ML20129J381

Ack Receipt of Re NRC RFP to Analyze Hanford Mortality Experience.Nrc Acquisition of Mancuso,Stewart & Kneale Processed Data Discussed

ML20129J381
Person / Time
Issue date:	06/19/1978
From:	Kastner J NRC OFFICE OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT
To:	Mancuso T PITTSBURGH, UNIV. OF, PITTSBURGH, PA
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References
FOIA-85-309 NUDOCS 8507220560
Download: ML20129J381 (4)

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JUN 191978  ;

Dr. Thomas F. Mancuso I University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Pittsburgh, PA 15261

Dear Dr. Mancuso:

Thank you for your letter of May 18, 1978 stating your concerns regarding the NRC Request for Proposal (RFP) to analyze Hanford Mortality Experience.

As you know, we have been deeply interested in the results of the work l' done by you, Dr. Stewart, and Mr. Kneale since the Health Physics Society 3, .

neeting in October 1976. The staff has reviewed and commented on your 1 draft papers and presentations up to but not including the presentations at the 1978 AAAS meeting in Washington, D.C. and the March 1978 IAEA Symposium in Vienna, Austria.

We are aware of the funds and effort already expended analyzing the Hanford Data. However, in this case where the conclusions are so important, multiple independent analyses to verify the results are considered to be not only desirable, but essential.

The documents upon which we based our decision to issue an RFP have been placed in the Public Document Room. Both the November 1976 and May 1978 NRC staff evaluations of the October 1976 and September 1977 reports, respectively, by you and your co-workers, are examples of such documents.

He decided to limit the RFP to consideration of external exposure because we wanted to answer the narrow question of the correlation between external exposure and cancer mortality and thus confirm or deny the conclusions of your report of September 1977. In other words, we want to take one step at a time. We certainly agree that internal exposure is a confounding factor just as there are others, and we are most interested in your latest reports. It may well be the case that we will eventually establish that what you determined to be a quantitative correlation between er.ternal exposure and cancer mortality was really a surrogate for the effects of internal exposure. It will be most important, of course, to establish the body burdens, i.e. the organ dosages which are to be correlated with the cancers. i With respect to your reticence to provide your processed data, I would point out that although I may have said that I "understoed" your position, o my empathy should in no way be construed as an endorsement for your decision to deny our request to make available information which could be of import to regulatory decisions affecting the public health and safety, especially information which has been generated from Federally-funded research. Further-8507220560 850524 P$AR -309 PDR 3 A

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Pr. T. f*arcuso - ;' -

core on recensideraticn, I'n r.ot encvinced that c.cking tb.- data availe!;le to us would really derrive you of the rossibility of chtaining research grants frcm ethers.

Thank you for your corrents and the copies of ycur report. M aase convey my corpliments to ycur collear:ues as well.

Originalsigned by Jacob Naamor .

Jacob Kastner. Chief l Environcental Standards Brar.ch Office of Standards Develop;ent cc: Senator Gary Part Senator '.brabar Pihicoff i Ccegressran Ti:- !.ae Carter j Congressman Paul Eccers j Congressman Jchn D. Einpell '

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMisslON i.'N')j WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555

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gs; yg Dr. Thomas F. Mancuso University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Pittsburgh, PA 1S261

Dear Dr. Mancuso:

Thank you for your letter of May 18, 1978 stating your concerns regarding the NRC Raquest for Proposal (RFP) to analyze Hanford Mortality Experience.

As you know, we have been deeply interested in the results of the work done by you, Dr. Stewart, and Mr. Kneale since the Health Physics Society meeting in October 1976. The staff has reviewed and commented on your draft papers and presentations up to but not including the presentations at the 1978 AAAS meeting in Washington, D.C. and the March 1978 IAEA Symposium in Vienna, Austria.

We are aware of the funds and effort already expended analyzing the Hanford Data. However, in this case where the conclusions are so important, multiple independent analyses to verify the results are considered to be not only desirable, but essential .

The documents upon which we based our decision to issue an RFP have been placed in the Public Document Rocm. Both the November 1976 and May 1978 NRC staff evaluations of the October 1976 and September 1977 reports, respectively, by you and your co-workers, are exampler of such documents.

'le decided to limit the RFP to consideration of external exposure because we wanted to answer the narrow question of the correlation between external exposure and cancer mortality and thus confirm or deny the conclusions of your report of September 1977. In other words, we want to take one step at a time. We certainly agree that internal exposure is a confounding factor just as there are others, and we are most interested in your latest reports. It may well be the case that we will eventually establish that what you detemined to be a quantitative correlation between external exposure and cancer mortality was really a surrogate for the effects of internal exposure. It will be most important, of course, to establish the body burdens, i.e. the organ dosages which are to be correlated with the cancers.

With respect to your reticence to provide your processed data, I would point out that although I may have said that I " understood" your position, ny emoathy should in no way be construed as an endorsement for your decision to deny our request to make available infomation which could be of import to regulatory decisions affecting the public health and safety, especially information which has been generated from Federally-funded research. Further-

Dr. T. Pancuso rore on reconsideraticn. I'm rot convinced that ...ckf rr the data available to us sculd really rierrive you of the possibility of cbtaining rescarch grants fren others.

Thank you for your corm ents and the copies of your repert. Please convey my cceplinents to your collearues as :teli.

Originalsigned hvJacob Masewr Jaceb Kastner, Chief Envirci= ental Standards Cra. c!-

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