Reid on Bodman energy nomination

January 28, 2005

Dear :

Thank you for contacting me to express your thoughts
regarding Yucca Mountain, as well as Samuel Bodman's
nomination to be the next Secretary of Energy. I appreciate hearing
from you.

I share your concerns about the risks of building a high- level nuclear waste repository in Nevada. Centrally dumping high- level nuclear waste in Yucca Mountain - regardless of the source -
threatens the health and safety of Nevadans, as well as the
economy of our state. I am committed to fighting this project and I
do not believe that the project is inevitable.

Last year, Nevada won a major victory in the fight against
Yucca Mountain. On July 9, 2004, the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the D.C. Circuit ruled that a critical standard set by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the site would not
protect public health and safety. In particular, the federal court
threw out the Administration's radiation exposure standard
because it ignored the scientific recommendations of the National
Academy of Sciences-recommendations the EPA was required to
follow by law. This court decision represents a major barrier to the
Administration's effort to license the Yucca Mountain Project.

In all the years I have opposed Yucca Mountain, I have
believed that sound science-if allowed to see daylight-would
show that Yucca could not safely store the most dangerous
substances known to man. The definitive ruling discredits the
current Administration's pledge that its decision to make Nevada
the nation's dumping ground was based on sound science. The
ruling is a victory of which all Nevadans should be proud and a
reminder of the importance of our federal courts and ensuring that
the judges we appoint to them are impartial and well-qualified.



Appeals from this important ruling are possible, and the
fight to stop Yucca for good will continue. But this court case,
combined with several other significant problems with the project,
reinforces my belief that the project will never be completed. The
DOE has not considered the risks associated with the near constant
caravan of nuclear waste it would send past homes, churches,
hospitals and schools across the United States to get to Yucca
Mountain. That fact alone will likely be the subject of a court
challenge. In the meantime, I will continue to use my position as a
senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to slash
Yucca's funding. Please be assured that I will continue to oppose
any efforts that would bring high-level nuclear waste across the
United States to Nevada.

As you know, on December 10, 2004, President Bush
nominated Dr. Samuel Bodman to fill the vacancy left by outgoing
Secretary Spencer Abraham. Shortly thereafter, I had a long and
productive conversation with Dr. Bodman. During our
conversation, I asked him to keep an open mind about the wide
array of issues facing the Department. I stressed to Dr. Bodman
that although the Secretary serves at the pleasure of a President
who supports the project, I hoped he would take a fresh look at
alternatives to the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca
Mountain. He agreed to do so. I will keep your views in mind as
the Senate considers Dr. Bodman's nomination.

Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts
with me. For more information about my work for Nevada, my
role in the United States Senate Leadership, or to subscribe to
regular e-mail updates on the issues that interest you, please visit
my Web site at http://reid.senate.gov. I look forward to hearing
from you in the near future.

My best wishes to you.




Sincerely,

HARRY REID
United States Senator