***************************************************************** 05/19/04 **** RADIATION BULLETIN(RADBULL) **** VOL 12.120 ***************************************************************** RADBULL IS PRODUCED BY THE ABALONE ALLIANCE CLEARINGHOUSE ***************************************************************** Send News Stories to news@energy-net.org with title on subject line and first line of body NUCLEAR POLICY 1 AFP: US rejects North Korean request for nuclear reactor 2 WT: U.S. considers reactor deal with North Korea - 3 Reuters: U.S. defends China nuclear group support 4 US: Congress to vote today on new nuclear weapons 5 US: East Hampton Independent: No Extra Charge for the East End 6 US: Salt Lake City Weekly: Radioactive Candidate 7 US: The Center for Public Integrity: Hired Guns - 8 AGI: NUCLEAR: FRATTINI ASSURES EL BARADEI ITALY WILL SUPPORT IAEA 9 UK Independent: hastened war 10 ITAR-TASS: Kofi Annan’s envoy to look into situation in North Korea 11 Scoop: President Bush Speaks To AIPAC In Washington 12 Scoop: Brash cares little about facts or Maori 13 Scoop: The Brash-Report - No. 30, 19 May 2004 14 AU ABC: Green groups welcome ERA prosecution plan. NUCLEAR REACTORS 15 US: GAO Still Not Convinced NRC Has Addressed Davis-Besse Properly 16 US: NRC: NRC to Hold Two Public Meetings on Issues Regarding Diablo 17 US: NRC: NRC to Hold Public Meeting May 25 to Discuss a Risk-Informe 18 US: NRC: NRC Updates Construction InspectionProcedures for Possible 19 US: SFBJ: FP&L joins NuStart to push for new nuclear plant - 20 US: NRC: Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for th 21 US: Advocate: Town officials, business owners support renewal of nuc 22 US: NRC: Denial of UCS Petition on employee protection 23 US: The Middletown Press: CY decon update 24 US: Newsday: Feds seek to reassure local officials ahead of Indian 25 US: UCS: U.S. Nuclear Plants in the 21st Century 26 US: NRC: FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company, Davis-Besse Nuclear 27 US: UCS: Critical Safety Issues At Nuclear Reactors Set To Escalate 28 US: NRC: Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Meeting Notice 29 US: NRC: Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Meeting of the ACR 30 US: NRC: Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Subcommittee Meeti NUCLEAR SAFETY 31 Bellona: Nuclear disaster victims to receive compensation 32 Las Vegas SUN: Nuke adviser warns of threat from Cold War's leftover 33 US: TheIowaChannel.com: Nuclear Weapons Workers Get Help With Claims 34 US: WVLT VOLUNTEER TV Knoxville, TN: Radioactive Spill Investigation NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE 35 US: [CMEP] Demand Proper Management of Nuke Waste! 36 US: AJC: Vote on nuclear sludge looms 37 US: Deseret news: Panel resists hotter waste 38 US: Brattleboro Reformer: Entergy: Missing rods not in spent fuel po 39 US: AU SMH: NT govt wants ERA prosecuted - Breaking News - 40 US: AU SMH: Inquiry into leak at uranium mine finds more problems - 41 US: projo.com: Nuclear fuel rods still missing; more cracks found 42 US: Salt Lake Tribune: Karras has close ties to Envirocare 43 US: Salt Lake Tribune: Audit rips waste oversight 44 US: Salt Lake Tribune: Audit: DEQ administration, collections fall s 45 Las Vegas RJ: Official shrugs off comments 46 Bellona: Bellona Web launches interactive environmental map of Russi 47 Bellona: Zheleznogorsk Chemical Combine received spent nuclear fuel 48 Las Vegas SUN: Columnist Jeff German: Nevadans have ally in Kerry 49 US: Bradenton Herald: Tallevast brings cries for new cleanup policy 50 Pahrump Valley Times: Hobson claims Yucca shortfall 51 US: Cincinnati Enquirer: Report suggests breaking promise on Fernald 52 US: The Mercury: Radioactive waste found on trash truck during inspe 53 US: Morning Journal: $1 million price tag for cleanup of contaminant 54 US: AU ABC: NT considers prosecuting over Ranger water contamination NUCLEAR WEAPONS US DEPT. OF ENERGY 55 DOE: Proposed Subsequent Arrangement 56 Rocky Mountain News: Report: Firm has conflict of interest as watchd 57 Salt Lake Tribune: N-weapon funding battle divides Utah delegation 58 The State: SRS waste plan poses risk to 59 U.S. Newswire: DOE Surpasses Congressional Target of Recovering Radi 60 U.S. Newswire - UPDATE: DOE Secretary Abraham Travels to IEF in 61 Times News: Energy Department plans Pit 4 dig ... 62 Oak Ridger: Oak Ridge to ask for DOE land transfer 63 Oak Ridger: Nearly $800K for PR firm 64 Oak Ridger: Union talks off for now 65 Oak Ridger: DOE investigating both emergency situations 66 ONN: Energy Department retracts memo on breaking notice 67 KRNV: Energy Department backtracks on internal memo OTHER NUCLEAR 68 Google News Alert - nuclear 69 FHG: Kabelschlepp Metool cable reels for America's nuclear clean-up ***************************************************************** ***************************************************************** FULL NEWS STORIES ***************************************************************** ***************************************************************** 1 AFP: US rejects North Korean request for nuclear reactor WAR.WIRE WASHINGTON (AFP) May 19, 2004 The United States rejected a request by North Korea for a light-water nuclear reactor as part of a deal to end the nuclear crisis in the Korean peninsula, the US State Department said Wednesday. "The North Koreans did raise the issue but it's not something that we entertained," Adam Ereli, the department's deputy spokesman, told reporters. The Washington Times, in a front-page report Tuesday, quoted Bush administration officials as saying that Washington would consider again supplying Pyongyang with a light-water nuclear reactor as part of recent talks in Beijing. The North Korean delegate at the six-party working group talks reportedly asked the US delegate about the status of a light-water reactor program if Pyongyang ended its covert nuclear weapons program based on uranium enrichment. Ereli denied Wednesday that Washington agreed to consider the request. "We did not, I would