Re: Radioactivity on Rails -Reply

["MIKE RUSSELL" <russelmj@songs.sce.com>]

          Otto,

          There's a video out of Sandia Lab that shows test result
          including dramatic footage of a railroad train collision
          with a fuel cask on a flatbed.

          This footage has been incorporated into a short video
          produced by NEI about fuel transportation safety.  Call
          Patrica Bryant at 202 739 8020 (NEI Suite 400 1776 Eye
          Street, NW, Washington DC 20006-3708).

          Also, Tony's recommendation re: LILCO to PECO fuel shipments
          provides wonderful example of how communication planning can
          be successful in heading off the fear mongers.  Contact Bill
          Jones, Manager Media Relations 215 841 4129.  Otto call me
          at 714 368 7638 if you need any additional assistance.

          To all our anti-nuclear friends on radsafe who are more
          familiar with waste shipments being referred to as "mobile
          Chernobyl's" congratulations on a beautiful soundbite.

          Mike Russell
          russelmj@songs.sce.com



you wrote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------
Anthony F. (Tony) Armagno
Northeast Utilities Millstone Station
Tele: (860) 437-2519
E-Mail: armagaf@gwsmtp.nu.com
According to Steven Wright:  Black Holes are where GOD divided by Zero!

>>> "Otto G. Raabe" <ograabe@ucdavis.edu> 01/15/98 12:09pm >>>
January 15, 1998
Davis, CA

A local controversy is brewing here in northern California concerning the
plan by the U.S. Department of Energy to ship spent nuclear fuel rods from
foreign research reactors through San Francisco and by rail to Idaho
National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory using Type B shipping
casks. Each shipping cask holds approximately 112 fuel rods. There are five
separate shipments planned over 10-13 years for a total of about one metric
ton of used fuel.

I need the following information:

(1) What is the availability of a video tape describing the safety of use
of these casks for such shipments?

(2) What dose rates would be expected to be associated with these used fuel
rods if they were unshielded?

(3) What radionuclides could conceivably be released to the environment if
the casks are breached in an inconceivably major accident during transport?

Thanks....

Otto
  *****************************************************
  Prof. Otto G. Raabe, Ph.D., CHP
                [President, Health Physics Society, 1997-1998]
  Institute of Toxicology & Environmental Health (ITEH)
       (Street address: Old Davis Road)
  University of California, Davis, CA 95616
  Phone: 530-752-7754  FAX: 530-758-6140 [NEW AREA CODE]
  E-mail ograabe@ucdavis.edu

Otto,
    I vaguely remember seeing a video produced about how LILCo. shipped their
mildly irradiated fuel from Shoreham.  The video included how the PR was
handled.  It was quite a good production, if memory serves me.