ML20058J219
| ML20058J219 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/18/1993 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Hughes W HOUSE OF REP. |
| References | |
| CCS, NUDOCS 9312140011 | |
| Download: ML20058J219 (23) | |
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UNITED STATES 1(
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WASHINGTON. D C. 20555 4 001 October 18, 1993 The Honorable William J. Hughes United States House of Representatives i
Washington, DC 20515-3002
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Dear Congressman Hughes:
I am responding to your letter of July 19, 1993, that was addressed to the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on behalf of one of your constituents, Dr. Catherine Frompovich, of Ocean City, New Jersey. The EPA forwarded Dr. Frompovich's letters to us on August 18, 1993 (enclosed).
Dr. Frompovich addresses concerns and questions to you in her letters of April 26, 1993, and May 13, 1993. The activities and authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are discussed below.
In the April 26 letter, Dr. Frompovich requested that you stop the Department of Energy (00E) from supplying radioactive waste products for disposal by burning.
During our inquiry into this matter, we contacted the DOE Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste management (EM).
EM staff is aware of the issues raised by Dr. Frompovich and will address her concerns upon receipt of this letter.
We are forwarding this reply and your letter containing Dr. Frompovich's concerns to the DOE for their consideration.
Dr. Frompovich also requested that you mandate federal oversight of operations and emissions in kilns and trash-to-steam incinerator plants. The NRC requires that persons wishing to operate facilities, which incinerate NRC-regulated materials, be licensed to do so.
Licensed facilities must have programs which protect the health and safety of the public and the environment from~ radiation and radioactive material.
With the exception of low concentrations of hydrogen-3 and carbon-14 and certain waste oils at nuclear power plants, a person must make a specific application to the NRC or an Agreement State for authorization to incinerate radioactive materials.
The NRC or Agreement State evaluates all such requests individually to determine the impact on the public health and safety and the environment.
An NRC license to incinerate radioactive wastes does not relieve the licensee from complying with other federal, state or local regulations governing any other toxic or hazardous characteristic of the material.
EPA has standards and regulaticns concerning cement kilns and maintaining the health and well-being of the public and the environment around incinerators (Chapter 1, Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 60 and 266).
i In the May 13 letter, Dr. Frompovich raised a number of concerns, most of which relate to functions of the DOE, which will be addressed by DOE. She also alleged that an unlicensed facility was knowingly incinerating radioactive material. This allegation has been placed in the NRC Region I (King of Prussia, Pennsylvania)
Allegation Management System as an open item, and information is being pursued through those channels.
9312140011 931018 l
PDR ORG NE E j/
1
The Honorable William J. Hughes l We note that Dr. Frompovich stated in her letter that an individual " lied to the EPA."
We suggest that she may wish to contact EPA through their Inspector General Office hotline at (202) 260-4977 so that they may investigate this allegation.
We hope this information proves helpful to you and your constituent.
Sincerely,
/
L hlor ecutive Director for Operations
Enclosure:
8/18/93 Letter from R. Carroll cc: Margo T. Oge, EPA Thomas P. Grumbly, DOE 1
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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
%s EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT 18 AUGUST 1993 HONORABLE WILLIAM J.
HUGHES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, D.C.
20215 DEAR REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES:
WE RECEIVED YOUR LETTER OF JULY 19, 1993 INCLUDING AN INQUIRY FROM YOUR CONSTITUENT DR. CATHERINE J.
FROMPOVICH REGARDING BURNING OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE. HOWEVER EPA DOES NOT REGULATE RADIOACTIVE WASTE BURNING FROM INCINERATORS.
THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC)IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH REGULATIONS. WE ARE SENDING YOUR INQUIRY TO NRC.
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC) 11555 ROCKVILLE PIKE ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20852 SI-ERELY, j reknkt 4Af d RO EMARY CARROLL EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT - A101 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 401 M STREET SW WASHINGTON, D.C.
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Ms. Carol Browner Administrator Environmental Protection Agency
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Dear Ms. Browner:
I have recently been contacted by one of my constituents, T
Dr. Catherine Frompovich, who is concerned that there is burning of nuclear waste in cement kilns occurring in this country, and that this will subsequently have a negative effect on our environment.
Enclosed please find a copy of the letter that Dr.
Frompovich sent to me outlining this situation.
I would appreciate it if you could send me any information, including any EPA regulations concerning the burning of nuclear waste in cement kilns, that I could share with her.
With kind personal regards, Sin > ely, W
GHES Memb of ngress WJH:dw i
NM M'?
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CATHERINE J. FROMPOV CH P
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610-12th Street, Ocean City,.J J 082bo 609 / 398-3818 April 26, 1993
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Congressman William J. Hughes Central Park East PR 2 8 $g3 Mic, i
Building 4, Suite 5 222 New Road Linwood, N J 08221 I
Dear Congressman Hughes:
This is in reply to your kind letter of April 5th and for which I want to thank you very much.
I am delighted that you have co-sponsored H.R. 109 to make the EPA an agency with teeth and more than just a paper tiger! Can you imagine how impotent Health and Human Services vould te if its department head were not a cabinet member? Do you need any help in working on this till?
Can you please obtain for me a copy of the EPA survey of 900 schools that you cited in your letter? I truly would appreciate having it.
