Public response to nuclear accidents Nuclear energy policy of the United States

1 public response nuclear accidents

1.1 1979 3 mile island accident
1.2 1986 chernobyl disaster
1.3 public opinion after chernobyl
1.4 2011 fukushima accidents , public policy impact

public response nuclear accidents

a clean-up crew working remove radiation @ 3 mile island

over years, public opinion nuclear industry, both in united states , worldwide, soured after several nuclear-related incidents. according benjamin k. sovacool, writer , professor @ singapore s lee kuan yew school of public policy , leading environmental researcher in nuclear energy policy, in united states alone, there on 52 different incidents 1959–2010, ranging leaks, cooling rod malfunctions, explosions, cracks in core, electrocutions, core overheating , other issues. these incidents led deaths of 7 individuals , costs estimated @ $8.56 billion (inflation adjusted 2006).

president jimmy carter leaving 3 mile island, shortly after accident


1979 3 mile island accident

one of largest accidents 3 mile island incident in middleton, pennsylvania in 1979. believed today have been caused human error, partial-meltdown occurred when valve left open, letting out substantial amounts of reactor coolant.

governor dick thornburgh, on advice of nrc chairman joseph hendrie, advised evacuation of pregnant women , pre-school age children...within five-mile radius of 3 mile island facility. evacuation zone extended 20-mile radius on friday march 30. within days, 140,000 people had left area. more half of 663,500 population within 20 mile radius remained in area. according survey conducted in april 1979, 98% of evacuees had returned homes within 3 weeks.

although debate remains, several health studies found there no long-term adverse effects on health of population living around 3 mile island. though there release of radiation, radiation dose people living within 10 miles of plant 8 millirem, , no more 100 millirem single individual. 8 millirem equal chest x-ray, , 100 millirem third of average background radiation received u.s. residents in year.

aerial photo of chernobyl, taken russian space station, mir


1986 chernobyl disaster

the 1986 disaster in chernobyl, ussr considered worst nuclear disaster, date. on 25 april 1986, during routine maintenance, crew @ chernobyl began preparing test of reactor s turbine. during test, site experienced loss of main electrical power supply because of loss of power, automatic shutdown mechanisms failed, , reactor started become unstable. chernobyl operators tried cool rods inserting them reactor core, large power surge occurred. believed design flaw in rods.

this power surge combined hot fuel rods touching water in reactor caused fuel fragmentation along rapid steam production , increase in pressure. led fuel rods rupture, , safety protocols reactor core not withstand damage of 3–4 of fuel rod assemblies. resulting pressure inside core forced covering plate of reactor dislodge itself, rupturing fuel channels , jamming control rods, time, half-way down. resulting steam incident caused many of emergency cooling circuits malfunction. led large fission explosion released radioactive materials atmosphere. in period of few seconds, second explosion occurred caused graphite fragments of fuel ruptured rods blasted atmosphere, although debate still exists, scientists believe caused zirconium-steam reactions

chernobyl radiation map 1996 cia handbook

according world-nuclear.org, 2 workers died result of explosions. graphite (of which, quarter of 1200 tons estimated have been ejected) , fuel became incandescent , started number of fires, causing main release of radioactivity environment. total of 14 ebq (14 x 1018 bq) of radioactivity released, on half of being biologically-inert noble gases.

following explosion, hundreds of tons of water per hour poured reactor douse fires releasing radioactive smoke. however, abandoned after half day, prevent water flooding units 1 , 2. next 8 days, 5000 tons of boron, dolomite, sand, clay , lead dropped helicopter onto burning core in effort extinguish blaze , limit release of radioactive particles.

aside 2 initial deaths, officially, 28 more died in following weeks. after, 336,000 people evacuated after explosion , fire. eradiated ash, dust, , smoke traveled across of europe including russia, ukraine, , belarus. there heated debate on official number of deaths, illnesses , subsequent birth defects caused plant s meltdown. estimated number of deaths potentially resulting accident vary enormously; world health organization (who) suggested reach 4,000 while greenpeace report puts figure @ 200,000 or more. according who, mid-2005, 50 deaths directly associated disaster.

a 1979 anti-nuclear protest in harrisburg, pennsylvania after 3 mile island incident


public opinion after chernobyl

as west began learn chernobyl incident, fear , anxiety nuclear energy swelled in u.s. public opinion. 1975, anti-nuclear movement coalitions making strides in reducing power of nuclear industry. coalitions able instill fear in population on many errors in daily operations of nuclear energy plants, causing them shut down, , exposing ineffectiveness in energy production. point, in late 1980s, u.s. plants either @ or close completion, chernobyl incident did not prevent plants coming online. however, after 1986, anti-nuclear messages reinforced media pictures of deformed babies , other atrocities fallout in soviet union after chernobyl. citizen pressure forced nrc address many issues alarming public, resulting in improved reactor safety, reporting abnormal occurrences @ power plants, revised radiation standards, protecting nuclear plants sabotage, safeguarding nuclear materials theft, licensing export of nuclear equipment , fuel, authorizing steps use plutonium fuel nuclear power, , other matters. shortly after 1979 3 mile island incident, poll new york times , cbs found public approval building new nuclear plants dropped 69% 49% , opposition increased 21% 41%. similarly, after chernobyl incident, cbs news poll showed 55% of questioned believed similar meltdown happen in u.s.

