Re: Nuclear Power - the only answer.

Magnus wrote:

> > To remind you, unanswered issues include:
>
> Unanswered? You're clearly sifting the thread to bicker
> with Deirdre, rather than reading the posts.
>
> >
> > An assurance that the UK nuclear energy industry has cleaned up its act
> > safety-wise since the dark old days of April 2005 (the date of
> > Sellatape's last 'little problem').
>
> BNFL website tells you what steps have been taken since the
> contained loss of material into the acid tanks, if that is
> the problem to which you refer.

It may well do, but 5 minutes searching their site for news on this
yielded only this:

"To continually improve global performance we will:

· Eliminate accidents and incidents.
· Minimise waste and the use of natural resources.
· Ensure that all wastes are managed safely and with care for the
environment.
· Share and use best practice.
· Meet or exceed current standards of environment, health and safety
performance."

http://www.bellona.no/en/energy/renewable/38990.html

has:

"There is as yet, according to Thorp plant technicians, no set date as
to when or if the reprocessing unit will come into operation again.
Repairing damage that occurred during an April 18th pipe rupture in
what is called the plant's fuel clarification cell is set to take
"months" officials at the Thorp plant told Bellona Web on a visit
to Thorp this week.

They could not be more specific as the approach to setting the results
of the accident right are a first-time event, and plant operators do
not wish to be pinned down by a particular deadline, as much of the
plant's technical re-evaluation has to literally be invented as works
progress."

and

"Nonetheless, the event was classified as a "serious incident,"
which corresponds to level three on seven level International Nuclear
Event Scale (INES) that was developed in the wake of Chernobyl. As a
level three event, the Sellefield spillage classified at one step below
an "accident." A rating of "4" corresponds to "an accident
without serious off-site risk." "

> If you want a comparison,
> then look at the days when it would *not* have been contained.

Heh heh. So you reckon 'It used to be even worse' is a good defence?

> Just out of interest, please let us know what electricity
> generating technologies have had no "little problems"
> since 4/05.

No little problems leading to long term contamination or risk to human
life and health? Easy. Wind.

> > Some indication that the waste problem is solved or on the way to being
> > solved, beyond vague statements of intent and resort to Peffers' Law.
>
> NDA website refers to the ways in which the waste issue is on the way
> to being solved. The arguments now are about the preferred option
> and the associated costs. All pointed out earlier in the thread.

No it doesn't.

http://www.nda.gov.uk/Our_Business--Strategy_-_Draft_for_Consultation--Waste_Management_(894).aspx?pg=894

"High Level Waste (HLW) Management

We will ensure our contractors meet the regulator's liquid HLW
reduction targets, which will ensure that HLW is stored in passively
safe conditions.

Intermediate Level Waste (ILW) Management

Our proposed approach to encourage the Government to reach an early
decision on CoRWMs recommendations on the long-term ILW solution.

In the meantime, we will evaluate the options for national/regional
interim storage, taking advantage of potential economies of scale."

As I read it, this just says they are looking at it, and meantime
maintaining the status quo. If you have better info, please post it;
I'd be genuinely interested.

> > An indication that the long-standing link between energy and weapons is
> > no more.
>
> A bit meaningless there, as most weapons rely on energy.

LOL. Yes, I suppose so. Nuclear reactions tend to be a little bit more
energetic than chemical ones though!

>If
> you mean use of reactors for electricity generation, and
> production of weapons grade fissile material, again there is
> no guarantee. What I stated earlier in the thread is that
> the UK has no such requirement for the use of fissile
> material from future nuclear build,

So where will the materials for the proposed new generations of WMD
come from then?

>and I also quoted
> the UK government commitment *not* to draw further material
> for WMD use.

Yes, and I quoted the MOD site which is at best ambiguous on the
subject. You may believe the government when it gives such bland
assurances; I do not.

> Perhaps you would care to tell us what future nuclear build
> might contribute to WMD that we don't already have?

Tritium, as I believe I mentioned. Pu can be reprocessed from old
weapons, so technically I suppose you are right here, but only because
the industry was so assiduous in producing weapon fissiles in the past.

The argument which I very strongly stand by, is that it looks pathetic
when we rattle our sabres at countries which pursue nuclear power for
production of nuclear weapons, while we are doing just that, or at best
have done it in the recent past.

> > Tell you what, why not snip out all these questions and fire us another
> > of your witty ad homs, along with a reminder that I am not worthy to
> > argue with someone of your self-assessed near-God-like stature.
> >
>
> Deirdre? God-like? Not in her view, and not in the view of
> most regulars here. What she does, though, is present
> scientific and technical information along with a few
> opinions, then react in a very human manner to those who
> respond to her by using personal attacks.

Which she is not shy of initiating and indeed escalating herself.

> Tell you what; you could easily run a little CHP station
> if you burned your strawmen rather than posting them here.

Ho ho.

Pat

.

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