Re: Ward Valley Politics Exposed

[Carolworth@aol.com]

October 22, 1997
CONTACT:  Carol Worth, 703-742-0017
Betsy Hite 916-687-8701	

POLITICAL COVERUP EXPOSED AT INTERIOR THROUGH FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST
(FOIA)  -- 
Documents Expose Interior Commitment To Kowtow To "Enviros"

A recently uncovered memo exposes Interior's blatant political bias against
California's efforts to dispose of radioactive waste.  In unprecedented
comments yesterday on the Senate floor, Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-AK), Chairman
of the Senate Energy Committee, denounced Department of Interior Deputy Sec.
John Garamendi for a Feb. 21, 1996 memo he wrote to Interior Sec. Bruce
Babbitt.  That memo promised to get Greenpeace off Babbitt's back, to "take
the high ground" with a PR campaign to discredit the proposed low-level
radioactive waste facility Ward Valley, and characterizes Gov. Pete Wilson as
"the venal toady of special interests."
	"I do not think Green Peace will picket you any longer.  I will maintain a
heavy PR campaign until the issue is firmly won," wrote Garamendi.
	The disclosure of the signed memo was a response to Murkowski's request to
Interior under the FOIA.  A similar October 1993 internal Interior memo on
"the politics of Ward Valley" stated: "I can imagine no scenario that allows
us to go forward with the land transfer and retain credibility with Senator
Boxer and the enviros."
	These recent revelations underscore the dire need for Babbitt to reclaim
control of this issue for which he has a long history of objectivity and
critical understanding on the safety of Ward Valley.


These documents cut through the veneer of Interior's public statements about
concerns for the science and safety of Ward Valley and expose the core of
political motivations for delaying the land transfer at Ward Valley.  
	"This is nothing more than a political and public relations game.  Sec.
Garamendi seems to be saying: Let's not worry about the waste or the danger
it may pose if nothing is done . . . let's just make the Governor look like a
‘parasite open to bribery,'" said Murkowski.  Meanwhile, permit requests,
additional testing and law suits continue.
	This month the State of California opted out of further negotiations with
Interior and will conduct its own additional tests at Ward Valley, while
continuing to pursue a legal remedy.  California is suing Interior to obtain
federal land for the site of a proposed low-level radioactive waste disposal
facility.  DOE has offered California the technical support of the Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to conduct its rain infiltration tests.
 The October 10, 1997, offer, which includes $60,000 for laboratory analysis,
would allow DOE to also share that data with Interior and the public, said
Ellen Livingston-Behan, Office of the Secretary of Energy.
	In September, in a proposed settlement of its law suit, California offered
to do joint State-Interior testing at the proposed site if it is tied to an
Interior commitment to transfer the land.  Interior has rejected that offer
and has not budged from their insistence that the test protocols be part of a
lengthy public review (delay).  They further insist test results be included
in an additional Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), which
the General Accounting Office found legally unjustified, unnecessary, and
Interior lacking in "criteria and expertise."
	On September 4, 1997, California's Department of Health Services (DHS)
submitted an application for a permit to conduct an additional study of
rainfall infiltration at the proposed low-level radioactive waste disposal
site, in spite of the fact that the National Academy of Sciences said such
testing could be done during construction as the results were necessary only
for monitoring.  
	At the July Senate Energy Committee Hearing, the GAO witness made clear: "It
is important to note that the tests are not intended to solve the suitability
question.  Rather, they are intended to enhance the site monitoring once the
facility is operating. That is why 15 of the 17 panel members concluded that
the tritium tests could be done while the facility is constructed."  Interior
refuses to consider these findings.  
	On September 24, 1997 Interior stated that "We are moving ahead to process
the application expeditiously."  But are they?  The transparent memos,
earlier demands for joint testing, no transfer agreement, public review of
protocols and the second SEIS prove otherwise.  
	The California Radioactive Materials Management Forum (Cal Rad) hopes to
vault frustrations with Interior.  Cal Rad supports California's DHS and Gov.
Pete Wilson in their efforts to obtain the land at Ward Valley to develop the
scientifically-proven safe facility.
	"These political delays are insane.  Interior's games prove they have no
serious interest in any scientific or health safety issues.  It's about
politics.  Cal Rad's and the state's extensive cooperation, a GAO Report, NRC
criticism and the Senate Hearing have been consistently ignored by Garamendi.
 We will continue to support the testing permit process, the lawsuit against
Interior and Sen. Murkowski's legislative efforts to transfer the land," said
Alan Pasternak, Cal Rad Technical Director.
	"The Ward Valley disposal project has been cleared for 30 years of operating
a disposal facility on 70 acres of land.  Now Interior wants a duplicative,
extensive environmental assessment for a testing program which involves only
one acre and a few weeks time," said Pasternak.  
	There is a hearing Thursday Oct. 23 in the DC District Court on the federal
Government's motions to dismiss and to change venue.