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U.S. Nuclear Cleanup Carries Major Risks

Posted by Hemos on from the risks-to-not-doing-it-as-well dept.

Roland Piquepaille writes "New Scientist reports in this pretty alarming article that there is a 50-50 chance of a major radiation or chemical accident during the cleanup of the dirtiest nuclear site in the U.S. There are indeed lots of things to clean at the Hanford complex in Washington state: 67 tons of plutonium and 190 million liters of liquid radioactive waste stored in underground tanks. A third of them, dating from the Cold War, have already leaked 4 million liters in the environment, contaminating the groundwater and a river. Meanwhile, officials at the DOE, who'll spend $50 billion between now and 2035 on this cleanup, seem less worried than the different specialists interviewed by New Scientist. Please read this overview for selected quotes from the article and from the Hanford site. You'll also find a slide from the DOE showing the timeframe for the cleanup."

10 of 522 comments (clear)

  1. Do we really need Washington state? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Besides nuclear waste, what else do they have? Microsoft? Amazon? Starbucks? A semi-active vulcano? I say we just seal the place up.

  2. I live downstream... by abh · · Score: 2, Funny

    The river is the Columbia River, an important transportation and power supply for the region.

    I live downstream. Would you like to shake any of my three hands?

  3. Cheap vacation! by 53cur!ty · · Score: 2, Funny

    Bet the Hotels in that area are pretty cheap!

    Plus glow in the dark showers!!

    Book me now!

  4. There is a silver lining. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I don't live anywhere near there.

  5. Re:To the sun! by ek-1000-ek · · Score: 2, Funny

    Or moon

    --
    where did my sig go? where's my sig at?
  6. Re:67 tons of Pu... by TopShelf · · Score: 4, Funny

    Silly me - I read that as 67 tons of poo, which is about what my 3 toddlers produce in a given month...

    --
    Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
  7. Ahh, come on. Nuclear waste ain't all that bad. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    Sure, a lot will die of radiation poisoning or cancer, but the rest would get super powers!

    Wouldn't that be cool?

  8. Re:River by DrEldarion · · Score: 2, Funny

    Radioactive fish! I can't wait for somebody to get bitten by one and then turn into an aquatic superhero.

  9. Is this complex near Redmond? by bergeron76 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Is this complex anywhere near Redmond by chance?

    --
    Don't think that a small group of dedicated individuals can't change the world. It's the only thing that ever has.
  10. Re:So don't drink the water by bhima · · Score: 2, Funny
    OK I'll bite.... No Leaking Nuclear Waste?

    Really! You asked"What could be better for wildlife and the environment?"

    I'm not really anit-nuke but I thought the answer was pretty obvious;)

    --
    Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.