Editorial: Nuke dump fissure may be starting

Utilities that rely on nuclear power have been united in trying to force a nuclear waste dump on Nevada. A crack in that unity has been sighted, though, which could mean good news for this state's residents.

Frustrated with the delays in the Energy Department's investigation into the viability of a permanent repository at Yucca Mountain, utilities had been backing a proposal to place an alternate site at the Nevada Test Site, just 35 miles away. That plan is being masqueraded as a "temporary" site. In reality, if the waste is sent there it will never leave.

President Clinton and Congress have been at a standstill over this issue, with Clinton vowing to veto any temporary dump legislation. In an attempt to end this gridlock, Energy Secretary Bill Richardson offered to have the Energy Department assume responsibility for the waste, but it would have to be stored at the utilities until a permanent repository is selected.

Richardson's trial balloon initially met a chilly reception from utilities that use nuclear power, but now Commonwealth Edison is supporting Richardson's approach, a significant departure. Commonwealth Edison is keeping its options open by continuing to support temporary dump legislation in Congress, but the fact it is willing to consider Richardson' proposal marks a significant break from the rest of pack.

The Sun's Mary Manning reported Wednesday that the support offered by Commonwealth Edison and other utilities has angered the Nuclear Energy Institute, the industry's lobbying arm in Congress, which doesn't even want to acknowledge the existence of Richardson's plan. Maybe members of Congress who previously have supported a temporary dump will now give Richardson's plan a fair hearing, since it is obvious the nuclear power industry isn't the monolith it once claimed to be.

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