RE: Baltimore Tunnel Incident Comment

["Landes, Claude W" <CWLandes@MAIL.BHI-ERC.COM>]

Paul Lavely,

	First, I agree that the actions taken regarding the transports

through the Caldicott tunnel were/are appropriate. 

	Second, I no longer live in the area, so I can't speak as to how the

"ordinance" is being applied or enforced these days. However I was living

there and working at Mare Island Naval Shipyard when the Berkley "Nuclear

Free Zone" was first declared. As a consequence of this, the shipyard

actually spent some time moving RAM between the Shipyard and Alameda via

barge in an effort to respect the ordinance before clearer heads prevailed

and realized that this presented far more  opportunities for disaster than

moving said material via truck. Whereupon movements via truck were resumed.

All of this indicated to me that, at least in the beginning, it was indeed

intended to be a radiation free zone.



Claude W Landes, RRPT

Radiological Controls Technician, Lead

ERC Radiological Counting Facility

Eberline Services Hanford Inc.

cwlandes@bhi-erc.com

Phone: (509)373-6005/ 373-2547

Fax: (509)373-1224





-----Original Message-----

From: Paul Lavely [mailto:lavelyp@uclink4.berkeley.edu]

Sent: Monday, July 30, 2001 10:00 AM

To: Neil, David M

Cc: 'Landes, Claude W'; 'radsafe'

Subject: RE: Baltimore Tunnel Incident Comment





Dave Neil,



First the Berkeley Nuclear Free Zone is not a radiation free zone. 

The ordinance is similar to many locations and should be read as a 

"no nuclear weapons work" ordinance. Additionally, when challenged 

these ordinances usually fail.



As to the Caldicott tunnel, I see no incongruity about the action 

taken to address the risk. The accident killed a number (6 or so) of 

people and the accident did occur during non-commute hours. The idea 

of restricting time to help minimize the risk appears appropriate. 

The issue is that inappropriate levels of risk and response are 

directed at radiation issues.



Paul Lavely <lavelyp@uclink4.berkeley.edu>





>Not far outside the Berkeley, CA "Nuclear Free Zone" (which contains

several

>hospitals with N.M. Departments), is the Caldicott Tunnel.  Years back, a

>gasoline tanker crashed in it at rush hour and 'smelted' quite a few cars

>along with their contents.

>

>The result is that such transports are now allowed to pass through only in

>the wee hours of the morning.  Selective paranoia indeed.

>

>Dave Neil		neildm@id.doe.gov

>

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