No Subject

[loesch@viper.eh.doe.gov (Robert M. Loesch)]

The following information was released by DOE on November 7, 1994:

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NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:                             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Michael Gauldin, 202/586-4940                   November 7, 1994
Rick Oborn, 202/586-4940
Rod Geer, 505/844-6601

                ACCURACY OF WORKER EXPOSURE REPORTS QUESTIONED

                  DOE OFFICIALS CONCERNED; ALL SITES ALERTED

The Department of Energy is cooperating fully with federal authorities
who today executed a search warrant for the records of a Santa Fe company
that has analyzed employee radiation test results for Sandia National
Laboratory.

The company, Controls for Environmental Pollution (CEP), tested employee
urine samples for Sandia National Laboratory beginning in 1992 as part of
the Department's bioassay program.  This program is designed to measure
the amount of radioactive material taken internally by employees who work
with unsealed radioactive substances.

The Department is also investigating whether other DOE sites and employees
may be affected and reviewing its procedures for handling bioassay samples.
Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Sandia officials stooped using CEP's services in April because quality
control testing had raised questions about the reliability of CEP's reports.
The Department's Mound Plant in Ohio used CEP's services for special projects
last year, but stopped sending samples to the company after questions arose
about the company's capabilities.

"We take these allegations very seriously," said Secretary of Energy
Hazel R. O'Leary.  "We are assessing the number of employees and sites that
may be involved, reviewing our procedures for handling bioassay reports
and establishing an accreditation system to insure the reliability of
bioassay testing."

"We will keep employees informed as we determine the scope of the problem
and notify any employees who've been given inaccurate information that 
affects their health.  We are also going to reconstruct dose levels where
tests may be questionable."

Urine tests are conducted at DOE sites where unsealed radioactive materials
are handled to verify that worker exposure is within safety limits.

CEP tested about 500 employee urine samples for Sandia from August, 1992 to
April, 1994.  All individuals involved will be offered new tests.

All DOE sites are being alerted and directed to report instances in which 
CEP's service have been used so the number of workers potentially affected
can be determined and appropriate action taken.

DOE's Office of Environment, Safety and Health is reviewing the Department's
policies and standards for the collection and recording of bioassay samples
to identify weaknesses and make improvements.

Guidance will be provided to DOE sites for action to be taken in the future
if similar similar suspect information is identified.  The direction will
include procedures for determining whether retesting for affected individuals
is called for.

The Department has been developing an accreditation program for bioassay
laboratories to provide quality and performance standards for contractors
that conduct bioassay analysis for the Department

                                - DOE -

R-94-220

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                       Summary of recent news releases

Albuquerque Journal, Nov. 8, 1994
"Sandia paid for falsified n-tests: report"

CEP, which started business in 1970, was raided by the FBI and records 
seized. According to the Albuquerque Journal on Nov. 8, federal agents are
investigating allegation that CEP falsified data to cover up failures in the 
testing process which rendered the results useless.  An informant approached
the state Attorney General's Office and the FBI alleging that the test results
were wrong because they had been falsified.  The informant provided original
laboratory notebooks which showed different results than those eventually sent
to Sandia.  Another informant stated that test results were falsified to avoid
the expense of re-running test samples when problems affected the original
test.

New Mexican, Nov. 8, 1994
"Santa Fe lab raided for Sandia test data"

In requesting a warrant to conduct the search, the U.S. Attorney's Office
claimed CEP's management consipired to deceive the federal government into
paying for fraudulent radioactive analysis by providing falsely represented
data as correct and accurate.
******************************************************
* Robert M. Loesch                                   *
* DOELAP Administrator     U.S. Department of Energy *
*                          EH-411, GTN, 270 CC       *
* (301) 903-4443   voice   Washington, DC  20585     *
* (301) 903-7773   fax                               *
******************************************************
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