Newsgroup: it.scienza.ambiente
Titolo: Three Mile Island

Alcuni articoli per far venire una briciola di dubbio ai pronucleare che
continuano a tirar fuori il favoloso disinpegno del problema accorso a TMI.
Zille
Three Mile Island: Then, Now and Next Time
by Mary Stamos Osborn, Concerned Mothers and Women of Middletown
This year marks the 17th anniversary of the nuclear power plant accident at
Three Mile Island. Government and corporate America still insist that no one
died as a result of the accident, in spite of the fact that millions of
dollars have been paid in out-of-court settlements for personal injury
claims. Still pending is a second round of personal injury suits that have
been in litigation for the past eight years. This current case, In Re TMI
Litigation Cases Consolidated II, 1: CV-88-1452 M.D. Pa. (1988) Rambo, C.J.,
has repeatedly been scheduled and rescheduled.
Located 10 miles south east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on an island in the
middle of the Susquehanna river, nestled in a beautiful, fertile valley,
you'll find jutting out of the earth like a behemoth, the Three Mile Island
nuclear facility (looking like a deformed fetus from the air or from a map).
The "mothballed" Unit II reactor, damaged and still contaminated, sits
adjacent to Unit I . Our government allowed TMI-1 to resume operations after
a long, bitter battle was fought by many citizens to "keep it shut."
Problems plagued TMI-2 from conception. Originally planned for the Oyster
Creek, New Jersey site, union problems and payola demands led the owners,
Metropolitan Edison and General Public Utilities, to build in central
Pennsylvania instead. Problems continued; with union strikes, faulty
concrete pours, delays and cost overruns. Finally on March 28, 1978, TMI
Unit II went critical for the first time. Ten months later, on December 30,
1978, just in time for millions of dollars in tax breaks, and in spite of
continuing serious problems, Unit II went into commercial operation.
Chronology of the Accident
According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) report, NUREG-0600, the
following sequence of events took place:
Early Wednesday morning, March 28, 1979 (one year to the day of initial
criticality), it started with resin blockage in the transfer line (a pipe
transferring river water to be filtered through the resin beads, used for
coolant), a total loss of feed water, and a trip (automatic shutdown) of the
turbine at 04:00:37 a.m. Eight seconds later the reactor automatically
tripped, lost pressure, and a valve failed to close (allowing coolant water
to escape). There was a rise in the pressurizer level that went off-scale
"indicating that the pressurizer was completely filled with water" (a
condition known as "going solid").
The situation deteriorated; the reactor core was uncovered about 2 and 1/2
hours into the accident resulting in fuel damage. This was a loss of coolant
accident (LOCA). NRC headquarters was notified of the reactor scram about
7:30 a.m., three hours after it occurred. Children were outdoors, waiting
for school buses or walking to school. The helicopters began air monitoring
for radioactivity about 4:30 p.m. By now, children were outdoors playing
after school.
Thursday, March 29, 1979: Children were outdoors, waiting for school buses
or walking to school; they also had gone outdoors for recess. A 3,000
millirem per hour radiation reading was reported in NUREG-0600, months after
the fact, but was not reported to the public. We were told to close our
doors and windows, and to turn off any ventilation systems.
Friday, March 30, 1979: This morning children were once again outdoors
waiting for school buses or walking to school as "uncontrolled" radiation
releases were reported<1200 millerems were detected over the stacks. [I
believe releases were deliberate, since enormous amounts of hydrogen were
created and building up in the containment due to the chemical reaction of
the zirconium-clad fuel rods, water and extremely hot temperatures. There
was genuine concern for catastrophe; a possibility of contaminating an area
the size of Pennsylvania, as in the report by Rasmussen, called WASH 1400.]
Sirens and church bells were alarming by 9:30 a.m. Sometime that morning an
unknown person activated the emergency sirens in downtown Harrisburg. By
noon, governor Richard Thornburgh reluctantly advised "...pregnant women and
pre-school children within a 5 mile radius of Three Mile Island, to
evacuate." Thornburgh (had been) advised by NRC Chairman Joe Hendrie to call
for a ten mile evacuation.
