Nuclear Power: Pro
continued from page 5
reactor building. These safety devices do
not rely on any complex detection and
triggering equipment to make them work.
Their mere physical presence alone
guarantees their function. Safety matters
are then Reviewed by the Nuclear
Regulatory Commissions, and Advisory
Committee or Reactor Safeguard, and
Atomic Safety and Licensing Board in
public hearings. So far the industry has a
record of no injury to any member of the
public and no radiation injury to any plant
worker.”
Wastes, that escape even with all the
safeguards, are not in concentration
levels high enough to harm life as is shown
in the following charts:
Threats of blackmail by capturing the
radio-active wastes to create nuclear
weapons, especially the hijacking of
LIQUID RADIOACTIVITY LEVELS
(Picocuries/liter)*
Typical nuclear power plant
radioactive waste discharge
Domestic tap water
River water
4% beer
Ocean water
Whiskey
Milk
Salad oil
•A curie is a unit used to measure radioactivity
A picocurie is a trillionth of a curie
A liter is approximately one quart
FUEL CONSUMPTION AND WASTE
(1000-Megawatt 1 Power Plant)
Hourly Daily Annual
Fuel Consumption
Coal 683,000 lbs. 8300 tons*
Uranium 0.3 lbs. 7.4 lbs
Waste Production
Coal (ashes)...
Uranium (fis- , 4
sion products) . 0.3 lbs. 7.4 lbs. about 1 ton
1 1000 megawatts is enqugh electricity for a city of about 1 million people
'equivalent to a 100-car trainload every day
■equivalent to a 33-car trainload everyday (not including airborne wastes)
plutonium which can be used in the
making of bombs is a major concern in the
industry. The nuclear power plants have
installed very sophisticated in their
reprocessing plants. Hiese plants are
licensed by the government and access is
restricted to employes who have been
investigated for security clearance. They
are kept under constant surveillance while
working and are thoroughly searched
before entering or leaving the plant must
be accompanied by armed guard and are
designed to prevent movement in case of
hijacking.
The management of nuclear wastes is
the biggest concern of the Nuclear Com-,
munity. Radioactive wastes are converted
from liquid residue into an insoluble glass
like solid that is stable chemically, ther
mally and radiologically. -Then it is
reduced and sealed in stainless steel
canisters one foot in diameter and ten feet
long. The canister will be placed in un
derground basins of steel-lined concrete
with 20-30 feet of water for cooling and
additional shielding. These are built to
withstand all credible natural forces and
will have a service lifetime of at least
several hundred years. This system is only
temporary, until the government can
develop a permanent disposal system.
The nuclear industry is trying to make
its industry as safe as possible by con
sidering and planning for every possible
problem that may occur. Nuclear experts
ask, “What more can be done?”
.. 1-10
....20
10-100
...130
...350
..1200
..1400
..4900
68,300 lbs. 830 tons’ 300,000 tons
3,000,000 tons
about 1 ton
-3 i r——*■>•<*
CAN YOU FILL THE BILL OF A BIG BUDDY?
*Are you a dependable person, who can take on
a commitment and stick to it?
*Do you have time on your hands that you
would like to put to good use?
*Are you between tha ages of 18 and 60?
*Do you enjoy the company of children?
If you have answered YES to all the above questions,
then the BIG BUDDY PROGRAM wants YOU!
For further information on how you can become a BIG B 1
call 459-0939 or write:
Cyx THE BIG BUDDY PROGRAM
P- 0. Box 371
dj?-' Hazleton, Pa. 18201 v 'v.
7—The, Highacres Collegian, Fridgy, February
MPUS