From:
Roger McClellan <roger.o.mcclellan**At_Symbol_Here**ATT.NET>
Subject:
Re: [DCHAS-L] Nuclear waste incident in NM in April
Date:
May 27, 2014 21:48 UTC
Reply-To:
DCHAS-L
In-Reply-To:
To: Steve and others:
The use of organic cat litter versus inorganic material originating from the Los Alamos National Laboratories has been regularly reported in the Albuquerque newspaper without any denial from LANL. I would not been surprised if someone "thought" it was a great "green" idea or some one in purchasing championed a low cost substitute.
I any event the levels measured are extraordinarily low and based on my experience with Pu-239 and Am-241 over the last 50 years including lifespan animal studies and the Russian mayalk workers experience I do not see a basis for health concerns. On the positive side I hope this creates a renewed awareness of the need for a safety oriented culture at WIPP and elsewhere. It is especially disappointing because I think WIPP has great potential for use with civilian origin waste not just defense related waste as is now the case.
Roger McClellan
On Tuesday, May 27, 2014 3:05 PM, "Funck, Steven" <sfunck**At_Symbol_Here**MESSIAH.EDU> wrote:
Can anyone confirm the news reports that the cause of this was that someone used an organic based cat litter vice a clay one?
Steven S. Funck, MS, CSMM
Natural Sciences Laboratory Program Manager
Messiah College
One College Ave.
Suite 3049
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Phone: (717) 796-1800 (ext. 2079)
Fax: (717) 691-6046
SFunck**At_Symbol_Here**messiah.edu
