[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Terrorism has altered the nuclear equation forever
I'm note sure why people think that the government discriminates against radioactive material, compared to other hazardous materials. I find that the EPA's RCRA, CERCLA, and TSCA regulation is much more prescriptive and punitive. EPA levies substantial penalties, even for nonwillful violations. NRC fines for other than power reactor licensees are a joke. CERCLA cleanups are at least as difficult as NRC decommissioning.
I'd like to point out one example. Pall (formerly Gellman) filters is located near me, in Ann Arbor, MI. Approximately 20 years, ago, they disposed of a chemical, dioxane, (not dioxin) by permitted well injection and spray irrigation; nothing illegal. Later, the plume was found to be migrating toward downtown Ann Arbor. They've been spending ~ $1E6/year on cleanup, with no end in sight.
The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.
Curies forever.
Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com
BLHamrick@AOL.COM wrote:
> Thank you, Dr. Weiner. Good points all. If the public wants to eliminate the risks posed by radiation and radioactive materials, then the regulators and standard-setting agencies need to "harmonize" those risks across all hazardous materials present in our environment and traded in everyday commerce, rather than "discriminate" against radioactive materials (and only those man-made, to boot), simply because Hollywood has demonized them.
>
> If it is unsubstantiated, theoretical risk the public and politicians wish to avoid, then agencies should accomodate them, and ban all industries, including the healthcare industry which routinely generates substantial quantities of chemical, biological and radioactive waste that threaten us all.
>
> Barbara L. Hamrick
>
> In a message dated 12/11/2003 7:30:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, RuthWeiner@AOL.COM writes:
>
> > Do we stop using gasoline because it can be combined with a readily available compound to make napalm? Or because it can be used to make Molotov cocktails? Do we stop using matches because they can start forest fires? Do we ban alcohol because drunk driving kills (actually we've been there, done that, and it didn't work)?
> >
> > Did we stop using ammonium nitrate fertilizer after the
> > Oklahoma City bombing?
> ************************************************************************
> You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To
> unsubscribe, send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu Put the
> text "unsubscribe radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail,
> with no subject line. You can view the Radsafe archives at
> http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/
************************************************************************
You are currently subscribed to the Radsafe mailing list. To
unsubscribe, send an e-mail to Majordomo@list.vanderbilt.edu Put the
text "unsubscribe radsafe" (no quote marks) in the body of the e-mail,
with no subject line. You can view the Radsafe archives at
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/