Nevada again sues DOE over Yucca Mt

Nevada again sues DOE over Yucca Mt.

Washington (Platts)--17Mar2004

Nevada sued Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham and DOE in federal court today, the latest in a series of lawsuits the state has filed in an effort to stop the nuclear waste repository project at Yucca Mountain, Nev. The suit claims DOE broke the law by not providing adequate funds for state and local government oversight of the repository program at Yucca Mountain. In its petition, Nevada asked the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. to suspend all licensing activities associated with the Yucca Mountain project until Abraham complies with the law and to direct the department to issue the necessary funds. "This fiscal year, DOE reduced Nevada's oversight grant from $5-million to only $1-million, at a time when our scientific and technical experts are preparing critical studies to aid the NRC in its safety evaluation," Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval said in announcing the lawsuit. DOE intends to submit a repository license application to NRC in December.