DOCSLIB.ORG

Consequence Management: Evaluating and Developing International Responses to Nuclear and Radiological Disasters

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Consequence Management: Evaluating and Developing International Responses to Nuclear and Radiological Disasters City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works Dissertations and Theses City College of New York 2015 Consequence Management: Evaluating and Developing International Responses to Nuclear and Radiological Disasters Timothy Taylor CUNY City College How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/365 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] Consequence Management: Evaluating and Developing International Responses to Nuclear and Radiological Disasters By Timothy Taylor May 2015 Master’s Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of International Relations (MA) at the City College of New York Advisor: Jean Krasno, PhD 1 Acknowledgments This research could not have happened without the inspiration and help of so many people. First and foremost, I want to acknowledge my academic and thesis advisor, Dr. Jean Krasno, for being a driving force for this research, as well as for my academic and professional success. Her level of knowledge and expertise within the field of International Relations is only surpassed by her love and compassion for others, especially those whom she inspires through her teaching. I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Barry J. Balleck for pushing me as an undergraduate student to pursue research and a graduate degree. Dr. Balleck helped me to hone my research and writing skills in International Studies, and to analyze critical global issues as a policy-maker. I will always value my friendship with him and the Balleck family. None of my research would be possible if it were not for the moral and financial support of family and friends. I would like to acknowledge my parents, Tim and Charlene Taylor, and express my gratitude for their lifetime of love and support. To my friends, Tony DiLascio and Nathan Franks, I wish to express my sincerest thanks for their friendship and support, for believing in me, and for helping me to realize my potential. 2 Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction . 5 Chapter 2 Literature Review . 9 Chapter 3 The Essentials of Nuclear Technology . 20 Chapter 4 Nuclear and Radiological Disasters . 30 Chapter 5 Case Studies . 49 Chapter 6 The International Nature of Nuclear and Radiological Disasters . 62 Chapter 7 Conclusion . 67 3 Abstract This thesis examines the relationship between a state’s level of international cooperation and its ability to effectively respond to nuclear and radiological disasters. It includes an analysis of two such disasters, the 1986 reactor meltdown in Chernobyl, Ukraine, and the 2011 reactor meltdown in Fukushima, Japan. These two incidents serve as the case studies for this research, and provide evidence to suggest the relationship between international cooperation and effective responses. This thesis reviews the nuclear and radiological technologies and materials that pose the greatest risk to human populations, examines the potential consequences of such disasters, and evaluates the level of preparedness of states and relevant international organizations to respond to and mitigate the effects of such disasters. This research identifies gaps in the capacity of state and international responses to disasters, most notably, the lack of effective technologies and procedures for decontaminating non-industrial sites. This research includes an analysis of the international institutions and frameworks best suited for developing and executing effective responses to nuclear and radiological disasters, and suggest specific measures that should be included in such responses. 4 Chapter One Introduction From the creation of the first nuclear reactors to the development of advanced thermo- nuclear weapons systems, scientists and policy makers have continually developed safeguards, security procedures, and non-proliferation strategies to reduce the risk of nuclear and radiological accidents and attacks throughout the world. While the security and non- proliferation policies that have been developed over the last generation have done much to ensure the low probability of such events, policy-makers must acknowledge that accidents and attacks have and will continue to occur, given an indefinite timeline. Why is this important? It is critically important to ensure that international procedures are established to mitigate the consequences of such events. My research will underscore this importance by highlighting the environmental, economic, political, social, and cultural harms that come with such disasters, and by demonstrating how the international community can serve to mitigate these harms. Existing academic literature evaluating nuclear and radiological disasters has illustrated that the consequences of such disasters are international in nature, but that international coordination for mitigating these consequences exists in a relatively limited capacity. Some scholars believe that international cooperation will be essential in managing the consequences of future nuclear and radiological disasters – incidents which these scholars also believe to be inevitable. However, there has yet to be empirical research into whether or not there is evidence to suggest that international cooperation contributes to nuclear and radiological consequence management in any positive manner. In fact, there are some who might argue that international 5 cooperation might hinder state responses to consequence management