For Immediate Release: April 5, 2010
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility
RADIATION EXPOSURE DEBATE RAGES INSIDE EPA ? Plan to Radically Hike Post-Accident Radiation in Food & Water Sparks Hot Dissent
Washington, DC ? A plan awaiting approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that would dramatically increase permissible radioactive releases in drinking water, food and soil after ?radiological incidents? is drawing vigorous objections from agency experts, according to agency documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). At issue is the acceptable level of public health risk following a radiation release, whether an accidental spill or a ?dirty bomb? attack.
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?This critical debate is taking place entirely behind closed doors because this plan is ?guidance? and does not require public notice as a regulation would,? stated PEER Counsel Christine Erickson. Today, PEER sent EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson a letter calling for a more open and broader examination of the proposed radiation guidance. ?We all deserve to know why some in the agency want to legitimize exposing the public to radiation at levels vastly higher than what EPA officially considers dangerous.? ....
