In the latest attempt to block construction of the National Ignition Facility, a coalition of environmentalists has petitioned a federal judge because the building site is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls.
US District Court Judge Stanley Sporkin ordered the group -- a national coalition of 39 environmental and antinuclear groups -- to work out a settlement with the US Department of Energy. The DoE claims to have conducted extensive environmental studies on the site and is currently negotiating with state and federal officials about whether more tests, which opponents of the project have requested, are required.