I would like to encourage you to prod Chaiman Waxman into introducing legislation that would mandate air quality regulations / limitations for classrooms from preschool to graduate school.
Is there any published report on that subcommittee's hearings? If so, I would like to obtain a copy if your office can procure ono for me.
Enclosed is a political cartoon I drev even though I am no artist.
l However, I believe the sentiments it expresses are more impressive than the 111ustration. Hopefully, you vill recall that my husband and I were displaced from our home in Pennsylvania because of hazardous vastes, etc. being burned in the kilns north of us.
I relayed the story to Nancy when I verked on your campaign. She may be able to fill you in.
Well, there is more to it than anyone would have thought. However, I had suspicions at that time but no one could confirm what happened to us.
Enclosed is an article " Cement Dust" out of Our Toxic Times, April 1993, wherein the covernment cublication CF 93-2(4):1,4 is cited with regard to the Dept. of Enerov having "acknowledced that nuclear vastes have been secretly and illecally sent to cement kilns, as well as at least 6 hazardous vaste incinerators, 2 treatment facilities, and 3 landfills."
[ emphasis added]
As you can gather frcxn the enclosed article, " cement kilns burned about 2.6 billion pounds of liquid and solid hazardous vaste in 1991 and have surpassed the ecmercial hazardous vaste l
incineration industry." Therein lies the problem! Cement kilns have no lecislation on the books at federal, state, or local covernment sttich addresses what can be burned and the monitorinc of the emissions from those burnings. In effect, cement kilns have carte blanche and !
everythinc, includinc ulutonium ant' cesium-137, is beina burned in !
them.
3
= _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _., _ _
CAT HERINE J. FROMPOVICH, Ph.D.
Congressmi William J. Hughes April 26, 1993
" hat has to stop! The Dept. of Energy should not be in a position to get rid of radioactive vastes by burning them and volatizing their particulates in air that everyone has to breathe. I know first hand from that: my husband and I had our breathing organs burned last year frce what we thourght then, and believe now, to be radioactive vastes.
With no federal, state or local oversight and the Dept. of Energy J
" secretly and illegally" supplying cement kilns with radioactive thisaffectthehealthofl, pluteni'.:n and cesium-137 wastes, how will children, the elderly and everyone in between? What vill that do to increase the costs of healthcare that everyone is concerned vith now?
Without public law c,r sta;.utory law, cent.nt kilns virtually can and have burned anything!
Please, Mr. Hughes, can you use your good offices to introduce legislation to:
- 1. stop the Dept. of Energy fru: supplying radioactive vaste products for disposal by burning.
[Where was the NRC with regard to this? Shouldn't they become involved?]
- 2. mandate federal oversight of kiln operaticris and emissions in order to prevent hazardous, low-level radioactive or radioactive vastes from being burned in kilns and trash-to-steam incineration plants.
Up in Harmonton, NJ there is a trash-to-steam incinerator.
Its emissions can pollute the Jersey shore air to a point where business can te affected similarly to the way medical vastes affected the resort business.
I don't think the beach trade has ever recouped, do you?
Perhaps the economy may have interfered along the way, but shore business has not been the same since the dirty needles vashed up on the Jersey shore. You took action then, and rightfully so.
I hope you can see the merits of taking action now. The environment can't wait until someone eventually gets around to it.
Now that this horrible pollution by radioactive vaste burning has been made known, regardless of where in this cou".try it is happening, any me-6er of Congress shcu2d feel incensed to take action into correcting it.
After all, the air belongs to everyone and what is burned in Ohio and Pennsylvania eventually is blown into New Jersey!
If I can be of any help to you on this, please let me know. Hy husband and I have first hand experience with it.
Also, I will be leaving the Jersey shore around June 5th and going to Washington, DC to live and work. We have sold our home in Pennsylvania. I should like to acquire some Hill experience even if it is on an internship basis. Do you need any such volunteer help in your Washington office? Since I volunteered for you here in Ocean City, I would love to volunteer for you in DC.
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CATHERINE J. FROMPOVICH, Ph.D.
Congressman William J. Hughes April 26, 1993 Mr. Hughes, please help our air quality by getting your colleagues to co-sponsor a bill on cement kiln burning and monitoring. On behalf of everycne who breathes, including Mother Earth, thank you!
Sincerelyyours,j M,
b Catherine Fr
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April 26, 1993 O
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Congressman liughes fit 0M:
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9 hbA.hh0 /lwids fQ Legal Up-date "all too often, hcwever, the problems have contin-Expert Witness ued to fester and grow worse. In general, the state of management in the federal government is poor.
Frank Vasey, MD, Professor of Medicine, University Too many management ideas - and resulting agency of Florida,12901 N Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, structures and processes - that worked well in the FL 33612; (813) 974-2681 (Sib, cone implants) past now hinder the government from responding quickly and effectively to a world in tremendous Medical Up-date flux. Most agencies have no strategic vision of the future, lack sound systems to collect and apply fin-Family Practice: Alan Glaseross, MD,1318 H St.,
ancial and program information to gauge operation-Arcadia, CA.
al success and accountability, and too often do Occupational Medicine: Jay Himmelstien, University without people with the skills necessary to accom-of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA; (508) 856-0011.
. plish their missions.
