[ RadSafe ] America's Greatest AtomicRadiation Crisis - UMTRA Numbers

Miller, Mark L mmiller at sandia.gov
Tue Dec 4 09:06:42 CST 2007


Here's a piece I wrote in 1999 regarding the relative cost-effectiveness
of dollars spent per cancer avoided for various aspects of the UMTRA
Project.  The Vicinity Properties had, by far, the highest
cost-effectiveness.  The numbers came from the various NEPA documents
that were prepared in support of the remedial action activities.

http://www.health-physics.com/pt/re/healthphys/abstract.00004032-1999050
00-00012.htm;jsessionid=HVqCGyV1nR2NCK6kBg7G3pNn9m9S7PyQXpNv1Ty7MVspw346
2Jcn!65375592!181195628!8091!-1 

CALCULATION OF THE NUMBER OF CANCER DEATHS PREVENTED BY THE URANIUM MILL
TAILINGS REMEDIAL ACTION PROJECT. 
Note 
Health Physics. 76(5):544-546, May 1999.
Miller, Mark L.; Cornish, Robert E.; Pomatto, C. Beth 
Abstract: 
The Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project has completed remedial
action at 22 uranium mill tailings sites and about 5,000 properties
("vicinity properties") where tailings were used in construction, at a
total cost of $1.45 billion. This paper uses existing data from
Environmental Impact Statements and Environmental Assessments, and
vicinity property calculations, to determine the total number of cancer
deaths averted by the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project. The
cost-effectiveness of remediating each site, the vicinity properties,
and the entire project is calculated. The cost per cancer death averted
was four orders of magnitude higher at the least cost-effective site
than at the most cost-effective site. 
(C)1999Health Physics Society 


Mark Miller, Certified Health Physicist 
Sandia National Laboratories 
PO Box 5800, MS-1042 
Albuquerque, NM  87185 
phone:  505-284-2107 
fax:      505-845-7154 
pager:  505-530-9156
mmiller at sandia.gov

Environmental stewardship
through planning, awareness,
and monitoring 





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