Chernobyl, 22 Years Later

Exploring The Rubble Of The World's Largest Nuclear Disaster

(CBS)  Twenty-two years after the world's worst nuclear accident, radiation danger at Chernobyl is still so severe that a 16-mile area remains sealed - reached only through two checkpoints. CBS News correspondent Bill Plante was allowed inside with a camera crew.

The meltdown left a simmering stew of toxic radioactivity under the rubble, covered by a hastily built shelter that's crumbling.

"There's still a massive inventory of radionucleides inside the shelter - and the shelter is far from being airtight," said project manager Laurin Dodd.

Work is finally underway on a permanent solution, but Chernobyl today is still a very dangerous place.

Special protective clothing is required. The radiation level is so high that you can't stay long.

The construction equipment cabs have lead sheeting; every bucket of rubble is monitored for radiation.

The solution, 10 years in the planning, is an enormous steel arch, to be built in sections, then moved on tracks over the reactor.

At 345 feet, it'll be taller than the statue of liberty - and wider, at 840 feet, than the St. Louis Gateway Arch.

Not only is the project huge, but so is the cost: almost $1.5 billion. And the United States is the largest-single country donor. Why? Not just to help Ukraine, but also to help guarantee the future of nuclear power.

"Nuclear power will always have a shadow over it as long as Chernobyl is a message of concern," said U.S. ambassador to Ukraine William B. Taylor.

CBS News was on the site less than 10 minutes when one member of the group went over his exposure limit.

"Right now the dose rate is 200 times the background of what you'd have in Washington, D.C.," Dodd said.

The steel arch is supposed to keep the radiation contained for at least 100 years - while future generations figure out how to dispose of the mess.

[SUNSHINE2940]

Our nation is in a recession and we are giving 1.5 billion away? When will we take care of our own?

[jehovahwtnss]

Hey guyfrompa45, no need to be so vitriolic, it''s a free country isn''t it? Feelfree1 can say what he wants and I guess you''re from the USA or somewhere like that right?

[ianlou]

Watch the Documentary "Chernobyl Heart" it''s scarier than the movie "The Hills have Eyes".

[sweetreeeed]

'' .. the stock holders are happy for we are trying to succeed at feeding the world by first refusing almost all volunteers, and then making everyone pay for lunch .. as well we are investing enourmusly in the spanking of lazy naked kids that show at the trail crossings for to hold hands with sick beds and weave bouquets of free food and medicine for each and all forever and ever more .. too we have succeeded in failing to produce qualified producets by producing products ourselfs and refusing to shopgift the answers to the questions asked by the unqualified producets that seek a consult .. to round out the top four, instead of offering to pay off the defaulted debts to others by investing in ourselfs a small refundable up-front deposit, we have accepted relatively infinite debt by selling stocks with all but a promise to pay dividends forever though the vast majority what make such promises inevitably bankrupt within a few short years .. and in closure, we''re taking all the market share tax money armor weapons alcohol and parades away from the smallest children and babys and giving it to the soldiers, for soldiers don''t tend to starve to death and smallest children and babys do .. ''

[ramos937]

President Truman used every means possible to get Japan to surrender. Truman was given an extensive briefing as to what lay ahead in terms of American and Japanese lives if we invaded the Japanese mainland. Millions on both sides would have lost. Given this scenario, he ordered the first bomb dropped. Afterwards, the USA tried everything to get the Japanese to surrender but the military still would not. Truman then ordered the second bomb dropped. When the Japanese emperor saw the devastation on both cities, he ordered an immediate surrender. Had he done that after the first bomb, he could have saved thousands of lives.
Truman never really lost sleep over his decision. He knew it was the right thing to do.

Also, a little known poscript. Truman did not consider the surrender official until he received it in writing from the Emperor. The Emperior sent it via Western Union. When it finally got to Washington DC, it was given to a young delivery boy to take to the WH where Truman and his people were anxiously waiting for it. Along the way, the WU boy stopped for a sandwich and to flirt with a counter girl. He left the surrender on the counter, went some miles before discovering his mistake. He went back and they had to look for it until it was found. He then delivered it to the WH where he was met by some angry secret service types. Truman was getting to think he was being double crossed but all was right once he got the telegram.

[ramos937]

Not only is the project huge, but so is the cost: almost $1.5 billion. And the United States is the largest-single country donor. Why? Not just to help Ukraine, but also to help guarantee the future of nuclear power.
_________________________________________

Uncle sucker......that is us...

[hungryfreak0]

Not only is the project huge, but so is the cost: almost $1.5 billion.

Putin and Bush should just call CDI and have them blow it up and blame some enemy.

[tbweb]

The scary thing is if a nuclear accident did this much damage, imagine an intentional nuclear detonation by any nation! Yet some nations continue to threaten the once unimaginable!

[newsterl]

"he steel arch is supposed to keep the radiation contained for at least 100 years - while future generations figure out how to dispose of the mess."

Yeah, WE donate a large chunk of the $1.5 BILLION, and then this whole thing will simply cover the mess for the next crowd to deal with in 100 years, NICE

[ndjam]

Chernobyl was the biggest disaster in the history of this planet. Still today people are dying in the Ukraine because of it.

[runningralph]

Feelfree1,
You make a valid point that the Japanese might disagree. But while it was a disaster for Japan it was a huge success for the Allies. And, if the Allies had used conventional bombs it might have been worse for the Japanese. But I can see where they might disagree.

[feelfree1]

Re: "Exploring The Rubble Of The World''s Largest Nuclear Disaster"

You sure about that, CBS?

Cuz, I suspect that maybe a few Japanese folks might disagree.