We currently have two reactors at Turkey Point. Florida Power and Light might want to add two more (at least one) as reported by Oscar Pedro Musibay, June 29th, in the "Daily Business Review." Five sites around the country have 3 reactors at one site according to Scott Burnell at the National Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Not one site in the whole entire country has four reactors at one site yet.
The new Homeland Security rules say KI potassium iodide pills have to be made available to people within a 10 mile radius of a nuclear reactor site according to Burnell. The idea behind this pill is, if your body takes up non radioactive iodine your thyroid will not take up the radioactive iodine which could cause thyroid cancer.
According to an insider on the pills, he says the radius is 20 miles and:
"In the event of a release of radiation from a nuclear power plant, exposed persons, or anyone remaining in an area contaminated by radiation, would need to take one tablet daily for up to 60 days, or risk the likelihood of thyroid cancer. The extent of the contaminated area would be a function of weather conditions, but could easily (as occurred at Chernobyl, in 1945 Japan, and following nuclear weapons testing in the 1950’s) extend out a few hundred miles."
I was told that in 2002 the State only had 984,000 tablets. Hmmm.
John Wade, a nuclear specialist at Turkey Point for 25 years, said in Emily Witt’s recent article in New Times:
“...the reactors, which are encased in four feet of concrete and steel and were designed to withstand a direct hit by a 1960s-era jet.”
Note he said 1960’s jet! What about a 2000 jet?
Anyway, spent fuel is stored at the site, the possibility of four reactors, an FBI investigation, a $100,000 dollar reward makes me think we are painting a big fat target X on South Florida.
These are my concerns and that FBI letter above still haunts me.
10 comments:
The Federal 2002 Bio-Terrorism Act (which originally called for tablets for everyone within 200 miles of US nuclear plants, but was finally compromised down to 20 miles).
About the nukes: Prob the best option out of a host of bad ones. South Florida is in need of more power plants. Coal is dirty and the exhaust fumes likely cause cancer (along with global warming) as a normal byproduct. Natural Gas is clean but is becoming too expensive as the remaining US supplies dwindle. (importing natural gas via tanker is a not only expensive but a huge port security risk..Think huge floating bombs made of liquified Nat Gas.)
The only "safe" option would be to allow the electrical prices to naturally float to levels which would retain the current consumption.
About the planes: 1960's jets are just about the same as those in service now. The Boeing 747 is a product of the 60's. Planes have been getting smaller since the 70's not larger.
forget the airplanes what about the hole..........
NRC Chair: Hole In Pipe At Turkey Point 'Not An Accident' NBC Channel 6
FLORIDA CITY, Fla. -- On Friday, the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said that cases of power plant sabotage are usually tracked to a disgruntled employee.
In early April, a small hole was found in a coolant pipe at Florida Power and Light's Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant. Dr. Nils Diaz, chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said it is not a major safety issue but it causes worries about security issues.
Diaz was in town on Friday to make sure FPL was on top of the issue and that there is not any danger to the public.
"We take any, any attempt at a nuclear power plant, no matter how small, very seriously," Diaz said.
Though not saying that that was why a small hole was purposely drilled in a coolant pipe at Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant, Diaz strongly hinted that that could be the case.
Diaz is known for plain speaking in an industry that is highly technical.
"We do not believe it is an accident. We do believe the hole was drilled in there on purpose," Diaz said.
I think anyone who reads the annual FPL "How to Save Your Rear" mailer would to be thrilled to see their home inside the concentric red circles radiating out from the plant on the map. NOT.
I am sure I am safe, though, my house is 3 blocks north of the northern line. Of course, I don't believe FPL mentioned that the prevailing wind blows diagonally across my property. And for the pills, I have lived here since 1989 in this house, I musta missed the pill delivery every year. Oh wait, FPL is not going to drop them off door-to-door, I may be allergic to Iodine and sue them if I use the pills they leave on the doorstep.
