Whitfield Weighs in With DOE on Contaminated Waste Piles | News | Congressman Ed Whitfield

News | Congressman Ed Whitfield | United States Representative

Whitfield Weighs in With DOE on Contaminated Waste Piles December 5, 2006 WASHINGTON, December 5 - U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, on Tuesday wrote the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) expressing his concerns over newly discovered radioactive waste within the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant perimeter.

The letter, written to Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, asked the Secretary to ensure that all potentially radioactive-contaminated sites near the plant are identified and to assess the threat that the waste posed to public safety and health.

"We need to know the extent of the contamination at the site," said Whitfield. "It is very concerning to me that the waste was deposited nearly 30 years ago, yet no efforts were taken during that time to clearly identify the contamination or warn people about potential health hazards."

Early last month, DOE contractors identified a large dirt mound containing nearly 4,000 tons of radioactive waste soil near Little Bayou Creek on land DOE leased to state for wildlife management. The Kentucky Division of Waste Management is currently investigating the samples gathered during preliminary tests of the area to determine the extent of the contamination. The final analysis of the samples has not been completed.

"I have full confidence that the Energy Department will work in coordination with the Kentucky Division of Waste Management to accurately identify and assess the radioactive waste samples gathered near the plant," said Whitfield.

"I have asked the Secretary to keep me informed as this process moves forward so that we can address the concerns on the ground in the most effective and expedient manner possible," he added.

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