In the latest round of the fight over where to store waste from U.S. nuclear powerplants, Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn has vetoed President Bush's choice of the underground site at Yucca Mountain, about 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

(Photo courtesy of Governor Guinn's office)

Guinn's "notice of disapproval," which was expected, was signed April 5 and received in Congress on April 8. "Yucca Mountain is not safe. It is not suitable," Guinn said. In a 10-page statement to Congress accompanying his notice, Guinn contended that the choice of Yucca Mountain is "based on bad science, bad law and bad public policy." Nevada also has challenged Bush's recommendation in court.

Guinn's action isn't the last step. The next move is up to Congress, where members of Nevada's delegation have vowed to stop plans to locate the site in their state.

Last year, the Dept. of Energy estimated that the repository would cost $57.5 billion, including $4.5 billion for construction.

On Feb. 15, Bush formally endorsed Yucca Mountain as the disposal site for spent nuclear fuel, following a recommendation by DOE Secretary Spencer Abraham. But under a 1982 statute, the governor of the state in which a site would be located has veto authority over the President's action.