He added that the safe handling and disposal of nuclear waste, and the sound scientific basis for the repository's safety analyses, are priorities for the DOE. "All related decisions have been, and will continue to be, based on sound science.

"The fact remains that this country needs a permanent geological nuclear waste repository, and the administration will continue to aggressively pursue that goal. We are committed to the safety and protection of the citizens of Nevada as we pursue the development of the Yucca Mountain project."

Meanwhile, the PFS project in Tooele County seemed to be on a fast track. This facility would be built on land owned by the Skull Valley Band of the Goshute Indian Tribe.

PFS is proposing the temporary storage of nuclear power plant spent fuel rods at the site, with temporary defined as up to 40 years. But another concern of opponents is that storage there might turn out to be permanent.

In February, the NRC Safety and Licensing Board dismissed allegations by the state of Utah that the Skull Valley site would be unsafe because of overflights by F-16s from Hill Air Force Base. This week, NRC Chairman Nils A. Diaz dismissed concerns about terrorist attacks against the PFS site.

Ward speculated that the latest troubles at Yucca Mountain could have been the backdrop of "some of the comments coming out of the NRC" that supported the Utah site. Perhaps NRC officials knew of this study's problem before it was made public, he said.

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Contributing: Associated Press

E-mail: bau@desnews.com