The on-again, off-again Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository will have another day in court soon.  Could it’s full potential finally be reached?

A federal appeals court will hear oral arguements on March 22nd, 2011, in a lawsuit to stop the Energy Department from ending the Yucca Mountain nuclear project.  The R-J says the suit by officials of South Carolina, Washington state and several other claim the DOE overstepped its authority when it cut off funding for the repository last year.

Attorneys claim the shutdown has left tons of radioactive waste in several states, which would otherwise have been shipped here to Nevada.  The DOE contends it does have the authority to change its nuclear waste storage policy.  Meantime, Nevada officials are not directly involved in the lawsuit.