McCain says mining law should be updated

SPARKS — Republican presidential hopeful John McCain says the nation’s 136-year-old mining law needs to be updated, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he supports increasing fees paid by mining companies operating on public lands.

McCain, speaking with reporters after a town hall meeting today in Sparks, reiterated his support for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository north of Las Vegas, but added that he believes reprocessing nuclear waste needs to be a part of the nation’s energy policies.

The Arizona Republican said Nevada again will be a battleground state in the fall election, and said his strategy will be to stress his knowledge and understanding of Western issues, including mining, public lands and water.