I wrote that if I were Rossi, I would inform the NRC and ask for an
operating license for a nuclear fusion reactor. I'm not kidding, I
would! Two reasons:
1. I am stickler for the rules. This is a nuclear reactor, after all.
2. As Noone Noone points out, it is a win-win situation. If they say
"yes" they acknowledge that cold fusion is a real nuclear effect, and if
they say "no" . . . they also acknowledge that cold fusion is a real
nuclear effect. What else can that mean? The only bad answer is "leave
us alone; don't bother us with a fake device." That's not too bad
either. No harm.
The worst that can happen is the NRC tells you cannot operate this
nuclear reactor in the U.S. So, you inform the mass media that Uncle Sam
agrees you have a nuclear reactor. You pack it up, ship it to Greece,
and test it there instead.
Win-win!
As I said before, as far as I know, the NRC would not think of
confiscating the thing. They have no right do to that. If it were
radioactive some other agency might confiscate it. I wouldn't know which
one. I guess the state of Florida Dept. of Health:
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/radiation/radmat1.htm
The NRC's role and responsibilities can be found at http://nrc.gov
<http://nrc.gov/materials/sp-nucmaterials.html>
QUOTE
"The NRC regulates peaceful use of special nuclear material through
licensing and oversight of licensee operations."
See the page "how we regulate":
http://nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory.html
Nothing resembling confiscation here. The closest thing is that they can
ask questions and demand answers: "Generic Communications
<http://nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/gencomms.html> - sending applicants
and licensees information about events or requests for information about
regulatory requirements, some of which require response." They can
conduct investigations, which perhaps means they can issue something
like a search warrant.
My guess is that no laws or regulations in the U.S. cover the use of a 1
MW nuclear fusion reactor manufactured by a private company. It is
without precedent, and the bureaucracy will have no earthly idea how to
deal with it. For that reason it will probably be invisible to the
bureaucracy.
- Jed
