Nuclear Reactor Risk Assessment

Before beginning the task below, please make sure you have finished your letter highlighting your position on nuclear energy. For details on that assignment, see the post below this one. If you are finished, complete the following assignment.

In today's assignment you will be assessing the risks associated with some currently operating nuclear plants.

Part I
Japan's Fukushima Dai Ichi reactor was the one most damaged by the earthquake/tsunami. As you can see in this map, which shows the locations of all major fault lines and operating nuclear reactors, this plant was placed directly in the path of danger.

1. According to the map, which other countries/regions have placed nuclear reactors in potentially dangerous areas? Name at least three.

2. What does this map tell you about the plant designers' assessments of earthquake risk? Do you think this assessment will change with this most recent crisis in Japan?

Part II

There are two maps you will look at for Part II. The first one, here, shows a detailed breakdown of all 144 operating, proposed, and shut down reactors in the US and any problems they have encountered in the past or present. On the right sidebar is a list of possible issues with reactors.

3. Which of these issues do you think is most dangerous and why? Find a reactor which is reporting that issues and say where it is located.

The second map for Part II shows locations of all minor and major recent earthquakes in the United States, located here. Since minor earthquakes offer no threat of damage to reactors, we will only look at recent major earthquakes.

4. Compare the two maps; which US reactors are dangerously close to a recent Earthquake epicenter? Do you think that these reactors should be moved or shut down in light of what happened in Japan? Which reactor do you think is in the most imminent danger of being hit by a damaging earthquake? How do you know?

Thanks to Mrs. Moccio for helping find these awesome maps!

Blog Activity #3: Nuclear Energy

The crisis in Japan is perhaps our generation's most devastating environmental disaster. It raises important questions about the safety and legitimacy of nuclear energy as a power source. We had a small discussion on Friday about this topic and watched a brief video. Today, you will write a letter to the head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) taking a position on nuclear energy: are you for or against it? In your response you must use at least two sources of information. One of those sources will be the notes you took on Friday. Another will be what you find today. You will cite your source (from today) based on the brief instruction in the beginning of class today. The minimum length of this letter should be ten sentences.

This website provides good information. Click here. Feel free to use another of your choice.