DOE to speed up Test Site cleanup
Friday, May 31, 2002 | 9:33 a.m.
Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham announced plans on Thursday to clean up contamination 10 years sooner than expected at the Nevada Test Site, where the federal government conducted nuclear weapons experiments for 41 years.
The department has requested an extra $33 million for the 2003 budget, Abraham said. If Congress approves the cleanup budget, the Test Site would receive $94 million next year.
"This agreement provides the framework necessary to accelerate cleanup, and it is a major step to effectively reduce health risks and expedite the environmental cleanup of the Nevada Test Site," Abraham said.
The National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Operations Office and Nevada officials signed a letter pushing to accelerate the cleanup of the site, which is bigger than the state of Rhode Island and 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
Instead of finishing cleanup work in 2020, the Energy Department promises to complete it by 2010, Assistant Environmental Manager Carl Gertz said.
"Keep in mind that the funds still have to be appropriated by Congress," Gertz said.
Gov. Kenny Guinn hailed the extra funds, pointing out that the Bush administration's proposed budget had slashed Test Site cleanup funds from $85 million in 2001 to $61 million.
"Included in this $94 million program is continuation of the ground-water monitoring program at the Nevada Test Site, which is critical for the health and safety of Nevadans living in proximity to the Test Site," Guinn said.
Under the speedier cleanup plan, about 1,500 industrial sites contaminated during the above- and below-ground nuclear testing will be cleaned up two years sooner, the groundwater monitoring program will move ahead and soils contaminated with plutonium will be removed by 2010, Gertz said.
The Energy Department and state environmental officials have been at odds over the ground-water program. Independent scientists in 1998 said the department's proposed monitoring plan would fail to track contaminated water leaving the site.
Two years ago Guinn sought an additional $40 million for the ground-water tracking program alone. Congress did not approve the additional funds.
Nevada's agreement is the fourth reached under the Energy Department's accelerated cleanup program. The department has signed agreements at the Hanford nuclear site in Washington, Oak Ridge, Tenn., and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Live Blog: Pacquiao wins by TKO in round twelve
- Police seek man who stole $2,000 worth of clothing
- Clubs want to be ‘good citizen,’ so stripper-mobile ends its run
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao: The only fight fans want to see
- Nuclear plant in Ely could complicate radioactive waste, water issues
- Now we can all see Islamic extremism for what it truly is
- Small city struggles with shocking allegations
- Bruised and battered, Cotto says he will fight again
- Ensign Federal Credit Union fails
- Manny Pacquiao says he feels stronger than ever
Blogs
Elsewhere
Dana White continues to push for event in Abu Dhabi
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Harry Reid is powerful for Northern Nevada, too!
The Kats Report
New face of Monte Carlo includes all the faces of Caliendo
The Greene Room
Predicting this weekend's Mountain West football slate (2 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 11: Child's play
Miech Again
UNLV prez Smatresk is ready for some basketball (11 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Harry Reid's fourth TV ad begins running today
Calendar »
- 15 Sun
- 16 Mon
- 17 Tue
- 18 Wed
- 19 Thu
-
Actor's Expo at Rave Motion Pictures
Rave Motion Pictures Town Square 18 | 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
-
Lily Tomlin at the Hollywood Theatre
Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand
-
Neil Sedaka at the Orleans
Orleans Hotel-Casino
-
Supernatural Santana – A Trip Through the Hits at The Joint
The Joint
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati





