Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant

["Schroeder, Gary L" <schroede@bnl.gov>]

     Statement by U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill
>                      Richardson on the
>           Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant
>
>"We are very concerned about recent allegations
>that past activities at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion
>Plant have endangered the health of employees. We
>owe a great debt to the workforce at Paducah, and
>we are fully investigating these issues.
>
>In June, we dispatched a team of expert health
>physicists to assess the situation. They did not
>uncover any imminent threats to the public health,
>worker safety or the environment, but we are
>continuing to investigate these concerns. Further, the
>Department of Energy is in close contact with the
>Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other agencies
>to address these issues and assure the protection of
>workers and the public.
>
>We are taking the following steps.
>
>First, I've ordered a full investigation to examine
>these issues. I am determined to uncover more
>about what actually occurred, who was responsible
>and what must be done to assure that it never
>happens again.
>
>Second, we are asking the Institute of Medicine of
>the National Academy of Sciences to independently
>investigate the relationship between hazardous
>exposures and illnesses in our workers at Paducah
>and other Energy Department sites.
>
>Third, I announced last month an initiative to provide
>compensation to current and former workers who are
>ill because of exposure to beryllium at Energy
>Department nuclear sites. I'm asking the White
>House to expand the legislation, soon to be sent to
>Congress, to include workers who have been
>exposed to radioactive materials.
>
>Fourth, we are initiating a comprehensive study of
>worker medical history since the 1950s and we are
>instituting an immediate medical surveillance program
>for current workers. This is in addition to the medical
>monitoring that we are already doing for former
>workers, to determine whether they have been made
>sick from exposure to radioactive materials in the
>course of their work at the Paducah plant.
>
>Fifth, I have asked Dr. David Michaels, the
>Department's Assistant Secretary for Environment,
>Safety and Health to go to Paducah this week. He will
>meet with workers and the public to assess and
>report back to me.
>
>Sixth, I have ordered the Department's Office of
>General Counsel to assess the contractual and legal
>responsibilities of our contractors. I will ask the
>contractors to provide me with all of their health and
>environmental records. I will hold all of our
>contractors, past and present, responsible for their
>actions.
>
>Lastly, I have ordered the Department's experts to
>reassess our Fiscal Year 2000 budget request to
>assure me that it addresses all of the important
>health and safety issues at our gaseous diffusion
>plant sites. If it does not, we will recommend
>enhancements to the Congress.
>
>These actions are warranted given the concerns
>raised. I will not rest until these issues are fully dealt
>with and any injured workers are fairly compensated."
>
>                            - DOE -

Gary Schroeder
Environmental Services Division
Brookhaven National Laboratory
schroede@bnl.gov


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