Letter: Government bound to put nuke waste here

Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2001 | 8:19 a.m.

The nuclear waste issue remains very big to Nevadans. I didn't make the meeting last Wednesday, but the 5 1/2 hours probably all came down to, "Not in my back yard."

What hurts us is that Nevada has more Bureau of Land Management land than any state in the United States. Since most of us would like to see it moved elsewhere, did any protesters give their opinion as to whose back yard it should be in? You cannot keep saying, "anywhere but here." Washington won't buy that. We have to make this a multiple choice issue for them.

If not, since it's the government's one and only choice, and since we all agree the waste must go somewhere, what does that tell you? It will be placed on government land many miles from Las Vegas.

The Nevada Test Site, which is on government land, has been protested against for many years, with many going to jail. As you can see, it's still there.

If you feel that you can damn well do what you please on the property that you own, what are the thoughts of the U.S. government on the property it owns?

CHARLES A. HAGEN