Reports are: Budget Issues (GAO/OCG-93-lTR), In-Environ:nental Directory Up-date Vestment (GAO/OCG-93 2TR), Government Manage-Parents for Pesticide Alternatives,2678 Colony Cir-ment Issues (GAO/OCG-93 3TR), Financial Manage-cle, Snelhille, GA 30278-2773.
Contact:
Phyllis ment Issues (GAO/OCG-93 4TR), Information Man-Marberger.
agement and Technology Issues (GAO/OCG-93-5TR),
Address Up-date Program Evaluation Issues (GAO/OCG-93-6TR), The Share, Care & Prayer, c/o Riecken,1833 S 2nd Ave.,
Public Service (GAO/OCG-93-7TR), Health Care Re-Arcadia, CA 91006.
form (GAO/OCG-93-8TR), National Security Issues Environmental Research Foundation, "Rachel's Haz-(GAO/OCG-93-9TR), Financial Services Industry Is-ardous Waste News," PO Box 5036, Annapolis, sues (GAO/OCG-93-10TR), International Trade Issues MD 21403-7036,(410) 263-1584 (GAO/OCG-93-11TR), Commerce issues (GAO/OCG-Alternative Energy Resources Organization, 25 S 93-12TR), Energy Issues (GAO/OCG-93-13TR), Trans-Ewing, Suite 214, Helena, MT 59601.
portation Issues (GAO/OCG-9314TR), Food and Children Against Toxic Substances is on 60 Oscer Agriculture ' Issues (GAO/OCG-93-15TR), Environ-Ave, Haultaug, NY 11788. (Not Oscar Ave as I mental Protections Issues (GAO/OCG-93-16TR), Na-mistyped in last month's OTT.)
tural Resource Management Issues (GAO/OCG 17rR), Education Issues (GAO/OCG 93-ISTR), Labor Buying Guide Up-date Issues (G AO/OCG-9319TR), Health and Human Ser-Vice Issues (GAO/OCG-93-20TR), Veterans Affairs Air / Water Purifiers. National Safety Associates, In-Issues (GAO/OCG 93-21TR), Housing and Commun-ternational, 1151 N Pinecrest, Bozeman, MT ity Development Issues (GAO/OCG-93-22TR), Justice 59715; (406) 587-6281,
Contact:
Tom Ferch.
Issues (GAO/OCG-93-23TR), Internal Revenue Ser-Reading / Computer Boxes & Saunas: The Safe Read-vice Issues (GAO/OCG-93 24TR), Foreign Economic ing & Computer Box Company,1158 N Huron, Assistance Issues (GAO/OCG-93-25TR), Foreign Af-Linwood, MI 48634;(517) 697-3989.
fa rs Issues (GAO/OCG-93-26TR), NAS A Issues (GAO l
Address Up-date
/OCG-93-27TR), General Service Issues (GAO/OCG-f Nontoxic Environments,9392 S Gribble Rd, Canby, 93-2sa).
OR 97013; (503) 266-5244; FAX 266-5242.
S ngle copies of the reports are free and may be obtained by writing GAO, PO Box 6015, Gaithers-General News burg, MD 20877.
In a series of 28p CEMENT DUST: The EPA has discovered low lev-CHANGING OF THE GUARD:
els of plutonium and dioxin in cement and cement reports, the GAO examined issues that will need to
[
kiln dust.
be addressed by the Clinton Administration.
Plutonium, created by nuclear explosions and _,m GAO highlighted many of these problems in a sim-nuclear reactors, has been discovered at five cement ilar set of reports in 1988. In some instances, pro-kilns scattered around the country - three of which mress has bem made; but according to the GAO,
(f* 7 ek
't were not permitted to burn hazardous waste. Also product of normal metabolism. Excessive amounts found was cesium-137, another by-product of nu-of free radicals are believed to damage cells.
clear reactors.
The gene protein, called superoxide dismutase The D_OE has acknowledged that nuclear wastes (SOD), helps dismantle destructive free radicals i
have been secretly and illegally sent to cement kilns, before they can harm DNA and other cell compon-as well a_s at least 6 hazardous waste incinerators,2 Any glitch in the SOD gene impairs this pro-ents treatment facilities, and 3 landfills.
tective capability.
In response to a court order, EPA tested 15 ce-ALS is a disorder of the motor neurons in the spi-ment kilns across the country last March and April.
na! cord and brain. Neurons are robbed of the abil-In addition to the presence of nori-naturally occur-ity to send messages to muscles making speech, i
ring radioactive elements and other expected con-swallowing, and even breathing difficult. ALS has taminants, EPA determined that cement and cement two main types: familial, which occurs at about the kiln dust contain dioxins and furans.
age of 48, and sporadic, around the age of 58. ALS The EPA allows cement kilns to burn more than is fatal, usually within 5 years There is no known 125 different chemical compounds, many of which treatment or cure. (NIA 3/3/93) contain low amounts of chlorinated solvents and a The antioxidants Vitamins A, C, and E; Beta-car-wide range of heavy metals The compounds typi-otene; Glutathione; Selenium; and Zine are reported i
cally come from wastes generated by producers of to attack fret-radicals and heal tissue damage. (Ta!-
i inks, solvents, cosmetics, medical supplies, toys, ben, L; Wagner ES, "A Fowerful Cancer Defense: Anti-electronics, and the auto industry.
o>adana," 1989, Amuican Insutute of Health and Nutn-j i
Cement kilns burned about 2.6 billion pounds of "h
h, quid and solid hazardous waste m 1991 and have g gg.
