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Blast From the Past

The situation could hardly have been more ironic. At the same time that Nevada's top officials were fighting against becoming the nation's nuclear waste dumping ground, the state proudly unveiled a new license plate design: a mushroom cloud from an atomic explosion.

The situation could hardly have been more ironic. At the same time that Nevada's top officials were fighting against becoming the nation's nuclear waste dumping ground, the state proudly unveiled a new license plate design: a mushroom cloud from an atomic explosion.

The intent behind the license plate was to honor the people who worked at the atomic test site and raise funds for the Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation museum, according to Senate Majority Leader Dina Titus, who introduced the bill.

But in early June, under pressure from Governor Kenny Guinn, the DMV decided to pull the plate. "The timing of this could not be worse," says Greg Bortolin, the governor's spokesman.

Many residents apparently agreed with Titus' view that the plate marked an "era of nostalgia" and patriotism during wartime. The Department of Motor Vehicles had received 320 letters of intent to purchase the plates. Under state law, there must be at least 250 such letters for a new plate to go into production.

But even more were appalled at the design, telling the local media that it was an "abomination" and it would be preferable to have license plates that say "Fight Yucca Mountain," the proposed site of the high-level radioactive waste facility.

Tom Jacobs, the DMV's public information officer, says the plate was not meant to promote nuclear activity but to recognize its place in Nevada's past. "The law says to preserve the history of atomic testing, not celebrate it." Given the political fallout, the state will have to find another way to commemorate this aspect of its heritage.

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