State spent $2.8 million on Yucca fight

Monday, Oct. 14, 2002 | 9:33 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- In its unsuccessful campaign to persuade Congress to stop Yucca Mountain, Nevada spent $2.8 million nationwide, a good share of it on television, radio and newspapers ads in other states.

The state Office of Nuclear Projects released a detailed breakdown of the money, which also went to consulting firms, telemarketing, direct mail and the formation of a coalition of environmental and justice groups to join Nevada.

The program, called "Nuclear Neighborhoods," sought to impress on residents of other states the dangers inherent in transporting nuclear waste across their states and cities.

Despite the loss, Bob Loux, director of the state office, said the efforts were not in vain.

"Nuclear Neighborhoods served its purpose of exposing inconsistencies in the government's arguments for Yucca Mountain and provided the public with an alternative viewpoint to this controversial national issue," Loux said.

"We managed to persuade a number of senators who were either uninformed of or favored the federal government's plans for Yucca Mountain and enlisted their support of Nevada."

Loux said he could not supply specific numbers but he said the final vote in the Senate was better than expected when the campaign began.

Loux said the $2.8 million represented the state's effort and that other money was spent to hire lobbyists and others.

For instance, the breakdown shows the Podesta Matton Consulting Services of Washington received $1.1 million in state money used to produce television and radio advertisements and then to buy air time.

John Podesta, White House chief of staff for former President Bill Clinton, heads the firm. But Podesta also received other retainers from other funds for his lobbying efforts.

Ken Duberstein, chief of staff for former President Ronald Reagan, was also paid from other funds to help persuade Congress members to vote against Yucca Mountain.

A breakdown of those funds was not immediately available.

Loux said Brian Greenspun, president and editor of the Las Vegas Sun, developed a website for the campaign but was not compensated.

The state report, which was filed with the Nevada Legislature, showed IDI Consulting Services of Washington received $688,000 to push a direct mailing and Internet program.

The states targeted were Vermont, Utah, Wyoming, Iowa, Missouri, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Montana, Minnesota, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The television efforts in those states cost $830,713 and radio buys totaled $44,960.

The most expensive television campaigns were conducted in Iowa at $227,045 and in Utah at $149,985.

Newspaper advertisements ran $567,362 in the targeted states.

The advertising campaign started in Vermont with the message, "Pure Maple Syrup, Fresh Dairy Products and Juicy Macintosh Apples; Vermont Can Now Serve up Highly Radioactive Nuclear Waste To Its Citizens."

The national campaign, Loux said, produced 9,900 faxes to targeted senators and signatures from 270 environmental groups supporting Nevada's resolution. Thousands of hits were recorded on the campaign website and more than 5,500 calls were patched through from an 800 number to targeted senators.

About $250,000 was raised from businesses and individuals for the Nevada Protection Fund.