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1 Rad Waste RVecation
E BY cuTentS I I
PUBLISHED BY THE TEXAS LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL AUTHORITY MAY 0 8 ThJ90
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Energy from nuclear power plants and medical, industrial, and
agricultural research are just a few of the modern uses for nuclear
power. Examples of these uses are illustrated above.
Nuclear Power has Many
Modern Uses
The plutonium-238 batteries used aboard the Voyager 2 and G
spaceships (and on 22 previous space missions, including the
landings) represent one of the great variety of applications of n
materials in today's scientific, industrial, and medical fields.
Some of the other uses of nuclear materials in modern society in
the following:
Nuclear energy plants generated 17 percent of the world's total
electricity, without contributing to the accumulation of greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere.
One hospital patient in four in the Western world undergoes a nu-
clear medicine procedure as part of the diagnostic or treatment processes.
Approximately 24,000 nuclear scanners or cameras are used today in hos-
pitals worldwide, avoiding the need for exploratory surgery that patients
once dreaded.
(continued on pg 2)
'alias PU par Plants
Unaffected by
California
Earthquake
There was no damage to any of
California's five operable nuclear
power plants as a result of the
massive earthquake on October17
which measured 7.1 on the Richter
scale.
The two units at Diablo Can-
yon, 145 miles from the epicenter
at Santa Cruz, were the closest of
the five to the center of the earth-
quake. Ground motion at the site
was measured at.01 g's prompting
the operator, Pacific Gas & Elec-
tric Co., to declare an "unusual
event" (the lowest of four alert
classifications). However, the
motion was far below what the
plant was built to withstand. The
earthquake was not felt in the
control room.
Unit 2 a, the Diablo Canyon
station continued to operate at100
percent during the quake, gener-
ating power badly needed in Cali-
fornia because of damage to other
non-nuclear plants and substations.
Galileo Unit1 at Diablo Canyon was out of
moon service for maintenance and re-
fueling at the time of the earth-
quake.
iclude (continued on pg 4)
Rad Waste Review is a periodic
newsletter, published by the Texas
Low-Level Rzdioactive Waste Disposal
Authority. All rights reserved. Re-
printing ofarticles encouraged. Sub-
mit inquiries or comments to 7701
North LamarBlvd., Su.te 300, Austin,
Texas 78752, or call (512) 451-5292.
Susan Odom.
,
T
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