California Poll: Nuclear Power Too Dangerous

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@EARTHLINK.NET>]

Index:



California Poll: Nuclear Power Too Dangerous

Radiation Victims to Be Compensated

==================================



California Poll: Nuclear Power Too Dangerous



SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - July 20 - A poll released Thursday said 55 

percent of Californians believe nuclear power is too dangerous, even 

if building more plants would help alleviate the country's energy 

problems. 



The findings by the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of 

California conflicted with the results of another group's poll in May 

that found 59 percent of Californians favored nuclear power and 36 

percent opposed it. 



The May poll, conducted by the nonpartisan Field Institute, was taken 

at a time when energy shortages had forced rolling blackouts and 

state officials were predicting a summer of worse shortages. But 

unusually cool weather and increased supply in recent weeks have 

helped the state avoid blackouts. 



The Public Policy Institute's poll found that 57 percent of 

Californians say they would oppose a proposal to build a nuclear 

plant in their region. 



California has two nuclear power plants currently in operation - the 

2,254-megawatt San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in San Clemente 

owned by San Diego Gas and Electric Co., and the 2,212-megawatt 

Diablo Canyon power plant near San Luis Obispo, owned by Pacific Gas 

and Electric Co. 



The Public Policy Institute polled 2,007 California adults from July 

1-10. The margin of error was plus or minus 2 percentage points. 



The poll by the Field Institute included 1,015 adults and was taken 

May 11-20. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage 

points. 

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Radiation Victims to Be Compensated



WASHINGTON (AP) - July 20 - Uranium miners and residents exposed to 

radiation from Cold War-era nuclear weapons tests will finally see 

promised compensation for their illnesses. 



In a deal struck Thursday as part of negotiations over a supplemental 

spending bill, those holding IOUs will be paid the amounts promised 

under a 1990 act. The Senate had estimated outstanding IOUs for those 

exposed to radiation at $84 million. 



The government had been issuing IOUs to the radiation victims since 

the compensation program ran out of money more than a year ago. 



The compromise budget bill must be approved by the House and Senate 

and signed by President Bush. Funding for victims under the Radiation 

Exposure Compensation Act is part of a $6.5 billion spending bill 

designed to address programs in need of urgent funding. The House 

hadn't budgeted for it, while the Senate had. 



``That's great news and it's a relief for the families of the ill IOU-

holders,'' said Lori Goodman, spokeswoman for the group Dine-CARE, 

which represents Navajo Indians who worked uranium mines on the 

reservation. ``They're doing the right thing - the humane thing.'' 



``It's a long time overdue,'' said Ed Brickey, co-chairman of the 

Western States RECA Reform Coalition. ``It's an oversight that 

shouldn't have happened.'' 



The act provided cash payments of $100,000 to uranium miners and 

$50,000 to ``Downwinders'' - residents sickened by their exposure to 

radioactive fallout caused by nuclear weapons tests in Nevada. 



Last year, the law was expanded to cover more people, but no new 

money was added. Starting in May 2000, qualifying claimants received 

letters informing them the program was out of money. 



Many have died while awaiting payments. 



Bob Key of Fruita, Colo., who suffers from pulmonary fibrosis after 

working for four years in a uranium mine, was hospitalized this week 

and is in need of surgery. He received his IOU last August. 



According to the Justice Department, which administers the program, 

there are 191 claimants - either miners, Downwinders or their 

survivors - holding IOUs worth $10 million in Utah. 



In Colorado, 71 claimants are owed $6.5 million. Sixty-eight 

claimants are owed $3.5 million in Nevada, 47 are owed $3 million in 

Arizona, 42 are owed $4 million in New Mexico, and 13 are owed $1 

million in California. 



Other claimants are scattered across the country. 



Justice Department spokesman Charles Miller said it is unclear how 

long it would take for claimants to begin receiving checks once the 

deal is approved. 



On the Net: 



Justice Department's Radiation Exposure Compensation Program: 

http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/torts/const/reca/index.htm 







------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	

Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	

ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Service		Fax:(714) 668-3149 	                   		    

ICN Pharmaceuticals, Inc.			E-Mail: sandyfl@earthlink.net 				                           

ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Avenue  		E-Mail: sperle@icnpharm.com          	          

Costa Mesa, CA 92626                    



Personal Website: http://www.geocities.com/scperle

ICN Worldwide Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com



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