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surpassed the commercial hazardous waste inciner-system that deals with American Disabilities Act 4
ation industry. The EPA has now listed 3 cement and Social Secunty quesuons. To access the board kiln sites on the National Priority List for Superfund call (800) 342-5526.
cleanup sites because of groundwater contamina-Thanks go to Ginny Kloth for this tnformation.
tion. (southwest sage, 12/16/92) Taken from CF 93 l
SCHOOLS: A draft of the EPA Rev, sed Vers, ion of i
~
2(4):1.4.
the Final Draft, " Pest control in Schools: Adoptmg l
ESTICIDE REPORTING: Because of budget cuts, Integrated Pest Management" is available from the the National Pesticide Telecommunications Net-Field Operations Division, Office of Pesticide Pro-work (NPTN) began reduced hours starting Feb-grams (H7506C), EPA,401 M St SW, Washington, ruary 1st. The new hours are from 8 am to 6 PM DC 20406 3
g CST, Monday through Friday. The toll-free num-g;,
I c ler req e s r mailed information must be COUNCIL ABOLISHED: The White House Coun-pre-paid before mailing; faxes will be sent only to cil on Competitiveness, established under the Bush callers who provide charge card numbers. NPTN Administration, has been abolished by the Chnton operators will continue to answer questions about Adnumstration.
The council, headed by former d
human and animal poisonings as well as related ce President Dan Quayle, routinely undermined areas. Medical professionals are also available in envir amental and safety regulations. (WN Jan/Feb 93 emergencies. (EPA 93 R-40) pg1)
LS: Scientists have found a gene defect responsible SHELLFISH: The FDA has issued 4 guidance docu-for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),
ments on elemental contaminants in shellfish. They I
also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Eleven differ-are 1) Guidance Document for Arsenic in Shellfish; ent mutations linked to ALS were found in a gene
- 2) Guidance Document for Cadmium in Shellfish; on chromosome 21. In a healthy person, this gene
- 3) Guidance Document for Chromium in Shellfish; directs the production of a protein that nds the and 4) Guidance Document for Nickel in Shellfish.
body of toxins called free radicals, which are a by-Single copies of each report are available free by sending 2 self-addressed adhesive labels to the FDA, Policy Guidance Branch (HFS-4ML M C
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t CATHERINE J. FROMPOVICH, Ph.D.
Peply to: P.O. box 714, Richlandtown, FA 18955 May 13, 1995
)
Congressman William J. Hughes igm
=lvww I g Central Park East Building 4, Suite 5 222 New Road Linwood, N J 08221 Ref: Dept of Energy secretly and illegally sending nuclear vastes to cmpnt kilns to burn / CF 93-2(4):1,4.
i
Dear Congressman Hughes:
Back on April 26, 1993, I first vrote to you about the above and enclosed an article entitled " Cement Dust" [Our Toxic Times, April 1993]
L which documented the Dept. of Energy's supplying kilns with plutonium and cesium-137 to burn in with hazardous vastes that vere being burned.
[
This letter is a fo11ovup.
I have done some thinking about what has occurred from the perspective of my working on a Political Science degree [only 18 credits to finish it]. I believe the citizens need to l
kncv the answers to the following questions:
Question 1: What impact do the actions of DOE have on the USA's responsibility for living up to the Partial Test Ban j
Treaty of 1963 which banned nuclear testing in the atmosphere. Granted, DOE did not detonate a nuclear device, but it did provide nuclear materials for atmoscheric discharce via burning and volatilization. As such, DOE 1
deliberately performed " secret and illegal act(s)", and 1
igncrance is not a valid defense in such a case. After all, DOE is an executive / governmental agency whose Secretary is a member of the President's cabinet!
i Question 2: Should not the Nuclear Regulatory Coctnission have been involved?, and ought not this have come under its jurisdiction under normal circumstances? However, since there was secrecy involved, one has to defer semestat insofar as accountability on the part of NRC, but not j
, regarding an immediate investigation of the matter. And that is why I am contacting you. Please institute an investigation into the matter of nuclear vaste burning of plutonium and cesium-137 supplied by DOE.
J
~
CATHERINE J. FROMPOVICH, Ph.D.
' Ouestion 3: What impact vill DOE's illegal and secret actions of supplying a non-governmental agency / private industry with nuclear materials /vastes have upon the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1970 to stich the USA was a signatory? Could some of the plutonium and cesium-137 have been " stolen" from the kilns and found their way into terroris'ts' hands, Sadan Hussein's weapons production, or some Banana Republic with aspirations of becoming a member of the nuclear club?
k Question 4: Will you introduce a bill to regulate kilns and cement kiln burning / disposal and emissions, since there are no regulations on kilns at federal, state or local levels.
Kilns are a " legal" loophole to burn everything and anything as vitnessed by CF 93-2(4):1,4.
Question 5:
Since the Environmental Protection Agency apparently is impotent when it comes to monitoring air quality, please support and/or co-sponsor H.R. 109, which will redesignate i
the agency as the Deoartment of the Environment thereby giving the agency cabinet level status. Hopefully, EPA can become more than a paper tiger!
Note: When I first reported air problems in our area last year, EPA and PA DER discounted our complaints as a nuisance. PA DER's Randy Bordner even lied to the EPA, and we have it in writing frcn EPA via Freedom of Infomation request.
