ML20059M364

Responds to ,Addressed to EPA on Behalf of Constituent C Ostroff of Richlandtown,Pa Re What Steps Will Be Taken to Make Certain That All Radwaste Burning in Kilns & trash-to-steam Plants Stop Immediately

ML20059M364
Person / Time
Issue date:	09/22/1993
From:	Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Greenwood J HOUSE OF REP.
References
CCS, NUDOCS 9311190052
Download: ML20059M364 (18)

Text

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,3 dEcoq jo, UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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September 22, 1993 The Honorable James C. Greenwood United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515-3808

Dear Congressman Greenwood:

I am responding to your letter of June 14, 1993, that was addressed to the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), on behalf of one of your constituents, Ms. Catherine Ostroff, of Richlandtown, Pennsylvania. The EPA forwarded Ms. Ostroff's letter to us on July 13, 1993 (enclosed).

Ms. Ostroff addressed three concerns to you in her letter of April 26, 1993.

Each concern is addressed separately below.

Concern 1.

What steps will be taken to make certain that all radioactive waste burning in kilns and trash-to-steam plants stop immediately?

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has regulations that govern radioactive waste incineration (Chapter 1, Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20).

For NRC-licensed materials, individuals must be specifically licensed to incinerate radioactive materials.

There are no generalized regulations that authorize incineration of licensed material, with the exception of waste oils at nuclear power plants, and low concentrations of hydrogen-3 and carbon-14.

This means that NRC must review, on a case-by-case basis for impact on the health and safety of the public and the environment, all requests for a license to incinerate radioactive material (with the two exceptions just mentioned). Although NRC issues a license to incinerate radioactive waste, it does not relieve the licensee from complying with other Federal, State or local regulations governing any other characteristics of the material, i.e.,

whether it is a toxic or hazardous property of these materials.

Concern 2.

What kind of legislation is planned to address this serious health and environmental problem?

At the moment, the NRC has not been informed about nor asked to address these issues identified by the EPA or Department of Energy (DOE), and is not cognizant of a health and environmental problem associated with NRC-licensed l

incineration activities. As stated in the previous question and answer, NRC has established regulations for governing incineration of radioactive waste.

EPA already has standards and regulations concerning cement kilns and maintaining the health and well-being of the public and the environment (Chapter 1, Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 60 and 266).

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The Honorable James C. Greenwood l Concern 3.

What actions will be taken against the DOE for such transgressions and to stop future similar activities?

NRC would have no jurisdiction over DOE if there were a determination of inappropriate activity; NRC has oversight and jurisdictional authority for NRC-licensable material. Therefore, this statement cannot be addressed by NRC, and a copy of your letter is being forwarded to DOE for this purpose.

As a followup to Ms. Ostroff's concern about the Keystone Company in Bath, Pennsylvania, burning hazardous and low-level waste, the NRC is continuing to review the matter. The Keystone Company is not an NRC licensee and is therefore not authorized to receive NRC-licensed material.

An NRC Regional representative contacted the Head Chemist at the company on August 30, 1993, i

The Chemist indicated that the company does incinerate material received from hazardous waste brokers. He stated that the material is analyzed with standard hazardous waste test procedures by an independent laboratory before it is accepted by the company for incineration. The material is also

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reportedly surveyed at the company with a Geiger-Mueller (G-M) meter for the i

presence of radioactive materials which are not authorized for incineration.

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The company is inspected by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources.

If your constituent would be interested in obtaining more information, the company does have public tours of the facility every l

Thursday, and can be reached by telephone at (215) 837-1881.

Ms. Ostroff stated that she had received information that the Keystone Company was " supposed to have lied to the EPA." We suggest that Ms. Ostroff contact l

the EPA through their Inspector General Office hotline at (202) 260-4977 so that they may investigate this allegation.

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We hope these suggestions prove helpful to you and your constituent. We will inform you of any additional information relative to Ms. Ostroff's concerns discussed above.

