[CPEO-MEF] Energy Department wildfire preparation

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Feds prepare for wildfires at nuke sites

By CHRISTOPHER SMITH/Associated Press
Jackson Hole Star-Tribune (WY)
July 14, 2006

BOISE, Idaho -- In the summer of 2000, wildfires raged across nuclear 
compounds in the West, destroying buildings, forcing the evacuation of 
highly secure labs and creating a health panic over harmful radioactive 
contaminants being dispersed by smoke.

After five quiet fire seasons, U.S. Department of Energy fire officials 
say they are better prepared as the potential for a fiery summer sequel 
increases.

"Our training has improved, we're more focused on restricting potential 
human sources and we've completed the evaluation of our areas of soil 
contamination, so we have a better understanding what the potential 
effects would be if a fire burns through one of those," said Eric 
Gosswiller, fire marshal for the 890-square-mile Idaho National 
Laboratory, a DOE nuclear research compound in Idaho's high southeastern 
desert.

Three huge wildfires roared across INL in July 2000, scorching nearly 
100 square miles inside the secure federal site, coming close to a test 
reactor and forcing emergency evacuations.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2006/07/14/news/regional/1848aab00d5b1962872571aa00633dc9.txt
--


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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