Cotter Corporation NSL Cañon City, Colorado

To the editor:

CCAT, having lost on almost every point, now turns to radon flux as their whipping boy

Flux is a rate function; it does not represent steady state concentrations of dangerous chemicals to which we are exposed Radon, in the end produces in Colorado an air concentration of around 200 mrems. However, Colorado, contrary to many states, does not require Radon testing and remediation, yet has the highest radiation levels in the U.S. The overall range of radiation in the U.S. is around 130 mrems on the east coast to the 445+ found here. In the world, levels without health effects run up to around 5000-6000 mrems. In Iran, they have bathed for years in water containing radium. These are proven FACTS.

Not long ago, a house in Dawson Ranch was rejected due to high radon until remediated. I have lived here for over eight years and have not heard of a single case of confirmed radiation health effects. Our experts (far more knowledgeable than local citizens) reject any health effects here due to radiation. Cancer incidence here has been and is today slightly lower than the U.S. average. CCAT, please let us know what your real problem is!

Radiation from natural sources occurs in three forms; alpha particles, electrons and gamma rays. The damage occurs if a molecule in our bodies takes a hit and is not repaired in time. We get thousands of hits every day and they are all repaired. (The free radicals all neutralized. By far, the greatest danger is not natural radiation, but cancer from smoking. If CCAT wants a new target, then let it be smoking and we will save many lives each year. Or go for a Radon test regulation in Colorado. Or support nuclear fusion.

Stop beating the old tired drum. Cotter will be here in 2014 with a new, safer facility.

The world and the U.S. will continue to increase nuclear fission plants and mine more uranium. Such electric power today is safe and about our lowest cost. Handling waste is no real problem as proven over the last 60 years.

Richard Dodge,

Cañon City