January '10 Nevada Government—U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley Column

Berkley: End Of Yucca Mountain
Will Eliminate Threat To Nevada’s Future

DOE Expected to Announce Blue Ribbon Commission
on Alternatives to Nuclear Waste Dump

January 28, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Calling the decision a critical step in eliminating a threat to Nevada’s future, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today said she expects the Department of Energy (DOE) to move forward shortly on creation of a panel to study alternatives to the failed Yucca Mountain nuclear repository. An announcement on the blue ribbon commission is expected as early as this Friday.

“After decades of failure by the DOE and pro-dump lobby—and billions wasted on efforts to bury nuclear garbage at Yucca Mountain—we are on the verge of seeing this threat to Nevada’s future go the way of the dinosaurs,” said Berkley. “We have already succeeded in cutting nearly all funding for this $100 billion hole in the Nevada desert, and the creation of this blue ribbon commission will begin the task of finding alternatives to burying nuclear waste 90 minutes outside Las Vegas. Nevadans have been fighting Yucca Mountain since the day it was proposed, not only because of the danger it represents, but also because the process unfairly targeted our State. The time has come to bury Yucca Mountain and to start over again on a safe solution to America’s nuclear waste issue.”

Berkley supports keeping waste at existing sites in secure dry-cask storage, an option that is safe for a century according to regulators and safety experts.

“Keeping waste on-site will allow an expert blue ribbon panel the time to completely revisit the question of how to effectively deal with the legacy of radioactive waste created by decades of nuclear power production,” said Berkley.

Berkley: New USO Lounge At McCarran Airport
Will Welcome America’s Troops To Las Vegas

January 28, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today applauded the announcement of plans for a new USO lounge at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas.

“I have been talking with the USO and working with local supporters of this project since 2005 and I am so pleased that it’s now going to become a reality,” said Berkley. “As someone who flies in and out of Las Vegas every week, I hear all the time from troops at the airport about their desire to see a USO location added at McCarran. It will be great to serve countless heroes in uniform as they pass through our local airport and visit this USO facility where we can say welcome to Las Vegas.”

Berkley first wrote to the USO in 2005 seeking support for a lounge at McCarran Airport for use by members of the armed forces who are traveling and their families and loved ones. Working with supporters of the military, local veterans, fellow elected officials and McCarran staff, Berkley continued to advocate for the facility over the past five years.

“Those who serve in America’s armed forces are asked to make sacrifices for our nation and this facility will allow us to thank these brave men and women and their loved ones when they visit McCarran Airport. It will also provide privacy for military families as they say goodbye to sons and daughters, mom and dads, spouses and children. This has been a community-led effort and I am proud to have worked closely with those who never stopped dreaming of a USO lounge at McCarran—and I congratulate all those involved in making it happen.”

The USO Airport Centers assist military personnel and their families in transit, offering translation services, libraries and reading rooms, TV and game rooms, housing and accommodation assistance, nursery facilities, and local information (source: www.USO.org).

UNLV Tapped To Receive $460,000
For Transportation Research

January 27, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today announced that the regional transportation research center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has been awarded $460,000 in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

“This funding will provide UNLV students with research opportunities as they train for careers in the transportation sector of the 21st Century,” said Berkley. “Las Vegas and other communities benefit when we utilize smart planning to reduce congestion and increase safety on our roads and freeways. And the results of the work funded by this grant will help us achieve those important goals.”

The University Transportation Center at UNLV will partner with Nevada’s Department of Transportation to conduct research in various transportation related areas. These include:

1) Developing hardware and software tools for collecting real time traffic data and performing quantitative analysis for operations and control;

2) Developing software and hardware tools for simulations, animations, and collecting data on subjects;

3) Developing new mathematical methods for modeling, analysis, and control for traffic congestion management;

4) Developing mathematical and software based decision making tools for transportation planning and policy analysis.

The DOT’s University Transportation Centers (UTC) program advances the nation’s transportation system through education, research and technology transfer. Additional information about the UTC program can be found at www.rita.dot.gov.