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The Secretary of Energy
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The Honorable Kenny C. Guinn This is in response to your letter concerning possible long-term risks to public health and the environment from past and ongoing activities at the Nevada Test Site. I agree that the underground Test Area (UGTA) program is the key means available to the Department and its stakeholders for developing a clearer understanding of the nature and extent of ground water contamination at the Nevada Test Site. We also agree that the Department and its stakeholders must continue to evaluate the UGTA program to assure that the data are sufficient to expand our understanding. Therefore, we are not reluctant to expand the program, as needed, to acquire more data that will improve predictive ground-water modeling capability and increase our mutual understanding of contaminant transport for the Nevada Test Site The Nevada Operations Office, through the Nevada Test Site Development Corporation, is actively coordinating cleanup activities to allow commercial reuse of certain portions of the Nevada Test Site. To create a productive environment for this effort, remediation activities funded by the Department's Office of Environmental Management (EM) and Defense Programs (DP) are now focused on those areas that present the greatest potential for development. We are aware of our stewardship responsibilities and are currently developing strategies and plans to address issues such as well and borehole management and disposition of excess facilities on the Nevada Test Site. Funding for DP remediation activities has become a higher priority with increased funding allocated to these activities in recent years. We remain hopeful that the trend can continue into the future. As a first step to address your concerns, I have asked the Department's Nevada Operations Office to continue working with the State of Nevada to determine precisely how we could productively apply additional funding resources, as they may become available, to the UGTA program and DP remediation efforts. However, as you stated in your letter, the central issue is the availability of additional funding. Since fiscal year 1995, the Nevada budget has increased over 50 percent while the overall EM budget has remained relatively stable. Further increases to the Nevada budget for environmental management activities will be very difficult considering the fiscal constraints on the Federal budget. The Department's fiscal year 2001 budget has been formulated and was submitted to Congress on February 7, 2000. However, I have asked the EM program to work with the Nevada Operations Office to review your request for more UGTA funding to determine what more resources are needed and the feasibility of transferring funds within the resources available at Nevada. The Department recognizes and supports important work at Nevada. We look forward to continuing to work cooperatively with the State of Nevada to reach accord on issues and concerns related to the Nevada Test Site. If you have further questions or concerns, please contact me or have a member of your staff contact Mr. John C. Angell, Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at 202-586-5450
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