Toward Post-Fukushima No. 16

16. Recovery from Fukushima
Howard Arnold
Former Supervisor, Preventive Maintenance Program, Diablo Canyon, PG&E, USAIn thinking about the content of my essay, Iand calling for an end to nuclear power generation.

intended to develop a theme that was uplifting andwouldprovide

encouragement

topersonsAll of my colleagues have experienced some levelassociated with the Fukushima accident andof shock. It would be easy for the scope and extent

recovery. Needless to say, I found this to be veryof the accident to shake our confidence in the safety

difficult.

and viability of nuclear power. It would beunderstandable for some persons to question theCertainly, the personnel and staff associatedrole of nuclear power in the future.

with the operation of the Fukushima plant aresuffering. Similarly, most members of the nuclear

However, at least for the foreseeable future,community on an international level are suffering

nuclear power will undoubtedly play an importantor in a state of shock.

role in the availability of electrical power in Japan.
Nuclear power must continue to be generated. The

I have worked in the nuclear industry for nearlyrecentJapanese

government-imposed

40 years and have consistently assured my family

requirements to conserve energy and reduce power

and friends that a severe nuclear accident

consumption will not alleviate the need for nuclear

involving the release of radioactive material andpower.

evacuation of residents would not happen. I
explained to them that every credible accident

Since nuclear power must continue to beinitiation event had been identified and evaluated.

generated in Japan, it is necessary for a broad

I further explained that design features were put

recovery to occur. Recovery of confidence byin place to prevent such an accident.

members of the industry is absolutely necessary.
Although recovery of public trust may be very

Needless to say, I find it very difficult to discusssuch matters with my friends right now. I simply

difficult, recovery of their acceptance of nuclear
power must be pursued.

cannot provide such assurance anymore. I will
admit that I find myself shying away from anyWith

membersofthenuclear

industry

discussion of nuclear power. I fear that my friends

questioning their confidence and with the publicthat trusted my advice may feel that I am no longer

expressing increased distrust and anger, thistrustworthy. My local newspaper has publishedrecovery will be difficult.

letters from people expressing concern and anger
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Toward Post-Fukushima No. 16

My message is that, however difficult, theThe postponement was made partly because ofrecovery must begin. This period of shock andan outcry by members of the public following thequestioning attitude we are currently experiencing

Fukushima accident. The postponement provides

is the first step.

some assurance to the public that Pacific Gas andElectric Company is taking the accident very

As an industry, we must use the event as aseriously. It also makes the public feel that theirlearning experience. We must pause and ask

concerns have been heard and being acted on. I

serious questions. Eventually, we must develop

believe that by allowing public involvement, Pacificanswers and solutions. We must apply lessons

Gas and Electric Company will experience alearned to all nuclear generation facilities even if

reduced level of public opposition, anger andthat means we ultimately transition generation

distrust.

away from plants in which we cannot reasonably
establish complete confidence. There are members

Lastly, my thoughts are with the workers in theof the public that will not be satisfied with theJapanese nuclear industry. I know that many aresolutions; however, we must satisfy ourselves thatin shock and are suffering. Japanese public opinion

our solutions result in a truly safe industry.

seems to be strongly against nuclear power
generation. Distrust and anger are greater thanI feel that it is of utmost importance that theever.

public be kept informed and feel like they areinvolved.

I have had the pleasure of meeting with manyengineers from Japanese nuclear power plants andAs an example, the plant at which I spent thehave become aware of their extremely high level ofmajority of my career, Diablo Canyon, has recentlydedication, competence and pride. It must be very

been involved in efforts to renew the plantdifficult for these individuals to deal with theoperating license. The current license expires inpublic reaction to the Fukushima accident.

2024 and the utility is pursuing a 20 year license
extension. As a result of the Fukushima accident,However, even with the pain and suffering these

the utility, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, andworkers must be experiencing, their work in

the Nuclear Regulatory Licensing Board haveproviding safe and reliable power is far moreagreed to postpone the license renewal efforts.

important now than ever before.

They believe that additional time is needed toperform additional studies and evaluations. PG&E

August 2011engineers will more fully evaluate earthquake
faults near the plant. They will also study lessons
learnedfromtheFukushima

accident.

The

postponement is estimated to delay the relicensing
by approximately 4 years.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company has made this
delay known to the public.

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