Diablo Canyon nuclear plant still opposed, still poses danger

I’m shocked to see the news report in The Tribune (“Few have spoken on Diablo nuclear waste transport,” March 26). The writer said only “two people had responded on the transport of highly radioactive used spent nuclear rods.” Comparison of a public apathy to the NRC’s proposal transporting this nuclear waste to an overwhelming “outcry” to endangered animals is incongruous. Public outcry against Diablo Canyon has been intense since 1981, when more than 40,000 people protested construction of this environmental travesty. That this article postulates the public is so apathetic that now we don’t care, thus go ahead and do what needs to be done, is abhorrent.

In order to transport the fuel rods, the rods would have to be transferred to a transport cask. However, the fragile, half-inch-thick canisters that are being used at Diablo Canyon may be leaking radiation at the time of transfer, making transfer itself a potentially lethal undertaking. (Note that in Germany, the canisters have walls 20 inches thick.) In the event of an accident, consider the consequences for 300,000 SLO County citizens. Their home values and livelihoods would be severely threatened.

Get real. The risks of this proposal by the NRC are not acceptable.

This story was originally published April 2, 2016 at 9:11 PM with the headline "Diablo Canyon nuclear plant still opposed, still poses danger."