Today’s Nuclear Citizens’ Jury Hearings – not looking too good, so far
It’s 12.30 p.m. Adelaide time. Session on SAFETY has just ended.
Listening to the Citizens’ Jury hearings at the first livestream session. http://yoursay.sa.gov.au/nuclear/livestreams/citizens-jury-one-livestream – I’m glad to say that the jurors are asking intelligent questions.
The facilitaror emphasised more than once that “We are not here to make a recommendation” (even though it’s a JURY)
Jim Green, of Friends of the Earth, pointed out issues concisely:
- the contradiction in the Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission Report – that South Australia would get the nuclear waste containers on-ground, first, long before the underground waste repository is made, if it ever eventuates. South Australia could be stuck with this – with nowhere to put them, and no right of return.
- on security of containers from foreign countries – e.g meeting international standards for containers. South Korea has record of arrests for falsification of safety standards. In Australia – a clear breach of international standards in managing Marlainga nuclear wastes.
Apart from Jim Green, I didn’t find any other witnesses having doubts about the Royal Commission’s plan. As yet, I don’t know who these people are. But some of them are very confident about the whole thing.
Confident speakers, :
- Quentin ? from jacobs and Jacobs – specialised in nuclear transport security – not able to answer some safety questions – “not in his scope”
- David ? expert on nuclear waste safety
- Lisa ( ? from Royal Commission)
- Steve McIntosh – of Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, (by phone)
Safety, the report puts some numbers to the chance of accidents with the transport of waste to Australia – but none about accidents within Australia. With that volume of radioactive material being transported so many km over so may years, the odds of many many accidents are a certainty. And you can’t mop up nuclear waste like the oil industry does with oil spills.
Charlie
LikeLike