Officials Confirm Nuclear Waste Leak

[DeSwiss]

KUNM (AP)
By Elaine Baumgartel and The Associated Press



UPDATE 7:20p 02/21:

Department of Energy officials say radiation levels detected in and around the nation's only underground nuclear waste repository are consistent with a leak at the southeastern New Mexico facility.

Carlsbad field office manager Jose Franco said Thursday that readings from sensors above and below ground indicate the radiation is coming from waste stored at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. But officials won't know what caused the leak until they can get underground to investigate. That could be weeks.

On Saturday, the DOE announced an underground monitor detected airborne radiation. On Wednesday, an independent monitoring center said it also found evidence of an above ground escape.

Franco says it is the first such release from the plant since it opened 15 years ago. He also said the levels are still well below those deemed unsafe.

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[hunter]

1. Not good, but is it worse than any neighborhood coal power plant or sludge pond spill?

Inquiring minds want to know...

To remind all: I'm against most forms of "economic productivity" and all forms of war.

[pa28]

2. I can't help wondering if this is related to the fire from Feb. 5th.

At the time they claimed it was just a vehicle fire and no radiation was released.

You know. Nothing to see here move along.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/05/fire-sparks-evacuation-at-new-mexico-nuclear-waste-plant/

[madokie]

3. The deal with Radiation is you can't see it

most people don't have a Geiger counter to detect it so its easy for them to deny. The nuclear power industry has been using this fact to their advantage since day one. IMO