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been adjusted for differences in age and sex in the population. And we have also adjusted <br /> these rates for the pre-accident cancer rates. So the rates that are shown in the bar graph at <br /> the bottom of this map are adjusted for the pre-accident cancer rates. So these are the lung <br /> cancer rates that are occurring after the accident adjusted for the pre-accident rates. And what I <br /> want you to notice is that there is an upward increase in the rates for each dose group, in terms <br /> of the increased intensity of the plumes that were estimated from the accident, the accident <br /> plumes. And there is about a four to five-fold excess of lung cancer in the highest dose group <br /> compared to the lowest dose group. The lowest exposed area being in the northeasterly <br /> direction. <br /> This is not the type of accident that would occur with a fuel pool fire, such as the <br /> kinds of scenarios that are of most concern here tonight, because there are different types of <br /> radiation which are released in a reactor accident than in a fuel pool accident. You heard earlier <br /> that Cesium 137 with a half-life of 30 years would be most important in a fuel pool accident. In <br /> this accident, the most important releases were radioactive gases, not particles — like xenon and <br /> krypton. We felt that these lung cancer incidents rates were particularly of interest because the <br /> lungs are exposed to the air we breathe. I also wanted to note that this is an accident that is <br /> considered by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to have been an insignificant one. And if <br /> you consult the Nuclear Regulatory Commission you will find that no one was hurt at this <br /> accident. We analyzed these data, they were published in a peer review journal, and we have <br /> not in the five years now since the publication of these findings, we have not heard anything <br /> from anyone who has found any mistakes with our analysis or anything like that. I wanted to <br /> present this to you just as an example of one accident that did occur in the United States. And <br /> this accident was not a result - at least it is not thought to have been the result - of any kind of a <br /> terrorist act. One of the arguments that I have heard many times is that, "The probability of an <br /> accident is very, very low, so that is why we should not be concerned about the environmental <br /> contamination or the potential health effects from a fuel pool fire or from a nuclear meltdown <br /> because the probability of the accident is very low." But I would just note that the technologies <br /> that we are dealing with are extremely complex. We, in recent years, certainly have <br /> experienced accidents that had very low probability. The probability of the space shuttle <br /> blowing up on launch was very low. The probability of an accident such as what occurred at <br /> Bhopal in India was very low. The probability of a nuclear meltdown like at Three Mile Island is <br /> very low. But in central North Carolina, we heard a few minutes ago that the amount of Cesium <br /> 137 in the fuel pools that are located at the Shearon Harris plant is greater than what was <br /> released in the Chernobyl accident. And there are large areas around Chernobyl that are no <br /> longer habitable. These are the kinds of issues that I think that we should at least discuss. <br /> And I really want to thank the Commissioners and NCWARN for having this <br /> meeting, in part because I think it is so important that the issues be debated. My real concern is <br /> that the discussion thus far has primarily been taking place among the experts and has not <br /> involved the public. I think that there are a lot of basic issues. And I thank all of you for coming <br /> out tonight because I think this kind of involvement is really key to protecting ourselves and our <br /> communities. Thank you (applause). <br /> e. Water Safety Issues —Alan Rimer <br /> I'm Alan Rimer with the Orange Water and Sewer Authority representing the <br /> Board of Directors and I am drinking Orange Water and Sewer Authority water. We are here <br /> tonight and I'm here tonight representing the Orange Water and Sewer Authority; not from the <br /> perspective of the experts that you have heard with respect to what is actually going on at <br /> Shearon Harris or what might go on at Shearon Harris, but what the environmental fallout from <br /> what might go on there under a number of different scenarios could do to impact the region as a <br /> whole - all of the water supplies in the region, not just the Orange Water and Sewer Authority. <br /> For those of you who are not familiar with our authority, we serve about 70,000 people in <br />