Back to Dr Rokke - Report on DU Cleanup
September 13, 2004
3 Questions from Doug Rokke, Ph.D. to the Department of Defense
concerning its use of radioactive weapons
1. Will you ensure full compliance with Army Regulation 700-48 and U.S. Army Technical Bulletin 9-1300-278 that require that thorough environmental remediation is completed and medical care is provided?
2. There have been numerous U.S. Army, U.S. Department of Defense, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs orders and directives that have been ignored. The most recent is dated April 29, 2004. All of them have required medical care for DU exposures. Will you join us to ensure that this mandated medical care is provided to all individuals who may have been or were exposed to depleted uranium contamination?
3. By what legal or ethical right can members of the United States military or any other nation’s military disperse tons of uranium weapons, with radioactive and heavy metal toxic contamination - "America's own dirty bomb," any place in the world when those radioactive materials will then contaminate air, water, and soil with consequent adverse health effects as we now know occur? We must remember that one of the findings published by the the U.S. Arrmy Environmental Policy Institute in their 1995 report on depleted uranium was quote:
"No available technology can significantly change the inherent chemical and radiological toxicity of DU. These are intrinsic properties of uranium."
For further reference: (US government - pdf files)
April 29, 2004 Memorandum for Commanders, MEDCOM major subordinate Commands on “Medical Management of Army Personnel Exposed to Depleted Uranium (DU)
Army Regulation 700-48 – Logistics – Management of Equipment Contaminated with Depleted Uranium or Radioactive Commodities; and Department of the Army, Pamphlet 700-48 - Handling Procedures for Equipment Contaminated with Depleted Uranium or Radioactive Commodities
U.S. Army Technical \ Bulletin- TB 9-1300-278: "Guidelines For Safe Response To Handling, Storage, And Transportation Accidents Involving Army Tank Munitions Or Armor Which Contain Depleted Uranium" (Headquarters, Department Of The Army, Washington, D.C., JULY 1996).