Info request

["HUGHES, JOHN E" <hughesj@songs.sce.com>]

     Hello radsafers,
     
     Would someone help me with a debate that I started with an anti-Yucca 
     Valley spokesman. He published the following, concerning the repository and 
     the legislation currently proposed for it's construction:
     
     "the repository radiation release standard associated with one excess 
     cancer death for every 285 exposed individuals."
     
     I responded by asking the  following question:
     
     > Micheal,
     > 
     > I would like more information concerning the "repository radiation 
     release standard associated with one excess cancer death for every 285 
     exposed individuals." 
     > 
     > Does this mean that people are going to die of cancer if the proposed > 
     legislation is approved?
     
     His (the anti) answer was:
     
     >The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 
     >associates a lifetime (70-yr) continuous exposure to 100 
     >millirems with an excess 350 radiation caused cancer deaths per 
     >100,000 people, which equals one in 285.7.  Many in the activist 
     >community believe these figures understate the risk, though they 
     >are generally accepted by governments.  The radiation standard 
     >in H.R. 1020 and S. 1271 would therefore allow a yearly dose to 
     >those living their lives near a Yucca Mountain repository that 
     >would raise their lifetime chance of contracting fatal cancer by 
     >the factor stated above.
      
     
     My request is that someone from radsaf who is familiar with low level 
     radiation effects evaluate his last reply. Is it true? What is ICRP? I 
     am a power plant engineer but I do not work in health physics. Thanks 
     in advance to the members of this list.
     
     John Hughes
     hughesj@songs.sce.com