Radioactive leak taints water in Chicago

[jpak]

http://upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060125-125458-3247r

CHICAGO, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Radioactive tritium seeping into groundwater near a Chicago-area nuclear power plant has prompted the Exelon Corp. to offer compensation to property owners.

The operator of the power plant in Will County, just south of Chicago, has bought out one property owner and offered to compensate 14 others for any loss in home value.

Levels of the radioactive isotope near the Braidwood Nuclear Generating Station so far have been well below the amount the federal government considers unhealthy, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday. But in one well on Exelon's property, the amount of tritium was more than 11 times higher than the federal limit for groundwater, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has cited Exelon, the parent company of Commonwealth Edison, or ComEd, for two violations of the state's groundwater standards, the Tribune said. The company now faces a Feb. 3 deadline for filing a report to the state detailing what they know about the tritium contamination.

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[skids]

1. Let's see...

...worse that could happen with a corporate dunghead idiot mismanaged windfarm?

Failure to stall an iced-over turbine resulting in the low probability of someone getting hit.
Failure to maintain the air warning lights resulting in a small airplane crash.
Damage or destruction of the turbine itself due to poor maintenance.
Failure to assure maintenance workers follow OSHA guidelines -- workers falling from towers.

...worse that could happen with a corporate dunghead idiot mismanaged solar installation?

In a solar-thermal plant, release of the working fluid, possible injury/death of nearby workers.
PV: I suppose they could manage to catch it on fire by not mowing the grass (toxic fumes.)
(Potential for factory chemical spills at a production facility should probably also be noted,
but there are a whole lot less factories than installations.)

...worse that could happen with a corporate dunghead idiot mismanaged tidal power plant?

Somehow ruin the equipment, perhaps leak small amount of refined mineral oil.
Diver maintenance crew deaths/injuries.

...worse that could happen with a corporate dunghead idiot mismanaged geothermal plant?

Escape of sulfur compounds or heat engine working fliud.
Injuries/deaths due to explosion + poor worker safety precautions.

...worse that could happen with a corporate dunghead idiot mismanaged nuclear plant?

...well, I don't think anyone ever wants to see the worst ever happen...

And of course we all hear from time to time about corporate dunghead mismanaged oil refineries and tankers. Or should I we used to?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x242968