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Most 2004 Democratic Presidential Candidates Oppose Yucca Mountain Project By Mike Nartker WASHINGTON — Most of the candidates seeking the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination oppose the U.S. Energy Department’s current plan to build a long-term nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, according to a survey released last week by a coalition of U.S. business, consumer, energy and environmental groups (see GSN, Jan. 6). The survey, conducted by the Sustainable Energy Coalition, sought the views of eight candidates on a wide variety of environmental and energy issues. The candidates questioned for the survey were Gen. Wesley Clark, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, Senator John Edwards (N.C.), Representative Dick Gephardt (Mo.), Senator John Kerry (Mass.), Representative Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), Senator Joseph Lieberman (Conn.) and former Senator Carol Moseley-Braun (D-Ill.). The Energy Department plans to open the Yucca Mountain repository by the end of the decade and to house spent nuclear fuel from U.S. civilian nuclear power plants. The project has come under criticism in part, however, because of concerns over the security of spent fuel shipments to the site to possible terrorist attacks. According to the survey, four of eight surveyed candidates — Gephardt, Kerry, Kucinich and Lieberman — oppose the project outright. “It is unacceptable to risk the health and livelihood of the local population and environment for an irresponsible solution to our waste problem. Furthermore, the transportation of this dangerous waste presents risks that are unnecessary at this time,” Kucinich’s response said. During the 2002 legislative debate over the Yucca Mountain Repository Site Approval Act, which overturned Nevada’s veto of the selection of Yucca Mountain as the site for the planned repository, all four lawmakers opposed the act. It was passed, however, by an overwhelming vote in the House of Representatives and by a voice vote in the Senate. “As I said when I cast my vote against Yucca Mountain, we need to deal with nuclear waste, but our first rule should be to do no harm. I cannot conclude that about Yucca Mountain,” Lieberman’s survey response said. Clark, Dean and Moseley-Braun, though, offered more tentative opposition to the Yucca Mountain project in their survey responses. Both Clark’s and Dean’s responses base their opposition to the current Yucca Mountain project on the need for further study on the suitability of the site. “Unlike the Bush administration’s approach, I believe that sound science — not politics — must be the basis for the final decision about the potential suitability of Yucca Mountain as the nation’s first high-level nuclear waste repository. We are not there yet,” said Clark’s response. “Governor Dean will not send nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain unless and until it is proven to be a scientifically viable solution, something that has not occurred yet,” Dean’s response said. Moseley-Braun’s response said that she did not support the Yucca Mountain project “in its present state.” Of the eight candidates surveyed, only Edwards said he supported the Yucca Mountain project. Edwards’ response, though, did not outline his position on the project and calls to his presidential campaign headquarters for further comment were not returned. While the election of a Democratic candidate who opposed the Yucca Mountain project as president could have an affect as to whether the plan moves forward, Nevada has not taken such a possibility into account in its strategy to combat the project, Bob Loux, executive director of the state’s Agency for Nuclear Projects, told Global Security Newswire yesterday. Instead, Nevada is now focusing its efforts to derail the project in the legal arena, Loux said (see GSN, Dec. 9, 2003). Oral arguments are scheduled for today in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Nevada’s legal challenges to the Yucca Mountain project. The case consolidates several major lawsuits filed by Nevada against the project, including lawsuits against various U.S agencies and a constitutional challenge, Loux said, adding that he was “optimistic” over the state’s chances for victory. A decision in the case is not expected until this summer, Loux said, adding that the loser is expected to appeal the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Associated Press reported today, though, that the Energy Department has said that it will continue to prepare to file a licensing application to the NRC for the Yucca Mountain repository despite the court case. The department is expected to file its application by the end of the year. While the stances of the various Democratic candidates on the Yucca Mountain project may have little effect on Nevada’s fight against the repository, it may help their chances in winning the state in this year’s presidential election, Loux said. He said that Bush’s decision to approve the selection of the Yucca Mountain site has hurt his standing in Nevada. Bush won Nevada by only 4 percentage points in the 2000 presidential election over former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.
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