This “must watch” video shows that unless urgent action is taken the U.S. could be heading for a nuclear catastrophe comparable to Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi.

The investigation by Joe Rubin and Serene Fang of the Center for Investigative Reporting presents the serious inadequacies in Nuclear Regulator Commission (NRC) safety oversite of America’s aging nuclear power plants and the struggle for states’ to have a voice in their own destiny. The NRC routinely extends licenses for these plants while ignoring serious safety issues.

The NRC has come under fire for glossing over the potential dangers of aging reactors and for becoming too cosy with the industry, which critics in the U.S. Senate and elsewhere say seriously hampers its ability to ensure safety.

The investigation starts with the aftermath of the on-going March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, then focuses on three nuclear power plants that represent the dangers posed by nuclear power plants in the U.S.

• • Diablo Canyon, located 12 miles WSW of San Luis Obispo,  California. Owned by Pacific Gas & Electric
  • Indian Point, located 24 miles North of New York City. Owned by Entergy Nuclear Operations.
  • Vermont Yankee, located 5 miles South of Brattleboro, Vermont. Owned by Entergy Nuclear Operations.

[Note: The San Onofre nuclear power plant, located near San Clemente, CA, is not included in this investigation. However, it should be noted that San Onofre has the worst record of NRC safety allegations of all U.S. nuclear power plants, is located next to an earthquake fault capable of an 8.0 earthquake (10 times more powerful than the 7.0 plant design), is in a tsunami zone and has over 8 million people living within a 50 mile radius — with no viable evacuation plan.]

Key interviews and comments by:

• • Former FEMA executive Barry W. Scanlon
  • U.S. Geological Society geophysicist Jeanne Hardebeck
  • Riverkeeper’s Phillip Musegaas
  • California U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer
  • California State Senator Sam Blakeslee
  • NRC Commission Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko
  • Legal consultant for New York and Vermont Anthony Roisman 
  • New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Danger Zone: Aging Nuclear Reactors video

Direct video link to Danger Zone: Aging Nuclear Reactors