P.M. BRIEFING : Arms Complex Cleanup Bill to Rise

The cost of cleaning up radioactive and toxic wastes at the government’s 12-state nuclear weapons complex will probably exceed the official $63-billion estimate, a senior Energy Department official told Congress today.

Raymond P. Berube, deputy assistant secretary for environment, said a firm estimate for cleanup costs is not yet possible because the department is uncertain how badly the environment has been damaged at many of the weapons plants. “There’s a strong chance that these costs will go higher” than $63 billion, he said, adding that projected costs proably will escalate as more detailed information is learned about the extent of the soil and ground water contamination.