As a Nevadan and chairman of the Clark County Commission in southern
Nevada, I object to Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham's plan to transport
77,000 tons of the nation's most toxic nuclear waste to Yucca Mountain, 90
miles from Las Vegas [op-ed, March 26].
Transporting nuclear waste across the country magnifies the
possibilities for a terrorist attack. More than 100,000 truckloads and
trainloads of highly radioactive waste will travel through 43 states for
40 years just to dump the 77,000 metric tons of existing high-level
nuclear waste. Every one of these shipments is a potential target for a
terrorist.
The Energy Department is eager to point out its track record for safe
shipment of waste. However, far more waste will be transported each year
during the next 40 years than has been transported since the advent of
nuclear power. In its own technical documents, the Energy Department
admits that accidents and incidents of radiation release will occur during
its proposed shipping campaign.
Most communities along the proposed transportation corridor are not
aware of the immense cost of preparing for and responding to an incident
involving high-level radioactive waste. The cost to Clark County public
safety agencies just to prepare for the commencement of high-level nuclear
waste shipments is expected to reach $360 million. Further, costs to the
county government for personnel, planning, training and public outreach to
prepare for incoming shipments is expected to reach almost $2.7 billion
during the project's proposed 39 years of shipments. While Congress may
provide some public safety funding to the 43 states through which the
shipments will travel, costs to communities will far exceed any federal
funds received.
A study of Clark County bankers and appraisers indicates that even
without an attack or accident a property value loss of more than $500
million can be expected in the county's housing market, which is one of
the most active in the nation.
In the end it will come down to a vote in Congress. Congress should
place the interests of the millions of families who will be put at risk
ahead of the interests of the Nuclear Energy Institute and other special
interests and corporations. Congress should act to strengthen security at
existing nuclear plants while continuing to study viable alternatives to
long-term storage rather than trucking high-level radioactive waste
through our neighborhoods.
DARIO HERRERA
Chairman
Clark County Commission
Las Vegas
