A11WeLovePeaches

A11WeLovePeaches

To-Do

Step 1:

• Try to find some relevant information (anywhere on the web) related to YOUR problem or topic.

• http://energy.gov/news2009/8381.htm
• http://en.openei.org/wiki/Main_Page

• Can you locate any relevant information about YOUR problem in OpenEI? Describe what you find there.
• What it would take for you to contribute information (which you may have found in step 1) to this site and what would motivate you to do so!

1. Describe the energy-related problem or topic your group selected.

As technology progresses, we as humans tend to find solutions that correspond to issues that are happening in the present without looking at the repercussions which might have a strong impact on the environment. Many of the computers, cell phones, and other modern devices find themselves in the dumpster after their usefulness has become outdated. Many of the natural resources that we use in now days are limited, and sooner or later many of them will be depleted. Using solar or wind energy is almost infinite, but it doesn't quite satisfy the amount of energy we use in these days. Nuclear power is one of the best options that may satisfy the amount of current energy usage, but its radioactive waste is always a threat. This becomes a problem with radioactive waste all around the world, and many of the toxins that come from these devices get washed into the soil or contaminate water that runs through our towns or woodlands. Disposing of these hazardous materials is no easy task as people try to fend off disposal facilities, even though the EPA keeps a close watch on correct permits and creates enormous fines to those who violate their rules. One case in Colorado for the Clean Harbors Deer Trail Facility they mention the amount of radiation that will be produced within the compound. In one year the amount of radiation that workers are said to absorb is less than100millirem, where as on a yearly basis people in Colorado absorb around 350millirem of radiation just from the state’s environment. According to Wikipedia, 100 or less millirems of radiation would only cause blood changes, but a dose more than that could cause severe illness or even death. Therefore, the fear of illness will always be a problem around any sort of community that is inhabited. Once a community hearss that power plant is going to be built in their town, they protest in many cases. If they actually get the information of radioactive waste disposal, it may help weakening the protests in some sense.

2. Describe any Web resources you found about that problem or topic.

We found many interesting articles about radioactive waste:

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf04.html) According to the Principles of Radioactive Waste Management, "Radioactive waste shall be managed in such a way as to secure an acceptable level of protection for human health" which indirectly says the nuclear power plant should be somewhat safe if they keep the regulation.

Colorado county puts stop to train transport of radioactive waste from Los Alamos National Laboratory http://www.santafenewmexican.com/localnews/Colorado-county-puts-stop-to-train-transport-of-radioactive-was

Hazardous Waste Permit and Radioactive Materials License Fact Sheet www.cdphe.state.co.us/hm/hwy36/permit05/factsheet.pd

Radioactive waste is potentially a problem in our own state of Colorado. The Rocky Flats plant in Golden has a chequered past, according to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Flats_Plant

Additionally the final report, given 9 years after the plant's closure, is found here: http://www.clarkcountynuclearwaste.info/Documents/BoulderCityGovernmentalandFiscalImpactReportJuly2001.pdf

http://www.adcoservices.com/gclid=COmDkeHhkqUCFcgK2godZj9NNA This site is the site for a company that disposes low level radioactive waste.

There was also a web article on website journal "The American" in which the author describes the "low level" waste, and it's disposal, as a second crisis in Radioactive waste management. What is very interesting is the fact that most states will not allow a new disposal site to be constructed within their borders so that leaves 4 states: Utah, Washington, Texas, and South Carolina as the only states to allow the proper disposal of "low level" waste. It's an interesting article located here: http://www.american.com/archive/2007/august-0807/a-second-crisis-in-radioactive-waste/

3. Describe any related OpenEI resources you found.

A search on OpenEI returns two articles:

One was about the Nuclear Regulatory commission. (http://en.openei.org/wiki/Nuclear_Regulatory_Commission_(NRC))Which is mostly just an overview of the commission

The other article about the Renewable Development Fund in Minn. dealt with the mandated cost per cask of spent fuel that Xcel Energy has to pay storing said cask in the state. It's very interesting to see how much one cask could cost a company and how that money is used to further research into energy and fuel resources. http://en.openei.org/wiki/Renewable_Development_Fund_(RDF)_(Minnesota)

4. Discuss what it would take for you to contribute information (such as what you may have found in step 1) to the OpenEI site and what would motivate you to do so.

Overall the group argues the merits of such an endeavor. We would want to ensure any information added to the site on such a serious topic was completely correct and factual before adding it. The names and credibility of the researchers would not be jeopardized by contributing, and that people actually find the information useful. The group would be motivated to contribute with these factors in mind: a) There is a lack of corroborating source information available on the web other than Wikipedia. therefore our research would add value and credibility to the Wikipedia article. b) If there is a danger to people living in the area of Rocky Flats, we would want to expose the information to attempt to assist those people. c) Lastly, doing would be an assignment or some other reward factor. The motivation factor is more about the interests of the group in radioactive waste problems, which we have little background information on. That motivation makes contributing to OpenEI harder because it's obvious the site does not recieve a high volume of internet traffic compared to holy grail of Wikis: Wikipedia.