say, welcome or entertain in any way that idea, for a number of reasons," Ereli said. Most importantly, the request ran counter to the key objective of the working group discussions among China, North Korea, Russia, Japan, South Korea and the United States: to get a clear commitment from Pyongyang that it would completely end its nuclear programs, he said. "So before we talk about any one aspect of the program, we're going to want to get recognition that complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement is the agreed upon goal," he said. In addition to that, Ereli said North Korea should be brought back into the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and subject to additional protocol safeguards to comply with any commitments on its part. "We're not prepared to provide inducements to North Korea for compliance with its international obligations," he pointed out. The row over North Korea's nuclear program has been deadlocked since October 2002, when Washington said the Stalinist state had broken a 1994 nuclear freeze by launching a secret weapons drive. North Korea also pulled out of the non-proliferation accord in January 2003 after expelling inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Under the 1994 deal, the United States, Japan and South Korea agreed to provide North Korea with two light-water reactors, designed to be less useful for making nuclear weapons. The working group meeting in Beijing ended last Friday with no breakthrough in the 19-month impasse on how North Korea would meet its security needs in exchange for giving up its unproven and untested nuclear weapons program. WAR.WIRE ***************************************************************** 2 WT: U.S. considers reactor deal with North Korea - The Washington Times: Nation/Politics - May 19, 2004 May 19, 2004 [AP Breaking News] By Bill Gertz THE WASHINGTON TIMES The United States said it would consider again supplying North Korea with a light-water nuclear reactor as part of recent talks in Beijing, according to Bush administration officials. The discussion came during a meeting at the six-party talks last week between Joseph DeTrani, the top U.S. representative to the talks, and his North Korean counterpart, Ri Gun. "The North Koreans raised it," said one official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "They said, 'If we address the [highly enriched uranium] program, what would that mean for the light-water reactor program?' " The private discussion, part of the working group talks on North Korea's nuclear arms program, also was the first time since 2002 that North Koreans acknowledged their covert uranium-based nuclear program. Publicly, North Korea has denied having a uranium-enrichment program. Mr. DeTrani responded in the talks that providing the light-water reactor is possible and could be "one element" of a U.S. policy response, if the North Koreans abandoned their nuclear arms program. However, Mr. DeTrani informed North Koreans that before the reactor deal could be discussed, Pyongyang would have to rejoin the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and permit International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to return to monitor North Korean nuclear activities. North Korea pulled out of the nonproliferation accord in January 2003 and expelled IAEA inspectors in December 2002. The United States, Japan and South Korea agreed to provide North Korea with two light-water reactors as part of the 1994 Agreed Framework, negotiated by the Clinton administration. The reactors  which use ordinary water instead of "heavy water" containing the hydrogen isotope deuterium  are designed to be less useful for making nuclear weapons. The 1994 agreement was supposed to have halted Pyongyang's development of nuclear arms but was abandoned after North Korea's disclosure to a U.S. diplomat in October 2002 that it was working on uranium enrichment, a process that would allow North Korea to produce fuel for nuclear bombs. The agreement called for supplying the reactors and fuel oil to North Korea but was put on hold after the disclosure of the secret uranium-enrichment effort. Concrete was poured for the foundation of the first reactor in August 2002. Construction was suspended  but not canceled  in December 2002. The offer of the reactor last week set off interagency disputes between Bush administration officials who oppose making any deals with North Korea and others who favor compromise. Within interagency councils, Defense Department officials generally have been opposed to making any concessions to North Koreans. State Department officials, specifically those in the East Asian bureau, are more supportive of reaching a new agreement. "We've been that route before," said one U.S. official familiar with the talks who opposes any suggestion of giving North Korea a reactor. This official said it appeared Mr. DeTrani went beyond the very limited talking points, prepared during U.S. interagency discussions, that prevent him from discussing concessions such as the reactor. A second administration official said that Mr. DeTrani's discussion of the reactor with the North Koreans did not undermine the tough stance of the U.S. side at the talks. The U.S. side is insisting that before any concessions are made to North Korea, Pyongyang must completely dismantle all its nuclear arms programs and provide ways to verify that the programs have been dismantled. At the White House, a senior administration official said the U.S. policy toward the North Korean nuclear program "remains unchanged" in advocating a complete end to the program. As for discussion of the light-water reactor program, the senior official said: "We see no future for the light-water project." Henry Sokolski, director of the private Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, said any discussion of resuming the light-water reactor deal with North Korea is a bad idea. "I think we should leave bad enough alone," Mr. Sokolski said in an interview. "This is no way to improve any aspect of the