<Abraham emphasized that a single U.S. waste site was crucial for national security since the Sept. 11 attacks in Washington and New York, which raised public and political concern about guarding the nation's radioactive material. "There are compelling national interests that require us to complete the siting process and move forward with the development of a repository as Congress mandated almost 20 years ago,'' Abraham said in a letter to the governor.

"I am damn disappointed in this decision,'' Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn said in a statement. "At the conclusion of the call I told the secretary that I think this decision stinks, the whole process stinks, and we'll see him in court."

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle also criticized the plan, calling it "unfortunate and premature." Scores of scientific studies are still underway, and until they are finished, the government should not choose a site, he said. "The safety of the American people, not political pressure from the energy industry, should be the overriding concern,'' Daschle said in a statement.





Nice words all ‘round -- however:

"There are compelling national interests that require us to complete the siting process and move forward with the development of a repository as Congress mandated almost 20 years ago,'' Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham
said in a letter to the governor.

Now, what kind of “scientific studies” take 20+ years to finalize? Hell, that ain’t research -- that’s a career!

Rep. Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat and long-time critic of the nuclear industry for safety reasons, said the decision was based on politics, not science. "Other sites were struck because of the political clout of their congressional delegations," Markey said in a statement. Alternative sites in Louisiana, Texas, New Hampshire, and North Carolina were blocked by such action, he said.

Oh. It’s a study in political science. Well then, of course there’ll be no results. I get it, now.

CONGRESS WILL VOTE ON PLAN



[ ... ]

A November report issued by the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, urged the Energy Department to postpone approval of the Yucca Mountain project. The GAO said the Energy Department cannot meet its 2010 goal because it still lacks reliable cost estimates.





Should be an interesting vote. I wonder if anyone will actually research the project they’ll be voting on...

Cheers,
Dan (now, where’d I put that Lobbyist card...?)