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Subject: Any Utah
candidate for a Nuclear Free Utah?
Issue: Nuclear Issues
Date: October 16, 2004
Author: Ken Larsen
Larry wrote:
I am searching for which candidates to support in the upcoming election
11/2/04.
I am particularly interested which candidate will bring forward and support
real solutions regarding nuclear waste in Utah. In particular, since
Utah uranium mill sites have been returned to Utah's control, various Utah
nuclear storage sites existing and proposed in Utah, and hundreds of
abandoned Utah uranium mining located in Utah that needs to be dealt with to
eliminate any and all radiation contamination being released into the water
by erosion at the sites.
In the first presidential debate; Kerry identifies Nuclear Proliferation as
being the most serious threat facing the US; Bush reluctantly agrees.
Surprisingly, there is NO follow-up by the media. Nuclear deactivation, that
provides for the permanent elimination of radioactivity in isotopes, is one
way to control nuclear proliferation to some degree and to be able to
restart or successfully continue the reduction nuclear weapons.
Kerry says he will close down Yucca Mountain and store the spent fuel
at the electric power generating sites.
Bush says to the Nevadans that Yucca Mountain nuclear waste burial is based
on "sound science" and runs a TV commercial in Nevada.
Can either candidate say "eliminate nuclear waste by nuclear deactivation"
so that Nuclear Justice is possible in the 21st century??
The spent nuclear fuel from the approximately 68 electric power reactor
sites can be deactivated or neutralized for a fraction of the cost as
compared to the methods that are currently being implemented. Nuclear
Half-life Modification Technology has been around for over forty years,
possibly 75 years.
Several radioactive deactivation processes have been demonstrated to AEC/DOE
and in some cases to Congressmen over many years. A most notable nuclear
accelerated decay demonstration was conducted on Good Morning America and
during the show a significant reduction in radioactivity was achieved by
accelerating the decay rate. Millions of viewers seem to have forgotten or
were not interested in the possibilities of a nuclear free world.
Fifteen years ago Dr William Barker found that decay rates of radioactive
materials could be accelerated or deaccelerated by simply a +/-
DC voltage. Presentations and proposals were made to DOE.
In the same time period, fifteen years ago, Sonne Ward found that
radioactivity was eliminated in a high temperature DC discharge and arc that
can deactivate the spent reactor fuel. Presentations and proposals were made
to DOE. DOE recently returned their attention to Sonne Ward and extracted an
agreement from Sonne to NOT discuss nuclear deactivation ever again.
Several other investigators have found deactivation methods. This year 2004
has produced four or more new methods which effect isotope decay rates. One
investigator has demonstrated the process to DOD that apparently can obtain
essentially 100% deactivation.
In early 1964 Cecil Baumgartner accomplished nuclear deactivation and found
how to essentially to attain full deactivation. Sonne Ward, independently,
about 25 years later accomplished full deactivation in a similar manner and
CAN NOT discuss it because of a forced agreement by DOE. Sonne Ward's
deactivation process is capable of deactivating the spent fuel at the 68
reactor sites for less than $100 million, while DOE current storage and leak
methods will be costing $100 BILLION and more. No wonder that DOE muzzled
Sonne Ward.
The DOE Secretary, to convince Congress and the President to pass and sign
the Yucca Mountain bill about two years ago, said that there was no other
known way than burial at Yucca Mountain to deal with the nuclear waste. This
bill mandates that only burial under DOE control can be considered. DOE
Secretary told the Congress and the President one whale of a whopper tale
and they brought it bait, hook, sinker, line, pole and DOE now receives
BILLIONS for nonperformance and the BILLIONS kept flowing.
Yes I an quite aware that current nuclear dogma states that radioactive
material decay rates are immutable and can not be changed by any physical or
chemical means and is widely taught in the educational system today. There
is a significant divide or is it a "fundamental difference" between nuclear
reality and nuclear dogma, about 75 years worth if anyone was paying
attention.
Therefore, the DOE Secretary told Congress, over two years ago, that Yucca
Mountain was the only way, since there was NO other to handle the nuclear
fuel waste. Congress and the President then give exclusive rights to only
burial at Yucca Mountain, NO exceptions and NO alternatives can be
considered.
At least the Canadian Government considered the deactivation alternatives
and by law requires the Canadian Nuclear people to consider the
deactivation alternatives for disposal of nuclear waste. Isn't it
interesting that Americans today have to go to Canada to get a flu shot and
hope that Canada can ship some flu vaccine to America. Maybe Canada will
accept nuclear waste from America and will deactivate the nuclear waste for
America. Certainly nuclear waste deactivation is another possible outsource
job that Americans can not seem to do for themselves.
Now this year, DOE returns to Congress to obtain another bill, soon to be
passed, to mix high level waste that will be remaining in the corroding
storage tanks with non-radioactive materials, so that DOE can reclassify
high level nuclear waste to low level waste and walk away while it will
eventually leak into the earth's environment. No consideration was given for
the alternative of nuclear deactivation of the high level nuclear waste tank
bottoms.