crisis. This is literally a radioactive idea that should be kept away from all people who care about keeping peace on the [Korean] peninsula for the future. If we are going to bribe them, find something else." Mr. Sokolski said that the only thing that giving the North Koreans a light-water reactor would do is "increase the uncertainty of how many bombs' worth of plutonium they can produce." "There is no way we should be going back to this," he said. "We were good enough to unplug this." The six-party talks ended Friday with no real progress in reaching an agreement. No details of the secret talks have been public until now. Publicly, Mr. DeTrani told reporters in Beijing that the talks were a "good meeting." Asked if progress had been made, Mr. DeTrani said: "Yes, definitely." He did not elaborate. The U.S. position remained that North Korea would not get any concessions until it carries out a "complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling," a position officials call CVID. North Korea's chief negotiator, Ri Gun, told reporters that negotiators backed Pyongyang's call for aid in exchange for freezing the country's nuclear program. "One thing that has been confirmed is that there is a shared view that we must get compensation when we freeze our nuclear weapons development plan," Mr. Ri told reporters in Beijing last week. "But the United States kept demanding our promise of CVID, and there has been a shared view that this is the basic hurdle in discussions," he said. "We will, however, continue to participate in the talk process with patience." All site contents copyright © 2004 News World Communications, ***************************************************************** 3 Reuters: U.S. defends China nuclear group support Tue May 18, 2004 08:09 PM ET By Carol Giacomo, Diplomatic Correspondent WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration defended on Tuesday its backing of China's entry into an influential nuclear export group despite Beijing's insistence on providing atomic reactors to Pakistan and concerns it continues to export dangerous technology and missiles. At a congressional hearing, lawmakers questioned whether U.S. support for China's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group might be a mistake and accused the administration of getting nothing in return for the endorsement. "I don't think this has been well thought out," Democratic Rep. Gary Ackerman of New York told Assistant Secretary of State John Wolf, who handles non-proliferation matters. Calling China "one of the principal sinners in the spread of nuclear technology," Chairman Henry Hyde of the U.S. House of Representatives International Relations Committee voiced worries about "discrepancies in China's intentions." The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), established in 1976, controls exports of equipment and materials that can be used to make nuclear weapons. President George W. Bush recently agreed to back Beijing's membership bid, but only after a bitter debate between administration moderates and hardliners. NSG guidelines require members to withhold certain nuclear transfers "when there is an unacceptable risk of diversion to such (nuclear weapons) activity." But China recently agreed to provide a second civilian nuclear power reactor to Pakistan, which has a nuclear arms program outside of international controls. Until his recent detention, top Pakistani nuclear official Abdul Qadeer Khan ran a global network that sold atomic secrets to Libya, Iran and North Korea. INTEGRATION ADVOCATED Under sharp questioning from Ackerman, Wolf said the administration had not sought to read for itself the China-Pakistan reactor contract and had not asked China to encourage Islamabad to tighten its export controls. Explaining Bush's support for China's membership, Wolf stressed China's improving ties with the United States, active support of the U.S. war on terrorism and financial support for reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan. He denied the administration backed NSG membership so China would buy U.S.-made nuclear power reactors, although the administration has urged Beijing to buy American. Washington has long sought to integrate China into global institutions, and China in recent years has undertaken a "broad-scale cessation" of nuclear cooperation with Iran and acted to control nuclear and dual-use exports, Wolf said. A senior U.S. official is in Beijing this week for the first-ever detailed discussions on Chinese export controls. Rep. Tom Lantos of California, the panel's senior Democrat, said: "There is little evidence the Chinese government has actively sought out and punished ... proliferators." Wolf acknowledged Beijing has not totally stopped the trade in chemical arms, missiles and nuclear technology and that is why the United States continues to sanction Chinese entities. So far, nine of the 40 NSG countries -- including the United States and Russia -- have endorsed China's membership and a decision may be made at a board meeting this month, Wolf said in written testimony. But the matter is complicated by European politics. Estonia, Lithuania and Malta have also applied and Russia has balked at the Baltics. As a result, 21 European Union countries asked to discuss all four applications at the NSG meeting. [http://www.reuters.com] ***************************************************************** 4 Congress to vote today on new nuclear weapons Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 15:01:27 -0700 URGE CONGRESS TO ELIMINATE FUNDING FOR NEW NUCLEAR WEAPONS Continuing its drive to develop new, more usable nuclear weapons, the Bush Administration has requested increased funding for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP) and the Advanced Concepts Initiative for new nuclear weapons. Last year, Congress cut half of the requested funds for the RNEP. This year--with your help--all funds for both the RNEP and the Advanced Concepts Initiative can be eliminated. Congress should not allow the Administration to