Nation IN BRIEF / ASHINGTON, D.C. : Workers Question Nuke Plant Safety

Workers at a uranium plant in Kentucky told lawmakers in Washington that for years managers withheld from them that they were being exposed to plutonium, telling them the uranium powder tainted with the dangerous metal was “safe enough to eat.” Several employees described working conditions at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant during the Cold War years. A House subcommittee is examining allegations of widespread health, safety and environmental violations at the Energy Department plant, which has processed enriched uranium since 1952. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson said last week that he will ask Congress to compensate thousands of workers who became ill from radiation. The compensation, which may be expanded to two other similar plants if problems are confirmed there, may cost up to $20 million, officials have estimated.