Re: Article from Union Tribune

[Ruth Weiner <rfweine@sandia.gov>]

It seems to me that "hyperbole" describes this article better than "bias" and I 
suppose I resent the picture of greed-crazed know-nothings of 1956 (the first 
year I was able to vote). Lots of us were both poor and thoughtful in 1956.  
Also, there are tailings piles along waterways throughout the West and Southwest
-- we once went (in 1967) as guests on a boy scout raft trip that put in to the 
Dolores River next to an unmarked(!) Union Carbide tailings pile.  This was 
truly unethical practice, and I believe the pile has been stabilized since.  
This was near the town of Uravan, CO, Have there been noticeable health effects 
from these piles?  If the Moab pile has been there for 40 years, the Colorado 
isn't suddenly going to start being heavily contaminated in 1998; contamination 
would be gradual and would probably be a more or less constant concentration by 
now.

Also "poisonous chemicals?"  Lots of stuff is "poisonous" if you drink it 
undiluted.  The vague reference to "poisonous" "tosic" etc "chemicals" is always
disturbing -- tell us what you are talking about, please.  

Moving tailings piles is also a two-edged sword.  Where would it be moved to?  
How would it be moved? What good does moving without stabilization do?  Would 
stabilization in situ be preferable to moving?

Finally, what is the purpose and point of this article?  Clearly the local 
people know about the tailings, as does the DOE, NRC, and actually anybody who 
has been interested in the Western uranium mines.  The article does not inform 
-- there is precious little information in it.  It appears merely to conjure up 
the old mixed bag of pure environmentalists who want the pile moved, greedy 
thoughtless Cold Warriors, waffling DOE spokespersons, and do-nothing NRC, that 
the press seems to use as fillers on slow news days.

A parting shot: has the incongruity of San Diego's dependence on the Colorado 
for drinking water occurred to any reader?  Why does San Diego depend on the 
Colorado?  Because the population and development have dried up the California 
rivers, and California won a big political battle over Colorado River water -- 
read the Congressional hearings on the Central Arizona Project, for openers.


Clearly only my own opinion

Ruth Weiner
rfweine@sandia.gov______________________________ Reply Separator 
_________________________________
Subject: Article from Union Tribune
Author:  Scott.D.Kniffin.1@gsfc.nasa.gov at hubsmtp
Date:    9/2/98 9:29 AM


Hi all,
I edited and cleaned up the article so it's not an eye shattering pain to 
read and I corrected the two mistakes in the first 4 lines (typos).  I hope 
this doesn't get ugly once the net editor is done with it.  The copyright 
is intact, so that shouldn't be an issue.  It's a rather interesting and 
well written article that's very balanced and centered.  More of a "look 
how we handcuffed ourselves and what should we do now?" type article as 
opposed to the stuff we've come to expect.  Nice job.  See, helping the 
media can be useful and not self defeating!  Kudos to Joel Baumbaugh!
     
Scott Kniffin
Engineer
RSO, Unisys Federal Systems, Lanham, MD
CHO, Radiation Effects Facility, GSFC, NASA, Greenbelt, MD 
mailto:Scott.D.Kniffin.1@gsfc.nasa.gov
     
The opinions expressed here are my own.  They do not necessarily represent 
the views of Unisys Corporation or NASA.  This information has not been 
reviewed by my employer or supervisor.
     
San Diego Union-Tribune Archive Document
     
WHAT THE ATOMIC AGE LEFT BEHIND
     
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