20 May 2004 - Avila Beach, California - The 440,000-gallon pool holding the nuclear reactor's spent fuel assemblies is seen, one of two pools at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. Each square in the grid holds one spent fuel assembly. Critics argue that the spent fuel pools are an ideal target to terrorists that could use an attack to drain the pool and cause the spent fuel to ignite, resulting in long-term radioactive contamination of California's central coast. Plant operators say the...
more »

20 May 2004 - Avila Beach, California - The 440,000-gallon pool holding the nuclear reactor's spent fuel assemblies is seen, one of two pools at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. Each square in the grid holds one spent fuel assembly. Critics argue that the spent fuel pools are an ideal target to terrorists that could use an attack to drain the pool and cause the spent fuel to ignite, resulting in long-term radioactive contamination of California's central coast. Plant operators say the depth of the pools along with the pool's steel and concrete lining makes the pools nearly invincible. (© 2004 Michael A. Mariant)
« less