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[Fwd: [OEM] DOE: History of Releases of Recycled U]



Gary Greenberg wrote:



> http://tis.eh.doe.gov/legacy/releases/pr01045.html

>

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

> March 29, 2001

>

> NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:

> Dolline Hatchett, 202/586-5806

> Joe Davis, 202/586-4940

>

> Energy Department Releases Historical Studies of Recycled Uranium

>

> Differing Operational Practices Result in Data Inconsistencies Among

> Studies

>

> The Department of Energy (DOE) today released nine site-specific studies

> that examined the historical movement of recycled uranium throughout the

> Department's complex. The studies represent the fifth installment of a

> comprehensive effort begun by the department in September 1999 to

> address worker concerns associated with the historical use of recycled

> uranium at the Gaseous Diffusion Plants in Paducah, Kentucky,

> Portsmouth, Ohio, and Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

>

> The nine reports cover the following 12 sites: Hanford, Wash.; Savannah

> River, S.C.; Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory,

> Idaho; Fernald, Ohio; (including West Valley, N.Y.; Weldon Springs, Mo.;

> and RMI Inc. Ohio); the Gaseous Diffusion Plants in Paducah, Ky.;

> Portsmouth, Ohio; Oak Ridge, Tenn.; the Y-12 Plant, Tenn.; and Rocky

> Flats, Colo.

>

> The reports, as well as a project overview that describes the approach

> used to prepare the reports, are available on the web at

> http://tis.eh.doe.gov/legacy/. The reports provide a general

> understanding of the flow and characteristics of recycled uranium at

> individual sites. They identify where recycled uranium and trace amounts

> of other radioactive contaminants could have concentrated or been

> released, including historical periods, activities and concentrations,

> which may be useful for identifying potential worker exposure.

>

> Thousands of historical records were retrieved and analyzed to compile

> the data used in these studies. Based on this information, DOE has a

> good preliminary understanding of the characteristics and trace

> contaminants in the major streams of recycled uranium.

>

> However, because of differing operational practices, different

> designations for recycled uranium used by the sites in historical

> records dating back to 1952, and the extensive blending operations used

> by the sites, there are data inconsistencies among the reports. Because

> of these inconsistencies, the numeric totals of the sites cannot be

> calculated to yield an accurate accounting of the amount of recycled

> uranium across the DOE complex.

>

> To resolve these inconsistencies, and build on historical records, the

> Department's Office of Plutonium, Uranium, and Special Materials

> Inventory has been charged with conducting a follow-on study to develop

> a historical mass balance for uranium -- including recycled uranium. The

> nine recycled uranium reports will be used in the study.

>

> A brief press conference call will be held today at 3 p.m. for

> interested media who would like more specific information on the

> recycled uranium project. Please call (202) 586-5806 to receive the

> call-in number and to confirm your participation by noon today.

> - DOE -

>

> R-01-045

>

> --

> Gary N. Greenberg, MD MPH    Sysop / Moderator Occ-Env-Med-L MailList

> gary.greenberg@duke.edu     Duke Occupat, Environ, Int & Fam Medicine

> OEM-L Maillist Website:                      http://occhealthnews.com

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