Daily Lessons from Life 23 February 2013 - US alarm over nuclear-waste leaks

"US alarm over nuclear-waste leaks - AFP 23 February 2013

At least six tanks containing radioactive waste in the US state of Washington are leaking, the state said, urging more federal help to clean up a site used to make Cold War-era bombs.

Washington governor Jay Inslee said that the extent of the leaks at the Hanford site -- which first produced fuel for nuclear bombs in World War II and closed down 25 years ago -- was "disturbing."

"There is no immediate or near-term health risk associated with these newly discovered leaks, which are more than five miles from the Columbia River," he said, after meeting US Energy Secretary Steven Chu in Washington DC. "But nonetheless this is disturbing news for all Washingtonians," he said.

He noted that Chu, the outgoing US energy secretary, told him a week ago that only one tank was leaking, but admitted "his department did not adequately analyze data it had that would have shown the other tanks that are leaking."

"This certainly raises serious questions about the integrity of all 149 single-shell tanks with radioactive liquid and sludge at Hanford.

Millions of gallons of leftover waste is contained in 177 tanks at the site, according to the Department of Energy, which in 1989 agreed a deal with Washington state authorities to clean up the Hanford Site.

Governor Inslee said: "Frankly, the state Department of Ecology is not convinced that current storage is adequate to meet legal and regulatory requirements.

A Department of Energy spokesman, Lindsey Geisler, confirmed that "there are six tanks at the Hanford site .. including the one announced last week, that show declining levels of fluid."

"There is no immediate public health risk. The Department is working with the State of Washington and other key stakeholders to address the issues associated with these tanks," he added.

Washington state authorities hoped for more information about the leaking tanks soon, the spokeswoman told AFP."

It appears that the brightest scientists of the world did not really know what to do with the nuclear waste produced except to 'hope', and maybe 'pray', that somehow they will just vaporise into the thin air without any harmful or deadly effects on the human race, especially those living near the sites!

Lessons for me are:

1. it is easy to 'kick the can down the road' or 'to pass the buck to the next generation' when you focus on the 'present';

2. it is easy to find the justification that 'we have something that can contain the toxic and deadly nuclear waste in tanks that will outlive the 'activeness period'. So, no worry. Rest easy. Everything has been taken care off! Were there objections at that time? I am sure there were. Just that it was inconvenient to give too much credit to these lot of 'noise maker' who have no ambition and too conservative in taking some calculated risks!;

3. while those who pointed out the possibility of the 'nuclear waste' outliving the 'containers that are supposed to be indestructible and inpregnantable' can laugh at those who overruled them with glee. And those who made the 'mistake' then of approving the 'store away our problems' may be very remorseful and full of repentance, they are of NO VALUES at all. The leaks had happened. Are they as 'harmless as the authority claimed'? Hopefully it is true. IF NOT, plenty of recovery and damage control work will have to be put in place. And put in place QUICKLY!!

Normally it will take more than 2 times the original efforts to fix an issue that resulted from the original intent. When will human being learn to be aware of not upsetting the balance of nature too much? That no one really know what to do with all the nuclear waste produced here and anywhere else in the world who nuclear weapons ambition STILL represent some clouts in the world!!

Until that attitude changes 180 degree, this 'well intention lie' will go on and on. 'Everything is under control. Everything is alright.! Hopefully so ... Really!