Saturday, April 11, 1998 | 2:04 a.m.
The SUN's March 29 editorial, "Real science gets snubbed in debate," asserts that the U.S. Department of Energy is ignoring the findings in the recently released Wernicke Study on the seismic stability of Yucca Mountain.
To the contrary, the DOE does not ignore any credible scientific study addressing the performance of Yucca Mountain. Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project scientists consider all data, regardless of the source, that relate to the safety of the proposed repository. This is the case with the Wernicke Study. The DOE has asked the U.S. Geological Survey to review the study and evaluate its findings. At this time, experts are reserving judgment about this issue until the results of the USGS review are complete.
The editorial also suggests that the DOE is not committed to using sound science. The YMP involves extensive scientific investigation on the site's geology, hydrology, biology, and climate to determine if it is suitable to serve as a repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.
The DOE is committed to protecting people and the environment while we work toward solving the complex environmental problem of radioactive waste disposal.
Allen B. Benson, director
DOE's Office of Institutional Affairs
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