Veterans for Peace Chapter 109 Uranium Munitions Action Team, Minutes of Meeting 11/28/06, Olympia WA

Chair: Jerry Muchmore.  

Members present: Harvey Williamson, Ken Schwilk, Robert "Bob" Poteat, George Hill.

The group reviewed the Draft Report submitted by the WA State Military Dept. and the Dept. of Health.

We essentially agreed with all the recommendations in the Executive Summary, except one.

We feel WA State should run some parallel study to assess, and rule in or rule out, the concept that our State Guard may have had potentially serious exposure to uranium pollution.

We feel we need more information to participate well in the upcoming January (not December) work session. We appreciate all the help the military and health departments can give us.

The following points underlie our concerns, and were reviewed as time allowed. They are numbered so we can find our place quickly in discussions.

1. The federal government was pushed by GAO and NIH, and yet it neglected training and research for 13 years (1993 - 2006).

2. A federal registry is not available, and exposure statistics are minimal, so the statement that harm has not been shown reflects mainly a lack of data.

3. One study showed more symptoms in Gulf-deployed troops than in non- deployed troops, and there is a high rate of disability in deployed troops.

4. Time intervals are important, but longitudinal data (data over time) is lacking.

5. "Oil fires, pesticides, sarin nerve gas release, immunizations. and uranium munitions - no single thing" - so no conclusion.

A crucial question is: Who will bear the burden of proof 1) re-proving harm, or 2) re further exposure?

6. Why are "special target areas" and "containment fixtures" used to test these weapons in the USA?

Why white suits and masks in older pictures?

(See accompanying email)  The link is

http://www.ngwrc.org/Dulink/aberdeen.htm

7. Red dust from the Sahara Desert can sometimes be seen in the UK; finer dust travels further; exposures depend on weather, and can only be approximated. Expect worldwide drift.

8. Half of two tank clean-up crews exposed to fine uranium dust are deceased, not likely by chance.

9. Increased lung cancer appeared in uranium miners in four countries.

10. Latent period for lung cancer: 19 years in smokers, 25 years in non- smokers.

11. Significant lung cancer cluster was observed near a production factory in Massachusetts.

12. New York State closed a factory that released less than one pound a month into the air. Compare Gulf War 1- 320 tons.

13. Uranium results in "chromosomal damage and genetic abnormalities which often lead to cancer."

14. Symptoms exceed specific diagnoses, not an uncommon finding with poisoning.

15. Inhaled uranium is gradually distributed widely in the body, so multiple toxic symptoms seem a logical result.

16. Can we afford to wait 50 years, as with smoking, to assemble the case fully?

17. WHO statement was "no consistent or confirmed adverse effects"; how credible is that?

18. "Depleted" seems to be the wrong word.

19. We need to learn how the McDermott Bill HR 2410 would help if it is passed, we will inquire further.

20. Agent Orange, PTSD, and Uranium Munitions have been treated similarly by the federal government, with denial and delayed studies; that record raises the need for more independence on the state level.

21. Does the present evidence shift the burden of proof?

22. We need to know what is included in "state of the art DU monitoring."

23. We also need current percentages of Gulf War veterans disabled in the USA:              in Canada:               in the UK:

24. What does the law in Washington State declare is our responsibility to veterans?

25. The State of Washington needs a parallel investigation, if for no other reason, to confirm other studies.

26. We considered a state registry, vs. a pilot study using "state of the art" tests on the most symptomatic veterans; the second seems more practical with our current budget.

27. The control group is very important; consider non-deployed troops and/ or same sex siblings (prefer older sibs).

FOLLOW THROUGH:

Jerry has talked with Rob Duff, and the December meeting is now expected to take place in Jan '07.

The legislature convenes Jan. 9 (per Google), so the work session will probably be early in January.

# 19 Peter von Christierson notified George that Ken.Kadlec@mail.home.gov. is the lead person on HR 2410 in Jim McDermott’s office.

George is contacting him for more information.

# 22 George, possibly with lab expertise from David Jenkins, will explore with Steve Hunt and Rob Duff, what state of the art monitoring would include.

# 23 Could any of the team locate the percentage disabilities in these three countries?

# 24 Harvey is looking into what the law requires.