by William Brand, Staff Writer

OAKLAND -- Should a million tons of low-level, radioactive metal -- the residue of the nation's nuclear industry -- be treated like ordinary scrap, melted down and used to make everything from children's braces to construction rebar?

The answer is "no way," "absolutely not" and "hell no," even if it is low-level radiation, two dozen shocked Bay Area residents, including a Berkeley school board member, told U.S. Department of Energy officials at a public meeting here Tuesday.

The virtually unpublicized session is one of six "scoping sessions" being held across the country by the U.S. Department of Energy as preparation for the federal version of an environmental impact report on the subject.

Unknown to most of the general public, the energy department has routinely recycled slightly radioactive materials back into the community since the birth of the nuclear industry during World War II.

The official argument remains that contamination of most of the metals is nearly harmless, with radiation levels so low they barely exceed background radiation -- that is, the radiation a human receives in an ordinary day. The argument is backed by many scientists and disputed by others.

However, in January 2000, acting on complaints that the department's Oak Ridge, Tenn. nuclear facility was dumping radioactive nickel into local municipal landfills, then-Secretary Bill Richardson formed a waste disposal task force. Richardson also received complaints from steel companies that new radiation monitors could detect low-level radiation and they had contamination fears.

In July 2000, Richardson ordered a total ban on recycling metals whose radiation exceeded "background radiation" levels. But a dispute erupted on what was background.

Six months later, days before his Clinton administration appointment ended, Richardson ordered an impact report to look at the problem and recommend a solution -- ranging from returning to the previous practice of driving the stuff out the gate, to reusing it at a nuclear site, to continuing Richardson's ban.

The only notice of Tuesday's hearing at the Oakland Holiday Inn was in the Federal Register, uncovered by a reporter at radio station KPFA. Speakers pointed out there is a huge debate about the safety of any radiation and the fact that the government has routinely recycled radioactive metal is shocking. 

"There should be no question of anything but a total ban," said Daniel Hirsch of Santa Cruz, from the Committee to Bridge the Gap, an anti-nuclear group. "This is national news. Do we want radioactive metals used to make children's braces, costume jewelry or refrigerators? The only reason to do it is purely to make money."

No evidence was presented about actually using recycled radioactive metal to make braces. However, the energy department said recycled metals are used in a variety of products.

"This is a preposterous proposal," said Loulena Miles of Tri Valley Cares, a Livermore anti-nuclear group. "We need more public hearings. We need more publicity."
 

Time to get active - or radioactive!