Does This Make You Nervous?

It makes me nervous:

The United States plans to produce highly radioactive plutonium 238 for the first time since the Cold War, The New York Times reported on Monday.

The newspaper quoted project managers as saying most, if not all, of the new plutonium was intended for secret missions. The officials would not disclose details, but the newspaper said the plutonium in the past powered espionage devices.

The Times said Timothy Frazier, head of radioisotope power systems at the U.S. Energy Department, vigorously denied in a recent interview any of the classified missions would involve nuclear arms, satellites or weapons in space.

"The real reason we're starting production is for national security," Frazier was quoted as saying.

Staring production of 330 pounds of plutonium 238 (which is hundreds of times more radioactive than plutonium 239, the version used in nuclear arms) at a cost which could reach at least $1.5 billion and generate over 50,000 drums of hazardous and radioactive waste, is for national security, but it’s not for arms, satellites, or weapons in space. Okay…

Federal and private experts not connected to the project were quoted as saying the new plutonium would likely power devices for espionage under the sea and on land.

Why am I starting to picture a submarine in the shape of Karl Rove, a la Dr. Evil?

Oh, and good news for Idahoans: this will all be done at the Idaho National Laboratory—but don’t worry, it’s not that dangerous. As long as you can avoid every last speck of it.

Medical experts say inhaling even a speck posed a serious risk of lung cancer, the Times said.

Classic.