Press Mention Effingham Herald May 7, 2003
SACE Quoted
Plutonium Update: Nuclear Regulatory Commission projects fewer fatalities from accident, but cites more safety concerns
In this mention
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission revised its estimate of potential cancer deaths from a hypothetical tritium release at the Savannah River Site plutonium fuel facility from 400 to 100 fatalities. Sara Barczak of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy criticized the project, noting that nearby communities would be vulnerable to accident consequences. The NRC extended the public comment deadline to May 14, 2003.
Communities are going to sit and hope the wind blows the other way if there's an accident
Sara Barczak
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Effingham Herald
Thursday, May 8, 2003 Volume 95, Number 19, Two Sections, 22 pages
Plutonium Update: Nuclear Regulatory Commission projects fewer fatalities from accident, but cites more safety concerns
In our April 3rd article, "Feds shipping weapons-grade plutonium to Savannah River Site" we outlined the federal government's plan to ship plutonium to the Savannah River Site (SRS), 50 miles downwind of Effingham County, to be made into fuel for nuclear reactors.
The Nuclear Regulator Commission has changed their estimate of the latent cancer death in the "highly unlikely event of a tritium [a toxic substance] release" from the SRS. Instead of approximately 400 deaths the NRC's present estimate is 100 fatalities.
"Communities are going to sit and hope the wind blows the other way if there's an accident," said Sara Barczak of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy in response.
The NRC has also identified 19 open items which the NRC requests further information before the contractor, Duke Cogema Stone & Webster, can be granted authorization for construction.
The revised report will be posted on the NRC's Web site (www.nrc.gov) or is avialbe by calling the NRC Public Document Room at 1-800-397-4209.
The date by which the public may make comments to the NRC regarding the facility to be built at SRS has been extended to May 14, 2003. This is most likely the last chance the public has to provide comments.
Comments may be made by e-mail at teh@nrc.gov, or by fax at 301-415-5398 to Tim Harris or by mail to Michael T. Lesar, Chief Rules & Directives Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Offices of Administration, Mail Stop T-6D59, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555.