League of Women Voters opposes Yucca

Wednesday, May 8, 2002 | 9:45 a.m.

The League of Women Voters of the United States is opposing a high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

The league, a civic organization that generally encourages voting participation, said that it supports Gov. Kenny Guinn's veto of the Yucca Mountain repository project, which would store 77,000 tons of highly radioactive waste.

The group cited two safety issues.

First, the scientific evidence does not support building a repository at this time, the league said. It said it based its conclusion on reports of the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, which said the Energy Department's science was "moderate to weak," and on a General Accounting Office report that said 293 scientific and technical issues remained in question.

Among the scientific issues in question are how fast water flows through the waste site and how quickly the buried waste containers will leak radioactivity into the ground water, the league's statement said.

In addition, the league noted that volcanic activity could occur after the waste is buried at Yucca Mountain.

"Decisions about storing this waste must ensure that public health and the environment are protected," the league wrote. "Yet, the science behind Yucca Mountain is not sound."

Second, the league said that transporting nuclear waste across country to Yucca Mountain could be hazardous to those living along road or rail routes.