EPA ombudsman pledges to examine radiation standards

Thursday, May 24, 2001 | 11:24 a.m.

The Environmental Protection Agency's ombudsman has promised to re-examine radiation exposure standards proposed for Yucca Mountain, if it is approved as the nation's nuclear waste repository.

Ombudsman Robert Martin agreed to start a preliminary investigation after meeting with Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., on Wednesday, a congressional spokesman said.

The EPA's ombudsman is independent of the agency. Martin can investigate citizen complaints and mediate disputes between the public and the government. The ombudsman does not, however, have authority to change an EPA rule.

Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, is the lone site under study by the Department of Energy for burying 77,000 tons of commercial spent fuel and defense nuclear wastes.

Martin's office confirmed the decision to review the radiation limits.

The EPA last year proposed a total radiation limit of 15 millirems that includes a 4-millirem standard for ground water. That is the same standard set for the DOE's Waste Isolation Pilot Project, a repository for plutonium pits built near Carlsbad, N.M. An average chest X-ray emits roughly 5 millirems.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission offered its own standard of 25 millirems without a separate limit on radiation in ground water. However, NRC officials have said they abide by the EPA's standard in licensing a repository at Yucca Mountain.

Nevada officials and dump opponents support the EPA's standard, because it could disqualify a repository at Yucca Mountain.

As President Clinton left office in January, the EPA sent its standard to the Office of Management and Budget, where it is being reviewed by the Bush administration. Bush officials could change the standard before it becomes a regulation.

While meeting with Martin, Berkley told him the entire process for setting the radiation standards had been compromised, her spokesman Michael O'Donovan said.

"She believes elements of the process have been corrupted," he said.

Before launching a formal investigation, Martin would likely meet with interested parties in Nevada from Gov. Kenny Guinn to ordinary citizens, an EPA spokesperson said.

The Bush administration has featured nuclear power in its national energy plans. A key to that is a solution to the nation's nuclear waste problem.