Federal briefs for July 29, 1999

Thursday, July 29, 1999 | 10:43 a.m.

House OKs money for Yucca oversight

The House voted 420-8 on an energy and water development budget that includes $4.7 million for Nevada and $5.4 million for 10 counties to oversee federal scientific studies at a proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., voted in favor of the bill. Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., voted against the bill because it did not include $4.7 million for Nevada and $5.4 million for 10 counties to oversee federal scientific studies at a proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

When Congress passed the original legislation for the Department of Energy to study Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, oversight money was included for the state and affected counties.

However, the state and local governments were stripped of oversight funding after an audit indicated misuse of the nuclear waste funds.

Military munitions test successful

Blackbeard, the first of three planned military munitions tests, detonated successfully on Wednesday at the Nevada Test Site, the Department of Energy said.

The test involving 24 artillery shells was conducted in X-Tunnel, a 19-foot-wide tunnel extending 600 feet into Little Skull Mountain, about 80 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

The test chamber was sealed after the 155mm artillery shells were in place. The test, similar to ones conducted in 1997, will help the Defense Department understand emissions from exploding munitions in a confined space.

Money approved for 11 CAT buses

The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $2.5 million to Clark County for new public transportation buses.

The money is expected to buy 11 new Citizens Area Transit buses to help transportation keep up with growth in the Las Vegas Valley.

"Clark County continues to be one of the fastest growing areas in the country, but with the growth comes challenges such as traffic congestion and air pollution," Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said. "These new CAT buses will make it more convenient for riders and will encourage drivers to leave their cars at home."