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Nuclear Watch files suit against Los Alamos Lab

Staff Report

Nuclear Watch of New Mexico, an environmental watchdog group, filed a lawsuit in federal court last week seeking to block construction of a biohazard research facility at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The suit alleges that an analysis of environmental, health and safety impact has not been properly conducted.

The analysis, which is required by law, was carried out as an environmental assessment, as opposed to an Environmental Impact Statement, a much more detailed study.

The new building will be a "biological safety level-3" facility researching biological agents such as anthrax and the bubonic plague.

Construction on the Department of Energy building was scheduled to begin in September.

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"The current environmental review for Los Alamos National Laboratory's advanced biohazard facility is grossly inadequate, falling far short of legal requirements," Jay Coghlan, director of Nuclear Watch of New Mexico, said in a press release. "Los Alamos National Laboratory and Department of Energy have avoided the 'hard look' at issues of critical public interest that the National Environmental Policy Act requires."

The group points toward recent security issues at the national laboratory, such as the Wen Ho Lee case and the decision to move tons of nuclear material to a more secure location, as reasons for concern.

The suit also requests the Department of Energy to complete an environmental review of its entire biological program, including an analysis of a similar nuclear weapons research lab in Livermore, Calif.

According to the National Environmental Policy Act, federal agencies are required to analyze potential environmental impacts of "major federal actions."

"We are not against enhanced national defenses against bioterrorism - in fact, we think they are urgently needed," said Colin King, Nuclear Watch of New Mexico research director, in a press release distributed by the group. "What we seek with this action is a greater level of public review so that safety, security and appropriate program transparency are better assured."

Nuclear Watch of New Mexico is a group that works to provide information to the public regarding nuclear issues in New Mexico and the southwest. The group also is dedicated to curbing the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

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