ML19029A481
| ML19029A481 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem  |
| Issue date: | 02/06/1979 |
| From: | Lewis M - No Known Affiliation |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML19029A481 (5) | |
Text
{{#Wiki_filter:\\, -- -- -.. -- *-- *----- _f_ --- ~ 6504 Bradford_ Terrace Philao PA 19149 2-6-790 Atomic Sa:f ety and Licensing Board USNRC Sirs: In the matter oi Docket No 50~272, Proposed Issuance of.Amendment to Facility Operating.License* No DPR 70, I submit the following testimony by Dr*John: Gcs!man on the 21st on. J'ulY 1978 at the Nuclear waste Forum in.San-Francisco as my limited appearanceo . f I cannot attend o:n. the 22.or 23* of FebruaJZy 19'79 as. I must work._ 9' *1i1 )\\\\t Ma.:rvin. r. Lewis, A.B *.,B.SC.,.R.P.E. : -{
Enclosure:
The Only Rationa1 Solution to the Problem of RADIOACTIVE WASTE MAN.IGEMENT.o by John Gefman, Mo Do, Ph.D. July 21. 19780
The Only Rational Solution to the Problem of RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT by Testimony at the Nuclear Waste Management Forum (San Francisco) The U.S. Department of Energy My statement, ?upported by the technical exhibits* attached,.is that the only rational solution of the nuclear waste problem is the cessation of all nucle'ar power activities forthwith. The very beginning of the nuclear fuel cycle, the mining and milling of uranium, begins an inevitable process of conducting premeqitated random murder of citizens of the USA. The planned releases in the operation of the nuclear reactors add to the premeditated random murder. The unplanned and planned releases from all other aspects of the fuel cycle---unknown and unknowable in extent---will simply add to the
- random-murder death toll.
That there is no safe amount-of radiation exposure, with respect to somatic and genetic damage, is now widely conceded. There is no place to hide from this fact on the claim of ignorance. The death process begins with the first contact of ionizing radiation with the genetic material of cells of humans. That the corpses will be there to count at a later date is inescapable. It is, in my opinion, simply ludicrous to believe that the losses of radioactivity into the biosphere on the way to the "bank", or ultimate repository, will conceivably be_ anywhere nearly gpod enough to aver~ a major increase in our death rate. The effect could be large enough to wipe out the effect of all the public health advances of the past 25 years. Using Professor Norman Rasmussen's approach (since he is the greatest odds-maker I know), I estimate the chance of adequate containment of radioactive poisons~--in their handling before ultimate bur~al---is about the same as the chance of a meteor striking this hearing room today. So I regard the ultimate buriaJ. problem as one demonstrating intelligence only if we are stupid enough to create the radioactive garbage in the first instance. Ford and Pollard, of the Union of Concerned Scientists, have testified~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.....;. to Congress as follows: "Control and isolate our radioactive poisons? The problem is manageable!"
"The question of possible criminal activities on the part of officials e*ntrusted with protecting_ the public *safety m~st. be resolved.
As part of its background review of proposed.nuclear licensing regulations, we therefore recommend that Congress request the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice to carry out an investigation of the conduct of former AEC officials, now NRC officials, to determine any role they may have had in a nuclear safety cover-up." While I second that suggestion as a good beginning, it does not address a far more serious q'llestion, namely the violation of a higher law in the conduct of premeditated random murders---politely known as "health effects". I am unaware of any Constitutional provision permitting the random murder of citizens, the nullification of their inalienable right to.life, whether by the tens of thousands or at genocidal proportions. As you surely must know, the actual number of murders will be the result of the greatest crapshoot in history, with the victims being the U.S. citizens. There already exists a' body of principles which the USA has, on an historic occasion, acted upon in an international court. I refer to the Nuremberg Principles. We should all look forward, at the earliest possible moment, to the implementation of these principles in our own country, as we evaluate the personal responsiblity of those who insist upon conducting random, premeditated murder in the planning and execution of the nuclear power program. I think the contemplation of the Nuremberg Principles should be your central guide in consideration of the nuclear waste problem. Exhibits Attached
- 1. Gofman, John w., "Ra.diation Doses and Effects "in a Nuclear Power Economy: Myths vs. Realities", Committee for *Nuclear Responsibility Report 1976-2, April, 1976.
- 2. Gofman, John W., "The Plutonium Controversy", Journal of the American Medical Association, Volume 236, 284-286, July 19, 1976.
- 3. Gofman, John w., "On the Way to th~ Bank, or Why-There Wi-11 Never Be a Solution to the Radioactive Waste **Problem",. Camm-i ttee for Nuclear Responsibility Report 1977-7, No,vemb~r, 1_977.
Dr. Gofman is Professor Emeritus of Medical Physics, University*of
- California at Berkeley, *and is also Chairman of the.committee -for Nuclear Responsibility.
In this testimony, Dr. Gofman speaks for himself, of course. Committee for Nuclear Responsibility, Inc. P.O.B. 11207. San Francisco; Califomi11 94101 By Geoffrey Murphy. Reprinted from Minnesota PIRG's Statewatch, with his permission.
J _., \\ In the Matter of UNITED STATES, OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ) PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND ) ) ) ) Docket No.(s) 50-272 GAS COMPANY (Salem Nuclear Generating Unit 1) Station,) ) ) ) CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 4 hereby certify that I have this day served the foregoing doctiment(s) * *
- upon each person designated on the official service list. compiled by the Office of the Secretary of the Commission in this proceeding in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.712 of 10 CFR Part 2 -
Rules.of Practice, of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Rules and Regulations. Dated at Washington, D.C. this JP'. day. of 4/2 1979. ission
- e.
) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR-REGULATORY COMMISSION In the.Matter of PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY ) ) ) ) ) (Salem Nuclear Generating Station, ) Unit 1) ) ) Docket No.(a) 50-272 SERVICE LIST Gary L. Milhollin, Esq. 1815 Jefferson Street Madison, Wisconsin 53711 Mr. Glenn O. Bright Atomic Stafety and Licensing Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Dr.* James-c. Lamb, III. 313 Woodhaven Road Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514 Counsel for NRC Staff U.S. -Nuclear Regulatory Commission . Washington, D. C. 20555 Troy B.. Conner, Jr., Esq. Conner, Moore and Corber 1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006 Richard M. Hluchan, Esq. B-6 West Street Trenton, New Jersey 08625. ~)I Carl Valore, JR., Esa_. v&lore, McAllister, Aron and
- Westmoreland, P.A.
535 Tilton Road Northfield, New Jersey 08225 William_C. Horner, Esq. 67 Market Street Salem, New Jersey 08079* R. William Potter, Esq. Assistant Deputy Public Advocate Department of the Public Advocate P.O. Box 141 Trenton, New Jersey 08601 Mr. Alfred C. Doleman, Jr. Ms. Eleanor G. Coleman 35 "K" Drive Pennsville, New Jersey 08070 Ms. Ruth Fisher "The Sun People" Alternate Energy Advocates South Dennis, New Jersey 08245 - June D. MacArtor, Esq. Deputy Attorney General P.O. Box 1401 Dover, Delaware 19901 Richard Fryling, Jr., Esq. Public Service Electric and Gas Company 80 Park Place Newark, New Jersey 07101 -*-~-~----*--=~ ~----- **~---------}}