HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.369 1996-1998 l~-~~,
May 14, 1997
Aloha Councilors e.nd Concerned members of the Public,
I am Philip Posher, my address is P.O. Box 1874, Kailua-Kona 9675
In rmy search for a position on Bill 62, I have become immer_sec'
in the NUCLEAR REGtiLATORY COMMISSION'S RULES AND REGULAT70NS
AND THE DRAFT P.ECL'LA'PORY GUIDE. DG-000 ~ "
It is more than just a little light reading. I have sought to
find the facts about irradiators and the radioactive COBALT -60
isotope, which they use. According to the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission Cobalt-50 is highly radioactive and the RADIATION R00?2
consequently, must be labeled with a sign DANGER HIGH RADIATION AP,E_'~.
The NRC manual requires the radiation plant to try to achieve
ALARA or "as low as reasonably achievable" when it comes to reducing
radioactive contamination to the public. No amount of radioa_tiai.ty
exposure is reasonable, I be]_ieve. The radiation room and the
irradiator pool can 'occome contaminat^_~, as well as fruit z;hich is
improperly exposed. IL shipped out this fruit will have to be
recalled.
,ti"pat rea11~~ amaz^d me was that t'_~e Nuc'_°ar Regulatory Com;ni_s~sior
allowed plant operators to release up ::;o one-half of a rad. of
radioactivity into the sewer system each calender year. 'this is an
absorbed amount of radiation equivalent to 10 chest h-rays a y-ear
for the residents of i-:ilo. Additior_ai amounts of radioaci:,.ivitp
could also be released into the air! The waste water woutrl surely
find its -:e_y into local drinking v:ater, and the ocean at Hilo Ba.y.
The airborne waste would be free to fellow tha winds. This the best
case scenario. If t'~erc are lapses by the plant personnel or
accidents the amount of released radiation wculd sky-rock_et.I
have _^aJ about horrible radiation. burns and deatl;s at other irra~:iation
plants around the cc~.r.try and world in the NRC manual. Isomedix, Inc.
is the company which plans to operate tre proposed plant in Hilo.
The chief radi.atior. officer for an Isemedix, Inc. in Now Jersey .
_
n~a~rrowly escaped-de_:th_in-1974.
The people of Tti1o do not deserve to risi~ an increase i.n cancer and
birth defects. They do not deserve to see their property vaLaes
diminish. The State oP Hawai'i dogs not deserve to lose it's
designation as a major ECO-TOliRISM destination. along with the resultin_r
losses in visitorr.A-boycott of Hawaiian products could be devastating.
I feel that w2 have been down this road before. There was a major
radioactive spill anal cor,taminat~ion in Hono~uiu in 1957_, and it was
a food irradiator. It tools $12 million to clean it up. Neither, the
County or the Councilors can afford this type of Financial and 1aca1
exposure. I am against the proposed $7_,000,000 for BILL 62. 'ihere
are plenty of way; to stimulate growth yin agriculture in Iiav:aii.
I beLeva this is a very important and serious issue. Please vote
again_t the proposed naclear food irra~9iator and h~1p preserve our
paradise.
Mahalo, ~ Wm m. :v C~Z~1~2/~.3bi01 ,
Philip Mosher .`'~ii~
R.ef. Presented
Raf. Date MAY i 1997