NRC: Months Later . . . Concerns About Effects Remain

Months Later . . . Concerns About Effects Remain Moderator | August 5, 2011 at 1:17 pm | Tags: nuclear | Categories: General | URL: http://wp.me/p1fSSY-oM

It’s been almost five months since the accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Japan, but the phones still ring and letters and e-mails still arrive at the NRC. Although the level of worry has declined, concerns remain.
Some members of the public are still concerned about possible effects from Fukushima on the American people. One member of the public, for example, “perceives” radiation fallout where he lives in Oregon. Another refuses to purchase any import from Japan for fear of contamination and will eat no fish caught on the west coast. Some people believe the lessening media coverage of Fukushima means the public is purposefully being kept in the dark.
Other members of the public still offer creative ways to fix the leakage and contamination problems at Fukushima.
Of course, there are those concerned  the Fukushima accident could happen at U.S plants. Concerns include the age of our nuclear plants, proximity of some plants to geological fault lines, and the ability to evacuate all the people if there were an accident.
The Office of Public Affairs helps those with radiation fears understand that no unsafe levels of radiation reached the U.S. and explains to those with creative solutions that the NRC is not a channel for possible “fixes” to the crippled plants in Japan.
Importantly, we also provide information about nuclear plants in the U.S., how the NRC regulates them to maintain safety and how the NRC is looking at “lessons learned” from the accident.
We will continue to respond quickly to public inquiries, which can be directed to OPA.Resource@nrc.gov .

Elizabeth Stuckle

Public Affairs Officer