Re: SEDIMENT AND REGS

[chatho@lanl.gov (Charles Thomas)]

If 10 mren/yr is 0.00114 microR/hr then 15 mrem/yr is 1 1/2 times or 0.00171
microR/hr which is equally unmeasurable.  Why do we have to reduce the dose
down to that level when populations are living, with no adverse health
effects, in areas many times greater than the the proposed limit would
amount to?   I would like to see a cost/benefit for cancer reduction by
going to 15 mrem/yr vs 100 mrem/yr or even 1000 mrem/yr.


>     Let me venture a statement on why.  First, during ops, the general 
>     public is not invited to have picnics and build houses on the 
>     licensees property.  Second and most important, we are talking about 
>     D&D releasing the property for unrestricted use.  If the dose limits 
>     are going to be higher based on ram left on site, then certain 
>     restrictions will apply to the property, including deed restrictions, 
>     access restrictions, etc. 
>     
>     The RegBody is doing good by having a much lower dose limit apply to 
>     areas that have been decommissioned and released to the general 
>     public.  Let's look at another aspect.  15 millirem per year is going 
>     to be somewhat, but not a lot, easier to determine than the EPA 
>     proposed 10 millirem per year, which if you calculate based on 24 hour 
>     occupancy for 365 days per year (worst case basis) the total dose rate 
>     allowable after D&D will be .00114 microR per hour.  Does your meter 
>     measure so fine?  Occam's razor would hang over our head with a limit 
>     such as this.
>     
>     R.R. Goodwin
>     Ohio Department of Health
>     Radioactive MAterials Safety
>     Ronald_Goodwin@Ohio.Health.Gov
>     (614) 644-2727
>
>
>______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
>Subject: SEDIMENT AND REGS
>Author:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu at Internet
>Date:    1/16/96 8:58 AM
>
>
>     
>     DEAR RADSAFERS
>     
>     THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSION ON THE RADSAFE NET ABOUT REGULATORY 
>     LIMITS CHANGING FROM 100 MREM/YR TO POSSIBLY 15 MREM/YR. THE QUESTION 
>     I POSE TO EVERYONE ON RADSAFE IS THIS,
>     
>     HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC THAT REGULATIONS SUCH 10 CFR 20 AND 10 
>     CFR 835 THAT ENFORCE A 100 MREM PER YEAR FOR LICENSEES DURING 
>     OPERATIONAL PERIODS IS NOW GOING TO BE ONLY 15 MREM/YR DURING 
>     DECOMMISSIONING.   IN MY OPINION, IT APPEARS THE REGULATORY BODY IS 
>     SENDING A CONTRADICTORY MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC.  IF I WAS LIVING NEXT TO 
>     A LICENSEE AND WAS EXPOSED DURING THE OPERATIONAL PERIOD TO A LIMIT OF 
>     100 MREM/YR, WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO REDUCE IT TO 15 MREM/YR AFTER THE 
>     FACILITY IS CLOSE? WAS THE 100 MREM/YR NOT A "SAFE" LIMIT??
>     
>
>
>

Charles (Tommy) Thomas
Los Alamos National Laboratory
TSA-11 MS K557
Los Alamos, NM  87545
505-665-1185
chatho@lanl.gov or chatho@roadrunner.com
The above are my thoughts
and, likely, not those of LANL