Nuclear Plant Safety

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Highlights:

Plant Basics & Chernobyl win real Risks & Terrorism win real Nuclear Plant Concerns win real

Date:	02-01-05
Host:	George Noory
Guests:	David Lochbaum, Dr. John Abramson

Nuclear safety engineer for the Union of Concerned Scientists(1), David Lochbaum, discussed the status and safety of the 103 nuclear plants in America. A lot of safety features were built into the plants, he noted. But at a number of the now aging facilities the "weakest link" is "too close to the surface," and complacency and neglect have become common place, he said.
The U.S. currently derives around 20% of its energy from nuclear power. Though this technology generates less global warming and pollution than carbon based systems such as coal burning, nuclear costs may not have been fully realized yet, Lochbaum pointed out. For instance, the storage of nuclear waste can lead to hazardous environmental situations that would be expensive or difficult to clean-up if something went wrong.
Lochbaum also touched on the issue of nuclear plants as terrorist targets. He detailed that the plants are surrounded by high barbed wire fences and that the reactors are protected by a heavy encasement. However, he noted that in one study, it was found that if a traffic helicopter crashed into a control room, it could potentially lead to a meltdown.

1. http://www.ucsusa.org/

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Bumper Music

Bumper music from Tuesday February 01, 2005

1.	Don't Go Breaking My Heart Elton John & Kiki Dee	2.	Europa Santana	3.	Everybody Wants to Rule the World Tears for Fears
4.	Fly Like an Eagle Steve Miller Band	5.	I.G.Y. Donald Fagen	6.	Inca Dance Cusco
7.	Magaritaville Jimmy Buffett	8.	Midnight Express (The Chase) Giorgio Moroder	9.	Midnight Express (The Chase) Giorgio Moroder
10.	Nothing But A Heartache Flirtations	11.	Reason to Believe Rod Stewart	12.	Return to Innocence Enigma
13.	Soul to Squeeze Red Hot Chili Peppers	14.	Sukiyaki Kyu Sakamoto	15.	Sukiyaki A Taste of Honey
16.	#41 Dave Matthews Band	17.	Walk of Life Dire Straits	18.	Spill the Wine War