U.S. Department of the Interior
Office of the Secretary

Jana Prewitt (202)208-2528


For Release:February 27, 1996

Deputy Interior Secretary John Garamendi today issued the following statement:

"The proposed transfer of federal land at Ward Valley for a low-level radioactive waste facility without prudent and sensible environmental testing and monitoring is a bad idea, and the Clinton Administration must oppose it."

"At a time when we should be working together to ensure that we have all necessary scientific information about Ward Valley to build public confidence, some in Congress would run the other direction and engineer a land transfer that leaves too many questions unanswered."

"The proponents of the LLRW project at Ward Valley have done nothing to build public confidence in this site--they even opposed the National Academy of Sciences review of the site. If there's one thing we've learned in this process, it's that every time the proponents of this facility seek to avoid public review, it only serves to further undermine public confidence in the site, the operator, and the process."

"There are cost-effective alternatives available today to dispose of waste in Utah and South Carolina. Our approach does not delay the Ward Valley project any longer than common sense and scientific investigation suggest is necessary."

"Let's do the job right, move forward on the basis of thorough scientific review and monitoring while addressing legitimate public health and safety questions tied to this facility."