Yucca Mountain: (Patty) Murray breaks silence, urges NRC to review repository

[FBaggins]

Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington is calling for the completion of a stalled review of the abandoned Yucca Mountain, Nev., nuclear waste project in what some industry sources say shows the waning power of the project's fiercest foe, outgoing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

..snip..

In her letter, Murray peppered Macfarlane with questions about the regulatory process moving forward, and whether the NRC had enough funds and authority to complete safety reviews, consider widespread comments on the site and update an environmental impact statement. For the past three decades, she said, independent studies have found Yucca Mountain to be the "nation's best option" for storing high-level waste, and Congress and previous administrations have voted for, funded and supported pursuing the option.

...snip...

Her break comes as Reid prepares to leave the top perch in the Senate. Reid is the best-known critic of the site and has called dumping waste there a "failed policy," noting that the government pulled its support for the repository five years ago.

Reid has also said he will do "everything within his power" to ensure the project is never resurrected and "doesn't receive another dime."

http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060009228

[niyad]

1. is she out of her mind?

[joeybee12]

2. Apparently...nt

[niyad]

3. and with a "d" after her name!

[joeybee12]

4. Makes me want to go search for the appreciation thread for Murray

that was in GD a few days ago.

[niyad]

5. missed that one

[FBaggins]

7. Nope. In fact, a number of Democrats agree with her

Maria Cantwell (likely to become the ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee since Landrieux is probably on her way out) is of a similar opinion for similar reasons.

Really, it's just Harry Reid's power that held it up for so long. This hasn't really been a D vs R thing (or a pro-nuke vs. anti thing)... it's really Nevada vs. most of the rest of the country (with Nevada holding the Senate leader trump card).

[niyad]

13. then they are all nuts. the whole idea is insane from the start.

do you know exactly what yucca mountain is, where it is, and what the problem is? why most nevadans are opposed? does the word earthquakes ring a bell, amoung other things?

[kimbutgar]

6. This could destroy the republican party in Nevada

The majority of people in Nevada don't want Yucca Mtn and now that they control the legislature in Nevada this could kill them in 2016 if Reid the Democratic party in Nevada run on this against them, it could destroy them in state elections for years to come.

Chess move...think about it.

[FBaggins]

8. That wouldn't be so bad

A win-win in my mind.

But don't they also oppose it? I could have sworn that the (R) governor is opposed to it.

[kimbutgar]

9. But if the newly elected brought and paid for (R) Nevada congress critters are for it they will

vote in favor despite what the Governor thinks. In the next two years we are going to see the GOP start fighting amongst themselves, the corporate vs tea party split is going to ugly and divisive. We need to get out the popcorn and enjoy the show.

[FBaggins]

10. I think they have one new congressman (Hardy) who can't hide it

But he ran on the issue and beat an incumbent... so we'll see how much additional damage the issue can do to him.

The rest of them can just vote against it if they want to avoid political fallout. It isn't as though the vote will be close enough for their votes to matter.

In the next two years we are going to see the GOP start fighting amongst themselves

Certainly... but I wouldn't expect much of that to be related to Yucca.

[kiranon]

11. Without Sen. Reid to stop it - it will most likely happen.

Take a look at the "Blue Diamond" exit off of interstate 15 - it is a huge road in the middle of almost nowhere. This is the exit the trucks would take to get to Yucca Mtn. if another access road is not built. The railroad tracks run under Blue Diamond Road at a huge overpass. The infrastucture is there just waiting for a Republican majority in Congress. A Republican President would seal the deal.

[FBaggins]

12. Yep... except it wasn't "waiting for a Republican majority"

Just Reid out of his particular position of power.