Seems the All-Powerful and All-Knowing Wizard Harry Reid got all of 4,000 signatures on an Anti-Yucca petition urging the Nuclear Regulatory Commission not to approve the application for the Department of Energy to begin construction. If there is as much opposition to Yucca as Reid claims, why so few Johnny Hancocks?
The whole Yucca “controversy” continues to amaze me. What I’ve found from talking to regular folks is that Yucca really isn’t all that controversial except in the minds of Reid and others who are rabidly against it. Most people seem to realize that Nevada would draw a HUGE paycheck in exchange for supporting the infrastructure of Yucca. They are also appreciative of the potential cash boost to our construction industry and the creation of thousands of permanent jobs.
Here’s a little history lesson:
The U.S. Dept. of Energy had its first public meeting in Nevada on Yucca Mountain in 1983. Don Veith, the Yucca Mountain project manager, presented an overview of the legislation. The meeting was then opened to public comment. Governor Richard Bryan stood and announced that he was “unalterably opposed” to the storage of “nuclear waste” in Nevada. A surrogate for then-Congressman Harry Reid echoed the congressman’s “strong opposition.” According to those present, most other attendees expressed an opinion along the lines of, “Interesting – maybe there’s something in it for us.”
But via the governor’s office and the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects (created in ’85), the state officially adopted a negative view of Yucca. And under Director Bob Loux, Yucca has faced two decades of unrelenting criticism and obstruction.
Along the way, several multi-billion dollar offers have been informally made to Nevada by the DOE and/or nuclear industry in exchange for the state’s acceptance of the repository. At one point, the Reagan administration offered Nevada a multi-billion-dollar nuclear medicine and nuclear science research facility to be associated with UNLV and situated on the Nevada Test Site. The offer was flatly rejected.
Ladies and gents, spent nuclear fuel is presently stored at temporary sites around the nation. It is stored safely and without incident. The nuclear reactors that render efficient electricity are also operated safely and without incident. For the good of our economy and our nation, we should all take a second look at Yucca. Please contact me if you would like to get on a Yucca Mountain mailing list and participate in future discussions, forums, panels, and meet-ups.
