NH Public Health Lab Releases Testing Results For Strontium-90 in NH Fish

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human (DHHS)

Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) Public Health Lab (PHL) is

releasing the first in a series of testing results for Strontium-90 (Sr-90)

in fish from New Hampshire. New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts are

conducting the testing in partnership with the Food and Drug

Administration’s (FDA) Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center (WEAC)

laboratory. The testing study is to address concerns about Sr-90 following

the tritium leak at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant in January of

2010.



The first sampling of NH fish took place in May at Hermit Lake in

Sanbornton. All of the 17 samples of largemouth bass were well below the

FDA level of concern for consumption. Both edible (flesh) and inedible

(bones, head, scales, guts) portions are being tested as part of the study.

An additional sampling of New Hampshire fish was taken in September from

fishing derbies where fish were collected at weigh stations. The derbies

included Lake Winnipesaukee (Meredith and Center Harbor), Squam Lake

(Holderness), Pleasant Lake (Deerfield), Pawtuckaway Lake (Nottingham),

Opechee Lake (Laconia) Northwood Lake (Northwood), and the Connecticut

River (Hinsdale), and the Nashua River (Nashua). The final sampling will

be completed in May of 2013.



“This collaboration is extremely beneficial to us as our radiochemistry lab

scientists in the lab will have the opportunity to be trained in methods at

WEAC,” said NH PHL Director Dr. Christine Bean. “We will then be able to

implement those methods in our laboratory.”



Sr-90 is a radioactive isotope that is commonly part of fallout from

atmospheric nuclear bomb testing and the Chernobyl incident. The vast

majority of this radionuclide comes from weapons testing and fallout has

resulted in Sr-90 becoming part of what is known as the background

environment of radionuclides.



In 2010, the State of Vermont collected and tested a fish that was caught

approximately 8 miles upstream from the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant.

The fish was found to have a slightly elevated level of Sr-90, although the

level was below the FDA safe limit for fish consumption. This was when the

three states recognized the need to define the environmental levels of

Sr-90 in fish. A multi-state project is under way to evaluate these

background levels in fish found in freshwater bodies in Northern New

England that are not connected to the Connecticut River and therefore are

not part of a water body that passes by a nuclear power plant. Knowing

these background levels will help allow states to compare any future

findings with levels that are expected.

Frank's Footnotes Newsletter: A Path to Prosperity & Jobs

The Path to Prosperity: The Budget Committee offers a serious budget proposal
The House Budget Committee (which I serve on) unveiled our budget proposal for FY 2013 on Tuesday. The Path to Prosperity is a serious approach to address our nation’s serious fiscal problems. In a nutshell, it would slam the brakes on runaway government spending, tackle our growing debt and deficits, while also providing a bipartisan plan for safeguarding and protecting Medicare for both current recipients and future generations. You can read it for yourself by clicking here. The Path to Prosperity is a sharp contrast to President Obama’s budget proposal, which calls for more spending, deeper debt and bigger deficits, and more borrowing to pay for it. Then there’s the Senate, which hasn’t passed any budget since 2009. At 1,000+ days and counting, Senate leaders say they won’t vote on one this year either. The House Budget Committee recognizes that our increasingly precarious fiscal condition jeopardizes our country’s future. Remember: the America we hand over to our children tomorrow will be shaped by the decisions we make today. You can read my joint opinion piece with Budget Chairman Paul Ryan in this week's Union Leader by clicking here.

	The Healthcare Reform Law, Two Years Later: Removing a troublesome provision
	Two years ago today, the Obama Administration’s healthcare reform bill became law. Granite Staters have been examining the many details of this sweeping legislation for two years now, and they’re increasingly troubled by what they’re finding in it. I’m disturbed by it, too. That’s why I sided with the bipartisan majority on Thursday to pass H.R. 5, the Protecting Access to Healthcare (PATH) Act. It would abolish the panel of 15 unelected federal bureaucrats, whose job would be determining which health and medical care for seniors the government would pay for, and which it wouldn’t. Seniors who’ve built their retirement plans around Medicare deserve better treatment, and I’m fighting to make sure they receive it.  Click here for more information on Thursday's vote. Besides the IPAB repeal, I’ve also voted to repeal the healthcare reform law in its entirety, have voted to defund it, and voted to successfully remove the 1099 provision, which would have imposed a great burden on small businesses. I will continue to fight this misguided law until it no longer poses a threat to hardworking Granite State families and small businesses. You can click here to read my statement on the two year anniversary of the healthcare reform law.

	Working Together: Partisan labels give way to cooperation on fishing bill
	We hear a lot these days about gridlock on Capitol Hill. I’m pleased to tell you about a case of bipartisan cooperation that can produce important results here in New Hampshire. Earlier this week, I joined with Rep. Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) to introduce H.R. 4208, The Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act. In a nutshell, it would prevent important funding intended to support fisheries and research and development projects to boost our state’s struggling fishing industry. Click here to learn more about the bill and click here to learn more about what I am doing for New Hampshire's Fishing Industry. H.R. 4208 demonstrates Members can work together in Congress to accomplish positive results for the common good. Congressman Frank and I come from different parties and view many issues from different perspectives. And we’re also willing to set partisan labels aside and work together for the good of New England. Click here to read what Foster’s Daily Democrat had to say about our bipartisan work together in their editorial titled "Bipartisanship comes to the fore."

