Radiation detectors are incredibly sensitive and can detect even a single atom decaying. If there were a major radiological release people around the world would see it.

Two US nuclear submarines have gone down, the Thresher and the Scorpion. Neither was due to the nuclear power plant, and so far they have kept the radiation contained.

> so far

That says everything.

Keep in mind that the favorite method of waste disposal during the early history of nuclear energy was dropping containers into the ocean. This dumping strategy hinged on the dilution of the material in huge quantities of water. The strategy was successful but particularly unpopular.

If the containment on these reactors was lost, the effect would be measurable due to the sensitivity of such detectors, but literally a drop in the bucket of waste disposed of into the ocean.

http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2017/ph241/jones-a2/

> having critical civic infrastructure controlled by the military

Hasn't that ship already sailed, with the Army Corps of Engineers being responsible for all dikes in the US?