Well, sort of. In the 90's the USAF did state that they had an "operating location" where classified work is carried out. Actually, acknowledgment would be stating what the official name of the base is, who commands it, and who the public information officer in charge is and how to contact them. You know, like every other military base and place where secret stuff happens. I think the USAF has painted itself into a corner on this issue and now are just going to sit there, it's not like anybody is going to compel them to do otherwise. Denying the existence of the base also neatly sidesteps torts, workman's comp claims, and EPA/OSHA regulations.
EPA/OSHA regulations
Denying the existence of the base also neatly sidesteps torts, workman's comp claims, and EPA/OSHA regulations.
Actually Navy, Marine and Army bases weren't any better at that time.
Well, they are not under scrutiny in this thread, but I'm sure you're right.. Their main objectives are on the opposite end when
it comes to the environment and life in general. But thats not a typical U.S thing, and applies to a lot of countries world wide.
Area 51: Secrets under the sun
If the USAF won't allow EPA or OSHA to get involved with A51 there is little that the latter two could, or would, realistically do to change that. It is one location out of thousands for them to worry about and no one important (in their eyes) is complaining about it.
Yes...Lazar went public with his claims in May of 1989.....to Knapp a reporter from LA.I remember watching TV shows at Area 51 for at least the last 10 years.....and knew there was a secret base there since the early 1990s.
There are environmental companies working at the Nellis Testing and Training Range......and numerous other military installations. Actually if a person was standing near where they were burning hazardous waste they'd know its not a good idea and accepted the risk.....it was common practice around the country in the 1960's and 1970s.
Having worked at numerous air force bases, a couple navy bases and marine corps air stations I know they are allowed.
Personally I think it's BS that they didn't help those injured by toxins from working there. They could have arranged something with the Judge and others to keep disclosure from the press and still paid for medical care for those men.
IMHO that was a poor excuse not to help. At that point everyone in the area around there and most of the people in the US knew of Nellis/Groom Lake Airforce base by then.
The monitoring and remediation will likely start now that it is acknowledged. But those same regulations are probably another reason that people should be kept out.....as the security forces are actually there to keep people safe from the radiation/hazardous waste and unexploded ordinance in the area immediately around the base itself.
Where I work we have annual FDA audits, ISO audits, and others and work under strict regulations...People cannot simply walk in our facility with cameras and selflocking doors but what we do there is no secret, it's needed security to keep people safe...
Even in the days when safety was not really in use people still knew that burning toxic fluids was not a healthy thing.
I dont understand why they dug these burn pits so close to the buildings and hangars. Its a large base,...
Also just pouring jet fuel over it and set it in fire is very crude., They should have chopped up the material in
little pieces feeding them to a high temperature controlled incinerator. Thats not even rocket science !
It was common practice in the 1960s to 1970s.