Sunday, April 1, 1979: This was the weekend of the "hydrogen bubble" scare.
President Jimmy Carter and Rosalyn Carter went on site and into the control
room, wearing little yellow plastic booties and thermoluminescent dosimeters
(TLDs), or radiation badges, and potassium iodide was administered to a
select few.
It Gets Even Worse, Thanks to the Authorities!
Murphy's Law ruled inside the TMI-2 facility throughout the days of the
accident as the actions and/or inactions of plant personnel ... wreaked harm
to the surrounding biosphere. In order to prevent more damage to the reactor
and to alleviate the mounting pressure of the bubble, those in charge
deliberately "burped" and "vented" the hydrogen gas bubble (as well as
radioactive gases and particulates<alpha, beta, gamma) through the vents,
stacks and the unfiltered atmospheric dumps. Reactor coolant water, by now
equivalent to reprocessing grade, was dumped into the river; and that
radioactivity escaped into the atmosphere. Meanwhile, communities downstream
continued to use river water for drinking and bathing.
Administrative Law Hearings were held before the biased, industry lackey,
the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. Citizens and local anti-nuclear
groups tried to prevent the restart of the Unit I reactor which had been
shut down for refueling during the accident.
During the summer of 1980, in what a sane person would categorize as an act
of terrorism, the federal government permitted Met-Ed to release more
poisons into the environment. The venting of 57,000 curies of krypton and
other radioactive gases and particulates from the containment buildings was
devastating. Local people were stunned. How could their government allow
this exposure to their own citizens, again? A timely petition was filed to
prevent this; the Court denied the delay of venting, but said they would
hear the issue later. The venting occurred in July. About two months later,
the court ruled that a hearing should have been held and that venting should
not have taken place without due process. They had used the cheapest,
quickest method to "dispose" of the cumulated radioactives.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Citizens conducted their own door-to-door health surveys. The results of
citizen research showed significant increases in cancers, thyroid disease,
neonatal and newborn mortality, Downs syndrome, multiple sclerosis,
allergies and immune system disorders, as well as other illnesses.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The accident at TMI was not a one-day, one-week or one-month accident. Burps
and puffs of radioactive gases and particulate continued to leak throughout
the cleanup of the accident. The river dumping stopped, except for
"accidental spills."
By the time citizens got radiation monitoring networks in place, most of the
hazardous cleanup was over. With Unit II in mothballs and most of the
radioactive poisons removed, elevated readings continue to be reported and
documented around Three Mile Island.
Citizens Respond: Realize Democracy Dead
Citizens conducted their own door-to-door health surveys. The results of
citizen research showed significant increases in cancers, thyroid disease,
neonatal and newborn mortality, Downs syndrome, multiple sclerosis,
allergies and immune system disorders, as well as other illnesses. And, if
you knew how to read the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDOH) reports,
which most of the news media did not (and still do not), you'd realize that
in spite of press releases stating there were no cancer increases, there
clearly were! The same app lies to pregnancy outcome studies. Birth defects
increased and so did complications of pregnancy. The PDOH blamed low apgar
scores for newborns and low birth weight babies on mothers: "...they smoked,
they drank, they took tranquilizers."
Fundraising was ongoing; letters and grant requests were mailed, petitions
were signed all over the country, bake sales, raffles, concerts were held.
Money was needed to pay for the hearing costs, office expenses and
distribution of vital information via newsletters.
Hundreds of people donated thousands of hours of their time, putting
once-normal lives on hold. A non-binding referendum resulted in an
overwhelming vote for no restart; non-violent civil disobedience actions
blocked the gates of TMI. In spite of the vote, in spite of the will and
wishes of the people in this democratic society, TMI was allowed to restart
by our government.
