(by request... we'll see if it will "stick")

I just read an interesting article that shows how nice nuclear waste really is. It made me think that Bill Richardson or the NRC should put out a nice video. Like the Anheuser-Busch commercials that come out every Christmas. A nice stroll through the trees.. birds chirping, deer grazing, shot of the pond, underwater shots of the largemouth bass. No words.. just a subtle shot of the nuclear waste site signs. Implied message - NUCLEAR WASTE - GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.. good for you too.

It also made me think that there is very some *INTERESTING* timing of all these things.

Feb. 9, 1999 - statement that seems to say that the NRC CANNOT shut down the nukes without putting the grid at risk - [see Catch 22 on the Electric forum].

We have come to recognize that nuclear power plants are not islands. The plants rely upon stable electrical distribution systems to support steady-state operations. Symbiotically, stable distribution systems rely on the collective output of generating facilities. In a very real sense then, we all are dependent on the stability of one another. NRC Chairman DR. Shirley Jackson February 9, 1999

March 1 - 5, 1999 NRC holds 5 days of meetings to decide on new policy regarding potassium iodide: March 1st, March 2nd, March 3rd, March 4th, March 5th.

May 18, 1999. NRC announces Interim Enforcement Policy - for nuclear power plants to include an interim policy to exercise enforcement discretion for noncompliance with license conditions, including technical specifications (TSs), during year 2000 (Y2K) transition or rollover periods. (i.e. allows them to break their rules without shutdown)

June 16, 1999 NRC Chairman Dr. Shirley Jackson RESIGNS effective July 1st (the deadline for nuke plants to submit Y2K readiness *PLANS*). Clinton appoints a Little Rock native Greta Dicus to take her place (must be approved by Senate - wonder when THAT will happen).

June 18th, 1999 an article on the NRC recommending STOCKPILING Potassium Iodide.

June 24th, 1999 - Nuclear waste - good for the environment article. [watch for video to follow -bg-]

June 24th is also the 1st anniversary of a near real BAD THING at Davis-Besse Nuclear Station on Lake Erie. Note the loss of power AND that the "hot line" went dead too. In a worst case scenario where power and telecommunications are lost, if there is a radiation release... HOW WOULD YOU KNOW???

Interrreeesssstting.

Got KI?

-- Anonymous, June 25, 1999

Answers

Linda, I much prefer breathing clean air afforded by nuclear vs. the smokestack emmissions of coal, oil, and gas. Did you know that coal plants release much more airborne radioactivity to the environment than nuclear plants, due to the trace radioactive elements in the coal?

Now that we have had this nice environmental discussion, why don't we get back to Y2K?

Regards

-- Anonymous, June 25, 1999

Actually, I am not arguing coal vs. nuclear, and agree that would be a discussion for a different forum. I am concerned here with the potential risks to nuclear plants on rollover, and with the recent actions of the NRC that SEEM to be implying that:

1. They have no intention of shutting down any nuclear plants even if they are not compliant. This implication comes from the statement of Dr. Jackson, and from the fact that they have been rather lax about inspections, and their Interim policy which allows them to skirt the regulations rather than shutting down. Nowhere do I see any strong statements that the plants must be compliant OR ELSE.

2. The change in a longstanding potassium iodide policy brought about by the NRC, in conjunction with the FDA, DOE, and the WHO - at this time - would IMPLY that there is a non-trivial risk of one or more nuclear "incidents" due to Y2K.

If you read the minutes of the 5 days of meetings of the KI Core group , you may notice repeated recommendations to allow KI to be available to ordinary citizens so they would have it available IN ADVANCE OF EXPOSURE. This is quite a change, and I think the timing is more than coincidental.

So this really has nothing to do with how dirty coal plants are.

I also think the timing of the departure of Dr. Shirley Jackson is more than coincidental as mentioned in the Catch 22 post.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 1999

FactFinder, I ran accross this site, International Nuclear Safety, which lists and maps plants. It appears that many many of the US nuclear plants are already shut down. Do you know why? Here is a web address, listing open and closed plants in central US. http://www.insc.anl.gov/pwrmaps/map/us_central.html

-- Anonymous, June 26, 1999

Here's a link to lots of maps: Maps of Nuclear Power Reactors

"Please be aware that all maps contain information on power reactors ONLY. Experimental reactors and other nuclear facilities are NOT included in this set of maps."

So there are plenty of OTHER sites that I assume MAY have some Y2K issues, and a need for continuing offsite power to maintain cooling pools. Are these OTHER sites even being checked for Y2K compliance?

-- Anonymous, June 26, 1999

I too find the timing of events here difficult to reconcile. The NRC website did have the good Dr. scheduled to take over at RPTI in July of 99. I find it chilling that she decided to leave the day after the discretionary enforcement notice became public.

Additionally, I would have to say that even if she has been planning to do this for a year, she should have left a year ago. Y2K project planning is tough enough alone, but taking over an entire regulatory body in the midst of the largest information technology project ever, is an overwhelming task at best.

And while we're at it, discussing interesting coincidences.....

"Dicus, a health physicist and radiation research scientist, is in her second term at the NRC. Before coming to the agency she was with the division of radiation and control and emergency management at the Arkansas Department of Health.

An Arkansas native she has a masters degree in radiation biology and has done extensive research over 16 years on radiation health effects."

I have to say that I'm not surprised. Not for nuthin' but the last time I checked the old map there were plenty of qualified candidates from states with more than ONE nuke. If I were the guy doing the hiring I would want the best candidate overall, but I'd probably start by drawing from an area that had a little more going on than Arkansas.

PS-I am leaning toward purchasing 3 bottles of KI for my family based on what I've read here in the forum. I've found a good source and it's not expensive.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 1999