Yucca
One of the most controversial issues that surround the Yucca Mountain project is the impact it will have on the surrounding environment and people. Many who are opposed to the repository site are understandably worried since just a little amount of radiation can devastate natural habitats, contaminate groundwater, and lower the quality of air. However, to understand the damages that radiation can cause one first must understand what exactly is radiation. Radiation is basically energy that is transmitted in the forms of waves or particles (Zumdahl 982). There are many types of radiation such as ultraviolet rays from the sun, microwaves, and radio waves. The most harmful type of radiation is gamma rays. Gamma radiation is in the form of high-energy waves and is often found in the radioactive wastes that will be stored at the repository. For humans, this type of radi
However many of the researchers and scientists who performed studies on the mountain said that the project and the radioactive waste material would not harm or affect the environment. Not harmful under normal conditions, the low levels of radiation coming from the casks could still cause people to have constant health difficulties due to repeated and long-term exposure. In addition, their natural habitat, which is located mostly in the Great Basin, would not be affected in any way by the construction of the repository. As such, scientists gathered data showing that the soil at Yucca Mountain has been able to adapt to handling the radiation. "Federal regulations allow a low level of radiation to emanate from the casks" (Transportation). One of the studies showed that the low levels of radiation would not damage the desert wildlife. "A person who stands one yard away from an unshielded spent nuclear fuel assembly could receive a lethal dose of radiation in less than three minutes" (Transportation). Along with the wildlife, the soil and vegetation would not be ravaged due to the radiation. ation is harmful either in low or high dosages. However, scientists noted that all of these animals are more resilient to radiation due to their genetic characteristics of their skin. As stated in the previous section (Science and Engineering), the Yucca Mountain is located at the edge of the Nevada Test Site. They deduced that since the radiation coming from the site is not harmful to humans then it would not be detrimental to the animals. This test site is an area where the Air Force often tests their nuclear weapons. Having 36 species of mammals, 27 types of reptiles and 27 different types of birds, Yucca Mountain contains a variety of wildlife. In terms of the environment, opponents of the project are worried that the radiation emitting from the repository could contaminate the groundwater, deplete the ozone and cause the destruction of natural habitats and their wildlife.
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