The Atomic Show

I was on the Eastern Idaho (NRTS) dessert the night of the SLll-1 incident.  I worked late that day.  During the weeks that followed the truth of what happened came out.  If anything was hidden from me or my colleagues, it surely wasn't something that Tucker knew.  His book is trash!

I was on the Eastern Idaho (NRTS) dessert the night of the SLll-1 incident.  I worked late that day.  During the weeks that followed the truth of what happened came out.  If anything was hidden from me or my colleagues, it surely wasn't something that Tucker knew.  His book is trash!   Clearly, he will make money on the book, and I guess he's one who only cares about that and isn't concerned with the truth.  For him to suggest that a modern nuclear power plant is a descendant of SL-1, in terms of technology is a direct admission of his ignorance of modern reactors.  What happened at SL-1 could not possibly happen in  today's nuclear generating stations.  Absurd!

I was a Health Physicist for the US Atomic Energy Commission's Idaho Operations Office from 1960 to 1965, and was at the site within 5 hours after the incident.  I helped set up the emergency control point approximately 1 mile from the SL-1 facility, and was the first Health Physicist to make a radiation survey of the post-incident facility, at approximately 6 a.m., January 4, 1961.  I was actively involved in the recovery of the third body and all of the recovery actions by the USAEC and its contractors until the reactor vessel was shipped to a hot laborabory facility at the north end of the site in November 1961.  I have read several of the books written, which the authors claim are based on facts.  I agree wholeheartedly with Mr Scoville.  Mr Tucker's book is pure "sensationalism" trash, as is William McKeown's book "Idaho Falls - The Untold Story of America's First Nuclear Accident."  These books were written, not to tell the truth, but to put money in the authors' pockets.  Sensationalism, half-truths, speculation, and ignorance of the facts are evident throughout to those of us who participated in the incident emergency recovery and cleanup operations!  All persons who participated directly or managed all phases of the emergency and recovery phases were highly trained and dedicated professionals.  Release of radioactivity to the environment was extremely slight, consisting of a few short-lived xenons and radiodines, which rapidly and harmlessly dissipated by dilution and natural decay.  Mr Tucker has to be aware that any resemblance of the SL-1 reactor design to modern power reactor sophistication must be limited to the spelling of the word "reactor."  It sickens me, as a retired former participant in the development of nuclear power to see radicals like these authors recklessly try to sabotage use and further development of one of the great success programs of the last century!!  And shame on Presidents Carter and Clinton for scuttling the US nuclear power program when we need energy so desperately!