Legislative Information Archives – Eureka County Nuclear Waste Page

NUCLEAR WASTE LEGISLATION IN THE NEWS 2002

May 27, 2002 -- NUCLEAR REPOSITORY: Nye County has its own Yucca plan -- Commission lobbies Congress for economic benefits if state loses its battle against dump - Las Vegas Review Journal

May 22, 2002 -- At hearing, experts rip safety of waste transport -- WASHINGTON -- Nevada assembled six experts who testified in the Senate today against a Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, mostly arguing that the plan posed grave transportation risks -- Las Vegas Sun.  (More Coverage)

May 21, 2002 -- Experts to bolster Nevada's push against Yucca -- WASHINGTON -- Nevada's senators plan to present authorities on transportation, terrorism and health when they present their case in Congress this week against the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository -- Las Vegas Review Journal

May 16, 2002 -- Ensign, Reid grill Abraham on Yucca -- WASHINGTON -- Nevada's senators faced off against Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham this morning in a Senate hearing, peppering the Cabinet member with questions about the need to move forward on a Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump  (Related Story) -- Las Vegas Sun.  (Related Story - Reno Gazette Journal)

May 16, 2002 -- Senate committee sets June vote on Yucca Mountain -- Full Senate has until late July to override Guinn veto of dump plan - Las Vegas Review Journal

May 15, 2002 -- Yucca Mountain hearing reset -- WASHINGTON -- A Senate hearing on the Yucca Mountain Project originally scheduled for today has been rescheduled for May 22. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has invited Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn to explain his reasons for vetoing President Bush's designation of Yucca Mountain, northwest of Las Vegas, for a nuclear waste repository -- Las Vegas Review Journal

May 13, 2002 -- Democrats to hold GOP accountable for Yucca -- Yucca Mountain, which supposedly unified state politicians in opposition, has become one of the top political issues for Democrats trying to pick up seats in this fall's election - Las Vegas Sun

May 09, 2002 -- State's Yucca fight shifts to Senate -- Despite House vote, Reid is 'cautiously optimistic' -- WASHINGTON -- Now that the House has given the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository its approval with a 306-117 vote Wednesday, the project could move quickly through the Senate, where Nevada leaders hope to derail it - Las Vegas Sun  (Yucca Chronology)    (Who they are and how they voted on Yucca)

May 08, 2002    House approves Yucca plan -- WASHINGTON -- The House today overwhelmingly approved a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, marking a significant milestone in the long history of the project.  The 306-117 vote sets up action by the Senate -- which will hold three hearings on the matter this month and is expected to vote on the repository by the end of July - Las Vegas Sun (More Coverage - Las Vegas Review Journal - The Senate Energy Committee announced Yucca Mountain hearings for next Tuesday, and May 16 and 23)

May 07, 2002 -- Before big vote, board reviewing Yucca questions -- WASHINGTON -- On the eve of an expected House vote on the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump, an independent board created by Congress continued its ongoing discussion about project safety.  The 11-member Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board began a two-day meeting this morning to talk over a variety of issues that Nevada officials hope will bolster their case against Yucca - Las Vegas Sun

April 28, 2002 -- Yucca Mountain Survey: Project has big support -- Those in favor of dump have lead in Senate -- WASHINGTON -- Those who want to store nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain hold a commanding lead in the U.S. Senate, a Review-Journal survey of senators shows -- By TONY BATT, Stephens Washington Bureau

April 26, 2002 -- YUCCA MOUNTAIN: House committee endorses project, State leaders level new accusation against DOE -- WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives on Thursday moved closer to approving the Yucca Mountain Project, while Nevada leaders again sought to discredit the work of the Energy Department -- Stephens Washington Bureau

April 25, 2002 -- Committee OKs Yucca site 41 - 6 : Full House vote is expected in 2 weeks -- WASHINGTON -- The Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository cleared another hurdle today when the House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the site on a 41-6 vote. The next step: a full House vote.  The proposed repository continued its march through the House with the overwhelming vote and several lawmakers spoke highly of the plan to ship 77,000 tons of high-level waste to Nevada - Las Vegas Sun  (Related Story)

April 24, 2002 -- House panel votes for Yucca -- Lawmakers back nuke disposal site WASHINGTON -- The drive to override Gov. Kenny Guinn's nuclear waste veto began with a lopsided House subcommittee vote Tuesday in favor of the Yucca Mountain Project.  The House energy and air quality subcommittee voted 24-2 to approve the Nevada site for a repository that will store about 77,000 tons of highly radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel - Las Vegas Sun  (Related Story - Guinn to return to Washington)

