[punster]

One thing to consider:

It would be very difficult for someone to steal a spent fuel rod. Why? The radiation level is very high, even as much as 100,000 REM per hour next to the rod.

Remember the LD-50/30 for humans is about 500 REM. The LD-50/7 (days) is about 1000 REM. For effective doses over 5000 REM, the mean survival time is in the matter of hours, and the survival time decreases with increasing dose. In fact, for doses over 5000 REM, the individual is almost instantly incapacitated.

Without shielded remote handling equipment and a heavily shielded cask, the thief would not survive the attempt to steal the fuel rod.

[Vinnie]

Yeah, I was about to post that anyone that stole the rods in 1979 has long been dead.