not met, the dump would not be allowed at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Nevada Gov. Bob Miller has threatened the DOE with a lawsuit if the changes are made.

Comments may be mailed to April V. Gil, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office, P.O. Box 30307, North Las Vegas, NV 89036-0307.

The e-mail address is:

10CFR960@notes.ymp.gov

DOE's toll-free information line is 1-800-967-3477 for people to receive copies of the notice of proposed rulemaking or to find out more about its process.