Feb. 19, 2010
PART ONE - NIOSH RESPONDS: After Demolition Huntington Pilot Plant Site “Negligible” Radioactivity
540 Worker Claims Filed
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Cincinnati, OH (HNN) – Stuart Hinnefeld, interim director of NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health ) explained certain gaps in report presentations on the Huntington Pilot/Reduction Pilot Plant (HPP/RPP), as well as informed speculation related to data.
This agency functions to handle radiation dose reconstructions for workers (or their survivors) applying for benefits under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICPA). These benefits , in brief, provide compensation to Department of Energy (DOE) employees, its contractors or subcontractors, and atomic weapons workers with radiation induced cancer if the cancer developed after working at a covered facility (of which HPP/RPP is a covered facility) or the cancer is “determined at least as likely as not related to that employment) or the employee fits a Special Exposure Cohort (by working at least 250 days before February 1, 1992 at one or more gaseous diffusion plants or underground nuclear test at Amchitka, Alaska) and developed specified cancers.
(For specific details: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/regs/compliance/progbenefits.htm)
SYNOPSIS OF CLARIFICATIONS REFERENCE HPP/RPP
First, and foremost, NIOSH assembles documents already available from agencies such as the Department of Energy (DOE) or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) . Their mission is to determine compensation for former workers at Department of Energy sites. Their conclusions come from available documents to reconstruct a possible radiation dose that production workers received.
As the documentation on exposure determines production workers with the highest dosage and administrative workers with a smaller quantity, one could surmise that as proximity decreased, so too did exposure amounts.
For instance, following the removal of the plant from Huntington ,Hinnefeld said that tests on the remaining former compressor facility were “negligible” for radiation exposure in 1979.
In addition, the interim director explained that often the “classified” nature of disposal does not relate to a radioactive dosage, but to various equipments and components utilized at the former DOE site. Burial, too, is an accepted method of removing low-dose radioactive contaminants from the environment to prevent accidental exposure.
As for the HPP/RPP, Hinnefeld indicated that the Portsmouth burial in a “classified” waste site, likely pertains to the items disposed, not data pertaining to radioactivity or radioactive elements. Further, the portion of the HPP/RPP left standing (the former compressor building, now used for waste water treatment by INCO) had ( in and around 1979) only “negligible” radioactivity.
RPP 1981 RADIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT BY OAK RIDGE
A 1981 DOE Radiological Assessment of the former RPP at Huntington Alloys by the Radiological Site Assessment Program (Oak Ridge Associated Universities) indicated that while the former plant supplied nickel powder for gaseous diffusion plants one source “was scrap nickel contaminated with uranium returned from the gaseous diffusion operations.”
Prior to releasing the former site for unrestricted use, the Health and Safety Research Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory had concerns based on a January 1975 survey. This survey was “the first to determine the radiological status of the facility conducted by the AEC.” Since contaminants had been reported and the plant and equipment demolished and buried in Portsmouth, a follow up survey was conducted at “questionable areas” of residual uranium in “surface soil and elevated gamma radiation levels in the remains of an elevator shaft and inside the compressor building. High concentrations of nickel were noted in some surface soil samples.”
In addition to the still standing compressor building, a “concrete pad, which was the floor of the former process building, remained on the north side of the compressor building” at the time of the 1981 radiological survey. Large pieces of scrap metal, construction equipment, and chromate ore were on the concrete pad.
At the time of preparation in 1981, the Oak Ridge report concluded, “comparison of the compressor building survey results with the guidelines for natural uranium and its decay products, indicates that the measured levels are below those guidelines for transferrable and total alpha and beta-gamma contamination. The external beta-gamma radiation dose rates at 1 cm from the building surfaces are also below NRC guidelines.”
(Some of the elevated levels were found to be within EPA and National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements guidelines. The report suggested that demolition equipment had been stored at the location. As with the debris, the equipment was buried in Portsmouth, Ohio.)
This 1981 report found no correlation between radionuclide contamination levels and nickel concentration.
The scientists wrote: “It is interesting to note that off-site samples also contained significant nickel levels. In particular, sample O-3 of surface soil, obtained from a river flood plain approximately 1.5 km from the plant site, contained 1.3 x lo4 ppm - substantially higher than many of the on-site samples. This suggests that general nickel contamination of surface soil may exist throughout this area as a result of past International Nickel Company operations.
NIOSH LIMITED TO WORKER RELATED CONTAMENT SURVEYS
However, the mission of the agency pertains to worker exposure. They do not and did not initiate research, tests, or other investigations that did NOT pertain to worker exposure; thus, their documents do not quantify results for areas beyond the former DOE plant’s footprint ( which could be characterized as too the fence).
