A divided Nuclear Regulatory Commission has allowed the Obama administration to continue plans to close the controversial Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump in Nevada.
The commission split, 2-2, on whether to uphold or reject a decision by an independent nuclear licensing board, which voted last year to reject the Energy Department's attempt to withdraw its application for Yucca Mountain. The licensing board said the government failed to make a scientific case for why the application should be withdrawn.
Despite the split vote, the NRC said in an order Friday that the licensing board should continue steps to close down Yucca Mountain by the end of the month.
The decision is a victory for NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko, who has worked to close the dump since becoming chairman in 2009. (AP)
Nevada Senator Harry Reid released the following statement:
"Today's decision by the NRC brings the Yucca Mountain saga closer to its final conclusion. I am pleased that the commission is ready to wrap up all work on Yucca licensing by the end of this month.
"Congress has zeroed out funding for Yucca, the Administration has completely shut down the project, and there is a Blue Ribbon Commission of venerable scientific, industry, environmental and policy experts working on a safer, more secure and realistic management strategy for nuclear waste. Our nation is clearly prepared to move on and finally solve the nuclear waste problem.
"The Commission's long deliberation on this matter reflects the challenges our country faces in safely and securely managing nuclear waste without running roughshod over a single state or community. For 25 years, I have worked to stop the Yucca Mountain project. I look forward to using that experience to work with my colleagues in finally developing a plan to safely and securely manage nuclear waste in a way that protects Nevadans and all Americans from the most dangerous substance known to man."
