Coffin wants to keep alive city’s Yucca Mountain Nuclear Repository Committee

A little-known committee in Las Vegas would be spared from a streamlining effort if Ward 3 Councilman Bob Coffin gets his way.

Coffin argues that eliminating the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Repository Committee, which hasn't met in four years, would be a mistake, though the state has a similar committee aimed at blocking the federal government from directing nuclear waste to a storage site about 100 miles north of the city.

"I don't really care if there is a state committee," said Coffin, a former state legislator. "We have our own interests. State committees are populated by people who don't care about Southern Nevada."

Today , the City Council is scheduled to consider an ordinance to streamline some city processes, including eliminating the Yucca committee.

Coffin and Ward 5 Councilman Ricki Barlow met Tuesday as a committee to consider the ordinance and make a recommendation to the full council.

They learned that the City Council created the committee in 1992. But city officials told them it is no longer needed because lobbyists and others involved with the Yucca Mountain issue can pass information directly to council members.

"This does not change our position or ability or your ability to seek updates from staff," said Ted Olivas, director of administrative services for the city. "Essentially, this committee is redundant."

Coffin said keeping the committee alive is important, however, as long as there is a chance the Yucca Mountain Project is revived.

He said proponents of nuclear storage at Yucca Mountain would use news that the city committee is dead to suggest opposition to the project has waned.

"It will have an impact beyond our borders," Coffin said.

He made a motion to amend the ordinance to exclude the Yucca Mountain committee from the list of committees to be repealed. Barlow opposed the motion.

The result is the ordinance will go to the City Council with no recommendation.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-229-6435.