An earthquake could collapse the building at Los Alamos National Laboratory, N.M., where plutonium cores of nuclear bombs are produced, releasing deadly doses of radiation, the Department of Energy’s inspector general reported on Thursday.
The National Nuclear Security Administration, which manages the lab, dismissed earthquake concerns.
“There is a rare probability of a seismic event occurring in Los Alamos of sufficient magnitude to cause a significant plutonium release from PF-4,” NNSA said, referring to the plutonium facility.
Greg Mello, director of the Albuquerque-based watchdog Los Alamos Study Group, said NNSA downplayed earthquake risks.
Structural upgrades would take several years to complete. Until then, the IG said, “the potential for very high offsite dose consequences remains.”
Mello said that in plain English this means the 7,000 residents of White Rock, seven miles downwind of the lab, could be exposed to “high levels of plutonium, which could kill them.”
enenews.com
The National Nuclear Security Administration, which manages the lab, dismissed earthquake concerns.
“There is a rare probability of a seismic event occurring in Los Alamos of sufficient magnitude to cause a significant plutonium release from PF-4,” NNSA said, referring to the plutonium facility.
Greg Mello, director of the Albuquerque-based watchdog Los Alamos Study Group, said NNSA downplayed earthquake risks.
Structural upgrades would take several years to complete. Until then, the IG said, “the potential for very high offsite dose consequences remains.”
Mello said that in plain English this means the 7,000 residents of White Rock, seven miles downwind of the lab, could be exposed to “high levels of plutonium, which could kill them.”
enenews.com
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