By Jeff German

Wed, Jan 9, 2008 (2 a.m.)

In an about-face, Las Vegas has given up its membership in a pro-Yucca Mountain group that critics say has undermined the state’s fight against the high-level nuclear waste dump.

Bob Loux, the state’s top Yucca Mountain watchdog, hailed the city’s decision to pull out of the Nevada Alliance for Defense, Energy and Business, an organization he describes as a “rogues’ gallery” of dump supporters.

“Groups like the Nevada Alliance are trying to weave themselves into the fabric of Southern Nevada like they’re ordinary businesses, which of course they’re not,” said Loux, executive director of the state’s Agency for Nuclear Projects. “It’s good to see the city has taken action to terminate its relationship with them.”

The Sun reported in August that Las Vegas and North Las Vegas were listed on the Nevada Alliance’s Web site as associate members of the nonprofit group, which advocates Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, as a way to bring economic benefits to the state.

More than two dozen companies, mostly government security and high-tech contractors, are listed on the group’s Web site as members.

They include Bechtel SAIC Co., the contractor hired to build the dump, and the consulting company run by former Gov. Bob List, who is paid by the nuclear industry to promote Yucca Mountain. The Nevada Alliance shares office space with the public relations firm run by Ace Robison, an industry operative hired to weaken Nevada’s opposition to the dump.

Las Vegas spokesman Jace Radke said the city’s membership did not produce any significant development opportunities.

“In addition, the Nevada Alliance for Defense, Energy and Business has a pro-economic development position on Yucca Mountain, while the city has taken a very strong position against Yucca Mountain,” Radke said.

Clark County refused to join the organization, funded in part through a $100,000 Energy Department grant, because of the group’s pro-Yucca stance.

North Las Vegas still is listed as an associate member on the group’s Web site.

City Manager Gregory Rose said North Las Vegas remains opposed to Yucca Mountain but sees its membership with the Nevada Alliance as a means to attract business to the city.

Loux, though, said the Nevada Alliance tries to “trick Nevadans into supporting the dump through some sort of illusionary economic development options.”

“I don’t think there is any analysis done by any organization in the state that shows any economic benefits from the dump whatsoever,” he said.