Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

'Yucca is not dead,' head of nuclear energy group says

Industry conference urged to change image of proposed Nevada repository as a 'dump'

WASHINGTON -- The new head of the Nuclear Energy Institute called on industry leaders Tuesday to reshape public perception of a Yucca Mountain repository by promoting it as cutting edge science rather than a nuclear waste "dump."

Though it has been delayed, "Yucca is not dead," NEI president Frank "Skip" Bowman, told a conference of about 600 executives in a speech promoting opportunities to expand nuclear power generation.

Although Yucca Mountain remains an industry priority, Bowman said, "it is clear this project requires some adjustments in our approach."

Bowman, a retired Navy admiral, became the trade association's president earlier this year. He said at the NEI-organized conference he did not understand how Yucca Mountain came to be described as a nuclear waste "dump."

"We've allowed that to happen." he said. "This is one of the most complex public works projects in the history of man.

"We need to better explain the plan for Yucca Mountain," Bowman said, pointing to government plans to keep the repository open and monitored for years "in the case we achieve a breakthrough" that would allow waste to be removed and reprocessed.

"Scientists and engineers will remain on the scene to refine and correct the models and predictions," Bowman said. "Thoughtful discussion of the repository concept will boost public confidence. It makes people feel a little better when you talk about the truth."

Repository critics said Bowman was glossing over problems that have caused delays, including a federal court ruling last summer that invalidated a repository safety standard and ongoing investigations of e-mails in which several workers discuss falsifying quality assurance documents.

"He may frame Yucca Mountain in a more evangelical way, but its the same old same old," said Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said, "NEI can spin all the tales they want, but the truth is out there."

"Despite the NEI's rhetoric, the Yucca Mountain project does call for Nevada to be targeted as the nation's nuclear waste dumping ground," Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said.

In his speech, Bowman said criticism was misguided, saying, "No one wants this project designed and built correctly and operated safely more than the nuclear industry."

Bowman exhorted industry leaders to join him as aggressive promoters of nuclear power, which enjoys Bush administration support of initiatives to encourage construction of new power plants

"It is time to pull the defense off the field and put the offense on the field," Bowman said. "We've got to move more aggressively."