Gibbons names Loux replacement

A former Sparks mayor and television sports broadcaster is the new executive director of the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects.

Gov. Jim Gibbons announced Monday the appointment of Bruce Breslow, who has served in several local and state government posts.

The agency leads the state's opposition to federal plans for a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, about 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

"I know Bruce to be a good and fair man," Gibbons said in a prepared statement. "I trust his leadership of the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects will bring new ideas and a renewed level of tenacity to the fight against locating the nation's nuclear dump in Nevada."

Breslow replaces Bob Loux, who stepped down Sept. 29 amid controversy that he gave himself and his staff large, unauthorized pay raises.

In a prepared statement, Breslow said he was "humbled" by the governor's confidence in him.

"I will use all of my experience to serve the governor and the commission and continue the fight against Yucca Mountain in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Nevada," he said. Breslow will start his new job Jan. 12.

Breslow previously said the repository "is not a safe project and doesn't belong anywhere until they (federal scientists) can figure it out."

The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering a U.S. Energy Department application for a license to operate the repository. Nevada, Clark County, a Timbisha Shoshone nonprofit group, the state of California and others have filed challenges to the licensing application.