Nuclear Information and Resource Service/World Information Service on Energy (Neth)

1424 16^th Street NW Suite 404

Washington, DC 20036

202 328-0002; 202 462-2183 fax

ALERT! Nov. 17, 2000 comment deadline

US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

TO LEGALIZE RADIOACTIVE SOIL "REUSE," "RECYCLE," and RELEASE FROM REGULATORY CONTROL

Public Comments sought on Draft NUREG-1725

"Human Interaction With Reused Soil: A Literature Search."

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is in the process of rulemaking to deregulate radioactive materials and wastes from regulatory control, that is to allow the recycling of radioactive waste materials into daily commerce and lif The July 19, 2000 Federal Register e as if they were not contaminated.

NRC announced (in the July 19, 2000 Federal Register) the release of its draft "Human Interaction With Reused Soil: A Literature Search," which is the basis of its efforts to "characterize soil reuse scenarios," to be used to develop the "technical basis" for releasing radioactively contaminated soil from regulatory control. Once the uses of soil are categorized, the scenarios will be incorporated into computer dose models to justify releasing contaminated soil projected to give "acceptable" doses. On September 7, 2000 (65 FR 174) the comment period was extended until November 17, 2000.

The ~76 page document can be downloaded from the NRC website (which is case-sensitive)

Comments should be submitted by November 17, 2000 to the NRC via

Fax to 301-415-5385

Mail to David L. Meyer, Chief

Rules and Directives Branch

Office of Administration Mail Stop T-6D59

US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Washington, DC 20555-0001.

NIRS basic comment is that radioactive soils should NOT BE RELEASED or recycled in any way—they should be isolated from the public and the environment.