Nevada congressional delegation praises Obama cuts to Yucca budget

Nevada's Congressional delegation was unanimous Thursday in praising President Obama's cuts to the Yucca Mountain budget.

Obama sharply reduced the budget for the project, according to the Energy Department.

According to language in the budget outline, "The Yucca Mountain program will be scaled back to those costs necessary to answer inquiries from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, while the Administration devises a new strategy toward nuclear waste disposal."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said Obama is keeping his promise to the people of Nevada.

Republican Sen. John Ensign said the cuts are "a positive step for Nevada."

"The Nevada delegation has been united in its fight to kill Yucca and have said all along that a new strategy is necessary," he said. "I'm hoping that a scaled back Yucca is a Yucca that never happens."

Rep. Shelley Berkley of Las Vegas said the $100 million Congress took out of the dump project's current budget "will enable Nevada to land the knockout punch we need against this failed project."

"Yucca Mountain is 20 years behind schedule. Its $100 million budget is bloated and support for this pile of radioactive pork has never been lower," she said.

Rep. Dean Heller of Carson City said the delegation has worked together for decades to stop Yucca Mountain.

"The president's budget recognizes that this project is a waste of taxpayer's dollars and a threat to the health and safety of all Nevadans," he said.

Rep. Dina Titus of Las Vegas also applauded the budget as a significant step to blocking "this disastrous plan to store nuclear waste in our backyard."

Obama's proposed budget was announced Thursday.

- Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.