Deal kills GOP attempt to revive Yucca Mountain

WASHINGTON -- Among various attempts to revive the Yucca Mountain Project, one was erased in the budget deal that was reached in Congress late Friday, according to the office of Sen. Harry Reid.

A spending bill that Republicans pushed through the U.S. House in February contained dozens of provisions instructing federal agencies on policy issues, in addition to $61 billion in budget cuts that sparked tough negotiations with Democrats and President Barack Obama and threatened to shut down the government.

One of the many riders in that spending bill prohibited the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from moving forward on closing down its consideration of a license for the proposed Nevada nuclear waste site.

Zac Petkanas, a spokesman for Reid, D-Nev., said Saturday the Yucca Mountain rider was not in the final agreement that was reached late Friday.

"Senator Reid got it removed," Petkanas said.

The Obama administration has terminated the Yucca project at the Department of Energy, while Republican leaders in the House have initiated two investigations into the decision and called for the project to be revived.

Reid, the Senate majority leader, has said he will block any efforts in Congress to resurrect the nuclear waste project.

Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault may be reached at 202-783-1760 or stetreault@stephensmedia.com.