Portfolio

English 106 Portfolio via Power Point 2003

Annotated Bibliography

American Nuclear Society. "GNEP: Four industry teams receive funding for design studies." Nuclear News Novemeber 2007: 69-72.

This source contains information regarding finances that the DOE has awarded to GNEP for technology development.

I will use this source for a couple of reasons. First it explains the goal of GNEP and possible roles of future fuel recycling centers. Also, this article will help explain the future of fuel recycling.


—. "GNEP: NRC approves licensing preparation plans." Nuclear News August 2007: 42-44, 128.

This source contains an article with three important sections. First, it discusses the licensing process of Yucca Mountain. Next, the transport of low level waste, and third, a bill proposed by Nevada's Republican Senator which will aide in its construction. I will contrast this with Nevada's Democratic Senator who is the head of the Senate.

I will use the licensing section to display one of Yucca Mountain's many challenges, as well as its progress. Transporting low level waste (LLW) happens frequently, and its complications shed a small light on the issue of transporting spent fuel (HLW) to future repository sites. The last section will show some of the political challenges.


—. "Legislation: Bipartisan bill aids Yucca Mountain and new plant construction." Nuclear News October 2007: 70, 75-77.

This source contains key information on Yucca Mountain's financing.

I will use this source to show the importance of getting the maximum value out of the Yucca Mountain investment.


—. "Plutonium Disposition: DOE looks into possible vitrification plant at SRS." Nuclear News May 2007: 49-50,55-56.

This article explains the process of turning plutonium into glass. It also discusses the possibility of a plant at the Savannah river site.

Plutonium disposal is the most important issue regarding reprocessing nuclear waste. Vitrification is a process to solve this issue. I will use this article to discuss the finances and techniques involved in the process.


—. "Watts Bar: TVA board votes to finish Unit 2." Nuclear News September 2007: 11-15, 19-20.

This article explains the most probable new nuclear power plant in this country.

Though this plant began construction in the 80's, it was never finished and will most probably be the first new nuclear plant in operation in the US today. I will also discuss Brown's Ferry coming online this year, and the importance of solving the waste management issue.


—. "Yucca Mountain: DOE reports summarize public comments about repository." Nuclear News July 2007: 52-54, 61.

This article gives an excellent description of the political view.

I will use this source to explain the public opinion of the repository in Nevada. Public and political support and uniquely tied, and their cohesiveness of opinion is essential for eliminating repository road blocks.


—. "Yucca Mountain: DOE touts assessment." Nuclear News February 2008: 48-50.

This article touches more on Yucca Mountain finances.

Money is the root of every problem and solution faced by today's energy industry. I will use this article to show the magnitude of DOE's investment in Yucca Mountain and again, the importance of maximizing the stakeholder's return.


Fentiman, Audeen, PhD. Interview. Robert Jackson. 8 April 2008.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Professor Fentiman, and this is the most important source on this page. She assisted me in finding many of my sources, as well as shedding a key professional opinion on many of my questions and opinions.

I will use this interview to touch on many subjects in the introduction and subsequent conclusion. Some points I will make do not require sprawling detail included by citations of some of the other sources. The interview citations will serve as a broad overview to many of the additional points I will make. Also, for a visual display I will take a picture of Prof. Fentiman. She deserves all the credit she will let me give her.


Clayton, Mark. "Terror Risks of Nuclear Fuel." 16 March 2006. Christian Science Monitor. 8 April 2008 .

An interesting choice of sources, but Mr. Clayton describes the UREX and PUREX processes perfectly. Also, many risks are explained which will lead to my rebuttals.

UREX is the new technology that will revolutionize nuclear fuel reprocessing. PUREX is the current method. As a skeptic, Clayton shows me exactly what I need to rebut. The point of this source is for me to "know my enemy".


Global Nuclear Energy Partnership. US Department of Energy. 2008. 8 April 2008 .

GNEP is the world alliance on nuclear reprocessing. This website gives more details on the subject to list.

