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The "blast zone" of a nuclear power plant?

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A recent article in the Washington Post discusses an NRC public meeting on new construction at Calvert Cliffs. It ends with the following backhanded endorsement:
Clyde Thomas, who works at the plant, said experience makes him feel confident
the area is safe.

"I wouldn't live in the blast zone if I didn't," he said.
The "blast zone" of a nuclear power plant? What's that? It seemed like a rather clumsy comment. But later I received an e-mail with this explanation from Mr. Thomas:
I still think I was set up!

I told the reporter I lived close to the plant and then he asked me if I didn't mind living in the "blast zone" and then I said "I wouldn't live in the blast zone if I did." I guess I shouldn't have repeated his "blast zone" comment...
Sometimes it's interesting how reporters choose their quotations.
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Comments

gunter said…
You can get "blasted" by a radiation dose, don't you think?

You think these things are chocolate factories?
August 20, 2007 at 2:56 PM
Anonymous said…
No I don't really think so. You get more radiation dose from emissions from coal-fired and some geothermal plants than you do from a nuclear plant. In fact, you might get more from chocolate. There's 40K in there. Ahhhhhhh! (We're all gonna die!)
August 21, 2007 at 8:39 AM
gunter said…
Anon,

More radioactivity in a chocolate bar than a nuclear power plant?

You must be refering to Hershey's following the TMI accident---though luckily that was appartently a pretty narrow plume.
August 21, 2007 at 11:25 AM
Brian said…
Well, gunter, if you mean to suggest that you plan to eat the entire nuclear plant (or just the highly radioactive parts, if you are on a diet), then I get your point. Otherwise ....
August 21, 2007 at 1:46 PM
Anonymous said…
Gunter, you'd eat a Hershey's bar that dated back to 1979? Geez, I knew anti-nukes were a little kooky, but that's just plain gross.

Better stop eating bananas too, Gunter. Plenty of K-40 in those.

Radiation?! Omigod, we're all gonna die!
August 21, 2007 at 3:01 PM
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