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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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