[CPEO-MEF] NIF "Soaring Cost" report on web

[marylia@earthlink.net]

AND IT'S AVAILABLE ON TRI-VALLEY CAREs' WEB SITE. READ ON...

The Department of Energy (DOE) is keeping the full cost of its largest
construction project from Congress and the American people.  Tri-Valley
CAREs latest report reveals $1.5 billion in hidden costs of building the
National Ignition Facility (NIF) mega-laser.  That increases its price tag
from DOE's current estimate of $3.5 billion to $5 billion.  DOE originally
told Congress the facility would be built for just $1.1 billion.

The report titled, "Soaring Cost, Shrinking Performance: The Status of the
National Ignition Facility" was written by Dr. Robert Civiak, who spent 10
years as the federal Office of Management and Budget Program Examiner for
DOE's nuclear weapons programs, including the NIF.

* THE FULL REPORT CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM OUR WEB SITE AT www.igc.org/tvc *
OR, YOU MAY ORDER A PAPER COPY FROM OUR OFFICE.

Construction spending is just the tip of the NIF iceberg.  The study
reveals that a full account of the cost to build and operate NIF would come
to $32 billion -- six times DOE's original estimate.  Even at that price,
the NIF is not assured of ever meeting its design specifications.  The
report documents several serious technical problems, which DOE has yet to
resolve, despite years of effort.

The report was commissioned by Tri-Valley CAREs, a citizens group located
in Livermore, California, where the NIF is being built at DOE's Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory.  Tri-Valley CAREs funded the study after DOE
ignored numerous calls for an independent assessment of the NIF.

The soaring cost and shrinking performance of the NIF reduces its cost
effectiveness by a factor of nine and strengthens the argument that the
facility is not worth its huge price tag.

We request your help to stop this financially wasteful and
proliferation-provocative new nuclear weapons project. Contact us for more
information. And, enjoy our report!

Peace,
Marylia Kelley

To order:

Marylia Kelley
Executive Director,
Tri-Valley CAREs
(Communities Against a Radioactive Environment)
2582 Old First Street
Livermore, CA 94550
Phone: 1-925-443-7148
Fax: 1-925-443-0177
Web site: http://www.igc.org/tvc

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