Conservationists Applaud Colorado River Protection Decision

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http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=45469

WASHINGTON, April 6 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Conservationists applauded Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman's announcement today that the Department of Energy intends to remove 12 million tons of radioactive waste from its current high-risk location on the banks of the Colorado River outside Moab, Utah. In April 2004, American Rivers named the Colorado River is the number 1 most endangered river in America, citing this and other pollution problems along the river. According to the Department of Energy, work could begin as early as the summer of 2005 and will take about ten years to complete. The estimated cost of the work will be around $400 million.

Rebecca R. Wodder, president of American Rivers, released the following statement:

"This is great news for both the people of Utah and the 25 million Americans who get their drinking water from the Colorado River downstream of the Atlas site.

"The people of the southwest will be able to sleep a little easier once the ticking atomic time bomb sitting on the banks of the Colorado River has been defused.

"It's taken about ten years to get to this point, but Secretary Bodman and the Department of Energy appear to have committed to doing this right.

"Today's announcement is a reminder that there is power in a movement, when Americans get together and raise their voices, our leaders respond.