Sincerely, i

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ne M. T. or xecutive irector for Operations J

Enclosure:

7/13/93 Letter from M. Stoddard-Boyd j

cc:

Margo T. Oge, EPA Thomas P. Grumbly, DOE

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. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY i

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-I July 13, 1993 EXECUTNE SECRETARIAT i

-Honorable Jim Greenwood

.l House of Representatives

.i Washington, D.C.

20515

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Dear Congressman Greenwood:

l Thank you for letter of June-14 on behalf of your constituent 1

Ms. Catherine Ostroff, who has requested information concerning cement-j kiln regulations.

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'Ihis matter does not fall within jurisdiction of the Environmental

.j Protection Agency. Therefore, we have taken the-liberty of forwarding j

your letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission because they regulate l

radioactivity.

l Please feel free to contact me at-(202)260-7640 if.you have questions.

1 Sincerely, j

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Mary J. Stoddard-Boyd j

Information Management Specialist cc:

aar Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike l

Rockville, Maryland 20852 l

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JAMES C.* GREENWOOD Wasaemofon. DC 205it i

sta Distact. Penasetvania (202)225-4278 COMMITTEE ON D' tract oncas-ENERGY AND COMMEROE Congress of'tfje lHuiteb fatates DovitsTown. PA 18901 su.cD-mm DN =ra 5'*cg,**pj5g,cg""get-JPouse of Reptegentatibeg

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June 14, 1993

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The Honorable Carol M. Browner Administrator EPA 401 M Street, S.W.

Washington, D.

C.

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Dear Administracor Browner:

Enclosed is a copy of the letter which I received from Ms.

Catherine Ostroff of Richlandtown, PA.

As you will note, Ms.

Ostroff is concerned about cement kiln regulations.

I would appreciate your review of Ms. Ostroff's concerns and your advice and suggestions.

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Thank you, in advance, for your time and consideration of this request.

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't lsj Jam C. Greenwood JCG:sc Enclosure i

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Reply to: P.O. Box 714, Richlandtown, PA 18955 April 26, 1993 Vice President Al Gore Senator Horaca Wofford Congressman James Greenwood Gentlemen:

Last year I had contacted Senator Al Gore (who got Senator Wofford involved), fomer Congressman Peter Kostmayer, and then State Senator Jim Greenwood, now Congressman Greenwood, about the air pollution problems that had made it impossible for my husband and me to breathe in our home r

neighborhood where ve we had lived for eighteen years.

Unfortunately, no one was able to get to the bottom of the problem. EPA and PA DER, in our opinion, tn11y were incapable of even knowing where to begin.

In the correspondence we received from both, they blatantly stated they did not have the equipment to monitor the air! What?

However, a light may be shining on some emerging facts.

I hereby request that each of you take action and correct it irrnediately. Enclosed is a copy of our Toxic Times' April, 1993 article "Cenent Dust" wherein the following appears as having originated in the government publication CF 93-2(4):1,4:

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'1he DDE [ Dept. of Energy] has act:nov1H that nuclear vastes have h mn secretly and illegally sent to emwet kilnn, as well as at least 6 barardous vaste ine-inarators, 2 treatment facilities, and 3 landfills.

Cement kilns Mrnad about 2.6 billion pr==via of liquid and solid hazardous vaste in 1991 and have surmaaad the cr=-rcial hazardous vaste int-inaration industry.

According to information I have received from the grapevine, the Keystone Company kilns in Bath, PA vere supposed to have lied to EPA and fudged their computers. I had heard they vare burning hazardous :nd low-level radioactive vastes!

I could not get EPA nor DA DER to listen then and I don't think they would be inclined to listen nov. That is the reason for my writing to you.

j Scrne federal and state action and legislation needs to be implemented irrnediately to subject cement kilns to regulations and as to what can be burned in them. Right now they have carte blanche and everything, including plutonium and cesium-137, is being supplied to them by DOE and 4

others. Shouldn't the NRC have been involved in the disposal of DOE's vaste products?

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After you have read the Cement Dust article, I am certain that you vill become as appalled as I am. The question I have for you is now that

' I this terrible pollution has became known, what steps will you take to:

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1. sake certain that all radioactive waste burning in kilns and trash-to-steam plants stops in==wiiately.

