George Washington University
Office of University Relations
Washington, DC 20052

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   MEDIA CONTACT: SHAWN TATE
   August 4, 1994                           (202) 994-6460


                    * * * MEDIA UPDATE * * *


CHIEF JUDGE JOHN GARRETT PENN GRANTS MOTION THAT ALLOWS
GW LAW PROFESSOR JONATHAN TURLEY TO PROTECT ANONYMITY OF WORKERS
IN SUIT AGAINST EPA

Turley Sues EPA For Failure to Inspect Secret Air Force Base for
Violation of Federal Environmental Laws

                                
     Washington, D.C. -- Today Chief Judge John Garrett Penn
granted the motion, filed by The George Washington University
National Law Center Professor of Environmental Law Jonathan
Turley, to proceed in his suit against the Environmental
Protection Agency using fictitious names for the plaintiffs.
With the decision, comes formal filing of the suit and summons
against the defendents.

     Turley is suing the EPA for failing to live up to its duties
to inspect violations of federal environmental laws. Granting of
the motion allows Turley to file on behalf of workers who signed
secrecy agreements upon employment, representing them as "John
and Jane Does" to prevent possible retaliation. This will be the
first in a series of legal actions planned by Professor Turley.

     Turley is representing the 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. 

     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." 

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PAGE TWO            TURLEY PROTECTS WORKERS IN SUIT AGAINST EPA





     Specifically, Turley will be asking the D.C Court to force
the EPA to inspect and monitor the secret base. He will argue
that the federal hazardous waste law does not give any exception
for secret bases in its provisions and will be asking the court
to force the EPA to fulfill a mandatory duty under the law.

     "We want to establish that workers at secret bases should
not be forced to rely on the arbitrary protections 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 protections.
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.
 
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