because of the bureaucratic and decentralized nature of many international and intergovernmental organizations. This thesis seeks to determine whether or not there is a relationship between a state’s level of international cooperation and its ability to effectively respond to nuclear and radiological disasters. I argue that such increases in international cooperation are related to increases in the ability of states to effectively respond to such disasters. In this context, this thesis defines concepts for what is meant by international cooperation and the effectiveness of responses. These concepts are used as the independent and dependent variables, respectively, in this research analysis. The respective components of these variables are analyzed so that it can be determined whether or not any patterns exist between them. I also argue that there are little, or even no, international guidelines or strategies in place to effectively address nuclear or radiological disasters with respect to radioactive decontamination and a state’s long-term recovery. As a research tool, this thesis includes a comparative analysis of two states and their respective management of nuclear and radiological disasters within their borders. The methodology utilizes historical archiving, expert interviews, presentations, and the comparative analysis of the information and variables related to the two case studies. The two case studies selected include the 1986 reactor meltdown in Chernobyl, Ukraine (USSR) and the 2011 multiple reactor meltdown in Fukushima, Japan. These two case studies were selected because they are considered by nuclear industry experts to be the most serious nuclear and radiological disasters in history, being the only two nuclear incidents classified as “major disasters” on the International Nuclear Event Scale. Given that these two incidents occurred decades apart, this 6 thesis also addresses the potential impact of technological advances on the comparative effectiveness of these responses. My research will also refute two potential realist arguments: First, that nuclear consequence management is best handled at the state level; and second, that international responses would be hindered by state concerns for sovereignty. I argue that liberal theories support potential strategies for the development of nuclear consequence management at the international level. This thesis concludes with a prescriptive section which makes recommendations for nuclear and radiological consequence management strategies based upon the findings of the research. In order to present this research in an organized manner, I have arranged this thesis by a sequence of sub-topics and research questions that provide the necessary background information and context for understanding nuclear and radiological consequence management. The sub-topics and research questions are arranged as follows: · Literature Review · The Essentials of Nuclear Technology · What are nuclear and radiological disasters? · What is the difference between a nuclear disaster and a radiological disaster? · What potential nuclear and radiological disasters are most likely to threaten human populations? · What are the consequences of nuclear and radiological disasters? · Which states are prepared to deal with such disasters, and do these states correspond to the populations most at risk? · How have states dealt with nuclear and radiological disasters in the past? 7 · Case Study of the Chernobyl Reactor Meltdown · Case Study of the Fukushima Reactor Meltdown · Comparative Analysis of the Case Studies · Are nuclear and radiological disasters international in nature? · What, if any, international response mechanisms exist to mitigate the effects of nuclear and radiological disasters? · Are nuclear and radiological disasters better addressed at the international level? · What framework might be used to establish or build upon international responses to nuclear and radiological
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Security Operational Skills 2 (Tracing).P65
    Unit - 4 K Operating Skill for handling Natural Disasters Structure 4.1 Objectives 4.2 Introduction 4.3 Operating Skill for natural and nuclear disasters 4.4 Accident Categories 4.5 Nuclear and radiation accidents and incidents 4.6 Geological disasters 4.7 Operating Skills for handling Mines and other Explosive Devices 4.8 Operating Skills for handing hijacking situation (other than an airline hijacking 4.9 Operating skills for antivehicle theft operations 4.10 Operating skills for facing a kidnapping or hostage situation 4.11 Operating Skill for handling coal mines and other explosive devices 4.12 Hostage Rights : Law and Practice in Throes of Evolution 4.12.1 Terminology 4.13 Relative Value of Rights 4.14 Conflict of Rights and Obligations 4.15 Hong Kong mourns victims of bus hijacking in the Philoppines 4.16 Rules for Successful Threat Intelligence Teams 4.16.1 Tailor Your Talent 4.16.2 Architect Your Infrastructure 4.16.3 Enable Business Profitability 4.16.4 Communicate Continuously 4.17 Construction Safety Practices 4.17.1 Excavation 4.17.2 Drilling and Blasting 4.17.3 Piling and deep foundations 234 4.18 Planning 4.18.1 Steps in Planning Function 4.18.2 Characteristics of planning 4.18.3 Advantages of planning 4.18.4 Disadvantages of planning 4.1 Objectives The following is a list of general objectives departments should consider when creating an Information Disaster Prevention and Recovery Plan: O Ensure the safety of all employees and visitors at the site/facility O Protect vital information and records O Secure business sites
    [Show full text]
  • Medical Association for Prevention of War BRIEFING PAPER
