iblv editorial:

Dumped on

White House does Nevada huge favor with Yucca budget plan

Fri, May 15, 2009 (midnight)

Nevada’s persistence in fighting a federal government plan to build a nuclear waste dump 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas is finally paying off, thanks to a campaign promise kept by President Barack Obama and the enormous influence of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The budget proposal released last week by the president for Yucca Mountain in the coming fiscal year contains only enough money for the government to study alternative nuclear waste disposal opportunities and participate in an ongoing license proceeding before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

That proceeding, intended to consider an Energy Department license to build a permanent Yucca dump, doesn’t seem to be as threatening to Nevada’s interests now that funding is being choked off for this awful proposal backed by the nuclear power industry. But Nevada should continue to voice its opposition until the threat of a license is eliminated.

Although it would still require action from Congress to kill a Yucca repository, the president’s budget has pushed the dump proposal to the brink of extinction. The $196.8 million that the Obama administration would set aside represents more than a $90 million reduction in the plan’s budget and is a record low for the project.

The first sentence of Yucca’s budget states: “The administration proposes to eliminate the Yucca Mountain repository program.”

It doesn’t get any clearer than that.

What a difference it makes to have an occupant in the Oval Office who takes science into consideration, a marked contrast from Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush, who wanted to ram a Yucca dump down Nevada’s throat. We look forward to the Obama administration’s efforts to put Yucca Mountain in the rear view mirror by studying more realistic options for the nation’s high-level nuclear waste.

Discussion: 3 comments so far…

By Pug_nation

5/16/09 at 2:07 p.m.

Suggest removal

Right on!!!
By davelv

5/16/09 at 6:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

Oh come on. Do you really believe what you write?

If you call multiple national laboratories and the USGS finding YMP scientifically suitable as well as DOE Secretary Chu last year urging its completion non-scientific, then so be it.

Also, everyone knows (except the Sun?) that Bush did not "ram" Yucca onto Nevada. The repository is a project of Congress for the last 27 years, not of a particular President, Secretary of Energy or even a Senator.

Until Obama can find enough votes in Congress to change the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, then the repository at Yucca Mountain will proceed. I would find it absolutely amazing that Congress votes to end the project fully since one or more of the other states would then have the repository. Further, when Reid or Obama or the political makeup of Congress changes, then the project is highly likely to be completed.

The nation needs a place to put its nuclear waste. Beside 1000 nuclear bomb explosions that is 100 miles from the nearest major city in the middle of the desert sure seems like a good place to put it. If Nevada and the Sun want it someplace else, then please tell the nation where you suggest the waste should be placed, including the waste produced by Nevadans who use nuclear electricity also.
By tannsummers

5/18/09 at 7:35 a.m.

Suggest removal

This is a shame. With unemployment in LV topping 10 percent, we could have used this opportunity to fill some much-needed jobs for Las Vegans.

From everything I read, it's safe. With savvy political moves, we could have taken YUCCA in exchange for -- oh, I don't know -- water. Let the FEDS take care of our water woes in exchange for us taking millions in revenues, jobs and diversification of our economy.

Who is to say scientists can't find a use for nuclear waste down the road ... maybe to power cars or airplanes.

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