HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.418 1996-1998
FROM: MDS NORD ION FAX NO.: 613 592 9246 05-14-97 15:55^-P-:dl
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S<1en~e Adt~anring Health
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:~1sy 14, 1997 CCU`: _.r
COUN I `f Ur HAWAII
James Arakaki
Chairman
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii
96720
)]eGr IsJr. Arakaki
My reason for writing is to provide additional information and clarification reearding
several issues raised at the vlay 7 hearing regarding the proposed irradiator.
1, ]understand that reference was made to the availabilit}' and supply of cobalt 60
and to the potential shutdou n of a reactor at the Chalk River Laboratories of
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (.AECL)
h1D5 Nordion has along-term supple agreement Math Ontario Hydro for the
production of cobalt 6U This has been the case for more than 20 years In
addition to this source, we have a supple contract tirith Hydro Quebec
The NRU reactor in Chalk River produces most of the world's supply of medical
isotopes used in some 50,000 nuclear medicine imaging procedures every day
around the globe. The reactor is also used by ALCL for research purposes It is
scheduled to be shutdown within the next three years or so As a result,
h'IDS Nordion is building two small specialh reactors solely for the production of
medical isotopes.
The NTtU reactor has not been used Cor cobalt 60 productlon for more than 20
years.
Comm. No. `v~
E`ile No. FNp C\Q
jam, 20~ Presenfed I.YNY1Na~
P'~rn MAY 1 6 1997
FROM: MDS NORDI ON FAX NO.: 613 592 9246 05-14-97 15: So ?~`J2
2 i\'fD5'.~ordien has supplied cobalt 60 to Isomcdix lacilit~cs in Canada and the
United States since 197 i
3, ~','e have installed 100 commercial irradiators in more than X70 countries around the
globe. They have been operating for millions of hour's and the public has never
been endangered nor accidentally e>;posed to radiation by these facilities-
4 The transportation of cobalt CO used in our irradiators is carried out using
thoroughly tested, licensed and shielded containers. Stnct handling and safer}
procedures are follos~zd Our shipping containers meet thz safety standards and
regulations of the International Atomic Energy' Agency- and are accepted for
transport by common carrier throuuhout the ~~orld O~~er the nears, MDS iAbrdion
has shipped more than 300 million curies of cobalt 60 to its customers world-wide.
There has nz~er been an occasion ..her, our cobalt 60 shipn:znts posed any'
radiation hazards to the public or to the em ironnlent
Please feet free to contact me if require additional infnnnr+tion on amp of these matters.
Respectfully submitted,
Ian Mumford
Vice-President
Corporate Communications