UNDT IS NEEDED April 12, 2012 - Albany Times-Union - Charges in radioactive find; State DEC files charges against three in disposal of substance in home - Three Saratoga County men face criminal charges that they illegally disposed of low levels of a radioactive substance in a residence where one of them lived, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Edward Kenelly, 76, of Halfmoon; Arthur Martin, 32, of Malta; and Steven Pieniazek, 21, of Stillwater; are charged with one count each of illegally disposing of radioactive material and operating a solid waste management facility without a permit. "The improper disposal of radioactive material is unacceptable, poses unnecessary risks to human health and the environment, and will not be tolerated," said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens in a statement. On Feb. 15, an anonymous tip notified officials that radioactive material was buried and cemented into the basement floor of Kenelly's Tupelo Drive townhouse. The DEC and county workers responded to investigate.
April 12, 2012 - Your Nuclear News - NNSA conducts aerial radiological measurements international symposium - The National Nuclear Security Administration Office of Emergency Operations this week is holding an international symposium in Las Vegas, Nev., on the techniques and challenges associated with aerial radiological measurements. Symposium participants include 17 international experts from eight countries and U.S. experts from NNSA, DOE/NNSA laboratories, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Aerial radiation measurements have been used in the U.S. to respond to nuclear incidents and characterize currently existing radiation around U.S. nuclear sites and were extensively used in Japan to map ground contamination following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in Japan last March. In response to that accident, NNSA experts flew radiation detection equipment on U.S. military aircraft to support the Japanese government’s monitoring effort. Four scientists from Japan are attending the symposium to explain their ongoing challenges and what analysis techniques they are employing to address these challenges as they continue to respond to the Fukushima accident. "Although the symposium is not solely about NNSA’s experiences in Japan, it is in part because those events reminded us of the many technical challenges and importance of aerial measurements," said Joseph J. Krol, Associate Administrator for Emergency Operations. "These aerial measuring capabilities quickly indicate where radioactive contamination is, as well as confirming where it is not, an equally important public safety function."