Calls Grow for Spent Nuclear Fuel to Be Stored More Securely – NYTimes.com
The nuclear calamity at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi plant has refocused attention on the vulnerability of spent fuel pools at the 104 operating American nuclear plants.
The pools are generally far more packed than the damaged ones at Fukushima. Some scientists argue that the crowding raises the risk of a fire and makes the pools a tempting target for terrorists.
Several members of Congress are calling for the fuel to be moved from the pools into dry casks at a faster clip, noting that the casks are thought to be capable of withstanding an earthquake or a plane crash, they have no moving parts and they require no electricity.
“We should not wait for an American meltdown to beef up American nuclear safety measures,” Representative Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, who advocates greater reliance on casks, said after the accident in March in Japan. “We must heed the lessons to be learned from the nuclear meltdown in Japan and ensure nuclear safety here.”
via Calls Grow for Spent Nuclear Fuel to Be Stored More Securely – NYTimes.com.
I’ve been pushing this for years. Glad to see someone organized. I worked at EPRI in Palo Alto on nuclear issues, and know a bit about reprocessing and modern reactor design.
Did you know the US Navy has operated over 500 (small) reactors over the last 60-odd years? And they NEVER had an accident. The USS Enterprise (CVA 65) is being decommissioned next year after 52 years of operation. And she has eight (8!) reactors in her propulsion plant! And if sailors can’t screw it up, nobody can!
I am a former Washoe County Commissioner, President of Nevada Association of County Officials, Former Regional Transportation Commissoner and was very active with Yucca Mt.
Project. Would like to talk to Randi Thompson regarding getting involved.
Phone number 775-304-8090.
NV4CFE, please consider me a supporter of your efforts which I consider are in Nevadas best interests now and most importantly in our future.
John Greer
Reno, NV
7755448460