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 April 1, 2004 POGO's Statement Regarding DOE's Movement of Los Alamos Nuclear Materials |
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 For Immediate ReleaseContact: Beth Daley or Eric Miller (202) 347-1122 or email beth@pogo.org Late yesterday, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it will move special nuclear materials from TA-18 at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) beginning in September of this year (click here to see the DOE release). Because it is located at the bottom of a canyon, it is virtually impossible to properly defend nuclear materials at TA-18. Although former DOE Secretary Bill Richardson had ordered these materials moved by 2004, the process had stalled. The Project On Government Oversight's (POGO) Executive Director Danielle Brian stated, "POGO applauds Secretary Spencer Abraham for jump-starting this process and cutting through the bureaucracy. Moving materials out of vulnerable sites is a significant step toward enhanced homeland security." Ms. Brian added, "This move is a big win-win for DOE. It will not only significantly increase national security, but will also save taxpayer's about $30 million dollars a year." POGO encourages DOE to move all of the weapons grade nuclear materials out of TA-18 by the end of the 18 month campaign. In October 2001, POGO released its report, U.S. Nuclear Weapons Complex: Security At Risk which recommended moving weapons grade nuclear materials out of TA-18 as well as several other steps to improve security in the nation's nuclear weapons complex. In January 2004, Ms. Brian and POGO's Senior Investigator Peter Stockton met with Secretary Abraham to discuss TA-18 as well as recommendations to increase security at other sites in the nuclear weapons complex. POGO investigates, exposes, and seeks to remedy systemic abuses of power, mismanagement, and subservience by the federal government to powerful special interests. Founded in 1981, POGO is a politically-independent, nonprofit watchdog that strives to promote a government that is accountable to the citizenry. # # #
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