Berkley urges EPA official to study Yucca radiation
Thursday, May 3, 2001 | 10:49 a.m.
As two federal agencies battle over the amount of radiation that would be allowed to escape from a proposed high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, a Nevada representative has asked for an independent review.
Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., requested on Wednesday that Environmental Protection Agency Ombudsman Robert Martin investigate the issue.
Last year the EPA offered a 15 millirem limit with a separate 4 millirem ground water standard for an individual exposed to radiation escaping from a proposed repository at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. An average chest X-ray emits 10 millirems.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposed a limit of 25 millirems without a separate ground water standard for the mountain under study by the Department of Energy.
The Bush administration has delayed any decisions on the rules.
Berkley said she learned that DOE and NRC officials have met with the EPA, asking for a change in the environmental agency's proposed radiation rule. The DOE and the NRC do not want a specific limit to radiation in ground water and have requested the EPA set a total radiation exposure standard of 25 millirems.
"Your independent investigative authority allows you to be an honest broker in this process and offers the participating agencies your objective, science-based recommendations," Berkley wrote to Martin.
NRC Deputy Director Carl Paperiello said this week at a nuclear waste conference in Las Vegas that the commission will adopt any radiation standard for Yucca Mountain that the EPA sets.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Man, 18, arrested for DUI in crash that kills woman, 24
- Man fatally shot during robbery attempt of woman
- Binion’s to close all 365 rooms, lay off 100 workers
- Ex-NBA star to pay $12,835 monthly in gambling debt case
- Slot makers team up at behest of CityCenter
- “Last Call!”: Two words you wouldn’t expect to hear on The Strip
- Now, Rebels must build on big Louisville win
- Report: 70 percent of homeowners underwater
- Nevada leads nation in rate of bankruptcy filings
- What reactions to Palin, Stewart say about society
Blogs
The Kats Report
Planet Hollywood's Thomas McCartney headed for Tropicana (5 Comments)
Elsewhere
LV woman robs Kentucky strip club, police say (2 Comments)
Las Vegas Sands' Hong Kong IPO flops
The Kats Report
Monday List: Top 13 Moments and Observations From Thanksgiving Weekend (3 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Tarkanian: Reid is liberal, out of touch, rude, poisonously partisan and a know-it-all (6 Comments)
The Kats Report
Barry Manilow off to Paris: Two-year deal starts March 5 at Le Theatre des Arts (10 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Ensign survives radio interview with no follow-ups; partial transcript below (4 Comments)
Calendar »
- 1 Tue
- 2 Wed
- 3 Thu
- 4 Fri
- 5 Sat
-
Grand opening of Vdara
Vdara | 10 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Dik Richie at Moon
Moon Nightclub | 10:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
A Night to Honor Israel at the Cashman Theatre
Cashman Convention Center | 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
Ladies night at Feelgoods
Feelgoods
-
Sin City Sinners at VooDoo Lounge
VooDoo Steak & Lounge
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati






