State approves $2.5M to keep fighting Yucca Mountain dump

LAS VEGAS — A state board has approved $2.5 million more to fight efforts to develop the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump in Nevada.

The Nevada Board of Examiners that includes Gov. Brian Sandoval authorized the spending on Tuesday. It’s an expansion of an ongoing, four-year contract with a Texas-based law firm that represents the state before the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The original contract was for $5 million, and the vote expands the budget to $7.5 million.

Nevada formally opposes the project, which is slated for 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Sen. Harry Reid calls the project dead, and Sen. Dean Heller says federal officials should only place dumps in states that want them.

Reps Joe Heck, Cresent Hardy and Mark Amodei have said they’re open to discussions on the project.