Satchel,

Up until 9/11 there was a law that required petro/chemical plants to publish the same type of info. The regs were killed due to secutrity concerns that it would help terrorists pick targets. The "safe room" directions, duct tape and plastic sheeting that the Prez mentioned for terrorists attacks was primarily part of "shelter in place" instructions for those near chemical plants. If you check with your county/parish you should be able to find out if they have an LEPC (Local Emergency Preparedness Comittee) who's job it is to bring together personnel from industry, response, Gov't, and the local populace to evaluate threats, prevent and prepare for incidents. One on which I served was trying to establish an escape route for a community near industry that only had one way in and one way out. I won't provide specifics as that may be too compromising.

Yes, nuclear waste does exist. I would rather it be accepted from foreign countries for disposal here in the U.S. than to let it be disposed of at multiple sites world wide where lesser control may be exercised. Having it under our control means that it's not laying around as possible ammo for a dirty bomb. The current means for dealing with the waste is to dig a big, deep hole and bury the waste in concrete casks until a few dozen half lives have passed. Not truly a satisfactory answer but better than anything else suggested.

By the way you'd have waste dumps one way or another because each oil well drilled comes up with what is known as N.O.R.M. (Normally Occuring Radioactive Material) which must be processed and disposed of. There is also waste from medical use of radioactives (maybe not the same quantity but still radioactive).

Compare nuclear waste to what is generated daily by coal mines, oil and gas rigs. Compare nuclear waste to air pollution from plants and industry that use these fossil fuels. Compare nuclear waste to incidents like EXXON VALDEZ, TORY CANYON, PRESTIGE, NEW CARISSA, TENYO MARU, MOREY CANYON, TREASURE OIL. That doesn't begin to cover the number of smaller spills that go unreported every day.

With the safe guards that are in place on nuclear plants and transportation and disposal of nuclear waste, I'd rather have it.

By the way, I am an environmentalist and its not just a past time, it's my job.