[ RadSafe ] Japan Debates Safety After Quake

[Earley, Jack N]

"There's also uncertainty about where the next quake will strike. The
Kashiwazaki facility underwent a tectonic survey last year to reevaluate
the site's quake resistency and update it in accordance with new
government guidelines. That survey concluded there were no active faults
in the vicinity."


I guess I just don't understand, but it seems to me that someone's
missing the big picture here. The plants shut down as designed, so no
"nuclear calamity" occurred, particulates in the exhaust, toppled
barrels, and spent fuel pool spill notwithstanding. 

On the other hand (the economist in me tends to say), there might be a
problem with the survey methodology that determined that there were no
active faults in the vicinity. And last I heard, the only way we can
know for sure that an earthquake is about to strike is to watch the
animals--probably not the best way to run any industry, nuclear or
otherwise. But I guess if you're "against" something, any excuse will
do.

 
Jack Earley
Health Physicist
509.372.9532