Goodman eyes Utah meeting in Yucca fight

Diana Sahagun and Mary Manning

Thursday, April 18, 2002 | 11:07 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman could take the city's fight against Yucca Mountain to Salt Lake City, hoping to persuade officials there to side with the state of Nevada.

Goodman said he met Tuesday with a representative from Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's office, who invited the mayor to speak before the Salt Lake City Council about the dangers of transporting nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain. Goodman said he would try to set up the meeting to include Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev.

As Congress takes up the issue, Nevada leaders are looking for political and financial support against the proposed high-level nuclear waste repository 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Goodman announced the proposed meeting as the city is considering giving more money to help fund the fight against Yucca Mountain. Las Vegas has already pledged $100,000, and City Manager Virginia Valentine is scheduled to give the council a ballpark figure of what the city can reasonably afford in two weeks.

The North Las Vegas City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to contribute $10,000 to the fight.

Gov. Kenny Guinn and Sens. Reid and Ensign have asked for public, private and government contributions to help the state's lobbying effort against the dump. A legislative committee gave $3 million in matching funds, the Clark County Commission voted this week to donate $1.5 million after previously donating $1 million. A fund to accept public donations has collected more than $78,000.

"While $10,000 may not seem like a lot, we are one of the smaller cities and do not have deep pockets," Mayor Michael Montandon said after the vote. "We do want to support this effort."

A number of Nevada towns and businesses have already given, including the tiny city of Wells offered $1,367 and Mesquite, about 90 miles northeast of Las Vegas, gave $50,000.

Just two days after a review of the tentative 2003 budget showed a $1 million shortfall, Las Vegas Council members agreed that the city should pitch in additional funds, even if it means postponing projects.

The council has already set aside $100,000 to fight Yucca Mountain in the 2003 fiscal year budget, which begins July 1.

Nevada has a $6 million fund to cover lobbying and legal expenses related to fighting the proposed dump, but state leaders say they need more money to fight the nuclear energy's powerful lobbying efforts.

Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald said taking money from other projects would be like "robbing Peter to pay Paul," but said time is of the essence and that the city has to do whatever it can to help the fight.

Assistant City Attorney John Redlein said there was nothing by statute to suggest it is inappropriate for the city to donate the money as long as it is "for the general public good."