News briefs for October 17, 2001

Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2001 | 9:05 a.m.

Pickup collides with dump truck

A 37-year-old woman was killed Tuesday when the pickup she was driving collided with a dump truck in the intersection of Gowan Road and Commerce Street.

The accident happened about 11:30 a.m., when the pickup failed to stop at a stop sign and crashed into the side of the dump truck, North Las Vegas Police said.

The victim, whose name had not been released this morning, was not wearing a seatbelt, and the force of the impact caused the pickup to spin, throwing her from the driver's side window, police said.

The woman died at the scene, and the investigation is continuing, police said.

Comment period extended for public

The Department of Energy has extended the time in which Las Vegas residents can comment at the Las Vegas Science Center on the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

Meanwhile, Gov. Kenny Guinn announced that local governments have chipped in $1.05 million to help the state in its fight against a nuclear waste repository 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

The money will be added to $4 million that was allocated by the Legislature.

The DOE is studying Yucca Mountain as a permanent burial site for 77,000 tons of high-level commercial and defense nuclear waste. Congress has not yet approved the site.

Residents can record their comments at the Las Vegas Science Center, 4101-B Meadows Lane south of the Meadows Mall, which is open through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Friday -- the final day of the public comment period regarding the proposed repository -- comment will be taken from 10 a.m. to midnight.

Residents are encouraged to reserve time to offer testimony to a court reporter by calling (800) 967-3477. Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes, and walk-in testimony will be accepted as the schedule permits.

Environmental group appeals

The president of a Northern Nevada environmental group has filed an appeal to stop the federal Bureau of Land Management from turning land over for the development of a contested hydroelectric project in the Red Rock Canyon area.

Charles Watson of Nevada Outdoor Recreation Association said the BLM erred in not conducting a full environmental review and aided Blue Diamond Power Partners in getting federal approvals for the project.

He said the agency was guilty of insider dealing and political favoritism while working with the partnership.

BLM spokesman Phillip Guerrero said his agency did not do anything improper in the decision to grant land for the hydroelectric plant, which would send power to the Las Vegas Valley during peak demand periods during hot summer days.

The appeal will go to the Interior Board of Land Use Appeals, Watson said.

County considers mobile use ban

The Clark County Commission set a Nov. 6 public hearing to discuss a proposed ordinance that would ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving in unincorporated areas of the county.

The ordinance was simply introduced and not discussed on Tuesday, but critics have already said that county pockets throughout the Las Vegas Valley would make the ordinance difficult to enforce.

Motorists would not be permitted to use hand-held phones in the county, but could within the city limits. Phones equipped with headphones or speakerphones would be allowed.