Helen caldicott has an answer for this example that would seem to paint nuclear waste problems in a safer light. I saw her speak recently at the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair in central Wisconsin. She said that these past occurences of increased environmental radioactivity were the cause of increased mutation that accelerated evolution. Of course along with that evolution a lot of recessive, unsuccessfull mutations were created as well. Do we want a world in which massive genetic disease is the norm? 1600 genetic diseases are known right now. The pain and suffering from that radiation release in the past was due to natural forces, uncontrollable by human kind. We are talking about easily avoidable radiatiobn release now. Just stop nuclear power, clean up the mess, and go to clean, safe renewable alternatives like wind, water, solar power, conservation, and plugin vehicles. Are exponentialy increasing genetic disease rates due to unecessary human release of radiation an acceptable situation? Ask those suffering from genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis and their loved ones about that. I think they would answer no. Stop nuclear contamination now.