SCHENECTADY A nuclear reaction McCarthy wants RPI to move teaching facility from Alco site Reach Gazette reporter Bethany Bump at 395-3107 or bbump@dailygazette.net.
It’s been a resident of Schenectady since the 1950s and a source of vital research for local students since 1964. So why, then, is a practically harmless nuclear research and test reactor owned by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute the subject of a campaign to remove it from the city? The nuclear reactor sits on a parcel of land at the former Alco site along Erie Boulevard, a site that has been heralded in recent years as the local poster child for redevelopment. “I think at this point it doesn’t add anything to the development component there,” Mayor Gary McCarthy said Wednesday. “The location of it, although it’s been there for a long time, is from a bygone era and doesn’t apply to the zoning we’re looking to use in the city today.” The developer that now owns the 60-acre strip of land along the Mohawk River announced plans last week for a new hotel and apartment complex to occupy the riverfront next year. The Galesi Group, the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority, city offi - cials and neighboring towns have all welcomed redevelopment of the land. So with development now moving from the conceptual phase to the just-around-the-corner phase, stakeholders are eyeing the RPIowned reactor warily. TEACHING TOOL The facility is known as the L. David Walthousen Laboratory and is used to teach nuclear engineering students the basics of starting and shutting down a reactor. About 50 students and researchers work at the lab, which uses four fuel pins consisting of enriched uranium pellets to run the low-level reactor. McCarthy first spoke publicly of wanting the reactor out of the city last September. RPI offi cials were set to meet with him and McCarthy said school officials indicated they would make a decision on the fate of the reactor by early 2012. Seven months later, McCarthy has yet to hear what that decision is. “I was hoping they would just announce the process to decommission and move it,” he said Wednesday. “But they have not told me yet.” An RPI official issued a statement that emphasized the reactor is intended only for research experiments and operator training. “Rensselaer owns the site, and operations at the site are regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,” the statement said. “In June of 2011, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission renewed the lab’s facility operating license. This renewal authorizes Rensselaer to operate the lab through June 2031.” McCarthy has said he is looking to take steps now to address the reactor’s fate. He said if he has to, he will “drive up their cost of doing business here.” UNGUARDED FACILITY The reactor is housed in a 40-by 30-foot room, with 12-inch reinforced concrete walls and a roof covered by 2 inches of concrete, five plies of felt, asphalt and gravel. The only obvious security measures are two chainlink fences. It is unknown whether there is camera surveillance at the site. Any potential radiological exposure risk to the public is related to a reactor’s power level and fuel quantity. RPI’s reactor generates 10 watts of electricity — less than that needed to power an incandescent light bulb. McCarthy declined to comment on security at the reactor, other than to say it’s “really the only unguarded facility of its type in the country.” The NRC upped security measures at all nuclear facilities after Sept. 11, 2001. Security requirements, including the use of armed guards, at the facilities vary depending on the amount of nuclear material each possesses. Most universities’ research reactors rely on armed police officers, usually campus police, for security protection. “These officers are on duty and continuously available to respond to the reactor when needed, and are supplemented by local, county and state police,” according to NRC guidelines. There are no guards at the RPI reactor, and an NRC spokesman could not comment on the required security at particular reactors. McCarthy said that with the riverfront site under development he wants to create an atmosphere in which people feel safe. “We need something that would give a level of security to property owners looking to invest on the Galesi site and other property near there,” he said. “I believe I have to take some step to help investors feel secure.” PERCEIVING CONCERN Research and test reactors contain only limited amounts of radioactive material that is not easily dispersed or handled. And because they’re used by universities and research institutions they come designed with plenty of safety features. Despite the fact that it poses relatively low risk to public health or safety, just the perception of living next to a nuclear reactor could hamper development efforts at the former Alco site. It’s hardly a surprise that there’s a negative perception of nuclear reactors, said Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen. But once interested tenants of the old Alco site learn that it’s not a threat, there’s no problem. “This isn’t a functioning reactor,” he said. “There’s no vessel, no core, nothing in the ground. I’ve been in the building, and it’s safe.” The Galesi Group has been deluged with investors interested in seeing the property, he said. “Would it be better for it not to be there? Absolutely,” said Gillen. “But it’s not a big deal. It’s a metal shed. It can be moved. It’s very underwhelming and it hasn’t inhibited interest at the site.” Nevertheless, the facility dates back to the 1950s and is “pretty rudimentary,” he said. “It’s really an antiquated facility. It’s outdated,” he said. “Our thing is, isn’t there a better place to teach these things? It’s not really state-of-the-art at all. It’s an RPI science building that happens to teach these kids literally nuclear science 101.” ............................>>>>......................>>>>.................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00103&AppName=1
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April 27, 2012, 4:50am
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He said if he has to, he will “drive up their cost of doing business here.”
"It hasn't inhibited interest in the site" because there is no interest in the site. They can't sell condos with the DEM insane tax posse, the site floods every Spring and now these DEMS "leaders" want to chase out an RPI facility. Glenville already has a private developer for the hotel. Meanwhile in Implosion City they can't knock down one eyesore, they vote to bond to narrow Erie Boulevard because they are broke and want to force out RPI. Here's what you need at the ALCO site-JOBS. Not more surplus housing, not "national retailers", not another Ghetto Chopper. When are you selling the Trustco HQ?
The reactor should be grand-fathered because it was there long before the city ever dreamed of developing the land. The reactor only generates 10w so there's not enough radioactive material to be a safety concern. The city wants the land that the reactor sits on for development so they want the building gone.
Correct me if I'm wrong - but RPI owns that portion of the property - and as a school, they're tax exempt. What or better, how would he make it more expensive for them?
What would the Clown of Schenectady know abiut this?
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Nevertheless, the facility dates back to the 1950s and is “pretty rudimentary,” he said. “It’s really an antiquated facility. It’s outdated,” he said. “Our thing is, isn’t there a better place to teach these things? It’s not really state-of-the-art at all. It’s an RPI science building that happens to teach these kids literally nuclear science 101.”
All he needs is a striped cap, and some big red shoes to go with his red nose and ability to be so outrageous he makes us all laugh. What does he know about anything other than being a political hatchet man and hack?
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
Same goes for the jct. There won't be any 'substantial' development there with the SI CHEMICAL COMPANY smack dab in the middle!!
Let's see 'em try to tell the SI group to move!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
RPI has billions to fight this. Gary McCarthy sure does know how to make friends. The best investment Schenectady could make is paying for his mouth to be wired shut!
Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid - John Wayne
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RPI has billions to fight this. Gary McCarthy sure does know how to make friends. The best investment Schenectady could make is paying for his mouth to be wired shut!
Interesting that McCarthy believes this 10 watt lightbulb is a main reason people aren't coming to Schenectady.
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"It hasn't inhibited interest in the site" because there is no interest in the site. They can't sell condos with the DEM insane tax posse, the site floods every Spring and now these DEMS "leaders" want to chase out an RPI facility. Glenville already has a private developer for the hotel. Meanwhile in Implosion City they can't knock down one eyesore, they vote to bond to narrow Erie Boulevard because they are broke and want to force out RPI. Here's what you need at the ALCO site-JOBS. Not more surplus housing, not "national retailers", not another Ghetto Chopper. When are you selling the Trustco HQ?
