Miller: Energy secretary has open mind on nuclear dump

SUN CAPITAL BUREAU

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Bob Miller said Monday that new Energy Secretary Bill Richardson has an open mind on Yucca Mountain, site of the high-level nuclear waste dump proposed for Southern Nevada.

Richardson, who was sworn into office Aug. 18, met with Miller for about a half-hour Monday.

The governor said he flew to Washington, D.C., to make Richardson aware of his and the state's position in opposing a repository. He said Richardson "was open minded and listened carefully to everything I had to say."

The energy secretary, Miller said, reiterated President's Clinton's position that he will veto any legislation authorizing a temporary waste storage facility at the Nevada Test Site.

The governor said he also told Richardson of his concerns over efforts to relax Environmental Protection Agency radioactive standards at Yucca Mountain. Miller said that even the request for such a decrease in safety standards undermines the scientific integrity of the site.

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