Finalists selected for nuclear waste job

Monday, Dec. 15, 2008 | 4:47 p.m.

Yucca Mountain

CARSON CITY – The search for a successor to nuclear waste chief Bob Loux has been narrowed to three Northern Nevadans.

The Nevada Commission on Nuclear Projects has selected former Sparks Mayor Bruce Breslow, former state Consumer Advocate Tim Hay and attorney Keith Tierney as the three names to submit to Gov. Jim Gibbons, who will make the final appointment.

During the 90-minute meeting in Las Vegas, Hay and Tierney received all the votes of the six commissioners present. Breslow, a former TV sports newscaster, got four votes.

Those who did not make the finals were Susan Lynch, who works in the nuclear projects office, and Frederick McElroy, a Realtor.

Loux has resigned the job he has held for 23 years fighting the efforts by the federal government to locate a nuclear dump at Yucca Mountain in Southern Nevada. An audit discovered he gave himself and his staff unauthorized raises from money available from a vacant position.

Loux had an authorized salary of $110,851 last fiscal year but earned $145,718.

Gov. Gibbons has asked state Controller Kim Wallin to withhold the money from the paycheck of Loux who agreed to stay until a replacement is named.

The state Ethics Commission has scheduled a hearing Jan. 8 to determine if Loux violated ethical standards in giving himself and his staff pay raises of more than $195,000 over a period of a few years.

Judy Sheldew, the attorney for Loux, maintains he acted within his authority and submitted the pay raises through the state Budget Office.

Cy Ryan may be reached at (775) 687-5032 or cy@lasvegassun.com.