JNE FI -*
ATOM'C ENERG
F
rss)
Py,
Waa Gea
Dear Mr. President:
one of eu
At your press and radio conterence on July 15
correspondents asked a question regarding the possible health hazarcs
of<waste materiel being discharged by s urgniumprocessing mill. This
question apparently referred to the Animas Biver, in Colorado and New
Mexico, into which one of the uranium oreceasing afile “Lecharge-
Ae
effluent.
Inepections by the Commission and other studies.
i:
coooers
tien with the States and with the Umited States Public Health Ser ics
have indicated that the effluent discharged into the Animas Rive:
contains radium in excess of the permissable concentrations «ata'
by ARC regulations,
health hasard,
Yhis does nxt mes. nat there .# a
An individual could for a period o!
~ 5
fmm ci»
70 yeare sontinucus
end exclusively consume weter containing maximum permissibie cone tra
Cione of radium allowed by present Atomic Energy Commission regu
before he would have taken radius inte hia body in enceas of the
«ore
Tecomumendations of the National Committee on Radiation Frotertin:
Concentrations measured downstream during the past year fin the An ma
River water at several pointe of utilization showed a maximm cf oom 4
2k times the maximum permigaible concentrations,
An individua!
continuously and exclusively consume water @: these concentration
50 years before receiving radium into his body from this source «arene
of recommendations of the National Committee on Radiation Protect
Therefore, the AEC believes that there is no immediate c:adiation azar}
to the public health in this mil
effluent situation.
expressed the view, in his press conference on Jucy 14°
Secretary
thar rr:
population of the area had not ingestes sufficient amour te
abo
Gas a
Wo
tae bt
ae
\
Uet LAU tag et ae
radioactive material to cause de'ectat « heath damage
However, it {8 nacegsary to .educe the concentrati re
radium in the river to permissib:e .im.ts.
(mm May 22 of thik yaa
the basia of earlier inspections and s*udies
tne AEC iseuce ar
to the uramium mil] directing it to resort tie measures ft ow |
a
control the effluent.
The compas
a+ ven ted iaweritt
action that is being taker
oom".