Thank you for following up on this most serious of all air pollution problems. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
4 Sincerelyyoursg 7
e
,y A'O Catherine. Frcrr-ich, Ph.D.
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EXEC 11TIVE SECRETARIAT 18 AUGUST 1993 HONORABLE WILLIAM J.
HUGHES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, D.C.
20215 DEAR REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES:
WE RECEIVED YOUR LETTER OF JULY 19, 1993 INCLUDING AN INQUIRY FROM YOUR CONSTITUENT DR. CATHERINE J.
FROMPOVICH REGARDING BURNING OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE. HOWEVER EPA DOES NOT REGULATE RADIOACTIVE WASTE BURNING FROM INCINERATORS.
THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC)IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH REGULATIONS. WE ARE SENDING YOUR INQUIRY TO NRC.
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC) 11555 ROCKVILLE PIKE ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20852 SI? ERELY, M&nktt
- AtfW, ROSEMARY CARROLL EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT - A101 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 401 M STREET SW WASHINGTON, D.C.
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1609F678-3333 Ms. Carol Browner Administrator Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street SW.
Washington, DC. 20460
Dear Ms. Browner:
I have recently been contacted by one of my constituents,-
Z Dr. Catherine Frompovich, who is c'
-ned that there is. burning of nuclear waste in cement kilns c st ~ ng in this' country, and that this will subsequently have a ney _ive effect on our environment.
Enclosed please find a copy of the. letter that Dr.
Frompovich sent to me outlining this situation.
I would appreciate it if you could send me any information, including any EPA regulations concerning the burning of nuclear waste in cement kilns, that I could share with her.
With kind personal regards, Sin
- ely, e
t
//
.s WI'LLI 7.
GHES Memb of ngress WJH:dw
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CATHERINE J. FROMPOVpt-i Ph D.
610-12th Street, ccean City,. o C6225 609 / 393-3818 Acril 25, 1993 i
i Congressman William J. Hughes
,a e,
Central Park East
- fA d hiCC" f /1 Euilding 4, suite 5
<wwJ 222 New Road
.i Linwood, N J 08221 i
Dear Ccngressman Hughes:
This is in reply to your kind letter of April 5th and for which I want to thank you very much.
I am delighted trat you have co-sponsored H.R. 109 to make the EPA an agency with teel. and more than just a paper tiger! Can you imagine how inpotent Heal.tb and tiuman Services vou.16 N i" its depa-tnent bead
?
were not a cabinet member? Do you need any help in working on this bill?
Can you please cbtain for me a copy of the EPA survey of 900. schools that you cited in your letter? I truly would appreciate having it.
I vould like to encourage you to prod Chairman Waxman into introducing legislation that would mandate air quality regulations / limitations for classrooms from preschool to graduate school.
Is there any published report on that subcommittee's hearings? If so, I would like to obtain a copy if your office can procure one for me.
j Enclosed is a political cartoon I drev even though I am no artist.
McVever, I believe the sentiments it expresses are more impressive than the illustration. Hopefully, you vill recall thT2 my husband and I were displaced from our home in Pennsylvania because of hazardous vastes, etc. being burned in the kilns north of us.
I relayed the story to j
Nancy when I verked on your campaign. She may be able to fill you in.
Well, there is more to it than anyone vould have thought. However, I had suspicions at that time but no one could confirm what happened to us.
Enclosed is an article " Cement Dust cut of our Toxic Tines, April 1993, V W ein the covernment oublication CF 92-2(4):1,4 is cited vith regard l'
vhe Dept. of Enerav having "acknowledced that nuclear vastes have d u ecretly and illecally sent to cement kilns, as well as at least 6 hazaruous vaste incineratore, 2 treatment facilities, and 3 landfills."
[ emphasis added]
As you can gather from the enclosed article, " cement kilns burned about 2.6 billion pounds of liquid and solid hazardous vaste in 1991 and have surpassed the ccmmercial hazardous vaste incineration industry." Therein lies the problem! Cement kilns have no 1ecislation on the bocks at federal, state, or local covernment which-l addresses what can be burned and the monitcrinc of the emissions from those burninos.
In effect, cement kilns have carte blanche and i
evervthine, includinc plutonium an,"
cesium-137, is beinc burned in
{
them.
d CATHERINE J. FROMPOVICH, Ph.D.
t C:ngressman William J. Hughes A;ril :5, 1993
~'at has to stop!
~te rept. of Energy should nct be in a.::sition to get rid of radioactive vastes by burning them and volatining their particulates in air that everyone has to breathe.
I know first hand from that: my husband and I had our breathing organs burned last year from what we thcught then, and believe now, to be radioactive vastes.
With no federal, state or local oversight and the Dept. of Energy
" secretly and illegally" supplying cement kilns with radioactive plutenium and cesium-137 wastes, how vill this affect the health of children, the elderly and everyone in between? What vill that do to increase the costs of healthcare that everyone is concernec with now?
Dithout public law u stan.tcry law, ce a nt kilns virtu C ly can and have turned anything!
Flease, Mr. Hughes, can you use your good Offices to introduce legislation to:
- 1. stop the Dept. of Energy from supplying radioactive vaste products for disposal by burning.
[Where was the N?.C with regard to this? Shouldn't they become involved?)
