Yucca Mountain Repository: Bush approves, Nevada reacts
Babette May-Hermann
Issue date: 3/5/02 Section: Coyote News
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President George W. Bush gave the stamp of approval Friday Feb. 15 to turn Yucca Mountain into the nation's nuclear waste dump.
"I consider the Yucca Mountain site qualified for application for a construction authorization for a repository," Bush said in a letter to congressional leaders.
Bush made the decision just one day after Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham sent him a four-page comprehensive statement explaining why he thinks the project is sound.
"I have considered whether sound science supports the determination that the Yucca site is scientifically and technically suitable for the development of a repository. I am convinced it does," Abraham said in the letter.
Gov. Kenny Guinn, R-Nev., said he will veto Bush's decision. "I am outraged, as are the citizens of Nevada, that this decision would go forward with so many unanswered questions," Guinn said. "As I mentioned to the president, I believe that we deserve a scientific response to the nearly 300 critical questions the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has stated must be resolved before going forward with Yucca Mountain."
Robert Loux, executive director of the Agency for Nuclear Projects, said his agency directly interacts with the Department of Energy.
Loux said the ANP filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C. last Friday citing that the Environmental Impact Statement released to the governor's office just hours before Bush's approval on the measure "failed to follow proper policy in the releasing of the EIS."
"The level of uncertainty is unacceptable according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission," Loux added.
A spokesperson for the governor's office said because the EIS was released the same day as Bush's approval came out, it would be impossible for the president to read the estimated 10,000 pages contained in the report.
"Receiving the final E.I.S. just hours before the presidential decision hardly provides me and the State of Nevada meaningful review," Guinn said. "Once again, this is an outrage."
"I consider the Yucca Mountain site qualified for application for a construction authorization for a repository," Bush said in a letter to congressional leaders.
Bush made the decision just one day after Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham sent him a four-page comprehensive statement explaining why he thinks the project is sound.
"I have considered whether sound science supports the determination that the Yucca site is scientifically and technically suitable for the development of a repository. I am convinced it does," Abraham said in the letter.
Gov. Kenny Guinn, R-Nev., said he will veto Bush's decision. "I am outraged, as are the citizens of Nevada, that this decision would go forward with so many unanswered questions," Guinn said. "As I mentioned to the president, I believe that we deserve a scientific response to the nearly 300 critical questions the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has stated must be resolved before going forward with Yucca Mountain."
Robert Loux, executive director of the Agency for Nuclear Projects, said his agency directly interacts with the Department of Energy.
Loux said the ANP filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C. last Friday citing that the Environmental Impact Statement released to the governor's office just hours before Bush's approval on the measure "failed to follow proper policy in the releasing of the EIS."
"The level of uncertainty is unacceptable according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission," Loux added.
A spokesperson for the governor's office said because the EIS was released the same day as Bush's approval came out, it would be impossible for the president to read the estimated 10,000 pages contained in the report.
"Receiving the final E.I.S. just hours before the presidential decision hardly provides me and the State of Nevada meaningful review," Guinn said. "Once again, this is an outrage."