ML19343A207
| ML19343A207 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 09/12/1980 |
| From: | Wasserbach A NEW YORK FEDERATION FOR SAFE ENERGY |
| To: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8009160428 | |
| Download: ML19343A207 (1) | |
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S ept.12,1980 Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 2 0 5 5 5
Dear Mr. Denton:
Thank you for your informative letter of Aug. 12,1980 and enclosures.
You stated that the radiation levels in Albany, N.Y. at the time of the Three MileIAccident in March,1979, were due to Xenon-133 and Xenon-135, with a lialf-life of 5. 3 and days, and 9.2 hours2.314815e-5 days <br />5.555556e-4 hours <br />3.306878e-6 weeks <br />7.61e-7 months <br /> respectively. I take exception to this. Since no monitoring is done for KR 85 routinely in N.Y. as it passes right through the filters, and since krypton has well-documented biological effects, the NRC cannot maintain that the radiation readings were due to Xenon only, or that there were no adverse health effects associated with levels detected in Albany, as none were measured.
As for the venting that the NRC approved for June 1980, you should have done regional monitoring, as KR 85 levels have already more than tripled in the atmosphere since 1962, the height of nuclear atmospheric testing, and before the extended proliferation of nuclear facilities throughout the U.S. and world.
I can understand the peecarious balance the NRC must obtain in the clean-up of TMI versus no action, but you must also remember your actions are adding cumulatively to the environmental pollution already existing from nuclear facilities and activities. The EPA " background" radiation figures are just so ound radiation much pacification for the unsuspecting public, in that backe includes both natural and man-made radiation,andtberefor NOT something humans have lived with for eons. And while geneticists have KNOWN, since at least the turn of the century, that radiation causes mutations, the experts still maintain there is an acceptable level of radiation exposure, without knowing collectively, or individuauy, WHAT that levelis. All the while the environmentallevels keep going up.
Cancer is at an epidemic level and you should keep in mind that releases and exposures to workers and/or the public are not measured in curies or yf0I millirems, but in human health and tragedy.
5 Since rely, O
c L.,}g^As*w W~4' Anna B. Wasserbach, MRS f... 3 7..... - -. -.,.....
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0-SAUC23T!ES. J.Y.12477