Pennsylvania State University at Capitol Campus
Vol.BNo. 15
“Put liability where liability belongs. Tell your congressmen and
senators to repeal the Price-Anderson Act of 1957 immediately.” That is
the advice of John W. Gofman, M.D. Ph.D., guest speaker at Capitol
Campus’ Gallery Lounge on May Bth. “The day it is repealed,” he
added, “there will be no more nuclear power plants.”
Gofman earned both his Ph.D. in Nuclear Chemistry in 1943 and his
M.D. in 1946 at the University of California. He was group leader of the
Plutonium Project, Manhattan Project, from 1942-44.
Gofman says he does not feel any guilt for the contributions he made
to the development of the atomic bomb. Given the same circumstances,
he said, he would repeat those efforts.
He also spoke of his latter involvement as a proponent of nuclear
energy. His position in the 1950’s was that there is some inherent
danger in any source of energy. He felt the advantages of nuclear power
outweighed foreseeable problems, “For the stand I took then, I should
have been indicted,” he said.
Gofman has had a complete change of heart and mind and now says,
“We haven't the slightest need for nuclear power.” He said we are
presently wasting almost 50 per cent of our energy and we should begin
there. He added that every effort must be made to find safer, alternative
sources of energy.
Asked about the use of coal, Gofman said,“l am no more in favor of
killing with knives than with guns.” He said, however, that while coal
and other sources of energy do present serious problems, the problems
of nuclear energy will affect our children’s children. “The most depraved
thing that we can do is to reach into future generations and create
genetic damage.” he said.
He suggested the nuclear experiment which America has been
involved in is reminiscent of the outrageous experiments on humans
which were revealed during the Nuremburg trials. The Atomic Energy
Commission sought ways to put nuclear energy to peaceful uses during
the post-war years as a justification of its invention, according to
Gofman. It was decided to use it to produce “safe, clean , cheap electric
Gofman strikes out against
nuclear power p lants
“AH the news that fits we print”
by joan h klein
power.”
The electric industry appreciated the feasibility of its use, but they
are not “Financially dumb.” They told the government they would
undertake the development of nuclear power plants, but they would not
accept the liability of a nuclear accident.
The Price-Anderson Act of 1957 was then passed, which Gofman
calls “the single greatest piece of congressional chicanery.” The law,
which limits the financial liability in a single accident to $560 million, was
re-enacted by congress in 1967 and 1977 in spite of growing concerns
and evidence of the dangers of nuclear power.
Gofman told his audience the phrase “low dose radiation” to which
area residents have been told they were exposed, is yet another public
relations fraud. “There is no safe dose of radiation,” he said. “Radiation
at any level is dangerous.” Scientists estimate there will be a possible 12
deaths as a result of the incident at TMI. This, he said, is a minimum. It
could be "120 or 1,120” since no accurate monitoring was done for
several days after the accident.
Gofman was questioned about the disposal of nuclear waste. "There
is no safe way to handle it; the only solution is not to create waste in the
first place, he said. "Do not let them dump the radioactive water in the
Susquehanna,” he shouted. “The theory that ‘dilution is the solution to
pollution’ is false; It just means you will be poisoned slowly, he said.
Gofman said the incident at TMI was not the first incident of this kind.
There was an accident in Alabama four years ago when the cooling
system in two reactors became faulty. In his opinion, this means we have
been at the brink of disaster three times in four years. He feels, with 71
reactors in operation, it is just a matter of time until we have a full-blown
“China Syndrome” type meltdown.
“Unfortunately,” he said, “we will have to lose a New York, a Chicago,
or a Philadelphia before congress will acknowledge there is a danger.”
Gofman noter President Carter has declared his confidence in the safety
of nuclear power. He suggested, “Let Carter and congress prove their
sincerity.... Let them repeal Price Anderson.”
May 17,1979