Plutonium gets in the food chain, it gets in the water, it gets in the air. The poisons released into the environment from those accidents still remain today. They will continue to be a threat to human life long after we are dead. Plutonium has a half-life of 24,400 years, which means that if you have 1 pound of plutonium today, in 24,400 years you will have a half pound of it. In another 24,400 years you will have a quarter pound of it, and so on.
Plutonium remains toxic to life for half a million years.
It is an incredible act of hubris to bury these toxic wastes for future generations knowing full well that we don't have the technology to guarantee containment. Public ignorance and apathy does not make nuclear energy any less problematic. Bush's plan is shortsighted and only lines the pockets of the energy producers. The Arizona Republic Editorials represent the opinion of the newspaper whose editorial board consists of Keven Ann Willey, Phil Boas, Jennifer Dokes, Doug MacEachern, Joel Nilsson, O. Ricardo Pimentel, Robert Robb, Laurie Roberts, Linda Valdez, Ken Western and Steve Benson.