Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Supported by

Lawmakers Visit Yucca Mtn. As Talks Of Opening The Waste Dump Amp Up

Yucca Mountain

A group of lawmakers visited the mothballed nuclear repository at Yucca Mtn., which is 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

We’ve been told over and over that the nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain is dead.

But with Republicans now controlling both houses of Congress and one of the dump’s fiercest opponents, Sen. Harry Reid, D-NV., announcing his retirement, there is a renewed talk about opening the repository to nuclear waste.

Illinois Republican Representative John Shimkus led a delegation to Yucca Mountain on Thursday. The group also included Nevada Republican Representatives Cresent Hardy and Mark Amoedi. Both are open to the idea of ending the stalemate and opening the site to the nation’s radioactive waste.

Arnold Knightly, editor of the Pahrump Valley Times, tagged along with the delegation. 

He told KNPR's State of Nevada the delegation was able to travel through the whole five miles of tunnel in the mountain.

Geologist William Boyle accompanied the group, giving an extensive explanation of the mountain's geology. 

Knightly believes everyone there was genuinely interested in the science behind the proposed waste site.

He also talked to Rep. Cresent Hardy, R-NV., about Yucca Mountain.

"He's still not for it. He’s still not against it. He just wants the discussion to happen," Knightly said.

Arnold Knightly, editor, Pahrump Valley Times

Stay Connected