EPA cutting back testing: next milk and drinking water sampling in approximately three months

[lutefisk]

"After a thorough data review showing declining radiation levels related to the Japanese nuclear incident, EPA has returned to the routine RadNet sampling and analysis process for precipitation, drinking water and milk...In accordance with normal RadNet protocol, EPA will be analyzing milk and drinking water samples on a quarterly basis and precipitation samples as part of a monthly composite. The next round of milk and drinking water sampling will take place in approximately three months."
http://www.epa.gov/japan2011/index.html

[diane in sf]

1. Mexico and Newfoundland are looking pretty clean!

[JDPriestly]

2. That map doesn't indicate a reduction in radioactivity.

I think they are reducing the testing because the situation can't be controlled or changed. It just has to be accepted.

[FBaggins]

3. The map isn't based on reality.

It's merely a projection of weather patterns and prevailing winds. It's where the plume was projected to go and doesn't tell us anything about how much material there is.

Actual radiation measurements (including independent parties) were never very high to begin with, but have dropped off the table since then.

At Cal Berkely, they've had to shift to measurements every three days instead of every day because the daily level was too low to measure.

[lutefisk]

4. With the EPA only testing milk & water quarterly, who are the "watchdogs" for increased levels?

Here in Wisconsin, for example, the state agency has also backed off on testing- or at least on releasing results of testing. Considering the influence of the dairy industry and tourism on the state economy, I have to question the reasons for backing off on testing and reporting. I believe people want confirmation that the water and food supplies are safe- not just an end to testing and reporting. It defies common sense.

Is the Fukushima situation over and the media just forgot to tell us?

:hi:

[FBaggins]

5. It isn't possible for cesium to mysteriously dodge ongoing measurements and just hit the milk in WI.

The EPA only accelerates that kind of testing when other measurments indicate that radiation is a potential factor. IOW, if there's no new detection of, say, cesium in the air (for which there is ongoing testing), there isn't a need for more frequent testing of milk specifically.


Is the Fukushima situation over and the media just forgot to tell us?

Not at all. Certainly not for the people near the plant... and things could still fall apart over there and start new significant releases.

But it's hard for it to be "over" here in the U.S. when it never got started in the first place. There have been zero detections of levels in U.S. milk/water that come anywhere close to safety standards... and the tiny levels that were detected weeks ago have fallen dramatically from there.

Take a look at the charts I provided above. These are from an independent university lab. Cesium levels are so low that they have to run their test only once every three days to catch enough of it in their filter to be detectable... and the levels they've seen are hundreds of times lower than even the tiny levels they originally detected (which were themselves irrelevant).

[mountainlion55]

6. Numbers from the DLC

controlled EPA is not comforting!