Nuclear Information and Resource Center (NIRS)
Files
Download Full Text (515 KB)
Download Appendix A - 1999 Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Radiological Health Division License Categories and Licensees (19 KB)
Download Appendix B - 2006 TDEC Licenses and Licenses (16 KB)
Download Appendix C - Energy Secretary Richardson Blocks Nickel Recycling at Oak Ridge (9 KB)
Download Appendix D - Secretary Richardson Suspends Release of Materials from DOE Facilities (31 KB)
Download Appendix E - Release of Surplus and Scrap Materials (191 KB)
Download Appendix F - Radiological Release of Property (62 KB)
Download Appendix G - Evaluations and Acceptance of Licensee Requests for the Disposal of Materials with Extremely Low Levels of Contamination in Class D Landfills (229 KB)
Download Appendix H - Department of Environment and Conservation Solid Waste Permit Status at Radiological Facilities (9 KB)
Download Appendix I - DOE Surface Contamination Release Levels (30 KB)
Download Appendix J - From NRC's Below Regulatory Concern Policy (12 KB)
Download Appendix K - Talking Points, US Department of Energy, Notice of Intent to Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on the Disposition of Radioactive Scrap Metals (15 KB)
Download Appendix L - FOIA and DOE and NNSA on "Authorized Limits" and "Supplemental Limits" (13 KB)
Download Appendix M - Concentrated Benefits over Diffuse Injury (81 KB)
Download Appendix N - Why Radioactive Wastes should be Sequestered for the Full Duration of their Hazard: Considering the "Macs Effect" (42 KB)
Document Type
Report
Date
5-14-2007
Description
The purpose of this project was to understand how much nuclear weapons-generated radioactive waste, material and property the Department of Energy (DOE) releases into the marketplace. We sought to identify how the radioactivity gets out, legally and practically, and to the extent possible, where it goes. Since the production of atomic power and weapons involves many of the same radioactive-waste generating facilities throughout the nuclear fuel chain, we also sought to understand the larger context in which this man-made radioactivity is managed and released into general commerce.
We reviewed DOE’s national and site-specific policies, guidance, rules and procedures which allow some radioactive contamination out of the weapons complex. This DOE-generated radioactivity can go directly to hazardous and solid waste facilities, to recyclers of scrap, concrete, plastics, soil, asphalt, rubble, paper, equipment and other media--none of which are intended to take Atomic Energy Act regulated radioactivity.
Since much basic information about ionizing radiation is written by those who seek to minimize concern about its impact, NIRS offers extensive framing of these issues including the difficulties of detecting radioactivity and concerns about bias and inadequacy of even the fundamental units of radiation.
This report is accompanied by fourteen appendices, all of which are available here as supplemental downloads.
This research was completed money allocated during Round 5 of the Citizens’ Monitoring and Technical Assessment Fund (MTA Fund). Clark University was named conservator of these works.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at digitalrepository@clarku.edu
Publisher
Nuclear Information and Resource Center (NIRS)
Format
Keywords
nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons testing, environment, non-governmental organizations, United States Department of Energy, tribal governments, environmental cleanup, radioactive fallout, radioactive waste
Rights
Copyright belongs to the authors. Clark University was chosen by the non-profit peace and environmental groups as the conservator of these reports; our right to distribute these works ensures they remain available to the public in perpetuity as intended. Reuse at your own discretion with with due deference to copyright holders.
Location
Tacoma Park, MD
Recommended Citation
Nuclear Information and Resource Center (NIRS); D'Arrigo, Diane; and Olson, Mary, "Out of Control – On Purpose: DOE’s Dispersal of Radioactive Waste into Landfills and Consumer Products" (2007). Nuclear Information and Resource Center (NIRS). 1.
https://commons.clarku.edu/nirs/1