Obama's Other Disaster (Taxpayers on hook for $50 Billion for Cutting off Yucca Mountain, NV site)

Barron's Online ^ | 6/12/2010 | Jim McTague

[Qbert]

OUR ASS-KICKING PRESIDENT should take careful aim at his own derrière. He's triggered a less publicized environmental mess with costs that rival BP's deep-water oil spill. The difference is that taxpayers—not some energy company—will foot the bill. The legal costs alone could top $50 billion. And if Democratic Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada loses his tough re-election bid come November, then, to borrow a phrase from an Oval Office operative, it will be money down the toilet.

This mess began last year when Obama cut off funding for a legally mandated nuclear-waste depository beneath Yucca Mountain, about 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The project has been opposed for years by Reid, who helped rally Nevada to Obama's side in 2008. The president obviously would like to help his ally.

Yucca Mountain, which is adjacent to an old A-bomb testing range, was designed to safely hold 77,000 metric tons of waste for 1 million years. Nevadans, particularly Democrats, objected to the federal government's choosing the state to be a dumping ground for hot waste from 31 other states. Nevada, where the first atomic bomb was exploded, doesn't use nuclear energy.

The Department of Energy had studied the site for 20 years before choosing it.

[Snip]

Construction costs on the depository project already have topped $10 billion

Obama's funding decision has created a huge waste-disposal headache for the nuclear industry, which now keeps old, highly radioactive fuel rods on site in temporary storage containers. Years ago, DOE signed contracts with the utilities to take the waste off their hands and store it at Yucca Mountain. Breach of contract suits filed by 72 utilities seek $50 billion in damages.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Since when does Obastard give a tinker’s damn about wasting the taxpayer’s money?

[Intolerant in NJ]

This mess began last year when Obama cut off funding for a legally mandated nuclear-waste depository beneath Yucca Mountain...shortly after making a big show of advocating for new nuclear plants in the US, if I remember - the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away......

[Proud2BeRight]

This country may never recover from the damage that guy has done.

[blackbart.223]

"...shortly after making a big show of advocating for new nuclear plants in the US.

Two things. We all know Obama will never allow any new nuclear power plants to be built as long as he has a sypathetic House and Senate. The other is many who profess to believe in states rights have no problem ramming down Nevada's throat something we don't want.

[Spunky]

"This mess began last year when Obama cut off funding for a legally mandated nuclear-waste depository beneath Yucca Mountain...shortly after making a big show of advocating for new nuclear plants in the US, if I remember - the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away......"

Funny how he said he was going to open off shore drilling and almost the very next day there is an explosion and he shuts down all off shore drilling.

Seems to be a pattern here.

[cookcounty]

Obama is more dangerous to the environment than any 10,000 Republicans.

[guitarplayer1953]

Dose not the government own about 80% of NV?

[blackbart.223]

"Dose not the government own about 80% of NV?"

I think slightly more. Do you view that as Constitutional? I don't

[G Larry]

Just one more thing to undo when he leaves.

[guitarplayer1953]

Neither do I, believe that all federal land should either be parks or homestedable. And that if the land has natural resources on it it should be used for the good of the nation and not locked up so no one can get to it.

[worst-case scenario]

Does Nevada want Yucca Mountain?

[blackbart.223]

"Does Nevada want Yucca Mountain?"

If you mean the waste dump, no. At least to the point we are forced to take it.

[Kickass Conservative]

Where do the residents of Nevada think Nuclear Waste Materials should be stored?

Is there anywhere else in the Country that has the Geology to support a Nuclear Waste Disposal Facility that would be able to safely store the material.

[blackbart.223]

" Nevadans, particularly Democrats, objected to the federal government's choosing the state to be a dumping ground for hot waste from 31 other states."

It isn't just Democrats. Someone should inform this "genius" of that.

[blackbart.223]

"Where do the residents of Nevada think Nuclear Waste Materials should be stored?"

Where it was produced. Don't get me wrong on this matter. I would like to see some nuke power plants built in this state along with more coal plants. In that case we deal with the spent fuel rods. But for other states to force us to take the waste they produce is mob rule otherwise known as democracy. Something the founders warned us against.

[rottndog]

Obama's funding decision has created a huge waste-disposal headache for the nuclear industry, which now keeps old, highly radioactive fuel rods on site in temporary storage containers.

One simple solution....reprocess, reprocess, reprocess.


And, OBTW, If Nevadans don't want the waste depository, they can kindly pony up and pay back the $10 billion+ they gladly accepted in construction money along they way....they didn't seem to bitch so much when all the cash was flowing in from the construction.

[Carling]

His other disaster? Meaning he only has two?

[blackbart.223]

"And, OBTW, If Nevadans don't want the waste depository, they can kindly pony up and pay back the $10 billion+ they gladly accepted in construction money along they way....they didn't seem to bitch so much when all the cash was flowing in from the construction."

You are laboring under the assumption we wanted it in the first place. We didn't. Blame the states that wanted to ram it down our throats. Oh, there is The Federal Government that owns most of this state. Piss off.

[rottndog]

If they don’t reprocess, YM is the best place for the waste. The facility is there, and it’ s almost complete. Perfectly safe to transport and store spent fuel there.