True, certain highly radioactive elements ( plutonium , beryllium (and compounds) ,chromium (and compounds) , nickel carbonyl, Neptunium, PCB’s, etc, see link below ) were present within the uranium to be recycled. However, these separate elements were very small quantities contained within the uranium. After the recycling process, uranium residue and other residue were shipped back to the originating DOE plant. ( The following 364 Toxic Substances were at some time used onsite at HPP/RPP: http://www.sem.dol.gov/index.cfm
Since NIOSH almost exclusively relies upon documents prepared by other governmental agencies, suggested without confirming that the absence of a study could indicate one did not take place. But, the reason for it not taking place, again, could be that based on the findings of the other known studies, additional follow up testing was presumed unnecessary.
As for the elevator shaft and pit cleaning, Hinnefled said that radioactive particles generally stick to grease, which could have been found in shafts as the plant was prepared for “stand by” in early 60s. (An Oak Ridge Universities radiological survey of the site on which the HPP/RPP plant had been located showed elevated uranium levels around the elevator shaft, which prompted a 1981 follow up.)
PETITIONS
Petitions to add a class or workers are made to the Director of NIOSH. These findings and recommendations are presented to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and presented to Congress for review. (At this time, the Cincinnati office does not have a petition for another Huntington area plant filed; however, HNN knows of a group from Huntington asking for this status that has not followed the procedures outlined.)
CLAIMS/COMPENSATION REPORTS
Under the Workers’ Compensation Program, a total of 540 “unique individual workers” are represented by 813 cases reported to the United States Department of Labor under either NIOSH or Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) status.
Of these, the Department of Labor breaks down statistics based on the probability of causation of cancer is work related (i.e. 50% or more). To qualify, a worker must meet criteria of having worked during a specific period of time at a DOE facility, such as, HPP/RPP.
Over $5 million dollars in compensation and medical bills have been paid for workers and/or survivors from the HPP/RPP. Visit: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/regs/compliance/statistics/WebPages/HUNTINGTON_PLT.htm
Note: HPP/RPP is not listed as an SEC (Special Exposure Cohort) location where former workers can qualify if they have at least one of 22 specified cancers and worked for a specified period of time at one of the SEC designated sites (For example, classes of employees who worked at the Portsmouth/Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plants, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (K-25 site), and other fit this description.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/OCAS/ocassec.html
NEXT: In-Depth Discussion with NIOSH
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PART ONE - NIOSH RESPONDS: After Demolition Huntington Pilot Plant Site “Negligible” Radioactivity
540 Worker Claims Filed
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Cincinnati, OH (HNN) – Stuart Hinnefeld, interim director of NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health ) explained certain gaps in report presentations on the Huntington Pilot/Reduction Pilot Plant (HPP/RPP), as well as informed speculation related to data.
This agency functions to handle radiation dose reconstructions for workers (or their survivors) applying for benefits under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICPA). These benefits , in brief, provide compensation to Department of Energy (DOE) employees, its contractors or subcontractors, and atomic weapons workers with radiation induced cancer if the cancer developed after working at a covered facility (of which HPP/RPP is a covered facility) or the cancer is “determined at least as likely as not related to that employment) or the employee fits a Special Exposure Cohort (by working at least 250 days before February 1, 1992 at one or more gaseous diffusion plants or underground nuclear test at Amchitka, Alaska) and developed specified cancers.
(For specific details: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/regs/compliance/progbenefits.htm)
SYNOPSIS OF CLARIFICATIONS REFERENCE HPP/RPP
First, and foremost, NIOSH assembles documents already available from agencies such as the Department of Energy (DOE) or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) . Their mission is to determine compensation for former workers at Department of Energy sites. Their conclusions come from available documents to reconstruct a possible radiation dose that production workers received.
As the documentation on exposure determines production workers with the highest dosage and administrative workers with a smaller quantity, one could surmise that as proximity decreased, so too did exposure amounts.
For instance, following the removal of the plant from Huntington ,Hinnefeld said that tests on the remaining former compressor facility were “negligible” for radiation exposure in 1979.
In addition, the interim director explained that often the “classified” nature of disposal does not relate to a radioactive dosage, but to various equipments and components utilized at the former DOE site. Burial, too, is an accepted method of removing low-dose radioactive contaminants from the environment to prevent accidental exposure.
As for the HPP/RPP, Hinnefeld indicated that the Portsmouth burial in a “classified” waste site, likely pertains to the items disposed, not data pertaining to radioactivity or radioactive elements. Further, the portion of the HPP/RPP left standing (the former compressor building, now used for waste water treatment by INCO) had ( in and around 1979) only “negligible” radioactivity.