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2. what kind of legislation vill you introduce in your x=: pca--t.ive jurisdictions to address this serious health and enviu

-iial probles.

3. what actions will be taken against DOE for such a tran=pe:ssion i

and to stop future similar activities by DOE.

President Clinton is trying to reduce the costs of healthcare and provide for those who don't have any, yet a governmental agency like DOE' l

is perpetrating a cruel experiment upon a good portion of the population that can only lead to serious health problems for many people. My husband and I were never ill (and he is 78 years old) until last year when all of a sudden neither of us could not breathe.

What the medical doctors did find out was that our breathing organs were burned but they could not tell from what. Who would have thought' radiation? 'When we presented our problem to EPA and PA DER, there reaction was to check with our neighbors on our sanity. Perhaps there i

should be some directive that pollution complaints be taken seriously and not disregarded or given the run around.

l May ve please hear what you plan to do about the burning of radioactive vastes in kilns or elsewhere supplied by DOE-or anyone else, and thank you!

j Sincerely yours,,

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Catherine Ostroff l

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. Q "all too often, however, the problems have contin-Legal Up-date ued to fester and grow worse. In general, the state Expen Witness of management in the federal government is poor.

Frank Vasey, MD, Professor of Med..icme, University Too many management ideas - and resulting agency of Florida,12901 N Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, structures and processes - that worked we!! in the FL 33612; (813) 974-2681. (Sibcone 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 mecess and accountability, and too often do Occupational Medicine: Jay Hunmeistien, University without people with the skills necessary to accom-of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA; (508) 856-0011.

plish their missions.

Repens am B"dget Ismes (GAO!OCGNTRh In-Environmental Directory Up-date vestment (GAO/OCG-93-2TR), Government Manage-ment Issues (GAO/OCG-93 3TR), Financial Manage-Parents for Pesticide Alternatives,2678 Colony C,ir-ment Issues (GAO/OCG-93-4TR), Information Man-cle, Snellville, GA 30278-2773.

Contact:

Phyllis agement and Technology Issues (GAO!OCG-93 STR),

Marberger, Program Evaluation Issues (GAO/OCG-93-6TR), The Address Up-date Public Service (GAO/OCG-93-7TR), Health Care Re-Share, Care & Prayer, c/o Riecken,1833 S 2nd Ave.,

form (GAO/OCG-93-8TR), National Security Issues Arcadia, CA 91006.

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 (GAO/OCG-93 IITR), Commerce Issues (GAO/OCG-MD 21403-7036;(410) 263-1584.

Alternative Energy Resources Organization, 25 S 93-12TR), Energy Issues (GAO/OCG-93-13TR), Trans-ponntion Issues (GAO/OCG 93-14TR), Food and Ewing, Suite 214, Helena, MT 59601.

Environ-l Children Against Toxic Substances is on 60 Oscer Agriculture Issues (GAO/OCG-93-15TR),

mental Protections Issues (GAO/OCG 9316TR), Na-Ave, Haultaug, NY 11788. (Not Oscar Ave as I tural Resource Management Issues (GAO/OCG mistyped in last month's OTT.)

17TR), Education Issues (GAO/OCG-93-18TR), Labor Issues (GAO/OCG-93-19TR), Health and Human Ser-Buying Guide Up-date Vice Issues (GAO/OCG 93-20TR), Veterans Affairs AirAVater Purifiers: National Safety Associates, In-Issues (GA04CG-93-21TR), Housing and Commun-terna:icn !,

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-93-257R), Foreign Af-Linwood, MI 48634;(517) 697-3989.

fairs Issues (GAO/OCG-93-26TR), NASA Issues (GAO Address Up-date

/OCG-93 27TR), General Service Issues (GAO/OCG-Nontoxic Environments, 9392 S Gribble Rd, Canby, 93-28TR).

OR 97013; (503) 266-5244; FAX 266-5242.