    Medical Association for Prevention of War BRIEFING PAPER NUCLEAR POWER AND PUBLIC HEALTH By Peter Karamoskos MBBS, FRANZCR1 May 2010 “… there is a linear dose-response relationship between exposure to ionizing radiation and the development of solid cancers in humans. It is unlikely that there is a threshold below which cancers are not induced.” – National Academy of Science, BEIR VII report, 2006 “We need to develop a very firm commitment to the elimination of nuclear power as a source of energy on the earth.” – Russell Train, former US Environmental Protection Agency administrator, 1977 “[t]he [economic] failure of the U.S. nuclear power program ranks as the largest managerial disaster in business history, a disaster on a monumental scale.” – Forbes, 1985 1 Nuclear Radiologist; Treasurer, Medical Association for the Prevention of War (MAPW) & Treasurer, International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons (ICAN); Public representative, Radiation Health Committee, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) [For informational purposes and does not represent an endorsement by ARPANSA of this document.] Medical Association for Prevention of War Introduction without heavy tax-payer subsidies and loan The public health implications for a resurgence of guarantees. Throughout this period however, nuclear power appear to have taken a subordinate public health concerns increased on a backdrop of position to the economic and global warming reactor safety concerns and the effects of ionising arguments that the industry has advanced to radiation on the surrounding populations, with ten justify its expansion. The purpose of this essay core meltdowns in various nuclear reactors, therefore is several-fold: to review the scientific including several in nuclear power reactors, evidence for public health impacts of nuclear culminating in the Chernobyl disaster of 1986.
    [Show full text]
  • Learning from Fukushima: Nuclear Power in East Asia
    LEARNING FROM FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR POWER IN EAST ASIA LEARNING FROM FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR POWER IN EAST ASIA EDITED BY PETER VAN NESS AND MEL GURTOV WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ANDREW BLAKERS, MELY CABALLERO-ANTHONY, GLORIA KUANG-JUNG HSU, AMY KING, DOUG KOPLOW, ANDERS P. MØLLER, TIMOTHY A. MOUSSEAU, M. V. RAMANA, LAUREN RICHARDSON, KALMAN A. ROBERTSON, TILMAN A. RUFF, CHRISTINA STUART, TATSUJIRO SUZUKI, AND JULIUS CESAR I. TRAJANO Published by ANU Press The Australian National University Acton ACT 2601, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at press.anu.edu.au National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: Learning from Fukushima : nuclear power in East Asia / Peter Van Ness, Mel Gurtov, editors. ISBN: 9781760461393 (paperback) 9781760461409 (ebook) Subjects: Nuclear power plants--East Asia. Nuclear power plants--Risk assessment--East Asia. Nuclear power plants--Health aspects--East Asia. Nuclear power plants--East Asia--Evaluation. Other Creators/Contributors: Van Ness, Peter, editor. Gurtov, Melvin, editor. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design and layout by ANU Press. Cover image: ‘Fukushima apple tree’ by Kristian Laemmle-Ruff. Near Fukushima City, 60 km from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, February 2014. The number in the artwork is the radioactivity level measured in the orchard—2.166 microsieverts per hour, around 20 times normal background radiation. This edition © 2017 ANU Press Contents Figures . vii Tables . ix Acronyms and abbreviations .
    [Show full text]
  • Benefit-Function of Two- Identical Cold Standby Nuclear Reactors System Subject to Failure Due to Radioactivity Or Overheating, Steam Explosion, Fire, and Meltdown
    International Journal on Mechanical Engineering and Robotics (IJMER) ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Benefit-Function of Two- Identical Cold Standby Nuclear Reactors System subject to failure due to radioactivity or Overheating, steam explosion, fire, and meltdown Ashok Kumar Saini BLJS COLLEGE, TOSHAM (BHIWANI) HARYANA INDIA Email ID [email protected] The accident killed 30 people directly and damaged Abstract- A nuclear and radiation accident is defined by approximately $7 billion of property. A study published in the International Atomic Energy Agency as "an event that 2005 estimates that there will eventually be up to 4,000 has led to significant consequences to people, the additional cancer deaths related to the accident among environment or the facility." Examples include lethal those exposed to significant radiation levels. Radioactive effects to individuals, large radioactivity release to fallout from the accident was concentrated in areas of the environment, or reactor core melt." The prime Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. Approximately 350,000 example of a "major nuclear accident" is one in which people were forcibly resettled away from these areas soon a reactor core is damaged and significant amounts after the accident. of radioactivity are released, such as in the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. Benjamin K. Sovacool has reported that worldwide there have been 99 accidents at nuclear power plants from 1952 The impact of nuclear accidents has been a topic of debate to 2009 (defined as incidents that either resulted in the loss practically since the first nuclear reactors were constructed of human life or more than US$50,000 of property damage, in 1954. It has also been a key factor in public concern the amount the US federal government uses to define about nuclear facilities.
