Yucca splits race, parties

Suzanne Struglinski

Wednesday, May 5, 2004 | 11:37 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- The party lines being drawn for the presidential race in Nevada have a landmark -- Yucca Mountain.

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and his supporters say those two words should provide a key reason for Nevadans to vote against George W. Bush.

Kerry on Tuesday pointed to the anniversary of then-candidate Bush telling Nevada he would not allow nuclear waste to be stored in Nevada "unless it's been deemed scientifically safe."

Two years after winning Nevada in the election, Bush approved storing nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Bush said at that time that he was satisfied that it would be safe. In Nevada's numerous lawsuits to try to stop the project, the state argues that the science upon which that conclusion is based is flawed.

Democrats have said this would be an issue in the state, and say Nevadans voted for Bush because of that promise, helping him win the presidency. Republicans have downplayed the importance of Bush's statement.

In a statement, Kerry said "President Bush caved to special interests, broke his promise to Nevada and proceeded to do his utmost to turn the state into a nuclear waste dump."

"For 16 years, I have helped Nevada fight the repository, and when I'm president, you'll have the White House working for your top priority, instead of selling you out to the special interests," Kerry said.

Bush campaign spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt said the president "has been clear and consistent that the decision regarding Yucca Mountain should be based on the very best science."

"Sen. Kerry continues to play politics with Yucca Mountain in an effort to distract Nevadans from his own troubling record," Schmitt said.

Democrats believe his answer will help define this year's debate in Nevada.

"At the time I stated it wasn't worth the piece of paper it was written on and that once elected he would go ahead with it," Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said. "I was, unfortunately, psychic, that's exactly what happened."

The debate has many state Republicans trying to walk a fine line of supporting the president while opposing the repository.

Gov. Kenny Guinn, a Republican who supports the president's return to the White House, "agrees to disagree" with the president on the Yucca Mountain issue, spokesman Greg Bortolin said.

"It's an old argument," Bortolin said. "I think they both respect that this will be decided in the court."

The state is still awaiting the outcome of six legal challenges in federal court against several aspects of the project.

Bortolin said the Guinn and the president "are on the same page on almost everything else," and the governor has "excellent relationships" with key administration officials.

Yucca Mountain "is one issue. One issue doesn't dictate the governor's support," Bortolin said.

Guinn, Porter and other prominent Republicans, including Attorney General Brian Sandoval Rep. Jon Porter and Rep. Jim Gibbons, support Bush but came out against the Nevada Republican Party's decision to include in its platform an effort negotiate "to minimize negative impacts from federal control and exploitation of federally managed lands in Nevada."

The platform plank originated among representatives from rural Nevada who want to maximize benefits for the state if the department moves ahead with the project.

"There really is nothing to negotiate," Bortolin said. "There is a misconception and lack of understanding by those who say this."

The Nuclear Energy Institute, which strongly supports the site, insists the science is sound, the site is suitable and says Bush made the right decision on it.

"We don't think it's a partisan issue," said Terry Freese, director of NEI's legislative program. "The industry welcomes any expressions of support for that approach whether by local officials from either party or party platforms from either party."