Editorial: Just what were they thinking?

Friday, March 16, 2001 | 3:45 a.m.

When it comes to Nevada's opposition to the federal government's bid to bury high-level nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, state Sen. Bill O'Donnell's name for years has been associated with appeasement. The Las Vegas Republican has advocated negotiating with the federal government for benefits in return for the state agreeing to store man's deadliest waste. Now O'Donnell is sponsoring a resolution in the 2001 Legislature that continues this sorry legacy.

Senate Joint Resolution 4 initially may seem harmless since it directs the governor to ask that any nuclear waste be sent by rail to Yucca Mountain -- rather than through the valley's crowded roads and highways -- if it is selected as a repository. This resolution is dangerous, though, since it assumes a nuclear waste repository will be built, implying that the state of Nevada has given up its fight against this nightmarish project. This is the worst message that could be sent at such a critical juncture in this battle.

A dead giveaway to the intent of O'Donnell's resolution was that the two senators first in line to sign on were Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, and Lawrence Jacobsen, R-Minden, who long have been weak-kneed in opposing Yucca Mountain. While those two could be written off as lost causes, it is disturbing that so many Southern Nevada legislators, who have stood in opposition to Yucca Mountain, have been duped. Also co-sponsoring the bill are Sens. Ray Rawson, Terry Care, Maggie Carlton, Ann O'Connell, Mike Schneider, Ray Shaffer and Assembly members Bob Beers, Vonne Chowning, Morse Arberry, Tom Collins and David Parks. Those interviewed by Sun reporter Cy Ryan said they didn't intend to suggest they want a repository, but the fact is this is how the resolution will be viewed. The Legislature should kill this terrible resolution now before Washington gets the wr ong idea.