Who will fund Herrera’s pledge?

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2001 | 11:29 a.m.

If any questions lingered about where Clark County stands in the fight to keep nuclear waste out of Nevada, County Commission Chairman Dario Herrera answered them last week with his $1 million pledge toward the battle.

Now another question is lingering at the Clark County Government Center: Where will the money come from?

Herrera publicly announced the county's commitment after Gov. Kenny Guinn promised $5 million toward the campaign to keep nuclear waste from being stored at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

"It's extremely important for the biggest local government in the state to be a very big part of this effort," Herrera said. "We need to demonstrate our leadership against the storage of nuclear waste at Yucca."

Herrera said he spoke with senior county administrators about the funding before announcing the county's commitment, and they offered no resistance. However, Herrera didn't discuss the proposal with his fellow board members, who will have to vote on the matter.

The $1 million would either come from the county's general fund or from commissioners' discretionary funds.

"The logistics of this haven't been worked out," said George Stevens, the county's finance director. "I don't know what the timing would be -- whether we would do it all at once or over time. It would be hard to comment."

While commissioners are unanimous in their stand against the transportation and storage of nuclear waste to Southern Nevada, they are concerned about the significant amount of money that has been pledged.

"I want to know more about it," said Clark County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury. "Who's involved? Who will do what? Who will get the money? I don't know enough to speak intelligently about it, let alone vote on it."

Herrera's commitment was premature because the state should outline its plan before the county joins in, Woodbury said. Herrera said the details of the financing have yet to be worked out. The money could go toward Diamond Resorts International President Stephen Cloobeck's effort to raise $10 million to inform the nation of Nevada's stance. It also could be invested in Guinn's plans once they are outlined.

Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates, who was told by a colleague the money would come from Herrera's discretionary funds, said until a concrete strategy is outlined, it is too early to commit that kind of money.

"It's premature until we know what exactly what our campaign strategy is," Atkinson Gates said. "We have to make a commitment toward something before the board decides. But do we want nuclear waste transported here? Of course not."