Senate approves sending nuclear waste to Nevada

WASHINGTON -- The Senate voted Tuesday to entomb thousands of tons of radioactive waste inside Yucca Mountain in the Nevada desert, rejecting the state's fervent protests and ending years of political debate over nuclear waste disposal.

The 60-39 vote to override Nevada's objections to the waste dump 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas cleared the way for President Bush to proceed with the project that has been studied for more than two decades.

Nevada's senators, who tried for months to rally their colleagues against the Yucca waste dump, argued that the issue was much broader than Nevada. They hoped concerns over thousands of waste shipments crossing 43 states would sway some lawmakers, but were disappointed.

Asked why he could not muster more opposition to the Yucca dump among GOP senators, Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., replied: "Nimby. Not in my back yard. They do not want to reopen this."

Some senators worried that waste shipments might become terrorist targets. But the Bush administration and other supporters of the Nevada waste dump said leaving the radioactive garbage at power plants and defense sites in 39 states would pose an even greater risk.