Editor:
I read with great interest the article concerning approval of the Ward Valley waste disposal site (August 30) and the difficulties it creates for the university. The article includes excellent comments from Mel Young, assistant director of Radiation Control for the university. In standard journalistic style, the reporter needed someone to give the other side of the issue. As is all too often the case with articles about technical environmental issues, the "expert" asked to comment on the alternate view has absolutely no qualifications to make any statement at all on this subject. Lack of knowledge about a particular topic has never seemed to stop these folks from spouting uninformed opinion to anyone who will listen, especially the media. This was certainly my impression of the comments in the story attributed to David Hodges of SEAC. Mr. Hodges knows how to climb clock towers, and appears to know a lot about Mt. Graham issues. However, I think it would be appropriate for the Wildcat to ensure that sources asked for quotes actually know something of the topic.
Steve Holland
Director of UA Risk Management and Safety