Nevada officials have mixed opinions about Abraham

Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2001 | 9:57 a.m.

Nevada officials had mixed opinions Tuesday, splitting along party lines on whether former Sen. Spencer Abraham would help keep nuclear waste out of Nevada if he becomes Energy Secretary.

Abraham, defeated for re-election to the Senate from Michigan, was nominated to the Energy Department post Tuesday by President-elect Bush.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Abraham hasn't been neutral on the issue of dumping nuclear waste in Nevada, and "this bias raises genuine concern about the prospects for a fair decision on the site's safety and suitability."

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., echoed Reid's statement.

"Spencer Abraham has been a consistent supporter of the nuclear power industry, and has an established record in the Senate of voting for the Yucca Mountain project without regard for the health and safety of the people in my state," she said.

Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, is the only site the federal government is studying to bury 77,000 tons of the nation's high-level nuclear waste.

Reid and Berkley both were hopeful that Abraham would be unbiased in any decision concerning Nevada.

But Reid said Abraham's nomination calls in to question Bush's commitment to a fair evaluation of Yucca Mountain.

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., defended Bush.

"President-elect Bush clearly understands Nevada's concerns on the issue of nuclear waste."

Bush has said he would veto legislation to allow temporary waste storage and would insist that any decision on a permanent dump be based on "sound science" rather than politics.

Gibbons said Nevada's congressional delegation will work to make sure Abraham understands its united opposition to the nuclear waste dump.

Gov. Kenny Guinn, a Republican, said he looks forward to working with Abraham on the waste issue.

He said he was certain Abraham "will continue the position of President-elect Bush to base any decision on nuclear waste storage on science rather than political expediency."

Nevada officials were relieved two weeks ago when former Sen. J. Bennett Johnston - author of the "Screw Nevada" nuclear dump measures - withdrew his name from consideration for the energy post.