Nuke waste prompts legislative action

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2000 | 11:57 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- An increased amount of low-level nuclear waste is being shipped to the Nevada Test Site for storage, and that concerns some state legislators.

The Legislative Interim Finance Committee Tuesday gave approval to the state Department of Motor Vehicles and Public Safety to accept $340,000 in federal funds to be disbursed to six counties, including Clark, to develop response plans in case of an emergency involving the shipments.

Richard Kirkland, new DMV director, said he personally "stumbled" on the program recently.

Patrick Cameron of the state Emergency Management Division, said the amount of waste is increasing each year and could hit $1.3 million cubic feet by 2003. But he said it may decrease to 794,0000 in 2004.

Some of the waste is stored at the Test Site and later shipped to New Mexico for permanent burial.

"We need a complete report so it doesn't get out of hand," Rawson said. The low-level waste, he said was stored in metal boxes and dumped in trenches 14 to 20 feet deep at the Test Site. He said the waste is contained.

Kirkland said he has been told by the Nevada Highway Patrol that it is stored according to federal regulations. He said there is more "(waste) than we understood. I will get a detailed report on what is going on."

Sen. Lawrence Jacobson, R-Minden, said he and other lawmakers have visited the burial site in New Mexico. While they were there, three shipments arrived from Nevada.

"It's an ideal storage site for low-level waste," he said.

Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, advising that the waste destined for the Test Site should not be confused with high-level radioactive waste that would go to Yucca Mountain if it is approved as a burial site, said "there is still a concern about what is coming in."