Bush knocking his head against the Yucca wall?

By Lisa Mascaro

Monday, Feb. 4, 2008 | 9:55 a.m.

WASHINGTON — It’s budget day in Washington, and the one number Nevadans may want to know is $495 million — the amount President Bush is seeking for Yucca Mountain in fiscal 2009.

Bush’s proposed spending on the nuclear waste repository north of Las Vegas is on par with the $494.5 million he sought last year. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid knocked that back to $390 million, severely crippling the project and prompting massive layoffs.

Now, the project faces a critical juncture as Energy department officials say the budget cut leaves them unable to guarantee they will meet a June 2008 deadline to submit Yucca’s license application.

Bush’s budget request looks encouraging to the nuclear industry, but it will be up to Congress to decide if Yucca deserves more or really is, as Nevada’s lawmakers believe, a dying project.

Said Reid in a statement: "Clearly, he will not get that funding. I will continue working with Nevada’s congressional delegation, while leveraging my leadership position in the Senate, to stop the dump from ever being built."