The Next Chernobyl...in Jersey!

Mad Max RW · Post by **Mad Max RW** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:31 am

[ -> Editorial]

Yeah, that's a real shocker. According to industry experts and exployee reports the Salem nuclear power station in southwestern New Jersey is pretty much screwed. A leaking generator, a reactor which is nearly impossible to control, and half-assed maintenance are a few of the huge warning signs. But when someone thinks maybe it should be fixed:<blockquote>Another consultant found that some employees were reluctant to report problems because they were afraid of angering their superiors. The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission is investigating reports from at least two employees that superiors retaliated against them after they expressed concerns about safety.</blockquote>All is OK, though, because the government and the company that owns the plant, P.S.E.G Nuclear L.L.C., say they have met all safety regulations. President of the company and an overall optimistic guy, A. Christopher Bakken III, claims even if they start taking these problems seriously it can be two years before maintenance is brought up to date. There's a lot more hilarious bits on the power plant's current state in this <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/11/nyreg ... ALTAVISTA1" target=_blank>three page article</a>.
 Spotted at: <A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/11/nyreg ... ISTA1">The New York Times</a>

fallout ranger · Post by **fallout ranger** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:53 am

haha, here it comes...

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: shadow of New Jersey.

It takes ALOT of neglect or mechanical problems to fuck up a reactor, nuclear power is VERY safe if managed properly.

Sovy Kurosei · Post by **Sovy Kurosei** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 6:39 am

As long as the reactor has a negative void coefficient, I'm happy. But it would be better if people went with CANDU reactors.

Speaking of which, until fusion becomes feasible, what is the US's alternative to getting energy? Especially now with the coming developments in fuel cells, which are just a medium for energy?

fallout ranger · Post by **fallout ranger** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 7:15 am

Nuclear is the way to go in my book.

Ghetto Goose · Post by **Ghetto Goose** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:48 pm

Mad Max RW wrote:Yeah, that's a real shocker. According to industry experts and exployee reports the Salem...

It all makes sense now. The ghosts of witches are haunting the reactor, so it'll leak out onto their corpses and make them ALL-POWERFUL.

People-- if you live in the greater New Jersey area, stock up on garlic necklaces, silver bullets, and kryptonite. Its the only way to stop the Radwitches. Seal off your windows, doors and chimney. Santa will forgive you. If you get bitten by one of the witches, do you and your friends a favor and commit suicide in the most dramatic way possible. See if you can find a jet engine to jump into, thats badass. Heros are still remembered, even if they are turned into human chili.

Also consider making a radiations suit out of saran wrap, rubber gloves, and a fish bowl.

Mad Max RW · Post by **Mad Max RW** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 1:43 pm

We rely mostly on coal. Nuclear is in the minority and we're shutting more of them down every year. That's part of the reason why energy shortages keep getting worse.

4too · Post by **4too** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 3:33 pm

More Than One

The Davis Besse Nuke plant on Lake Erie has been shut down for one problem or another for most of it's history.

The latest is acid damage to some part the containment shell.

Hard luck track record, example: when being inspected for permission to go back on line, they found people sleeping on the job.

Anyone can be idealistic about nuke potential.

But are you naive about the potential level of integrity of corporate investors, their magician accountants, and their "pet" idiot savants, the scientists and engineers for hire.

If anyone here works in a large office building and is hot in the summer and cold in the winter, where the sanity plumbing routinely clogs and backs up, then you have experienced the same design integrity common in large construction. Nukes are big construction and subject to the same dynamics
that exploit the 'low bid' contractors.

There is a predilection to shift the costs of construction, and cover the original design short cuts by the maintenance budget to redo or band aid the problem after the build out is "accepted".

And there is always the potential that the 'bright sparks' in any management scheme that will gamble with maintenance to "save" dollars and earn a larger bonus.

So, yah, the fusion thing has been stuck at that nano second short of
energy payback for about 30 years. If the length of controlled reaction became economically viable, it'll take the business types 10 to 20
years to boondoggle a functioning facility.

Perhaps it would be more 'practical' to invest in coal processing and stack scrubbers, until the fission thing comes out of it's theoreticians' closet.

4too

S4ur0n27 · Post by **S4ur0n27** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:41 pm

omg 4too is back! And there was much rejoicing!

Sovy Kurosei · Post by **Sovy Kurosei** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 6:33 pm

I get this warm, fuzzy feeling whenever I read some of 4too's posts.

Ranger · Post by **Ranger** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 10:25 pm

Slight problem, maybe a typo. Fission is what we have now, Fusion is what we're hoping for. But even if they do perfect it, it's so efficient that big businesses will fight to keep it in the closet for fear that they'll lose money from people getting basically free energy. THink about it people. We live in a society where we charge top dollar for the things nessacery for human life..... Water, food, shelter, some would even argue clothes. The nuclear power we have now isn't exactly safe..... It produces tons of radioactive by products every year. In America we're fighting a war over oil. Say what you will about the president, but look at the facts, that's what it boils down to. We live in a country where the voters are told they are the most important people, but big companies have all the power. I dunno, any of our international members live in a country that values it's citizens above money, and doesn't have a wal-mart?

Sovy Kurosei · Post by **Sovy Kurosei** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:21 pm

Meh, if it isn't the government having all the power, it would be the big business. We are screwed either way. The oil barons of the day yonder is starting to decay, in the research of new, alternative fuel sources and way to store energy, but that is because of the eventuality of the first world countries evolving from fossil fuel economies into hydrogen economies.

However, until fusion becomes a practical, everyday reality, we won't be seeing much of a hydrogen economy that doesn't make itself ridiculously cumbersome and outrageously expensive. Unless, of course, getting oil becomes equally ridiculously cumbersome to garner and outrageously expensive to produce. Then we are just not screwed, but really screwed at that point.

Mismatch · Post by **Mismatch** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:31 pm

alternative fuel sources and way to store energy

Like seemen.

Then we are just not screwed, but really screwed at that point.

screwed..
..seemen

bukkake could be the prime powersource of the future, is this what you are trying to say?

4too · Post by **4too** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 12:23 am

Fizzled!

Slight problem, maybe a typo. ...

Thanks for the courteous handling of my fumble.

I "fissioned" when I should have "fusioned". I fear my emphasis was more on the quality of applied engineering in this land of marketing monsters,
and not on the necessary technical details.

Does this rule me out when the bids go out for that - brave new - FUSION generator, that's still a gleam in some future Nobel winners' eyes?

Will ya'll buy shares if we proclaim the corporation "DAC"?

In the meantime we could churn Interplay stock on 'RagingBull' by implying someone saw actual signs of human life on planet IPLY.

Or perhaps cut bridge futures' derivitives into dime bags for street sale.

4too

Duck and Cover