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Friday, August 2, 2013

Fracking Radwaste Politics In NY

I had often wondered how much nuclear power generated radioactive waste "issues" were generated by the fossil fuel industry as a way to negatively impact a competitor.

With the rise in fracking and its NORM (naturally occurring radioactive waste) they are seeing some of the same tactics that nukes have had to contend with.

Here's an op-ed in a NY paper discussing the politics involved with importing fracking waste from PA to NY.

Note to author - this is wrong:

"Many Marcellus gas wells are highly contaminated with radium isotopes, particularly Radium 226, a carcinogen that remains radioactive for 1600 years."

Ra-226 doesn't remain radioactive for 1600 years, it has a half-life of 1600.

3 comments:

  1. I had often wondered how much nuclear power generated radioactive waste "issues" were generated by the fossil fuel industry as a way to negatively impact a competitor.

    I wouldn't put it beyond them, but as this article shows, it could easily backfire. Radioactivity released in connection with fossil-fuel mining isn't a recent issue, as coal mining releases quite a bit too, even into the air. Even in normal operation, no accidents required.

    Coal

    North sea oil, gas, etc.


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  2. Yup, agreed. I noticed your first link had a correction (good), but the title needs correcting too. Nuclear waste is much more radioactive than coal ash.

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