    [Show full text]
  • Ornl/Nsic-176
    4 ggcBvePBtnc APR 291980 ORNL/NSIC-176 MASTER Descriptions of Selected Accidents that Have Occurred at Nuclear Reactor Facilities H. W. Bertini and Members of the Staff of the Nuclear Safety Information Center NUCLFAR SAFETY INFORMATION CENTER DIEmu'lhj \i 'uNLIMIlt.il c ORNL/NSIC-176 Contract No. W-7405-eng-26 Engineering Technology Division DESCRIPTIONS OF SFLEuTED ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AT NUCLEAR REACTOR FACILITIES H. W. Bertini and Members of the Staff of the Nuclear Safety Information Center Date Published: April 1980 Prepared by the OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORArORY Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830 operated by UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION for the DEPARTMENT OP ENERGY tP MTOWiOtl Cf THIS MCU«»T It IHWWTW iii CONTENTS (7 Page FOREWORD ...» v PREFACE . vli 1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. NUCLEAR REACTORS: FUNDAMENTALS .' 3 2.1 Basic Theory 3 2.2 The Components of a Nuclear Reactor 8 2.3 Radioactivity , 11 2.4 Electric Power Plants .... 16 2.5 Classification of Reactors 17 2.6 Light-Water Reactors for the Production of Electricity ..... 19 3. CENTRAL STATION POWER PLANTS. 32 3.1 Fuel Melting Incideat at the Fermi Reactor (1966) 32 3.2 Electrical Cable Fires at San Onofre 1 (1968) 33 3.3 Fuel Meltdown at St. Laurent (1969) 35 3.4 Uncovering of the Core at La Crosse (1970) 38 3.5 Seven Injured When Steam Nozzle Breaks at Robinson 2 (1970) 39 3.6 Discharge of Primary System into Drywell at Did 'en 2 (1970) 42 3.7 Turbine Damage Caused by Human Error at Robinson 2 (1970) 45 3.8 Construction Fire at Indian Point 2 (1971) 46 3.9 Valve Separations at Turkey Point 3 (1971) 47 3.10 Turbine Basement Flooded at Quad Cities V?I2) 48 3.11 Steam Generator Damaged in Hot Tests at Oconee 1 (1972) 49 3.12 Two Fatalities in Steam Line Accident at Surry 1 (1972) 50 3.13 Seawater Intrusion into Primary System at Millstone 1 (1972) ..
    [Show full text]
  • Medical Association for Prevention of War1.34 MB
    LC EPC Inquiry into Nuclear Prohibition submission 34 Medical Association for Prevention of War (Australia) Submission to the Inquiry into potential benefits to Victoria in removing prohibitions enacted by the Nuclear Activities (Prohibitions) Act 1983. February 2020 mapw.org.au | [email protected] | 03 9023 1958 3 of 23 LC EPC Inquiry into Nuclear Prohibition Submission to the Inquiry into potential benefits to Victoria in removing prohibitions enacted by the Nuclear 2 submission 34 Activities (Prohibitions) Act 1983 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................................. 3 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 NUCLEAR POWER AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS ................................................................................................ 5 NUCLEAR POWER AND RADIATION IMPACTS ............................................................................................... 6 Children’s increased cancer risks ..................................................................................................................... 7 Childhood leukaemia near nuclear power plants ...................................................................................... 7 Childhood cancer and CT scans ........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Heavy Water Reactors: Status and Projected Development Designed in the Russian Federation
    01-01915_TRS407.qxd 17.04.2002 14:04 Uhr Seite 1 Technical Reports Series No. This report commences with a review of the historical development of heavy water reactors (HWRs), detailing the various national efforts made in developing reactor concepts and taking them to the stage of prototype operation or commercial viability. Sections cover HWR economics, safety and fuel cycles. 4 0 7 Technical Reports Series No. 407 The future directions likely to be taken in the development of HWR technology are addressed through discussion of three national programmes: the Canadian CANDU design, the Advanced HWR currently under development in India, and an 'Ultimate Safe' reactor being Reactors: Status and Projected Development Heavy Water designed in the Russian Federation. Heavy Water Reactors: Status and Projected Development ISBN 92–0–111502–4 ISSN 0074–1914 €99.00 INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, VIENNA, 2002 HEAVY WATER REACTORS: STATUS AND PROJECTED DEVELOPMENT The following States are Members of the International Atomic Energy Agency: AFGHANISTAN GREECE PARAGUAY ALBANIA GUATEMALA PERU ALGERIA HAITI PHILIPPINES ANGOLA HOLY SEE POLAND ARGENTINA HUNGARY PORTUGAL ARMENIA ICELAND QATAR AUSTRALIA INDIA REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA AUSTRIA INDONESIA ROMANIA AZERBAIJAN IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION BANGLADESH IRAQ SAUDI ARABIA BELARUS IRELAND SENEGAL BELGIUM ISRAEL SIERRA LEONE BENIN ITALY SINGAPORE BOLIVIA JAMAICA SLOVAKIA BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA JAPAN SLOVENIA BRAZIL JORDAN SOUTH AFRICA BULGARIA KAZAKHSTAN SPAIN BURKINA FASO KENYA SRI LANKA