Single copies of the repons 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 discovere els f lutonium and dioxin in cement and cement CHANGING OF THE GUARD P

repons, the GAO examined issues that will need to

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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 repons in 1988. In some instances, pro-kilns scattered around the country - three of which gress has been made, but according to the GAO,

f/47J%O h 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 DOE has acknowledged that nuclear wastes (SOD), helps dismantle destructive free radicals havibeen, secretly and illegally sent to cement kilns, before they can harm DNA and other cell compon-

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as well as at least 6 hazardous waste incinerators, 2 ents. Any glitch in the SOD gene impairs this pro-treatment facilities, and 3 landfills.

tective capability.

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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 non-naturally occur-ity to send messages to muscles making speech, ring radioactive elements and other expected con-swa!!owing, 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 fata!, usually within 5 years. There is no known 123 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 cally come from wastes generated by producers of to attack free-radicals and heal tissue damage. (Tal-inks, solvents, cosmetics, medical supplit.s, toys, ben, L; Wagner, ES; "A Powerful Cancer Defense: Anti-electronics, and the auto industry.

oxidants," 1989, American Institute of Health and Nutri-Cement kilns burned about 2.6 billion pounds of

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liquid and solid hazardous waste inW91 and have ADA & SS: There is a bulletm board surpassed the commercial hazardous waste inciner-sysim { hat deals with American Disabihties Act hion industry. Thei EPA has now listed 3 cement and Social Security questions. To access the board

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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 m, formation.

Taken from CF 93 )i SCHOOLS: A draft of the EPA Revised Version of tion. (Southwest Sage, 12/16/92) the Final Draft, " Pest controlin Schools: Adopting 2(4):14 ESTIbDE 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-

[#ams H7506C), EPA,401 M St SW, Washing ruary 1st. The new hours are from 8 am to 6 PM C

CST, Monday through Friday. The toll-free num-Thanks go to Irene Wilkenfeld, Pres of CIIN-IN, ber is (800) 858-7378.

f r this infonnation.

All caller requests for mailed information must be COUNCIL ABOLISHED: The White House Coun-pre-paid before mailing; faxes will be sent only to cil n Competitiveness, established under the Bush cal!ers 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 envir nmental and safety regulations. (WN Jan/Feb 93 emergencies. (EPA 93 R-40)-

PE 1)

LS: Scientists have found a Sene 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 heahhy 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.

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-416), 200 C b

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The Honorable James C. Greenwood -

• Concern 3.

What actions uill be taken against the DOE for such transgressions l

and.to stop future similar activities?

NRC would have no jurisdiction over DOE if there were a determination of inappropriate activity; NRC has oversight and jurisdictional authority for NRC-licensable material. Therefore, this statement cannot be addressed by NRC, and a copy of your letter is being forwarded to DOE for this purpose.

As a followup to Ms. Ostroff's concern about the Keystone Company in Bath, Pennsylvania, burning hazardous and low-level waste, the NRC is continuing to I

i review the matter. The Keystone Company is not an NRC licensee and is therefore not authorized to receive NRC-licensed material. An NRC Regional representative contacted the Head Chemist at the company on August 30, 1993.

The Chemist indicated that the company does incinerate material received from hazardous waste brokers, and stated that the material is analyzed with standard hazardous waste test procedures by an independent laboratory before it is accepted by the company for incineration. The material is also r

reportedly surveyed at the company with a Geiger-Mueller (G-M) meter for the presence of radioactive materials which are not authorized for incineration.

The company is inspected by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources.

If your constituent would be interested in obtaining more information, the company does have public tours of the facility every Thursday, and can be reached by telephone at (215) 837-1881.

Ms. Ostroff stated that she had received information that the Keystone Company was " supposed to have lied to the EPA..."

Ms. Ostroff may wish to contact the EPA through their Inspector General Office hotline at (202) 260-4977 so that they may investigate this allegation.

We hope these suggestions prove helpful to you and your constituent. We will inform you if we identify any additional information relative to Ms. Ostroff's concerns discussed above.