	Calling on Capitol Hill: Middle Schoolers Visit Congress
	When nearly two dozen middle schoolers come to Capitol Hill, you can always count on two things: lots of fun and plenty of questions! I shared both Tuesday morning when I had the privilege of taking students from The Derryfield School into the House chamber. They saw where bills are debated and visited the Cloak Room where Members gather before votes. Their questions ranged from “What’s your favorite part of being Congressman” to “How many times a day do you vote?” Then we gathered on the Capitol steps for a group photo. Thanks to The Derryfield School for including me in their visit. Remember, if your school is planning a trip to Washington, DC, please be sure to call my office at (202) 225-5456 and let me know. I’d love to see you while you’re here. The welcome mat is always out for Granite Staters! Pictured Bottom Row (from left): Alex Labonte, Nate Milliken, Naomi Durand, Julia Ek, Tyler Crews, Kelly Collins. Second Row: Silas Howe, Ryan O'Meara, Brenna Conway, Abby Hovey, Henna Malik. Third Row: Mark Blaisdell (chaperone), Isabell Plotsker, Anna Welch, Cecelia Templeton, Sam Muskat, Julia Perkins, Paige Voss Fourth Row: Robbie Dowst, Sawyer Strong, Parker Blaisdell, Charlotte Leydon, Margaret Ives, Emma Polgrean. Fifth Row: Sam Anderson, Congressman Guinta, Justin Perkins (chaperone)

	Helping Those Who Help Others: Our Community Health Centers
	I was pleasantly surprised when I received an unexpected honor this week. I met Thursday morning with representatives from the Bi-State Primary Care Association. They presented me with their 2012 Community Health Center Champion Award in recognition of my support for them in Congress. I listened with great interest as they told me about their goals for this year. Community health centers are on the front line of helping keep Granite Staters healthy in many towns and cities. I look forward to continuing to work with them in the coming months. (Pictured: Susan Noon – Durham, NH; Kevin Kelley – Vermont; Richard Cotter – Lancaster, NH; Jonathan Brown – Colebrook, NH; Jason Grey – Meredith, NH; Tess Kuenning – Bow, NH; Edward Shanshala – Littleton, NH.)

CEI - Today in the News: Grades for Cars, Lobsters, and Bed Bugs

Grades for Cars

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration wants to label all passenger cars with a grade from A-D ranking fuel efficiency and emissions.

Senior Fellow Marlo Lewis says that sticking a letter grade on the windows of cars is a ridiculous idea, even for the NHTSA.

"The proposed rules imply two judgments about Americans. One is that we’re too stupid to understand how miles-per-gallon and estimated annual fuel costs affect our wallets. Our math skills are so poor that quantitative information must be supplemented with letter grades labeling 'this car good, that car bad.' The second judgment, closely related to the first, is that Americans are school children and EPA/NHTSA are the Nation’s teachers. The agency folks apparently think that no matter how old we get, we still want to be teacher’s pet."

Lobsters Researchers claim to have linked massive lobsters die-offs to the chemical Bisphenol A. Director of Risk and Environmental Safety Angela Logomasini points out that the lobster deaths could easily have been caused by changing water temperatures or other natural phenomena. "Nonetheless, the pollution angle gets the headlines — even when though the research is not yet available. Apparently, too many people have too much to gain. Greens gain more opportunities to hype BPA risks, activist researchers garner more headlines, and the lobstermen may find another industry to sue for 'damages.'"

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs--which had long ceased to be a major problem in American cities--are now back with a vengeance.

 

According to Director of Risk and Environmental Safety Angela Logomasini, bed bugs wouldn't be a major problem today if the government hadn't been so quick to ban DDT in the 1970s.

 

"DDT is long gone from U.S. markets. Now the bugs are so hard to control that they are infesting cities around the nation–in hotels, homes, and offices. Yet many people support DDT bans, regardless of the consequences in other countries. Millions of children die every year in developing nations from mosquito-borne illnesses like malaria that could be controlled with limited use of DDT. Yet advocating its increased use there is too politically incorrect for many Americans on the left who wrongly think DDT cannot be used in a safe and effective manner."

Shea-Porter Introduces Bill to Create Fisheries Ombudsman

WASHINGTON, DC  — Today, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter introduced the National Marine Fisheries Service Ombudsman Act of 2010 (H.R.5180). This legislation will create an Office of the Ombudsman within National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).  Shea-Porter is a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife, which has jurisdiction over NMFS.  

“The fishing industry is a critical part of New Hampshire’s coastal economy, culture and history,” Shea-Porter said. “Fisheries regulations have become increasingly complex and the relationship between our local fishermen and the National Fisheries Service has been strained.  An Ombudsman would provide a needed point of contact and source of information for our fishermen.”

In a January 2010 report, the Department of Commerce Inspector General recommended reestablishing the position of Ombudsman.   Shea-Porter’s bill would do so, creating an independent office that will act as a neutral third party to identify points of conflict and contention between NMFS and fishermen, undertake impartial fact-finding and investigations and mitigate those points of conflict.  The Ombudsman will also serve as a point of contact and receive complaints from those regulated by NMFS and will conduct community outreach and disseminate information about new regulations and requirements.

The Ombudsman will report to Congress annually on their recommendations to improve the services and responsiveness of NMFS, summarize the most pervasive and serious points of conflict, and make recommendations to resolve those points of conflict.

Shea-Porter Announces More Than $470,000 for Northeast Marine Consortium at UNH

WASHINGTON, DC — Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter today announced that the Northeast Consortium at the University of New Hampshire will receive a $471,851 grant.  The Northeast Consortium concentrates on marine ecosystems research in collaboration with fisherman, scientists and fisheries managers.  These funds are provided by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.