An important health issue facing Hawaii is the military's contamination of Hawaii with radioactive depleted uranium munitions. We do not want Hawaii licensed by the NRC to possess DU and not clean up this contamination. Did you know Kona has a 12%higher cancer rate than Hilo? Why? Is it possible the community is being contaminated by military toxins carried on the wind? We want 24/7 air monitoring of Hawaii, especially downwind from live fire artillery ranges. The US military in Hawai'i Must Not be licensed to be a RADIOACTIVE NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP! Deadline for public comment to the NRC is Tues Oct 27, 2009. I know EVERYONE here loves Hawai'i so please act fast! And pass forward. FOLLOW THE LINK below The Big Island Hui to get up to speed fast ...
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Please write and submit a comment to the NRC...FOUR DAYS LEFT to make your comments to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Please do it now! Please forward!
Its simple.... just ask for independent monitoring for Pohakuloa and the eight other Training Ranges being granted a "permit to possess" depleted uranium, PLUS - an E.I.S., a formal hearing, decommissioning, and clean up of all ranges that have applied for a "permit to possess".
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EMAIL TO: john.hayes@nrc.gov BEFORE TUES. OCT. 27th ....MAHALO!
This is my testimony to the NRC is below and copy of Hawaii County Resolution 639-08
Dear Mr. Hayes,
Do Not Give the US Army a NRC license for Pohakuloa or any other base on any of our islands! Hawaii has already endured over 60 years of military toxic pollution. Enough already! Presently there is enough serious concern about the real extent of the radiation contamination up at Pohakuloa that the Hawaii County Council passed RESOLUTION 639-08 URGING THE UNITED STATES MILITARY TO ADDRESS THE HAZARDS OF DEPLETED URANIUM AT THE POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA. Passed by the Hawai'i County Council: July 2nd, 2008 (In its entirety below.)
The US military has not been honest with the public on this issue. In fact they have been caught in more than one lie. In fact they are involved more in misinformation and misdirection than giving our concerns any real value.
I was at Mauna Kea State Park on May 29, 2007 when private citizens armed only with Geiger counters got a radiation reading of 75cpm (when normal background radiation is 5 -20 cpm) This reading came off of dust devil gust of wind coming off the Pohakuloa Firing Range. This radiation reading suspended on the wind currents stayed elevated for several minutes before the reading fell back to normal levels. After the experience I thought... could a few hundred or a few thousand Davey Crocket tail fins used back in the 1960's cause such an elevation in radiation? I think not and fear the radiological contamination is far worst than the military would ever admit. This high reading was on a day that there was no live fire training going on at Pohakuloa. On any given day Saddle Road passing through Pohakuloa is like a wind tunnel 20 to 30 mph. Could that wind carry tiny particles of radioactive material over our communities? We won't know the full extent of that question until there is comprehensive transparent testing. We want to know the extent of the contamination at PTA.
The US military DOES NOT NEED A NRC LICENSE! The military needs to be a responsible steward of the land especially when sworn to protect the US public. The military needs to prove their toxic activity stay contained on the base. If it cannot be contained PTA must be decommissioned! Many representing the military have made newspaper headlines like..."No public health risk from DU at Pohakuloa" Hogwash! Show us the transparent data and follow the well thought out Hawaii County Resolution 639-08.
RESOLUTION 639-08 URGING THE UNITED STATES MILITARY TO ADDRESS THE
HAZARDS OF DEPLETED URANIUM AT THE POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA.
WHEREAS, in the early 1960's the United States Military used the
Pohakuloa Training Area for firing a formerly classified weapon, the
Davy Crockett recoilless gun, which has created the presence of
depleted uranium (DU) in the impact area at the U.S. Army Garrison,
Pohakuloa; and
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has released several reports
and scientific studies concerning the health risks from exposure to
depleted uranium; and
WHEREAS, depleted uranium is a chemically toxic and radioactive heavy
metal with a half-life of 4.6 billion years; and
WHEREAS, depleted uranium emits radioactive alpha particles that can
cause cancer when inhaled or ingested and also cause kidney and lung
damage; and
WHEREAS, there is a public health need to ensure the safe storage,
disposal, and clean-up of munitions and other products or materials
containing depleted uranium at the Pohakuloa Training Area to protect
all residents of Hawai'i Island; and
WHEREAS, the United States Military is hereby requested, with
urgency, to address the potential hazards of depleted uranium at the
Pohakuloa Training Area with the following five-point plan:
1. Ordering a complete halt to B-2 bombing missions and to all live
firing exercises and other activities at the Pohakuloa Training Area
that create dust until there is an assessment and clean up of the
depleted uranium already present; 2. Establishing a permanent, high-
tech monitoring system with procedures to ensure air quality control;
3. Establishing a citizen monitoring system to work closely with
Military experts to assure transparency and community confidence; 4.
Hosting quarterly meetings to update and inform the public; and 5.
Ensuring permanent funds are available for the monitoring program;
now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI'I that the U.S.
Military will incorporate the five-point plan to address the
potential hazards of depleted uranium at the Pohakuloa Training Area.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall forward a copy of
this resolution to Colonel Howard Killian, Deputy Region Director,
Army Installation Management Command-Pacific; all members of the
Hawai'i State Legislature; Senator Daniel K. Inouye; Senator Daniel
K. Akaka; Congressman Neil Abercrombie, and Congresswoman Mazie K.
Hirono.
Lindafaye Kroll BSN
lindafaye@alfsartgallery.com