NEWS RELEASE

January 19, 2005 For Immediate Release Contact: Judith Johnsrud (1-814-237-3900) Rochelle Becker (858) 337-2703

Rochelle Becker Appointed to Sierra Club Radiation Committee

The Sierra Club has formed a national Radiation Committee to work on public education on radiation hazards. The Committee's California member will be San Luis Obispo's Rochelle Becker, co-founder of the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility, has been appointed to the eight-person team, recently ratified by the Sierra Club.

Becker, a long-time spokesperson for the San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace before leaving the group to form the ANR, also chairs the Diablo Canyon Task Force of the Sierra Club's Santa Lucia chapter.

The Sierra Club's Radiation Committee will track proposed federal and state radiation-related legislation/regulations and submit comments on proposed regulations. In addition, the Committee will develop associations with the basic radiation research community, develop a curriculum and materials suitable for campus radiation effects seminars and undertake development of community-based radiation monitoring campaigns, particularly in communities having nuclear facilities.

One of the goals of the committee is to start discussions in communities faced with ongoing or expanded radiation hazards posed by existing sources and facilities. The Committee will help to find ways to reconcile the conflicts that arise when a hazard is proposed to be removed to another location and when the proposed recipient communities raise objections.

"These are difficult issues, but radioactive waste and emissions are growing, will continue to grow, and must be addressed," said Becker.