DOE To Release List of Nuclear Sites

Sept. 18, 2000
The Department of Energy will release the names of hundreds\r\nof private companies that processed radioactive and toxic material\r\nfor the U.S. nuclear weapons program in the 1940s and 50s.

The Department of Energy (DOE) will release the names of hundreds of private companies that processed radioactive and toxic material for the U.S. nuclear weapons program in the 1940s and 50s.

A public database is being developed that will account for the work done by commercial facilities that had classified contracts or subcontracts with the weapons program.

DOE is reversing decades of government secrecy amid demands from Capitol Hill for a full disclosure of the sites involved.

The initial list is expect to be available some time this week, however, specific information on the scope and dates of work at each site will not be available at that time.

The identity of a few dozen commercial properties where contractors processed weapons material was kept a secret despite the fact that many of the federal plants and labs involved in the weapons work were well know.

Lawmakers called for disclosure of the information following the release of a series of stories by USA Today that found that roughly 300 private companies were secretly hired to do nuclear weapons work that exposed workers to extreme levels of radiation and chemical hazards, usually without their knowledge.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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