Las Vegas Sun

December 3, 2009

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Letter: Scrap plan for Yucca Mountain

Monday, March 13, 2000 | 9:59 a.m.

In several recent issues of the Sun, the following stories appeared:

1. Nye County officials reported that ground water outside the boundaries of the Test Site contained radiation 25 times higher than allowable limits;

2. Traces of radiation were found in attics in older homes in Las Vegas.

3. Then, in an eerie coincidence, the March 3 paper carried a story about the U.S. government suing Nevada over the Yucca water rights' ban.

I suppose we know a good deal about nuclear energy. But it should be crystal clear to anyone who takes the time to think about it, that what we know is far less than what we don't know.

The idea of burying nuclear waste anywhere near a major population center is, at best, stupid and misguided, and at worst, a total disregard for the health and safety of area residents.

Our government is supposed to exist "of, by and for" the people.

But, all too often, the bureaucrats perform their "risk/reward" calculation. The people are ignored and the expedient approach is then pursued.

Forget about Yucca Mountain; don't look for another site. Spend those billions on finding ways to deactivate genocidal nuclear waste.

BARRY E. JACOBS

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