Nuclear Half-life Modification Technology can provide solutions to handle
the nuclear material waste and uranium mining tailing issues. Possible
deactivation solutions may be applicable to the uranium milling sites that
now fall under Utah's control. I would like to bring forward additional
people that have discovered deactivation methods, but I cannot because they
want to avoid harassment from DOE.
Is there a candidate running for any office that can and will provide
support for Utahans that desire a nuclear free Utah??
Is there a candidate running that will bring forward national legislation
in Congress that will require DOE to consider alternative nuclear waste
deactivation solutions??
Is there a candidate running that will work for Utah safe and sane disposal
by utilizing any of several deactivation methods of nuclear waste waste in
Utah, including that nuclear waste that has been shipped and stored in Utah?
Utah can and should pass a state law requiring that all nuclear waste
materials being shipped to and through Utah to be deactivated/neutralized
prior to entry into Utah.
Sadly, Nevadans may not be be
knowledgeable of the nuclear waste
alternatives, so how can they made an informed choice at the ballot box or
screen on November 2, 2004?? On the other hand, Nevadans may want nuclear
waste stored in Nevada right next door to Utah.
Utahans and Nevadans should have the information necessary to make an
informed choice to continue to be a dumping ground for nuclear waste or to
be nuclear free states by eliminating the radioactivity in the nuclear waste
material radiation.
I a looking for that candidate to support in the 2004 election for a nuclear
free Utah. I would like to hear from that candidate.
See "DOE should pursue accelerated radioactive waste decay" , Idaho
Press-Tribune, Tuesday August 19, 2003
See
www.gdr.org for " Is Yucca Mountain the only Way?" and additional
nuclear deactivation methods.
The DOE nuclear waste situation is comparable to the Intelligence gap
situation that Congress finally recognized after three years and still
struggles with for a solution. A possible bill completed and signed before
the end of the 2004 election?? Bad intelligence seem to exist everywhere;
like "where is the flu vaccine" for the safety and security of the Homeland
People??
Several Congressman are aware of the nuclear waste SOLUTIONS for the DOE
situation, but have done nothing, except to pass the Yucca Mountain bill and
now are posed to pass another bill to permit DOE to make low level
nuclear waste from high level nuclear waste, so that DOE will NOT be
breaking another law.
Since Utah and certain other states now ARE RESPONSIBLE for some identified
nuclear waste in their states, is there any candidate running for office
that will work for the people of Utah to be a Nuclear Free Utah?
Larry
***
Response from Ken Larsen, Personal Choice Party
Candidate for Governor
Larry,
I do not speak for the Personal Choice Party. The statements below are my
personal views. Other PCP candidates may have differing views on this issue.
(Visit the PC Issues Directory.)
You will probably not want to vote for me, but my principles require that I
give you a complete and honest answer.
First, I will do everything I can, as Governor, to stop the testing of new
nuclear devices anywhere. It is a terrible strategic mistake to condemn and
attack other countries for having or even thinking of building a bomb and
then spitting in their faces with our own nuclear program. It seems some are
determined to gain respect out of fear. I think we should work to deserve
the respect of the world though mutual respect. I also believe the
additional release of radioactive material is a big mistake.
Second, I will work for the safe disposition of current contaminated sites
in Utah.
Third, as a Ph.D. in biology, I understand that there is no economical way
to "deactivate" a radioactive isotope. These atoms automatically deteriorate
at very specified rates, called "half-lives", meaning the time during which
any particular atom has a 50% chance of releasing dangerous particles and
changing into another element. Without fission (atomic bomb) or fusion
(hydrogen bomb) we have not yet found a way to increase that rate of decay.
We thought maybe we had an answer with cold fusion. There are other methods,
such as laser-controlled fusion. Deactivating the radioactivity of a pound
of nuclear waste would probably cost more than the current cost of the war
on Iraq, if we had the technology. It's not like deactivating a chemical
poison. I believe your stories of deactivation technology are urban legends.
Fourth, as an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Utah
School of Medicine (I worked in the Huntsman Cancer Institute, thank you
Jon) I have been trained in the safe handling of many radioactive materials.
I understand that a great deal of important medical and genetic research has
depended on the use of radioactivity. There are safe ways to deal with and
dispose of these materials. As Governor, I would want independent experts to
assure me that proper safety measures were in effect. Then, I would support
the deposition of those materials in safe sites, such as the Goshute Indian
Reservation and Yucca Mountain. I believe we are smart enough to deal with
such matters. In 1994, between research grants, I earned a commercial
drivers license that included the authorization to drive trucks containing
hazardous materials. I believe many of those trucks driving through our
cities today contain materials far more dangerous than nuclear waste. I
support the safe transportation and storage of nuclear waste in our state.
Go check the State Elections site and you will see that nobody is paying me
to take this stand on this issue. In fact, nobody is paying me to take any
stand on any issue. In fact, almost nobody is paying me anything. : )
If you want a nuclear free candidate, perhaps you will be interested in one
of my fellow candidates for Governor.
Ken Larsen, Candidate for
Governor
Personal Choice Party
801-533-8658
856 East 100 South #2
Salt Lake City, Utah 84102
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