Leaks at NJ reactor due to poor maintenance

"Improper maintenance techniques during the early 1990s are to blame for the tritium leak at Oyster Creek Generating Station in Lacey Township, according to a statement released on Wednesday," writes Ben Leach in the Press of Atlantic City.

"According to the statement, a document from 1991 indicated that the two pipes where the tritium leaks originated were completely recoated. In an engineering analysis, the staff at Oyster Creek found that the pipes had not been completely recoated, leaving some areas prone to corrosion.

"The pipes were replaced earlier this year. There was no threat to public or employee safety, according to the statement."

Nobel Laureate, Hannes Alfven of Sweden, 1972

Nobel prize winner, Hannes Alfven, made this observation more than 35 years ago. "Fission energy is safe only if a number of critical devices work as they should, if a number of people in key positions follow all their instructions, if there is no sabotage, no hijacking of the transports, if no reactor, fuel processing or reprocessing plant or repository anywhere in the world is situated in a region of riots or guerilla activity, and no revolution or war - even a 'conventional' one - takes place in these regions. The enormous quantities of extremely dangerous material must not get into the hands of ignorant people or desperados. No Acts of God can be permitted." 1972.