George Washington University
Office of University Relations
Washington, DC 20052


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   MEDIA CONTACT: NORA KELLEY
   August 15, 1994                          (202) 994-3087


GW LAW PROFESSOR JONATHAN TURLEY FILES AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT OF 
DEFENSE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER AND AIR FORCE 
FOR VIOLATION OF FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
AT TOP SECRET AIR FORCE BASE
                                
     Washington, D.C. -- The George Washington University
National Law Center Professor of Environmental Law Jonathan
Turley, following an action filed against the EPA earlier this
month, filed suit today against the Department of Defense, the
National Security Advisor and the United States Air Force for
violations of federal environmental laws at a top-secret Air
Force base in Nevada.  This is the second in a series of legal
actions planned by Professor Turley.  Turley received assistance
in conducting the field investigation from the Project on
Government Oversight, a nonprofit watchdog organization located
in Washington, D.C.

     Turley is representing current and former workers at Area
51, a secret Air Force base in Nevada -- also known as Dreamland
or Groom Lake.  The suit alleges serious injuries, and at least
one death, to employees due to the burning of hazardous and toxic
wastes at the facility.  Turley's suit further alleges that
workers were denied requests for protective clothing -- including
gloves -- in handling hazardous wastes.  Turley is seeking to
represent the workers, who signed secrecy agreements upon
employment at the base, as "John and Jane Does" to prevent
possible retaliation -- including physical threats.  

     This case is the first of its kind.  Area 51 is generally
considered the most secret, classified base in the U.S. military
network.  "By forcing compliance at Area 51, we hope to establish
a precedent whereby the military will be forced to acknowledge
its responsibilities in every base and facility," says Turley.
"Ultimately, this case is a direct confrontation between national
security laws and environmental and criminal laws."  

     Specifically, Turley will be asking the United States
District Court in Nevada to address eleven charges against the
defendants, William Perry, Secretary of Defense; Anthony Lake,
National Security Advisor to President Clinton; and Sheila
Widnall, secretary of the Air Force.  The charges include: 
violation of the federal facility reporting and inventory
requirements; violations of the ban on open burning of hazardous
waste; and illegal land disposal of hazardous wastes.  He will
argue that the federal hazardous waste law does not give any
exception for secret bases in its provisions.

     "We want to establish that workers at secret bases should
not be forced to rely on the arbitrary protection of the
military, but should be able to go to court to receive remedies 
for violations," says Turley.  He also intends to establish that
secrecy agreements do not preempt environmental protection. 
Eventually, Turley plans to draft a new law on the judicial
review of such cases and on issues ranging from anonymous legal
action to standing questions to citizen suit actions against the
EPA.

     In his complaint to the District Court of Nevada, Turley
alleges that the activities conducted at the Groom Lake base have
involved the use of hazardous waste and material producing
hazardous wastes when burned -- including hardeners, plastics,
solvents, sealants and paint wastes -- and that these wastes are
stored on site at the base.  Plaintiffs allege that these
hazardous wastes -- including wastes releasing dioxins, and
methyl ethyl ketone, trichloroethylene and dibenzofurans -- were
thrown into open, unlined trenches at Groom Lake base, doused
with jet fuel or other inflammable substances and then ignited.   
  

     The plaintiffs claim they were required to be in close
proximity to the burning wastes and that some workers had to
enter the trenches to ignite the wastes; stand around the trench
to secure the area during incineration; or work next to or down
wind from the trenches.  After incineration, defendants or their
agents allegedly instructed workers to enter the trenches and
sort through the residue to guarantee complete destruction of
classified materials.  The plaintiffs complain of a number of
symptoms -- blackouts, skin rashes, headaches, respiratory
problems and eye irritations.  They allege that requests for
protective clothing, respirators and gloves were denied.

     Turley also alleges that hazardous wastes were intentionally
trucked in by a California-based defense contractor in order to
be disposed at the site.  "We have compelling evidence that the
government and its contractors have used the secrecy of Groom
Lake not to protect national security but to shield the illegal
disposal of hazardous waste," said Turley.
 
                            -- 30 --