NV: NRC undecided on cask tests (Transportation to Yucca Mountain )

The Las Vegas Sun ^ | May 06, 2004 at 10:30:32 PDT | Suzanne Struglinski

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Today: May 06, 2004 at 10:30:32 PDT

NRC undecided on cask tests

By Suzanne Struglinski
<suzanne@lasvegassun.com>
SUN WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is still deciding what type of tests it will perform on casks that are intended to be used to ship nuclear waste to Nevada.

In February, the commission staff asked the commissioners to evaluate four options combining different train and truck cask tests. The staff had combed through 2,300 public comments on the tests and narrowed them down to several categories.

Larry Camper, the commission's deputy director of the spent fuel project office, said the staff is waiting for the commissioners to tell them which tests they prefer so they can start finalizing details on the tests, including who will pay for them. The projected cost of the test options ranges from $32 million to $47 million through 2009.

A decision on the casks is expected in the next few months.

In February 2003, the commission decided to perform new cask tests and offered a report outlining a fire and impact test for casks used to ship nuclear waste via train and truck. The commission felt new tests would demonstrate the strength of the casks, which would be used to hold nuclear waste as it travels from points throughout the country to the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage site, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

The commission staff accepted public comment for 90 days and conducted four workshops last year to hear about specific suggestions regarding the testing. The staff collected 1,000 pages of transcripts and 250 comment letters, according to the commission.

Michael Mayfield, from NRC's Office of Research, told the National Academy of Sciences Board on Radioactive Waste Management Wednesday that the commission does not believe "testing to failure," that is, finding the cask's breaking point, is needed.

Mayfield also said the tests would not involve the potential effects of acts of terrorism since that could be considered by another program within the commission.

The board has an ongoing study specifically looking at the transportation of radioactive waste.

Camper said once the commissioners decide which option they prefer, the staff will start setting the protocols, working on getting the casks to test, actually doing the tests and analyzing the outcome -- all by 2009.

The Energy Department wants to start shipping waste to Yucca by 2010.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

I'd suggest they try a hand held rocket launcher. I've seen pictures of those "safe casks" on Nevada tv. Cuts right thru them like a knife thru butter. Really makes me feel safe.

[WorkingClassFilth]

May I offer the novel suggestion of forming the spent uranium into suppositories that promise a tingling sensation and offer them for sale in certain leftist publications. In the same ads, issue a contest tease for a free trip to flesh pots that would make Las Vegas blush with each purchase. Then simply issue junket tickets and phony lodging vouchers for every sale as thought it were the grandprise winner. When the all the glowing guests arrive at the facility, supply them all with alcohol and KY-Jelly they can handle and send them into the 'love grotto' for the vacation of their lives.

In this way, virtually all of the dangerous wastes will be shoved up the @ss of those most opposed to the use of nuclear power, and it will be transported safely inside the gamma-filtering body cavities of willing couriers. Finally, a meaningful segement of the left can be happily entombed for the next 35,000 years a mile below the surface of Nevada where they should prove to be little problem.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Now that's a solution!

ROFL!