Re[2]: public education

[Ruth Weiner <rfweine@SANDIA.GOV>]

     Andy:
     
Thanks for clarifying the relative roles of the Compact Commission and the 
State. This was certainly not clear in the Nuke News article.  Moreover, I never
meant to imply that the information was either inadequate or biased in either 
direction.  I get the impression it was really good and to the point.

This is my point precisely (and I am quite aware of both the positive and 
negative aspects of a LLW site, being very familiar with the Hanford commercial 
site for about 20 years).  An informed public -- one given and receiving 
information that does not argue for a position -- would either overwhelmingly 
oppose a LLW site for good reason (e.g., if there were no near-surface place in 
Ohio that could reasonably support a LLW facility) or would be solidly in favor 
such a facility, because absent any reason related to geology or geography, 
location, there is no reason not to support such a facility. So why weren't the 
citizens of Ohio in solid support?  How did the Ohio representative on the 
Compact Commission vote?  

You are quite right that getting enough information into enough hands is the way
to go.  However, it's what is done with that information that counts.

Thanks again for that clarification.  I do stand corrected.

Ruth

Ruth F. Weiner, Ph. D.
Transportation Systems Department
Sandia National Laboratories
Mail Stop 0718
P. O. Box 5800
Albuquerque, NM 87185-0718
505-844-4791
505-844-0244 (fax)
rfweine@sandia.gov

Clearly only my own opnion and no one else's.


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: public education
Author:  karam.1@osu.edu at hubsmtp
Date:    1/22/98 12:59 PM


Dear Dr. Weiner:
     
I should preface this by stating that I assisted in the preparation of some 
of the fact sheets developed under this program.  In addition, I was in 
frequent contact with the Ohio LLRW Facility Development Authority 
throughout the short-lived Ohio siting process.
     
The decision to stop work on the LLRW site was made by the Midwest Compact 
Commission, NOT by the State of Ohio.  The reasons they gave were the 
continued access to Barnwell, the availability of Envirocare, and the 
reductions in waste volume in recent years.  This was apparently initiated 
by industry, not by the public, and was sprung on Ohio as a surprise.  The 
citizens of Ohio were not solidly in favor of the project, but the Ohio 
legislature and governor were still supportive of the project when funding 
was pulled by the Compact.  This decision came as a nearly complete 
surprise to the State of Ohio and the LLRW generators within the state.
     
These fact sheets were written to inform, not to advocate.  I would rather 
have well-informed opposition than politicized hype.  I realize that 
adequate information is not the cure-all to every political ill, but I do 
believe that most people who care would rather make a well-informed decision 
than a poorly-informed one.  The biggest problem with any information and 
education campaign is to get the information into enough hands.  In this 
case, however, no amount of information would have helped because the 
decision was made outside of our state with no input (that I am aware of) by 
anyone in Ohio.
     
I would urge you not to judge the quality or effectiveness of the fact 
sheets or the success of this program by the fate of Ohio's LLRW facility.
     
Andy
     
The opinions expressed above are well-reasoned and insightful.  Needless to 
say, they are not those of my employer. (with apologies to Michael Feldman)
     
Andrew Karam, CHP  (karam.1@osu.edu)          (614) 292-1284 (phone) 
The Ohio State University                     (614) 292-7002 (fax)
Office of Radiation Safety                    "The mind is not a vessel to 
1314 Kinnear Road                         be filled but a fire to be 
Columbus, OH  43212                         lighted." (Plutarch)