FUKUSHIMA: 3 Years

Today is the third anniversary of the tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan that caused three nuclear reactors in Fukushima to melt down. Three years later, 83,000 residents remain unable to return to their homes in the 4,500 square mile exclusion zone surrounding the wrecked reactors. With 31 reactors of the same design currently operating in the U.S., we should all be asking, “will it happen here next?”

 

Three years later, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has yet to act on the lessons from Fukushima. Tell the NRC to re-evaluate safety before re-licensing any nuclear reactors.

Friends of the Earth, along with 35 of our allies, is asking the NRC to incorporate its study on the effects of a major nuclear reactor accident into its regulations before opening any new reactors or renewing licenses for old reactors.

The analysis determined that a fire at a single nuclear spent fuel pool could render an area the size of New Hampshire uninhabitable, displacing 4.1 million people for 30 years or more. But now, the NRC is trying to sweep its own analysis under the rug to save money for the struggling nuclear industry. That’s why we’re demanding the NRC re-evaluate safety standards based on this important data.

 

The NRC should put safety before industry profits -- tell them to incorporate their new safety data into reactor licensing decisions.

There is no excuse for further delays in improving reactor safety. The NRC should not only make assessing the lessons learned from Fukushima a top priority, it should incorporate those assessments into its licensing process and require old reactors to upgrade safety systems.

On the anniversary of this tragedy, tell the NRC not to delay any longer in reducing the dangers of U.S. reactors and spent fuel.

Thank you,
Katherine Fuchs,
Nuclear subsidies campaigner,
Friends of the Earth

http://fukushimaupdate.com/

And the video:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/05/fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-power-plant-leaks_n_1128868.html#s257972