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Show Page B12 Qlfrg itms-lribzpmb- Thursday, October 28, 2004 mt New nukes on the horizon while remnants of old nukes still troublesome said his superiors Former resident Carrie Switzer By Department of Energy in Staff Writer YOU Scientists admit that prova ing link between exposure to nuclear waste products and health problems commonly associated with contamination is difficult. Yet the Radiation Compensation Act could be fully funded this year, enabling the federal government to make good on thousands of charge of the EIS is considering comments collected from hearings held in Moab, White Mesa and Blanding. ARE MOW CATERING NEVADA TEST SITE TRESPASSING F- -0 BY OROCft Of TNI UNfTEO STATES DEMATMCNT Of ENERGY V - Four options are being considered, Fields said. Leave the mill tailings in - place (and .cover them); move them to Klondike Flats; move to Crescent junction; or slurry them to White Mesa. Contamination from the pile is believed to have moved across the Colorado River and claims made by workers who handled the toxic material during its relatively brief research and development history. Sixteen nuclear weapon plants in 13 states spread a worldwide carpet of contamination that clean-uexperts nearly 50 years after nuclear weapons production ended are still studying, and slowly wading through. And Moab, with its proximity to the Nevada Test Site and Grand Countys abandoned uranium mills and tailings, is right in the thick of it. The contamination may be old news, but human and environmental recovery and reclamation efforts continue with new problems, benefits, and the possibility of e new testing, as new nuclear weapons production and testing is currently being discussed at all levels of government. These were among the issues raised October 12 during a forum at the Grand County Community Center sponsored by the Grand Canyon Trust and by presented Downwinders Opposed to Nuclear Testing (DONT). A film shown at the forum, protester plants a desert succulent outside the Nevada Test Site just prior to the 1 992 moratorium on nuclear weapons testing. Tests may resume in Nevada, an event which according to authorities, happens only when the wind blows east in order to protect the larger communities in southern California from fallout. St. George, Salt Lake and Moab are all within the easterly wind patterns and in the past accumulated measurable amounts of iodine from the Moab Bud Tangren had no idea what this stuff would do, when they began testing at the Nevada installation. Thats why they were testing it. He also said that cows and pigs put out at the site of nuclear tests were Tangren presented himself as a living, breathing example of a nuclear weapons worker who has not been negatively effected by contamination. I moved to Nevada 55 years ago and went to work at the Nevada Test Site, Tangren said. I have a limp, some scars and all kinds of things wrong with me, but none of them related to nuclear testing. Im living proof that this stuff will not kill everybody, he killed. Amid a firestorm of ques- tions from the audience, Tangrens comments concluded the evenings presentation. I have to believe in my mind that this thing has been blown way out of proportion. said. A -- p into the Matheson Wetlands, Fields said. There are nine other sites being studied by the DOE right now, and Atlas is the worst, she said. They put a cage of minnows in the water at the wetlands and they all died. Capping the tailings pile would include measures to stop the leakage of contaminants, and moving the pile has its share of adversity as well. The EIS will be available for public review this fall, she said. -- REPUBLICAN STATE1SENATE1 He's been in your community. He knows wl)at you need. tests. mini-nuk- Utahs own Senator Bob pf?i Bennett is on a committee split (notwithstanding Bennetts vote) on a bill to maintain the moratorium on nuclear weapons testing and to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Utah Representative Jim Hansen is also sponsoring a bill, the Safety for Americans from Nuclear Weapons testing Act. Both bills will be considered this legislative session, Pierce said. Moab resident Sarah Fields gave an update on the status of the Atlas Tailings pile northwest of town. A draft Environmental Impact Statement 6-- 6 Radioactive America, showed how thousands of documents declassified in 1999 paved the way for financial compensation for nuclear weapons industry workers. Utah Senator Orrin Hatch is now trying to build on that compensation package to include health claims made by Phill PHILLS ISSUES: See the search report under candi- http:ucrs.state.ut.us. Public Education Local Economy Public Lands Phill appreciates the support of the Republican Party and fully supports Republican values. He believes State and Federal Governments are too large and must be reduced. The best government is closest to the people. As a former Deputy Adjutant General in the Utah National Guard, and member of the majority party, he has the Influence and support members of the minority party will find hard to match. Moab Man