Radioactive Building Sand Stirs Dispute
AEC involved in major controversy over form of radioactive trash called 'tailings' which has been dumped out by uranium mills in 9 states since beginning of atomic age and has been used by bldrs in thousands of locations; although officials know of no illness in houses containing material, tailings are rich in elements that are known causes of cancer; many of structures involved have radioactivity that is considered unacceptable; ore-processing mills from which tailings come are licensed and rigidly controlled by AEC but some are known to have given material away free to bldrs who have found it excellent base and backfill material for concrete slabs, patios and basements in homes, offices, factories and pub bldgs; 15,000-200,000 tons were given away by single mill in Colo from '53-56; Colo Health Dept, backed by Fed Environmental Protection Agency and 6-man med advisory com, recommends that all tailings be removed from within 10 ft of habitable structures; such removal was recommended in 4-3 vote of Fed-state steering com in which AEC and PHS voted against recommendation; study for AEC puts cost involved in digging out tailings at $20-million in Colo alone; who will pay for cost has not been determined; AEC says that tailings are not its responsibility; Colo officials say that AEC created problem and must pay for solving it