House panel wants independent probe of Yucca Mountain allegations

Washington (Platts)--5Apr2005

A House government reform panel will call for the creation of an 
independent special commission to investigate allegations that a U.S. 
Geological Survey (USGS) hydrologist falsified Yucca Mountain documents 
between 1998 and 2000. Rep. Jon Porter (R-Nev.), who chairs the 
Subcommittee on Federal Workforce & Agency Organization, said at a 
subcommittee hearing today which he envisioned a commission would be 
modeled after the Kemney Commission that investigated the 1979 accident at 
Three Mile Island-2. Porter repeated the state's assertion that the DOE 
repository project at Yucca Mountain, Nev. should be halted until the 
outside probe is complete and said he would recommend to House 
appropriators that the program's fiscal 2006 funding reflect a halt in all 
work. The allegations, which surfaced in a review of USGS e-mails, involve 
quality assurance documentation on USGS water infiltration and climate 
studies at the site. USGS scientists involved in the allegations will 
testify at a subcommittee hearing April 13.

Copyright © 2005 - Platts

Please visit:  www.platts.com

Their coverage of energy matters is extensive!!.