EPA official won’t weigh in on radiation

Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2001 | 10:20 a.m.

Environmental Protection Agency Ombudsman Robert Martin has concluded that he does not have the authority to investigate radiation exposure limits set by the federal government as they relate to the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.

The EPA, by law, is responsible for setting exposure standards, which must be met by the Energy Department.

Martin, in a Sept. 10 letter to Nevada officials, environmentalists and nuclear industry executives, said pending lawsuits challenging the radiation standards preclude him from intervening at this time.

The Nuclear Energy Institute, the state of Nevada and several environmental groups filed suit immediately after the EPA issued the final standards on June 13. The lawsuits challenge groundwater standards, as well as determined radiation limits.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., on May 2 asked Martin to investigate EPA's process regarding the radiation standards.

Michael O'Donovan, a spokesman for Berkley, said today that the congresswoman is not satisfied with the ombudsman's conclusion and believes the EPA pressured the independent investigator to abandon an investigation. Berkley was observing the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah and was not available for comment.

Martin was ill and at home this week and could not be reached.