Reid sees more cuts for Yucca Mountain

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid said Thursday the Energy Department should expect a new round of budget cuts for Yucca Mountain, with savings going for geothermal research and other projects.

The Nevada Democrat's comments at a Senate budget hearing signal the launch of an annual campaign Reid wages to pare spending on nuclear waste disposal in an effort to slow the Yucca project long enough until critics can stop it outright.

Every year since 1994, Congress has scaled back the president's spending request for the Nevada program by tens of millions of dollars and sometimes more.

DOE officials have acknowledged the perennial shortfalls have contributed to delays at Yucca Mountain, which is eight years behind schedule.

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