Nuclear energy and the evils that aren't talked about: The list grows daily and taking the stance of "speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil" does not make us any wiser.
The recent earthquake off of Virginia left damages in its wake. We can fathom up the courage to speak of cracks sustained to the Washington Monument but not to speak about the shifting of dozens of spent fuel containers.
Did you hear any of the following discussed on your evening news?
"The nation's nuclear regulator believes a quarter of America's reactors may need modifications to make them safer."
"The two North Anna reactors are among 27 in the eastern and central U.S. that a preliminary Nuclear Regulatory Commission review has said may need upgrades."
"Just how many nuclear power plants are more vulnerable won't be determined until all operators recalculate their own seismic risk based on new assessments by geologists, something the agency plans to request later this year."
"The NRC does not require plants to re-examine their seismic risks to renew operating licenses for 20 years.
After the March earthquake in Japan that caused the biggest nuclear crisis since Chernobyl, NRC staffers fretted in emails that the agency's understanding of earthquake risk for existing reactors was out of date.
In a March 15 email, for example, an NRC earthquake expert questioned releasing data to the public showing how strong an earthquake each plant was designed to withstand."
I don't know about you - but I don't care so much for this "speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil" policy when it comes to nuclear power plants. I'm afraid it might change from being wise little monkeys to this:
Good illustrations! But Annie, how is anyone going to focus on this when we can't even upgrade EPA standards to help people breathe more easily? Yes our nuclear problems must be dealt with -- but I don't see any adults in government that might be willing to take this on. This is the worst of times to push for anything sensible. Sensible is so out of style.
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