RE: RADSAFE digest 2753

["Lavera, Ron" <Ron.Lavera@nypa.gov>]

		I agree that the public should have a high level of faith
that the nuclear industry is safe and has a high level of integrity and
professionalism.  I do believe that the nuclear industry is held to a much
higher standard of expectations than any other commercial industry.  For
instance, if the non-nuclear utility industry were held to the same criteria
as the commercial nuclear industry, then there would be no need for the EPA
( at the demand of eastern states ) to sue mid-western utilities for
emission violations.  Nor would the FAA be able to certify a commercial
airliner, they would all be too heavy to fly.  

		What is not evenly portrayed is the fact that Nuclear Power
provides a direct and positive the citizens of America and the world.  Those
benefits include the use of numerous radioactive isotopes that are used for
a wide variety of health concerns, the use of radiation to dramatically
reduce incidences of actual ( as opposed to postulated ) death due to food
poisoning, improved commercial product performance including better
performance of insulators used for cables used through out the country.  In
addition, nuclear power can be a powerful method reducing actual ( as
opposed to possible ) deaths by reducing acid rain, ozone, nitrous oxides
and CO2 emissions.    

		Instead of focusing on the number of fatalities that are
actually averted by the intelligent, responsible and safe use of a valuable
resource, many well established or recognized groups prefer to focus on the
small ( and statistically difficult to prove ) possible fatalities that
COULD result from the use of this resource.

		There is a risk associated with the use of EVERY industry.
The playing field should be level.


		...mine and mine alone...

		Ron LaVera
		Lavera.r@nypa.gov



		The bottom line for the public is whether the nuclear
industry can be trusted to safely
		operate the technology.  Not only have there been enough
incidents to convince them
		otherwise, but also the industry makes it worse by going
into denial.  The argument that
		no one was hurt, so why the fuss is equivalent to running a
stop sign and saying that
		since there was no accident, you shouldn't get a  citation.
The concern is not this
		time, but what will happen the next time you run a stop
sign.

		The one success story in this business, the Nuclear Navy,
got that way by convincing the
		public that they take every photon and every mrem seriously,
and that they have zero
		tolerance for error.
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