David E. Adelman

David E. Adelman is project attorney for the National Resources Defense Council, an environmental organization. In the following statement originally delivered before the Senate Subcommittee on Environment and Public Works, Adelman argues against a standard proposed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that would permit the unrestricted release of radioactive metal for recycling. Adelman asserts that the government entities charged with regulating nuclear waste have mismanaged nuclear waste in the past and lack the technical capability to accurately measure the risks posed by the recycling of radioactive waste into consumer products. Release standards for radioactive materials are still being debated.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to the author, what basic issues have been raised by the technical constraints on measuring radioactivity?
2. What shortcuts will recycling companies likely take during the...