Reid letter to Yucca worker facing layoff

WASHINGTON — Here is a letter Sen. Harry Reid sent to a Yucca Mountain Project worker who wrote to him recently concerning job cuts in the nuclear waste program. The name and address of the constituent have been removed for privacy.

Dear         :

Thank you for contacting me about the proposal to store
nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain. I appreciate hearing from you on this
important issue.

I believe that high level waste and spent nuclear fuel
should never - and will never - be stored at Yucca Mountain. The
limited economic benefits of opening a nuclear waste dump less than 100
miles from the fastest growing urban area in the country are especially
minimal when compared to the risks that Nevadans would assume. In my
view, the costs of threatening the health of Nevadans and our visitors,
the safety of hundreds of thousands of Americans, and the quality of the
environment far outweigh any compensation that the federal government
could offer our state.

Alternatives to this flawed project must be created. That
is why I am advocating the mandatory use of on-site dry cask storage
facilities. Most nuclear power sites already have or will install dry
cask storage facilities for waste because it is a secure, cost-effective
alternative that is already approved by the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission. For much lower costs, we could store nuclear waste safely
where it is produced in dry casks for a century until a viable,
scientifically valid solution to the nuclear waste problem is developed.
To reinvigorate Nevada's economy, I am working hard to accelerate and
expand the development of renewable energy resources throughout Nevada.
Nevada has some of the nation's best geothermal, solar and wind
resources and by growing the green economy thousands of jobs can be
created throughout the silver state. The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act that Congress passed and the President signed last
month will help Nevada's clean energy sector grow and expand employment
opportunities in Nevada.

The tide has turned on Yucca Mountain and it is time we look
at viable alternatives and realistic approaches to long term waste
storage. My highest priority is to ensure the health and safety of
Nevadans and I will continue to fight against bringing high-level
nuclear waste to Nevada. I look forward to hearing from you in the near
future.

My best wishes to you.

Sincerely,

HARRY REID
United States Senator
Nevada