KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasEnergy Secretary Tours Yucca Mountain
Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman tours the Yucca Mountain Repository for the first time.
Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman toured the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository Thursday with some of the top scientists at the site. Secretary Bodman did not make any public appearances in Las Vegas. In fact, for Eyewitness News to get access we had to have a background check and get cleared through security on the Nevada Test Site.
The secretary played word games and reminded us that 2000 Nevadans currently work at the site. Secretary of Energy Bodman emerged from the Yucca Mountain Repository tunnel by train. The former engineer toured the site where the Department of Energy wants high-level nuclear waste stored.
Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman said, "How can you assure the people in this area and the people in Las Vegas that this project is safe? It will be assured or we will not build it."
Secretary Bodman traveled 1-3/4 miles into the project. There are more than five miles of tunnels. In addition to evaluating it, he says he's gathering information.
"We will not tolerate the things that have gone on here in the past. That has been a blight on the good name of the people who have worked here," Bodman said.
Last year, scientists associated with the project were found to have made up quality assurance reports.
Secretary of Energy Bodman continued, "Can you or anyone trust the science given the discovery that some of the quality assurance work was falsified? That is a fair question. We will get an answer to that question."
He needs those answers because the information in the falsified reports is vital to safely storing nuclear waste.
"Now I'm going to work very hard to earn the trust of the people in this state and region," Bodman stated.
Bodman didn't stay long enough to answer all of the questions Channel 8 Eyewitness News had. For the questions he answered, Bodman focused on accountability; "We plan to leave nothing to chance."
The Secretary of Energy was in Southern Nevada for about two hours. He answered Eyewitness News questions for about 35 minutes. However, we did not get specifics on assuring the safety of the project and what exactly makes it sound science.
This was Bodman's first visit to Las Vegas and Yucca Mountain and he says it will not be the last time he is here.
Email reporter Edward Lawrence at elawrence@klastv.com
