Editorial: Nevadans shouldn’t back down

Friday, July 26, 2002 | 9:26 a.m.

Now that Congress and President Bush have approved the Yucca Mountain project, there have been renewed calls for Nevada officials to negotiate for benefits in return for conceding the fight. But Nevadans shouldn't even consider such an inane idea. As a practical matter, Congress and President Bush aren't about to hand us the keys to the treasury in light of what little money is left -- if any -- after the huge tax cuts and the war on terrorism. Besides, years ago New Mexico was assured it would receive financial benefits in return for allowing radioactive waste to be buried in its state, but the Energy Department reneged on its commitments.

It also bears noting that there are hurdles that the Energy Department still must overcome before it can get a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build a dump. The licensing process will allow Nevada to point out the defects in the federal government's plans to ship and bury 77,000 tons of nuclear waste, a process that could lead to the license being denied. Nevada state government also will try to derail the dump through lawsuits filed in federal court. Both options, while facing considerable odds for success, still should be aggressively pursued.

It also helps that Sen. Harry Reid is the chairman of a subcommittee with oversight of the Yucca Mountain project. The subcommittee recently recommended that just $336 million be set aside in the next year for Yucca Mountain, $191 million less than what Bush wanted. Reid likely won't get everything he wants, but decreasing the budget in any significant amount buys additional time before a dump can be built. Time, and more of it, is essential to Nevada's success.

The state so far has been overwhelmed by the nuclear power industry's influence and money, but there is no price that we should place on the safety of Nevada's residents. This is a battle worth fighting, and Nevadans shouldn't weaken their resolve. Despite the disappointment of the past few weeks, we're confident that Nevadans will rise to the occasion and fend off this terrible project that threatens our safety.