Comments about ‘Depleted uranium approved for storage at EnergySolutions site’

Depleted uranium gets more radioactive over time, but I guess the Governor doesn't care about future generations.

Energy Solutions won't be around 10,000 years from now. Neither will Herbert or the rest of us. This is an absolute travesty for the citizens of Utah! A boon for Energy Solutions (which is neither energy, not a solution) it's time to get these sleazebags out of the state. The can take their lobbyists, dirty money, and depleted uranium with them. The Fed's don't want to gamble on Nevada because they await results of an EIS. The governor is willing to gamble because he won't bite the hand that could feed him. Look for Energy Solutions to give generously to Governor will giving Utah the shaft! Many citizens of our fine state have already suffered at the hands of the government over nuclear testing in Nevada. But it's completely acceptable if it's a corporation with a catch name!

Depleted uranium gets more radioactive over time? You're going to have to explain that. It seems to fly right in the face of the 1st or 2nd law of Thermodynamics.

You can't get more alpha- and beta- particles from a depleted source. It radiates at the same rate it always has, and can radiate no more nor less unless it becomes part of a critical mass, which this stuff can't because it's DEPLETED.

Sounds like you've been talking too much with either the Sierra Club "experts", or a global-warming scientist.

Cut and run business.

Who's gonna pay for the roads, maintenance and security [think dirty bombs] for hundereds of years.

Ohhhhh, Energy solutions will (not!)

what a double standard state!!

Did you read the article?

It says, "Storing depleted uranium has raised concerns because although classified as low-level radioactive waste, it gets 'hotter' over time." (Paragraph six.)

Depleted Uranium is highly toxic when released into the environment. It can damage cells when ingested, touched, or inhaled. It stays radioactive in the body, cutting through DNA, and causes cancer and birth defects.

DU does NOT become more radioactive over time. The initial decay products are 40% more radioactive than DU itself (probably meaning they just decay faster--which is a good thing), but are still LESS radioactive than naturally occurring uranium. This is just one step in a long chain of decay products which eventually leads to DU becoming inert lead. Anyone that tries to perpetuate the idea that DU becomes more and more radioactive forever and ever is either uneducated, or is trying to mislead you. The average effect is a reduction in radioactivity. Seriously people, don't talk unless you know what you're talking about.

Also, DU itself is NOT toxic to the touch. It is chemically toxic when it is: a) inhaled, b)ingested c) introduced via shrapnel from DU rounds etc.

Also, the compound it is stored as (uranium hexafluoride) CAN be pretty nasty if it comes in contact with air, but we have recently built facilities to convert it to a more chemically stable formula. Also it's no worse than other industrial chemicals. It will take 20 years with our capabilities to convert the entire US stockpile of uranium hexafluoride into a safer form.

There are 3 types of nuclear radiation, alpha, beta, and gamma. If you are exposed to alpha and beta particles you are near the blast zone or downwind and your life just got shorter.

What Energy Solutions is storing is gamma radiation materials which has a centuries long half life, and the 10,000 years is not an imaginary number. This is why I opposed this site to begin with but our greedy legislators and a few jobs obliterated all common sense on the subject. And gamma radiation cannot be destroyed by any known methods, it just lives out its life. Adding radiation in stockpiles only adds to the amount of radiation, it is accumulative as the pile grows. It's one case where the sum of the total equals the sum of its parts. As the parts grow so does the sum.

What this story means by "depleted" does not mean it has become inert. It has been used beyond it's maximum output for power generation or materials exposed to radiation. The guy spouting off about thermo dynamics can through it out the window, it doesn't apply with nuclear radiation. They use geiger counters, not thermometers.

I agree with 5:52 a.m poster.

Radioactive marterial = bad.

Duh.

wow, that was intelligent. Radioactive material is responsible for a good share of your quality of life. For example: You know the smoke detectors that wake you up when your house is on fire? Yup, they depend on radioactive Americanium. How about X-rays so your doctor knows what's wrong with you? Or 20% of the power you use? The communication satellites that you depend on to relay your cell phone calls are in many cases powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators. In the wrong place at the wrong time, radiation can be deadly--no one is arguing that. Just like fire, electricity, or even water. That's no reason to make idiotic statements like yours. If we did that all the time we would still be in the stone age making cave paintings. How would you like that?

First, depleted does not mean it's been used beyond is max output for power generation. Depleted uranium has never even been close to a reactor. DU is actually produced as a byproduct of the enrichment process in which the most radioactive components of natural uranium are removed and concentrated for use as nuclear fuel or weapons-grade fissionable material. The 40% less radioactive byproduct is known as depleted uranium, and it is actually very useful. DU is extremely dense, and is therefore an attractive material for military armor and/or armor piercing ordnance. It is itself often used as a radiation shield in medical and other applications. There are several other uses as well. DU is a toxic metal (like lead or mercury), and is far more dangerous from a chemical standpoint than it is as a radiation hazard.
Second, there are actually 4 kinds of radiation, none of which can be "destroyed," as you put it. But all forms (including gamma radiation) can be shielded if you have enough "stuff" surrounding the radiation source to absorb the alpha, beta, gamma, or positron radiation.

