Editorial: Evidence mounts of deadly danger

Wednesday, April 5, 2000 | 9:34 a.m.

There was optimism, then, when earlier this year Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson announced a breakthrough in settling this issue. Richardson said his department was willing to move the tailings about 30 miles north of Moab to federal government land. But to make this happen, Congress needs to allocate additional funds to pay for the complete restoration of the area, which could bring the total cost to $300 million. There isn't much time left in this session of Congress shortened by an election year, but lawmakers should not adjourn until they approve a plan to remove this waste that threatens the environment and public health.

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