Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2001 | 11:28 a.m.
Faced with the difficult task of keeping nuclear waste out of Southern Nevada, the Clark County Commission today chose a nationally recognized lobbying firm to lead it through the war.
However, a question still remains whether the new battle chief is truly an ally.
The commission was given a choice between two lobbying companies that in the past have represented nuclear power interests eager for Southern Nevada's Yucca Mountain to open as the nation's nuclear waste dump.
Commissioners voted 4-2 to end its agreement with Alcalde and Fay and give a $60,000 contract to the Washington-based Cassidy and Associates.
The decision was heavily opposed by the commission's foremost authority on nuclear waste -- Commissioner Myrna Williams.
"I am very concerned about the whole idea of changing people at the most critical point in years in our battle against the Yucca Mountain site," Williams said. "I have a lot of questions about this and why it would be done now."
Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates said the county doesn't hire lobbying firms to simply zero in on just one issue.
"Our focus is trying to deal not only with nuclear waste but a variety of other issues that need federal funding," Atkinson Gates said. "Based upon what I've read, Cassidy in my opinion offers a wider variety (of expertise). From that point of view, they would be an asset to the county."
Cassidy and Associates, recommended by Commissioner Erin Kenny, last year represented U.S. Enrichment Corp. (USEC), the world's largest supplier of enriched uranium for commercial nuclear power plants.
According to its congressional registration form that all lobbyists must submit, Cassidy began working for USEC in May. Cassidy's form says it lobbied for the USEC on "issues related to uranium enrichment and worker safety, health and compensation."
USEC leases buildings from the Energy Department at facilities in Kentucky and Ohio, where it enriches the uranium. The uranium treated by USEC supplies three-quarters of the nation's nuclear reactors, according to the company's annual report.
Mark Day, spokesman for Cassidy, said this morning that the lobbying firm represented the uranium-enrichment company from May to December and concentrated on one issue: the future closing of USEC's Ohio enrichment plant.
"We have a very thorough vetting process to prevent any conflicts of interest," Day said. "So I can assure you there would be no conflict of interest if we did represent (USEC), which we don't."
Kenny said she prefers Cassidy because of the firm's successful record in securing federal grants for other Las Vegas Valley entities. Cassidy drummed up $13.5 million in grants for UNLV and $1.5 million for the University Medical Center, she said.
"I think, and a number of us think, it's time to change the group," Kenny said. "The Cassidy group has been extremely successful for other Southern Nevada entities."
Williams and Kincaid, who also voted against changing lobbying firms, were upset that Kenny placed the item on the consent agenda -- which the board decides with one vote.
Williams also said simply because Cassidy has been successful with other projects doesn't mean it will be effective in the fight against bringing high-level nuclear waste to Southern Nevada.
"It's different than trying to get health money or university money, since Washington has pretty much determined not to give us money," Williams said.
Alcalde and Fay, which has had a contract with the county and the city of Las Vegas for about five years, isn't a stranger to criticism from county commissioners.
Former Commissioner Lorraine Hunt tried to get rid of the firm in 1996, saying it was essentially invisible in the Yucca Mountain fight. Atkinson Gates agreed Monday, saying the county has seen little progress.
Alcalde and Fay isn't a stranger to the nuclear power industry either.
Alcalde has represented Edison Electric Institute and Northern States Power Co., but Alcalde representative Jim Bilbray said this morning that those companies haven't been Alcalde's clients for about three years.
Edison Electric is a giant industry association that represents 200 U.S. energy companies, including the nation's leading nuclear power producers. It has been a vocal proponent of the Yucca Mountain storage site.
Northern States Power owns a nuclear power plant in Minnesota and has sued the Energy Department for breaking its contract to haul the waste to Yucca Mountain by 1998.
Bilbray said that at one point the company represented the county and Northern States Power at the same time, but the firm's work with the two companies had nothing to do with nuclear waste issues.
Bilbray said he was stunned to learn the county was considering replacing Alcalde.
"We think we've done a good job helping our delegation," Bilbray said. "I don't think that they would want to change horses in the middle of the fight. Cassidy is a newcomer to this issue."
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