Letter: Keep the nuke poison where it was created

Friday, Feb. 15, 2002 | 4:36 a.m.

It has been said that Nevadans who don't want the nuclear waste dumped in our back yard are unpatriotic. I proudly fly my country's flag and support the government of the United States, but I still don't want the nuclear waste dumped in our state.

More handling and transportation of nuclear waste increases the chances of an accident, either here in Nevada or somewhere along the heavily populated routes the waste must travel. Minimize the chances by minimizing the handling. All of the proponents for using Yucca Mountain maintain that it is totally safe. If it is as safe as they say, there shouldn't be a problem leaving it where it is created. Increase security at those home sites. Smaller repositories would mean that less hazard to fewer people should an accident occur.

Yucca Mountain is on an earthquake fault! How can anyone think that that is scientifically sound?

Time was that buses were loaded in Las Vegas for people to go and watch atomic bombs being tested in the desert. You could see the mushroom clouds from downtown. People today are much smarter and as knowledge of the hazards of radiation increase, so does the desire to stay as far away from it as possible.

I say to those who accuse Nevadans of being unpatriotic and un-American, step up and show that you are a "true patriot," volunteer your home state. Keep the poison at home where it was created. After all, during this period of accepting responsibility for our actions, shouldn't the people responsible for creating this nuclear mess be the ones responsible for cleaning it up?

WILLIAM W. DAVIS