develop a new generation of nuclear weapons. ACTION: The House will vote later this evening (Wednesday, May 19) or early tomorrow to cut funds for new nuclear weapons. Contact your representative and ask him/her to vote for the Tauscher-Markey amendment to cut funding for the nuclear "bunker buster" in the defense authorization bill (H.R. 4200). A similar amendment will be offered by Sens. Kennedy and Feinstein today or tomorrow in the Senates version of the defense authorization bill (S. 2400). Contact your members of Congress and tell them to support these amendments. These votes are likely to be very close. Please forward this action alert to five or more of your friends. Every fax and phone call is important. FAXING YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IS EASY: Start with the sample letter posted in our Legislative Action Center, personalize the language, then fax your message directly from our site. To view the sample letter, click on the link below, then enter your zip code and click "Go" in the "Take Action Now" box. Here is the link: http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=5841011&type=CO. BACKGROUND: Since the end of the Cold War, some civilian military planners and nuclear scientists have promoted the creation of a new class of earth-penetrating nuclear weapons. These weapons are sometimes referred to as "bunker-busters" because they would be designed to burrow into the ground to destroy underground military facilities that are protected by 100 to 300 feet of reinforced concrete or rock. The Energy Departments budget includes $27.6 million for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP). The RNEP would use an existing nuclear weapon, redesigned for use against underground bunkers. It would have explosive power up to 70 times that of the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. RNEP proponents claim that, because the weapon penetrates the earth before detonating, it would be a "clean" nuclear weapon. In reality, this would be an extremely deadly weapon. If detonated in an urban setting, tens of thousands of people could receive a fatal dose of radiation within the first 24 hours. More would be killed or injured by the extreme pressures of the blast and thermal injuries arising from the heat of the explosion. Still more casualties would result from the resulting fires and the collapse of buildings from the seismic shock that the explosion would produce. According to Sen. Jack Reed (RI), Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrators, "are really city breakers, not bunker busters." The Bush Administration has repeatedly claimed that the RNEP program is a study and nothing more. However, the Administrations intentions regarding RNEP go well beyond their initial claims. Energy Department budget documents show funding demands for RNEP increasing dramatically after this year, despite congressional restrictions on further development of this program. The initial three-year study was to cost $45 million, but the Administrations proposed spending in the next five years would total nearly $500 million and move RNEP into early development and engineering stages. The Bush Administration is leading the world down the wrong path. Instead of adhering to our obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by reducing reliance on the most horrific weapons ever created and working for global disarmament, the Administration is seeking new uses for nuclear weapons. Adopting such a nuclear posture is a step backward and a virtual invitation for other nations to opt out of their NPT obligations as well. David Culp, Legislative Representative Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quakers) 245 Second Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002-5795 Tel.: (202) 547-6000 Toll-free: (800) 630-1330 Fax: (202) 547-6019 E-mail: david@fcnl.org ***************************************************************** 5 East Hampton Independent: No Extra Charge for the East End By Carey London East Enders are losing a source of electricity just when they need it the most. On May 7 United States Energy Department Secretary Spencer Abraham -- much to the delight of Connecticut officials -- ordered the Cross-Sound Cable Interconnector unplugged. The threat of a substantial blackout, as the one seen last summer, is no longer probable, he said. The cable had been connecting the electric transmission grids of Long Island and New York City to Connecticut since September. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) said Friday she introduced legislation last Tuesday to overturn Abraham's order and recharge the cable. Along with other New York officials, Clinton contended that the cable is a vital tool for stabilizing a delicate power grid. “The weather is starting to heat up; the demand for electricity will be ramping up to peak levels," she said. "The secretary's decision is short-sighted. It puts Long Island at risk of black outs." Indeed, as the summer peak season draws thousands of vacationers to the tip of Long Island, North and South Forks residents will once again be vulnerable to a major outage, similar to the one on August 14, 2003. The multi-state blackout knocked out electricity for most of the Northeast and parts of Canada. It was in response to that emergency that Abraham ordered the cable re-energized on September 1. Owned by TransEnergie, the 24-mile, 300-megawatt cable had been powering about 300,000 homes in Connecticut and Long Island. Buried six feet under the seabed, the steel-armored cable runs from the Shoreham Nuclear Power Station in Brookhaven to the eastern shore of New Haven Inner Harbor. According to the Cross-Sound Cable Co., a TransEnergie subsidiary, the cable was used to stabilize the grid in both states over 100 times since its recharge last fall. The company also contends that a crucial element to preventing massive blackouts is voltage control. But Connecticut officials remain undeterred. The state’s Attorney General Richard Blumenthal praised the cable’s deactivation and, unless