Originaisigned by Sincerely, James M. Taylor James M. Taylor Executive Director for Operations

Enclosure:

7/13/93 Letter icom M. Stoddard-Boyd cc: Margo T. Oge, EPA Thomas P. Grumbly, DOE DISTRIBUTION:

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EDO AUTHOR:

JAMES C.

GREENWOOD AFFILIATION:

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES j

ADDRESSEE:

CHAIRMAN NRC LETTER DATE:

Jun 14 93 FILE CODE:

SUBJECT:

CONCERNED ABOUT CEMENT KILN REGULATIONS ACTION:

Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION:

OCA TO ACK SPECIAL HANDLING: NONE CONSTITUENT:

CATHERINE OSTROFF NOTES:

EPA REFERRAL DATED JULY 13, 1993 DATE DUE:

Aug 10-93 i,

SIGNATURE:-

DATE SIGNED:

AFFILIATION:

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July 13, 1993 EXECUTNE SECRETARAT Honorable Jim Greenwood House of Representatives Washington, D.C.

20515

Dear Congressman Greenwood:

Thank you for letter of June 14 on behalf of your constituent Ms. Catherine Ostroff, who has requested information concermng cement kiln regulations.

This matter does not fall within jurisdiction of the Envirenmental Protection Agency.

Therefore, we have taken the liberty of forwarding your letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission because they regulate radioactivity.

Please feel free to contact me at (202)260-7640 if you have questions.

Sincerely, 0-

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Mary a. Stoddard-Boyd Information Management Specialist cc:

ear Regulatory Commission

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sin cano, suitoma JAMES C. GREENWOOD Ws.smestoa. DC 20511 Stel Disfact. Penasttvmia 4

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AND COMPfTITIVENESS SveYs 600 Mashington, DC 20515-3808 t* -oa i.Prisos7 (2151752-7711 June 14, 1993 The Honorable Carol M. Browner Administrator EPA 401 M Street, S.W.

Washington, D. C.

20460

Dear Administrator Browner:

Enclosed is a copy of the letter which I received from Ms.

Catherine Ostroff of Richlandtown, PA.

As you will note, Ms.

Ostroff is concerned about cement kiln regulations.

I would appreciate your review of Ms. Ostroff's concerns and your advice and suggestions, t

Thank you, in advance, for your time and consideration of this request.

7 Sincer ly,

/7 Jam C. Greenwood JCG:sc Enclosure

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l APR 2 n m Reply to: P.O. Box 714, Richlandtown, PA 18955 l

April 26, 1993 f

Vice President Al Gore l

Senator Horace Wofford i

Congressman James Greenwood

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Gentlemen:

Iast year I had contacted Senator Al Gore (who got Senator Wofford f

involved), former Congressman Peter Kostmayer, and then State Senator Jim Greenwood, now Congressman Greenwood, about the air pollution problems that had made it impossible for my husband and me to breathe in our-home neighborhood where ve ve had lived for eighteen years.

l Unfortunately, no one was able to get to the bottom of the problem. EPA and PA DER, in our opinion, truly were incapable of even knowing where j

to begin.

In the correspondence we received from both, they blatantly i

stated they did not have the equipment to monitor the air! What?

j i

However, a light may be shining on some emerging facts. I hereby l

request that each of you take action and correct it imediately. Enclosed

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is a copy of Our Toxic Times' April, 1993 article " Cement Dust" wherein i

the following appears as having originated in the government publication CF 93-2(4):1,4:

i

'Ibe DDE [ Dept. of Energy] has adcnowledged that nuclear vastes have i

been secretly and illegally sent to rvumt kilna, as well as at least 6 bazardous vaste iwiwrators, 2 treatment facilities, and l

3 landfilla.

l i

cramt kilns burned about 2.6 billion pounds of liquid and solid hamrdous vaste in 1991 and have surmaaari the rmmercial hazardous vaste iwi= ration industry.

i According to information I have received from the grapevine, the l

Keystone Company kilns in Bath, PA vere supposed to have lied to EPA and i

fudged their computers.

I had heard they vare burning hazardens :nd i

low-level radioactive vastes!

