Clinton orders review of U.S. nuclear facilities

(Recasts lead, adds further Clinton comments, background)

By Randall Mikkelsen

WASHINGTON, Oct 1 (Reuters) - President Bill Clinton on Friday said he had ordered a safety review of U.S. nuclear installations following an accident at a Japanese nuclear fuel plant in which at least 55 people were exposed to radiation, some at potentially lethal levels.

"I thought that we ought to have all of our people learn everything we could about what happened there, analyze our systems here and make sure we've done everything we can to protect ourselves," Clinton told reporters at the White House.

"There was a pretty good level of confidence that we had done that ... but I think that when something like this happens, we realize we live in a world where perfection eludes us and we've got to keep working on this," Clinton said.

White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, the National Security Council and the Pentagon were asked to take part in the review.

Clinton met reporters after a telephone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi about the accident at a Sumitomo Metals uranium processing plant in Tokaimura, in which at least 55 people were exposed to radiation. "He told me Japanese authorities have been able to bring the situation under control, and he thanked me for the outpouring of support from the United States," Clinton said.

"Over the last day, we've been providing information to Japan on our experiences in dealing with similar incidences in the United States and making available our experts in atmospheric monitoring and any other areas that might be useful," Clinton said.

The president told reporters he had been informed of a similar incident that occurred in the United States about 30 years ago, apparently referring to fatal accident at a Rhode Island commercial nuclear reactor processing facility in 1964. The death of nuclear worker Robert Peabody in that accident remains the only fatality in U.S. history resulting from an accident at a commercial nuclear reactor.

Richardson had been meeting with his counterparts in Russia and discussing ways to coordinate assistance to Japan, Clinton said.

Washington has offered to send medical and scientific experts, but Japan has not yet said whether it needs the help.

The president also urged Congress to resolve a stalemate over safety issues surrounding plans to construct a permanent nuclear waste facility at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.

"I have wanted not to see this issue politicized but to bend over backwards to make sure we do everything we can to deal with the nuclear safety issue before we adopt this course," he said.

Clinton opposes a plan backed by congressional Republicans to have the Nuclear Regulatory Commission set radiation exposure standards at the facility and instead is seeking to give the task to the Environmental Protection Agency, whose standards are considered more rigorous by the White House.

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Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), October 01, 1999

Answers

I have now reviwed all nuclear plants and found they are ready. Those that aren't soon will be. Any atomic or sub-atomic event will be similar to a 3-day shower.

Don't panic, there is no need to hide in your basement.

-- John Koskinen (narnia4@usa.net), October 01, 1999.

Heard on the radio this morning that Japan was considering shutting down all their reactors until they were deemed 'safe'. How coincidental? Maybe this who accident was a stunt, to shut down the reactors for Y2K. THEY would need a reason, wouldn't THEY?

Neutron

-- neutron (soo@radiated.com), October 01, 1999.

Remember reading on the forum a while back how important compliance was for Nuclear reactor before July 1st,1999, due to the fact that it takes 6 months to shut them down safely.

Too Late!!!!!

-- Dave Butts (dciinc@aol.com), October 01, 1999.

Apparently this is not the case,they can be shut down in about two weeks if there is no emergency situation

-- matt (matt@somewhere.nz), October 01, 1999.

Maybe this terrible accident is for the best--help some of these DGIs in charge realize that nuclear might be a serious risk on 1/1. I hate nuclear meltdowns...

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), October 01, 1999.

Does anybody have a good source and price on lead ingots?

-- no talking please (breadlines@soupkitchen.gov), October 01, 1999.