Nuclear Reaction
By Lauren Searson, staff writer
Posted on February 1, 2007

HARRISONBURG — Every year, approximately 20 million transports move radioactive material, and some of it could be passing through JMU’s campus via Interstate 81 en route to a New Mexico dump site.

But nothing is definite.  

Bob Spieldenner, public relations director of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, said: “The transporting dates are still up in the air since there is still discussion about the facility in New Mexico receiving the materials.”

VDEM recently received a $100,000 training grant from the Southern States Energy Board to train personnel involved in I-81 transportations of nuclear waste. According to the VDEM Web site, the department, as part of its training grant, will have training locations for two types of classes, one for emergency responders and one for medical staff.

JMU geology and environmental science professor Michael Harris said the possible wastes include low, medium and high levels.

Low levels of transuranic waste —  waste derived from radioactive elements with atomic numbers higher than 92 — are found in hospital or research lab clothes. Medium levels are found in contaminated protective clothing and equipment, while the highest level includes cold war weapons and spent nuclear fuel from power plants. 

Spieldenner said despite people’s concern about the words “nuclear waste,” the reality is in the case of an accident, people won’t see a large cloud of radioactive materials.

“[The transported materials] are not going to be as dramatic as chemicals that are continually transported throughout the country,” he said.

For example, Spieldenner cited chlorine as a dangerous transported chemical because it produces gases, which can be carried from an accident scene to surrounding homes and facilities. Approximately two years ago, residents of Graniteville, S.C., were evacuated due to a chlorine spill from a freight train. 

“I think that even considering transporting nuclear waste through campus and Harrisonburg is ridiculous,” senior Mackensie Lundeen said, “Especially through a college campus where there is a larger concentration of people in one place.”

She added that the possibility of contaminating the air, water and soil is high.

“All the progress made in this area to keep pollution down for the interest of the general public, such as the current nonprofit groups all over Virginia, would be set back,” Lundeen said.

According to Harris, the worst-case scenario for the transported wastes is the severe radiation exposure to anyone close to the accident.

“This would have to include complete uncovering of the transported material, under an explosive situation,” he said. 

More probable situations, Harris said, would require local evacuations likely of no more than a mile until the exposed material could disperse and local teams could arrive. 

Spieldenner said the VDEM hires contractor crews to clean up accident scenes and that trained personnel make sure it is safe for them to enter the scene. For example, if there is a leak, those on the scene need to know how to keep liquids from spreading and how to help the transporters and other affected drivers.

Confirming reviewed information, Harris said, “All of the transporting casks/containers have been tested for failure due to compression, piercing, fire and re-usage.” 

The waste-producing companies contract with shipping companies that have the proper containers to handle the materials.

Shipping companies specially train those transporting the waste and inform the VDEM of their routes.  In the case of an accident, the VDEM is able to track down the shipment and determine the type of waste and how to handle it.