Nuke Hearing too late for comment

Tuesday, April 27, 1999 | 11:09 a.m.

Southern Nevada residents have a chance tonight to express their views on high-level nuclear waste routes through the Las Vegas Valley, but the Nuclear Regulatory Commission isn't listening.

Clark County officials have scheduled a public hearing at the County Government Center from 5:30 to 9 p.m., allowing the public to comment on a study done by the federal agency, but the commission's deadline for comment is today.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission plans to amend its rules for renewing nuclear power plant operating licenses. It included routes to ship highly radioactive waste through the Las Vegas Valley to a proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

Nevada and Clark County officials discovered the reference to the local transportation routes along Interstate 15 and U.S. 95 to Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, by accident.

The state Agency for Nuclear Projects requested the commission to extend the comment period that expires today and to conduct a hearing in Las Vegas. The commission refused both requests on Monday.

"We struck out on both counts," the agency's socioeconomic studies director Joe Strolin said.

Nevada officials discovered the commission's rule included Las Vegas Valley shipping routes by "sheer luck," said state agency Director Robert Loux.

In a letter from NRC Chairwoman Shirley Ann Jackson sent to the state Friday, the commission said it was addressing nuclear waste transportation in general, knowing that Yucca Mountain has not been designated as the nation's high-level nuclear waste site. The commission is responsible for licensing the site if it is found scientifically suitable.

As for tonight's public hearing at the County Government Center, Jackson said, ". . .comments received after the end of the comment period will be considered to the extent practical."

That phrase is included in every notice appearing in the Federal Register, Strolin said.

The state, the county and the city of Las Vegas have prepared comments on the commission's proposed rule in order to meet today's deadline.

The state sent 17 pages of comments, labeling the commission's rule "misleading and inaccurate" and noted that the federal agency had used outdated data regarding Southern Nevada's traffic and death rates.

"It is highly unlikely that other states and communities located along potential transportation routes to a Yucca Mountain repository are aware of the notice or the opportunity to comment on this critical matter," Loux said.