Calif sues US over LLW dump

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@ix.netcom.com>]

This article is provided by UPI News Service.
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 WASHINGTON, Jan. 31  -- The state of California has taken the 
Clinton administration to court over a planned low-level nuclear waste
site in the Mojave Desert. 
 The state wants U.S. District Court in Washington to order transfer 
of the federal land to California control so it can proceed with work
on the dump. 
 California Health Director Kim Belshe said the U.S.  
Department of Interior has been dragging its feet since 1993 on 
transferring 1,000 acres for the Ward Valley site near Needles, in San
Bernardino County. 
 The Clinton administration approved transfer of the land in January 
1993, then backed off, citing the need for further environmental
health studies. 
 The Interior Department also returned the $500,000 paid for the land 
 by U.S. Ecology, the disposal company that has contracted to build 
the dump. 
 Federal law requires the states to establish regional sites for 
disposing of low-level nuclear waste, which is the byproduct of
medical, scientific and other processes. Waste includes protective
gowns, gloves and test tubes used during routine medical procedures. 
 Such material currently is stored on small sites throught the state 
or is shipped to a dump in South Carolina. 

Sandy Perle
Technical Director
ICN Dosimetry Division
Office: (800) 548-5100 x2306 
Fax: (714) 668-3149

E-Mail: sandyfl@ix.netcom.com    

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