It seems almost inconceivable that in this era of nuclear disillusionment (almost three years to the day after the nuclear disaster at Fukushima permanently wiped parts of that city off the map), the Obama Administration is pursuing an agenda of nuclear deregulation. In a new proposal, the Administration seeks to dramatically weaken nuclear cleanup standards in the event of a nuclear accident or act of nuclear terrorism within the United States.
Under the EPA's Superfund regulations developed in the 1980s, nuclear cleanups are required to ensure that only 1 in 10,000 people would be anticipated to develop cancer after a serious domestic nuclear incident and cleanup. At the last minute in 2009, the Bush Administration attempted to weaken this cleanup standard, but the incoming Obama Administration halted the proposed change. But now, five years on, Obama is himself poised to dramatically lower cleanup standards in the same manner that Bush had originally proposed. Under the new proposed guidelines, the Obama Administration suggests that an extraordinary 1 in 23 cancers after a nuclear cleanup is acceptable. This is an incredible proposal--to go from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 23.
Setting aside whether you are "pro-" or "anti-" nuclear, we should all agree that Obama's attempts to weaken cleanup standards for nuclear accidents and/or attacks is unacceptable.
Think a dirty bomb in a New York subway and then the Federal Government deeming the area safe after a cleanup that leaves the risk of cancer at 1 in 23 for every person who thereafter enters the subway--it's simply outrageous.