another crisis strikes, vowed it will remain that way. Opponents of the cable assert that because it is not buried as deep in some areas as it should be, maintaining its power violates several federal and state environmental regulations. Dubious of these arguments, however, Clinton suggested that the proposed environmental risks are being exaggerated. "It's my understanding...that the environmental impact of the cable is minimal," she said. "I've had a hard time understanding exactly what Connecticut's complaints were...There's just a lot of unanswered questions." Perhaps, she advised, officials from the Nutmeg State should focus on other ways to protect the body of water. This week, Clinton also introduced a bill to prevent the dumping of contaminants into the Sound. These dredge materials, including heavy metals and other toxins, would primarily originate from Connecticut, she said. “We need to look hard at alternatives to dumping in the Sound for contaminated materials,” she said, pointing out that the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has started looking into wind power. About 40 giant windmills -- placed in the Atlantic Ocean, off of Jones Beach -- will use sea breezes to produce electricity. Should it be approved, the several hundred million-dollar project will take up to four years to complete. “We have to do more on conservation,” said Clinton. Her bill would call upon various federal agencies and officials from the two states that sandwich the Sound to work with the Army Corps of Engineers to finding dredge-dumping alternatives. Although determined to enact these changes, Clinton is frustrated with the sluggishness of the legislative process. “We have to move on several levels at once,” she said referring to both recharging the cable and protecting the Sound. “Not much legislation is moving through congress right now...We are unfortunately in gridlock in Washington.” Copyright © 2004 East Hampton Independent News Co. All rights ***************************************************************** 6 Salt Lake City Weekly: Radioactive Candidate Feature - May 20, 2004 Is Nolan Karras Envirocare's corridor to the governor's office? by Ted McDonough When Nolan Karras first met Khosrow Semnani he couldnt pronounce Semnanis name. I honestly couldnt ever get the vowels to work, Karras said. For some reason the name seemed a little nonsensical to me, like Hawaiian words. Thirteen years later, Karras knows Semnani as Koz and close friend, and proudly calls himself a chief business adviser to the sole owner of Utahs importer of radioactive wasteEnvirocare. Its a relationship some think could stand in the way of Karras current goal of becoming the next governor of Utah. The first meeting of the two men came in 1991. Karras had just retired from the Legislature as speaker of the house and Semnani was one of many who hurried to check out the man rumored to be Mike Leavitts appointed successor. It was in that atmosphere that I remember meeting him or I wouldnt even have been able to remember his name in 93 when I happened to see him in the hallway of the Delta Center, Karras said of Semnani. At that second meeting, Semnani just said, What do you do for a living, and I said, Well, Im an investment adviser. And he said, Well, I could use some help, and heres my card, and we got together and the rest is history. Karras probably knew back then he would try again for governor some day. He likely couldnt have guessed that, in the intervening years, Envirocare would become the hottest political potato in Utah. That happened in 1999 when Envirocare applied to modify its operations in Utahs west desert to dispose of low-level waste hundreds of times more radioactive than the stuff it currently buries in Tooele County. The subsequent public battle culminated in 2002 with an expensive and nasty fight over a ballot initiative to ban the new waste stream and increase Envirocares taxes. As things now stand, Envirocare has permission from regulators for the new waste stream. It cant begin operations without legislative approval and a signature from the governor. So the question of who will be Utahs next governor is no small matter for the environmental crowd. Although Karras said he opposes hotter radioactive wastes entering the state, critics question how solid his opposition will remain if he wins office. Utahs current governor, lame-duck Olene Walker, has said she wont OK Envirocare expansion. The states next governorif its Karraswill have been on the payroll of Envirocares parent company, and will have been fishing with Envirocares owner as only the very rich and their brokers canby float plane to a fishing camp in British Columbia. Spencer Stokes, one of several Envirocare lobbyists during the 2003 Legislative session, serves as campaign strategist for the Karras campaign. Lesser ties to Semnani have caused headaches for other politicians. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, who briefly worked as an Envirocare lobbyist prior to his election to Congress, has been dogged by allegations of conflict of interest. Democrats dubbed him Radioactive Rob after he sought a policy shift to allow 30 million tons of uranium talings from an Ohio Superfund site to be buried at Envirocare. Bishop later sent out a public letter pledging to work against new nuclear waste repositories in Utah. Similar flak is headed Karras way. Karras ties to Semnani potentially could be one of the biggest issues in the primary campaign, said Jason Chaffetz, campaign manager to Jon Huntsman Jr., whom Karras will face in the June 22 Republican primary. There is no doubt on this issue there is a clear difference between the Karras and Huntsman camps. Its the kind of thing youd expect from the campaign manager of Karras main opposition. In fact, on nuclear waste disposal, the positions of Huntsman, Karras and, for that matter, Democratic challenger Scott Matheson Jr. are exactly the same. All three say they are against allowing into Utah any waste hotter than the low-level waste currently disposed