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SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 109
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AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
Passed Legislature - 1985 Reg.
State of Washington 49th Legislature 1985 Regular Session
By Senators Goltz, Williams and Saling
Read first time 1/31/85 and referred to Committee on Energy and Utilities.
TO THE HONORABLE RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
WHEREAS, The release of radioactive materials into the environment can have detrimental effects upon the health and safety of the citizens of the State of Washington; and
WHEREAS, On January 25, 1984, the PUREX plant was shut down to investigate an instrument reading which indicated a possible abnormal release of radioactive material; and
WHEREAS, The monitoring system which recorded the reading was found to be in need of adjustment; and
WHEREAS, There was a delay in informing the public of the January 1984 unusual occurrence at the PUREX plant; and
WHEREAS, The public is dependent upon the federal government for accurate and timely environmental measurements of emissions released from defense-related operations;
NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Department of Energy provide timely, complete, and accurate disclosure to the public of all unusual occurrences involving actual and apparent releases of radioactive materials at the PUREX plant on the Hanford reservation; and
BE IT RESOLVED, That the United States Department of Energy shut down operations at the PUREX plant when any release exceeds established limits or when monitoring devices malfunction and that the plant shall remain nonoperational until the unusual occurrence is remedied; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, the secretary of the United States Department of Energy, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.