This was a very unpleasant education. We learned many things because of this
accident and this restart: the crucial filters that trapped identifiable
types and quantities of radioactivity were reported missing; the radiation
monitors that went off-scale were only able to detect minimum levels; the
utility that repeatedly mis-calibrated its monitors (also the Environmental
Protection Agency's monitors) never recalculated doses; the control room
operators who cheated on exams before and after the accident; the failure to
enter employees' whole body dose radiation counts on their records (because
computer operators had to override the system and enter those whole body
counts as extremity doses instead); the 1976 pre-TMI accident background
radiation maps which were revised and replaced with a newer version
reflecting the increase of the background radiation after the accident.
Aside from all that, there were the lies.
The lies
They began day one with Jack Herbein of Metropolitan-Edison, and continuing
with the Pennsylvania Departments of Health, Environmental Resources and
Agriculture, as well as federal agencies, particularly the NRC staff and
commissioners. The staff lied about the severity of the accident and to the
Commissioners about the "falsification of leak rates" (the rate coolant
water was leaking from the reactor<which was a federal criminal offense and
for which Met-Ed was found guilty). [We have a corporate felon operating a
nuclear power plant.] Furthermore, an NRC inspector knew about the
violations of the leak rates of reactor coolant water for one half year
leading up to the accident.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joyce said to the NRC as she raised her fist, "...but we don't have
hypothetical children!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The issue of the harm caused by psychological stress went all the way to the
US Supreme Court. The Court ruled against our case as the Justices expounded
on comparisons such as the fear of living near an noisy airport or a halfway
house or having fluoride put into public water. They never once considered
the crucial next step<that of actual harm from a plane crashing into a home;
or of a parolee going berserk and killing a neighbor; or of an overdose of
fluoride in the water making an entire city sick. It was all hypothetical to
them, not the reality the accident was to us. Joyce Corradi , a mother of
five, runs a day care center in Middletown. Joyce said to the NRC as she
raised her fist, "...but we don't have hypothetical children!"
We voted in May of 1982 to keep TMI shut down. It restarted. The ongoing
crisis in Democracy in central Pennsylvania ended in disaster as a result of
that accident. The Manhattan Project actually began the death of Democracy
in America. Secrecy. Radioactivity. It took the TMI accident to realize that
gut-wrenching reality. Democracy died. Not just for the people of Three Mile
Island, but for each and every one of us.
Deformed Deer and Daisies, Human Tragedy
Another kind of death, one we can not resurrect, is the death of friends,
neighbors or loved ones.
Bill Whittock still lives on the west bank of the Susquehanna River, in
Goldsboro facing Three Mile Island. The loud roar of the reactor scram woke
him in the early hours during the accident. He had a metallic taste that
day, later developed skin cancer, and his wife was recently diagnosed with
cancer. I have found many plant abnormalities in his yard.
A farmer from Zions View, Marie Holowka, was doing chores around 4:00 a.m.
the morning of the accident. She felt the earth move, got choked by a
strange blue fog, and fell to the ground. She checked the local radio
station. Nothing. No earthquake. She checked the Philadelphia station. They
reported there was an accident at Three Mile Island, just a few miles away
from the Holowkas' farm . Marie, developed a sore throat that day and became
very ill for the next few weeks. Soon after, she was diagnosed with a
thyroid disorder. Then breast cancer. Then cancer around the heart. She died
seven years later.
During the accident they lost many cows. According to her brother, Paul, so
many cattle died on area farms after the accident, that "the animal
rendering truck that used to come around only when called (not even once a
year), started coming around every week to pick up dead cattle." Guinea fowl
could not hatch their eggs.
On a visit to their farm, writer Joyce Maynard and I were shown huge jars
containing malformed animal organs, well preserved. When Japanese
photojournalist Hiro Toyosaki interviewed the Holowkas, Paul showed us deer
with antlers growing down into the face, not curved up and graceful as
normal racks. In their garden I found deformed daisies.
Herb Myers of New Cumberland had many problems on his farm right after the
accident, problems similar to those of other farmers in the area. His sheep
could not give birth; they could not dilate to deliver their young. Some
died. One morning, his son went out to the barn and found a stillborn,
double headed calf, which Herb later stuffed and mounted. He developed
cancer and died the tenth anniversary of the accident.
