The leak at the French plant this a.m.

[AshevilleKate]

I have to admire the French (something I cannot always do!) for at least admitting there was an explosion at a nuclear plant.

I am glad that our former president is not in office, of course, for this and the Japan disaster, because he only dealt in nu-cue-lar physics, not nuclear ones. It would have been necessary to send in someone who could speak the English language beyond a 3rd grade reader to let him know the possible significance. (I say that with an apology to the 3rd graders.)

I do have to wonder, just a little...they instantly tell us there is no leak. Could they have spin doctors there that are as capable of "selling the Eiffel Tower to the public" as our politicians are of regularly "selling us the Brooklyn Bridge"?

Keep on smiling folks --

For what it's worth --

Peace out!

[MineralMan]

1. Was there a leak? I don't think we know that there was

at this point. We know there was an explosion, but we don't know if there was a leak of radioactive material. At this point, the word is that there was not. That could change, but there is no information regarding any leak.

[Yo_Mama]

4. Apparently not

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Explosion_at_French_waste_site_1209111.html

The explosion and fire occurred at a furnace used to melt metals with low levels of contamination for disposal packaging. It's not at a nuclear plant:

This includes items such as used equipment, components, filters and clothing from power plants, universities research sites and hospitals. The EDF-operated facility is located in the commune of Codolet, adjacent to but separate from the CEA's Marcoule nuclear research site.

[MineralMan]

5. Thanks. I had seen a previous story that said there was no

leak, as well. I wish people would be more careful with their post titles. Why introduce errors when information is available?

[Yo_Mama]

6. Some of the original articles were wrong

The confusion is because there is a nuclear plant near this waste treatment facility. An explosion at that site would be extremely alarming!

I'm sure everyone convulsed at the news - the difference is that I have some news sites for nuclear industry news bookmarked, so I was able to quickly find out what was really going on. I certainly freaked at the first headline I saw!!!

[MineralMan]

9. Whenever I see breaking news about a nuclear site, I check to

see what the real story is before panicking. The first stories posted here on DU are almost always overblown. Once there is corroboration about what happened, we usually find out that the story is somewhat different. In this case, further checking reveals that there was no radiation leak. It's always best to check.

[Yo_Mama]

11. A wise rule

Frequently the reporters don't understand enough about the news to report it accurately.

[WhiteTara]

2. Welcome to DU.

We love links. I don't know about this explosion and your link to the actual news is always welcome.

[bigwillq]

3. Hello.

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Zoeisright]

7. Wait, I thought those French reactors were 150% safe, or something!

At least, that's what I've read here.

Guess not.

[dipsydoodle]

8. That's a really interesting comment.

To which reactor do you refer ? Have you actually read the news item ?

The plant's owner, national electricity provider EDF, said it had been "an industrial accident, not a nuclear accident", which was under control.

There are no nuclear reactors at the southern French site.

>

The EDF spokesman said the furnace affected had been burning waste, including fuels, tools and clothing which had been used in nuclear energy production but had only very low levels of radiation.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14883521

[Codeine]

10. Not a plant. Not a leak.

Hysteria Fail.