RENO, Nev. (AP) - Nevada officials say they have "grave concerns" over a U.S. Energy Department proposal to store up to 17,000 tons of mercury at the Hawthorne Army Depot.
The 150,000-acre depot in the small, struggling desert town 130 miles south of Reno is among seven sites that the department is considering.
"We have very grave concerns with this proposal," said Allen Biaggi, director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. "We're certainly going to make our concerns about this material known through the environmental review process."
The DOE is looking for storage sites because mercury exports from the U.S. will be banned beginning in 2013. A final site or group of sites will be named Jan. 1 as long-term storage areas for domestically produced mercury.
The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada also opposes shipping the mercury to Hawthorne, spokesman Launce Rake said.
"Nevada should not be the dumping ground for toxic wastes of any kind for the nation," Rake said. "Bringing in more toxic waste is not acceptable to the residents of our state."
Mercury has been linked to health concerns, including pulmonary and neural disorders.
Biaggi said Nevada already has done its share for the DOE and Defense Department as home of the Nevada Test Site, Tonopah Test Range, Fallon Naval Air Station, Nellis Air Force Base and the Hawthorne depot.
"I think it's time for another state to step up," he said, adding Nevada lacks veto power over the plans.
The DOE is accepting public comments through Aug. 17 as part of the environmental review process.
Separate Defense Department plans to ship 4,000 tons of mercury to the Hawthorne depot are pending.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment