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USA has not learned from Fukushima – say nuclear experts

Nuclear Experts Say U.S. Learned Nothing From Fukushima, Care 2 by Beth Buczynski, September 10, 2011 “…… three leading U.S. experts held a news conference Friday to outline both what is now known in the wake of the Fukushima and where things stand for the nuclear power industry in the United States.

The overwhelming opinion of the panel, which included Peter Bradford, former member of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Edwin Lyman, Ph.D., senior scientist, Global Security Program, Union of Concerned Scientists; and Dr. Andrew Kanter, national board president-elect, Physicians for Social Responsibility, was that major lessons from the Japanese nuclear disaster are in danger of going unheeded.

The experts outlined eight concerns and lessons from this crisis that should guide decisions regarding the future of nuclear power in the U.S.:

1. The U.S. regulatory response since Fukushima has been inadequate. “Six months after Fukushima, it seems clear that the U.S. is not going to undertake the type of fundamental, no-holds-barred look at its nuclear regulatory practices that followed the much less serious accident at Three Mile Island some 30 years ago,” said Peter Bradford.

2. America should avoid post-9/11 mistakes in tightening reactor safety standards. “In responding to Fukushima by issuing orders, the NRC should not make the same mistakes as it did following 9/11, when industry stonewalling delayed implementation of critical security measures for many years…

3. Overall Japanese health dangers are getting short shrift. …

4. The impact on the health of Japanese children is being ignored. “Children are at least three-to-four times more susceptible to radiation than are adults.  …….

5. The U.S. was warned of Fukushima-style problems but failed to act … and is still failing to do so. 

6. Emergency planning zones in the U.S. must be expanded. 

7. The recent East Coast earthquake should spur more NRC safety analysis. 

A streaming audio replay of the entire news event is available at www.nuclearbailout.org.

Take Action: Sign the petition to tell Obama to stop subsidizing nuclear energy.

http://www.care2.com/causes/nuclear-experts-say-u-s-learned-nothing-from-fukushima.html

September 12, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA