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- <br /> TESTIMONY AGAINST BILI, NO. 62- April 24, 1997 <br /> POST HARVEST TREATMENT FACILITY <br /> Dear Hawaii County Council Members; <br /> As a lecturer of Environmental Science I feel it is time that <br /> the our representatives become aware of the environmental risks <br /> associated with such a facility. Having worked previously with the <br /> EPA in New Jersey, and taught in the Marshall Islands (the site of <br /> 64 US atomic bombs tests), I am all too familiar with the <br /> environmental risks, health risks as well as genetic hazards <br /> associated with radioactive decay and byproducts. Cobalt and <br /> especially Cesium 137 (half life of 26,000 years) are notorious for <br /> concentrating in the digestive system and causing stomach and colon <br /> cancers. Do you want to expose others to these risks? <br /> Hilo does not have the expertise. or individuals with enough <br /> knowledge to build and run the facility safely. Special precautions <br /> are needed especially with our ground water aquifer so close to the <br /> surface. Please do not build a facility here on the Big Island,as <br /> it would not benefit our small farmers, prodmintly crops from <br /> Kauai. <br /> If the irradiation company Isomedix still wishes to build this <br /> facility, without county funding they should explore the <br /> possibility of utilizing areas of Oahu. Oahu has 5 or 6 established <br /> EPA Super Fund Sites which are monitored for radioactive <br /> substances leakage, toxic waste and seepage into the ground water <br /> aquifer. <br /> 'VOTE NO ON BILL 62 <br /> VOTE NO ON A PRIVATE FACILITY HERE ON THE BIG ISLAND <br /> _ <br /> ~ Si,,nQce~rely, <br /> ~ <br /> ~ Roberta Lynn Brashear <br /> r c ~ ' ;t?^ =a.~ ~F.rre Environmental Scientist <br /> y~, ~lb' ~ } Geneticist M. S. Genetics <br /> ~~~i%~~7~~ 1~)i~• ,`'''z~aa z ; RECEIVED <br /> - <br /> • 1 <br /> k' q _ <br /> • f ~ ~ ~ Counfy Council / ~ ~ <br /> A <br /> 1 • , <br /> I <br /> y <IIL ~.n <br /> tt •V 1.,%' • is <br /> .M f{r. h' <br /> 4 <br /> „ " - , <br /> qj -b • HezgrEOUe waste sqa <br /> Aqullow <br /> ~1 1~~. y~ <br /> <br /> Itgure 1375 Some of the Hazardous warm sires on the FPA priority Ilea d <br /> ano iSldiLficutt <br /> and cxpcnsivec tnawmcocaus. r~I ~ S E~ ( G <br /> represent an especially serious threat Once groundwater is contaminated, p <br /> It may not be possiHle. ~ fl~R ~ ~QQ~ <br /> Sous: Data from eHe Environmental Prot<etion Agency. , <br /> <br />