LETTERS TO THE BOOKSHELF
A letter regarding Frank von Hippel's review of Plutonium
Frank von Hippel's review of Jeremy Bernstein's book Plutonium ("The Stuff of Bombs," May-June 2007) closes with the statement that the book "should play a useful role ... by encouraging interested members of the public and Congress to start constructing a more rational policy to deal with the dangers posed by this man-made element." I am convinced that this wishful thinking has as much chance of fruition as the proverbial snowball at the gates of Hades.
In the November-December 2004 issue of American Scientist, Eric P. Loewen describes one of the nuclear power concepts being studied by the U.S. Department of Energy ("Heavy-Metal Nuclear Power"). I was impressed by the inherent safety of this system. In addition, I was particularly impressed by the design variation that purportedly could achieve a 99.9 percent reduction in the overall inventory of long-lived transuranics waste and has the potential for burning old radioactive waste.
It is my impression that all of the concepts embodied in this proposal have, at least to some degree, been reduced to practice. I believe that what is needed is a program to develop a demonstration reactor, with a government commitment similar to that for putting a man on the moon.
I sent copies of Dr. Loewen's paper to all four members of Maine's congressional delegation. Because of the popularity of the concept of freeing America from its dependence on oil for energy, I had hopes it would arouse some interest. I received only one acknowledgment of receipt of my letter. That was a form letter from one senator thanking me for my support of her stand on protecting the Alaskan wilderness!
I don't believe there are any members of Congress interested in anything beyond the next election.
Donald E. Hirsch, Ph.D.
West Boothbay Harbor, Maine
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