April 23, 2002 -- House Yucca vote likely to mirror panel's -- Dump advocates hope lopsided result will sway senators  WASHINGTON -- The expected approval of a Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump by a House subcommittee today likely will set up an overwhelming vote of support for the project by the full House, congressional sources said -- Las Vegas Sun

April 19, 2002 -- Yucca hearing flows against Nevada -- WASHINGTON -- A familiar pattern of point and counterpoint arguments emerged Thursday during the first congressional hearing on the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.   Nevada lawmakers said Yucca Mountain was a geologically unsuitable site to bury waste. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham disagreed - Las Vegas Sun.

April 17, 2002 -- Yucca foes rally on Capitol Hill -- Ads begin airing to sway senators -- WASHINGTON -- Environmental activists fanned out to lobby senators on Tuesday after embracing Nevada's fight against the Yucca Mountain Project at a U.S. Capitol rally where they chanted "Safety Yes, Yucca No!"  The state opened another front with a television commercial, airing in Vermont, that raises questions about the safety of nuclear shipments -- Stephens Washington Bureau   (Related Stories)

April 15, 2002 -- Environmental lobby set to turn up heat -- WASHINGTON -- Local, state and national environmental groups that have helped muster support against shipping nuclear waste in Congress face their toughest battle with Yucca Mountain.   The environmental lobby, which plans to gather at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday to pressure lawmakers to oppose the proposed nuclear waste dump, has a record of helping rally their friends in Congress on several key votes to defeat the measures - Las Vegas Sun  (More Coverage - Las Vegas Review Journal)

April 13, 2002 -- Official: Lawmakers ill-informed on Yucca -- Effect of shipments on legislators' districts not being made clear, consultant for Nevada says  WASHINGTON -- Representatives for House lawmakers were told Friday that their bosses are about to vote on sending nuclear waste to Nevada without adequate information about how shipments of the radioactive material may affect their districts -- By Steve Tetreault Stephens Washington Bureau

April 11, 2002 -- Freshman senator now at center of Nevada's lobbying campaign -- WASHINGTON -- As the behind-the-scenes lobbying on both sides of the Yucca Mountain issue intensifies on Capitol Hill, many eyes are on Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.  Ensign is key, arguably the most important person at the moment, in Nevada's effort to stop plans to bury radioactive waste at Yucca, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas -- Las Vegas Sun

April 10, 2002  Lott says Yucca will pass -- Republican senator says he can get enough votes  WASHINGTON -- Senate Republican leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., confidently predicted Tuesday that Democratic attempts to block a vote on a Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository would surely fail and that "at least 60 senators" would vote to approve it.  Lott's comments fell on the first day of a 90-day period in which Congress is required by law to vote on the controversial project - Las Vegas Sun  (Related Story -- Las Vegas Review Journal)

April 09, 2002 -- Guinn takes case to D.C. -- Nevadans highlight risk of shipping nuclear waste -- WASHINGTON -- The Yucca Mountain project is riddled with flawed scientific research, broken laws and centers on bad public policy, Gov. Kenny Guinn said today in the glaring spotlight of the national media outside the Capitol.  (More Coverage -- Now that Guinn has acted, the state believes the Yucca Mountain project is "legally dead" until revived by an act of Congress) -- Las Vegas Sun

April 08, 2002 -- Guinn vetoes Yucca dump -- Beneath the state's Battle Born flag, Gov. Kenny Guinn vetoed the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump this morning, declaring that the dump "is not inevitable" and saying he would press the fight to "expose the Department of Energy's dirty little secrets about Yucca Mountain."  Becoming the first governor to veto a president, Guinn took a hard line against negotiating over Yucca Mountain and said the health, safety and welfare of Nevada's citizens are at risk if the government goes ahead with plans to ship 77,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste to the site 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas -- Las Vegas Sun  (More Coverage - Las Vegas Review Journal)

April 08, 2002 -- Anti-Yucca drive heads to Congress -- WASHINGTON — Opponents of burying nuclear waste in Nevada will give Americans a crash course in the dangers of hauling radioactive materials across the country — part of a longshot lobbying campaign to kill the plan in Congress (More Coverage - San Francisco Chronicle)

