Trump signals opposition to nuclear waste site in Nevada despite his budget proposals to fund it

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post



By Seung Min Kim October 21 at 10:00 PM

ELKO, Nev. — President Trump signaled opposition Saturday to reviving Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste storage site, even though his administration has allocated millions of dollars to the project that has long been controversial in this state.

For years, Nevada lawmakers have blocked attempts to restart licensing at the repository, about 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas, and presidential candidates traveling to this swing state have long been pressed for their stances on Yucca.

“I think you should do things where people want them to happen, so I would be very inclined to be against it,” Trump said Saturday of Yucca in an interview with KRNV-News 4, based in Reno. “We will be looking at it very seriously over the next few weeks, and I agree with the people of Nevada.” But in both of its budget plans to Congress, the Trump administration designated $120 million for the Yucca project. Justifying the funding proposal this year, Energy Secretary Rick Perry said: “We have a legal responsibility. We have this waste out there. We need to have this licensing issue addressed.”

When asked whether Trump’s comments reflected a new administration position on Yucca, White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters pointed out that he had said the issue will be looked at “very seriously” in the coming weeks.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-signals-opposition-to-nuclear-waste-site-in-nevada-despite-his-budget-proposals-to-fund-it/2018/10/21/50eff246-d571-11e8-9559-712cbf726d1c_story.html

[femmedem]

1. Translation: after the midterms, he'll go back to supporting it.

Especially with a close Nevada senate race, this is watch what he does, not what he says.

[Merlot]

3. Exactly.

"looking at it verys seriously" is double talk for putting it off until after the midterms

[riversedge]

9. #1

[idahoblue]

2. It is code

He is sending a message, vote for me or you will get a nuclear dump site. We need to watch this, see what happens if Heller looses.

[SunSeeker]

4. Pandering to NIMBY rural Republicans.

Yucca Mountain's salt caverns are an ideal place for nuclear waste. It would be safely stored deep beneath the ground. We've got to put the shit somewhere. Right now we're storing it onsite at nuke plants that are at or near major population centers, which is irresponsible.

[cstanleytech]

5. " We've got to put the shit somewhere" Unfortunately this is true but hopefully one day

we will find a way to generate the power we need without any large potential side effects to the planet.

[SunSeeker]

7. Absolutely. We already have wind, solar and geothermal energy production.

It is inexcusable that we are not doing everything possible to convert to such sources of energy production. Nuclear power was never a good idea. Now we're stuck with nuke waste and have nowhere to put it.

[cstanleytech]

8. Even those have their drawbacks as we still need mine for some rare elements

plus there are varies hazardous materials from their production.
What we really need is a way to grow things like solar panels much like how trees and other plants grow.

[ROB-ROX]

6. THE REPUBLICANS SCREWED UP AGAIN

I think this waste site which has billions spent on it is a total waste. The place is built on a fault. The whole underground storage area could collapse AGAIN. I have been to the Nevada Test Site when they tested weapons. This is a very good place to send nuclear waste. A better idea for storage is REQUIRED.