The Nation : Uranium Facility Too Perilous for EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency has barred its employees from visiting the government’s uranium processing facility in Ohio because of the risk of exposure to radioactivity, a spokeswoman confirmed. EPA Regional Administrator Valdas Adamkus, in a letter last week, said tests showed that agency personnel were exposed to uranium oxide when they went to the Feed Materials Production Center at Fernald and that no EPA personnel would go to the site “until this health risk can be satisfactorily addressed.” Adamkus’ letter was obtained by the investigative staff of Rep. Thomas A. Luken (D-Ohio), who said he was upset that the EPA did not notify Fernald workers about the uranium oxide exposure threat. EPA spokeswoman Ann Rowan said Adamkus discussed the issue with an official of the Energy Department, which is in charge of the plant. The two agreed to meet again on the subject but no date was set.