Re: Hanford Site Cleanup Standards

["Jerry Cohen" <jjcohen@PRODIGY.NET>]

Axiom #426:  No matter how safe it is, anything can always be made safer by

further expenditure of resources (time, money, effort, etc., etc.).







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

From: William V Lipton <liptonw@DTEENERGY.COM>

To: <radsafe@list.vanderbilt.edu>

Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2003 6:02 AM

Subject: re: Hanford Site Cleanup Standards





> I'd like to respond the some recent postings on this thread.  The points

> raised seem to be:

>

> "The practices at Hanford were justified since they were supporting

> 'progress.'  If we insist on safety rules, there won't be any

> innovation."  While the public used to perceive that progress is an end

> in itself, that's no longer true. (Like it or not, perception is

> reality.)   Notice that General Electric has dropped the slogan,

> "Progress is our most important product."  It's now, "We bring good

> things to life."  Technology is not inherently good (or bad).  It's up

> to the proponent to make the case that the benefits outweigh the risks.

>

> "They were well intentioned."  I never said, otherwise.  I'm not

> suggesting criminal behavior; just that DOE has to be accountable for

> what it did, and that we must identify and implement the lessons

> learned.

>

> "They have a better safety record than a lot of other industries."  This

> is the old comparative body count argument, revision n + 1.  While this

> may be true, it doesn't justify the practices.  The current doctrine of

> environmental accountability is not limited to the nuclear industry.

> Look at what GE is facing, having to clean up the Hudson River where

> there are PCB's from its operations.

>

> The opinions expressed are strictly mine.

> It's not about dose, it's about trust.

> Curies forever.

>

> Bill Lipton

> liptonw@dteenergy.com

>

>

>

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