T. 0. Pflaum -3- Therefore, until? the technology is developed to perform TRU cleanups where workers do not take substantially higher risks (which are real) to achieve a condition where the risks (which are hypothetical) are substantially lower than daily risks, guidance should be limited to reflect the greatest savings of life. The Enewetak cleanup, which was designed to conform with the proposed EPA guidance is the epitome of the above discussion. According to risk analyses published in the planning documents, the islands could have been turned over to the people without a radiological TRU cleanup and saved tives. Ultraconservatism costs more than just time and dollars, it can cost real lives. 3. Cost Versus Benefit Reasonable alternatives should be evaluated when decisions are made affecting the expenditure of resources. The radiological cleanup at Enewetak cost approximately $100 million and resulted in the potential of averting less than one cancer death from radiation in 30 years in the Enewetak population. How many premature deaths from disease and illness might have been averted in the Enewetak population by directing $100 million into improving health care knowledge, facilities, and capability? We may not have the information available to answer this question, but it is not unreasonable to consider this alternative. Similar logic should be applied in considering any radiological cleanup. weae HPD: DLW cc: L. J. Deal, HQ (EP-342) GTN T. F. McCraw, HQ (EP-32) GTN A. B. Siebert, Jr., HQ (OP-3.1) GTN P. J. Mudra, Dir., OD, NV Roger Ray, DPO, NV J. D. Stewart, OD, NV E. D. Campbell, NSD, NV D. R. Martin, SHD, NV Brtice W. Church, Director Health Physics Division