U.S. Senator Harry Reid, D-Nevada, will become senate majority leader when Democrats take control of Congress next month. That makes him more effective in opposing the Yucca Mountain plan — and Reid said recently he will do everything possible to derail the project. Consequently, South Carolina could end up indefinitely with nearly 6,000 huge containers of nuclear waste at the Savannah River Site and hundreds of tons of commercial spent fuel if Reid has his way.
Legislation supporting Yucca Mountain will be killed next year in Congress, one of Reid’s aides said.
U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., said he doesn’t think Reid’s opposition will stop the Yucca Mountain project. Reid could cut funding for studies at the site, but Clyburn said the project will go forward. Clyburn, the incoming House majority whip, supports opening Yucca Mountain.
Nationally, nuclear waste is growing at a rate of about 2,000 tons per year, experts have said– and that’s only at current operating levels.