The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) is invoking its broad new legal authority to push for a "relative risk approach" for cleaning up radioactive contamination that may result from a potential dirty bomb attack. It would allow the feds to limit potential cleanup levels. The approach is at odds with how EPA currently determines radiation cleanup levels, and may be an early example of DHS asserting new legal authority.

DHS has broad authority to "develop countermeasures to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and other emerging terrorist threats."

The EPA already fights with the DOE (Dept. of Energy) because EPA criticizes the 25 millirem per year - 2 rem/year standard standard asserted by DOE. The NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) espouses ad 500 mrem/year standard.

EPA's highest level of contamination approved under its cleanup standard was 15 mrem/yr for the proposed nuclear repository at Yucca Mountain.

Ooops, forgot the source. Inside EPA's Environmental Policy Alert, V.XX No. 16, 8/6/03.

[ 08-14-2003, 02:39 PM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]

Yeah DHS is just a dictorship waiting to happen. My personal favorite portion of their auhority is that they can force you to take any drug of their choosing if they declare a 'public health emergency'. :\