Re: Our own best friends!

["D. Kosloff" <dkosloff@ncweb.com>]

Regulatory authorities are not always happy to take on new responsibilities.
The NRC, as directed by Congress,  attempted to reduce regulatory activities
by creating the category of  "Below Regulatory Concern".  The interested
public made the NRC sorry they had ever heard "BRC".  The Congress is not
interested in giving the NRC more resources (jobs), so everybody usually has
more that need to be done then they can do.  On the other hand, a political
darling like EPA, has money thrown at it and an activist mentality.  Some
employees of EPA would be happy to shut down all industry, because that
would "Save the Earth, Dude."

Don Kosloff mailto:dkosloff@ncweb.com
2910 Main St., Perry OH 44081

----- Original Message -----
From: Tsurikov, Nick <nick.tsurikov@iluka.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2000 4:23 AM
Subject: RE: Our own best friends!


> Dear Al,
>
> * 'Nuclear et al.' industry has to comply with many thresholds
> (clearance levels, authorised release levels, etc), which limit potential
> exposure to employees, members of the public and the environment.
> * These thresholds are exceeded on the daily basis and, sometimes by
> the order of magnitude, by 'non-nuclear' industries, such as phosphate,
oil
> and gas, mineral processing in general and many others.
> * There are many areas in the world where natural background radiation
> levels significantly exceed 'nuclear industry limits' (Brazil, Iran,
India,
> Sri Lanka and China).
>
> So, instead of acknowledging that some of 'threshold' limits are absurd
> (like there is no equipment in existence to measure such amounts of an
> isotope in soils, whatever...) and relaxing the limits, 'regulatory
> authorities' happily taking on board more and more.  Is it about jobs
again?
>
> "Exemption in 10 CFR Part 40 for Materials less than 0.05 Percent Source
> Materials - Options and Other Issues Concerning the Control of Source
> Material",
> NRC memorandum SECY-99-259:
> Based on the extensive list of minerals containing uranium and thorium
> presented in NCRP Report No. 118, "Radiation Protection in the Mineral
> Extraction Industry," the Commission could conceivably regulate much of
the
> mineral extraction industry in the United States.
>
> Another thing - did you see NUREG-1717 from the NRC...?
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
> So, the question I wanted to ask for some time now: - Dear Radsafers,
could
> somebody please tell me what is going on?
>
> Three options (from which the second one is the one currently being
> followed, I think):
>
> 1. Let's regulate everything.  I believe I could have fun here, looking
> across the Pacific on the country where nearly all industry is virtually
run
> by radiation protection authorities (...it is until such time when similar
> things would be happening here, in Australia).
>
> 2. Let's adopt the legislation which would regulate everything, but
> leave holes in it, - so those who will have ability, time and desire can
get
> exemptions, exclusions etc.   And it will take some effort and a
> considerable amount of time to get them - which means providing jobs for
> thousands of regulators and specialists.  It's not that I mind - I am one
of
> them...  I know - "you, cynical bastard" etc., hear this all the time, -
but
> is it not what this is all about?
>
> 3. Let's regulate nothing natural (apart from 2-3 'extreme' cases).
> This is a preferred way, of course.  But it seems to me that it would be
> idealistic to hope that this approach will be taken.
>
> Any comments?  Are we our "best friends" or "worst enemies"?
>
> Kind regards
> Nick Tsurikov
> Eneabba, Western Australia
> http://eneabba.net/ <http://eneabba.net/>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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