ML20029B999
| ML20029B999 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/13/1990 |
| From: | Carr K NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Teepen T ATLANTIC CONSTITUTION, ATLANTA, GA |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20029B990 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-90-415, FRN-53FR49886, RULE-PR-CHP1 NUDOCS 9103220191 | |
| Download: ML20029B999 (3) | |
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Mr. Tom Teepert Editorial Page Editor The Atlanta Constitution 72 Marietta Street, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30302 l
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Dear Mr. Teepent I-- want to. clarify the: Nuclear Regulatory Commission's policy on exempting slightly radioactive materials that are below regulatory concern, _which you addressed -in your July 3 editorial.
The NRC's goal is to protect the public health and safety-and the environment i
and I am confident our recent policy accomplishes oiw goal.
When the NRC implements this policy, we. will ensure that any levels.of radiation from exempted activities:will be comparable to the low levels-that most of us encounter in routine activities such as the'-
1 use of smoke' detectors in-our homes today.
c I agree with you on one point's - few people know what a "milliren
l-is-er what constitutes a " safe" level of radiation.
Everyone is con'e tnually - exposed to low levels of-radiation.
The radiation comes from the earth Jwhere radioactive. materials exist in soil,-
rocks,: and water, including radon gas. We also' get radiation from outersspace, building' materials, food, and aven' our own bodies.
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' Radiation also comes from man-made sources such as medical x-rays and consumer products-like false teeth, smoke detectors,; luminous exit _ signs, and wrist watches.
-t But how=do you. measure. radiation levels,.whether natural or.-man-made? Radiation to our bodies.is measured in units called "reas."
Most radiation doses to human beings are so low that'the "rea" is too large_a unit, so.a amillires" is used, which is one thousandth cot a'ren.
It takes 1000 millirens to equal 1 rom.
'Let me give you a frame of reference with-respect to radiation and safety.
We.each-get about 360 millirem per year of radiation dose-fron= outer space, air,: food, drink,; soils, building ~ materials, and medical-exams.
In fact,- the National Academy of Sciences committee
' report ' you : reterred -- to noted that t no-increase. in health af f acts has 1 been documented -in. populations-residing: in areasi of high.
- e natural 1 background radiation. I wr.nt to emphasize that most-of the radiation levels used-.by the eminent scientists who wrote that:
study asca basis for' rink estimates are a thousand times higher, that is: 10 T r.eE1(not 10 milliram), than the - levels in the NRC's policy-statement.
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Mr. Teepen Safety is our responsibility, and it is a matter that we at the NRC take most seriously.
NRC has been exempting very low levels of radioactive materials on a case-by-case basis for many years.
The NRC's goal is to protect the public health and safety and we are confident that regulatory decisions based on current and sound scientific information will do just that.
Sincerely,
._.i h k Kenneth M. Carr i
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l Nuclear-wastedecisionfeedsskepticism 11e Nuclear Regulatory hSles De new polley alae would allow low <
(NRC) has caused itself unenceenery grief level Indienctive waste to be bF sanouncing it will dereguisse the els-even recycled into consum penal of some types of low level nuclear NRC defends the pol 6cy claiming that F etwo,o more don' waste. Whatever 6ts technical smertta, the will free its also argues that the level seroes waste.
decision can only tactsaae publie distreet of both the NRC sad the industry M toge-of radioectiylty hvelved - less t millirems per individual - will be perfect lates.
ly sh besitimes you wonder what alterness universe the NRC occupies, k doesn't,th it is difneult for larmen to accept e a genius to know that a public l&r' & refute the NRC's asse r
by concerned about the danew pasable diapers is going to k at lettivig many millitems constitute a safe" expa radioactive material, no imetter how slight.. sore level. However the taviron ty talated lato municipal landfills as the Protection Assney, does have sort-expertise la this area, has announced th NRC proposes.
h Ands the NRC's espesure linuts una; certably high. It's also a fact that scientis' have discovered tecendy that exposure le; els of 19w level radiation once thought ss' j lastead constituted serious health h Given all that, and given the sket cism and fear of the American pub!
toward nuclear power, the NRC's new p '
cy seems absurd. For the sake of a rv tively minor requistory bevak, H has resl rected old quest > ens about its suppose:
permissive atutude toward the industrt
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p ( 3 Y')t The NRC's long. term goal is to reb 6 4
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,public confidence la nuclear power.1:
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confidence cannot be created by cony;
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ing people the atom (a somehow less (l N 4,..
.e gerous than they believe. That parte :
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battle was lost forever on Aug. 6,:l !
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when the f.nola Gay dropped its loscf g,
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have become absolute nuts about pi; safny. We poHey 6 ends the opponne R.4.'lfMUR REGULMORY COMMISSION
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