Reid, Ensign determined to kill Yucca Mountain plan

Senators say Bob Loux salary controversy won’t deter Nevada efforts to stop nuclear dump

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008 | 2:38 p.m.

Yucca Mountain

Despite the fact that one of the biggest opponents of the Yucca Mountain project is in the hot seat, state leaders are still saying the nuclear waste dump is dead.

During a conference call Thursday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. John Ensign said that supporters of Yucca Mountain will fail in their attempts at using the controversy surrounding Bob Loux’s self-granted bump in salary as a way to get the ball rolling on the project. Loux is the executive director of the Nuclear Projects Agency, which has led the fight against Yucca for decades.

“Let’s just understand that this baby is in the process of being buried,” Reid said. “We haven’t thrown the last load of dirt on it, but we will.”

Last week the Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced it would begin the technical review of the lengthy project application. So while senators say that the issue is dead, the ball is still in play.

One of the reasons Ensign said he was not worried is because of the high cost of funding alone. He also touched briefly on presidential politics.

“Even John McCain is talking about reprocessing and recycling the waste. Once that becomes a reality, people will wake up and say Yucca Mountain is not necessary,” Ensign said.

Problems that could result from water tables and earthquakes, in addition to the transportation of waste, are reasons that Reid says supporters of Yucca Mountain are not dealing with reality.

Both Ensign, a Republican, and Reid, a Democrat, said that the restructuring of Loux’s office would be an issue left up to the state. The two U.S. senators just want to make sure that the message of that office remains the same.

“We're too close to killing this project," Ensign said. "Let’s continue to stand together as Nevadans, not as Republicans, Democrats, liberals and conservatives.”

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By dave202

9/18/08 at 9:50 p.m.

Suggest removal

Nice analogy, Harry... For a pro-abortion legislator, I guess burying a baby doesn't give him a second thought.
By Future2012

9/18/08 at 10:07 p.m.

Suggest removal

Let the NRC resolve "problems that could result from water tables and earthquakes, in addition to the transportation of waste."

Reid says supporters of Yucca Mountain are not dealing with reality. Right!!

Ensign said. "Let's continue to stand together as Nevadans, not as Republicans, Democrats, liberals and conservatives."

The only way to stand together is to let the true come out through the NRC review process.

Do not be afraid of the science
By jfnance32

9/18/08 at 10:08 p.m.

Suggest removal

Why is so hard to kill?

Why can't Reid walk over to Pelosi and the House Democrats and say: "Do not pass any bills that have Yucca funding"?

Just last month, the Democratic controlled House sub-committe voted to fully fund Yucca.

I guess the Democrats want to dump nuclear waste at Yucca.
By cmon

9/18/08 at 10:41 p.m.

Suggest removal

Dear Nance and you other chickens****; You are obviously too scared to answer the two SIMPLE questions I posed to you earlier. I guess you just can't support your ticket enough to be honest, so I'll try yet again:

1. Do you support a candidate who supported the secession of their home state? Yes or NO?
2. do you believe that Armageddon is approaching, and that unleashing our nuclear arsenal upon our enemies, to bring it on? Yes or NO

Cmon, answer the questions or hang up your Keyboards and drink more Kool Aid

Still waiting for my answer....

and I see that I'll have to chase you down for it...
By cmon

9/18/08 at 10:41 p.m.

Suggest removal

I am utterly amazed that I could get Nance to show his true identity with just two simple questions. So, In case Nance has the stones to actually do some research, here goes:

1. Do YOU, Mr Jfnance32, support a candidate who spent most of her time as a member of the Alaskan Independence party, a group that wishes to overturn the state vote of 1959 and secede from the United States? (Source: Telegraph UK, among others. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopi......)

2. Do YOU, Mr Jfnance32, support a candidate who is a member of the Assembly of God Church, which, as part of it's dealings, supports "Joel's Army" a paramilitary group preparing to fight the imminent battle of Armageddon, and actively hopes to spark this battle by provoking a nuclear exchange between the U.S. and other countries? (http://open.salon.com/content.php?cid=17......) among many other sources.

So, I have sourced my questions. Now you can answer them or hide behind your childish drivel, further showing the world your ignorance and COWARDICE. Come on,, Put up or shut up...I'm SOOOOOO waiting to see how you evade now...

« Previous Ten Next Ten »

Live chat: Tuesday, noon PST; Chat with Krista Creelman; Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question