News from Washington.

[gkripke@Essential.ORG]

Posting from Gawain Kripke <gkripke@Essential.ORG>

News flash: Rumors are circulating that legislation will soon be offered
to exempt the Department of Energy's Hanford facility from all
environmental laws. According to sources, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA-San
Diego), who chairs the Subcommittee on Military Procurement of the House
National Security Committee, will introduce the legislation at a
Subcommittee markup next Tuesday, May 23. 

The Hanford site in Washington State is the largest and most costly
cleanup in the Department of Energy. The facility was used for fuel
fabrication (nuclear), irradiation, chemical separation and other aspects
of the nuclear weapons program. 

According to my sources, most Washington officials oppose exempting
Hanford from environmental laws including Senators Gorton (R) and Murray
(D) and Governor Mike Lowery (D). However, Rep. Richard "Doc" Hastings, a 
freshman Republican who represents the Hanford area has not taken a 
public position. Rep. Hastings sits on the House National Security 
Committee. If he opposes the legislation it would likely be defeated. 
His phone number in Washington is 202/225-5816, fax: 202/226-3251.

I thought you might be interested.

Gawain Kripke
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH
Internet: gkripke@essential.org