Las Vegas Sun

April 23, 2024

City of Henderson joins opposition to plutonium shipments

The city of Henderson has joined the chorus of voices condemning the U.S. Energy Department's secret shipment of weapons-grade plutonium to a federal site north of Las Vegas.

The Henderson City Council unanimously approved a resolution last week expressing its opposition "in the strongest possible terms" to the transfer of plutonium or any other radioactive waste to the Nevada National Security Site without the state's consent.

The resolution calls on Energy Secretary Rick Perry to halt any future shipments and to expedite the removal of a half metric ton (1,102 pounds) of the material that his agency trucked there last year.

The council is insisting that the Department of Energy cooperate and coordinate with emergency managers in Henderson to make sure they are aware, equipped and trained to handle transportation of radioactive materials through their jurisdiction.