Henderson chapter to leave U.S. chamber

Jeffrey Libby

Friday, Dec. 7, 2001 | 11:09 a.m.

The proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain has prompted a decision by the Henderson Chamber of Commerce to leave the national chapter.

The Henderson chamber, which voted to withdraw Thursday, joins the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, the third largest in the country, in cancelling its membership with the national chamber. The Las Vegas chamber voted to leave in mid-November, three days after the Washington-based national organization announced its support to bury the nation's nuclear waste 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

"The sad thing is, this was a political decision (on the part of the U.S. chamber), not based on scientific or good business decisions," Ron Meek, president of the Henderson chamber, said. "I'm sure they have a number of companies that will benefit monetarily from Yucca Mountain. It's as simple as that. They're just wielding that influence."

Meek said the move by the chamber, which pays $1,000 annually in dues to the national organization, was largely symbolic. The Henderson chamber has 950 member businesses.

"It would be devastating to have that nuclear waste sitting on our back porch," Meek said.

The chamber will donate the $1,000 to an organization battling the proposed repository.

The U.S. chamber, which Meek said has done little to soften the blow of its unexpected announcement, stepped up the rhetoric Thursday by requesting that Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham decide within 30 days whether to recommend Yucca Mountain to President Bush.

Representatives from the Las Vegas and Henderson chambers say they weren't consulted before the U.S. chamber announced its position.