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RE: STAR at work



Thank you Al for taking the lead on this.  Add my name if you wish.

Ruth F. Weiner, Ph. D.
Sandia National Laboratories 
MS 0718, POB 5800
Albuquerque, NM 87185-0718
505-844-4791; fax 505-844-0244
rfweine@sandia.gov

-----Original Message-----
From: Merkel, Jon R [mailto:merkel@bnl.gov]
Sent: January 25, 2000 1:49 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: RE: STAR at work


Al,

You have my vote. I back you 100%. Can you forward a copy of that to our
good friend at STAR, Scott?
I like the whole idea!

-----Original Message-----
From: Al Tschaeche [mailto:antatnsu@pacbell.net]
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2000 3:08 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Re: STAR at work


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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 organizations
are
> writing to urge you to take a leadership role on a very important health
> 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.
>
> 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). 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 sell their
> contaminated metal to scrap dealers and specialty steel companies, or to
> other sources for reuse, than to pay to isolate it from the environment
and
> the public for as long as it remains radioactive, in some cases centuries
or
> millenia.
>
>
> 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. Some scientists have shown that
risks
> from routine low doses may actually be beneficial rather than detrimental
as
> in single high dose exposures.
>
> 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 health benefits are being
> imposed
> without notification and against our will, so the 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 necessary, avoidable, voluntary,
> informed benefits. The 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.
>
> We commend you for your strong and innovative actions on behalf of our
> health and safety 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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