Environmental group says nuke dump’s radioactive leakage increasing

Monday, June 2, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

According to the complaint by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, radioactive leakage from the dump is drastically increasing.

"The leakage at the dump is getting worse while the USGS is putting out a 'Don't Worry, Be Happy' spin," said Jeff Ruch, PEER general counsel. "We now know that contamination has increased consistently every year and, on average, is more than ten times higher than it was just a few years ago."

Calls to the U.S. Geological Survey were not returned Monday.

Idaho-based U.S. Ecology's dump near Beatty was twice shut after it was found to have accepted leaking containers and to have illegally buried waste outside of dump boundaries. After a long battle, it was ordered closed for good in 1992 by Gov. Bob Miller after Nevada's nuclear waste dump obligations under a Western states compact expired.

A similar dump, which has been the object of controversy for years, has been proposed in the Southern California desert near Needles. It's located in arid Ward Valley, near the Colorado River.

PEER is a national alliance representing state and federal scientists, law enforcement officials and specialists in land management and pollution control agencies.