April 03, 2002 -- Guinn to address Yucca veto -- Gov. Kenny Guinn will address Nevadans on Monday about his plans to veto President Bush's recommendation that Yucca Mountain be developed as the nation's nuclear waste repository. The public address will begin at 9 a.m. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Tam Alumni Center - Las Vegas Review Journal

March 26, 2002 -- Environmental groups form anti-Yucca lobby -- Many of the nation's leading environmental groups are standing as one lobbying force to Congress urging lawmakers not to approve a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

March 22, 2002 -- Hearings set on risks of shipping waste -- WASHINGTON -- The House Transportation Committee will hold hearings on the risks of shipping nuclear waste to Nevada's Yucca Mountain, Chairman Don Young, R-Alaska, was expected to announce today in Las Vegas. Young reportedly is concerned about whether the nation's highly radioactive waste could safely be transported by truck and train through 43 states to Yucca Mountain. If Congress and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ultimately approve the nuclear waste repository 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, the site could become a permanent burial ground for 77,000 tons of waste by the end of the decade - Las Vegas Sun

March 20, 2002 -- Daschle Yucca stance changes Democratic leader less certain of success --

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle said Tuesday he plans to help Nevada fight Yucca Mountain in Congress but he was less certain of success than when he declared last year that the nuclear waste project was "dead" as long as Democrats controlled the Senate -- Las Vegas Review Journalnbsp; (More Coverage - March 22, 2002 - Las Vegas Review Journal)

March 16, 2002 -- Reid may cut nuclear waste disposal budget -- WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid said Friday he will consider cutting the budget for Yucca Mountain again this year, a move that could slow the government's work on the nuclear waste program even after its endorsement by President Bush . . . Reid, who was highly critical of the president's backing of Yucca Mountain when it was announced last month, said Friday that Bush "doesn't run the (appropriations) committee, he runs the White House.   And we do our best to run things up here" in Congress. - Las Vegas Review Journal

March 15, 2002 -- Pro-Yucca groups' political giving criticized Opponents -- $29 million given to parties over 10 years -- Groups opposed to the federal government's plans for burying highly radioactive waste in Yucca Mountain said Wednesday that nuclear power industry backers funneled more than $29 million over 10 years to political parties in hopes of gaining support for the project.  "It amounts to legalized bribery and we've got to change that," said Paul Brown, a director for one of the groups, the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. -- Las Vegas Review Journal

March 14, 2002 -- Nuke industry donated $30 million to lawmakers -- Nuclear industry companies gave nearly $30 million to congressional lawmakers in the last decade, according to a new public interest group report -- Las Vegas Sun

March 13, 2002 -- Heavyweight GOP lobbyist joins Nevada team -- WASHINGTON -- Nevada lawmakers have enlisted GOP heavyweight lobbyist Ken Duberstein to help them drum up opposition in Congress to the Yucca Mountain project - Las Vegas Sun (Related Story)

March 05, 2002 -- Former Clinton aide joins state's anti-Yucca team -- John Podesta, a former White House chief of staff for President Bill Clinton, has been hired to help Nevada leaders lobby Congress against the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project.  Podesta, part of the Washington lobbying firm of Podesta Mattoon, will work primarily with Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., to rally support for the state's position among Democrats in the Senate, where the next battle over Yucca Mountain is unfolding.

March 04, 2002 -- Gephardt stumps against moving nuclear waste, cites safety -- WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. (AP) - House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt has urged a St. Louis suburb to help challenge any government plans to ship nuclear waste through Missouri, calling such a move bad for the country and Missouri.

February 25, 2002 -- Governor sees little chance of stopping dump in Congress --

WASHINGTON -- Gov. Kenny Guinn on Sunday said Nevada's best chance of stopping nuclear waste from coming to Yucca Mountain might rest in the courts instead of Congress.  Guinn, who is in the nation's capital to attend the annual conference of the National Governors Association, said he would veto "probably within the next 45 days" President Bush's Feb. 15 approval of Yucca Mountain as a repository for 77,000 tons of high-level nuclear waste -- By Tony Batt - Stephens Washington Bureau

February 24, 2002 -- Nevada undertakes effort to kill Yucca project in Congress -- Reid, Ensign analyze law, Senate rules for any advantage they can find in uphill battle -- WASHINGTON -- Nevada officials are scouring federal law and House and Senate rules, looking for cards to play in their efforts to kill the Yucca Mountain program when it reaches Congress later this year -- By Steve Tetreault Stephens Washington Bureau

