Re: [CPEO-MEF] Wildfire burning in Camp Hale--WW II UXO site

[petestrauss1@attbi.com]

Lenny:

I don't have an answer to your question, but since I deal with Lawrence 
Livermore National Lab, we raised a similar question in a recent public 
hearing.  DOE's response was weak: that extensive fire management 
activities took place at the site (i.e., controlled burns), contaminants 
were all contained and we should not worry.

Two years ago, there was an extensive fire at Los Alamos resulting from 
a controlled burn, and there was a fire at Hanford where elevated levels 
of plutonium were emitted. These incidents, together with your posting, 
seem to beg for a policy re: when and where federal land management 
agencies with extremely hazardous materials on site can ask for 
assistance from local firefighters, or must be required to fund their 
own firefighting crew. This is not only a current problem, but if these 
materials are left on-site after the facility is closed, becomes a 
serious long-term management issue.

Peter

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