It would be accomplished, ISRI said, by clarifying the critical issues, reviewing the facts, and initiating a dialogue between stakeholders with the ultimate goal of achieving consensus on acceptable release levels. As ISRI envisions it, this task force would seek input and involvement from the various government organizations that have direct authority over the key issues involved in the release, the industries that would potentially use the recycled material to create useable products, and the general public who would use or be exposed to such products. ISRI s submission was in response to DOE s request for comments on proposed changes related to the release of scrap metal for recycling, specifically to revise DOE Order 5400.5, which, if adopted, would require that no radioactivity be detectable above background in any scrap metal that has been in a radiological area and been released from a DOE site with the intention of being recycled into general commerce. ISRI said radioactivity in scrap recycling has elicited strong fears in the recycling industry and among the general public alike for the last decade.
Fears stem from perceived health and financial risks.
Worse yet, ISRI said, has been the loss to human life worldwide, at least eight people have died directly as a result of exposure received from a radioactive source that entered the recycling stream, while more than 300 workers received hazardous doses of radiation. For these consumers, and for the companies that produce the products that they consume, their perception is fact. And that perception is that any intentional recycling of known radioactive material into products for their consumption is potentially dangerous and therefore to be avoided. This position is to remain in effect until important issues related to the ability to safely recycle this material are clarified. ISRI acknowledges that DOE has been releasing scrap metal for recycling, in accordance with the standards and requirements of DOE Order 5400.5, for the past 10 years with no documented incident in which scrap metal released following the stringent standards prescribed by Order 5400.5, has caused radiological harm to any person or has contaminated any recycling operation.