AP: Military Range Cleanup Plan Sputters (It Could Take More Than 300 Yrs)

[Khephra]

AP: Military Range Cleanup Plan Sputters
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: January 16, 2004


Filed at 7:10 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Removing unexploded munitions and hazardous waste found so far on 15 million acres of shutdown U.S. military ranges could take more than 300 years, congressional auditors say.

In a report to Congress, the General Accounting Office said the Defense Department has yet to assess three-fifths of the 2,307 potentially contaminated sites identified as of September 2002 and has finished cleaning up only 1 percent of them. Some of the areas have been redeveloped for homes and parks.

The report, obtained by The Associated Press before its release, said the Pentagon ``does not yet have a complete and viable plan'' to guide its remaining cleanups. Assessments of the sites not yet examined in detail for possible explosive hazards, chemical warfare material and chronic health and environmental hazards won't be completed until 2012, the GAO said.

The department's latest estimate for the cleanups is anywhere from $8 billion to $35 billion. That's an increase from its previous estimate, little more than a year ago, of up to $20 billion.

more.................

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Military-Cleanups.html

[bobbieinok]

1. anyone think bushco plans to spend ANY money on cleanup?

'cleanup is what other people do'

not republicans.......not bush family

[lovedems]

2. They will let Halliburton do it. Look at the price tag.