RE: STAR at work

["Weiner, Ruth" <rfweine@sandia.gov>]

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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