Well, it’s official:  Falsifying data is legal in Nevada.  At least it is according to the U.S. attorney.

Today, the U.S. attorney’s office for the District of Nevada chose not to pursue criminal charges over proven paperwork fraud on quality assurance issues generated by government scientists working at Yucca Mountain.

OK, maybe this act is only legal when it’s a government official doing the falsifying.  And it concerns nuclear waste disposal data.  Good to know. 

Silver lining to the nuclear cloud 

Despite the lack of prosecution for this latest string of the DOE's failings, the damage has been done from a public awareness point of view.  In addition to political opposition and money shortages, the e-mail controversy has delayed Yucca Mountain from announcing an open date.  Once Yucca Mountain is deemed "safe enough",  it will become the country’s waste dump for 77,000 tons of nuclear waste.  As for now, the Energy Department managers now can't say when the site will open.

Let’s just hope Yucca Mountain continues to fail.  I don’t think I have to wish too hard.

by
Erin Swanson
ESwanson@enviance.com