Are Consumer Products Radioactive Now? What is Going on?
Danger: Radioactive Consumer Product Alert
Some radioactive metal and other materials from the maintenance and decommissioning of nuclear power and weapons factories are being "cleared" for "free release" into the marketplace. Rather than isolating radioactive waste, the generators hope to save or make money selling it into commerce. Radioactivity will end up in consumer products and building materials. Some is already being recycled but MUCH MorE IS COMING --The floodgates are about to open! Unless this practice is stopped immediately, there will be massive amounts of radioactively contaminated metal and other materials released for manufacturing daily household items such as silverware, zippers, cars, toys, furniture, medical supplies, etc. The amount being "cleared" for recycling will increase tremendously as nuclear power reactors and weapons sites close and dismantle-UNLESS WE ACT NOW!
WHO IS LETTING THIS HAPPEN?
The US Department of Energy (DOE) is quietly releasing radioactive material from its nuclear weapons complexes across the country. DOE has entered a precedent-setting contract, at Oak Ridge,TN that could release over 100,000 tons of radioactively contaminated aluminum, steel scrap and copper. (6000 tons of contaminated nickel will also be released but DOE claims that will not happen immediately.)The metal would go to radioactive-metal processing facilities, then to regular recycling and metal processing facilities, then to product manufacturers with no warning, labeling, notification or consent from potentially exposed workers or future owners of the products. DOE sends some out without processing. Any items made from these metals could be contaminated. A DOE task force is now assessing the DOE policy and is to report in June 2000. Your input to DOE is needed now!
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC):
is now allowing nuclear reactor parts to be processed and "released" from decommissioning + repair.
is setting standards to legalize "clearance" of radioactively contaminated materials into the marketplace and radioactive sites for unrestricted use. A rulemaking process is underway to "allow[s] quantities of materials to be released" from nuclear power facilities for recycling in general commerce. Despite a clear conflict of interest by the contractor developing the rule & stop-work order, NRC expects to proceed in March 2000.
has a technical analysis out for public comment (NUREG 1640) on assumptions/estimates of doses from recycling radioactive copper, aluminum, steel and concrete. Technical work to release radioactive soil has begun.
is approving importation of radioactive metal from foreign nuclear reactors for clearance/recycling in the US.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), an "agreement state agency" that licenses and regulates (instead of the NRC), has given over 10 licenses to radioactive processing companies to process and release radioactive metal, asphalt, lead, bulk material, equipment, etc. into the marketplace and environment. TDEC, in late March 1999, approved a precedent-setting license amendment that will allow volumetrically contaminated (radioactive inside and throughout) metal to be released to commerce. Three Congressmembers interpret that TN has no right to release radioactivity into the marketplace, but it continues.
HOW CAN RADIOACTIVE "CLEARANCE"/RELEASE/ RECYCLE INTO COMMERCE BE STOPPED AND PREVENTED?
Tell Congress to STOP RADIOACTIVE RELEASES; to RECAPTURE radioactive materials and wastes already let out. Make your position clear to your local, state and federal legislators NOW. Pass resolutions. Petition. Inform.
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