Anniversary Date: April 26, 1986
In September 2015 a next generation nuclear field engineer from Chicago went to Chernobyl to join the 3,500 workers on site. They are completing the largest movable structure humans have ever built: Tall enough to enclose the Statue of Liberty and wide enough to cover the exploded Unit Four of the Chernobyl power plant including the sarcophagus that was built over the plant in 1986.
Bechtel corporation, the lead contractor, says the $1.3 billion confinement structure will keep water out and radioactive dust and debris in — for at least a century. Radiation levels in some locations are still high enough to cause premature failure of structural materials. The gigantic arch had to be built away from the destroyed power plant because of the high radiation levels. Plans are to move the structure in place later in 2016.
Lucas Hixson kept a diary and took photos of his 10 days at Chernobyl. He wants us to hear his story in honor of the workers who risk their health today to prevent the spread of the enormous debris field that will remain at Chernobyl forever.
Lucas Hixson spoke at De Paul University, Chicago, at an event set up by Dave Kraft from the Nuclear Energy Information Service. Dave and NEIS want us to remember that, unlike all other kinds of accidents nuclear disasters continue to “keep on giving”. As one Russian doctor put it at the 20th anniversary of Chernobyl, “The accident is over. The catastrophe is just beginning.” Such is the case with Fukushima as well.
Lucas Hixson publishes studies of operating and decommissioned nuclear power stations and nuclear weapons facilities across the United States. He also is the managing editor for Enformable Nuclear News, one of the top nuclear industry news services.
Date Recorded: 2016-03-20
Credit: Dale Lehman from WZRD radio, Chicago, recorded this moving and important event.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:00 — 19.9MB)