'wow, that was intelligent.' - 1:40 p.m.

Heh. I'm sorry, are you upset about my response, or that more than one person is calling you on your claim that 'radiation is great!'

I am aware radiation, in small quantities, is fine. You forgot microwaves in your various examples.

However, your forgeting that this is very different from natural radiation found in nature.

Depleted Uranium. Waste. This is bad. (No, really.)

How would you like to provide ways humans can use depleted uranium in everyday use. Hmmm?

Because you know what everyone else is doing with it?

They are burying it in Utah.

Utah Gov. Herbert, US Senators Bennett and Hatch, and Congressman Bishop could have stopped Utah from this dangerous hazard. They received money from Energy Solutions instead.
Check out their campaign fund donations. Then tell your friends and vote against them.

It's obvious our elected officials are not as influential as Nevada's. It's time to boycott any official that takes money from them. If they can't buy us, they can't control us.

This stuff is toxic enough, to make the Salt Lake valley uninhabitable if the wind or ground water picks it up. Once again the Government and certain business interests have no trouble putting Utahns in harms way.

Nevada was not considered until studies can be done, so ship it to Utah then do the study to see how to make it safe? We are being duped.

I can't vouch for the original person who took you to task for your stupid post, but for me it was unhelpful and unintelligent because you didn't offer anything except for a blanket statement that "Radioactive marterial (sic) = bad". He/she pointed out that such a statement is stupid because it ignores the fact that we use some radioactive materials for great things. Hence, not all radioactive materials are bad. You can obfuscate as much as you want, but he called you on it, and you were wrong. Man up, accept that you made a stupid statement.

Care to tell me exactly how this is different than natural radiation outside of quantity? Alpha and beta particles, positrons, and gamma rays are the same whether they are from naturally occurring radioisotopes, or from manmade "waste." As far as quantity goes, DU is actually less radioactive than uranium found in nature, and because of its long half-life, is radiologically much safer than natural uranium and many other radioactive elements.

Uses for DU: military armor, armor piercing ordnance, radiation shielding, cadmium plated trim weights in aircraft, X-ray shielding, etc.

This stuff is nowhere near toxic enough to render the SL valley uninhabitable. UF6, which is a common storage compound is pretty nasty if it is leaked, but operations to convert it into a safe form are scheduled to come online this year. Even if UF6 is leaked, the gaseous emission that we would really have to worry about, as far as propagation goes, is hydrogen fluoride, which doesn't even contain uranium. It's not any worse than the industrial chemicals you see at any of the valley refineries etc.

The world needs to ban armor and artillery using depleted uranium.

When shrapnel made of depleted uranium enters the body it causes cancer and birth defects. The same is true when breathing dust or drinking water contaminated by this weaponry.

Many of our soldiers are reported to be very sick and dying from depleted uranium poisoning. Some of these soldiers, or those associated with them, have given birth to babies with severe birth defects, such as no arms. This has happened with Iraqi and Afghan civilians as well.

'Care to tell me exactly how this is different than natural radiation outside of quantity?' - 3:40 p.m.

No, because quanitity is what we're talking about here, right?

Utah has 49,000 tons of depleted uranium as it is. This will add more. You keep trying to use nature as a defense for this when we are not talking about what nature is giving us.

This is very much man-made, and in much greater quantities. But you, try to ignore that.

'It's not any worse than the industrial chemicals you see at any of the valley refineries etc.'

So, your defense is, because we dump OTHER chemicals, uranium is ok?

Your entire defense of this is childish. Based on flawed comparison of nature and some fiction that Utah will take care of it later.

You do realize that in 10,000 years, when none of us are here this garbage still will be, correct?

You think energy solutions will take responsibility then?

I doubt it.

'I can't vouch for the original person who took you to task for your stupid post, but for me it was unhelpful and unintelligent...' - 3:37 p.m.

So, why reply? It's not like I have 'Anonymous' on my ID, right...whoever you are?

And let's not forget that your post contributed no facts yourself besides childish name-calling.

You want to talk about manhood?

Ok!

I am against this dumping because 1) It never goes away. It will be here long after Energy solutions stops keeping it contained. And 10,000 years from now, they wont. 2) The people responsible for it hide behind the defense that they will be dead of old age when this becomes a problem. 3) LOTS of things in nature are fine.

Depleted urainum does not come from nature.

We use electricity in our homes. Should I use 86 million volts to turn on my lights? Your comparison about radiation being helpful is weak.

Claiming depleted uranium radiation is good for you is a stupid statement. As your post was too stupid to give a good working comparison of how that could be used instead of buried.

Wow, someone on this thread (paid by EnergySolutions?) is really working the disinformation. Give it up, buddy, we’re not buying it. What’s sad is that our science-impaired Governor does seem to be susceptible to whatever the storage company says.

A Department of Energy study says that radium-226 from depleted uranium will exceed class B (which Utah does not allow) limits in 50,000 years, and will exceed class C limits by three times that in 200,000 years.

So yes, it grows more radioactive and hazardous, and will burden future generations.

Who is going to make sure this deadly, corrosive material is safely contained for even a few hundred years, much less for thousands?

Do you really want this in your backyard?