The Las Vegas Review Journal
www.lvrj.com
Lawmakers hedge on $5 million nuclear waste fight
Money would target Yucca Mountain plan
By ED VOGEL
January 24, 2001
Lawmakers' reactions were mixed Tuesday to Gov. Kenny
Guinn's plan for a $5 million fund to fight federal efforts
to store nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain.
"I am willing to listen," said Senate Majority
Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno. "But first I want to get
the details."
"I don't know what is going to happen with it,"
said Assemblyman John Marvel, the senior Republican in the
Assembly. "It is all so political, you can't argue
the logic of it."
The Legislature in 1989 passed a law making it illegal
to store nuclear waste in Nevada and has approved resolutions
opposing the proposed Yucca Mountain repository for high-level
nuclear waste.
Guinn announced in his State of the State address Monday
night that he wants legislators to set aside $5 million
for a Nevada protection fund. The money would go toward
a lobbying campaign to warn residents in other states about
the dangers they face by living along the routes trucks
would travel to bring waste to Yucca Mountain.
Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, supports Guinn's $5 million
fund plan, but wondered whether it indicates the governor
assumes President Bush will recommend putting the repository
in Nevada.
"If the governor wants it, we will go for it,"
Coffin said. "We need to ante up."
Bob Loux, administrator of the Nevada Nuclear Projects
Agency, said Guinn hopes the campaign will induce people
in other states to pressure Congress to vote against Yucca
Mountain. Loux expects the Department of Energy to decide
next year or in 2003 whether to recommend that the repository
be placed at the Yucca Mountain site, 100 miles northwest
of Nevada.
If the president backs a decision to put the repository
in Nevada, then Guinn and the Legislature could veto his
decision. Congress then could override the state veto by
a simple majority vote.
Loux wants the Legislature to pass another resolution
this year opposing the repository, because a federal decision
to put the dump in Nevada could come when lawmakers are
not meeting. The Legislature will adjourn in June and not
meet again until 2003.
Raggio's view on the fund is important in light of his
power in the Senate and because he has been critical of
spending by Loux' office. Last year he refused to give Loux
money to hire Harry Swainston to represent the state in
developing litigation against the federal government. As
a deputy attorney general, Swainston worked on nuclear waste
issues with Loux.
Raggio was angered, however, by a letter Swainston sent
to newspapers questioning whether the senator really opposed
Yucca Mountain.
Loux said the $5 million would remain under Guinn's control.
He said the Commission on Nuclear Projects, chaired by former
Republican attorney general Bryan McKay, proposed creation
of the fund. The seven-member commission recommends policies
regarding radioactive waste to the governor and Legislature
.
Loux said Guinn wants Nevada businesses to contribute
to the Yucca Mountain fight. The governor already has received
a commitment from Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, who included $1
million in his budget for the effort.
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