RPP 1981 RADIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT BY OAK RIDGE
A 1981 DOE Radiological Assessment of the former RPP at Huntington Alloys by the Radiological Site Assessment Program (Oak Ridge Associated Universities) indicated that while the former plant supplied nickel powder for gaseous diffusion plants one source “was scrap nickel contaminated with uranium returned from the gaseous diffusion operations.”
Prior to releasing the former site for unrestricted use, the Health and Safety Research Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory had concerns based on a January 1975 survey. This survey was “the first to determine the radiological status of the facility conducted by the AEC.” Since contaminants had been reported and the plant and equipment demolished and buried in Portsmouth, a follow up survey was conducted at “questionable areas” of residual uranium in “surface soil and elevated gamma radiation levels in the remains of an elevator shaft and inside the compressor building. High concentrations of nickel were noted in some surface soil samples.”
In addition to the still standing compressor building, a “concrete pad, which was the floor of the former process building, remained on the north side of the compressor building” at the time of the 1981 radiological survey. Large pieces of scrap metal, construction equipment, and chromate ore were on the concrete pad.
At the time of preparation in 1981, the Oak Ridge report concluded, “comparison of the compressor building survey results with the guidelines for natural uranium and its decay products, indicates that the measured levels are below those guidelines for transferrable and total alpha and beta-gamma contamination. The external beta-gamma radiation dose rates at 1 cm from the building surfaces are also below NRC guidelines.”
(Some of the elevated levels were found to be within EPA and National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements guidelines. The report suggested that demolition equipment had been stored at the location. As with the debris, the equipment was buried in Portsmouth, Ohio.)
This 1981 report found no correlation between radionuclide contamination levels and nickel concentration.
The scientists wrote: “It is interesting to note that off-site samples also contained significant nickel levels. In particular, sample O-3 of surface soil, obtained from a river flood plain approximately 1.5 km from the plant site, contained 1.3 x lo4 ppm - substantially higher than many of the on-site samples. This suggests that general nickel contamination of surface soil may exist throughout this area as a result of past International Nickel Company operations.
NIOSH LIMITED TO WORKER RELATED CONTAMENT SURVEYS
However, the mission of the agency pertains to worker exposure. They do not and did not initiate research, tests, or other investigations that did NOT pertain to worker exposure; thus, their documents do not quantify results for areas beyond the former DOE plant’s footprint ( which could be characterized as too the fence).
True, certain highly radioactive elements ( plutonium , beryllium (and compounds) ,chromium (and compounds) , nickel carbonyl, Neptunium, PCB’s, etc, see link below ) were present within the uranium to be recycled. However, these separate elements were very small quantities contained within the uranium. After the recycling process, uranium residue and other residue were shipped back to the originating DOE plant. ( The following 364 Toxic Substances were at some time used onsite at HPP/RPP: http://www.sem.dol.gov/index.cfm
Since NIOSH almost exclusively relies upon documents prepared by other governmental agencies, suggested without confirming that the absence of a study could indicate one did not take place. But, the reason for it not taking place, again, could be that based on the findings of the other known studies, additional follow up testing was presumed unnecessary.
As for the elevator shaft and pit cleaning, Hinnefled said that radioactive particles generally stick to grease, which could have been found in shafts as the plant was prepared for “stand by” in early 60s. (An Oak Ridge Universities radiological survey of the site on which the HPP/RPP plant had been located showed elevated uranium levels around the elevator shaft, which prompted a 1981 follow up.)
PETITIONS
Petitions to add a class or workers are made to the Director of NIOSH. These findings and recommendations are presented to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and presented to Congress for review. (At this time, the Cincinnati office does not have a petition for another Huntington area plant filed; however, HNN knows of a group from Huntington asking for this status that has not followed the procedures outlined.)
CLAIMS/COMPENSATION REPORTS
Under the Workers’ Compensation Program, a total of 540 “unique individual workers” are represented by 813 cases reported to the United States Department of Labor under either NIOSH or Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) status.
Of these, the Department of Labor breaks down statistics based on the probability of causation of cancer is work related (i.e. 50% or more). To qualify, a worker must meet criteria of having worked during a specific period of time at a DOE facility, such as, HPP/RPP.
Over $5 million dollars in compensation and medical bills have been paid for workers and/or survivors from the HPP/RPP. Visit: http://www.dol.gov/owcp/energy/regs/compliance/statistics/WebPages/HUNTINGTON_PLT.htm
Note: HPP/RPP is not listed as an SEC (Special Exposure Cohort) location where former workers can qualify if they have at least one of 22 specified cancers and worked for a specified period of time at one of the SEC designated sites (For example, classes of employees who worked at the Portsmouth/Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plants, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant (K-25 site), and other fit this description.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/OCAS/ocassec.html
NEXT: In-Depth Discussion with NIOSH
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
