LAS VEGAS — Claiming potential routes for nuclear waste shipments to Yucca Mountain discriminate against minorities, a Nevada resident asked a U.S. federal court June 28 to shut down the Department of Energy’s repository program.
The action Jonathan Galaviz filed in U.S. District Court for Nevada argued that a DOE environmental impact statement (EIS) only cited routes that run through predominately minority communities. Galaviz claimed those routes were selected in order “to minimize majority political opposition” to the repository planned for Yucca Mountain, Nevada.
He asked the court to declare the EIS invalid and in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution and to enjoin DOE from any further action to develop or operate a disposal facility there.
Named as defendants in the case were President George W. Bush, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, and the DOE.
A copy of the filing is available on the web (www.geocities.com/yuccalawsuit).