Heller: Don’t make Yucca Mountain ‘the nation’s nuclear waste dump’

The court ordered the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to deny or approve the Energy Department’s application to store nuclear waste at the site.

{mosads}“Today’s decision serves as yet another example of why Yucca Mountain needs to be taken off the table once and for all,” Heller said. “This ruling is an exercise in futility that will ultimately waste resources that could be better used elsewhere.”

Nevada lawmakers have fought hard to stop the Yucca Mountain project. Heller’s opposition to the project is at odds with most in his party, who praised the decision. 

He urged his colleagues to consider an alternative location

“Instead of continuing to try to force Yucca Mountain on the people of Nevada, my colleagues should focus on moving forward towards a new process that will allow for consent-based siting,” Heller said.