after chernobyl, popular fear , distrust of nuclear power, , energy companies preferring coal-fired plants, u.s. nuclear industry went dormant many years, although legislation continued until 1992. although nuclear plants still quite active , improving production , safety practices, construction of new plants ended in late 1980s. acceptable many utility companies, because of plants licensed operate on 20–40 year contracts, despite unfavorable political climate. on time, numerous polls showed steady increase in public support , decrease in opposition, except temporary drop in numbers after september 11 attacks , iraq , afghanistan wars. according gallup poll in 2009, 59% of public favored use of nuclear energy, including 27% favored it, increase 49% since 2001. moreover, in 2009, gallup poll showed 56% people believed nuclear energy safe versus 42% believed unsafe. other polls showed larger gap; bloomberg , los angeles times found 61% supported nuclear energy, while 30% opposed in 2010. bisconti research inc./gfk roper, market researchers commissioned nuclear energy institute, nuclear industry lobbying group, found “a record-high 74 percent of americans surveyed in new national poll support nuclear energy , similar majority of 70 percent says united states should build more nuclear energy facilities [in 2010].” according ann bisconti, phd, unprecedented support nuclear energy being driven largely people s concerns meeting future energy demand , environmental goals, coincides statements president obama , other national leaders have voiced strong support more nuclear power plants.

2011 fukushima accidents , public policy impact

2007 image of fukushima nuclear plant before meltdown , explosion in 2011

what had been growing acceptance of nuclear power in united states eroded sharply following 2011 japanese nuclear accidents, public support building nuclear power plants in u.s. dropping lower after 3 mile island accident in 1979. support had been @ all-time high of 69 percent in 1977, according polling new york times , cbs news. 43 percent of polled after fukushima nuclear emergency said approve building new power plants in united states. represents decline high of 57 percent in july 2008.

activists involved in u.s. anti-nuclear movement’s emergence (such graham nash , paul gunter) suggest japan’s nuclear crisis may rekindle interest in movement in united states. aim, say, not block obama administration’s push new nuclear construction, convince americans existing plants pose dangers .

march 2011 satellite photo of damaged reactors @ fukushima facilities after earthquake , tsunami

public opinion appears have been aroused regard re-licensing application of diablo canyon power plant. nuclear regulatory commission officials had planned conduct series of public meetings in january, february , march 2011 public attention in san luis obispo county turned towards question of whether plant should re-licensed subsequent public disclosure of third major fault close plant. protest leaders contend there no safe way store spent reactor fuel, other community leaders such mayor of nearby town dispute contention. in review of current trends, state sen. sam blakeslee (r-san luis obispo), holds doctorate in geophysics, quoted stating:

fundamental question whether these facilities should located next active faults , whether operated safely , said. s unfolding in japan, why approve permit these plants keep operating until every question answered?

in march 2011, 600 people gathered weekend protest outside vermont yankee nuclear plant. demonstration held show support thousands of japanese people endangered possible radiation fukushima nuclear accidents.

the new england region has long history of anti-nuclear activism , 75 people held state house rally on april 6, 2011, protest region’s aging nuclear plants , increasing stockpile of radioactive spent fuel rods @ them . protest held shortly before state house hearing legislators scheduled hear representatives of region’s 3 nuclear plants—pilgrim in plymouth, vermont yankee in vernon, , seabrook in new hampshire—talk safety of reactors in light of japanese nuclear crisis. vermont yankee , pilgrim have designs similar crippled japanese nuclear plant.

it anniversary of 3 mile island nuclear incident occasion of substantial rally in south korea in march 2011. south korean environmental activists staged anti-nuclear rally on monday, marking 32nd anniversary of 3 mile island nuclear power plant accident in united states. in pennsylvania, dozens reportedly turned out 32nd anniversary of 3 mile island event. in contrast apparently reinvigorated protests in europe, california , new england, dozens of protesters gathering @ gates of tmi plant received , in coverage received, organizers referred obliquely fukushima incident. plants age, knew [industry] profit motives rather safety motives meant there going accident”, said gene stilp, organizer of 3 mile island protest , no nukes pennsylvania member, german press agency dpa. urged united states discontinue producing nuclear energy, expressing doubt in u.s. nuclear power plants’ preparedness unforeseen natural disasters. can t control mother nature, reasoned.

the article continued quote u.s. nuclear energy foundation effect stock being put fear surrounding fukushima power plant. on policy level, united states officials wary. u.s. energy secretary steven chu told congress obama administration intends hold course on underwriting new nuclear power plants. people in united states, u.s. territories, in no danger”, chu said during fox news sunday broadcast. s unlikely exposed danger. arpa-e energy innovation summit 2011 keynote presentation, skirted nuclear issue , argued longer term more measured approach . emphasized lithium-ion batteries, high-speed rail, computerized design streamlining long-haul trucks, carbon capture , other technologies, emphasizing europe , china may surpassing usa in clean energy , roboticized manufacturing. power point presentation, , video of presentation, available online. in lead of venture capital financing, technology adaptation , deployment in many areas neck , neck china. many of comments seem broadly applicable nuclear policy, such because ve lost lead doesn t mean can t recover it. arpa-e advanced research projects agency-energy, relatively new united states government agency set promote , fund research , development.

nevertheless, nuclear disaster in japan have major effects on energy policy, according billionaire investor warren buffett. speaking on cnbc in march, buffet said united states poised move ahead nuclear plans here, events in japan derailed . radiation terrifies people , buffett told cnbc. s unseen, there s no way quantify sort of limits of might happen would surprised if there s nuclear facilities built in united states long time. moreover, japan s government , tepco response fukushima daiichi incident has been criticized worldwide, , gregory b. jaczko, chairman of nuclear regulatory commission, broke ordinary protocols overruling japanese regard public exclusion zone. result of harshly criticized japanese handling of crisis, there has been scramble eu reform nuclear policy. commentators expect have greater influence on nuclear policy worldwide.