2 Investigators: Zion's Nuclear Legacy

The tax base has gone down since a nuclear power plant closed 19 years ago. A nuclear waste dump remains. CBS 2's Brad Edwards reports.

[@HeyU308]

Currently the waste is 100% contained, no radiation emitted in safe containers. It’s common to store on site at all plants and there has never been an issue globally doing so. Go down the shore to Waukegan and the coal ash waste emits radiation and is toxic. Nuclear waste by comparison is extremely small. The waste can also be recycled into mox and reused in other types of reactors. The site in Zion should get a new plant, I lived within a mile, had relatives that worked there. A class 3 or 4 reactor would be an very good long term investment for energy security.

[@bradfisher4782]

I think the cleanup is being handled wonderfully. The waste needs to go. One would think even a basic warehouse structure would make it easier to secure and less of an eyesore, but it should be buried in a mountain or the desert. I guess a Springfield vs Shelbyville regarding lost revenue, but perhaps the town should have thought before using eminent domain to build a Nuke Plant in the middle of a State Park that severely limits land use. The high dive and skating rink are gone now, and perhaps some better foresight would have fared better. I didn’t mind the plant growing up, and do miss the thriving city, especially with the beautiful Christmas displays. Things certainly were a lot simpler then. I hope they can lower taxes and make good use of the lakefront. I’d love to see a cash flow for IBSP. Here’s an idea. The State sells the land back. People can make good use of it and fund unpaid tax liabilities.

[@jamesluck2969]

Sounds like alot of misinformation and pointing fingers from the municipalities side. I'd suggest they talk to the NRC about the waste, and maybe not hold all of their eggs in one basket when it comes to a major business in their community

[@briantunzi2462]

2 DAMN CLOSE TO THE LAKE! ? WHAT WHERE THEY THINKING? I WAS THERE IN THE 70s & ALMOST DIED 2 TIMES , ASK ME HOW?

[@portagepete1]

Did the radiation almost kill ya? what are they thinking? what if this gets in the drinking water!!! Lake Michigan.

[@HeyU308]

You could swim in the reactor tank itself and not be harmed at all. Water is an insulator which is why you can look into the reactor core, radiation does not get absorbed into water. You know little about your fears.