Hey Waccos,

Can ya'll help make the case that nuclear power is not green due to the water demands, etc., etc.?

Thanks,

Colleen


Staff at California nuclear plant fear retaliation - San Jose Mercury News

Staff at California nuclear plant fear retaliation
The Associated Press
Posted: 02/19/2010 07:02:50 AM PST
Updated: 02/19/2010 10:07:17 AM PST

SAN ONOFRE, Calif.—Workers at the San Onofre nuclear power plant fear retaliation if they report a safety concern, according to a leaked internal company memo.

The plant, in northwest San Diego County, has been under increased scrutiny by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for safety problems. Over the last two years, the plant operated by Southern California Edison has increased training, changed top managers and replaced a contractor.

Still, a survey of workers conducted by a commission inspector shows workers fear for their jobs if they report safety issues. The findings were included in a Feb. 3 company memo leaked this week to the environmental group San Clemente Green.

According to the memo, the commission received 63 allegations of safety concerns at the plant between 2008 and 2009, and 25 of the people making the allegations feared retaliation.

San Onofre workers report safety violations 10 times more often than the industry average, the memo states.

Ross Ridenoure, chief nuclear officer, said the plant is working on improving the safety culture, and company surveys show progress.

"We have zero tolerance for any type of retaliation, " he said.

Similar allegations have previously been leveled at plant officials. In November, two plant workers filed federal whistle-blower complaints against the plant, saying managers retaliated against them after they disciplined an employee who violated regulations while welding a nuclear waste canister.

Ridenoure would not comment on pending litigation.

Gary Headrick, a founder of San Clemente Green, said a plant manager leaked the memo. Headrick said it was important to shed light on the issue because the plant is scheduled to restart a reactor that he believes may have been rushed back into service.

1.
This is what we've been telling you.about San Onofre
Fri Feb 19, 2010 12:34 pm (PST)


The workers are frightened. Also, the article doesn't cover this but radiation levels in So Cal shot up into the dangerous levels yesterday. It wasn't a meltdown or they wouldn't have gone down after the wind shifted. When the wind was blowing from San Onofre and for a period of time after that, the levels were dangerous. They dropped after the wind shifted and started blowing back towards San Onofre. Areas closer to San Onofre were the worst hit. We know this, because unlike the safety preparedness people who still haven't unwrapped the radiation detector they have in a closet (their words), a number of citizens have radiation detectors. Some people are feeling really sick. Levels were high enough that some people may need treatment for radiation poisoning.

This is also a labor issue and the unions should be more concerned about the livers of their members than about the number of dangerous jobs available.