Nuclear Dump Should Proceed
Ethic
By Scott Lindlaw - Associated Press Writer
President Hears From Energy Secretary on Why Nuclear
Dump Should Proceed
WASHINGTON (AP) - Energy Secretary Spence Abraham
briefed President Bush on Tuesday about why a nuclear
waste dump should be built at Yucca Mountain in Nevada
despite widespread opposition within the state.
Bush made no decision but is inclined to approve the site
as early as Friday, several officials said.
Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn and the state's senators,
Democrat Harry Reid and Republican John Ensign,
lobbied Bush last week to block the project.
Abraham endorsed the site last month, but has yet to
present formally to Bush a document outlining his recommendation. By law, he
had to wait 30 days before
doing so, which passed Saturday.
A 1987 law designated Yucca Mountain, 90 miles
northwest of Las Vegas, as the only location to be studied
for disposal of nuclear waste currently held at multiple sites
around the nation. The law gives Nevada 60 days to override
a presidential decision.
Congress then would have 90 legislative days to counter
Nevada's objection by majority votes in both houses.
Abraham traveled to Los Angeles last week and was still
editing this week the paper he will give to Bush. Aides said
it was ready for presentation, but White House spokesman
Ari Fleischer said Abraham did not give it to the president Tuesday.
"The president had a good opportunity to listen to both
sides on the issue and follow up with questions," Fleischer
said of the sessions with Abraham and the Nevadans.
Bush has not decided, Fleischer said. He would not say
which way Bush is leaning, but other officials said he is
likely to accept Abraham's recommendation.
White House officials believe Yucca Mountain would pass Congress.
They are also mindful of the politics of the decision,
however, one administration official said.
A move to move ahead could endanger re-election
prospects of Republican Guinn, although he has no
serious Democratic rival now. Three House seats are at
stake in Nevada, including one new one based on the
2000 Census. Fleischer said politics would play no
part in Bush's decision.
Abraham, who notified Nevada officials on Jan. 10 that
he will recommend the site to the president, called it a "scientifically
sound and suitable" place to bury the
nation's used reactor fuel now kept at the power plants.
The Energy Department's schedule calls for opening
the site to waste shipments by 2010. That timetable
could be overly optimistic, government and industry
officials acknowledge.
On the Net: Yucca Mountain Project : http://www.ymp.gov/
AP-ES-02-12-02 1930EST
This story can be found at : http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGASIQLFMXC.html
Stan de SD
"Ethic" <Et...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:3c69e787$0$7469$7402...@newsfeed.sunrise.ch...
>
> WASHINGTON (AP) - Energy Secretary Spence Abraham
> briefed President Bush on Tuesday about why a nuclear
> waste dump should be built at Yucca Mountain in Nevada
> despite widespread opposition within the state.
Is there a better place to put it? Personally, I would prefer Warm Springs,
AK or Fairfax County, VA, but I doubt most of those screaming about Yucca
Mountain would be placated by those alternatives.
Stan de SD
"Stan de SD" <standesd_DI...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:65de8.14138$ZC3.1...@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
Typo: should be "Warm Springs, AR". Sorry.