Women support Yucca battle

Monday, Aug. 12, 2002 | 8:54 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Women are overwhelmingly in favor of the state continuing the fight against Yucca Mountain, while men are evenly divided on the issue, according to a published public opinion poll.

And the sentiment against the nuclear dump is stronger in Washoe County than in Southern Nevada where the repository would be located, according to the survey.

The statewide sampling of 600 residents in a poll commissioned by the Reno newspaper Gazette-Journal and Channel 4 said 55 percent backed the state in its effort to sidetrack the high level nuclear dump from Nevada. Thirty eight percent opposed the continued battle and seven percent were not sure. The poll was conducted by Research 2000 of Maryland and was done July 22-24. President Bush signed the legislation designating Yucca Mountain on July 23.

The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percent and those surveyed are considered likely to vote regularly in state elections.

The survey said 63 percent of the women questioned favored going forward with the battle with the Energy Department, while 28 percent suggested it be stopped. And nine percent were undecided.

The sampling of men however found 48 percent opposed to continuing the battle, while 47 percent backed the state effort to stop the dump from coming to Nevada. Five percent were undecided.

The poll showed that 52 percent of those questioned in Clark County favored continuing the fight, while 42 percent suggested the state end its battle. Six percent were undecided.

In Washoe County, 61 percent sided with the state, while 25 percent favored stopping the battle.