I could not get EPA'nor DA DER to listen then and I don't think they would be inclined to listen now. That is the reason for my writing to you.

l Scrne federal and state action and legislation needs to be implemented imediately to subject cement kilns to regulations and as to what can be l

burned in them. Right now they have carte blanche and everything, including plutonium and cesium-137, is being supplied to them by DOE and i

others. Shouldn't the NRC have been involved in the disposal of DOE's vaste i

products?

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E After you have read the Cement Dust article, I am certain that you will become as appalled as I am.

The question I have for you is now that this terrible pollution has become known, what steps will you take to:

1. make certain that all radicactive vaste burning in kilns and trash-to-steam plants stops in=wv11ately.

2. what kind of legislation vill lus introduce in your respective jurisdictions to address this serious health and enviraimantal problen.

3. what actions vill be taken against DOE for such a transgression and to stop future similar activities by DOE.

President Clinton is trying to reduce the costs of healthcare and provide for those who don't have any, yet a governmental agency like DOE is perpetrating a cruel experiment upon a good portion of the population that can only lead to serious health problems for many people. My husband and I were never ill (and he is 78 years old) until last year when all of a sudden neither of us could not breathe.

What the medical doctors did find out was that our breathing organs were burned but they could not tell from what. Who would have thought l

radiation? When we presented our problem to EPA and PA DER, there reaction was to check with our neighbors on our sanity. Perhaps there should be some directive that pollution conplaints be taken seriously and not disregarded or given the run around.

May we please hear what you plan to do about the burning of radioactive vastes in kilns or elsewhere supplied by DOE or anyone else, and thank you!

Sincerely yours,,,

Wh._ IQf/4ts Catherine Ostroff

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"all too often, however, the problems have contin-

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Legal Up-date ued to fester and grow worse. In general, the state Expert Witness of management in the federal government is poor.

Frank Vasey, MD, Professor of Med..icme, 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. (Silicone,mplants) past now hinder the government from responding l

i 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 nussions."

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Environmental Directory Up-date vestment (GAO!OCG-93-2TR), Government Manage-Parents for Pesticide Alternatives,2678 Colony Cir-ment Issues (GAC/OCG-93 3TR), Financial Manage-cle, Snellville, GA 30278-2773.

Contact:

Phyllis ment Issues (GAO/OCG-93-4TR), Information Man-agement and Technology Issues (GAO/OCG-93 STR),

Marberger.

Program Evaluation Issues (GAO/OCG-93-61R), The Address Up-date Public Service (GAO/OCG-93-7TR), Health Care Re-Share, Care & Prayer, c/o Riecken,1833 S 2nd Ave.,

form (GAO/OCG-93-8TR), National Security Issues Arcadia, CA 91006.

Environmental Research Foundation, "Rachel's Haz-(GAO/OCG-93-9TR), Financial Services Indusuy Is-ardous Waste News," PO Box 5036, Annapolis, sues (GAO/OCG-93-10TR), International Trade Issues (GAO/OCG-93-ilTR), Commerce Issues (GAO/OCG-MD 21403-7036;(410) 263-1584.

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-93-141R), Food and Children Against Toxic Substances is on 60 Oscer Agriculture Issues (GAO/OCG-93-157R), Environ-mental Protections Issues (GAO/OCG-9316TR), Na-Ave, Haultaug, NY 11788. (Not Oscar Ave as I tural Resource Management Issues (GAO/OCG mistyped in last month's OTT.)

17TR), Education Issues (GAO/OCG-93-18TR), Labor Issues (GAO/OCG 93-19TR), Health and Human Ser-Buying Guide Up-date Vice Issues (GAO!OCG-93-20TR), Veterans Affairs Air / Water Purifiers: National Safety Associates, In-Issues (GAO/OCG-93-21TR), Housing and Commun-ternr.ticnal,

!!51 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.

fairs Issues (GAO/OCG-93 26TR), NASA Issues (GAO Address Up-date

/OCG-93-27TR), General Service Issues (GAO/OCG-Nontoxic Environments,9392 S Gribble Rd, Canby, 93-2 SIR).

