Truck in Utah leaked radioactive sludge from duct-taped hose

[helderheid]

EnergySolutions » Matheson says accident bolsters anti-foreign-waste argument

By Judy Fahys

The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 04/23/2009 02:06:37 PM MDT

A duct-tape repair on a radioactive waste tanker led to a dangerous leak last month in Carbon County.

The leak was discovered at the weigh station in Price Canyon on March 31, as a tanker carrying processing waste from the EnergySolutions Inc. site in Tooele County leaked up to a half-gallon of material from a taped-over hose. The tanker contained 3,000 gallons of sludge destined for a U.S. Energy Department facility in Tennessee.

Carbon County has cited the truck driver for a shipping company contracted to EnergySolutions, the nation's largest radioactive waste company, U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson said Thursday. The county also billed the Utah company for the emergency response mounted by the hazmat team.

The Utah Democrat, who applauded the emergency response, said the accident bolsters arguments for his bill to outlaw imports of radioactive waste from foreign nations. The more waste being shipped in and out of Utah, the more risk, he said.

"It just highlights that we are talking about materials that are dangerous and they are on our roads," said Matheson.

The congressman noted, too, that the spill included benzene, thorium, tritium, technetium and four uranium isotopes -- "all of which pose a risk to public health and safety in instances of exposure."

EnergySolutions has not yet made a public statement about the incident.

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http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12209571

[Cirque du So-What]

And therein lies my primary objection to nuclear power plants

The corporate factor. Corporations will always attempt to cut corners whenever - even on something as cheap as fixing a fucking rubber hose. Save a dollar, save a minute by slapping duct tape over it! A cursory glance at the whole nuclear industry since inception reveals a pattern of cutting corners whenever possible - no matter how many people would die if their skipped inspections or neglected repairs lead to catastrophic failure.

These corporate executroids live without fear of real repercussion anyway; the odds are very good that they'll skate even if their nuke plant goes critical and starts digging its way to China. Corporate personhood allows them to dilute the responsibility to the point that NOBODY is directly responsible.

[Kitty Herder]

5. Same here. Oh, and I drive on the highway in question often, so it hits home.

Eventually, even if the nuclear industry is not taking short-cuts, some human error will occur. That's how life works. The danger that nuclear plants pose is such that they simply aren't worth it to me.

Another thing that pisses me off about nuclear power is that places like rural Utah and Nevada are treated like empty dumping grounds, as if those of us who live here don't matter at all.

[angstlessk]

1. well, SOMETHING had to explain Utah...nothing better than this I recon? n/t

[helderheid]

7. I was born here.

[DemBones DemBones]

2. Duct tape is a very useful product, but for repairing

leaking hoses on radioactive waste containers? I DON'T FUCKING THINK SO.

Eejits.

[NOW tense]

3. Alabama Chrome! n/t

[Mike 03]

4. I hope it parked in front of Orren Hatch's house. NT

[jmowreader]

6. I have intensely studied the DOT's hazmat regulations

and I assure you that nowhere in 49CFR173 Subpart 1 or 49CFR 172 do "duct tape" and "class 7 materials" appear even close to each other.