Mexico, Nuclear Plant, Prevailing Winds

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Remember a year or so ago when the fires were burning in Mexico? Normal prevailing winds moved the smoke through Corpus Christi where they did not see the sun for a number of days, onward north through Texas, Oklahoma, and continuing north until the smoke reached Canada. Mexico has a nuclear electric plant. I'm sure you see my point. Melt down, prevailing winds, we're history. Tell me there isn't a chance of this happening and explain why not. Marcella

-- Anonymous, December 18, 1998

Answers

You read my mind- I've been worrying about it for two days now. Do you know where the plant(s) are in Mexico?

-- Anonymous, December 18, 1998

There are two BWR reactors at Laguna Verde near Veracruz. They are apparently identical, designed by GE. From that location I would imagine any emissions would be carried across the Gulf into Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and beyond.

I believe the forest fires were in the Sierra Madre ranges much nearer to the Pacific coast, and that smoke drifted up into Texas. Although even here in Georgia we had a few colored sunsets in that period.

No information on risks of failure, but the BWR design is supposed to be pretty safe, with a containment. All the reactors in service in the U.S. are either BWR or PWR (Pressurized water) design.

From Facility Information for LAGUNA VERDE-1 in the INSC Database

Facility LAGUNA VERDE-1; HPAC Facility ID: 5323; Laguna Verde, Veracruz, Mexico; Boiling Water Reactor (BWR); Net Output: 654 MWe; Operable. Initial criticality: 11/1988. Commercial start: 07/1990.

From Facility Information for LAGUNA VERDE-2 in the INSC Database:

Facility LAGUNA VERDE-2; HPAC Facility ID: 5324; Laguna Verde, Veracruz, Mexico; Boiling Water Reactor (BWR); Net Output: 654 MWe; Operable. Initial criticality: 07/1994. Commercial start: 06/1995.

-- Anonymous, December 18, 1998


There is a link with maps of all worldwide nuclear plants at the International Nuclear Safety Center:

http://www.insc.anl.gov/

There is also much more information about nuclear facilities available at this site. If I were going to worry about the possibility of accidents at a nuclear plant, I'd be more concerned about the facilities in Russia or some of the Asian countries which do not have the same safety backups built in. However, I don't let myself worry about this, because there is nothing I can do about the infrastructure of other countries. I try to save my energy and worry only about that which is in my power to do something about. Unless you're prepared to go the sixty's bomb shelter route, nuclear contamination is outside an individual's province. Any one of us could be in a car accident tomorrow and end up never having to worry about the Year 2000 rollover. Some things simply fall into the category of "what will be, will be". If there is a chance of an accident in Mexico affecting the U.S. in 2000, then there is that chance now. Y2K has only focused our thoughts on all the vulnerabilities we otherwise live calmly with every day. Once these are in our awareness, they can be hard to shake, but trying to concentrate on those things we CAN prepare for, and which WILL make a difference towards mitigating any disruptions, does help. Leave the rest to fate, or God, depending on your personal beliefs and remember to enjoy today. It's all we really have anyway, isn't it?

-- Anonymous, December 18, 1998


I am a pro-active person. I was concerned about the Mexico plant when I read it was being built. If you know much about Mexico you will understand why. I want to know what is possibly coming at me so that I can make decisions. "What will be will be" is not my attitude. Thanks for the information on that plant. Marcella

-- Anonymous, December 19, 1998

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