Friday, Aug. 31, 2001 | 10:52 a.m.
Even if Yucca Mountain was scientifically suitable as a nuclear dump, and it isn't, the massive growth in Nevada's population since 1987 is sufficient reason alone to disqualify Yucca Mountain.
Our population in the Las Vegas Valley has more than quadrupled since the 1987 federal law that singled out Yucca Mountain for investigation, and our visitor population is now 90,000 a day. The Paiute Snow Mountain Reservation, 70 miles from Yucca Mountain, has grown into a tourist destination. Indian Springs, which is closer still, has grown.
Closer still (18 miles away) is the Ponderosa Dairy Farm, an ostrich farm, several pistachio orchards, alfalfa ranches and citizens' home gardens in Amargosa Valley.
This population and infrastructure growth is more than enough to disqualify Yucca Mountain as a nuclear dump.
So attend the Department of Energy's public hearings on Yucca Mountain and send a message to President Bush and Congress. There should not be a nuclear dump close to population centers!
FRANK PERNA
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