It is also a thrill to experience the "test" public service warnings that they broadcast through the triangle shaped speakers scattered throughout the community. I will testify that McDonald's Drive-Through amplifier system works much better, at least you can understand what language the spokeswoman is using, which one can't do with FPL's lifesaving equipment. (Think about hearing a siren with a Blah,Blah, Blah sound.) In fact, I can't tell you the last time I heard the 'test'.
If you grew up in Miami during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the test routine is fairly disconcerting; mainly because, should you catch the "Blah, Blah" announcement, you have to decide whether to panic, get under your desk, or look for a roll of plastic and duct tape to seal yourself in.
In all seriousness, it was a concern for my kids when they were attending public schools inside the target zone. I was always fearful of the school boards lack of a FPL plan.
I once took the FPL guide to the police department in Cutler Ridge and asked the Major if he knew what it was. He lived in North Miami, he had never seen it before. If the police commander had no clue about the emergency guide, you can be sure that the rank and file officers have no idea what the guide says. It hasn't been talked up at roll call, trust me.
I am sure many new residents don't understand where they live and the danger that lurks. People don’t get the FPL Life-Safety Guide at a realtors Open House. I think that is a disclosure which needs to be made BEFORE a home buyer gets to closing.
Those of us who took a stand on the airport know all too well where that plant is. To this day, I cannot watch a jet line fly south along the coast without wondering if that is the jet will test the strength of the plants infrastructure. Speaking of strength, ask the engineers that worked at the plant during Hurricane Andrew, if the building vibrations during the storm caused them any second thoughts. I know one who felt it was note worthy.
And finally, FPL is doing mass mailings week to the community, trying to win support for their campaign. They have a warm and fuzzy letter as well as very glossy environmental piece with all beautiful photos they could muster up. All I know is, FPL pretty well skated into the permit extension unchallenged and NOW is the time stand up and oppose the further expansion at that nuclear complex. And now-is the time for MANDTORY growth restrictions on high intensity building within the glow zone.
Suppose that you do force FPL to stop construction of a new reactor. What alternative power source do you propose should be built in instead?
we could have some tree huggers pedaling bikes around the clock?
I just think we should spread them around...not all in one place.
how about if the plant is attacked by water....afterall all these smuggler boats get drugs and people in, why not other more sinister stuff. It is right on the water....
I don't believe that it is the sole responsibility of us in South Dade to provide energy for the entire state. Certainly mid-state Florida and the panhandle still has some vacant land left that wouldn't impact 200,000 people or more should there be an issue with the nuclear plants.
When you start with the wisecracks about concerned people in the community, remember that they are the ones who care enough about you and your future to work on ways to make it better.
It makes NOOOOO sense to continue building nuclear plants in a high hurricane risk zone and in a densely populated residential district. Remember, where the 911 trainees came from. And remember they tried to get funding from and a plane from. I promise you all that happened within a 10 minute drive of Turkey Point. Do you think they just went away?
The community did not request high density zoning surrounding the nuclear plant, the elected officials and their developer buddies did. You have 13 commissioners; but, all but 2 would not be able to find Turkey Point on a map even if their next meal depended on it.
Interestingly enough, before the Miami commissioners built themselves into a condo box, you could see Turkey Point from the uppers stories of Downtown buildings.
Who knows? May be there is still a county planner in county hall who can point Turkey Point out to the Mayor from his 29th floor window.
As I said on May 27th in comments on “FPL and a "smattering of opposition"?: the answer is blowing in the (blogsphere) wind, by gimleteye”.
Assuming FPL “must” go forward with new generation, I will ask again:
What kind of plants, if any, should be built and where should they be built?
What about fuel mix? What types of fuel should be used to generate power? Should all plants use the same fuel? What are the best power plant fuels for Florida?
What are your views? I get the impression that most of the people on this Blog just oppose building ANY power plants.
BTW: It looks like Coal is out, at least with this governor and as a previous commenter said natural gas is getting very expensive. Another note on using natural gas, has anyone done any research on disasters and deaths due to pipeline explosions? I have seen numbers in the hundreds for people killed in pipeline explosions over the last 10 or so years.
ExFPLer
we do appear to be anti everything...how about the guy on the bike idea? I saw a man get salt water to ignite on TV...that could be a good sign.
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