- 2. mandate federal oversight of kiln operations and emissicms in order to prevent hacardous, low-level radioactive or radioactive vastes from being burned in kilns and trash-to-steam incineration plants.
Up in Hammonton, NJ there is a trash-to-steam incinerator.
Its emissions can pollute the Jersey shore air to a point where business can be affected similarly to the way medical vastes affected the resort business.
I don't think the beach trade has ever recouped, do you?
Perhaps the economy may have interfered along the vay, but shore business has not been the same since the dirty needles vashed up on the Jersey share. You took action then, and rightfully so.
I hope you can see the merits of taking action nov. The environment can't wait until someone eventually gets around to it.
Now that this horrible pollution by radioactive vaste burning has been made known, regardless of where in this country it is happenin;, any me ter cf Congresc shculd feel incensed to take action into correcting it.
After all, the air belongs to everyone and what is burned in Ohio and Pennsylvania eventually is blown into New Jersey!
If I can be of any help to you on this, please let me know. My husband and I have first hand e :perience with it.
Also, I will te leaving the Jersey shore around June 5th and going to Washington, DC to live and work. We have sold our home in Pennsylvania.
I should like to acquire I
some Hill erperience even if it is on an internship basis. Do you need any such volunteer help in your Washington office? Since I volunteered for you here in Ocean City, I would love to volunteer for you in DC.
-.. =...
~.
CATHERINE J. FROMPOVICH, Ph.D.
.i
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i Cen;ressman William J. Hughes Apri 25, 1993 j
I'r :-:uches, please hel'e-our air c.uality by cettina_ your coliespues to j
cc =;.cnsor a bill on cement kiln burning and monitoring. Cn rehalf ' of 3
f eve.icne who breathes, including Mcther 2arth, thank you!
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Sincerelyyours,j i
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eb Catherine 7 Fr..pc', ch V
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NA Legal Up-date "all too onen, however, the problems have contin-ued to fester and grow worse. In general, the state Expen Witness of management in the federal government is poor Frank Vasey, MD, Professor et Medicme, U,niversity Too many management ideas - and resulting agency of Florida,12901 N Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, structures and processes - that worked well in the FL 33612;(813) 974-2681. (Silicone implants) past now hinder the govemment from responding quickly and erTectively to a world in tremendous Medical Up-date Dux. Most agencies have no strategic vision of the Smre, lack sound systems to collect and apply En-l Family Practice: Alan Glaseross, MD,1318 H St.,
ancial and progra n information to gauge operation-Arcadia, CA.
al success and accountability, and too often do Occupational Medicine: Jay Himmelstien, University with ut people with the skills necessary to accom-of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA; (508) 856-0011.
plish their missions.
Repons are: Budget Issues (GAO/OCG-93-lTR), In-Environmental Directory Up-date vestment (GAO/OCG-93-2TR), Government Manage-Parents for Pesticide Alternatives,2678 Colony Cir-ment issues (GAO/OCG-93 3TR), Financial Manage-cle, SnelMlle, GA 30278-2773.
Contact:
Phyllis ment Issues (GAO/OCG-93-tR), Information Man-Marberger.
agement and Technology Issues (GAO/OCG-93-5TR),
Address Up-date Program Evaluation Issues (GAO/OCG-934TR), The Share, Care & Prayer, clo Riecken,1833 S 2nd Ave.,
Public Service (GAO/OCG-93 7TR), Health Care Re-Arcadia, CA 91006.
form (GAO/OCG-93-8TR), National Security Issues Environmental Research Foundation, "Rachel's Haz-(GAO/OCG-93-9TR), Financial Services Industry Is-ardous Waste News," PO Box 5036, Annapolis, sues (GAO/OCG-93-10TR), International Trade Issues MD 21403-7036;(410) 263-1584.
(GAO/OCG-93-llTR), Commerce Issues (GAO/OCG-Alternative Energy Resources Organization, 25 S 93-12TR), Energy Issues (GAO/OCG-93-13n), Trans-Ewing, Suite 214, Helena, MT 59601.
ponation Issues (GAO/OCG-93-14TR), Food and Children Against Toxic Substances is on 60 Oscer Agriculture Issues (GAO/OCG-93-15TR), Environ-Ave, Haultaug, NY 11788. (Not Oscar Ave as I mental Protections Issues (GAO/OCG-9316TR), Na-mistyped in last month's OTT.)
tural Resource Management Issues (GAO/OCG 93-17TR), Education Issues (GAO/OCG-93-187R), Labor Issues (GAO/OCG-93-19TR), Health and Human Ser-Buying Guide Up-date Vice Issues (GAO/OCG-93-20TR), Veterans Affairs Air / Water Puriners: National Safety Associates, In-Issues (GAO/OCG-93-21TR), Housing and Commun-ternational, 1151 N Pinecrest, Bozeman, MT ity Development Issues (GAO/OCG-93-22TR), Justice 59715; (406) 587-6281,
Contact:
Tom Ferch.
