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DU penetrators are inaccurately referred to as "weapons of mass destruction"
"The misnamed 'Depleted' Uranium is left after enriched uranium is separated from natural uranium in order to produce fuel for nuclear reactors. During this process, the fissionable isotope Uranium 235 is separated from uranium. The remaining uranium, which is 99.8% uranium 238 is misleadingly called 'depleted uranium'. While the term 'depleted' implies it isn't particularly dangerous, in fact, this waste product of the nuclear industry is 'conveniently' disposed of by producing deadly weapons." [http://www.cadu.org.uk/intro.htm]
DU penetrators are inaccurately referred to as "weapons of mass destruction"(WMD):
However, this is misleading; While they are undeniably heinous and INDISCRIMINATE the comparison to ABC weapons exaggerates their effect and downplays the effect of WMD. DU penetrators are essentially "dirty bombs". Dirty bombs are referred to as "weapons of mass disruption" in nuclear science circles and emergency preparedness literature. This less alarmist term would be more accurate to use for DU weapons, while still acknowledging the undeniable disruptive effect it has on health and ecosystem.
*The [http://www.umrc.net/ Uranium Medical Research Center] is an information resource for so-called "depleted uranium" and other radiological activities. Their studies in Afghanistan are showing very high levels of "non-depleted" uranium in people, and bomb craters, there.[http://www.umrc.net/AfghanistanOEF.asp]
"[[Alliant Techsystems]] or ATK is the largest supplier of all munitions to the U.S. Department of Defense, and works on many DoD contracts, including large and small caliber munitions employing depleted uranium penetrators" --[http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/arms/reports/smallarms.htm ARMS TRADE RESOURCE CENTER, November 2000]
At teh the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP) ATK said it used DU provided by the government to melt and cast DU for its penetrators ( Jim Persoon, NRC meeting 3/31/2004 Arden Hills, MN). The information on Alliantactions website about the origin of DU cannot be verified[ALLIANTACTION http://www.circlevision.org/alliantaction/atk/scoop/scoopindex.html].
And while clean up and decomissioning of ATK's license at TCAAP is still going on nowongoing, Apil 2004, pollution elsewhere continues: Alliant Techsystems recently won new ammunition contracts worth $38 million, as published in the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE April 7, 2004 p. D2:
Alliant Techsystems Inc., Edina, said it received new contracts in excess of $38 million from the U.S. Army's Armament Research Development and Engineering Center at the Picatinny Arsenal, N.J. Under the contracts, Alliant will provide 120 millimeter tactical ammunition for the Army's M1A1 main battle tanks. Deliveries will be completed by November 2005. The project manager of Maneuver Ammunition Systems manages the contract for the Army and Marine Corps.
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The juxtaposition of "clean"up costs at Starmet (only DU ) and TCAAP ( many other contaminants) is misleading. Most of the cost of the" clean"- up at TCAAP isn't because of DU- it would be hard to get the Army to committ to a $ number for just the DU "clean" up.
In case you wonder why DU never turns up in on Army or regulatory websites about TCAAP, such as EPA [http://www.epa.gov/region5superfund/npl/minnesota/MN7213820908.htm]- Minnesota Pollutin Control Agency MPCA doesnt even have a website on Minnesota's largest superfund site-: EPA contends to this day , that DU did not get released into the environment, despite clear evidence to the contrary ( soilvia sewer , air). Hence in EPA logic DU "clean" up is not part of the Superfund program at TCAAP.
Neat! NRC contends no release in excess of their limits was found. With 350 supersacks of debris and soil of the demolished DU room awaiting disposal in Andrews , TX one can only wonder what this doublespeak means. Environmental crime in the US goes largely unpunished.
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