October 17, 2011

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following statement today after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released their report on alternative uses for Yucca Mountain. Reid requested this report from GAO in February 2010:

"This report is an important step as we begin a serious conversation about creating a new mission for the Yucca Mountain site. There is no money being spent to pursue a nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain, and there never will be in the future.

"Dumping nuclear waste at Yucca is no longer a reality. I have worked for 25 years to successfully stop this project, and it is time to finally find a realistic strategy for managing nuclear waste in a safe and secure manner.

"I look forward to working with my colleagues as we study this report and receive more feedback on proposed alternative uses for Yucca Mountain."

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