Editorial: State hopes to get agency’s attention

Tuesday, May 16, 2000 | 9:18 a.m.

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection is right to warn the U.S. Department of Energy about possible repercussions if it doesn't seek more money to monitor possible ground water contamination at the Nevada Test Site. The state's environmental watchdog has told the DOE that if it doesn't follow through on a 1996 commitment to seek additional funds, the Division of Environmental Protection will fine the DOE. Penalties start at $5,000 the first week and escalate if the failure continues.

Independent scientists have criticized the DOE for its inability to adequately monitor potential radiation contamination at the Test Site. The Sun's Mary Manning reported Monday that while the 2002 budget requests have been submitted without the $40 million the state believes is needed, Carl Gertz, the DOE's deputy environmental manager, says the DOE's Nevada Operations Office will seek the money anyway. Still, Nevada officials would be remiss if they didn't put the DOE on notice about the consequences for not keeping its word. There is no excuse for not providing enough money to assess radiation contamination of ground water at the Nevada Test Site.