HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.212 1996-1998
FROM: Social Sciences Dry FAH NO.: 808 9747737 05-07-97 12:56P P.01
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Daniel E frown ~ "
9?5 xomomala prive~7 ~~Y 7 ~ ~ 2 f'3
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
COU^'
COUN I Y' i.);= HAWAII
May 7, ]997 Post•it^ppFalIxNOt'te 7671 Da1~ S 5 ~,y~s?
Te h~ 5 .1~! x+~Q+~ ~x%,~~'TOQi From
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Ms. Bobby Jean L.eithead Todd co:DoF: - ~ f ~~h c,
COU nCllpertiOn Pno~aa Pnpnen _ ~Y3.5
Hawaii COUnty Fax s c c Fax M
25 Aupuni Street 1~ `3oZ if 7`f'
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Ms. L,eithcad-Todd:
As a person who proudly voted for you in the past election, I am writing to profess my
disappointment in your support of what I consider a dangerous experiment for the people in the
County of Haw-aii I refer specifically to the proposal for backing an eradiation facility w he
situated in East Hawaii. 'There are a number of issues that can he raised, from the financial
question of whether tax dollars should be placed into a facility that will benefit only a min(rrity of
island businesspeople. to questions of marketing and concerns of food safety.
1 choose tv single out what f consider to be the single most important concern: the slung of a
facility that uses radioactive cesium and,'or cobalt in a high earthquake zone- I have experienced
high magnitude quakes, notably the one in 1975 that registered over 7.0 on the Richter scab. 1
.rho know thet tlie(e is a reasonable risk of a quake of [hat magnitude or greater occurring in the
near future. Should such a quake damage the irradiator facility, the population at large will be
exposed to dangerous amounts of radiation, perhaps for many years after the initial crcnt l-his
in turn may lead to significant increases to cancer morbidih~ and mortality. A< a biomcdirll
rescarche r 1 &nd such risk to be too great to dismiss.
W'hy not put your efforts into cleaner industries, from increasing the scientific base in the County
to estahlishing agricultural coops that can give restaurants and supermarkets throughout the state
the stable supply of agricultural products they require before being able to shift from mainland
sources for these products' I certainly applaud your efforts to help with the dire economic
situation in which we find ourseh~es, but I must protest that the effort to fund an irrtdiator In
this region is both mistaken and dangerous.
I would greatly appreciate it if you would reconsider your support for this project.
Sincerely,
Daniel E. Brown
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