First, even if we were to impose an immediate moratorium on all nuclear reactor construction and cease operating all existing reactors, the problem
of radwaste disposal would still be before us.
The organisms are not only superbly adapted to live in the highly alkaline lime wastes, but they can use the ISA as a source of food and energy under conditions that mimic those expected in and around intermediate level
radwaste disposal sites.
If radwastes must be disposed of, let us do it the right way.
In 1960
considerable radwaste was dumped into the Pacific Ocean near the Farallon Islands just west of San Francisco.
When we speak of the need to
sequester radwaste for 10,000 years, we are not taking into account the likely advances of medical technology.
The Carter plan was to begin developing a safe and permanent technology so that terminal disposal
of radwastes could begin in 1997.
This includes leaving a detailed message describing the location and nature of
our radwaste grave.
In the attempt to put a stop to further reactor construction, the antinuclear movement may be tempted to constipate the system — to plug up
the radwaste outlet for the nuclear industry — hoping thereby to force a shutdown of electrical power generation.