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Commissioners Approve $700,000 in Consulting Contracts
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Commissioners Approve $700,000 in Consulting Contracts
By Dave Maxwell
Staff Writer
County Commissioners approved a new round of consultant contracts for 2009-2010 during their regular board meeting June 15.
The total amount for the five consultant contracts was $700,000. Dr. Mike Baughman of Intertech Services received $235,000. Robison/Seidler, $285,000, Resource Concepts $50,000, and Las Vegas based Attorney Brett Whipple $50.000. Jason Pitts of Geo Core Data received $80,000.
Commission Chairman Paul Mathews said the money was part of $1.2 million received directly from the Department of Energy (DOE).
Baughman presented a services contract document between the County and his firm, Intertech Services, and outlined the assignment as "to provide professional consultation and advice for a professional fee in connection with oversight, mitigation, planning and impact alleviation planning relating to the Department of Energy's radioactive waste management programs in Nevada."
No one was on hand at the Commission meeting to present contract agreement documents for Robison/Seidler, Resource Concepts or Brett Whipple.
Connie Simkins, Lincoln County Nuclear Oversight Program Coordinator, said Resource Concepts is on a "task-based contract" and do not spend any money until assigned tasks come up for them. Since the DOE has put all its focus of late on getting the licensing agreement settled, Simkins said, there have been no studies needed to help the grazing operators or private property owners who would be affected by Yucca Mountain or the proposed railroad that falls under the expertise of Resource Concepts.
The contract amounts for the coming year were lower than those for 2008-2009. For 2008-2009, Intertech Services received $250,000. Robison/Seidler received $331,000 and Resource Concepts received $100.000. Simkins reported Resource Concepts did not spend even half of the money because there were no additional projects for them to work on.
In 2007-2008, Intertech Services received $193,779 and Robison/Seidler received $265,000.
Brett Whipple has received $50,000 annually from the money given to Lincoln County by the Department of Energy.
Dr. Baughman admitted that both Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and President Obama have said Yucca Mountain is dead, but have allowed the licensing process to go on.
At the same time, outspoken local Yucca Mountain opponent Marge Detraz, of Caliente, criticized giving out the new contracts. She has long stated Reid says he will never allow Yucca Mountain to be built. Her arguments, in part, reflect the thinking of a growing number of other Lincoln County residents as to why, in lieu of the economic recession, state school budget cuts, cut backs in County governments, as well as the slashing of the DOE Yucca Mountain budget, do the Lincoln County Commissioners want to continue spending money for these consultants? Is this course of action really necessary? Is it not time to jump off the Titanic?
In related action, Commissioners joined with the Joint City/County Impact Alleviation Committee regarding contentions Lincoln County will participate in as an Interested Governmental Participant in the upcoming Yucca Mountain Licensing Proceedings.
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