Re: Los Alamos Data - Potter's reference to "garbage" data "comments"

[RadiumProj@cs.com]

In a message dated 5/22/00 11:39:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
capotte@sandia.gov writes:

> I don't understand, and probably never will, how things get reported to the
>  press.  All I can say is that the people involved did a great job and, in 
my
>  opinion, the measurements we took were appropriate and analyzed with the
>  utmost care and technical justification.  Yet I've read in the paper all
>  week comments by Stu Farber and others how our work was garbage.  Perhaps
>  they were just reading the news reports and not realizing what a poor 
source
>  of information they are.

Radsafe:
It quite clear than C. A. Gus Potter of  Sandia National Laboratories has 
completely mischaracterized my responses to a reporter from the Albuquerque 
Tribune. A simple reading of the articles posted on Radsafe show this.  I 
never said the analyses were "garbage" although the manner in which 
information on the analyses was communicated through FEMA to the public left 
a lot to be desired. 

If Mr. Potter were to take the time to read the two articles by Spohn in the 
Albuquerque Tribune [see www.abqtrib.com] he would see that I was the only 
person with any experience in studying fallout isotopes in wood and woodash 
who was willing to go on record that the radiological impacts of the Sandia 
fire were trivial. If I hadn't been willing to comment, the article would 
have been even more a source of alarm to the public, since only antinuclear 
activists would have been quoted. I understand Mr. Spohn of the Alb. Trib. 
tried to get some comments on the analytical  results from the State, EPA, 
FEMA, and other groups specifically about the possibility of resuspension of 
general fallout in the environment,  and no one would comment. The media 
reports information that is supplied to it or comments from individuals who 
are willing to comment on questions posed by a reporter. Mr. Spohn was well 
aware of the issue of Cs-137 in woodash from a study I conducted back in 1990 
about which he reported in 1991 in the Albuquerque Tribune. He had some 
questions about Cs-137 in ash from the fire last week, and no official 
spokesperson would answer his questions. 

I don't have time to respond in any detail to Mr. Potter's quite inaccurate, 
and even libelous comments characterizing my supposed comments about the 
quality of the analyses performed, since I'm getting ready to head out of 
town this afternoon. However, Mr. Potter should make the effort to get his 
facts in order before putting his comments on the record to a  group of 
technical specialists. I should mention that I have had over 20 years 
experience in environmental radiation monitoring around  nuclear facilities 
as an Environmental Engineer, Operations Manager, QA Officer, and Assistant 
Environmental Lab Manager for the former Yankee Atomic Electric Company 
Environmental Radiation Lab serving a half dozen nuclear power plant sites 
for many years, and as Sr. Radiological Engineer for the NY Power Authority. 
I know about data quality and data needs to assess environmental radiological 
impact. I also know, having worked for 6 months after the TMI accident as 
Assistant Manager of Nuclear Information,  and from numerous other 
interactions over my career on environmental radiation issues about the value 
of communicating honestly and respectfully with the public on matters of 
radiation health concerns. 

As a bottom line.  Please refrain from misquoting or mischaracterizing what I 
say. 

Regards,
Stewart Farber, MS Public Health
Public Health Sciences
172 Old Orchard Way
Warren, VT 05674
email: radiumproj@cs.com
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