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RE: Radioactive Metals

Otto,

They are probably most concerned with recycled scrap metal that may have residual radioactivity.  The NRC and EPA are working on standards for the release of volumetrically contaminated material (such as metal).  This metal, once released for general use, could end up in consumer goods.  A groundswell of criticism has arisen from the large amounts of scrap metal expected to be generated in Oak Ridge as they decommission the gaseous diffusion facilities at the East Tennessee Technology Park (formerly known as the K-25 Site and the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant).  The contractor, BNFL, gets to keep/sell any recoverable metals, if I am not mistaken.

Jim Yusko (Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources) is a good source of information on this issue from a national perspective.  He has (co-)written several papers on the subject.  I was involved in a review of DOE's metal recycling options last year.

Bill

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-----Original Message-----
From:	Otto G. Raabe [SMTP:ograabe@ucdavis.edu]
Sent:	Wednesday, January 21, 1998 8:33 AM
To:	Multiple recipients of list
Subject:	Radioactive Metals

January 21, 1998
Davis, CA

Dear RadSafers:

Local activists are concerned about the use of "radioactive metals" in
consumer products and household items such as "belt buckles, bed frames,
strollers and appliances." They reference an activist group called Public
Citizen's Critical Mass Energy Project, 215 Pennsylvania Ave. SE,
Washington, DC 20003. They have asked for letters to be sent to John
Karnak, U.S. EPA Cleanup and Reuse Center, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC
20460 by a deadline of January 31.

Can anyone enlighten me about this issue? 

Thanks...

Otto
		*****************************************************
		Prof. Otto G. Raabe, Ph.D., CHP
                [President, Health Physics Society, 1997-1998]
		Institute of Toxicology & Environmental Health (ITEH)
		     (Street address: Old Davis Road)
		University of California, Davis, CA 95616
		Phone: 530-752-7754  FAX: 530-758-6140 [NEW AREA CODE]
		E-mail ograabe@ucdavis.edu