Porter is expecting more Yucca documents to use in e-mail probe

Suzanne Struglinski

Friday, Sept. 9, 2005 | 9:59 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., expects another set of documents from the Energy Department today to use in his investigation of government worker e-mails that insinuate poor management and possible falsified information at the Yucca Mountain project.

It's unclear what documents Porter's committee will receive. The Energy Department would only say it continues to work with the committee and Porter staff members say they may be getting documents to comply with the subpoena issued in July.

Porter, R-Nev., is chairman of the House Federal Workforce and Agency Organization subcommittee that is conducting an investigation into the alleged employee fraud and mismanagement of the Energy Department's plan to store nuclear waste inside Yucca, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

The Energy Department announced in March that it discovered e-mails written by U.S Geological Survey employees working on water flows studies, a key component in determining the site's safety. The messages depict the employees' frustration with the department and procedures they had to follow. The inspectors general of the Energy and Interior departments also are conducting investigations.

House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., subpoenaed a list of 10 sets of documents from the Energy Department in July for Porter's investigation.

The department turned over 1,652 pages to the committee by the July 22 deadline but left out the draft license application and several other documents listed in the subpoena, including the project's draft license application.

Davis also subpoenaed USGS scientist Joe Hevesi to appear before Porter's subcommittee. Hevesi insisted at a hearing in June that he did not falsify any scientific information.