    [Show full text]
  • Nuclear Power in East Asia, Edited by Peter Van Ness and Mel Gurtov, Published 2017 by ANU Press, the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
    10 Decommissioning nuclear power reactors Kalman A . Robertson Abstract Global demand for decommissioning services is poised to rise rapidly over the next 20 years, creating major technical and administrative challenges for a large number of states and operators that have only limited experience in this field. This chapter explains the radiological risks associated with each step from shutting down a reactor to releasing the former reactor site for a new use . The selection of a strategy for decommissioning a reactor involves competing policy imperatives that may be assessed in light of two key principles related to funding decommissioning and assuring safety, inter-generational equity and the polluter/user pays principle . Based on an assessment of current trends in decommissioning, there are opportunities to improve cost estimates for decommissioning and strengthen international cooperation to meet rising demand . Risk communication and public participation also warrant special attention due to the highly technical nature of the risks associated with decommissioning and remediation of reactor sites . Introduction As commercial nuclear power generation enters its seventh decade, the world is set to undergo an unprecedented increase in the number of reactors requiring decommissioning. The combination of ageing reactor 287 LEARNING FROM FUKUSHIMA fleets and early shutdowns will see a doubling in the number of reactors undergoing decommissioning within the next 20 years, and it is projected to create a global market for decommissioning and waste storage worth over US$100 billion by 2030 (Nucleonics Week 2016). In principle, many of the risks to nuclear safety associated with a reactor site progressively decrease as it is shut down and decommissioned.
    [Show full text]
  • Mobilizing After Disasters in Advanced Industrial Democracies
    MOBILIZING AFTER DISASTERS IN ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACIES by MIRIAM MATEJOVA B.A. (Honours), University of Northern British Columbia, 2009 M.A., Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, 2012 A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL STUDIES (Political Science) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) April 2019 © Miriam Matejova, 2019 The following individuals certify that they have read, and recommend to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for acceptance, the dissertation entitled: Mobilizing after disasters in advanced industrial democracies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for submitted by Miriam Matejova the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science Examining Committee: Peter Dauvergne Supervisor Lisa McIntosh Sundstrom Supervisory Committee Member Catherine Corrigall-Brown Supervisory Committee Member Brian Job University Examiner Terre Satterfield University Examiner Additional Supervisory Committee Members: Supervisory Committee Member Supervisory Committee Member ii Abstract Environmental disasters are frequently catalysts for social and political change. Yet, disasters of similar scale and impact seem to encourage collective action in some cases but fail to do so in others. For example, while some large oil spills have generated mass nationwide (and international) protests, others have gone largely unnoticed and protests, if any, remained small and localized. If disasters are political triggering events, as the existing literature suggests, why do they often fail to generate large scale collective action? In fact, why do some highly damaging industrial environmental disasters succeed, and others fail to catalyze protest movements? This research strives to explain a variation in the occurrence and size of non-violent protest after industrial environmental disasters in advanced democracies.
