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The firing of Dick French

From: "Lynn Porter"
To: "Hanford Watch mailing list"
Subject: [hanfordwatch] The firing of Dick French
Date sent: Tue, 1 Aug 2000

I'm still wondering why French didn't know the vitrification plant design was only 13 percent complete in May, when it was supposed to be 30 percent. After almost 2 years of design work. Can anyone explain that to me? Or did he know, but thought that was okay?

The question that Gerry Pollet has raised is also still pending -- can a vitrification plant construction contract be awarded based on the limited amount of design that has been done?

Then there is the issue of releasing enough information about the project so that regulators and the public can judge whether enough progress is being made.

Finally, what about public involvement? To me that means large public meetings in cities around the Northwest. There haven't been any on the tank waste project in years. Is anyone on the public side pushing for such meetings? If so, why aren't they happening? We cannot avoid these questions.


Tri-City Herald editorial
July 31, 2000
French remains right for tough challenge