Re: Natural background.

["Ron L. Kathren" <rkathren@beta.tricity.wsu.edu>]

I am absolutely appalled by the statement of the Congressman from West 
Virginia.  Clearly he (and his staff) need educating.  (By the way in 
testifying once before the Oregon legislature I had a similar experience, 
too lengthy to relate here, but which resulted in a recess by the 
Committee chair who spent the next 30-40 minutes with me getting educated 
over coffee.  She returned to the meeting room and adjourned the 
committee; the bill died a very quiet death in committee and never saw 
the light of day.)  In any event, Don, I suggest that you, as the 
identifier of the problem,  ask the HPS 
Secretariat to send out some informative literature; the Society now has 
a person on the payroll whose job is just that.  Kudos for ferreting this 
out.

On Tue, 16 Aug 1994 don@radpro.uchicago.edu wrote:

> The following exchange between Congressmen Nick Joe Rahall II (D (?) from
> West Virginia) and Wayne Allard (R (?) from Colorado) took place at the 
> hearings on the NRC's BRC policy on September 12, 1991.
> 
> Mr. Allard.  We're talking about very low levels of radiation.
> Do you have a natural radiation background in your state?
> 
> Mr. Rahall.  I'm sorry?
> 
> Mr. Allard  There's a certain amount of radiation in background, depending 
> on where you live.  In some states it's higher than others.
>     And I'm wondering if you happen to know what the radiation background
> is in West Virginia?
> 
> Mr. Rahall.  No, I don't, nor am I sure that we have such.
> 
> Mr. Allard  The point I was going to provide is, does it seem practical
> to regulate articles exposed to radiation, that would be lower than the
> natural background in the state, in which case you would be requiring
> regulations that are even tighter than what would be a natural phenomenon
> for that state.
>     I just wanted to know if you were prepared to comment on that.  If
> not, that's OK.  We can pick it up on future questions.
> 
> Mr. Rahall.  Well, as I said, I'm not sure that we have such radiation
> levels in my State of West Virginia.  [Mr. Rahall's statement continues.]  
> 
> "The Radiation Protection Act of 1991 Below Regulatory Concern: Hearing
> before the Subcomm. on Energy and the Environment of the House Comm. on 
> Interior and Insular Affairs", 102 Cong. 1st Sess. 23-28 (1991) (Statement
> of Nick J. Rahall II Rep. of West Virginia) 
> 
> If your congressman or congresswoman has eliminated the natural background
> in your state, please let us know.  No other act could reduce exposures so
> much at so little cost. 
> 
> 
> 
> ___________________________________________________________________
> 
> Don Jordan                          Tel. (312) 702-6299
> Office of Radiation Safety          Fax        702-4008
> The University of Chicago           email: don@radpro.uchicago.edu
> 
>            -- Opinions expressed are soley the author's -- 
>