of at Envirocare. But the anti-waste stand may be harder for Karras to carry off. In the 10 years since he went to work handling some of Semnanis personal investments, the relationship has bloomed. Karras, a former certified public accountant, now helps Semnani dole out money distributed through his charitable foundation and is owner in trust of Semnanis childrens investments. In another role, he advises Semnani on running his business, mostly on accounting and audit issues. Karras isnt hiding from his association with Semnani, nor apologizing. He proudly tells of recently sitting with Semnani listening to a presentation from time-and-motion consultants on how to shave costs at Envirocare. The way Karras describes it, his role is all-around business consultant, lending an ear and expertise to whatever is on Semnanis mind. I started out with Mr. Semnani being a, quote investment adviser, but over time, you know, it wouldnt be unusual for us to be sitting and hell say, What do you think about this issue, or How do you think I ought to handle this. You think I ought to hire this guy, or fire this guy? Karras oversees the big picture of Semnanis charitable investments, hiring the money managers who do the actual buying and selling. In addition, Karras acts as broker for some of Semnanis personal investments, which are held at Karras investment company. Karras said he has never been on Envirocares payroll per se. For his advice and his broker duties, Karras is paid by Semnani directly, or by S.K. Hart Management, the parent company for Envirocare and other Semnani ventures. How much of his living comes from Semnani? Karras isnt saying. None of your business. Its amazing youd ask, he said. Karras conceded the sum isnt small. I wouldnt minimize my relationship with Mr. Semnani, Karras said. Its a significant client for me. Karras said if hes elected governor, he will break all ties to the many businesses with which hes associated. He concedes Envirocare is a volatile subject, but said it isnt that different a conflict from having a brother-in-law whos a dentist. Ive got lots of people out there that have paid me for my living, and so I certainly will have to, you know, be careful about how I proceed as governor. But Ill break all ties and my loyalty will be to the state of Utah and what is its best interest, not to any individual or client, said Karras. To me youve got to, really, in some cases [look to a candidates] personal integrity and whether they are someone you can trust, he said. Anybody that gets into this business will have somebody thats got a conflict, whether its a brother-in-law, a sister-in-law, a charity, a university that they went to. Karras conflict just happens to be with one of the biggest players in Utah politics, and one who has made a habit of giving money to the states most powerful pols. Semnani himself has been a member of the GOP heavy donor Elephant Club, though Envirocare gives money to Democrats as well as Republicans. The company gave about $57,000 to Utah politicians in the 2002 election year. Several former leaders of Utahs Legislature have worked as Envirocare lobbyists. A 2001 extortion trial revealed Semnani had given a former director of Utahs Radiation Control Division $600,000 in cash, gold coins and real estate. The former director was later convicted of tax evasion and Semnani was forced to step down for a time as Envirocare president. Incidental testimony at the same trial revealed Semnani had loaned money to Utah politicians, including $65,000 to former Gov. Norm Bangerterwho, incidentally, was another of the fishing buddies along for Karras floatplane trip. Envirocares political spending exploded in 2002 when a Semnani-funded political committee spent nearly $4 million to defeat Initiative 1, a proposal to dramatically increase taxes on Envirocare to raise money for education and other groups. Semnani is no more shy of his relationship with Karras than the gubernatorial candidate. I am proud to call Nolan Karras my friend, Semnani said in a statement prepared for City Weekly. He is an honest man who stands by his word. His integrity and ethical conduct are beyond reproach. I often seek advice from Mr. Karras and very much value his opinions and insight. I cant think of any business that wouldnt benefit from an association with Nolan Karras. He is a man of great original ideas [and] a very wise leader. Karras serves on the board of two Semnani companies: S.K. Hart Properties and TRSM Limited. (S.K. Hart Properties owns real estate. S.K. Hart Management is the aforementioned parent company.) Karras said the companies are investment vehicles for Semnanis children, in which Karras serves as custodian or a passive owner of the childrens interest. Tax documents filed by Semnanis charity, the Semnani Foundation, show Karras was a trustee from 1998-2002. Karras said he no longer serves as a foundation trustee, but continues to advise the foundation on investment. Karras said he does not own stock in any of Semnanis companies. Semnani is frequently called the most gracious man in Utah. When speaking of Karras, the word that comes out of Republican mouths is integrity. The idea of the two together, with one in the governors office, scares some. Theres an old saying, where theres smoke theres fire, said Pearl Meibos, a Sandy-area activist personally opposed to expanded Envirocare operation. Radioactive waste is such an important issue, too important an issue right now, she said. I dont think its possible for there to be a legitimate or a fair hearing on this issue were Mr. Karras to be governor. & I dont see any action Karras could take on Envirocare or radioactive waste that would not be colored. Groups that have fought Envirocare wont comment publicly on Karras candidacy, saying lawyers have advised them that doing so could get them into hot water with the IRS, which controls their tax-exempt status. Envirocare critic Claire Geddes, director of Utah Legislative Watch, noted current regulations will require both the governor and the Legislature to sign