A federal court hassle over water-pumping at the Yucca Mountain site of a proposed federal dump for nuclear trash was resolved by an agreement formalized Thursday.
Under the stipulation, signed by U.S. District Judge Roger Hunt of Las Vegas, the state will permit enough water-pumping to ensure federal Department of Energy workers at Yucca Mountain have adequate water for toilets, showers and other uses.
"The parties agree that the DOE employees, contract employees and visitors may immediately begin using DOE's normal restroom facilities and showers and will not be required to use portable toilets and hand wash stations," the stipulation says.
The DOE was allowed to fill potable water tanks to capacity, 290,000 gallons, and to pump from what's known as the J-13 well at the site -- but agreed to use "austerity measures" so water isn't wasted.
The agreement erased the need for a court hearing that had been scheduled for Monday.