HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.030 1996-1998 CHAPMAN CONSULTING SERVICES _
ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND ANALYSES I-;`r - ~ \
'97 (~~7Y ~ Pfl `4 33
May 5, 1997 VIA FA TNT U.S: MAID,
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The Honorable John Ray
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
SUF3JECT: Council Resolution 71-97 and Bill No. 6?
Dear Councilman Ray.
This is to urge your support ftu the subject Council Resolution and dill. As a member of the team that
prepared the 1988 F(a~waii Commodities Irradiation Facility Environmental Impact Statement, l am well
aware of the lack of radiation risla associated with the use of cobalt-60 as a radiation source for the
treatment and sterilization of food and medical supplies. As indicated in the 1988 Final Environmental
Impact Statement (see Appendix G 2, External Events Risk Assessment, page 2-I), the usefulness of this
manmade isotope is indicated by the fact that over 80 million curries of cobalt-60 are being used around
the world for ~~amma procesin<, Similarh~, ~~~s noted in the Final Environmental Impact Statement,
cobalt-60 does not fission, emit neutrons. exhibit rapid power excursions, or activate (make radioactive)
other materials. This isotope simply decays or disintegrates at a constant rate
Finally, as indicated in the Environmental Impact Statement Risk Assessment, the risks of radiation
exposure ro workers or the public due to external events affecting the food irradiation facility are
extremely low, especially gi~~en the extremely low quantities of the material required for the h'eahnent
facility. 1 urge you to review the 1988 I lawaii Commodities Irradiation Facility Final Environmental
ImpacC Statement, if you have not already done so, for credible information regarding the treatment
process, effect on foodshitls, and risks associated with that treatment. The questions, concerns, and
misinformation that arc ari,in~, today arc the same as those raised in 1988, and just as in 1958, there is
no credible scientific bast, for the opposition claims-
if Hawaii in general, and specifically the f3ig Island, are to improve and increase their diversified
agricultural opportunities, the nea•ssarv infrastructure, including treatment and marketing/distribution
systems, must be in place Just as a carpenter or doctor must ha~~e the necessary tools to do their jobs
properly, so must fanners. Irradiation treatment, along with all of the other means of treating foodshdls,
must be made available for all of us to benefit from an improved and increased diversified agricultural
indust'iy. Similarly, the monies required to develop and promote Hawaii's agricultural products in a wide
variety of foreign and domestic markets must be made available. The continued loss of over $300 million
annually to our agricuhure industry because ofihc fact: appropriate treatment facilities cannot be allowed
to continue.
G>o~o~. D[o,
1~,IV ~o. FN ~ ~ P
P.O. Box 383723 • Waikoloa, Hawaii 96738 ~ kNL• ~
Tel. (808) 883-9864 • Fax (808) 883-0012 Itraf. 2'0[ - 1.L^
!WY 9 1997
72ei. rhtica
Councilman John Ray
May 5, 1997
Page 2
Again, 1 urge your support for Resolution 71-97 and Rill 62. Please call or write should you have any
questions or require additional information regarding the above. Thank you for the opportunity to
comment on this issue.
Sincerely,
Gordon A Chapman
cc: ~'Arakalci, ChaHrt4ran'; i~Iwaii~Cdii~ity`t'ouncil
Aaron Chung, Council Member
Dominic Yagong, Council Member
loe Reynolds, Council Member
Curtis Tyler, Council ~~Icnilmr
John Samangelo, Council Member
Robbie Jean Leithend-"fold, Council tilembcr
AI Smith, Council Member
Steven Yamashiro, Mayor
P. Helti~ich, HIEDR