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ac press story on KI distribution
"Kaskey, Jack" wrote:
> The Press of Atlantic City
> OFFICIALS RECOMMEND N.J. STOCKPILE RADIATION PILLS
>
> Date: Thursday, January 17, 2002
> Section: Region
> Edition: All
> Page: C1
> Byline: By JACK KASKEY Staff Writer, (609) 272-7213
>
> New Jersey health and emergency-management officials decided Wednesday to
> recommend to the governor the stockpiling of potassium iodide pills for
> people living near the state's nuclear power plants.
>
> Taking the pills immediately after a major radiation release helps prevent
> thyroid cancer, the primary short-term cancer risk in a nuclear accident,
> according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
>
> The Nuclear Regulatory Commission last month offered to supply the 20-cent
> pills to any states that ask.
>
> Former Health Commissioner Christine Grant recommended that New Jersey
> stockpile about 450,000 of the pills, enough for two day's protection for
> residents and tourists within 10 miles of the state's two nuclear sites.
>
> The Oyster Creek plant in Lacey Township, Ocean County, is within 10 miles
> of Toms River, Manahawkin and much of Long Beach Island.
>
> Salem Units 1 and 2 and the Hope Creek plants are in rural Salem County,
> slightly more than 10 miles west of Bridgeton.
>
> The pills should be distributed immediately after, not before, a radiation
> release, because so many tourists visit the area, Grant said.
>
> A committee of state health, environmental-protection and
> emergency-management officials met Wednesday in Trenton to consider Grant's
> recommendation and the NRC offer of free pills.
>
> The committee approved a draft policy, incorporating Grant's recommendation
> with "some minor changes," said Dennis McGowan, a Health Department
> spokesman.
>
> He said the State Police Office of Emergency Management will now write up
> the draft policy and forward it to Gov. James E. McGreevey for his review
> and consideration.
>
> McGowan and State Police spokesman John Haggerty refused to release details
> of the newly approved draft policy. Calls to McGreevey's office were not
> returned.
>
> Health officials from Cumberland, Ocean and Salem counties, as well as
> officials from the nuclear plants, were briefed Wednesday on the decision,
> but the public will have to wait, Haggerty said.
>
> He said the governor's counsel and the state Attorney General's Office still
> must review the policy for its legality and appropriateness.
>
> "You don't want to put something out there that can change at a future
> point," Haggerty said. "Once a determination is made, then the announcement
> will be made to the public regarding the recommendations."
>
> Other officials deferred comment to Haggerty as the State Police is the lead
> agency on the state's Radiological Emergency Response Plan.
>
> Although nuclear plants are robust structures, some experts say New Jersey's
> plants are vulnerable to terrorist attack, particularly the spent fuel
> stored at Oyster Creek and Hope Creek.
>
> The NRC last month agreed to consider a watchdog group's request for
> structural improvements and enhanced security at the state's nuclear plants
> in the wake of Sept. 11. Concern that plants nationwide could be terrorist
> targets prompted the NRC to expedite its offer of free potassium iodide
> pills to the states.
>
> Tennessee, Arizona and Alabama purchased their own stockpiles years ago.
>
>
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----
> All content © The Press of Atlantic City and may not be republished without
> permission.
>
>
>
>
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