Many Rhode Islanders could be affected by nuclear accidents
Environment Rhode Island and RIPIRG released a new report, "Too Close to Home," that takes a broad look at the potential for widespread drinking water contamination should one of America ’s many aging nuclear power plants suffer a catastrophic failure.
URI's nuke - smaller but older and recently cited EcoRI.org photo |
But Fukushima showed that despite Japan ’s extensive experience and assumed supremacy in controlling the technology, accidents happen and they can exceed expectations, preparations and training.
In Southern Rhode Island , we live within the danger zone of two aging nuclear facilities. The large site is the Millstone nuclear power plant just outside of New London , 20 miles from Charlestown . The other is the small research reactor at URI’s Bay Campus in Narragansett, 12 miles from Charlestown Town Hall.
Both facilities have been cited for safety violations by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission just in the past few weeks. Millstone was cited for making changes to its system without the NRC’s approval. URI was cited for failing to control access to high-radiation areas, allowing a student intern to receive three months’ worth of radiation exposure in the matter of minutes.
Read the entire report by clicking here.
This should be required reading for our anti-wind NIMBYs and Council Vice-President Deputy Dan Slattery.