Re: "Perception is reality"

[BLHamrick@aol.com]

In a message dated 09/19/2002 7:28:49 PM Pacific Daylight Time, BLHamrick@AOL.COM writes:



> The anti-nuclear contingency got some press last week on this issue.  


There was another article in today's LA Times:  "Forget the Money - Keep Radiation in its Place Gov. Davis," (http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-miles20sep20.story).


It once again states the opponents of Romero's bill are the power companies, and ignores the myriad of medical and biomedical organizations that also opposed the bill.


Among other out and out lies, the article states:  "The courts want protection from radioactive waste. The Legislature wants it. The public wants it. Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn and Sen. Barbara Boxer have spoken out against the deregulation of nuclear waste. Only a few deep-pocketed contributors stand in the way."


No, sirs, it would not be "only a few deep-pocketed contributors."  It would also be virtually every Department of Health Services Health Physicist if they were ever invited or allowed to speak to the Governor.  Call them and ask them their opinion on SB 1970.  My guess is they either will put you off, because they're not "allowed to" talk to you (though they likely won't say that), or they will give you a run around answer that neither supports nor condemns the bill, so they won't get in trouble.  Corner them on it, and ask them for something in writing.  Ask them, if you're professional certification as a health physicist were riding on this question would you oppose or support SB 1970, why or why not?  Seriously, ask.


I've written the Times about their misrepresentations and outright lies numerous times in the last 9 months, but they won't have anything to do with me on this issue.  It is apparently not a problem with my writing style, as they gladly published one of my letters a couple of weeks ago on an issue completely unrelated to radiation.


I urge you in California to read this article, and call the the Times on the lies.  Ask them how many of the six Certified Health Physicists in the Radiologic Health Branch were invited to, or allowed to, speak freely to the state Senate or Assembly on these bills during the legislative hearings.  Ask them how many have been invited to speak to the Governor on these issues.  Then, ask the CHP's for confirmation of whatever they tell you.


In case you're not yet motivated enough, here is another quote from the article:


"In defiance of court orders and behind the back of California's Integrated Waste Management Board, Davis' Department of Health Services has ruled that large quantities of "low-level" (but potentially lethal and long-lived) radioactive waste from decommissioned nuclear power plants and other sources need no longer be treated as nuclear waste at all. Instead, the material may be disposed of as ordinary garbage and even as landfill--that is, not just in dumps but in future building sites."


This quote refers to the Department's adoption and subsequent judicial nullification of the NRC's license termination rule, which, in my opinion, was due either to the total incompetence of the Department's legal representation, and/or the total corruption of the Department itself on this matter.  Order the transcripts for Case No. 01CS01445 in the Superior Court in Sacramento County, and see for yourself what really happened.


The situation is quite serious.  Common sense, scientific insight, and expertise have been completely abandoned for the charms of a fear-mongering snake-oil salesman, who apparently can collect a sufficient amount of Hollywood money to support his pet charade.


Barbara