Issues (GAO/OCG 93 23TR), Internal Revenue Ser-Reading / Computer Boxes & Saunas: The Safe Read-vice Issues (GAO/OCG-93-24TR), Foreign Economic ing & Computer Box Company,1158 N Huron, Assistance Issues (GAO/OCG-93-25TR), Foreign Af-
'i Linwood, MI 48634; (517) 697-3989, fairs Issues (GAO/OCG-93-26TR), NAS A Issues (GAO Address Up-date
/OCG-93-27TR), General Service Issues (GAO/OCG-Nontoxic Environments,9392 S Gribble Rd, Canby, 93-28TR).
i OR 97013; (503) 266-5244; FAX 266-5242.
Single copies of the repons are free and may be i
obtained by writing GAO, PO Box 6015, Gaithers-General News burg, MD 20877.
In a series of 28p CEMENT DUST; The EPA has discovered low lev-CHANGING OF THE GUARD:
els f plutonium and dioxin in cement and cement repons, the GAO examined issues that will need to l
kiln dust.
be addressed by the Clinton Administration.
Plutonium, created by nuclear explosions and,m GAO highlighted many of these problems in a sim-nuclear reactors, has been discovered at nve. cement i
ilar set of repons in 1988. In some instances, pro-kilns scattered around the country - three of which ass has been made; but according to the GAO,
i
,th
?
hu1 2
were not permitted to burn hazardous waste. Also found was cesium-137, another by-product of nu-product of normal metabolism. Excessive amounts of free radicals are believed to damage cells.
clear reactors.
The gene protein, called superoxide dismutase i
The D_OE has acknowledj;ed that nuclear wastes (SOD), helps dismantle destructive free radicals have been secretly and illegally sent to cement k21ns.
before they can harm DNA and other cell compon-as well as at least 6 hazardous waste incinerators. 2 treatment facilities, and 3 landfills.
ents. Any glitch in the SOD gene impairs this pro-tective capability.
In response to a court order, EPA tested 15 ce-ALS is a disorder of the motor neurons in the spi-ment kilns across the country last March and April.
nal cord and brain. Neurons are robbed of the abil-In addition to the presence of nori-naturally occur-ity to send messages to muscles making speech, ring radioactive elements and other expected con-swallowing, and even breathing difficult. ALS has j
taminants, EPA determined that cement and cement two main types: familial, which occurs at about the kiln dust contain dioxins and furans.
age of 48, and sporadic, around the age of 58. ALS The EPA allows cement kilns to bum more than is fatal, usually within 5 years There is no known 125 different chemical compounds, many of which treatment or cure. (NIA 3/3/93) contain low amounts of chlorinated solvents and a The antioxidants Vitamins A, C, and E; Beta-car-c i
wide range of heavy metals. The compounds typi-otene; Glutathione; Selenium; and Zinc are reported cally come from wastes generated by producers of to attack free-radicals and heal tissue damage. (Tal-inks, solvents, cosmetics, medical supplies, toys, ben, L; Wagner, ES, "A Powerful Cance Defense: Anti-i electronics, and the auto industry.
miants," 1989, American Insunne of Health and Nutri-Cement kilns.. burned about 2.6 billion pounds of
" "J liquid and solid hazardous waste in 1991 and have A
ere is a buHetin board
~
surpassed the commercial hazardous waste inciner-system that deals with American Disabihties Act ation industry. The EPA has now listed 3 cement and Social Security questions. To access the board kiln sites on the National Priority List for Superfund call (800) 342-5526~
i cleanup sites because of groundwater contamina-Thanks go to Ginny Kloth for this m. formation.
tion. Southwest Sage, 12/16/92) Taken from CF 93 l
SCHOOLS: A draft of the EPA Revised Version of gg
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STICIDE REPORTING: Because of budgeIcuts, Integrated Pest Management"is available from the 4
the National Pesticide Telecommunications Net-Field Operations Division, Office of Pesticide Pro-work (NPTN) began reduced hours starting Feb.
grams (H7506C), EPA, 401 M St SW, Washington, ruary 1st. The new hours are from 8 am to 6 PM DC 20406 CST, Monday through Friday. The toll-free num-Thanks go to Irene Wilkenfeld, Pres of CIIN-IN, ber is (800) 858-7378' gg g.
All caller requests for mailed. -mrormanon must be COUNCIL ABOLISHED: The White House Coun-pre-paid before mailing; faxes will be sent only to ctl n Competitiveness, established under the Bush t
callers who provide charge card numbers. NPTN Administration, has been abolished by the Clinton operators will continue to answer questions about Administration.
The council, headed by former human and animal poisonings as well as related Vice President Dan Quayle, routinely undermined areas. Medical professionals are also available in env ronmental and safety regulations. (WN Jan/Feb 93 emergencies. (EPA 93 R-40)
PS 1)
JS Scientists have found a gene defect responsible SHELLFISH: The FDA has issued 4 guidance docu-for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),
ments on elemental contaminants in shellfish. They also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Eleven differ-are 1) Guidance Document for Arsenic in Shellfish; ent mutations linked to ALS were found in a gene
- 2) Guidance Document for Cadmium in Shellfish; on chromosome 21. In a healthy person, this gene
- 3) Guidance Document for Chromium in Shellfish; directs the production of a protein that rids the and 4) Guidance Document for Nickel in Shellfish.
I body of toxins called free radicals, which are a by-Sincie copies of each report are available free by
~
sending 2 self-addressed adhesive labels to the FDA, Policy Guidance Branch (HFS-416), 200.C
t CATHERINE J. FROMPOVICH, Ph.D.
