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Letter: Leaving nuclear waste in place is safest strategy

Friday, Aug. 13, 2004 | 5:15 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

August 14 - 15, 2004

In his letter of Aug. 10, Charles Lanzrath asked Kerry supporters to explain to him where high-level nuclear waste would go if not Yucca Mountain. I'd like to inform Mr. Lanzrath that John Kerry would leave it where it is, for many reasons.

At the top of the list is the fact that Yucca Mountain is not a suitable place for something as deadly as nuclear waste. Earthquake fault lines, volcanic activity in the area and a water table that could be contaminated should the canisters leak over time are some of the reasons why burying nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain would be dangerous. Add to that list the dangers of transportation -- moving the waste across the country by truck, rail or barge in this age of terrorism is crazy.

The on-site storage facilities currently in use are by far the safest way to keep nuclear waste out of harm's way. Sometime in the future there probably will be a safe way to dispose of the waste, but until then the best way to keep it secure is to keep it where it's at.

I hope this answers Mr. Lanzrath's question, and I hope he now will vote for John Kerry. I know I will.

LESLIE FARRIS

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