A leak in a spent fuel pool at the Fukushima nuclear plant would be an unprecedented problem with no clear remedy, experts say. Full Story »
Posted by Barry Grossheim - via Peter Daou, LA Times (Most Emailed), NewsRack (Energy), Peter Avalos (t)
A good story that highlights two major weaknesses: 1./ Nuclear plants worldwide have adjacient spent fuel storage pools that are open to the atmosphere and thus extremely vulnerable. 2./ Especially in the developed world, our supply systems are extremely fragile, so when something goes wrong many people are left without basic necessities.
Am I the only one who is shocked that nuclear material is stored without containment? That fire, earthquake or any other major disruption can lead to the dispersal of nuclear contaminants worldwide? Quite astounding!
In a scenario such as this, journalists are limited by the filtered information the "gatekeepers" (government and industry PR contacts) deem "necessary and appropriate to promulgate. Many factors influence how far open the gates are. Reality on the ground? Prevent public panic? Industry image for financial survival? Speculation? Just don't know? etc. ad nauseam. This piece is best viewed as a synoptic of the effects of many aspects of the ongoing tragedy. A technology that exists are robotic cameras designed for high radiation areas. Haven't seen or heard (may have missed) of observations by such technology. Good synopsis.
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