Garcia seeking bright side of Yucca

By Emily Richmond

Friday, Nov. 7, 2003 | 11:10 a.m.

Clark County Schools Superintendent Carlos Garcia went on a field trip Wednesday to Yucca Mountain to find out whether the controversial planned nuclear waste repository could have a silver lining for the district.

"It doesn't mean we're endorsing Yucca Mountain, it just means they have a lot of scientists and outreach programs that we could be taking advantage of," Garcia said Thursday. "I don't know a human being on this planet that would want (a nuclear waste repository) next to them, but if this becomes a reality we ought to get every positive resource out of it that we can."

Agustin Orci, deputy superintendent of instruction for the district, said he accompanied Garcia on the tour because he was curious to see for himself what teachers and students are being told when they tour the facility.

"Given the controversy with Yucca, we wanted to make sure this wasn't an attempt to browbeat people," Orci said. "The tour was straightforward, there was no 'we're right, they're wrong' talk. We were very satisfied with what we found."

But Peggy Maze Johnson, executive director of Citizen Alert, said she was dismayed that the school district would allow students and staff to take part in activities at Yucca without giving opponents of the planned repository equal time.

"I'd have no problem if these were truly balanced tours, but they're not," said Johnson, whose group has steadily fought the Energy Department's project. "They give you great statistics and hype about how wonderful and safe this all is. It's a public relation gig."

Garcia said the bulk of the tour was spent with Energy Department scientists who focused on the geological events that led to the formation of the mountain, as well as discussion of the wildlife and environment of the region. There was 'very little talk" about plans to store casks of nuclear waste inside the mountain 90 miles from Las Vegas.

"Even if you never go into Yucca there's a lot to learn out there," Garcia said. "They have some of the best scientists in the world, I just think there has to be a way for us to benefit from that."

Allen Benson, public relations manager for the Yucca Mountain project, said for several years the Energy Department has provided guest speakers to schools, scouting troops and other organizations. There are also educational tours available for individual school groups and an accredited workshop for teachers.

Yucca officials have not yet spoken to Garcia about the possibility of increasing the Energy Department's level of contribution to the district's curriculum offerings, Benson said.

"That doesn't mean it's not something we wouldn't like to explore further," Benson said. "If (Garcia) would like to have that chat, we would welcome him."

The Yucca Mountain project has 1,500 employees living in the surrounding area, many of whom have children in public schools, Benson said.

"They are active parts of their community and we encourage that," Benson said.

With the nuclear waste repository looking more and more like a reality, it may be necessary for the district to develop curriculum for teachers to use in classrooms to explain the project, Orci said.

"It's controversial, which means our students and parents are going to have questions," Orci said. "It makes sense to educate ourselves on the pros and cons of it all."

Johnson said she would be happy to provide the district with background on what she called the potentially deadly "cons" but has not received an invitation from the district to do so -- yet.

"As soon as they ask, I'll be ready," Johnson said.