Now, the latest story on the WIPP fiasco (radioactive waste isolation pilot plant) reports that the state of New Mexico is levying $54 million in penalties against the U.S. Department of Energy for its mismanagement of the WIPP facility, resulting in a leak of radioactive materials in February.
As I originally wrote in my blog back in February and May (go to http://benfranklinexclusive.weebly.com/bens-blog-archives to read the original stories), this whole WIPP issue is another potential Three Mile Island in the making. It’s a story that I predicted could go viral, because of the seriousness of this thing you 21st century people call nuclear radiation.
Up to now, the reports out of New Mexico have been conveniently buried, ignored, or forgotten by news media outside of the Southwest. If this had happened in a Philadelphia suburb, I assure you that it would be headline news in newspapers, radio and TV, and web news outlets all over the country.
Perhaps now, with the fines announced by New Mexico, this story will finally achieve wider coverage in the press.
Interestingly, this also has a bit of a “David and Goliath” theme to it – the poor little state of New Mexico, often unnoticed and underserved, is daring to stand up against the all-powerful Department of Energy, which has been responsible for this country’s nuclear weapons program.
We shall see what transpires. The lid is now off on the long-time coverup!
Your humble servant,
B.Franklin