Letter: Nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain is a good thing

Friday, Jan. 12, 2001 | 9:48 a.m.

Your paper's infatuation with Yucca Mountain is getting a little old. There must be other news out there to report on.

It's time to stop playing politics with this scientific project. The Department of Energy is bringing Bechtel in as its new contractor to guide it from the study to the construction phase of the project. Bechtel is known for its construction expertise, among other things.

The "anti" crowd seems to have a new messiah for its 2001 fight against the project. Stephen Cloobeck is undoubtedly a successful businessman and community leader, but I don't quite understand his motives in getting into the Yucca Mountain debate, especially when he admits he's a little naive about the project.

The top issues to most members of the public are things like education, roads, crime, water issues -- Yucca Mountain has always been way down on the list.

What our elected officials and business leaders need to do is start talking to each other about some "what if" scenarios, to look at some ways we can make this federal project benefit all of us here in the state. The current head-in-the-sand approach does nothing but ignore the reality check that we need to take.

We need to look at things like economic diversification, high-tech spinoffs and other things to bring some equity into the equation.

FORREST DARBY