Letter: Science shows Yucca dump site is unsuitable

Monday, Sept. 29, 2003 | 8:42 a.m.

Contrary to the promises of President Bush and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository is a political decision with science running a distant second.

Our seven lawsuits, now consolidated to four, show that the full power of the federal government is arrayed against us. The state of Nevada filed lawsuits against the Environmental Protection Agency, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Energy Department, President Bush, Energy Secretary Abraham and the United States because of the lack of scientific integrity in the process. Our federal delegation, Gov. Kenny Guinn and Attorney General Brian Sandoval all should use political leverage to ensure that fairness, equity and sound science will be the standards by which Yucca Mountain is judged.

There was a mistake, which was unfair and inequitable, in 1987 when Texas and Oregon were politically eliminated as potential repository sites to be examined. Instead, Yucca Mountain was designated as the only site to be examined. The Energy Department found in 1998-1999 that the geology of Yucca Mountain would not protect the environment. It is composed of welded and unwelded tuff (volcanic rock) that allows water to move through the mountain, which will pollute the ground water when the nuclear waste burial casks inevitably leak.

Nevadans must continue to be active in opposing Yucca Mountain because it will harm Nevadans, Americans and America for thousands of generations to come.

FRANK PERNA