Comments Rochelle Becker has made

  • Nuclear accidents can happen

    Last Sundays's episode of "West Wing" about a radioactive release from a fictional nuclear plant was a frightening scenario, but not entirely outside the realm of possibility.  California's operating nuclear plants are located on eroding and earthquake active coastal bluffs.  Since 9/11/01, the administration has warned U.S. Citizens that nuclear power plants and adjacent onsite high-level radioactive waste storage facilities are at risk of terrorist attacks.

    The twin operating reactors at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station are soon to undergo stam generator replacement that will require cutting 28 by 28 foot holes in each containment dome.  And as most southern Californians are aware, the San Onofre nuclear station is adjacent to a 10 lane freeway, state park, shipping and air corridor and a heavily used rail system - all placing this site at particular risk.  This is a project opposed by San Onofre's co-owner, SDG&E.

    Aging reactors with radioactive and embrittled components on our seismically active and vulnerable coast give Californians a cause for real concern.  If a radioactive release were to result from a nuclear accident, no matter the cause, is our state prepared for a nuclear disaster?  Bad news there:FEMA is the responsible agency for all disasters.  We have only to look at the example of Hurrican Katrina and then add the additional risk of radioactivity in the air, water and soil to strike real fear into our hearts.

    The only examples of nuclear evacuations are Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. In both cases, the authorities took days to inform the public that there had beena radioactive release. Seventeen cities in Ukraine remain ghost towns
    and hundreds of thousands remain displaced.  In this era of increasing secrecy, there is little reason to believe that next tme will be different.

    Hundreds of tons of high-level radioactive waste have been produced at California's nuclear plants since operation began in the early 1980's. Thousands of tons will be left on our coast long after the last kilowatt is produced.  Licenses for California's nuclear plants expire in the mid 2020's, but both utility owners are beginning to prepare for license renewal applications.

    While Los Angeles does not have its own nuclear reactor, it is located 1/2 way between California's operating reactors.  Evacuation, if ever necessary, will seriously impact the City of the Angeles.  In addition, if the radioactive waste from these reactors ever leaves our state, it will travel through LA on heavily used freeways and dilapidated rail systems.  One only has to look at the front page of today's LA Times to see how safe trucking this radiaoctive waste will be on our roads.

    Reactor communities have waited over 50 years for the federal government to fulfill its promise of permanent offsite storage for radioactive waste.  For years, SCE, SDG&E and PG&E ratepayers have paid for the construction of a permanent offsite facility. To date, all that exists is a giant hole in the Nevada desert.

    Is continuing down the nuclear path the least expensive option?  No, nor is it the safest.  The total price tag for construction of the San Onofre Nuclear Station and the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant was in excess of $11 billion for 4000 megawatts and that was in 1985.  In addition, both utilities need to replace steam generators and that cost will exceed $1.5 billion.  Recently, the California Public Utilities Commission approved $3.2 billion for 3000 megawatts.  Clearly, nuclear power is not economical.

    California is the only state in the nation with a law that prohibits the construction of new nuclear plants until there is a permanent solution to the offsite storage of high-level radioactive waste.  The Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility invites Californians to join us in reducing the risks to our state, our economy and to keep the "West Wing" scenario from becoming a reality.

    Rochelle Becker, Executive Director
    Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility
    www.a4nr.org
    PO 1328
    San Luis Obispo, Ca 93406On Sunday's West Wing was rather ham-handed with its nuclear critique posted 3 years, 10 months ago 11 Responses