Fermi 2, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission file photo.Beyond Nuclear's radioactive waste specialist, Kevin Kamps, was honored and privileged to make a presentation at a very moving Fukushima commemoration on March 11th, focused on the largest twin design reactor in the world, Fermi Unit 2 (a General Electric Mark I Boiling Water Reactor, almost as large as Fukushima Daiichi Units 1 and 2 put together). Following is a March 16th follow-up message from the event organizer, Jesse Deer In Water of CRAFT, starting just beneath their beautiful logo.
Fermi 2 is located on the Lake Erie shore in southeastern Michigan (see photo, left). CRAFT has been a grassroots watchdog on Fermi 2 for several decades.
Dear Old Friends and New Family,
From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank all the folks who made it to our March 11th event for taking the time from your personal lives to share digital space with us during such a special time. We'd also like to invite the rest of you to share in the blessing by checking out the video of the event and/or the presenters. We set intentions to be serious and honor the earth while uplifting the stories of our speakers in a good way. For years CRAFT has been putting in the work, while honoring earth and people, and we intend on continuing that tradition. We also would like to extend an arm of gratitude to all who contributed their efforts and energy to putting the event together, as well as the speakers, and musicians. These are the folks that helped make this moment so special and moving.
I don't know how much I can thank you all for being a part of our work and we welcome you to the whole.
Many Wados! (thanks)
Jesse Deer In Water
CRAFT
1) No Extended Licenses for Aging Dangerous Reactors (Like Fermi 2)
the wear and tear on the reactor leads to it degrading and becoming more unstable, and waste is piling up in the waste pool while the pools themselves contunue to degrade as well. terms- "EMBRITTLEMENT" and "REACTOR FATIGUE"
2) Secure the Radioactive Waste at Sites Like Fermi 2 (they have these densely packed spent fuel ponds which are degrading)
last year CRAFT intervened in this issue last year, there was "neutron absorbing material"(which keeps the waste stable) degrading and losing its abilities, and dte was supposed to remove and replace it in a license condition but filed to leave it in place and cover it up, we were denied, not because we were wrong, but because we didn't have the factual law that dte broke, it sucked because they were literally writing the law in this case.
3) No New Nukes
as old nuke tech begins to fade and renewable tech begins to come more to light, the nuke industry scrambles to keep a horse in the race. the small modular reactors are their bet. many issues could be brought up, who wants a small modular nuclear reactor in the middle of their city? with the waste and releases? they don't support our native brothers and sisters who bear the burden at the source of the mining and radioactive waste storage sites. The tail will be the same as big nukes.
NRC file photoAs Solartopia author and lifelong anti-nuclear activist Harvey Wasserman has written, "the horrifying collapse of a south Florida condo should alarm us all about the next reactor catastrophe." As but one example is Davis-Besse, Ohio. A 44-year old reactor, it has had multiple near-misses with meltdowns in the past. It also has long had a severely cracked concrete containment Shield Building (see photo, showing NRC inspection). The ever worsening cracking is so severe, exterior surface spalling could initiate a meltdown, by falling concrete damaging or destroying safety-related systems, structures, and/or components below. The failed containment would likely not prevent the ensuing catastrophic release of hazardous radioactivity. Tens of thousands could be killed or injured.
July 1, 2021