    [Show full text]
  • Switzerland CNPP.Pdf
    SWITZERLAND 2012 1. GENERAL INFORMATION 1.1. Country overview Switzerland is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe, with more than 70% of its area covered by the Alps and the Jura. It has 7,870,134 (2010 data) inhabitants, with an overall population density of about 191 people per km2. The major language communities are: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Foreign nationals and their families make up roughly 22% of the population. Sources: Federal Statistical Office, http://www.bfs.admin.ch, 11 April 2012 1.1.1. Governmental System Switzerland is a federal state, with three political and legal levels: the communes (2551, 2011 data), the cantons (26) and the Confederation. The Swiss parliament, or Federal Assembly, is made up of two chambers: the National Council and the Council of States. Every four years, the people elect the 200 members of the National Council, most recently in October 2011. The government is made up of seven members, elected by the United Federal Assembly. Sources: The Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation, http://www.admin.ch, 11 April 2012 1.1.2. Geography and Climate Switzerland covers an area of 41,285 km2, comprising 31% forest and grove, 37% cropland and pastureland, 7% built-up and 25% un-productive land (situation in the mid-1990s). Around 4% of the country’s surface area is covered by water. Climatic conditions, average temperature and precipitation patterns vary significantly across Switzerland, depending mainly on altitude and location. Sources: Federal Statistical Office, http://www.bfs.admin.ch, 11 April 2012 Federal Office for the Environment, http://www.bafu.admin.ch, 11 April 2012 1.1.3.
    [Show full text]
  • Calls Are Closer Than Others
    HDT WHAT? INDEX SOME CALLS ARE CLOSER THAN OTHERS CLOSE CALLS There was a steam explosion and fire in an atomic pile at Leipzig shortly after Werner Heisenberg and Robert Döpel had used it to generate Nazi Germany’s 1st signals of neutron propagation. While checking their device for a possible heavy-water leak, air June 23, 1942 got in and the device’s uranium powder ignited. This caused the water jacket to boil and generated enough steam pressure to blow the pile apart, scattering burning ura- nium powder throughout the lab. There was an unexpected criticality nuclear reaction at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. The material went beyond criticality into prompt-criticality, which is the February 11, 1945 next stage after criticality in the generation of a bomb-like nuclear detonation. This was the 1st time in the history of the US’s nuclear program that such a supremely dan- gerous Chernobyl-like event had occurred in the laboratory. At the Omega site in Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, Harry K. Dagh- lian, Jr. inadvertently creating a critical mass when he dropped a tungsten carbide August 21, 1945 brick onto a plutonium core. Although he quickly removed the brick he had been fatally irradiated, and would die on September 15th. At Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico there was another accidental criti- cality. Demonstrating his technique for the benefit of 7 visitors, Louis Slotin used a screwdriver to manually assemble a critical mass of plutonium. His hand slipped. May 21, 1946 He received an estimated dose of 1,000 rads (rad), or 10 grays (Gy) and would die on May 30th.
    [Show full text]
  • A Survey of the Underground Siting of Nuclear Power Plants
    oo CO EIR-Bericht Nr 382 .c o "k_ <D CO I gc LU Eidg. Institut fur Reaktorforschung Wurenlingen Schweiz A Survey of the Underground Siting of Nuclear Power Plants S.Pinto F Wiirenlir gen, Dezember 1979 A SURVEY OF THE UNDERGROUND SITING OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS S. PINTO Swiss Federal Institute for Reactor Research WUrenlingen, December 1979 i-1 INTRODUCTION 1. The idea of locating nuclear power plants underground is not new, since in the period of time between the late fifties and the early sixties, four small nuclear plants have been built in Europe in rock cavities. Safety has been, in general, the main motivation for such a siting solution. Infact, the feeling of insecurity and inadequacy of the knowledge of the nuclear phenomena that, at that time, was common in the nuclear field led to build these four plants, and to design many others, underground to achieve a safety level higher than that considered possible for a surface plant. Since then, the interest in the under^ *. md siting has been decreasing having been possible to show th^t the conse­ quences of condevabie accidents in surface plants could be kept within acceptable limits. In the last years, however, several factors such as increas­ ing power transmission costs, decreasing number of suitable sites above ground, increased difficulties in obtaining site approval by the licensing authorities, increasing oppo­ sition to i.uclear power, increasing concern for extreme - but highly improbable - accidents, together with the possi­ bility of utilizing the waste heat and the urban siting concept have renewed ths interest for the underground siting as an alternative to surface siting.
    [Show full text]