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US Energy Chief Announces
Probe Into Yucca Mountain Documents
17-03-2005 - US energy secretary
Samuel Bodman has announced an investigation to determine whether
documentation compiled in connection with the Yucca Mountain
repository project had been falsified.
In a statement issued on 16th March 2005, Mr Bodman said the
Department of Energy (DOE) had learned that “certain employees of the
US Geological Survey (USGS) at the Department of the Interior working
on the Yucca Mountain project may have falsified documentation of
their work”.
Mr Bodman said the documentation in question related to computer
modelling involving water infiltration and climate and is required as
part of the DOE’s and US Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) quality
assurance programmes that verify the accuracy and credibility of work
that has been completed.
“During the document review process associated with the licensing
support network preparation for the Yucca Mountain project, DOE
contractors discovered multiple e-mails written between May 1998 and
March 2000, in which a USGS employee indicated that he had fabricated
documentation of his work,” Mr Bodman said.
“The Department of Energy has initiated a scientific investigation of
the data and documentation that was part of this modelling activity.
If in the course of that review any work is found to be deficient, it
will be replaced or supplemented with analysis and documentation that
meets appropriate quality assurance standards to ensure that the
scientific basis of the project is sound. We are conducting a thorough
review of all work completed by the identified individuals to ensure
that other work was not affected.
“Additionally, we have informed the US Geological Survey and the State
of Nevada. We have initiated an evaluation to determine if the
systematic quality assurance improvements undertaken over the last
four years are sufficient to prevent the reoccurrence of a similar
situation. And we plan to re-emphasise to project personnel the
importance of strict adherence to quality assurance procedures.”
Mr Bodman said he had referred the matter to the DOE’s Office of
Inspector General for full investigation, adding: “The safe handling
and disposal of nuclear waste and the sound scientific basis for the
repository safety analysis are priorities for this administration and
the Department of Energy. All related decisions have been, and will
continue to be, based on sound science.
“The fact remains that this country needs a permanent geological
nuclear waste repository, and the administration will continue to
aggressively pursue that goal. We are committed to the safety and
protection of the citizens of Nevada as we pursue the development of
the Yucca Mountain project.”
The Yucca Mountain project hit a delay in July 2004 when a federal
appeals court declared void environmental standards for storage of
nuclear waste at the site. However, the DOE is expected to present a
licence application for the repository project to the NRC by the end
of 2005
Source:
United States Department Of Energy (DOE)
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