Department of Energy challenges $54M in fines over nuke dump
Source: Associated Press
28 minutes ago
CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Energy is contesting more than $54 million in fines, the largest penalty levied by New Mexico for numerous violations that resulted in the indefinite closure of the nation's only underground nuclear waste repository.
The Energy Department and the contractors paid to operate the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and Los Alamos National Laboratory said Friday that they want a hearing on the matter, according to a statement.
Federal officials described the penalty as "capricious" and want it to be either reduced or forgiven. But the Energy Department also expressed a desire for more hearings about how to address operational issues at both facilities.
"We look forward to addressing the underlying causes that led to the compliance orders and to developing a positive path forward for the re-opening of WIPP and the resumption of transuranic waste operations at LANL," the Energy Department said in its written statement.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/department-energy-challenges-54m-fines-over-nuke-dump-214313472.html
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