Farmer Clair Hoover and his wife Ruth, of Bainbridge, lost 12 calves and 9
cows shortly after the accident. Some of the animals were taken to New
Bolton Center Lab in order to find out the cause of death. The results never
came. Neither did the bill. They learned the state had paid that bill. Other
tests conducted showed their cattle were found to have elevated white blood
counts (the eosinophils). Coincidentally a group of doctors at Hershey
Medical Center also found their patients had elevated eosinophil counts.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The milk company told them to quit talking about their problems with the
animals or they would not buy milk from them.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In 1985, the Hoovers and their children received out of court settlements
again against TMI (Metropolitan-Edison) for over $200,000.00 for personal
injury. In August of 1993, I called to see if Ruth and Clair would be
willing to be interviewed by journalist and author, Ryuichi Hirokawa (also
chairman of Chernobyl Children Fund in Tokyo). Ruth hesitated, and softly
said she would have to ask Clair. When she came back, she told me he was
diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor just the week before; and yes, he
would like very much to talk.
From my notes of August 12, 1993: The Hoovers are Mennonites; the church
asked them to stop talking. The milk company told them to quit talking about
their problems with the animals or they would not buy milk from them. Out of
100 cows, 27 died or had a problem<the ones that were pastured. Most calves
died. The cows that were in the barn were okay. Their St. Bernard dog and
pony died days ... [later] due to respiratory problems. Helicopters flew
over their farm and someone always (showed up) to take away a dead animal.
One time they hid a dead calf, and had their vet autopsy it before the NRC
could get it. They also hid the remains. It had a damaged liver, and lungs
that never opened. McDonald's bought the cows at auction. The government
bought the cows from McDonald's. (The Hoovers) found this out when inquiring
why checks were not received. Clair also said farmers from Adams county, in
the southern part of the state, came to see them because they were also
having problems with their animals.
Young Mark Corradi of Shopes Gardens in Middletown, found dozens of deformed
dandelions in the field near his home and gave them to me. I became friends
with his mother; we had much in common<deformed dandelions and neighborhoods
riddled with health problems which the PA Dept. of Health refused to look
into. Another friend, Jane Lee, went door to door and documented many
thyroid disorders, allergies, cancers of all kinds and pregnancy problems.
She reported that many people had metallic taste during the accident.
Mrs. Jean Trimmer of Lisburn, 10 miles northwest of TMI, took notes of her
ordeal. On Friday evening, March 30, 1979, she heard her cat howling, went
out on the front porch, and leaned over the railing to call for her cat. As
she did, a wave of hot air engulfed her and she got wet from rain that just
started falling. She was wearing a scarf covering most of her hair, an open
neckline on her dress and short sleeves. The cat came to her and they went
inside. Immediately she dried the cat and wiped herself dry. Later she
started to itch. The next day she noticed a sunburn effect on her skin. The
scalp area of the uncovered hair bothered her so much she went to her
hairdresser, who washed and treated her hair. On Sunday, the women at church
commented about her skin and her "sunburn?" Next, her hair began to fall
out. Later, when it grew back in, it was "salt and pepper." Her normally
black hair had new white hairs growing in. The exposed area of skin later
became blotchy; she developed tiny, hard white bumps; and the moles on the
side of her face were no longer brown, but flesh colored. Her kidney
disintegrated. She is gravely ill now.
I happened to come by one day when Bill Kirk of the Environmental Protection
Agency was there. When Mrs. Trimmer left the room, I asked him whether salt
and pepper hair could result from radiation exposure. He said "yes, there is
literature on the subject, rat studies." Then Mrs. Trimmer took out her
notes and began to tell him (her story). (He) squirmed as she spoke. She
also said that on her farm they never had problems with the animals until
the accident...
Fran Cain still lives across the street from TMI, in Londonderry Township.
