Senator Lincoln Trying To Get Money To Clean Up Former Nuclear Reactor In Northwest Arkansas

U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln is once again seeking federal help to decontaminate and decommission a former nuclear reactor known as SEFOR in northwest Arkansas. Lincoln has introduced federal legislation that would direct the Secretary of Energy to decommission and decontaminate the Southwest Experimental Fast Oxide Reactor, which is contaminated with resi dual radiation, liquid sodium, lead, asbestos, mercury, and PCBb s, as well as a multitude of other environmental contaminants and explosive chemicals. Lincoln`s s measure authorizes federal funding to clean up the site in the amount of $16 million. The SEFOR site is an experimental nuclear reactor located near Strickler, Arkansas. It was built by the Southwest Atomic Energy Associates, a consortium of investor-owned electric utilities, and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission fo r testing liquid metal fast breeder reactor fuel. SEFOR began operations in 1969 and was permanently shut down in 1972. After the reactorb s useful life, the ownership of the site was transferred to the University of Arkansas. Lincoln has attempted similar legislation over the last six years. It has never come to fruition for a variety of reasons.