Rad Waste Indemnification

[Erick Lindstrom <avrel@gemini.oscs.montana.edu>]

Radsafers:

Many of you have shipped waste to the Richland site in the past.  Those of
us in the Northwest luckily still have access.  One of the requirements for
getting your waste on site is to sign a form that pledges indemnification.
The form is required by the State of Washington's Department of Health.
Washington's required limits of indemnification are $1,000,000 per
individual and $5,000,000 combined single limit (CSL). The indemnification
apparently covers scenarios of improperly packaged waste (e.g., free
standing liquids), and potential damage to the site resulting therefrom.

Here's my problem.  The State of Montana has statutory limits of liability
at $750,000 per individual and $1,500,000 CSL.  Our Tort Claims lawyers and
bean counters are adamant about this.  So I'm stuck with the catch-22,
square peg/round hole, etc., etc., etc., situation.  Not so lucky...

Have any of you good people faced this type of thing before?  How did you
remedy?  We are looking at the possibility of purchasing an excess
comprehensive general liability (pollution liability inclusive) policy.  Has
anyone gone this route before?  What were the costs?  What were the
problems?  What broker/company did you use?

Any advice here would be greatly appreciated.  Sorry this isn't really HP
stuff.  Maybe we can lay off the media and start hammering the lawyers and
bean counters again!  I find those targets more satisfying.

-Erick Lindstrom

 Erick Lindstrom
 Radiation Safety Officer
 309 Montana Hall
 Montana State University
 Bozeman, MT  59717-0244
 Phone: (406) 994-2108
 Fax:	(406) 994-4792
 avrel@gemini.oscs.montana.edu