off if Envirocare is to exercise permits to bring in hotter radioactive waste. We think the next governor will be the one making the decision, she said. I look at this as a pivotal issue in the gubernatorial race. Jason Groenewold, director of the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah, notes that in addition to holding a veto on hotter waste streams, Utahs governor is in charge of appointing regulators who oversee waste disposal. Groenewold believes the Legislatures moratorium on hotter low-level radioactive waste was done to take the issue out of the public spotlight and wait for a new governor who might be more favorable to allowing nuclear waste in Utah. The moratorium is due to expire during the 2005 legislative session. Though he says he doesnt want Utah courting future businesses similar to Envirocare, Karras staunchly defends Envirocares current operations. The word nuclear just sends people into a tizzy, but if you understand the very basics of this industry, you know what appears to be a pretty safe operation out there, he said. Karras is equally quick to defend Semnani, whom he calls of the highest character and a very generous, special person. Mr. Semnani certainly picked up some people who were against him, his enemies, and they relish trying to cause him individual problems, but I dont know [that] anybody has ever found he did anything at the site that was a problem, Karras said. Hes a tough competitor, he said. Hes very tight with his money. Theres no question about that. Just work for him and youll find that out. But hes a very polished, pleasant man who has developed a reputation in some circles thats, I think, unjustified. Karras said he considers Semnani a close business friend, but its not like the two hang out in each others basements watching ball games. In the 11 years hes worked for Semnani, Karras said he has been to Semnanis home just two or three times. One of those occasions was Nov. 1, 2003, when Semnani held a Karras campaign fund-raising dinner at his home. Karras said he doesnt know how much money was raised. The only direct donation from Semnani that shows in Karras financial disclosure reports is $4,526 representing the value of the dinner paid for by Envirocares owner. Cash donations came from several Envirocare employees, including three vice presidents, three directors and the human resources manager. Also shown donating money to Karras campaign pot are two Envirocare lobbyists, two attorneys who have worked for Envirocare, and a trustee of the Semnani Foundation. The total comes to a few thousand dollars. The largest contributor to the Karras campaign so far has been Karras himself, who pitched in with $100,000. The Huntsman campaignwhich has access to the candidates personal fortune and can afford to be choosysays it wont take any money from Envirocare. That goes for Semnani or any Envirocare supporters, said Huntsman campaign manager Chaffetz. If the campaign finds any such donations well send back the check, he said. Influence and access are not for sale. & Jon wants to go into office with a clean slate and not owe anything to anybody. The Huntsman camp may be writing a return-to-sender check soon, if it concludes those who represent Envirocares interests in court also are supporters of Envirocare. A quick check of Huntsmans campaign finance-disclosure statements finds a $1,000 donation from one of Envirocares most called upon attorneys. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Matheson hasnt yet filed campaign contribution reports. He said he doesnt think he has received contributions from Envirocare and wont accept any. How the issue will play in the June Republican primary is anybodys guess. Joe Cannon, GOP party chairman, said party activists have been aware of some relationship between Karras and Semnani, though he isnt sure himself the extent of the partnership. Its hard to say how it cuts one way or the other, he said. Cannon notes Initiative 1 went down to resounding defeat at the polls two years ago. An association with Envirocares owner may be quite palatable to Utah voters, he said. My guess is when people go into a polling booth they will ask themselves, based on what I know about each of the respected candidates, who do I feel comfortable supporting? There are a lot of things that go into that, one of which might be Envirocare. My guess is its much more about where the candidate stands on issues the electorate knows about, whos likable, who will be a leader, who has the résumé. The bottom line is I dont think I see anybody in the party backing away from Nolan on that ground, Cannon said. Nolan is one of the most honorable persons I personally know. Hes an honest, decent person and a great candidate. Not all Republicans see it that way. Envirocare is the primary corrupting influence in Utah politics today, said GOP conservative gadfly Mike Ridgway, a member of the state Republican central committee. Many people basically are where they are because Envirocare propped them into power. Ridgway doubts many who voted at the Republican convention knew much about Karras, let alone his connection to Semnani. Envirocare could be the defining distinction between the two candidates, he said. We do have a clear contrast between a person completely in bed with Envirocare and a person who has no questions with Envirocare. Despite Huntsmans money and name, Karras should be able to compete with the chemical heir because of Karras extensive background in state government, business experience and connections to the administration of former Gov. Mike Leavitt, said Ridgway. Part of that calculation is based on moderate Republicans going for Karras. Walker voters should naturally drift to the Karras camp as they did during the Republican convention, since both are seen as part of the Leavitt legacy. But moderates could find themselves torn between desire to vote for the man dubbed an education candidate by the Utah Education Association, and distaste for Envirocare, which the UEA ganged up on in 2002 with its endorsement of