ML12116A105

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Letter from Senator Stabenow Infant Mortality at Big Rock Nuclear Plant
ML12116A105
Person / Time
Site: Big Rock Point File:Consumers Energy icon.png
Issue date: 05/29/2003
From: Stabenow D
State of MI, State Senate
To: Gerke L
NRC/NRR/PMDA
References
G20030288, LTR-03-0348, FOIA/PA 2012-0165
Download: ML12116A105 (5)


Text

V.

EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM: DUE: 06/18/03 EDO CONTROL: G20030288 DOC DT: 05/29/03 FINAL REPLY:

Senator Debbie Stabenow Gerke, OCA FOR SIGNATURE OF : ** GRN ** CRC NO: 03-0348 Travers, EDO DESC: ROUTING:

Infant Morality and Big Rock (Ellis Boal and Travers Virginia Heick) Paperiello Kane Norry Dean Thadani, RES DATE: 06/02/03 Dyer, RIII ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT:

NRR Collins SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

Coordinate response with RES. Prepare response from Travers to Senator Stabenow.

Information inthis record was deled In accordance wfth the Freedom of InonflI ACl Expi~os = ýý I C-CV -0 E- e 16 ý: ccv-oi

I.

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed.,May 30,2003 11:28 PAPER NUMBER: LTR-03-0348 LOGGING DATE: 05/29/2003 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: Debbie Stabenow AFFILIATION: SEN ADDRESSEE: Laura Gerke

SUBJECT:

Infant mortality and Big Rock ACTION: Signature of EDO DISTRIBUTION: OCA to Ack LETTER DATE: 05/29/2003 ACKNOWLEDGED No SPECIAL HANDLING:

NOTES: Rec'd in OCA/SECY--May 29 FILE LOCATION: Adams DATE DUE: 06/20/2003 DATE SIGNED:

EDO -- G20030288

MAY 29 '03 11:37 FR 00 12319291250 TO 1*014155B71 P.01 DEBBIE STABENOW FAX United States Senator MICHIGAN To:  !-aura Gerke From: Brandon Fewins Fax: 301-415-8571 Pages: (including cover)

Phone; Date:. 5/29/03 Re: 13ig Rock Power Plant CC:

0 Urgent 0 For ReView 0 Please Comment 0 Please Reply 0 Comments Laura:

I am taxing this letter per our conversation from a couple of weeks ago. Sorry it took so long to get to you. If you have-any questions please give me a call.

109 S. Union, Suite 305, Traverse City, MI 49684' Phone (231) 929-1031 'Fax: (231) 929-1250

MAY 29 '03 11:3? FR 00 12319291250 TO 13014158571 P.02

(..),(.. .*Ellis Boal Virginia Heick (b)(6) "(b)(6)

February 16,2003 The Honorable Debbie Stabenow US Senate 702 Hart Senate Office Building Whb9Uton DC 20510 Re: Infant Mortality adid Big Rock Dear Senator Stabinow-We are writing as co-chairs of the Up North Green Party of northwest lower Michigan. Our Party represents individuals who live near the Big Rock Point nuclear power plaat in Charlevoix, Mtichigan, which ceased power generation operations in 1997.

We are very concemed about the findings in a peer-reviewed scientificjournal article (enclosed) suggstlng aat, ionizing radiation emitted during operation of Big Rock Point rimlear power plant during the years 1962-1997 was associated with increased overall infant death rates, infa3t death rafes due to congenital anomalies, and possibly childhood cancer rates (Mngano JJ, Gould JM, Stermglass .J, Sheman. D, Brown J, McDonnell W. Infant death and childhood cancer rtductions after nuclear plant closings in the United States. Archives of Environmental Health (Jan-Feb 2002, vol 57 pages 23-31).

The researchers compared infant mortality and childhood cancer rates in doynwind communities nar eight nuclear power plants across the country (including Big Rock Point) before and after the plants closed. They found that infant mortality and early childhood cancer incidence rates declined with statistical significance (meaning the declines were unlikely to be due to chanct) after the plants closed. This suggests that the rates were elevated during plant operation due to increased releases of radiomiclides.

We am very concerned that infants born or raised near the Big Rock Point plant may have been adversely, even lethally, affected by the plant's release of ionizing radiation. We are asking you to conduct additional scientific studies to furer examine these findings.

Several types of study come to mind. For example, an epidemiologic study could be conducted in which interviews with parents of affected children (cases) and parents of healthy

MAY 29 '03 11:36 FR 00 12319291250 TO 13014158571 P.03

"'eontrols)are conducted to assess other risk factors for infant mortality and cancer.

Tojer possibility is a confirmation of the findings of Mangano et al. combined with actual figures

'.on downwind releases of ionizing radiation or contamination of locally produced and consumed milk or locally grown and consumed crops in order to better characterize in utero and childhood exposures. Other studies could focus on health effects among children living downwind of currently operating nuclear power plants, including in vivo dose reconstructions taking both inhalation and ingestion into account as routes of exposure.

Because of small population sizes, it is necessary, as Mangano and colleagues did, to combine information from numerous locations, possibly even internationally among nations with similar rates for these events. All studies conducted should include local community members as well as scientific experts on study advisory committees.

One of the pillars of the Green Party is ecological wisdom,, meaning living in harmony with ozr surroundings and seeking to minimize our negative impact and maximize our positive impact on the human and natural environment. Another pillar is grassroots demnoacy, including the right to self-determination and an accountable government. Another is social justice.

In line with these principles, we believe these findings are of urgent importance not only to the communities of the plants where operation has ceased, but also to communities where operations continue. It is vitally important that power generation not come at the expense of the lives and health of infants and children.

An aspect of individuals' self-determination is to be accurately informed of risks.

Individuals have a right to make decisions about their health and to weigh costs and benefits, but to do so, they must have all the facts. To be accountable to the people anzd to give citizens the facts needed to make'ratibnal decsions, we urge you to fund one or more comprehensive, scientifically sound studies to conclusively determine whether and how nuclear power generation in the United States causes infant mortality, congenital anomalies, and childhood cancer.

Please contact either of us at the addresses below to keep us informed on steps taken to assess this threat to our childrens' health. Thank you for your help.

Sincerely, Ellis Boal Virginia Heick Enclosure

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