RJA #9b: Argument: "Is Nuclear Power Safe?": ENG 1020

Reason 1: Environmentally Safe
Warrant: Doesn't contribute to Global Warming and air pollution that is caused by other forms of power.
Evidence 1: No greenhouse gases
Warrant: No Carbon Dioxide or Sulfur Dioxide is released
Evidence 2: Doesn't require major mining
Warrant:Uranium is used in small amounts compared to coal and oil
Evidence 3: All wastes are stored in areas that won't effect the environment
Warrant: Any waste created is stored in Underground bunkers that protect it from entering the environment, and water tables

Reason 2: Cost Effective
Warrant: Requires very few resources
Evidence 4: Standardization of all parts and procedures
Warrant: IAEA requires plants to operate under set guidelines and use standard parts which keeps costs down.
Evidence 5: Plants can be operated by a minimal staff
Warrant: Once reaction occurs computer control just about everything
Evidence 6: No major environmental impacts to clean up
Warrant: Only one accident required an environmental clean up

Reason 3: Long lasting resource
Warrant: Resource can be used for thousands of years before depletion of resources
Evidence 7: Reaction can occur for years
Warrant: a small amount or uranium can be used for several years before it has to be stored as waste
Evidence 8: Can be reused
Warrant: Can be reprocessed after dissolved in acid and reused in plants or other equipment that is driven by nuclear energy
Evidence 9: easy managed
Warrant: resource can be regulated so that the reaction lasts longer

Reason 4: Very little health risk
Warrant:Protection is in place to prevent exposure to radiation
Evidence 10: Massive safety systems are in place
Warrant: Plants have systems that detect treats to people and will immediately warn them
Evidence 11: Transport of waste is safe
Warrant: Waste is transported in containers that are designed to survive the worst of impacts or explosions
Evidence 12: Plants are built away from cities
Warrant: With the plants being placed outside of populated areas there is no health risk from the plant itself

Objection 1: Accidents occur all the time
Refutation 1: The last accident that occurred at a Nuclear Power plant never threatened the population since the safety systems immediately shut down the plant to prevent a major accident

Objection 2: Nuclear Power Plants are to expensive
Refutation 2: While Nuclear power is expensive to operate, when you compare it to the overall costs that coal and other forms of energy cost you find that nuclear energy comes out cheaper in the long run and will not need to be substituted since it is so abundant.

Objection 3: Nuclear Power Plants Cause Cancer
Refutation 3: While Nuclear Power Plants do produce radiation that can cause cancer several safety systems are in place to make sure that the population is never exposed to radiation and the workers are check monthly to make sure they haven't been exposed to levels that could cause cancer.

Qualifiers: The Use of Nuclear Power as an alternative to other forms of power, health issues it has caused, and how much safer it is compared to other forms of power