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Re: STAR at work
Hi Al,
Assume Radiation, Science, and Health, and the Center for Nuclear Technology
and Society at WPI, with the noted minor changes, {deletes} <additions>,
pending review. If you have enough interest to pursue this, we can get the
LLRHE Committee and BMD to agree and recommend ANS concur. Do you specifically
not want any individual signers? I'm forwarding to the pie list with other org
leaders.
Note: The original STAR letter from Don Kosloff is at:
http://romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu/cgi-bin/lwgate/RADSAFE/archives/radsafe0001/Author/article-733.html
[Note: You may have to 'patch' the url in your locator window if it's
'broken.' :-) ]
Regards, Jim
muckerheide@mediaone.net
========================
Al Tschaeche wrote:
>
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> I took the STAR letter and made a few, minor revisions (see below). Which pro
> nuclear organizations can I get to sign the revised letter and sent it to New
> York Attorney General Spitzer? Al Tschaeche antatnsu@pacbell.net
>
> "D. Kosloff" wrote:
>
> > "STAR" is working on a new project now that Brookhaven is shut down. Please
> > see below.
> >
>
> REVISED LETTER (go to Kosloff's message for the original)
>
> >
> > January 28, 2000
> >
> > Attorney General Eliot Spitzer
> > Office of the Attorney General
> > 120 Broadway
> > New York, NY
> >
> > Re: Recycled radioactive metals
> >
> > Dear Mr. Spitzer:
> >
> > We the undersigned [x] environmental, health and {community} <professional> organizations are
> > writing to urge you to take a leadership role on a very important health
> > <and cost-containment> issue. Presently, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is in the process
> > of legalizing the "release" or "clearance" of radioactive materials from
> > licensed, regulated control into raw materials, building supplies and any
> > other items that are sold to New York consumers. We fully support the
> > introduction of radioactive scrap metal into commerce without any
> > consumer notification and urge you to take action to ensure these products can
> > be sold in New York markets.
> >
> > Background:
> >
> > As nuclear power reactors are maintained and decommissioned, contaminated
> > parts, concrete rubble, and soil could be let go. The Department of Energy
> > is currently sending radioactively contaminated metals from nuclear weapons
> > sites to regular scrap yards to mix with clean metal for unrestricted public
> > use. Some states, primarily Tennessee, are licensing and permitting private
> > companies to process and "release" into commerce radioactive materials,
> > including metals, lead and asphalt, usually with no public hearings,
> > notification, or warning <having determined that only trivial exposures, far below natural radioactivity sources, are involved>.
> >
> > These radioactive elements result from every part of the nuclear fuel chain
> > (mining, milling, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, nuclear power
> > production, plutonium and weapons production, reprocessing, decommissioning
> > and waste management). <The government and> Companies wanting to save money on clean-up costs are
> > being exempted from regulatory controls and allowed to use contaminated
> > materials as if they were not radioactive.
> >
> > Simply put, the makers of radioactive waste would much rather <recycle and sell their
> > contaminated metal to scrap dealers and specialty steel companies, or to
> > other sources for reuse, than to <waste money to> pay to isolate it from the environment and
> > the public for as long as it remains radioactive, in some cases centuries or
> > millenia. <Such standards would equally apply to most of the entire earth, except the time frame would be trillions of years for sources in the earth, and forever for sources like tritium and carbon-14 that are constantly generated in the earth's atmosphere by cosmic rays.>
> >
> >
> > Why is this Safe?
> >
> > There is a safe level of exposure to ionizing radiation, so it makes sense
> > to permit exposures up to that level. <That level greatly exceeds natural background radiation levels.>
Some scientists have shown that risks
> > from routine low doses may actually be beneficial rather than detrimental as
> > in single high dose exposures. <Indeed, detrimental effects of exposing organisms below low levels of natural radiation indicate that radiation is essential to life, including for organisms that receive no sunlight for life-cycle energy.>
> >
> > Exposure to ionizing radiation in high doses increases the risks of cancer,
> > leukemia,
> > genetic defects, illnesses resulting from reduced immunity and other
> > non-cancerous illnesses. Some scientists believe the developing embryo and
> > fetus, young children,
> > the elderly and those with already impaired health face the greatest risk.
> >
> > The public could be exposed to radiation from many different contaminated
> > consumer products, ie; strollers, braces and toasters, etc. The doses are
> > thought by some to add up and to be multiplied when we are exposed to more
> > radiation and other
> > carcinogens in our lives. Doses below safe levels could be beneficial or, they
> > could have no effect at all. These involuntary <inconsequential doses, or potential> health benefits are being imposed
> > without notification {and against our will}, so the <government and> {nuclear} industry can save money.
> >
> > The role of New York:
> >
> > The current methods of releasing radioactive wastes from commercial
> > licensees and weapons facilities must be supported. Some radioactive
> > wastes in consumer products pose <inconsequential or un>necessary, avoidable, <and in>voluntary,
> > {informed} <potential> benefits. The <economic interests of> consumers, the producers, the raw materials industries
> > want these radioactive wastes to provide benefits. Therefore, we believe that
> > your office should take steps to ensure the recycling of radioactive scrap
> > metal and ensure that they end up in commerce <, not as costly waste>.
> >
> > We commend you for your strong and innovative actions on behalf of our
> > health and {safety} economic interests and hope that you will help us in this effort. We would be
> > happy to send representatives to discuss this with you further. Should you
> > require further contact please call (appropriate information here).
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> >
> >
>
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