OR 97013; (503) 266-5244; FAX 266-5242.

Single copies of the repons are free and may be obtained by writing GAO, PO Box 6015, Gaithers-I General News burg, MD 20877.

In a series of 28p CEMENT DUS'D The EPA has discovered lo CHANGING OF THE GUARD:

els of plutonium and dioxin in cement and cement repons, 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 repons in 1988. In some instances, pro-kilns scattered around the counuy - three of which j gress has been made; but according to the GAO, OTT 93 4(4):2

. hM4N l

wer'e not permitted to bum hazardous waste. Also product of normal metabolism. Excessive amounts i

found was cesium-137, another by-product of nu-of free radicals are believed to damage cells.

j clear reactors.

The gene protein, called superoxide dismutase The DOE has acknowledged that nuclear wastes (SOD), helps dismantle destmetive free radicals have been secretly and illegally sent to cement kilns, before they can harm DNA and other cell compon-as well as at least 6 hazardous waste incinerators, 2 ents. Any glitch in the SOD gene impairs this pro-treatment facilities, and 3 landfills.

tective capability, In response to a coun order, EPA tested 15 ce-i 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-i In addition to the presence of non-naturally occur-ity to send messages to muscles making speech, ring radioactive elements and other expected con-swallowing, and even breathing dif5 cult. 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 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) i 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 Zinc are reponed

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cally come from wastes generated by producers of to attack free-radicals and heal tissue damage. (Tal-inks, solvents, cosmetics, medical supplies, toys, bert, L; Wagner, ES; "A Powerful Cancer Defense: Anti-electronics, and the auto industry.

xidants." 1989, American Institute of Health and Nutn-Cement kilns burned about 2.6 billion pounds of 15 " I liguid and soliii hazardous waste in 1991 and have COMPUTER ADA & SS: There is a bulletin board

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surpassed the commercial hazardous waste inciner-system that deals with American Disabilities Act t

ition industry. The EPA has now listed 3 cement and Social Secunty questions. To access the board l

kiin sites o3 the National Priority List for Superfund call (800) 342-5526.

cleanup sites because of groundwater contamina-anks go to Ginny Kloth for tiu,s information.

tion. (Southwest Sage, 12/16/92) Taken from CF 93 SCHOOLS: A draft of the EPA Revised Version of 2(4):1,4.

the Final Draft, " Pest control in Schools: Adopting ESTICIDE REPORTING: Because ofbudget cuts Integrated Pest Management" is avalis?e fmm the the National Pesticide Telecommunications Net Field Operations Division, Office of Pesticide Pro-work (NPTN) began reduced hours staning Feb-grams (H7506C), EPA,401 M St SW, Washington, l

ruary 1st. The new hours are from 8 am to 6 PM DC 20406.

t CST, Monday through Friday. The toll-free num-Thanks go to Irene Wilkenfeld, Pres of CIIN-IN, ber is (800) 858-7378.

f r this information.

All caller requests for mailed information must be COUNCIL ABOLISHED: The White House Coun-pre-paid before mailing; faxes will be sent only to cil n Competitiveness, established under the. Bush callers who provide charge card numbers. NPTN Administration, has been abolished by the Clinton operators will continue to answer questions about Admmistration.

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 environmental and safety regulations; OVN Jan/Feb 93 emergencies. (EPA 93 R-40) pg1)

Lji: 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 shc!! fish. They also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Eleven differ; are 1) Guidance Document for Arsem.. Shellfish; em ent mutations linked to ALS were found in a gene

2) Guidance Document for Cadm,um m Shellfish-i i

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-

ng c es d ead mpon are avaHaMe b h sending 2 self-addressed adhesive labels to the FDA, Policy Guidance Branch (HFS-416), 200 C OTT 9i4(4M '

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CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE SYSTEX DOCUMEllT PREPARATION CHECKLIST This checklist is ha submitted with each document (or group of d'{ d$ I3flid b b G3/As) sent for e ing into the CC5.

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DoCUXENT CoNTxcL Sensitive (NRC Only) 4.

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Congressional Committaa subcommittas 4

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