Letter: Nuke route should use range land

Friday, Dec. 4, 1998 | 11:44 a.m.

Guinn, in one of his first actions, called for permanently giving the Air Force all of the land it occupies in Southern Nevada. Unbeknownst to Guinn his view on Nellis is contrary to the wishes of virtually all other elected officials in Nevada and most everyone in rural Nevada. Guinn, needing some quick and easy political cover, must have sought advice from Sen. Richard Bryan.

The result -- Guinn babbled something about Yucca Mountain and not allowing nuclear materials to be transported across the range complex. What does this mean? Apparently Guinn will support a permanent withdrawal if the Air Force opposes transporting nuclear material across the range complex. How does this sit with those who oppose the permanent withdrawal of the land for the Air Force?

What about nuclear weapons that are transported through the complex. How does this affect Guinn's position on the land withdrawal? Mr. Guinn -- radionuclides are radionuclides -- you can't decide that some are good and others are bad.

Finally, why would anyone oppose transporting nuclear material through the Nellis complex? This is an ideal way to keep the material out of the Las Vegas Valley. Maybe when our politicians quit all the grandstanding they will develop the credibility to actually accomplish something relative to Yucca Mountain.

If nuclear material comes to Nevada, a route through Lincoln County and across the range complex would be in the best interest of Nevadans.

Shanna Fuller