Poll finds Nevada voters strongly oppose Yucca - News

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Nov. 28, 2007
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Poll finds Nevada voters strongly oppose Yucca

Survey shows 76 percent are against nuclear waste project

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Yucca Mountain

RENO -- Nevada voters remain overwhelmingly opposed to federal plans to store the nation's nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, according to a statewide poll published Tuesday.

The survey of 600 likely Nevada voters conducted for the Reno Gazette-Journal found that 76 percent oppose the project and 57 percent say the issue will be important in making their choice for president.

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The survey also found that opposition to the project crosses party lines, but Democrats think it's a more important issue in the presidential election than Republicans. Seventy-four percent of Democrats said the issue is important to them in the presidential race, compared with 38 percent of Republicans.

The poll was conducted Nov. 16-19 by Maryland-based Research 2000. The margin of error is 4 percent.

"From a national perspective, any campaign that wants to win the hearts and minds of Nevada voters has to be prepared to talk about long-term radioactive storage," said GOP strategist Greg Ferraro of Reno. "These numbers will also force the candidates to look at alternatives for the waste."

Yucca Mountain has gained more attention from presidential candidates since Nevada moved up its presidential caucuses to Jan. 19, following Iowa on Jan. 3 and the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 8.

Nevada's congressional delegation is adamantly opposed to the project. Congress in 2002 picked the Yucca Mountain site about 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas to entomb 77,000 tons of spent nuclear reactor fuel.

Political analysts said the issue's importance in presidential elections has been questionable. They cite President Bush's ability to carry Nevada in 2004, despite his support of the Yucca Mountain site.

"Yucca Mountain is not going to swing it for them from one candidate to another," said Eric Herzik, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Reno.

"Among Democrats, this is a far more salient issue. There is no nuance allowed. ... Republicans, even those who are opposed to Yucca Mountain, are not as adamant as are the Democrats," he said.

Every Democratic presidential candidate has come out against Yucca Mountain, but Rep. Ron Paul is the only Republican candidate to come out strongly against it.

The Department of Energy is preparing a license application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to construct the project.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Susanne wrote on November 29, 2007 08:21 AM: It is necessary to see the exact wording of the questions used in the poll and how the respondents were selected before one can accept the results of the poll. Also, the sample size is less than half of that used by the Gallup Poll. Some previous polls on Yucca Mountain had a higher percentage of female respondents than the percentage of females in Nevada. Women are more opposed to Yucca Mountain than men. double doh wrote on November 28, 2007 11:57 PM: Some liberal Nevadans will sink to any level of deception to keep the waste dump from going where it really belongs. Right here! I chuckled when I used to see the bumper stickers back in the 80's that said "Nevada is not a wasteland." HAHA. Really?! Have you driven to Reno and looked out the window on the way? This is where the waste dump belongs and Nevadans should bargain for Federal benefits from accepting it, instead of stomping our feet like spoiled children and getting nothing in return. Grow up Nevada. Jess Kegley wrote on November 28, 2007 11:53 PM: You polled 600 people and from that, decided what the ENTIRE state of Nevada would decide? Are you kidding me? And the "margin of error" is 4 percent? Holy cow! And where does the crystal ball come in to play? doh wrote on November 28, 2007 07:56 PM: Yes I agree duh, how much did the Govt. pay to a relative to conduct this poll. I can save you time and money. Since Vegas is a betting town, I bet that ANY state you go to and ANY town would be and are opposed to a Nuke waste dump and accident waiting to happen in there town. See and that didn't take up but 7 secs of time. MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS opps can I still say Merry Chritmas? Yes I can! duh wrote on November 28, 2007 11:38 AM: we are and will always be against yucca mtn.so stop these polls.