Gaps in U.S. radiation monitoring system revealed

[highplainsdem]

Source: Associated Press

Gaps in U.S. radiation monitoring system revealed
By Associated Press
Posted: 03/26/2011 09:15:11 PM PDT
Updated: 03/26/2011 09:15:12 PM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO -- Parts of America's radiation alert network have been out of order during Japan's nuclear crisis, raising concerns among some lawmakers about whether the system could safeguard the country in a future disaster.

Federal officials say the system of sensors has helped them to validate the impact of nuclear fallout from the overheated Fukushima reactor, and in turn alert local governments and the public. They say no dangerous levels of radiation have reached U.S. shores.

In California, home to two seaside nuclear plants located close to earthquake fault lines, federal authorities said four of the 11 stationary monitors were offline for repairs or maintenance last week. The Environmental Protection Agency said the machines operate outdoors year-round and periodically need maintenance but did not fix them until a few days after low levels of radiation began drifting toward the mainland U.S.

Gaps in the system -- as well as the delays in fixing monitors in some of Southern California's most populated areas -- have helped to prompt hearings and inquiries in Washington and Sacramento.

-snip-



Read more: http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_17710546

[Webster Green]

1. Oh goodie! Hearings and inquiries in Washington and Sacramento.

Conduct hearings to determine if radiation monitors are a good idea? If they should be kept in working order?

Brilliant! :think:

[Bozita]

2. Monitoring is too much like regulating for the current political climate.

ooops, I used the word "climate."

Sorry about that.

Now, if we all take a step to the right, it won't look so bad.

[Arugula Latte]

3. Gee what a surprise.

Until this moment, I'd been completely reassured about nuclear safety. No one could ever have imagined that nuke systems in the U.S. were anything other than 100 percent safe.

[JDPriestly]

4. Readings from LA are vague. They reassure but in vague language.

We have seen the lies about environmental disasters many times. It is a repeat of the BP spill.

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-local-radiation-monitors,0,2685193.story

That's the story I find. It is just a lot of gibberish to me.

[Frisbee]

5. It's like this (I suspect)

Corps run the nuke industry
Corps don't want to be accountable for ANYTHING they do
Corps would be PISSED if there is an accident and they media somehow got ahold of factual info and published it (like they'd ever do that)

Therefore, a conveniently "malfunctioning" monitoring system is probably part of their plan