James M. Talent: “My district in Missouri has a major FUSRAP site which contains nuclear contamination from the Manhattan Project and…”

“My district in Missouri has a major FUSRAP site which contains nuclear contamination from the Manhattan Project and other hazardous waste. For 15 years, we have worked with the Department of Energy to clean up this site. Finally, in just the past 2 weeks, after much frustration and delay, we have come to the point where DOE has begun preliminary cleanup efforts. Given this recent progress, the news of the FUSRAP program's transfer out of DOE has, quite understandably, caused a great deal of distress in the community. While we are by no means questioning the corps' ability to handle the FUSRAP project, we are concerned that potential delays caused by the transfer will undo much of the recent progress. With site recommendations already made, feasibility studies concluded, and contracts let, it is important that the corps honor the preliminary groundwork laid by DOE in order to avoid any further delays.”