[CPEO-MEF] Lockheed-American Beryllium background, Tallevast (FL)

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Tallevast plume history

Donna Wright
Bradenton Herald (FL)
June 4, 2006

Visioneering, a local machine shop, opened in Tallevast in 1948. By 1960 
Visioneering had changed its name to American Beryllium Company. 
American Beryllium became a subsidiary of Loral Corp., a high-tech 
company with federal contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense and 
U.S. Department of Energy.

An important link in nation's defense and nuclear research programs 
during its operation from 1961 through 1996, the American Beryllium 
Company recruited top flight machinists from around the world to make 
parts for nuclear weapons and reactors as well as space projects.

Lockheed Martin Corp. purchased the beryllium plant in 1996 in a 
corporate buyout of Loral. When Lockheed was preparing to sell the 
property in 2000, an environmental audit revealed a broken sump that had 
leaked cancer-causing chemicals and industrial solvents into surrounding 
soil and groundwater.

Although Lockheed informed county and state environmental officials 
about the plume, as required by law, the defense giant was not obligated 
to tell residents. They did not learn of the toxins in their backyard in 
the fall of 2003 when drilling rigs began to sink test wells in the 
community.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/breaking_news/14740463.htm

--


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org


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