Tales of Chernobyl

Last summer, Brighton resident Mark Resnicoff walked into the heart of the Chernobyl power plant that exploded in 1986, and has stories to share about his experience.

Resnicoff will discuss his exploration in the former Soviet Union today in a program called "Chernobyl: The Aftermath," at the Brighton District Library.

The program, which will include a discussion and photo presentation of Resnicoff's experiences, is part of the Livingston County Crossroads Group of the Sierra Club's program series.

A reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, Ukraine, was destroyed by explosions in April 1986, releasing massive amounts of radioactivity into the air, and causing a mass evacuation of residents and far-reaching health hazards.

Resnicoff spent two days in June exploring the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, an area that is still unsafe to live in 20 years after the worst nuclear disaster in history.

In addition to his interest in the subject, Resnicoff has familial ties to Kiev, Ukraine's capital, located about 60 miles south of the plant.

"I just thought it would sort of be neat seeing that area, knowing my family came roughly from the area. But that was sort of secondary to the trip," he explained. "I wanted to learn more and I also wanted to experience the area. I knew going in that the area is not a nuclear wasteland like what a lot of people think."

The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone includes portions of both Ukraine and Belarus. Resnicoff primarily toured the Ukrainian portion of the zone.

In most cases, his group, led by a guide, didn't have to change or dispose of clothing, unless they chose to, Resnicoff said, though "contamination checks" were conducted regularly.

He and his tour mates were given protective suits to wear during a tour of the plant, which included a stop in the control room to see the remains of the reactor that exploded in the 1986 disaster.

Resnicoff said his discussion of Chernobyl is timely, considering countries continue to pursue construction of new nuclear power plants.