Plutonium: (For those who missed the discussion)

[LiberalAndProud]

Archived topic from demlnks:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1583751&mesg_id=1583751

The Bush administration is planning the government's first production of plutonium 238 - a highly radioactive substance valued as a power source - since the Cold War, stirring debate over the risks and benefits of the deadly material. It is hot enough to melt plastic and so dangerous that a speck can cause cancer.

Federal officials say the program would produce a total of 330 pounds, or 150 kilograms, over 30 years at the Idaho National Laboratory, a sprawling site outside Idaho Falls some 100 miles, or 160 kilometers, to the west and upwind of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The program could cost $1.5 billion and generate more than 50,000 drums of hazardous and radioactive waste.

"The real reason we're starting production is for national security," Timothy Frazier, head of radioisotope power systems at the Department of Energy, said at the end of a recent interview.

He vigorously denied that any of the classified missions would involve nuclear arms, satellites or weapons in space.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/06/26/news/nuke.php

[MisterP]

1. so.......what are they going to do with it for "national security"

ask it for advice?

[Oversea Visitor]

2. More WMD

Who is going to attack you?
What you going to do with nuke someone?

[leveymg]

3. Gotta make all those new nuclear hand grenades out of something.

Who knows when we might need to deploy an infantry weapon with a blast radius of half a mile. Okay, pull the pin, release the handle - count, one, two, three -- throw! Duck.:crazy: :nuke:

[LiberalAndProud]

4. Bush wants to build nuclear plants. Would that require Plutonium 238?

It could be argued that independence from foreign oil is a matter of national security. (never mind the costs)

- $1.5 billion
- more than 50,000 drums of hazardous and radioactive waste
- the production effort is a potential threat to nearby ecosystems, including Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and the area around Jackson Hole, famous for its billionaires, celebrities and weekend cowboys, including Vice President Dick Cheney.

"It's completely wrapped in the flag," said Mary Woollen-Mitchell, executive director of Keep Yellowstone Nuclear Free, a group based in Jackson Hole. "They absolutely won't let on" about the missions.

Plutonium 238 has no central role in nuclear arms. Instead, it is valued for its steady heat, which can be turned into electricity.


http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/06/22/bush.energy.ap/
"Domestic, plentiful, environmenal friendly" source of energy.

Bush is promoting nuclear power as a way to take the pressure off fossil fuels: oil, natural gas and coal.

"It's time for this country to start building nuclear power plants again," said Bush, noting that while the U.S. gets 20 percent of its electricity from nuclear reactors, France meets 78 percent of its electricity needs with nuclear power.

"The energy bill will help us expand our use of the one energy source that is completely domestic, plentiful in quantity, environmentally friendly and able to generate massive amounts of electricity. And that's nuclear power," Bush said.