[Vision2020] Fw: NEW DOWNWINDER BILL INCLUDES IDAHO, MONTANA

[lfalen]

I have mixed feelings about this bill. I think that those that those who are truly affected by radiation fallout should be compensated. The problem is anyone with a problem could make a claim and how do you prove if it is valid or not. I do know that there was a lot of fallout. I was TDY to the Atomic Energy Commission in July of 1962. I worked with Beagle dogs. The were placed at 5, 10, 15 and 20 miles from the site of the blast. The purpose was to check the internal organs of the dogs for radiation. I was with the dogs at 15 miles from the blast. Within 20 minutes we were covered with dust. We did not have on protective clothing or masks and our eyes were full of dust. We received as much radiation as the dogs. I am still alive and kicking at 69, so as far as I know I don't have a problem due to this one time exposure. I think that those who had a prolonged exposure could vary well have a problem. Some of those who lived downwind could have a problem due to long term exspo!
 sure, but
how do you know which claims are valid?
I flew over the crator in a helicopter about an hour after the blast. It left a hole about 1/4 of a mile wide and 1/2  mile deep. This waa callled the sudan project, which was a part of project plowshare. It was to test the use of underground blasts for peaceful purposes, such as digging harbors.
Roger
-----Original message-----

From: "Crapo News Release (Crapo)" newsclips at crapo.senate.gov
Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2007 13:00:51 -0700
To: 
Subject: NEW DOWNWINDER BILL INCLUDES IDAHO, MONTANA

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:     Crapo:  (202) 224-5150

August 1, 2007
Craig:   (208) 224-8078

 

 

NEW DOWNWINDER BILL INCLUDES IDAHO, MONTANA

 
Crapo, Craig, Baucus, Tester sponsor bipartisan legislation 

 

Washington, DC - Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig have been
joined by Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester on legislation that would
make residents of Idaho and Montana eligible for a federal government
program that compensates people who lived in affected areas downwind of
the Nevada Test Site during periods of atmospheric nuclear testing and
later contracted a specified compensable disease.  The bipartisan
legislation introduced today, S. 1917, would amend the Radiation
Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) to include all of Idaho and Montana. 

 

Nuclear testing in Nevada during the 1950s and 1960s released radiation
into the atmosphere that settled in states far away from the original
test site.  Researchers determined that certain elements of this
fallout, such as the radioactive isotope Iodine-131, settled in states
such as Idaho and Montana and found their way into food and milk
supplies.  Radioactive contamination can manifest itself as various
forms of cancer, leukemia and other illnesses, particularly thyroid
cancer.  Those affected in this way are often referred to as
"downwinders," to denote their situation downwind from the fallout.

 

At present, these "downwinders" are now compensated only in parts of
Utah, Nevada, and Arizona, although studies show Idaho and Montana
received some of the highest doses of radioactive fallout from the
Nevada tests.  Discussions continue with representatives from other
states about expanding the geographic boundaries for those eligible to
be compensated under RECA.

 

"We will continue to push to include all of  those who have suffered
from exposure to radiation under RECA," Crapo said.  "This is a national
issue and the fastest course to compensation for victims of atomic tests
will come through the existing RECA program."

 

"My colleagues and I are in the business of making Idahoans eligible for
RECA compensation as expeditiously as possible," Craig said. "Studies
that take years will simply not do for citizens who would otherwise be
eligible if they lived on the other side of a state or county line."

 

The RECA act recognizes participants based on geography, but a report
requested by Sen. Craig and released by The National Academy of Sciences
(NAS) recommends Congress change RECA to base compensation on the
medical history of applicants rather than their geographic location.
The Senators say they want those eligible to be able to apply for
compensation under the existing program while any alternatives are being
framed.

 

# # #

To directly link to this news release, please use the following address:
http://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/release_full.cfm?id=28021
6

 

......................................................................

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please do so at the Senator's website, http://crapo.senate.gov
<http://crapo.senate.gov/> . Comments sent to this e-mail address will
not be responded to.


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