And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1998 01:25:12 EST >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: [DOEWatch] DOE, activist groups settle suit > >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Source: ><A HREF="http://www.oakridger.com/stories/121598/new_1215980020.html"> >http://www.oakridger.com/stories/121598/new_1215980020.html >======================================================= >December 15, 1998 > >DOE, activist groups settle suit > >by Larisa Brass >Oak Ridger staff > > The Department of Energy has settled a lawsuit with environmental activist >groups across the nation for a set of agreements that include more information >on cleanup activities, a $6.25 million fund for such groups to analyze DOE's >activities and an environmental analysis of how DOE plans to take long-term >care of cleanup problems. >The settlement includes the following: > >•DOE will set up a data base that contains all information on the >contamination of DOE sites nationwide. The information will be able to be >accessed via the Internet as well as through hard copies, said Hutchison. Two >public forums for stakeholders will guide DOE in the process. >•A $6.25 million fund will provide technical assistance to groups like OREPA >in reviewing cleanup activities on the DOE reservations. >Groups will apply for the money, said Hutchison, which will be available only >to organizations not supported by other government money. >•DOE -- working with the public -- will conduct a study on the long-term >management of its facilities. > >"I think it's a pretty big deal for everybody," said Ralph Hutchison, >coordinator for the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, one of 39 groups >involved in the lawsuit. "I think it's a win for the public. It's a win for >the community." > DOE officials also touted the virtues of the settlement. > "We are proud of this settlement and believe that the settlement represents >a victory for the public and for the environment," said Mary Anne Sullivan, >DOE general counsel, in an official statement. "The settlement reflects this >administration's commitment to find creative approaches to settling lawsuits >in ways that can serve a broad public good." > But it was a long time coming. > The environmental groups filed the lawsuit against DOE in 1989, when the >agency first began looking at cleaning up the waste over 40 years -- and after >a world war and a cold war -- in the making. > In 1990, DOE agreed to do environmental analyses on the prospective >cleanup. > But in 1997, the groups took DOE back to court for failing to complete the >environmental impact statement, and the two sides began to work out a >settlement agreement. > "I would call it a very hard won settlement," said Hutchison. > "I think everybody has agreed across the board that long-term stewardship >is a problem ... almost everyone can agree on," said Hutchison. > And Judge Stanley Sporkin, who tried and decided the case, will continue to >monitor DOE, said Hutchison, making sure the government keeps its promises. > "He does not want to see us back in his courtroom," he said. > ====================================================== > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >To unsubscribe from this mailing list, or to change your subscription >to digest, go to the ONElist web site, at http://www.onelist.com and >select the User Center link from the menu bar on the left. > &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment ...http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ `"` `"` `"` `"` `"` `"`
