License to Poison!
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fails to Protect Troops, Residents, and Visitors from Military Radiation on Hawaii Island
On June 13, 2017, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) denied a hearing request about Depleted Uranium (DU) radiation dangers at the 133,000-acre Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) located in the center of Hawaii island. Concerns raised by Big island petitioners Ruth Aloua, Hawane Rios, Cory Harden and Jim Albertini involved the danger of inhaling Depleted Uranium (DU) oxide dust particles dispersed by winds and high explosives. This applies to the health and safety of troops who train at Pohakuloa, residents and visitors alike. Other concerns included contamination of water, sacred sites, plants and animals. The NRC located in Rockville, Maryland said we who live on Hawaii island have “NO Standing” about military radiation in the center of our Island. Ruth and Hawane are Kanaka Maoli who live and farm only a few miles from Pohakuloa. If they don’t have standing, who does? Petitioner Jim Albertini said it appears that the military “mission” trumps all. We are being treated as lab rats for military experiments. What ever happened to inform consent.”
Albertini said “I have come to see the so called Nuclear Regulators much like Bank Regulators. They are insiders and rubber stamps of the industries they are suppose to be regulating. The fact is, there is little or no regulation. There has been no comprehensive study to determine the full extent of Depleted Uranium contamination and other military toxins on PTA and no comprehensive studies to determine what is coming off the base. Citizen radiation monitors, on numerous occasions, have detected radiation levels 3-4 times background levels in public areas around PTA. More needs to be done. I ask fellow citizens to view the short video by Dr. Lorrin Pang, MD explaining the health dangers of inhaling DU oxide dust particles and judge for yourself if there are health dangers. See
https://vimeo.com/19153948)
Nearly 9 years ago, on July 2, 2008, the Hawaii County Council passed resolution 639-08 which called for stopping all live fire at Pohakuloa, comprehensive testing and monitoring, and clean up of the DU present at Pohakuloa. The military has ignored the Council’s voice.
The military bombing Pohakuloa known to be contaminated with Depleted Uranium and other military toxins is not defense training. It is criminal reckless endangering. War Crimes! The NRC has placed the military mongoose in charge of the hen house. In short, the military has been issued an NRC license to poison. How much DU oxide dust is being dispersed from Pohakuloa is unknown. Hold your breath. The answer is blowing in the wind.
Stop Bombing Hawaii!
- Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties.
4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc.
5. Seek peace through peaceful means and work for justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Contact: Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai’i 96760 Phone (808) 966-7622. Email: ja@malu-aina.org
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Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet June 16, 2017– 821st week – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office
NRC letter attached–conclusion:
“We deny the hearing requests and dismiss the petitions of Petitioners Albertini, Harden,
Rios, and Aloua for lack of standing and failure to proffer an admissible contention…
Any Petitioner may appeal this decision to the Commission, pursuant to 10 C.F.R. § 2.311,”
within 25 days of service of this Memorandum and Order.
