Reid seeks answers to Yucca dust

Suzanne Struglinski and Cy Ryan

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004 | 9:44 a.m.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., plans to call and write letters to Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and Environmental Protection Administrator Mike Leavitt this week to air his concerns on dust dangers to workers at Yucca Mountain.

Two state inspectors were scheduled today to inspect rock and dirt piles at Yucca Mountain to see if there is a hazard from dust blowing off piles of rock left from digging the massive tunnels where the Energy Department hopes to store highly radioactive waste.

The dust at Yucca Mountain became an issue last month when the Energy Department started screening for silicosis among workers who helped dig the current tunnels used for research. The silica in the rock can be dangerous if inhaled through dust.

Reid has said he thinks work at Yucca Mountain should stop until the state inspections are completed, his spokeswoman, Tessa Hafen, said this morning. She said the Energy Department has not communicated with Reid since he expressed his concerns to the agency two weeks ago, and he may request Senate hearings on the subject.

"This is indicative of DOE's total disregard for anyone's health and safety in putting this project through," Hafen said.

"DOE keeps making assurances that this project is safe, yet they are not protecting their own workers. Silicosis is a 100 percent preventable disease and yet DOE is not the steps to prevent it."

Allen Biaggi, administrator of the state division, said Wednesday most of the debris from the tunnel is rock. He said his inspectors will determine if there is a potential for dust if the wind comes up.

He said because the site is remote from any community, the public is not endangered. But blowing dust could affect the health of workers at the site.

"Nobody would be at risk except the workers," he said.

"If there is a problem, we will request they take action," Biaggi said. He said the federal agency could plant vegetation over the soil and rock, place a crust on it so it doesn't blow, put a cover on it or keep it watered.

Asked how the inspectors would know if there is a problem if there is no wind, Biaggi said they will be able to determine if there are particles that could be carried away by a breeze.

Energy Department spokesman Allen Benson said the government does has a dust suppression program and monitors the area. "Let's see what the state inspectors find," Benson said.