Environmental lawyers are still working round the clock to urge US politicians to spend $60 million cleaning up Bermuda's old military bases.

Potentially deadly asbestos, tons of oil and poisonous heavy metals still languish at the former US Naval Air base in St. David's.

And up to half-a-million gallons of fuel may have leaked into underground caves from tanks at the old US Naval Annex at Morgan's Point in Southampton.

Both bases were deserted in 1995.

But Development and Opportunities Minister Terry Lister insisted last night that Washington-based attorneys were still in talks with leading US politicians.

Mr. Lister said the lawyers were compiling a list of senators and congressmen for a site visit to Bermuda.

Premier Jennifer Smith led a Bermuda delegation to Washington in a bid to clear up the pollution issue last month.

So far, the US has said it will not pay for a clean-up as there is no "imminent threat to health and safety''.

But UK Labour Party veteran and former Health Minister Lord Ashley said in January that he was "astounded'' the US had not admitted liability. Overseas Territories Minister Baroness Symons has since pushed Bermuda's case in Washington.

Mr. Lister spoke to The Royal Gazette before jetting off the Island on business last night, saying: "This is one of those issues which is still going back and forth.'' The Premier claimed last month that discussions with US government officials "exceeded our expectations''.

She added: "We have invited a number of people to Bermuda so they can see the whole picture.

"They just see it as the closure of the bases. They are used to closing bases and they don't realise the impact it has on people.'' ENVIRONMENT ENV