February 20, 2002 -- 'Dump the Dump' campaign considered enlisting Clinton -- Former President Bill Clinton was one of several high-profile political figures recently considered by Nevada gaming bosses to serve as a well-paid lobbyist in the fight against a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain -- Las Vegas Review Journal  (Related Story -- Casinos to launch Yucca blitz -- Las Vegas Sun

February 16, 2002   Sen. Harry Reid slams Bush for Yucca decision -- Nevada Appeal (Carson City)

Bush OKs Yucca for nuke waste dump

Gov. Guinn will veto Bush's Yucca Mountain decision

Statement from Senator Ensign

February 16, 2002 -- Bury the Nation's Nuclear Waste in Nevada, Bush Says -- New York Times

February 16, 2002 --Nuclear Waste Repository: Bush backs Yucca plan -- Las Vegas Review Journal

February 15, 2002 -- Bush OKs Yucca for nuke waste dump -- President Bush approved Friday Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham's

strongly worded recommendation that a national nuclear waste dump be constructed at Yucca Mountain. Gov. Kenny Guinn vowed to veto the president's order and continue fighting the proposed repository 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. "We are in the fight for our life," Guinn said. -- Las Vegas Sun

Presidential Letter to Congress

Statement by the Press Secretary

DOE Issues Final Yucca Mountain EIS

Transportation Plan -- Graphic

February 15, 2002 -- YUCCA MOUNTAIN: Decision on waste goes to Bush -- Energy secretary tells president location 'technically suitable -- Energy Secretary Abraham

WASHINGTON -- Nevada's prospects to become the nation's burial ground for nuclear waste were placed in the hands of President Bush on Thursday when Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham transmitted a packet to the White House recommending that Bush approve a Yucca Mountain repository. . . . I've called him a blockhead before, I've called him a fathead before. It's too good for him. That's it. Any questions?" -- [Oscar] Goodman [Mayor of Las Vegas] said a decision to move nuclear waste to Nevada might lead to civil disobedience -- Las Vegas Review Journal  (Related Story - AP)

February 12, 2002 -- Dump proponents targeting senators -- WASHINGTON -- Proponents of storing nuclear waste in Nevada estimate 46 senators are ready to vote for a repository at Yucca Mountain, meaning only a handful more need to be persuaded before Congress sets to vote on the issue later this year, state utility officials were told at a conference on Monday - Las Vegas Review Journal

February 07, 2002 -- Nevada officials ask Bush to withhold OK on Yucca Mountain site -- WASHINGTON (AP) - Gov. Kenny Guinn and Nevada's two senators made a last-minute plea Thursday trying to dissuade President Bush from moving forward with a nuclear waste site in the state until all safety issues are resolved.

January 29, 2002 -- Nevada lawmakers weigh in on Yucca Mountain nuclear dump -- CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - A legislative panel studying a proposed federal dump for nuclear waste voted 7-1 Tuesday to back Gov. Kenny Guinn's plan to veto the Nevada site.  Panel members also said federal Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham used scare tactics by raising the specter of terrorism in recommending Yucca Mountain, about 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas, as the dump site.

January 22, 2002 -- Yucca tops lawmakers' agenda  WASHINGTON - Perhaps no single issue has dominated the attention of Nevada lawmakers in Congress in the past 20 years more than Yucca Mountain -- By Benjamin Grove (Las Vegas Sun)

January 22, 2002 -- Alaska GOP rep wary of nuclear traffic  Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, said Monday that he is concerned about using the rails and roads to bring the waste to the proposed high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas -- By Launce Rake (Las Vegas Sun)

January 22, 2002 -- GOP congressman to rethink Yucca stance   The chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure told state officials Monday he will reconsider his support of the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository -- By Michael Squires (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

January 15, 2002 -- Reid, Ensign reiterate bipartisan opposition  Sununu reacts to criticism from senators -- By Keith Rogers (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

January 14, 2002 -- Nevada lacks clout to stop dump  WASHINGTON - If President Bush endorses the plan to bury nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain and Gov. Kenny Guinn files an official objection as expected, both the House and Senate likely would have the votes to override the Nevada objection -- By Benjamin Grove (Las Vegas Sun)

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