LAS VEGAS (AP) — A U.S. House committee has blocked the latest attempt in Congress to restart the licensing process for a nuclear waste repository at Nevada's Yucca Mountain.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the House Rules Committee rejected a request Wednesday by Illinois Republican Rep. John Shimkus to keep the project alive by setting aside money for the licensing.

The Democratically controlled committee voted the measure down.

Nevada lawmakers helped fight off a similar attempt earlier this year to revive the mothballed project in a spending bill.

Most Nevada officials oppose the project, arguing the site outside of Las Vegas is unsuitable to safely store the material.