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CLIMATE
Global Warming:
Global warming brings with it hurricanes, storms of increased intensity and
duration, erosion and sea level rise.
There
has been a 100% increase
in intensity and duration of hurricanes
and tropical storms
since the 1970's, according to a 2005 MIT study. And
the Boston Globe reported in US lags on plans for climate change by
Beth Daley (April 5, 2007) that, “In the last decade alone, Boston has
experienced two "100-year storms," so named because storms with that much
rain are predicted to happen only once every century. In the last decade,
there have also been three "50-year" storms.” These trends are increasing,
not decreasing.
Pilgrim is located on a
coastline, at low elevation, subject to these increasingly severe storms
and erosion. Given these climate events, Rocky Hill Road, Plymouth is a very
poor location for a nuclear reactor and storage of highly toxic radioactive
waste.
Implications, some
examples:
Emergency Planning:
During severe storms roads flood and may become impassible. This has real implications for
evacuation. Consider, for example, Saquish and Gurnet that are at the
tip of Duxbury's 7 mile long barrier beach; accessible by a back dirt
road that has experienced wash-outs in previous storms. "Getting out of
Dodge" in a hurry reduces consequences in a radiological disaster;
severe weather impedes evacuation times. Severe storms often
take out power and communication lines. Communication is key to planning
in any disaster.
Buried Waste Onsite: So called “low level” radioactive waste was allowed to be buried on site.
All "hot spots" have not been cleaned up, risking tidal surges
washing contaminants out into Cape Cod Bay.
Corrosion: Tidal surges
washing salt water over buried components will accelerate corrosion -
salt and moisture are key factors causing corrosion.
Station Black Out:
Reactors depend on outside power.
In-take Coolant Piping: Severe weather,
heavy winds and surging tides can drive large clumps of seaweed and
debris and threaten to clog the screens of the intake cooling water pipe; and
the winds and waves also may split large sections of seaweed into pieces
small enough to pass through a filter over the pipe that feeds ocean
water to the plant’s condenser and damage the cooling system.
Erosion
STORM SCENARIO FOR 2100: HAVOC ON MASS. COAST
Published on August 28, 1998
by Scott Allen, Globe Staff
New England appears likely to dodge the worst of Hurricane Bonnie, but if sea levels continue to rise as a result of global warming, the destruction wrought by future storms could wipe out many seaside oases, according to a sobering animation released yesterday by an environmental research group. The video, produced by the National Environmental Trust, suggests that a three-foot rise in sea levels -- which could happen within 100 years at projected rates -- ...
Earthquake Zone:
Scientists report that a big earthquake could hit Massachusetts at any time.
Plymouth is not immune to seismic activity. This can
negatively impact Pilgrim. For example, buried pipes/tanks are not flexible
and the coatings become brittle with age; therefore they are more
susceptible to breakage during seismic events. The potential for earthquakes
in Southeastern Massachusetts occurring from 2012 to 2032 cannot be
dismissed. New England is not immune to strong temblors and specialists say
that a major event in only a matter of time [New
England not immune to strong temblors and specialists say that a major event
in only a matter of time,
Boston Globe, Bryan Bender, April 16, 2006].
It is only a matter of time before the Northeast is struck by a major quake,
according to earthquake specialists at the US Geological Survey in Virginia,
who have placed Boston on a list of the top 26 risk areas in the nation.
Indeed, a major quake has occurred somewhere in the Eastern United States
about every 100 years. New data developed disclose a substantially higher
likelihood of significant earthquake activity in the this area and although
the probability that a major earthquake will hit the Eastern US is much
lower than in the West, the potential impact is significantly higher. In the
Eastern United States, according to researchers, the rocks transmit
earthquake waves more easily than in the West. Therefore, a rupture, brought
on by pressure built up over hundreds of years, would be felt over a much
larger geographic area. Smaller earthquakes occur regularly in the Eastern
states, including New England. On November 17, 2005 a minor quake, measuring
2.5 on the Richter scale, was detected in Plymouth.
More
about NPS environmental impact
PilgrimWatch.org
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