With little fanfare, Bush signs Yucca resolution

Benjamin Grove

Tuesday, July 23, 2002 | 11:07 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush today signed a congressional resolution approving Yucca Mountain as the nation's nuclear waste repository, and delivering one final, anti-climactic blow to Nevada officials who lost their battle on Capitol Hill to kill the project.

Bush was "pleased" to sign the resolution, according to a statement released this morning by White House spokesman Ari Fleischer.

"The successful completion of the Yucca Mountain project will ensure our nation has a safe and secure underground facility that will store nuclear waste in a manner that protects our environment and our citizens," Fleischer said.

A congressional source said Bush invited five key pro-Yucca Republican lawmakers to the White House to witness the signing: Sens. Frank Murkowski of Alaska and Larry Craig of Idaho, and Reps. Billy Tauzin of Louisiana, Joe Barton of Texas and House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois.

Nevada leaders reacted with anger when they heard about the signing.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said today was "dark day" for Nevada. Bush proved "that this administration doesn't give a damn about the people of the state of Nevada or the tens of millions of people put in jeopardy by the transportation routes across our nation," she said.

"The president's signature will haunt this nation for generations to come," Berkley said. "Shame on President Bush and (Vice President Dick) Cheney and (Energy Secretary) Spencer Abraham for uniting with their nuclear industry buddies."

After 20 years of study at Yucca, and months of intense lobbying by both pro- and anti-dump forces, the House approved the project in May, and the Senate followed suit July 9.

With the battle over, one penstroke was all that was left to make the resolution official and end the political fight over the dump.

The president signed the resolution that stated congressional support for constructing the dump underground at the desert ridge, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

When lawmakers approved it, they effectively had overridden Republican Gov. Kenny Guinn's unique veto April 8 of Bush's approval. The veto was allowed by law.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Bush today offered final proof that he broke his campaign promise to approve Yucca Mountain only if sound scientific study confirmed the site was a safe place to bury waste.

Nevada officials point to 293 questions identified by the Energy Department and Nuclear Regulatory Commission that were unresolved when Bush approved the site.

"President Bush was the only one who was in a position to stop (Yucca) or slow it down and he didn't," Reid said. "He mislead the state of Nevada, and that was confirmed with his signature."

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., who alongside Reid fought Bush over the dump, today said simply, "I think the administration is wrong, they have been wrong and they are still wrong."

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., sought to deflect criticism from the Republican president, but still stressed his disappointment with Bush's action.

"Unfortunately, our state began this 'David versus Goliath battle' back in 1987 when Yucca Mountain became the one and only site for consideration," Gibbons said today. "Consequently, the Department of Energy for more than a decade has continued along a dangerous course -- approval of Yucca Mountain no matter what criticisms or concerns may arise."

Gibbons said he hoped Nevadans would remain dedicated to continuing to fight Yucca in federal court.

Nevada has several lawsuits filed against the project and officials vow a fight in front of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission when the Energy Department applies for a license for Yucca.