Experiments conducted with a new, giant laser at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory [2]could pose a health and environmental threat to thousands of workers and nearby residents, a local watchdog group warns. Although lab officials say the experiments will be safe after a 10-year environmental review process, Ploughshares grantee Marylia Kelley [3]of Tri-Valley CAREs [4]said, "These experiments will generate radioactive emissions and radioactive waste. So there is a valid environmental concern.” Christopher Paine [5]of the Ploughshares-funded Natural Resources Defense Council [6]also questioned the laser's capabilities, calling the Livermore laser a "disastrous diversion" and the quest for nuclear fusion a luxury unlikely to produce cheap electrical energy.
Links
[1] https://www.ploughshares.org/file/481
[2] https://www.llnl.gov/
[3] http://ploughshares.org/expert/141
[4] http://www.trivalleycares.org/
[5] http://ploughshares.org/expert/249
[6] http://www.nrdc.org/nuclear/default.asp
[7] http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/02/BAPF16R3LT.DTL