I will show how the United States is not in this proposal alone. Like in war, we have allies and our ability to unite is essential for gaining public opinion here. Other countries have proven that they can reprocess effectively, though ironically, we developed the technology that they currently use. I found through my interview that the production of plutonium in PUREX is not an accident; it's just only inconvenient when you're not trying to make bombs.


Living on Earth. "Recycling Nuclear Waste." 10 March 2006. Living on Earth Public Radio. 8 April 2008 .

This source explains some of the Bush administrations future goals regarding reprocessing and UREX. Also, it is a radio interview containing much information on the technology.

I will use this source to explain the UREX process in its respective paragraph. Also, the Bush administration's goals and future hopes will be discussed in the conclusion.


Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. US Department of Energy. 14 January 2008. 8 April 2008 .

This website contains an excellent illustration of the total fuel cycle. It also contains a paragraph to explain the graphics.

I will include the graphical display as a visual description in my media. The fuel cycle is drastically important to explain the overall process in the introduction for reader education. This will also show why this infrastructure is essential to the future operation of the nuclear industry.

Research Plan

My field of inquiry is nuclear engineering. I plan to argue that reprocessing spent nuclear fuel is a safe, proven method that could help increase the capacity of Yucca Mountain furthering its useful life.


I have identified three journals from which I’d like to draw my information: Nuclear News Periodical, Radwaste Solutions, and Nuclear Science and Engineering. Additionally, I will be interviewing Dr. Fentiman of the department of nuclear engineering here at Purdue.


Intro: In this section I will discuss the proposal to include background information. My focus will not be on Yucca Mountain but on the reduction of heat that occurs through reprocessing.
Source: Radwaste, Interview


Main point 1: European countries reprocess with successful results.
Support 1: Reduction in waste storage (NS&E)
Support 2: % of Nuclear power by each country (Nuclear News)
Support 3: Discuss the required guarding of weapons grade plutonium (wherever I can find information on that, it might be hard)


Main point 2: Urex technology does not produce weapons grade plutonium.
Support 1: Process, facts, testing (Radwaste)
Support 2: Financial Analysis of the process (Internet)


Main point 3: Yucca Mountain is an expensive investment that is costing everyone lots of money. Increasing its capacity is in the best interest of taxpayers and the energy industry.
Support 1: History (Internet)
Support 2: Case study, Prairie Island. (XCEL Energy website)
Support 3: Current planned capacity and the limitations placed on it (Radwaste, Interview)
Support 4: DOE Lawsuits and financial implications of having to build another repository (All sources).


Conclusion: I will restate the problem and the solutions provided by technology. I will discuss the current law preventing reprocessing fuel and a call to action to change it.

In-Class Essay 3

As a stakeholder in the nuclear energy industry, I have a vested interest in helping solve the problem of nuclear waste management. This is the single most important issue that my industry faces today, and I believe that reprocessing spent fuel is the most logical solution. For example, Prairie Island may be forced to discontinue operation if the state does not approve the addition of a new storage cask because the U.S. Department of Energy is still years away from hauling what is already present to Yucca Mountain. What I bring to the table is not revolutionary, but I believe the connection between these two pressing issues (Yucca Mountain and reprocessing) has not been discussed thoroughly. Sometimes if you can convince the public that solving one problem will help solve another, they are generally more interested.

My passion is in nuclear power operations. The words, “The reactor is critical,” followed by the deafening sound of steam marching down the propulsion plant echo in my head as I write this today. The amazing power of nuclear energy has to be harnessed to its maximum extent to free this country of our self-induced dependence on the oil industry. Each time I bring a reactor critical I am single-handedly adding to a problem which currently does not have a solution. For me, there could be no more subjects more important to my future, and there is no better fit for a research proposal essay.

