KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasReport: Yucca Mountain Would Hurt Tourism -- Feb. 1, 2002

Report: Yucca Mountain Would Hurt Tourism -- Feb. 1, 2002

(Feb. 1) -- A newly released study says tourism in Las Vegas would drop if nuclear waste were stored nearby. The assessment study done for Clark County says the dropoff in our lifeblood industry could happen almost immediately, once the Yucca Mountain project gets started.

Las Vegas was already dealt a bad hand when tourism dropped following Sept. 11. But it could happen again. A report released by Clark County says the Las Vegas economy would suffer if nuclear waste is transported for storage at Yucca Mountain.

"This just kind of confirms what we already thought," said County Commissioner Myrna Williams, who is also on the state's Commission for Nuclear Projects.

As part of the study, 1,000 visitors to Las Vegas were interviewed in December. Twenty-five percent say the shipment of nuclear waste would affect their decision to come to Las Vegas. Out of that percentage, 12 percent say they would not return, and 77 percent say they would not visit as often.

"It's a fragile industry -- that has been highlighted since Sept. 11 -- and anything that would dissuade someone from coming to Las Vegas would be a cause for concern," said Rob Powers, spokesperson for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

The study estimates a 10 percent to 15 percent drop in tourism, which would translate into an approximate $1.7 billion in lost gaming revenue. Most tourists we spoke with say nuclear waste being transported and stored 90 miles away from Las Vegas wouldn't affect their decision to travel here.

"Not at all, not at all," said Betty Flak, a tourist who visits Las Vegas six to 12 times a year.

"I doubt I would even think twice about it," said Pruwitt Sams, a tourist visiting from Kentucky.

"As a tourist, I would still come here, but I don't think I would want to live right next door to it," said Lisa, a tourist from Minnesota.

Others say they have concerns.

"If there was an accident, that would worry me," said Paul Harrison, a tourist from England.

"I would just have more concerns about the waste contaminating the water supply and things like that, " said Eric Larson, a tourist from Iowa.

Only one tourist we interviewed had heard of Yucca Mountain. But the study implies as more people find out about it, Las Vegas could face a stigma.

"One of the problems here is that when Yucca Mountain is mentioned in any national press, the words 'Las Vegas' appear next to it, because we're the largest metropolitan area near that site, so even though we're fairly far away, it kind of reinforces in people's minds that it's closer than it actually is," Powers said.

The report will be handed to Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and will be forwarded to President Bush.

For more information on Yucca Mountain, click here.
To contact Janine Gill, click here.