I am appalled that the U.S. Department of Energy is trying to shut down the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. I am equally appalled that the weak reasons given in a May 20 article ("Slashed funds endanger lab at nuclear site") included some failure of the lab to "seek outside funds," and a not-so-veiled remark about using taxpayer money wisely. This is disingenuous.

SREL has an unmatched reputation for scholarship, training, community involvement and efficient productivity that gives far more value for the few taxpayer dollars it gets in comparison with the DOE in general. Besides, if the DOE bureaucrats were really concerned about what the taxpayer thinks, they would listen to the roar of voices - both local and national - calling for SREL's continued existence.

I spent eight years with the outstanding scientists, staff and students at SREL. It is unthinkable that 56 years of study and work will end. If they do, I suspect that future administrations will recognize the folly of this loss but will be unable to rebuild it.

The DOE may be able to silence the independent voice of SREL. They may knock down its buildings, kill the outreach animals or plow over the research fields, but they can never erase either SREL's legacy or their own folly.

Rosemary Forrest, Augusta

(Editor's note: The letter writer was the ecology lab's public relations coordinator before leaving during the lab's first round of layoffs in 2005.)