Washington - U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) said today they are encouraged by the notification that an administrative panel under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a formal hearing on Shieldalloy Metallurgical Corporation's plan to leave radioactive waste in Newfield, New Jersey (notification attached). The company, which is uprooting itself from New Jersey in order to move to Brazil, hopes to be able to cover the waste pile with soil and fence it off for 1,000 years, rather than removing the waste and fully cleaning the site.

The lawmakers, who have officially requested hearings and public meetings from the NRC on the Shieldalloy case, said today that the announcement is a positive development for the health and well being of the citizens of New Jersey.

"It is my belief that when the administrative panel and the federal government take a good look at the company's plan, their idea to skip town without cleaning up after themselves will be fully exposed," said Sen. Menendez. "A company should never be allowed to get out of town and leave behind radioactive waste as a parting gift. Polluters should be responsible for cleaning up their messes. It's just common sense, especially when the health and well-being of New Jersey citizens are involved. The nearby residents still have many unresolved concerns, but today at least we have some progress."

"This is a welcome development, but the bottom line is that we have radioactive waste that must be removed as soon as possible," said Sen. Lautenberg. "We will not be satisfied until all of this material is gone."

An Atomic Safety Licensing Board established by the NRC is presiding over the SMC case.

Previous Menendez/Lautenberg actions:

January 25, 2007 - http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=268013&

September 28, 2006 - http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=263976

September 19, 2006 - http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=263245

# # #