Bill introduced to abolish nuclear projects agency

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009 | 5:22 p.m.

Loux offers $29,000 to settle ethics complaint (2-4-2009)
Gibbons, AG clash over costs to defend nuclear chief (1-13-2009)
Incoming agency chief has sleeves rolled up (1-2-2009)
Governor names nuke chief (12-30-2008)
Finalists selected for nuclear waste job (12-15-2008)
Guv wants Loux to pay back $64,000 (11-14-2008)

CARSON CITY – State Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, has introduced a bill that could abolish the state agency charged with battling the Yucca Mountain project.

Senate Bill 117, prompted by the controversy over former Nuclear Projects Director Bob Loux’s giving himself and staff unauthorized raises, would place the program under the authority of the governor.

“It’s up to the interpretation” of the proposal whether it would do away with the Nevada Commission on Nuclear Projects, Cegavske said. That was not her initial intention, she said, but “some say it does because it gives everything over to the governor.”

In his proposed budget, Gov. Jim Gibbons called for reducing the office from seven to two employees.

Gibbons did not ask Cegavske to introduce her bill, she said. Cegavske and former Sen. Bob Beers of Las Vegas came up with the idea, she said. The bill states that any employee of Nuclear Projects who loses his or her job would receive preference in getting another state job.

“I wasn’t happy with how it transpired,” said Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, referring to the Loux incident. “He did something that is totally wrong.”

Loux raised his own salary and that of his staff above the amounts approved by the Legislature. He resigned after the pay raises were discovered. A complaint has been filed against him with the state Ethics Commission.

The bill was referred to the Energy, Infrastructure and Transportation Committee.

Discussion: 5 comments so far…

By Future2012

2/5/09 at 6:58 p.m.

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Thank you State Sen. Barbara Cegavske,

But really. Why would you give more money to Bruce Breslow and State Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto.

Nevada was embarrassed on 12-19-2008 with the unprofessional quality of the 200 plus questions submitted by Lobbyist Bob Loux and State Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto.

Bruce Breslow as a former Sparks mayor, television sports broadcaster, and baseball card trading business mogul claims he can effectively be the new lobbyist against Yucca Mountain.

In the R-J on 2-2-2009 Breslow claims "He has learned that the Department of Energy's scientists and consultants are paid to deliver the right answers from DOE's perspective "based partially on reality and academic guesses.""

Breslow believe that there is a conspiracy by the National Academy of Sciences, DOE Secretary Steven Chu, the ten national labs, the USGS, and the NRC, national and international peer reviewers.
By getalife

2/5/09 at 7:38 p.m.

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We shouldn't waste another penny on fighting Yucca. Harry said it's dead and Obama agrees. To fight it with these two heavy hitters on board would be pointless.

Hey Shelley, when do we tie you to the railroad tracks.

Look out Nevada, Yucca's a coming.
By rcknrllfreak

2/6/09 at 1:16 a.m.

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It's another way to eliminate checks and balances. We'll feel the effects of this bill down the road, not for Yucca
By Dirk

2/6/09 at 5:10 a.m.

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So, Ms. Cegavske does not share the view of a majority of Nevadans that we should do everything in our power to fight this boondoggle. Let's remember that the next election.
By Impeach_Harry_Reid

2/6/09 at 9:17 a.m.

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Hey Dirk, who says the majority of Nevadans don't want Yucca??? Further, if the public was properly informed about the project, I'm sure more and more poeple would be for it.

Dirty Harry has done NOTHING to help the Nevada economy and now he's trying to kill a $100 Billion income stream; some thousands of jobs now and in the future; the only job in Nevada for highly educated, highly trained workers; and put enough homes on the market in Summerlin to quickly turn it into Slummerlin...

Reid should have worked with the Government to make Yucca an advanced center for Nuclear Power, Nuclear Waste, Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing, and even solar and wind farms. But no, the monster ego of this truly little man is single handedly distroying Nevada while he lines his pockets...

And then there's his recent commercial... Every word of a lie as he tries to gain your vote once again....

Just say "NO" to Harry in 2010 !!!!!