Probe: DOE not biased toward Yucca

Jeff German and Mary Manning

Monday, April 23, 2001 | 11:21 a.m.

A four-month investigation by the Energy Department's inspector general has found no bias on the part of the DOE in the Yucca Mountain site selection process.

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham issued a statement today, saying the inspector general has concluded "that there was no evidence to substantiate the concern that bias compromised the integrity of the site-selection process."

In the wake of the inspector general's conclusion, Abraham said he remained committed to moving forward with the process in a fair manner.

"Accordingly," he said, "I am today reaffirming our commitment to a site suitability evaluation process which is objective, unbiased and based on sound science, and conveying that reaffirmation of policy to all relevant parties."

The inspector general's investigation was prompted by a Dec. 1 Sun story suggesting documents showed the DOE was collaborating with the nuclear industry to recommend Yucca Mountain as the site of the nation's first high-level nuclear waste repository. Yucca Mountain, the only site under study, is 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Federal law prohibits the DOE from taking sides in the selection process.

Abraham said the inspector general absolved the DOE of any wrongdoing following more than 200 interviews in the past four months.

He acknowledged that the DOE did not get a total clean bill of health.

The investigation, he said, found that some statements attached to DOE documents in the selection process "could be viewed as suggesting a premature conclusion regarding suitability of Yucca Mountain."

Those statements were made by a DOE contractor in a two-page memo attached to a 60-page draft overview that concludes Yucca Mountain is safe to store the deadly radioactive waste even though scientific studies of the site aren't complete.

Abraham said the department had objected to the statements, and they were removed from subsequent drafts.

The memo, obtained by the Sun last year, suggests the overview could be used to help nuclear industry officials sell the Yucca Mountain Project to Congress.

Members of Nevada's congressional delegation, who voiced outrage over the memo and pushed for the inspector general investigation, could not be reached this morning.

They were expected to be briefed on the investigation today.