Public hearings scheduled

Monday, March 25, 2002 | 9:22 a.m.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has scheduled three public hearings in Nevada during April to explain its oversight of a proposed high-level nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain.

President Bush has recommended that Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, become the nation's repository for 77,000 tons of highly radioactive waste. Gov. Kenny Guinn is expected to veto the recommendation in the first two weeks of April.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is an independent agency that must approve building the repository, if Congress overrides Guinn's veto and approves the plan.

NRC staff will be available to answer the public's questions about the commission's oversight role.

The meetings are scheduled from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on April 8 in Beatty, April 9 in Tonopah and April 10 in Ely.

If the DOE submits a satisfactory application, the NRC would conduct up to four years of formal hearings in Las Vegas.

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