NCJ Number
62918
Journal
SCIENCE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS Volume: 30 Issue: 2 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1974) Pages: 16-20
Date Published
1974
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE LIKELIHOOD OF CRIMINAL OR TERRORIST DIVERSION AND USE OF RADIOACTIVE FUEL OR WASTES IS DISCUSSED BY A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST EMPHASIZING THE VULNERABILITY OF FACILITIES AND POPULATIONS.
Abstract
BECAUSE HAZARDOUS NUCLEAR MATERIALS ARE RAPIDLY INCREASING IN AVAILABILITY TO INDUSTRY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO SCRUTINIZE THE SAFETY OF THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY. VIOLENT CRIMES AND TERRORIST ATROCITIES SUGGEST THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL COMMIT HEINOUS DEEDS, AND THE EVENTUAL EMPLOYMENT OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS BY SUCH PEOPLE APPEARS LIKELY. MALEFACTORS OR FANATICS COULD ASSUME RISKS OF RADIATION EXPOSURE INCONCEIVABLE TO RATIONAL PERSONS. INDEED, SEVERAL SUCH INCIDENTS HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED WITHIN THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY, INCLUDING THE THEFT OF RADIOACTIVE IODINE FROM HOSPITALS AND THE SEIZURE OF ATOMIC POWER FACILITIES BY GUERRILLAS. THESE TYPES OF INCIDENTS CAN OCCUR EVEN IF FACILITIES USE EMPLOYEE SCREENING AND ARMED GUARDS. EMPLOYEES OF THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY COULD BE SUBJECTED TO BLACKMAIL OR EXTORTION, MAKING ATOMIC FACILITIES EASY TARGETS FOR MILITARY ATTACKS. CONVENTIONAL BOMBINGS OF WASTE STORAGE AREAS WOULD CONTAMINATE WIDE AREAS OF A COUNTRY. ALTHOUGH PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS ARE NOT LIKELY TO CONSTRUCT ATOMIC EXPLOSIVES, THEY COULD USE THE THREAT OF DISPERSING STOLEN RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL TO HOLD A NATION FOR RANSOM OR TO DEMAND IMMUNITY FROM GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE WITH THEIR REGULAR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. SIMPLE DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE INTO A SEWER SYSTEM COULD CREATE A SERIOUS EMERGENCY. IN THE AFTERMATH OF SUCH AN EMERGENCY, PUBLIC OPINION AGAINST NUCLEAR POWER MIGHT DEMAND THE CLOSURE OF FACILITIES. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)