[ RadSafe ] Improper Application of ALARA following stabilization of Fukushima Nuclear Reactors

[Clayton J Bradt]

"I was asked by the EPA to provide risks (e.g., fatal cancers) from
breathing air, etc.  I flat told them no for reasons previously stated.  I
know this goes against what you believe about human nature.  The courage
part was in not following the conventional path.  "Its safe to drink the
water.  However, there is a slight risk of cancer, because all radiation
above background incurs some risk... blah, blah.... "

Victor, this definitely sounds to me like you did the right thing, but what
about those people at EPA?

Clayton


                                                                           
             "Victor Anderson"                                             
             <victor.anderson@                                             
             frontier.com>                                              To 
                                       "'Clayton J Bradt'"                 
             03/19/2013 02:41          <CJB01 at health.state.ny.us>          
             PM                                                         cc 
                                       <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>       
                                                                   Subject 
                                       RE: Improper Application of ALARA   
                                       following stabilization of          
                                       Fukushima Nuclear Reactors          
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           




Clayton,

It was not about evacuating the state of California.  The issue was
assuring that the public would continue to use California's agriculture
products.  If nothing had been done, then a large segment of the population
would have stopped using things like milk, fruit, vegetables, etc.   Public
health had to stand up and state the truth.  Otherwise things would have
gotten very ugly.  I was asked by the EPA to provide risks (e.g., fatal
cancers) from breathing air, etc.  I flat told them no for reasons
previously stated.  I know this goes against what you believe about human
nature.  The courage part was in not following the conventional path.  "Its
safe to drink the water.  However, there is a slight risk of cancer,
because all radiation above background incurs some risk... blah, blah.... "
This type of statement would absolutely have guaranteed the same kind of
problem as occurred with Alar on apples and other nonsense.  There are
times when individuals in government do the right thing.  There are also
times when government officials do the wrong thing.

Victor

      -----Original Message-----
      From: Clayton J Bradt [mailto:CJB01 at health.state.ny.us]
      Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 11:16 AM
      To: victor.anderson at frontier.com
      Cc: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
      Subject: Improper Application of ALARA following stabilization of
      Fukushima Nuclear Reactors



      Victor Anderson wrote:

      "Yes, public health officials made a statement and stuck to it.  They
      did
      take personal responsibility for what was said.  I was one of them.
      The
      same general plan will work in Japan.  It just takes courage."


      Come-on, Victor! You don't really think that deciding not to evacuate
      the State of California took courage, do you?

      Clayton