Neighbors hope to derail radioactive isotope plans (NIMBYs compare to Three Mile Island!)

Anchorage Daily News ^ | November 24, 2005 | ROSEMARY SHINOHARA

[AlaskaErik]

A community council issued an urgent plea to the Anchorage Assembly a few days ago: Please stop a plan to make radioactive materials in our neighborhood.

Al Swank, who owns two houses along Delaney Park Strip, wants to manufacture radioactive medical tracers there. The material, a radioactive isotope, is injected into patients to locate cancer and is used in conjunction with PET scanners.

Swank and some experts say producing these medical tracers is safe and won't harm anyone.

But the South Addition Community Council's concerns prompted state health officials to adopt emergency rules Tuesday.

And an Anchorage Assembly member has put together an ordinance to try to halt the project altogether.

Swank said he was even visited by an FBI agent wanting an explanation. He did not invite the FBI in.

[AlaskaErik]

Once again, ignorance is the order of the day. As for Allan Tesche, think of Chuckie Schumer with an even bigger ego and even more liberal. Plus he's a lawyer to boot.

[Wonder Warthog]

""I would probably feel all right if Providence hospital were running the medical isotope-maker," said Bonnie Harris, the community council vice president. "I bet it would be in a very protected environment. I bet they would have a safety monitoring program."

Uh, Bonnie---if the company is producing medical radioactive isotopes they are REQUIRED to have a "safety monitoring program", and meet lots of other regulatory nuclear safety requirements, as well. Such regulations have been in place for civilian production and use of isotopes since almost the beginning of the "nuclear age", starting with the old "Atomic Energy Commission".

Typical impenetrable ignorance on the part of the nay-sayers.

ANYTHING NUCLEAR = BAD!!!!!!!! (or so they think)

[sgtbono2002]

Since Smoke detecters have a radioactive chip in them I suppose they dont have smoke detectors in their homes there.

[pageonetoo]

Once again, ignorance is the order of the day.

Some friends of mine live in Back Creek Valley, across a mountain, near Martinsburg, WV. A few years ago, a guy bought a farm, and built a little dryer, for his farm products. It sounds like a jet engine when running. there are no ordinances to stop him.

My friends complained that the noise was keeping them awake, when he ran it at night. They sued, and lost.

I do not live in an industrial park. I live in a residential area, not zoned. I do not want any type of industry located near me, for similar reasons. It has nothing to do with atoms or bombs! It has to do with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The man wants to use the property he presently owns, rather than locating his manufacturing business, among other businesses. He does not consider his neighbors, but only looks to save a few bucks at their expense. It will lower the value of them closest to him, regardless of any phony radioactive threats. Alaska has land for sale cheap, in many designated areas...

I would also seek to stop him. I guess that would align me with these nimby's...

[dhuffman@awod.com]

See my tagline

[Forte Runningrock]

Absolutely remarkable idiocy. Where do these idiots come from?
Same school where they teach Depleated Uranium is radioactive I suppose, the word "depleated" having no meaning to them.

I really think we've already been attacked with a biological weapon.
Terrorists have sprinkled "stupid dust" across the entire continent.

[Forte Runningrock]

Do you have any idea how isotopes are made? It isn't a big noisy factory.

You probably make more noise in your home cooking dinner.

By your thinking, you shouldn't have grocery stores, gas stations, video rental outlets anywhere near your place either. Locate them all in the industrial zone 10 miles away so you can have your peace and quiet.

[Age of Reason]

I wouldn't want it near me either.

I'd be a fool not to try to stop it--even IF it were absolutely safe.

[Forte Runningrock]

"Some friends of mine live in Back Creek Valley, across a mountain, near Martinsburg, WV. A few years ago, a guy bought a farm, and built a little dryer, for his farm products. It sounds like a jet engine when running. there are no ordinances to stop him.

My friends complained that the noise was keeping them awake, when he ran it at night. They sued, and lost.

As they should have. The farm was there first. Farm equipment is big and noisy. The country is typically made up of farming communities, not retreats for people wanting to get away from the city. But, we see this ignorance happen all the time.
Some yuppie thinks he's going to buy some cheap land in the country next door and downwind to a hog farm (next door in the country means a mile away or so), builds a house then complains about the stink, the lack of garbage pick up, and other nonexistent services like the road not being plowed immediately after a snow storm, frequent power outages, and people doing things like (gasp!) hunting.

[Forte Runningrock]

I'm not sure where you live, but in most towns and cities I've ever seen, I see doctors offices, dental practices, ciropractors, small stores mixed in among residentual homes. This is no different than a small medical clinic.

The knee jerk reaction is because the word NUCLEAR is involved, even though the doctors office, dentist and chiropractor all have xray machines in their offices as well, which would have about the same amount of nuclear material this guy making isotopes quietly in his basement would have.

[Forte Runningrock]

Further, I just can't see the big deal, as the article states, He already owns the two houses, so it's not as if he's building anything. He simply wants to make the product to meet what little demand there is in Ancorage, rather than having to fly in at greater expense a product which has a very short shelf life.
What do people there do if the dentist needs to take an xray? Freak out? I would imagine so if zapping small bottles of iodine cases this kind of reaction.

[pageonetoo]

I am in the country, and have lived around farm machinery much of my life. I know how to drive a turbo combine, and have tetted hay, behind a big John Deere tractor. I don't know many farmers that are running them at 2am.

I agree with your basic premise, but having lived near Burgaw, NC, I can attest to helping get rid of a pig parlor. The owner would not keep up with ridding the waste pools, and the stench traveled for ten miles or more.

I remember visiting my great-uncle near Trenton, back in the 50's. I got up early, and went out to gather eggs. I made the mistake of going into the henhouse barefoot, the first morning, and learned quickly about chickenshiite. I topped tobacco plants, and helped slaughter a pig, one summer. I loved the farm life, and the big meals we sat at three times a day. It was a good life.

But, industry is industry, whether little isotopes, or smelly pigs. There are places for them both. It is not alongside a housing community, unless they build the industries first! Some things are common sense, and common courtesy!

It doesn't matter that the business is operating quietly. I am sure a meth lab is quiet. Neither are usually desired in a residential neighborhood.

(As an aside, last spring I was driving past a freshly turned field, and smelled the pungency of cow manure, just spread. For some reason, it was not unpleasant, but instead, evoked strong, familiar, feelings of peace, to my soul...)

[Age of Reason]

Further, I just can't see the big deal

Loss of home value.

Perhaps you would like to explain to every potential home buyer how having a nuclear factory close by is nothing for them to worry about?

What do people there do if the dentist needs to take an xray? Freak out?

People need dentists and like to have them nearby.

And so they are willing to believe dental clinics are safe because they need dental clinics--and besides, dental clinics are everywhere, so dental clinics must be safe, they think.