To The Editor:
The Atlantic Monthly recently ran (January/February 2003) a misleading advertisement by the Nuclear Energy Institute, i.e., "Nuclear: Electricity & Clean Air, Today and Tomorrow." That fanciful myths about nuclear energy abound and multiply during the tenure of a nuclear-friendly administration is not surprising. However, what is disappointing, is the Atlantic's apparent lack of institutional memory.
The "clean air myth" was demolished on May 13, 1999 when the Nuclear Energy Institute's advertising campaign was deemed "misleading" by the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau. The specific ad in question was displayed in Atlantic Monthly (December, 1998). The commercial featured a cute owl singing the praises of nuclear power, and thanked the NEI for "clean air". The Business Bureau stated: "The process currently used to produce at least some, if not most, of the uranium enriched fuels that are necessary to power nuclear energy plants emits substantial amounts of environmentally harmful greenhouse gases." The NEI did not appeal the decision.
However, the Federal Trade Commission found that although the Industry's ads were untruthful, they were not banned because the material was aimed at "opinion leaders". The FTC said they would have pulled the ads, had they targeted consumers! (December 22, 1999).
The NEI is asking consumers and taxpayers to give nuclear power a "second chance" because it is now environmentally friendly. Of course this argument is disingenuous, and ignores the factual reality of nuclear power's current legacy of air pollution.
At the "front end" of nuclear power production, uranium mining and milling, continue to produce significant health and safety risk for workers, homeowners and government and military personnel. Mines release radon gas and radioactive dust from the crushing and grinding of ore. The ore, uranium 235 and -238, must be converted to gas, and present well-documented national security problems. During the process of converting ore into to gas, huge amounts of electricity are required to operate the processing plants. The net electrical consumption at these facilities actually exceeds the annual output of several 1,000 megawatt nuclear generating stations operating at 100% capacity.
Here in Pennsylvania, the site of the nation's worst commercial nuclear accident, "atomic" generating stations remain one of the largest consumers of foreign oil. Emergency diesel generators (EDG) at Pennsylvania's five nuclear generating stations burn hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil. According to the plant's tech specs, Three Mile Island (TMI) is required to have a diesel fuel oil tank with sufficient minimum inventory to supply two operating emergency diesel generators for at least seven days. This minimum inventory is 28,285 gallons. This equates to each emergency diesel generator consuming about 85 gallons per hour of run-time. EDGs must be run about two hours per month plus one 24-hour run per year, and must be in operation during post-maintenance periods and after equipment breakdowns. One EDG at TMI-1 running 100 hours in a year would consume 8,500 gallons of fuel.
Prior to printing another NEI advert, please check the facts on the ground and in the air.
Sincerely,
Eric Joseph Epstein
To The Editor:
With a nuclear friendly administration in Harrisburg and Washington, fanciful myths about nuclear energy abound and multiply. Consumers, taxpayers and citizens have been told that nuclear power deserves a second chance because it is now environmentally friendly. Of course this argument is disingenuous, and ignores the factual reality of nuclear power's twin legacy of air pollution and contamination of water resources.
At the "front end" of nuclear power production, uranium mining and milling present incredible health and safety challenges. Mines release radon gas and radioactive dust form the crushing and grinding of ore. The ore, uranium 235 and -238, must be converted to gas, and presents well-documented national security problems. During the process of converting ore into to gas, huge amounts of electricity are required to operate the processing plants. The net electrical consumption at these facilities actually exceeds the annual output of several 1,000 megawatt nuclear generating stations.
Nuclear generating stations are one of Pennsylvania's largest consumers of foreign oil. Emergency diesel generators (EDG) at Pennsylvania's five nuclear generating stations burn hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil. According to the plant's tech specs, Three Mile Island (TMI) is required to have a diesel fuel oil tank with sufficient minimum inventory to supply two operating emergency diesel generators for at least seven days. This minimum inventory is 28,285 gallons. This equates to each emergency diesel generator consuming about 85 gallons per hour of run-time. EDGs must be run about two hours per month plus one 24-hour run per year, and must be in operation during post-maintenance periods and after equipment breakdowns. No matter who owns the facility, one EDG at TMI-1 running 100 hours in a year would consume 8,500 gallons of fuel.
The "clean air myth" was demolished on May 13, 1999 when the Nuclear Energy Institute's advertising campaign was deemed "misleading" by the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau. The specific ad in question was displayed in Atlantic Monthly (December, 1998). The commercial featured a cute owl singing the praises of nuclear power, and thanked the NEI for clean air. The Business Bureau stated: "The process currently used to produce at least some, if not most, of the uranium enriched fuels that are necessary to power nuclear energy plants emits substantial amounts of environmentally harmful greenhouse gases." The NEI did not appeal the decision.
However, the Federal Trade Commission found that although the Industry's ads were untruthful, they were not banned because the material was aimed at "opinion leaders". The FTC said they would have pulled the ads, had they targeted consumers! (December 22, 1999).
Owls must also drink water. Nuclear power plants use millions of gallons daily to cool their superheated reactor core. In Pennsylvania, 24 counties have been designated as "drought emergencies", and another 31 are on "drought watch." (September 6, 2002). Governor, Mark Schweiker, the Secretary of the Department of the Environmental Protection, David Hess, and the Chairman of the Public Utility Commission, Glen Thomas, have correctly implored Pennsylvanians to conserve water. As the "Patriot News" astutely observed: "Warnings about the growing pressure on supplies are increasing, but much of the population continues to take the the availability of water for granted" (Editorial, September 24, 2002).
Yet, no elected official has approached the five "security conscious" nuclear power plants to coordinate operation of their assets in a manner that would conserve scarce water resources.
A sample of the magnitude of the amount of water used at nuclear power plant is readily evidenced at PPL's Susquehanna Steam Electric Station (SSES). Located on The Susquehanna River in Luzerne County, every day the plant loses 14.93 million gallons of water per unit as vapor out of the cooling tower stack. Eleven million gallons per day are returned to the river as cooling tower basin blow down. On average, 29.86 million gallons per day are taken from the river and not returned. This data is public information, and can be easily referenced by reviewing PPL's Pennsylvania Environmental Permit Report.
In York County, where water shortages have reached critical levels, the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station creates additional water quality problems, e.g., thermal discharges and wide scale use of Clam Trol to defeat Asiatic clam infestation. This Exelon facility uses and treats potable water from the Susquehanna River; average daily usage is anywhere from 280,000 to 360,000 gallons per day.
On September 24, 2002, at Exelon's nearby Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in New Jersey, more than 1,500 fish were killed when water in the discharge rose to 106 degrees during an "unauthorized maintenance procedure." The fish died from "thermal shock."
The next time someone tells you nuclear power does not harm the environment, ask them to book a return flight aboard Reality Airlines.
Sincerely,
Eric Joseph Epstein
Mr. Epstein is the Chairman of Three Mile Island Alert, Inc., a safe-energy organization based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and founded in 1977.