[CPEO-BIF] The Role of Local Governments in Long-Term Stewardship

[StellaVB@aol.com]

I just read the e-mail regarding the aforementioned subject matter.  My 
concerns revolve around any site that is contaminated with chemicals.

The suggestions for the study, like 'DOE, EPA, state, local and tribal local 
governments work together to employe the most effective long-term 
stewardship strategies' or that 'local governments have the legal authority 
to implement many legal controls that can be used to protect human health 
and the environment, more effective cooperation between the DOE and local 
governments is needed', sounds good but my question is how is this going to 
be done?  I've worked with the Clark County local government on the Camp 
Bonneville issues and the main concern always revolves around money.  The 
military will say 'we have no cleanup money', if I read this right, DOE is 
saying they have no cleanup money and this is what local governments are 
also saying.  I could pose the question, 'where is all the taxpayers money 
going' but that would open up a whole other discussion/debate/argument! :)  
Beyond the issue of money (Clark County couldn't even afford 'security 
measures' around Camp Bonnevill!
e's 3800 acres and neither could
 the Army and this had nothing to do with cleanup measures!) how does local 
government add to their already overworked caseload in terms of total 
understanding the hazards of these sites, the extreme severity of harm they 
pose and emergency procedures in a timely manner?  Anyone who reads these 
types of listservers knows the response to emergency issues are not exactly 
a top priority on these sites once the site is turned over to a new owner or 
the original owner is trying to sell it off.

I don't mean to put a damper on these types of studies but it seems 
regardless of the 'entity' taking control or giving control, money is the 
number #1 and everyone 'screams' we do not have enough.  The other issue 
surrounds the seriousness of these sites in regards to the health and safety 
of the public and environment.  The entities who are turning over these 
properties understand this quite well.  It is not reasonable to expect the 
new owners to begin to comprehend this!

Take Care,
Stella Bourassa


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