March 20, 2008
Request for NRC Webcasting of Yucca Mountain Licnsing Proceedings

By Dave Maxwell, Staff Writer

County Commissioners unanimously approved a motion to join with Eureka and Clark Counties in urging the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to provide institutionalized webcasting of the planned Yucca Mountain Pre-Licensing Application proceedings.

Connie Simkins, Coordinator of the Lincoln County Nuclear Oversight Program, made the suggestion. If allowed, the webcast would include oral arguments, adjudicatory conferences, and hearings.

She said this would enable local residents to watch and hear live proceedings on the Pre-Licensing phase. “Most all of the other counties have agreed they want to join in with this,” she said. “It’s a good way for our local citizens to know what’s going on with the NRC pre-licensing applications, pre-hearing meetings.”

Commissioner Wade Poulsen said, “Public information is never a bad thing. When the public is able to view these kinds of things and proceedings…and access public information, that’s not a bad thing.”

In other action, the Commissioners approved a letter on the Lincoln County perspective be considered by the U.S. Department of Energy for inclusion in the Rail Alignment Environmental Impact Statement, but tabled a request to grant a permit for a three-day camping event by the Dark Skies Fire Arts Festival at Delamar Dry Lake June 19-22, deciding instead to invite organizers of the event to come to a Commission meeting and make a presentation.