[CPEO-MEF] Government temporarily delays cleanup at contaminated Bomarc site

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

New Jersey
NEWSDAY
Government temporarily delays cleanup at contaminated Bomarc site
June 24, 2003, 2:48 AM EDT

PLUMSTED, N.J. -- The ongoing removal of plutonium-tainted soil from the
Bomarc missile site has been put on hold after officials determined that
an additional 1,300 cubic yards of soil must be removed.

The Air Force _ which is spearheading the cleanup _ said Monday that the
extra work will cost $2 million and, under federal contracting rules,
that money will not be available for a few weeks. The cleanup, due to be
completed by the end of July, will now likely resume later this summer.

Soil testing conducted under the existing $9.3 million contract found
enough plutonium particles underground to justify the additional
excavation in a drainage ditch that leads off the missile site. It was
tainted in 1961 when a missile shelter fire destroyed a missile and its
nuclear warhead, scattering a few ounces of plutonium.

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