Letters to the editor-2021

To his credit, President Richard Nixon signed a bill which asserted that “America pays its debt to the past by reclaiming the purity of its air, its waters and our living environment.”

The resultant 1969 National Environmental Policy Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency to prepare its own documents to ensure all federal agencies meet NEPA requirements when proposing new programs. Under Section 309 of the 1970 Clean Air Act, EPA is also required to review the environmental impact statements of federal agencies' proposed project  for the Savannah River Site (SRS) and comment on their environmental impact adequacy and acceptability.

The plutonium pit production program, a Department of Energy plan currently proposed for the Savannah River Site, is subject to NEPA requirements for environmental impact studies and EPA reviews. The status of the program is confusing, varying in its scope, timelines and funding. As such, DOE and EPA should hold a joint meeting in Aiken for the general public to make transparent all studies, documents, ongoing and planned actions of the program.

Venue and space for the meeting should be convenient and notice of the meeting should be given well in advance. The meeting agenda should also provide adequate time for all public questions and comments.

Dr. Rose O. Hayes

Aiken


Similar Stories

RAFAH, Gaza Strip — The U.N. food agency says “famine is imminent” in northern Gaza, where 70% of the remaining population is experiencing catastrophic hunger. It says a further escalation of the war could push around half of Gaza’s total population to the brink of starvation. The alarming report came as Israel faces mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and open more crossings. The European Union’s top diplomat said the impending famine was “entirely man-made” as “starvation is used as a weapon of war.” Israeli forces, meanwhile, launched another raid on the Gaza Strip’s largest hospital, saying it killed a Hamas commander who was hiding there. Read moreUN says 'famine is imminent' in northern Gaza as Israel launches another raid

The SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare will hold a workshop titled Furry Friends, Fun and Foster: How You Can Help Local Animals in Need at 1 p.m. today at Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 E. Pine Log Road. The program will be a field trip to the Albrecht Center. For more information or to register, call 803-648-5447 ext. 0 or visit aikensenior.org/programming. Read moreToday's events for March 19