Post 9/11 Security Concerns

• Extremely radioactive cobalt-60 (Co-60) source material from Canada, England, or Russia would be shipped here routinely via the Pennsylvania Turnpike and local roads.
• Cobalt-60 is considered highly desirable by terrorists seeking to construct "dirty bombs." Our community would therefore become a target.
• Radioactive materials would be stored and used in a privately-operated facility.  Unlike large, robust, secure nuclear power plants, irradiation facilities tend to be small. They typically lack well-trained and well-armed security staff.
• In the wake of the tragic events of 9/11, CFC Logistics has asked that security and storage details be withheld from their permit application. If they are concerned, we should be, too! 
• Several sticks of dynamite were stolen recently from a local quarry.  High explosives such as these could be effectively used against the irradiator, with disastrous results.

How lethal is cobalt-60?

• Fifteen minutes in the irradiator pit result in a dose equivalent to over 5 million chest x-rays (assuming the minimum level of nuclear radiation required to kill germs).
• An exposure of 600 RAD is considered fatal to 50% of adults.  In the irradiator pit, a worker or emergency responder would receive that exposure in less than 5 seconds.
• Cobalt-60 has a half-life of 5.27 years. If released by accident or sabotage, it will only be "safe" in the environment after about ten half-lives (about 53 years).  The community would risk contamination of our precious water and soil at least that long.
• If CFC Logistics receives full licensure to operate the irradiation facility, one million curies of radioactivity would be used. This is several billion times the "background" exposure in Pennsylvania, even compared to homes contaminated with radon gas.
• According to CFC documents, the surface of radioactive cobalt-60 rods may reach 626 Fahrenheit. As of July 8, 2003, the irradiator's designer was not sure whether additional equipment would be needed at the plant to remove heat from the cobalt-60 "pencils."

Who would permit an irradiator after learning the facts?

• The proposed Gray*Star Genesis irradiation unit is a prototype design untested in the marketplace and the irradiation industry has a demonstrated record of accidents, safety violations, fraud, and cover-ups over a period of decades.   Do we want to be guinea pig?
• The irradiation facility would be close to homes, schools, businesses, and major roads.
• State and other police have not received training and equipment for problems at this site.
• CFC Logistics has guaranteed local emergency responders only two hours of nuclear response training annually, and has provided them with no specialized equipment.
• Who would buy or build homes in our community, knowing that this plant is operating?