GUILFORD — My husband, Richard Gottlieb, died Feb. 15, 2012 from multiple myeloma, with a secondary (more devastating) soft-tissues disease caused by that bone cancer: amyloidosis, which affected his swallowing mechanism and his heart. The damage to his heart proved fatal when his heart stopped on that day after Valentine's Day.
When it was announced that strontium-90 was found in the wells at the Vermont Yankee plant, I did some research and found that this calcium-seeking toxin gets into the ground and groundwater. Then, through grass and other plants that animals and humans eat, it gets to human bone tissue.
Although I'm not absolutely certain, I highly suspect that the effects of strontium-90 caused my husband's cancer.
Over the years we have been big supporters of the localvore movement, buying and eating and drinking many products grown here in Windham County and the tri-state area. We drank milk, ate vegetables, fruit, cheese, chicken, meat, yogurt, and ice cream - all grown and produced locally.
The major work force impacted by this particular kind of cancer are workers in the oil refinery business, but Richard lived in southern Vermont for nearly 40 years and was in the solar energy business.
I urge all who are involved in this nuclear plant to decommission it as soon as possible, to remove and remediate all the toxic materials in the ground, in the groundwater and in the aquifers under the property, and inside the buildings.
Two recommendations:
1. The dry-cask containers for spent fuel are in a “temporary location,” but most likely they will become permanent. They need to be treated and secured now so no harm will come to the community if they are disrupted.
2. In 60 years, none of us who attended the recent NRC hearing will be alive to deal with this closed and toxic nuclear plant and its surroundings.
We have absolutely no way to predict the health of the economy in 60 years. So please use the funds that are available to decommission this nuclear plant now.