EPA

["Lorna Bullerwell" <ljb1@postoffice.mail.cornell.edu>]

In message Mon, 13 Jun 94 19:03:47 -0500, glowboy@robot.nuceng.ufl.edu  writes:

>
> That's a good question --  Who is the highest ranking EPA official
> who has a degree in HP?  What policy does this person get to set?
>
> My personal guess is that the policy is set by a person with a
> degree in biochemistry or molecular biology and no formal HP
> training.
>


    Someone I know very well who used to work for the EPA, though in
hazardous materials instead of radioactive, told me that EPA
regulations are usually written by English Majors right out of college with
no scientific backgrounds or practical experience, and then gone over by
lawyers.  I do not know know if this is really true, but it is one of those
things that makes one wonder.  This would explain why some of the regulations
do not make sense.  For instance, why is 10 mrem from any isotope the same as
3 mrem from any radioiodine, as implied by the NESHAPs regulations?  I
thought a rem was a rem no matter where it came from.

(I realize that this message was posted a while ago, but between things which
had to be done before I left for the HPS meeting and being there, I am just
now getting back to my mail messages.)


Lorna Bullerwell, Radiological Safety Specialist

Cornell University
Department of Environmental Health & Safety        E-mail:  ljb1@cornell.edu
Laboratory Safety Section                          Phone:     (607) 255-8816
118 Maple Avenue, Ithaca, NY  14850                Fax:       (607) 255-8267


Lorna Bullerwell, Radiological Safety Specialist

Cornell University
Department of Environmental Health & Safety        E-mail:  ljb1@cornell.edu
Laboratory Safety Section                          Phone:     (607) 255-8816
118 Maple Avenue, Ithaca, NY  14850                Fax:       (607) 255-8267