She raised poodles at the time of the accident, but no longer does. The
first doggie birth defect she ever had, occurred right after the accident. A
puppy was born with no eyes. "The white cell count was higher on the poodle
that gave birth to the eyeless puppy, Kelly." Penn State University did
blood tests, free. Fran had the metallic taste, also. She received a large
out-of-court settlement.
Bill Peters, local hero, race car driver and former justice of the peace,
lived in Etters. He and his son were working in an open garage that day. By
evening, both of them had reddened, burning skin, and burning throats. The
next day, Bill had blisters on his nose and lips. He and his wife, Darla,
kept having a burning sensation in their nose and down their throats, and an
awful taste. "It just about made ya half sick," he would always say to
interviewers I would bring around. He described the taste as "... burnt
metal, like galvanized steel." The taste made them so thirsty, they couldn't
drink enough.
On Friday, police drove by and told Bill to "get the hell inside." Bill and
his family were packing; they wanted out of there, so they kept right on
packing the truck. They left their cats in a sheltered porch, and one of
their German Shepherds in the garage, with plenty of food and water, and
windows open a bit for ventilation. About a week later, when they returned
and opened the garage, they got the metallic taste again. They found their
dog, dead, with eyes burnt white. There was still plenty of food, but the
dog had drunk a whole lot of water. Most of the cats were dead. One had
given birth, but the kittens died. Shortly after, the cat died too. About a
month later, while mowing the grass, Bill found dead birds. He filled a
metal drum about half full with them. On my first visit to his home, I found
three clumps of huge dandelion plants at least 31" long, flower mutations,
and huge tree leaves.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
About a week later, when they returned and opened the garage, they got the
metallic taste again. They found their dog, dead, with eyes burnt white.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Peters filed for personal injury damages in the current, class action
lawsuit. Last year, during depositions for the upcoming trial, Bill had a
heart attack and died. The lawyer told me it was okay, it was at the end of
his deposition, and we have Darla. [Editor's note: from Chernobyl and from
an unpublished study of weapons plant workers, come evidence linking
radiation exposure to heart disease.]
The 17 year old nightmare continues.
Not only did we have a meltdown with intensely hot fuel that "flowed like
olive oil" and which burned a long craggy hole (19") in the 1" thick reactor
lining, we just got zapped by RAMBO. Federal District judge Sylvia H. Rambo,
to be more specific. The headlines in the front page of Pennsylvania Law
Weekly (1/22/96), featured another kind of meltdown: "Expert 'Meltdown' Hits
TMI Case." As litigators were nearing the end of the pretrial stage in the
eight-year-old personal injury class action lawsuit, the judge ruled on the
defendant's motion in limine and threw out most of the plaintiffs ' expert
witnesses! Citing flaws such as experts' lack of expertise, lack of control
samples, lack of peer review of their papers, failure to have papers
published, etc., the judge discarded most of the plaintiffs' experts'
testimony pertaining to the "dose of radiations emitted from TMI and
allegedly received by plaintiffs.
A week later, the 1/29/96 issue of the same law journal reported that that
plaintiffs' legal team had filed a motion for reconsideration, claiming that
"Rambo applied new expert admissibility standards too narrowly." The article
also mentioned that over 2070 plaintiffs were involved. The date set for
trial is now June 1996. This accident has not been resolved; corporate
government still denies harm was done to earth's living treasures.
Next time, and there will be a next time, we will not permit them to get
away with murder. Learn now. It's easy to learn a little bit at a time.
There was no CNN in 1979. There was no Internet or World Wide Web. Instant
communication, documentation, action and interaction are crucial elements
needed to prevent another crisis in Democracy.
The doomsday clock is only hiding<the ticking has never stopped. We can't
prevent another accident even if there were "no more nukes." There is just
too much waste and too many greedy corporations.
-- 
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Incidenti sul lavoro capitano, questo non è stato terribile, ma se anche
fosse avvenuto il massimo del disastro possibile, non sarebbe stato peggio
del crollo di una diga.
Ciao
Veniero.