Reply to: ?.0. bcx 7'4, Richlandtown, PA 1P955 May 12, 1993 Congressman "illiam J. Hughes
)M' 4 Av j wI bv
.qq Central Park East Building 4, Suite 5 222 New Road Li.nvood, N J 08221 I
Ref: Dept of Energy secretly and illegally sending nuclear vastes to c - nt kilns to burn / CF 93-2(4):1,4.
Dear Congressman Hughes:
Eack on April 26, 1993, I first wrote to you about the above and enclosed an article entitled " Cement Dust" [Our Toxic Times, April 1993]
which documented the Dept. cf Energy's supplying kilns with plutonium and cesium-137 to burn in with hazardous vastes that were being burned.
i This letter is a follovup. I have done some thinking about what has '
occurred from the perspective of my working on a Political Science degree [only 18 credits to finish it]. I believe the citizens need to know the ansvers to the following questions:
Questicri 1: What inpact do the actions of DOE have on the USA's responsibility for living up to the Part'ial Test Ean Treaty of 1963 which banned nuclear testing in the atmosphere. Granted, DOE did not detonate a nuclear device, but it did provide nuclear materials for atmosnheric i
discharce via burning and volatilization. As such, DOE deliberately perfomed " secret and illegal act(s)", and igncrance is not a valid defense in such a case. After all, DOE is an executive / governmental agency whose Secretary is a member of the President's cabinat!
Question 2: Should not the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have been involved?, and ought not this have come under its jurisdiction under normal circumstances? However, since there was secrecy involved, one has to defer somewhat insofar as accountability on the part of NRC, but not regarding an immediate investigation of the matter. And that is why I am contacting you. Please institute an investigation into the matter of nuclear vaste burning of plutonium and cesium-137 supplied by DCE.
5 I
t 4
CATHERINE J. FROMPOVICH, Ph.D.
Question 3: What impact vill DCE's illegal and secret actions c' i
supplying a'non-governmental agency / private industry with nuclear materials /vastes have upon the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1970 to which the USA was a signatory? Could some of the plutonium and cesium-137 have been " stolen" from the kilns and found their way into 1
terrorists' hands, Sadam Hussein's weapons production, or some Banana Republic with aspirations of beconing a member of the nuclear club?
Question 4: Will you introduce a bill to regulate kilns and cement kiln burning / disposal and emissions, since there are no regulations on kilns at federal, state or local levels.
Kilns are a " legal" loopnole to ourn everything and anything as witnessed by CF 93-2(4):1,4.
Question 5:
Since the Environmental Protection Agency apparently is-J impotent when it comes to monitoring air quality, please support and/or co-sponsor H.R. 109, which will redesignate the agency as the Decartment of the-Environment thereby giving the agency cabinet level status. Hopefully, EPA can become more than a paper tiger!
L Note: When I first reported air problems in our area last year, EPA and PA DER discounted our complaints as a nuisance. PA DER's Randy Ecrdner even lied lo the EPA, and we have it in writing frcm EPA via Freedom of Information request.
Thank you for following up on this most serious of all air pollution prcblems. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
i Sincerelyyours,/
7 g,,.,,
n I
Catherine. Frompo/vien, Ph.D.
l f
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I t,
October 18, 1993 The Honorable William J. Hughes We note that Dr. Frompovich stated in her letter that an individual " lied to the EPA."
We suggest that she may wish to contact EPA through their Inspector General Office hotline at (202) 260-4977 so that they may investigate this allegation.
We hope this information proves helpful to you and your constituent.
Sincerely, Originalsigned by James M. Taylor James M. Taylor Executive Director for Operations
Enclosure:
8/18/93 Letter from R. Carroll cc: Margo T. Oge, EPA Thomas P. Grumbly, DOE DISTRIBUTION:
(EDO 9292)
IM0B r/f IMNS r/f NMSS r/f Dir. Off. r/f CEstep CPoland OCA SECY ED0 r/f JSniezek HLThompson JBlaha EBeckjord DMorris OGC DWilliams, OlG i
- See Previous Concurrence OFC IM0B*
E IM0B*
E IM0B*
E OCA*
C IMNS*
IMNS*
NAME JDeCicco:kr CJones FCombs TCombs BBrach CPaperiello DATE 9/8/93 9/8/93 9/8/93 9/8/93 9/8/93 9/9/93 NMSS*
OGC*
DEDS EDG /
0(A" 0FC NMSS*
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HThomh JThlor
[Mathbun NAME GArlotto RBernero RFonner DATE 9/9/93 9/13/93 10/07/93 lS/ lY93
/d//h93
/&///93 C = COVER
^$ = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY OFFICIAL RECORD COPY: G:\\RADDATZ\\HUGHES.CTR i
CONGRZSSIONAL CORRZ8PONDENCZ SYSTZX DOCUXENT PREPARATION CHECKLIST This checklist is be submitted with each document (or group of G3/As) sent for e ing into the CC3.
/
/I.
O O,
ZIO kh 1.
nmizr cracarpTras or DoctXENTrst
()
y correspondansom Name4= & (Qsr/Aak 2.
TYPE oF-N n
3.
DoCUxrNT CcNT3toL sensitive (NRC Only)
Non-sensitive 4.
CONGRESFLIONAL COMMITTEE and SUBCOXXITTEES (if applicable) congressional Committse Subcommittse i
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COMMENTS 29001b