(Washington D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray released the following statement in response to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) establishment of a new Under Secretary for Management and Performance position with oversight of the Office of Environmental Management (OEM), shifting OEM oversight away from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
“Oversight and accountability are vitally important for costly and complex projects like the cleanup at the Hanford site, so I’m pleased that Secretary Moniz has taken action to create this new position to ensure federal funds are spent wisely and effectively.
“Since the Office of Emergency Management was first placed under NNSA oversight, I’ve been very concerned about prioritizing funding for the Hanford site against other NNSA projects, so I’m encouraged by the decision to shift OEM oversight responsibilities to this new position.
“Still, there’s much more work to be done to adequately remove dangerous waste from Hanford, and Secretary Moniz agrees that we must put in place a long-term, comprehensive plan for tank retrievals and the Waste Treatment Plant to accomplish that goal.”
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