Bogus Nuclear Fears Resurface in Maryland

 It happens every few years, like clockwork, some moronic anti-nuclear activist group attempt to shut down Calvert Cliffs, only to be rebuffed by the local residents: Calvert Cliffs: Public, environment are safe 

A study released last week by environmental policy groups claims that drinking water in Maryland could be at risk for radioactive pollution as a result of Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, though the plant and industry experts maintain local waters are not contaminated and are suitable to drink.

The study, “Too Close to Home: Nuclear Power and the Threat to Drinking Water,” performed by the Maryland Public Interest Research Group Foundation and Environment Maryland Research and Policy Center, argues that 208,442 Marylanders live within 50 miles of the Lusby plant, the distance used by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to measure risk to food and water supplies.

Count me as one of those.  I live within about three miles of the plant, as many of my fishing posts will attest.  I remain unconcerned.

The incident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan, which occurred last March after an earthquake and tsunami, sparked increased attention to the risks associated with nuclear power, as radiation contaminated the air and drinking water sources for more than 100 miles around the plant, according to a Maryland PIRG press release.

But southern Maryland is not coastal Japan. We have no significant threat of  earthquake here. Our recent "nearby" 5.8 magnitude quake was a once per century scale event, and would be properly laughed at by any proper Japanese or Californian.  The Bay is too shallow to support a decent tsunami except in the event of an asteroid strike.  I which case, I wouldn't be worrying about the nuke plant

“The danger of nuclear power is too close to home,” Jenny Levin, state advocate with Maryland PIRG, said in the release. “Here in Maryland, the drinking water for 200,000 people is too close to an active nuclear power plant. An accident like the one in Fukushima, Japan, or a leak could spew cancer-causing radioactive waste into our drinking water. ... Marylanders shouldn’t have to worry about getting cancer from drinking a glass of water.”

Our water here comes from deep aquifers, 300 feet or deeper, separated from potential surface spills by hundreds of feet of soils, including heavy, impermeable clay layers. The water has not been influenced by surface water for over 10,000 years. There's simply zero chance of a leak contaminating our water systems, and to imply there is is simply scare mongering of the first order.

But I should have expected as much, given the name of the organization.  PIRGs (Public Interest Research Groups) are a branch off the old Naderite shrub. Ralp Nader who has a long history of making exaggerated and false claims.