EPA extends comment period

Friday, Sept. 23, 2005 | 9:29 a.m.

SUN WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- The Environmental Protection Agency extended the public comment period for the proposed radiation standards for the Yucca Mountain project by 30 days.

Nevada officials and Yucca critics have called for additional time since the EPA last month issued new radiation protection standards for Yucca, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

The EPA sent a letter Thursday to Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and others that requested additional time.

"We agree that it is important to allow adequate time for public information to readily reach more rural areas, particularly in Nevada, which may be affected by decisions related to Yucca Mountain," according to the letter sent by Acting Assistant Administrator William Wehrum.

The public comment period will now end on Nov. 21, giving three full months of public comment time, according to the EPA.

A coalition of environmental groups, including Nevada-based Citizen Alert and the Nevada Nuclear Waste Task Force, demanded an additional 180 days and public comment hearings in places other than Nevada and Washington, D.C.

The EPA letter said nothing about additional public hearing locations.

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