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state of Alaska 

 Radiation Monitoring, Testing, and Response in Alaska 



August 15, 1992 



Testimony by 

 Charles Tedford 



Bio-Physicist 



State of Alaska 



Representing the Department of Environmental Conservation 



and the Department of Health and Social Services 



Vice Chairman Senator Murkowski , members of the Subcommittee, 

 and members of the public, thank you for the opportunity to appear 

 before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Welcome to 

 Alaska. Please accept our appreciation for the time and attention 

 you have given to the threat radiation presents to Alaska. 



I am here today representing the Alaska Departments of 

 Environmental Conservation and Health and Social Services. The 

 Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has the lead agency 

 responsibility in responding and coordinating response to peacetime 

 radiation incidents and accidents. The Department of Environmental 

 Conservation (DEC) has responsibility for radiation matters 

 relating to the contamination of air, water, and soil. My prepared 

 statement describes Alaska's proposed capability to monitor and 

 respond to radiation pollution and contamination. 



A nuclear radiation detection system essentially has two elem- 

 ents: timely notification of an event, and baseline or ambient 

 environmental monitoring. This discussion will be primarily 

 directed toward requirements for environmental radiation monitoring 

 in Alaska; however, the discussion would not be complete without a 

 few brief thoughts on notification. 



