Oak Ridge Today

April meeting in DC will focus on high-risk DOE buildings that aren’t needed

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U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann

Chuck Fleischmann

A meeting in Washington, D.C., in April will focus on high-risk excess facilities at U.S. Department of Energy cleanup sites, possibly including Oak Ridge.

The discussion could include Alpha-5, a 530,000-square-foot, World War II-era building at the Y-12 National Security Complex. It could include other buildings in Oak Ridge as well.

The House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus, a bipartisan caucus co-chaired by U.S. representatives Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican, and Ben Lujan, a New Mexico Democrat, will participate in the event. U.S. Assistant Energy Secretary Monica Regalbuto will outline DOE’s plans for deteriorating buildings that are a risk to public health and safety, a press release said. [Read more…]

Fleischmann and Luján to lead House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus

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Chuck Fleischmann, Mark Whitney, and Ben Ray Lujan

From left to right are Chairman Chuck Fleischmann, Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management Mark Whitney, and Co-Chairman Ben Ray Luján. (Submitted photo)

Chairman Chuck Fleischmann, a Tennessee Republican, and Co-Chairman Ben Ray Luján, a New Mexico Democrat, announced on Thursday that they will serve as co-chairs of the House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus, which held its first meeting of the 114th Congress to discuss the importance of raising awareness of environmental management issues.

Fifty years of government nuclear weapons development stemming from the Manhattan Project during World War II has affected communities across the nation and resulted in the need for environmental cleanup at numerous sites, a press release said.

“Our nation has a tremendous nuclear history, and with that has come an important nuclear cleanup mission,” said Fleischmann, who represents the city of Oak Ridge. “I am excited today to host the first meeting of the 114th Congress’ Nuclear Cleanup Caucus with co-chair Lujan and members from across the country who have districts that are impacted.  I also want to thank Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management Mark Whitney for taking part in this meeting. This Caucus will serve to promote the awareness of our nuclear legacy and build a stronger coalition to fight for the needs of our cleanup missions, and I am eager to get to work.” [Read more…]