Editorial: All Nevada wants is a square deal

Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998 | 11:54 a.m.

Over the years Nevada hasn't gotten a fair shake from Congress or the Department of Energy when it comes to investigating whether Nevada's Yucca Mountain should be the dumping ground for the nation's nuclear waste. It all started in 1987 when Congress decided to reduce the three states being studied to house nuclear waste -- Nevada, Washington and Texas -- to just one: Nevada.

It was no coincidence that the leadership in Congress at the time, and the size of the Washington and Texas congressional delegations, contributed to Nevada getting shafted. After Congress' decision, the Department of Energy, which was designated to study Yucca Mountain as a candidate, often turned a blind eye to any scientific evidence showing the dangers of placing nuclear waste in Nevada.

But just when it seemed the state didn't stand much of a chance, Bill Clinton was elected president in 1992, giving Nevada a better deal. For instance, Clinton has stood by his vow to veto any legislation that would send nuclear waste to Nevada on a so-called "temporary basis" until a final resting place is found.

In another promising development, new Energy Secretary Bill Richardson is scheduled to visit Nevada on Friday and hear about the latest reports questioning Yucca Mountain's suitability. A Siberian geologist released a report on Tuesday that found water once rose inside Yucca Mountain during its lifetime, casting doubt about its suitability to store high-level radioactive waste.

The reason there is concern about water in Yucca Mountain is that if water someday rises inside a nuclear waste burial site it could corrode the waste containers, allowing high levels of radiation to invade the environment. It is imperative that no questions about safety be ignored.

Hopefully Richardson's visit will be substantive and not a photo-op designed to soothe the fears Nevadans have about the lack of genuine scientific inquiry in this process. Nevadans have heard a lot of talk about fairness in the past from Energy Department officials. Now is the time to see some sincere action from the Energy Department, including a review of information from respected scientists who have doubts about Yucca Mountain's viability.