Yucca story was misguided

Your article "Hold Yucca hearings in Salt Lake City?" (Oct. 21) took the bait offered by the state of Nevada.

First of all, the meetings are not hearings. They are simply one of several ways in which DOE's environmental planners seek relevant public input on the proposed study. Whether a hearing is held in Salt Lake City or not, interested parties are welcome to provide their views to: Lee Bishop, EIS Document Manager, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, U.S. Department of Energy, 1551 Hillshire Drive, M/S 011, Las Vegas, NV 89134.

The state of Nevada, which is clearly opposed to the repository itself, would have the public believe that the proposed meetings are not as focused on the alternative rail corridor DOE wants to evaluate, but instead a further rehashing of whether Yucca Mountain should be the disposal site at all.

Brian O'Connell

Director

Nuclear Waste Program Office

Washington, D.C.