More time given to fight nuke dump

Wednesday, June 25, 2003 | 8:50 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The deadline for the state Office for Nuclear Projects to spend $1 million of state money in the fight against a high level nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain has been extended to June 30, 2005.

The Legislative Interim Finance Committee had allocated $3 million to the office in 2002 to help the state in its legal and public relations battle but set June 30, 2003, as the cut-off date for spending the money.

Former Attorney General Brian McKay, who is chairman of the advisory committee on nuclear projects, said the committee has $1 million remaining and wants to use that money to continue the legal battle, including upcoming hearings before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Before the regulatory commission begins hearings, a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., will conduct hearings Oct. 3 on the four lawsuits filed by Nevada in the state's effort to derail the Energy Department's bid to to build the repository.

The original court hearing was scheduled for September, but it has been delayed, said McKay and Bob Loux, director of the state office.

When it agreed Tuesday to allow the state office to have an extension to spend the money for two years, the interim finance committee also removed a requirement for matching funds for the remaining $1 million.

At the time of the original $3 million allocation, it came with the condition that matching money would have to be raised, Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said. McKay said that about $2 million was collected as the match.

"We're probably capped out," McKay said.

The $1 million is not the only money that the state has lined up for the Yucca Mountain fight. The 2003 Legislature has allocated $2 million to Attorney General Brian Sandoval for the same cause.