The $30 Million Question
That $30 million figure to dispose of the three Russian subs sounds even more ludicrous when you consider that the proposed figure for "environmental cleanup" at Groton has been set at $24 million.I've got to believe that the cost of the disposal of three hot nuclear reactors (and the submarines they once propelled) has got to be way more than the cost of the cleanup job required if Groton is, in fact, closed. It isn't like the Navy's going to leave a bunch of mothballed nuclear vessels behind when/if the shutdown happens.
If you choose to believe the politicos (stop laughing) like Jodi Rell, who said of the Groton cleanup number, “I made the comment that they were off at least one zero in that calculation, and possibly two*,” then that $30 million number sounds like even more of a sweetheart deal.
Please let me know if I've wandered too far into "you don't know what you're talking about" territory here.
*Two zeroes? Come on. I'm all for the base staying where it is, but let's have respect for everyone's intelligence Governor Rell. I cannot fathom a $2 billion cleanup number unless the Navy secretly started tossing live nuclear reactors into the river without anyone noticing. Make your case, but keep it real, OK?
posted by Alex Nunez @ 9:18 AM
1 Comments:
Check out the 15 Superfund link on PigboatSailor's "Sub Force drawdown" blog. The Groton base is small, the Thames has been monitored downriver for decades, there are no UXO and there has been very high environmental consciouness since the advent of SSNs in the late 50s. As the misnamed Superfund Link shows, most of the identified contamination has either been cleaned up to "residential standards" or has "no action required." There is usually some unknown contamiation identified at closure, but the budgeted $24 million is probably adequate. The Gov seems to be posturing politically.
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