The State : Kesterson Cleanup OKd

State water officials have approved a federal cleanup plan for the Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge near Los Banos. Under the Bureau of Reclamation plan, the most heavily tainted areas will be covered with dirt and experiments on ways to reduce selenium levels will be continued. An outline of cleanup efforts at Kesterson due Nov. 28 is expected to include a plan for replacing lost wildlife. The 1,280-acre Kesterson site was closed in 1983 after deformed bird embryos were discovered. Scientists have blamed the problems on selenium-tainted water from the San Joaquin Valley.