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We have had ~plazlyhmlra of ~ c u s s i wduring the past par bepring upon the policy problems i n connection with the diapohid of radioactive w o ~ tear. Varioua farma of q res el on of such a policy bave been revie~ed,pnd it is the U- opinion of the camittee that fhe Division of f3iology ard Medicine has arrived at a workable and sound policy eaqwessed in the proposed issuance entitled nmt at hm proposed bulletin is (1) to define far the gufdance of those engaged in the atoroic energy program the objectives in tbe control of the release of radioactfve waste to b t b s environment, and (2) to provide practical criteria for tb control of radioactive wastes in wspohse to requests f'rom Federal, State, and local public health organizations. In the general field of radiological protection where addniatratlve actions mst be baaed on knowledge that is known to be inadequate so that firm criteria do not in fact exLst, v8 are always reluctant t0 see regulauons publl8hed or diasednated In such a form that the specific criteria and tolerance levels become incorporated I n law. We recognize that the standards will inevitably be changed t u knwledE;e advances1 tharafare State and Federal. Fegulotions should be worded in such a manner as to perr_pit ready admlnistratlve response to Chamng situations. The Conmzittee therefare approved for dminiatrative guidance this policy statement which the DivLslon of a ology and Hedicine proposes to release.
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The problems oncountered in the disposal of radioactive wastea are only a part of a armch larger area uhich ue feel should nou be much IILolre vigorous^ exphred, and that 3.8 the entire problem of the costs of practical radiological protection inaWc enww fnstallations. There should be a continuin& study to deterrrdne ther relptiaasbtp beatween pds aib le exposures d protective construction costa da that reliable quantitative answers may be given to questions a on cd g the real impact af ahuges in protection criterLa. With these problems In r a i d , the COaRittee eruggests to the Carrmdssion that a flprrl of experts be employed to mab a survey of the costs of radlolof$.cal protection u i t h respect to prmfasib3.e level8 in atomic energy Installations. W e a l faculty and mediad remarch reautor at 3rookhaven ~6111 UnanirvJuSly endorsed the Coamlttee. We feel that the t h e has now arrived ubn tbs estabUshed and productive d c a l program at Brookhaven km provided the housing it 80 urgently needs. A p a r t from %fie queBtian of hlgh ateintenance and operating coats, the Government cannot cmkhue to maintain indefinitely d c k puttents in iniLplloparble wooden 8tmctur88. The necesrwy prelipdnary ekrdiea have h e n made 80 that the Rmokhaven group is ready to proceed with the deaign and construction of a reactor priprprils for medical purposes. reactor and medical center buildtng constitute what Is reaUy an The Corwittee also endorsed the Mviaion(a proposal t o support a madical rcseearch reactor at the U C U Medical School within the policy linea of the Coxmisston for the 8uppoz-t of research reactam. Further suppoact for a M t e d time of (L researuh progrm In the use of this reactor would be advisable, The derrign of this reactor h s been coxp1ertcBd by North American Aviation and haa met the requirements of t h e various review bodies. neutron fluxes of the reactor proposed for f3rookhaven, and therefore does not conflict with the latter, it does m e e t the reaearch rtquiremente of UCLA. While it will not generab the The Comlttcm viewed the documentary motion picture f i l m "Ivy". We yere impreseed by its Momational value t o dvil defense, and fetal that a declassified version, properly presented by the Federal C i v i l Ilefense kdministratlon, should be of great value in informing
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the public concernbg the civil defense problerps. It was also suggested that a companion M3m depicting constructive use8 of atomic energy would i3tl in'keeping d t h the theme of the Presidentr8 remarks before tb United Nations. Wth reference to the subsidization of isotope distribution for cancer research uhlch t b Division of Blology and Medicine hns consistently supported, t b Committee adopted the following resolution and recommended that the resoluaon be transmitted to the Corsaissiont, "That thia Ccmdttee feela that the subsidization of isotope diatrlhtion for cancer research and therapy Cat r ol and C-BTa a d thot it ha8 kOUght Coavrdttes v',ews with regret the proposal t o abandon this project and hopes that e way may be found to The next neeang of tho Comnittoe is planned for February 12 and 13r 1954, at the savannah Mver site. Advisory Cod tte e for i3iology and Medicine
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actions which I should like to report to yo\? on behalf of Dr. Stakman,-. Chairman of the A CX, who i s presently out of the country. 1. Approved " for administrative guidance" inthe Atomic Energy program a proposed issuance by the Division of Biology and Kedicine entitled : . Limitations on the Xelease of Radioactive Xaterials. issuance i s (1) t o define .for the guidance of those engaged in the a tondc The purpose of the energy program the objectives in the control of the release of radioactive wastes tothe enviroment; and (2) t o provide pr act ic zl criteria for the cost r ol of radioactive wastes i n response t o requests fron Federal, State, End local public health organizetions. 'It was the consensus of the Cormittee that the statement prepared should be issued for guidance, but not for cor.pliance for the following reasons: does not pemit long-term effects of radiation t o Se p edict ed with certainty an2 downward revisions of pemLssible levels may have t o be made inthe future; (a)the present state of knowledge if private industry invests capital and now colnstructo facilities in
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reliance on current permissible levels,do mm rd revisions later might prove embarrassing a ~ dexpensive; (c) the situation referred to in (b) would be k lner able to political pressures i n an *ea now free of them. suggest tothe A",C thata firm of expepts be employed t o make a survey of the cost of respect t o permissible levels of of the discussion on the discharge of radioactive wastes tothe environment. purpose of such a studywould be t o determine the relationship between The evi den t-. pe miss i ble levels and protective construction costs. Ideally,a working formula or sliding scale would evolve whhch would enable permissible levels t o be set,and modified Gpward o r downward evidence ~ of the dollar imp kt 06 such a decision. cecb new scientific 3 .;&dersed the proposed program to establish a permanent medical facility and medical research reactor at Broo'xhaven 4. Endorsed the pro?osal to locate a medical research reactor at USLA and the use of Biology and Kedicine funds to assist in the purchase and support of t h e reactor. 5. VZewed the motion picture film "IVY 'I; corrplirnented its cornpleteness arid expressed the view that it be givmtis wide distribution as possible consisten? with security regulations. The view was expressed that such a film would serve to relieve public apathy i n the field of civil defense. There was also the uses of atomic enery would C~IR@ANW
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before the, Unised Nations. 6 . Resolved: "That this Cormnittee feels that the subsidization of 2isotope distribution for cancer research anc? therapy has been of substantial benefit to the efforts to control and cure cancer, and that it has brought great credit to the AX. abandon this project and hopes thata way nay be found t o continue it." The Comit tee recoFienrled $hat there ol uti on be trans n it ted to the Chairman, AEC. The Committee views with regret the proposal to f ! ! ?rI shoyld be nappy t o explore with you the implications of the Cormittee's actions and t o discuss neans of implementation, The next meeting of t h e ,iCBN i s t o be held on Friday and jaturday, February 12 and 13, 1954 a* the Zavannah River Xte.