Yucca Mountain depository is a money sponge that has created many problems for the DOE, so much that most of the energy companies in the U.S. have sued their own government for breach of contract. With each passing deadline, the DOE must pay for their broken promises. The problem is that our energy companies have already paid for a product they have not received – Yucca Mountain. The alarming part of this issue is that under our current regulations the empty depository is already full. The heat from the unprocessed nuclear fuel is predicted to be great enough to fill Yucca Mountain to its capacity as soon as the transfer is complete. My proposed connection to these problems, reprocess so Yucca Mountain can serve us for many decades to come, solves two problems at once and may be the leverage Washington needs to reverse the 30 year old law banning this process. Most importantly, I am passionate about this idea, and I believe the product I produce will not only be an excellent paper, but will maybe even help my industry.

Common Sense

The proposal rejecting the English monarch in Common Sense is one of the most motivating historical documents ever written. The call for action and explanations listed in it helped educate and unite the American people. Thomas Paine touched on issues relevant to that time such as comparing and justifying his case in a biblical context. Despite the old English voice, Common Sense illustrates the importance of proposal rhetoric and sets the standard for future comparison.

It is interesting to note that Paine is an advocate for government, but not in monarchy form. He states that it is essential for man's security. This piece is written so well that I wish we still spoke in a similar fashion. To illustrate both points, "Wherefore, security being the true design and end of government, it unanswerably follows that whatever form thereof appears most likely to ensure it to us, with the least expense and greatest benefit, is preferable to all others" (Paine). Security is the design and the people desire this result at the least cost. This still holds true today in our government because the American public demands every liberty given by the smallest amount of political intervention. Our security is the cornerstone of these wants and needs.

In big bold letters, Paine states that the ELECTED should never separate themselves from the wishes of the ELECTOR. Have we forgotten this issue today? That answer can be saved for a future essay, but his point is that leaving this responsibility to a single person, a monarch, is a travesty. One person, one human person can very easily be subject to their own selfish wishes easily losing sight of those of the ELECTOR (especially if he or she was never elected). Divine right may be an absurd notion today, but people in that day really believed that the monarch’s rule was God’s will. Paine attacks this belief on the same religious context, rebutting it.

It is my belief that the people of colonial days respected the value of religion much more than the general public today. The resulting feelings on the subject are irrelevant, but Paine understood this and attacked the reader where he or she would be most attentive. Religious issues in those days usually resulted in someone dying, not just in political groaning. “In the early ages of the world, according to the scripture chronology there were no kings; the consequence of which was, there were no wars; it is the pride of kings which throws mankind into confusion” (Paine). This statement rung through my ears because I did not know that monarchy is a new practice. Also, kings were considered divine but only divinity is without pride. Paine uses religious evidence to persuade the reader to consider a new way of thinking, which is an extremely difficult accomplishment.

In his final two paragraphs, Paine uses relevant and current information to motivate the reader. He brings the issue to their front door forcing them to generate a feeling and a connection on the subject. For example, he states that he has not met a man that does not think that a separation will occur someday; American colonies have governed themselves for years without British rule. In a last example, though there are many more, Paine states that British intervention is motivated by money and not by good intentions, and unfortunately, I don’t know if our democracy has totally cleared up this issue. In his call to action he makes the reader care, most specifically by bringing these issues to their front door step. Common Sense is an excellent proposal and its format is still relevant today.

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

Tech Friday

Frank Fortunato

YouTube Homepage

Purdue vs. Loyola (Ice hockey is sport's gift to the world)






Man Battlestations!

Spring Break

Spring break began with a very long, but relaxing drive to Florida. Well, everything after the blizzard in southern Indiana was relaxing at least. I took my dog because I'm not to sure if I can go a week without her. I'm totally screwed when I go to sea; she and I are absolutely best friends. She has lots of spunk but minds most of the time. My wife and I looked like ghosts compared to my parents. This sunshine striken state has not been kind to the skin color over the winter. I spent 5 days fishing, swimming, eating and drinking - sometimes all at the same time. Florida was fun, the fish were delicious and I can't wait to go back. How long until the semester ends?

Picture of the dog and I

Picture of dinner