Quantcast
MobileRJ | RSS TwitterTwitter FacebookFacebook E-mail Alerts
Home manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

sponsored by
News
Jun. 28, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Senator offers alternative for Yucca project

Interim sites in East, West proposed

By STEVE TETREAULT
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU
More Info

WASHINGTON -- A new nuclear waste strategy that would partner the government with industry to develop privately owned storage sites and recycling factories was announced on Friday.

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., unveiled a bill as an alternative to storing 77,000 tons of used nuclear fuel in a long-delayed Yucca Mountain repository.


Most Popular Stories
  • Three suspects arrested in shooting death of police officer
  • Three suspects arrested in shooting death of police officer
  • FATAL SHOOTING: Police again mourn comrade
  • NORM: Biden finds rank has its privileges
  • NORM: Walton: Coach deserved a punch
  • Two of three suspects in slaying of officer could face death penalty
  • DEADLY HOME INVASION: Police suspect link to family
  • Station Casinos posts $455 million third-quarter loss
  • Las Vegas police shoot at man fleeing after traffic stop
  • Las Vegas police shoot at man fleeing after traffic stop
  • UNLV sacks football coach Sanford
  • NORM: CityCenter seeks presidential visit




    • The bill would not end the Yucca project, but could alter its purpose.

    Domenici, considered the Senate's authority on nuclear power, has said the Nevada site could eventually be put to use storing military nuclear waste and other radioactive products that cannot be recycled.

    But Domenici has made it clear his goal is for most spent fuel generated by nuclear power plants to be shipped to interim storage pads and eventually run through a reprocessing regime to pull more energy out of them.

    "A sustainable nuclear fuel cycle is the key to nuclear energy reaching its full potential," Domenici said in a statement. "I'm pleased to introduce this legislation which takes the first step toward resolving the question of nuclear waste."

    Because the bill envisions some role for Yucca Mountain, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he will oppose it and continue to look for ways to kill the project outright.

    "This is the more of the same nuclear snake oil that has been peddled before and there is no reason to believe it's going anywhere," added Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.

    Domenici is retiring from Congress this year. His bill was cosponsored by Sens. Jeff Sessions. R-Ala., Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.

    Domenici has touted Sessions as most likely to continue promoting nuclear waste legislation after he retires.

    The new bill authorizes the Department of Energy to enter into contracts with private companies to store waste at two interim sites -- one in the East and one in the West -- while reprocessing plants are licensed and built nearby.

    Western storage would not be at Yucca Mountain, a Domenici aide said.

    Costs would be shared 50-50 to finance engineering and designs and licensing applications for two recycling plants. The bill would divert 5 percent from a $20 billion Yucca Mountain construction fund to explore the possible alternative.

    The Secretary of Energy would be authorized to offer benefit payments to communities willing to serve as hosts.

    The Domenici bill dovetails with an ongoing community recruitment project by the Nuclear Energy Institute.

    NEI president Frank Bowman said the legislation was "pragmatic -- and needed." A surge of interest in nuclear power "necessitates a fresh look at used fuel management policies," he said.

    Domenici has touted nuclear waste reprocessing techniques being used in France. Some critics say the French method creates more pollution, and plutonium byproducts that pose proliferation risks.

    The Bush administration has attempted to launch a U.S. program involving advanced reprocessing technologies. Some experts say that could be decades away from fulfillment.

    Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

    Leave Your Comment 11 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

    yucca_insider wrote on June 30, 2008 08:25 AM: A site in Deaf Smith County, Texas was one of the final three sites considered-- along with Yucca Mountain and Washington state.

    Yucca was considered to be the best site studied because it had the best combination of remoteness, security, low water table, type of rock, federal control of land, and more.


    Danny D. wrote on June 29, 2008 06:33 PM: Has anyone given thought to placing a
    nuclear depository in Texas? I don't mean next to our "beloved" presidents ranch but rather the large expanse of land in Texas,further more Tex. is cen-
    trally located in the middle of the country and the waste would not have to
    be shipped as far from the east or west coast or where ever it comes from and endanger innocent people should any
    thing happen during transport.Think about it, you can put 8 states the size of Nevada in Tex.it's a no brainer.


    bru wrote on June 28, 2008 07:48 PM: Remembed a couple of years ago whe dingy harry promised that if the dems took over the house and senate that gas prices would go down What a a lier he is .If he keeps going on this course the average person will be broke and crooked harry and his socialist friends will have it all.


    R.Ferrante wrote on June 28, 2008 05:51 PM: Nuclear waste should be stored along the Mexican border starting at the Pacific Ocean and ending at the Gulf of Mexico. This concept could solve the illegal crossing of our borders and provide a storage facility for our spent nuclear energy. Signs with skulls and crossbones would indicate entering waste site areas.
    Senators harken!!


    Stud Muffin wrote on June 28, 2008 12:55 PM: What better place than Area 25 of the Nevada Test Site


    UNLVStud wrote on June 28, 2008 10:59 AM: I'm sure there are some desolate areas of New Mexico that would be perfect for that spent military nuclear waste. Maybe he should suggest that it be placed in his back yard instead of ours.


    douglas wrote on June 28, 2008 10:55 AM: will the nevada residents closest to the yucca site please speak up. others are stooges for the "progressive" party hacks.

    with hapless harry reid's agenda, he should be able to get consumer energy costs to double or more. coolest will be his spin blaming those leaps in price to someone other than himself.

    each time i buy gasoline, pay the electric bill, and now, buy an airline ticket, i think of hapless harry.


    Jack wrote on June 28, 2008 07:54 AM: Funny how these so called patriotic Americans want to throw their deadly crap in the backyard of other Americans. A dog eat dog world of patriotic American cannibles! Some of you patriots are over rated idiots...


    Makes Sense wrote on June 28, 2008 07:43 AM: Wake up Senator Reid!

    There is more to this world than your political ambitions!


    Bury Worthless Harry (not the fuel) wrote on June 28, 2008 07:38 AM: I continue to be amazed as to why Hapless Harry hates the United States and it’s people so much. One would assume that he would love his Country, after all, the USA has treated him quite well. Yet his anti-American theatrics are an abomination.

    Used nuclear fuel is not waste. It contains a significant amount of residual energy available for reprocessing. This plan makes sense. Yucca would still be used, but most of what would have went there would be reprocessed (like they do in France) and only the residual would be buried at Yucca. I would even advocate that Nevada lobby for the West coast storage site, the billion dollar reprocessing plant, and the economic benefits that come with it. Ahh, but than there is Hapless Harry, the no-good, anti-American loser. Question for Harry… are you in bed with the Saudis and other anti-American Countries? Inquiring minds would like to know.

    /s/ Loyal, patriotic American


    Read All Comments