Auto Glass will credit up to $ 25.00 of your insurance deductible. We are Insurance Approved & we handle ALL the paperwork. Transportation Water Rights Veterans Support 1 The Federal Compensation Act is viewed as admission of responsibility to people who have worked with Phill Peay for over 30 years. He knows and cares about the issues facing rural Utah and will properly represent all of District 27. You can count on him as I have. I Moab Man! Auto Glass worked with dangerous elements without full knowledge of potential danger. Under current law, uranium workers received $100,000 each under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, and an additional $50,000 through an energy - Congressman One call does it all! 259-174- Vinyl & 8 1 Jim Hansen szapGEEBQfliEm Wood Windows Fast, free mobile service up to 00 miles! employees compensation program. The program ran out of funds before it ran out of claims, and new legislation must be passed in order to make good on them. The focus of the October 12 meeting, however, was the weapons industry. And many people exposed during nuclear testing havent made claims due to the secret nature of their work. According to Annette Rose of DONT, representatives of Congress and the Senate were denied access to meetings held in August 2003 where a revival of building and testing new s was reportedly Tine -- yW . b P'ff 4 fits b tfJ ruts b 7 ySUT -- JeM ft prff 4 Ji. Refrigerator Bathroom Mirror Television Dresser Closet Door Microwave mini-nuke- discussed. The nuclear weapons testing program did more damage to U.S. citizens than it ever did to the Soviet Union, Rose said. And Utah has another reason to be concerned with any new testing, and that is we could become the dumping ground for nuclear waste. Health impact reports over the last 30 years by industry workers and downwinders include cancer, birth defects, sup- pression of the immune system, DNA damage, genetic disorders, and learning disorders. According to Vanessa Pierce, program director for Heal Utah and a speaker at the forum, the Bush Administration has requested $6.8 billion this year and $7 billion a year for the next 30 years for a new generation of nuclear weapons. One is known as the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator, or Bunk Buster, and a more In readily usable Mini-nukaddition, money has been requested to upgrade the Nevada Test Site, which has not been used for nuclear weapons testing since 1992. e. - ft? Mike claims it does not matter, after 36 years in the legislature, Republican friends that support him. These Republican friends are financing Phill s candidacy. Mikes financing has flowed in from special interest donations. See for yourself at the official State FREE WINDSHIELD! off-sit- "w My horse, my house, I have lived on Utah farms and ranches all my life. I understand the issues facing rural Utah because thats where Im from and thats who I am. has the support to get the job done. he has Website: date. JL.. Peay mill work for you. Mike Dmitrich, his opponent, is currently the minority leader of the seven Democrats in the State Senate. He votes with these Democrats, who are outnumbered more than 3 to 1 . His position leaves him nearly powerless to enact real change. considering the removal or capping of the uranium mill tailings is due out this fall. The Downwinders, people who believe their health problems are the result of contamination e from nuclear waste. r7 FRIENDLY REMINDERS FROM QUESTAR GAS TO GET YOUR FURNACE READY FOR WINTER. weather just around the corner it's time to have a licensed heating professional perform a routine maintenance inspection on your furnace. Here are some other things you can do yourself: With cooler Clean or replace the filter. Check the blower belt and oil the blower motor Make sure the blower doors are replaced properly Check to see that the vents in the house are unobstructed. Furnaces need to breathe. Keep openings dear. combustion-ai- , t' r d Your seasonal inspection is also an time to make sure your space- and g equipment has a " ' 'I0I water-heatin- Green Sticker. A Green Sticker indicates your appliance has been property adjusted for the gas supplies , entering Questar Gas's system. Coll a ' licensed heating contractor or visit www.questargas.com for more information and to determine whether a Green Sticker is required in your area. , - 1,, Keep the area around your furnace dear and unobstructed Do not store combustible material such as paint thinners, gasoline, etc. near your furnace. r . Having your furnace properly maintained will bring you peace of mind and may even lower your gas bills. A list of licensed contractors in your area is available by calling: Outside Salt Lake City: (800) 729-679- 1 Rocky Mountain Gas Association: Salt Lake City: (801) 832-949- 0 Or you con visit their Web site at www.utrmga.org A list of contractors is also available in your local Yellow Pages under 'Heating. Questar Gas Questar Gas is celebrating 75 years of keeping Utah warm and is committed to doing everything possible to provide safe and reliable service at rates among the lowest in the notion. |