Trump administration wants to ease NRC regulations for new to build nuclear reactors

[William Gaatjes]

Sure, but in this case - MAGA, in erasing safety regulations, is in pursuit of exploding reactors and exclusion zones.

That is what i am worried about too. That is why i hope the USA government and the DOE learn about subcritical Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS) reactors. And go for this technology. Belgium does, and if Belgium (MYRRHA) succeeds , what i am sure of they will. I know what kind of new reactors, France and maybe even Germany will be using in the future. China is also going ahead with CiADS.

 

[William Gaatjes]

Reprocessing in the US has been banned since the Carter administration because of concerns over nuclear proliferation. There were also likely some environmental concerns over older reprocessing facilities that were not exactly known for handling their hazardous waste with care.

Why does that not sound like a surprise at all. Kind of reminds about PFOA,PFAS and C8 dumping ... If there is no regulatory system in place that has the power to take action. This will happen always everywhere : Just dump it in nature or flush it down the drain, straight in open waters.

 

[HomerJS]

That is what i am worried about too. That is why i hope the USA government and the DOE learn about subcritical Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS) reactors. And go for this technology. Belgium does, and if Belgium (MYRRHA) succeeds , what i am sure of they will. I know what kind of new reactors, France and maybe even Germany will be using in the future. China is also going ahead with CiADS.

Or better yet if we had friends left, collaborate with countries like Belgium

 

[William Gaatjes]

Or better yet if we had friends left, collaborate with countries like Belgium

That is a good point too. I am also hoping that the Netherlands will join in for the belgium MYRRHA ADS reactor. But dutch be dutch, pretending to be too proud instead of collaborating with the Belgium people. There is talk in the (political) Netherlands as well about 2 to 4 new to build nuclear reactors. But the plans are there for conventional critical nuclear reactors, probably old stuff from the USA, like Westinghouse has. Sigh...

 

[ivwshane]

Yes, government regulation has always been a bogeyman, but you can only take that so far. Most non-crazy people will admit at least SOME regulation is necessary. So, what do you do when you've already deregulated to the point that people are being hurt? Stop calling it regulation and start calling it socialism. Then Bernie comes along and starts calling socialized expenses "Democratic Socialism," playing right into right-wing attack narratives. He's attached a scary name to an otherwise good idea. It's the main reason he's never been able to break through. The name of the thing is just as important as the actual thing in a country full of fucking morons.

What you don’t realize is that he’s trying to take back the stigma of socialism. Bernie is very popular and there is a growing movement or disillusion of capitalism. This is not something that was happening when he originally ran. You can’t say the same for “regulations” as that word seems to have lost all meaning or importance to the American public.

 

[dank69]

What you don’t realize is that he’s trying to take back the stigma of socialism.

That is a mighty tough road to hoe.

Bernie is very popular and there is a growing movement or disillusion of capitalism. This is not something that was happening when he originally ran. You can’t say the same for “regulations” as that word seems to have lost all meaning or importance to the American public.

I guess I just don't agree that regulation has lost all meaning. Media and public are constantly searching for who is to blame after each and every tragedy, and we often find out that lack of regulation is to blame. Blue states pass new regulations all the time. At least mine does anyway.

The bigger issue to me is the lack of consequences, and the resulting increase in public apathy every time.

 

[sdifox]

Nuclear proliferation concern from the countries with tons of nuclear weapons? What? US should get into reprocessing.