As such, it is disturbing news that the ground beneath unit 4 is sinking.
Specifically, Unit 4 sunk 36 inches right after the earthquake, and has sunk another 30 inches since then.
Moreover, Unit 4 is sinking unevenly, and the building may begin tilting.
An international coalition of nuclear scientists and non-profit groups are calling on the U.N. to coordinate a multi-national effort to stabilize the fuel pools. And see this.
Given the precarious situation at Unit 4, it is urgent that the world community pool its scientific resources to come up with a fix.
Earthquakes can – of course – damage nuclear power plants. For example, even the operator of Fukushima and the Japanese government now admit that the nuclear cores might have started melting down before the tsuanmi ever hit. More here.
Indeed, American reactors may be even more vulnerable to earthquakes than Fukushima.
But American nuclear “regulators” have allowed numerous nuclear power plants to be built in earthquake zones (represented by black triangles in the following diagram):
Some plants are located in very high earthquake risk zones:
The NRC won’t even begin conducting its earthquake study for Indian Point nuclear power plant in New York until after relicensing is complete in 2013, because the NRC doesn’t consider a big earthquake “a serious risk”
Congressman Markey has said there is a cover up. Specifically, Markey alleges that the head of the NRC told everyone not to write down risks they find from an earthquake greater than 6.0 (the plant was only built to survive a 6.0 earthquake)
We have 4 reactors in California – 2 at San Onofre 2 at San Luis Obisbo – which are vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis
For example, Diablo Canyon is located on numerous earthquake faults, and a state legislator and seismic expert says it could turn into California’s Fukushima:
On July 26th 2011 the California Energy Commission held hearings concerning the state’s nuclear safety. During those hearings, the Chairman of the Commission asked governments experts whether or not they felt the facilities could withstand the maximum credible quake. The response was that they did not know.
Chesapeake Energy has a permit to frack just one mile from the Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station in Shippingport. Whether that is cause for alarm, experts can’t say.
***
“Hydraulic fracturing near a nuclear plant is probably not a concern under normal circumstances,” [Richard Hammack, a scientist at the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory] said. “If there is a pre-stress fault that you happen to lubricate there (with fracking solution), that is the only thing that might result in something that is (seismically) measurable.”
That’s not very reassuring, given that “lubrication” of faults is the main mechanism by which fracking causes earthquakes. (Indeed, the point is illustrated by the analogous fact that leading Japanese seismologists say that the Fukushima earthquake “lubricated” nearby faults, making a giant earthquake more likely than ever.)
And as Akron Beacon Journal notes, fracking is allowed with 500 feet of nuclear plants:
“We’re not aware of any potential impacts and don’t expect any,” said FirstEnergy spokeswoman Jennifer Young today. “We see no reason to be particularly concerned.”
***
[But] experts can’t say if the proposed well so close to two nuclear power plants is cause for concern.
***
DEP spokesperson John Poister told the Shale Reporter that there are no required setbacks specifically relating to a required distance between such shale wells and nuclear facilities, just a blanket regulation requiring a 500-foot setback from any building to a natural gas well.
8 billion growing people needing energy, food, hosing. Layers and layers of Faustian Bargains are out there. I suspect that the people who control our politicians are feeling around and have no long term plan.
If the nationwide drought continues in the USA for another 12 months or so, I bet we will start shutting down nuke power because of lack of cooling capacity.
The inside of nuclear power plants would be a good place to put all the Bankers, Politicians, Judges, Corporation Boyz and Riot Police after we arrest them all for Treason
Rate of cancer deaths up from 1 or 2 per hundred, a hundred years ago to 35 per hundred today. And that was before Fukushima.
8 billion growing people needing energy, food, hosing. Layers and layers of Faustian Bargains are out there. I suspect that the people who control our politicians are feeling around and have no long term plan.
That is why we refer to the politicians as SOCIOPATHS
Oh yea! Be the next Galileo inspired Isaac Newton.
Drop two balls from the top of the tower; see which one is toasted to perfection first before it hits the ground.
Invent the new math, become council of the exchequer,
Model it after a meme of energy, kinetic and potential.
Potential is when I draw my fist back to my hip for a throw, kinetic is when I smack a jaw, knee rib or some other part.
I need more fight club attitude from the virtual folks around me.
Thanks GW for casting the first stone.
Anybody else have a wrist rocket?
Step it up~
Maybe they're trying to create a tourist destination. Like this one:
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=leaning+tower+of+pisa&hl=en&sa=X&tbo=d&rl... watch out for those clever Japanese man. One day they're radio-isotopes, the next day it'll be radioactive isotoners!
...where did I put my iodide pills?
...where did I put my iodide pills?
If they were up your ass, you'd know it.
where did GW put his lithium pills...
Where'd I put my Cialis gummies?
Between some hot buttered tits, hopefully. Cialis is too expensive if you just want to jack off.
..between cannabinoid lozenges and the bottle of Jack.
If the nationwide drought continues in the USA for another 12 months or so, I bet we will start shutting down nuke power because of lack of cooling capacity.
Chew your twinkies well.
Gold bitchez!
"The Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) in Galveston, Texas, USA, is a high security National Biocontainment Laboratory housing several Biosafety level 4 research laboratories, run by the University of Texas Medical Branch for exotic disease diagnosis and research."
Galveston, Texas. You know, where hurricanes like to come ashore after a hard drive through the Gulf.
I'm ok with losing Texas. Maybe sooner than later....
Bio 4... where there's weaponized viruses... yeah great fucking idea...
Bio 4 labs should only be allowed underground in the middle of deserts, not in the middle of cities FFS!
But eh, the elite loves this as one virus can always be leaked on purpose for some doomsday fun.
That was the plot for 'resident evil'.... Underground Zombies escape and run for congressmen with braines.
"Note: Ignore the long lines … they represent the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, which present ahuge danger of flooding nuclear reactors."
Uhh ... OK? So we don't have to worry about the mini-tsunamis when the dams on these rivers break during a quake?
Nuclear
Regulatory Commission Engineers Charge Government Coverup: Reactor
Meltdown “Absolute Certainty” If Dam Fails … 100s of Times More Likely
than Tsunami that Hit Fukushima
It may not lean for long. They might not have filled in the bog on the one side.
GE engineers are smart. For model trains.
Don't all buildings with over 400 tons of hot nuclear fuel suspended 100 feet above ground settle a few feet on one side or another?
Do we have a new landmark.. The Leaning Tower of Fukushima?
Land is cheap, and taxes are low there, across from the leaning tower of fukushima. A real buy for Geitner. He loves toxic assets.
Oh, great. I'm like thirty or forty miles downwind of Shippingport.
We are ALL downwind of something nasty.
The inside of nuclear power plants would be a good place to put all the Bankers, Politicians, Judges, Corporation Boyz and Riot Police after we arrest them all for Treason