Initiative 1. During the Republican convention, a subset of delegates organized as an education caucus were advised by UEA leadership to cast a first place vote for Walker and a second place vote for Karras, chairman of the Utah Board of Regents. Vik Arnold, UEA political action director, said, after Walker, Karras was the only gubernatorial candidate with whom the UEA was at all comfortable. The UEA estimates about 375 of the 3,500 delegates voted with the group. Arnold said education association leaders were aware of Karras connection to Semnani, but we limited our initial appraisal of Nolan Karras to his views on education, his support of public education, and his stated plans for trying to solve what we believe is a funding crisis in public education. At the same time we obviously had an issue with the disposal of radioactive waste in Utah, he said. We are convinced that Utah doesnt receive its fair share of taxes from that disposal. The UEA has not yet endorsed a candidate in the Republican primary. While critics might see a calculated relationship between the gubernatorial candidate and Envirocares main power player, Karras contends its all part of doing business. People who have to work for a living are inevitably going to pick up baggage, he said, but those same business experiences will prove valuable to taxpayers. I dont apologize for the fact that Im making a living and doing it the way Im doing, Karras said. Frankly, Im proud of that because I think Ive got some pretty good skills the public could use as a governor. Semnanis are by no means Karras only business associations. He serves on the board of directors of Scottish Power, PacificCorp, and Beneficial Life, among others. He has previously served on the boards of Blue Cross-Blue Shield, Humana Hospital, and the foundation of the Ogden Symphony Ballet. Of his fishing trip with Semnani and Bangerter, Karras said he didnt have much fun. Karras said he hates fishing, but its the sort of thing thats necessary in the cozy world of the investment adviser. Karras invited the two men as his guests for the annual trip put together by another of Karras wealthy clients. Karras has gone nearly every year, but often sits on the dock reading a book. My typical client is a fairly wealthy, independent business person who then also uses me to counsel them about soup to nuts, Karras said. What Im doing for Mr. Semnani isnt some extra-specialyou knowarrangement. Its not as if Envirocare is alone among Karras many connections. Besides Semnani, Karras has more than 100 investment clients. He serves on the boards of companies operated by other wealthy clients, serving the same general counsel role he plays for Semnani. Clients become personal friends and business bleeds into fishing. You, hopefully, can do things in a very transparent way so people know what youre doing, theres no hidden agenda, theres no secret deals, theres no behind-the-scenes assistance, he said. Semnani, he said, is an honorable human being. Im glad to have him as a friend, and proud of the fact that hes a friend. So I guess if the voter says, Well, if youre a friend of Semnanis, I cant vote for you, then thats why we have elections. story search [click here for a City Weekly promotion] ...in Backstop BECAUSE YOUR BAND SUCKS Place your ad in our Music Connection for only $5/wk. Call City Weekly Classifieds 575-7028. City Weekly trade center ...in Event Listings Draper Down Under Puppet theater with Australian animals, Mon-Sat during library hours at Draper Library. ...in Dining Wok On Main Chinese Looking for Peking duck? Search no more. While you're here, try the hot, tasty curry dishes. Lunch specials come with a choice of three soups. Open for lunch and dinner. Salt Lake City Weekly and slweekly.com ©1996-2004 Copperfield Publishing, Inc.. All rights reserved. ----------------------------------------------------------------- offices: 248 S. Main Street Salt Lake City, Utah 84101 801-575-7003 ----------------------------------------------------------------- " invitation to freelance writers " media kit " about Salt Lake City Weekly ***************************************************************** 7 The Center for Public Integrity: Hired Guns - [Hired Guns] May 20, 2004 Under PressureHot-button issues spur lobby spending as some states weaken disclosure By Robert Morlino WASHINGTON, May 19, 2004 — Lobbyists in 41 states reported spending more than $889 million wining, dining and influencing state lawmakers in 2003, according to a new study by the Center for Public Integrity. That figure is up from the $720 million of lobbyist spending reported in 40 states in 2002. A year-to-year comparison of the nationwide total for spending on state lobbying was not possible because of variations among state disclosure requirements. Some states do not require lobbyists to disclose their spending each year. Among those 37 states that do have reporting mechanisms roughly comparable to 2002, 29 reported some increase in spending. Twenty states saw increases in spending of at least 10 percent, and eight of them—Delaware, Florida, Maine, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Wyoming—saw increases of 30 percent or more. The majority of this money goes to pay for a lobbyist's most important asset: time. Because state oversight agencies often do not break down total lobby spending into salaries and expenditures, it is impossible to determine the exact percentage of salaries paid. But a state like Connecticut, where the state Ethics Commission does categorize lobby spending, offers a good example of the sort of money at stake. In 2003, lobbyists pulled in $27.3 million and spent $2.7 million on entertainment, paid media, solicitation, office and other expenses combined. That 10 to one ratio is not unusual when it can be determined. Of the 41 states reporting overall spending totals, 16 did not include information on salaries or fees paid to compensate lobbyists for their efforts. In Texas, lobbyists disclose salaries in a range. The Texas Ethics Commission reported that lobbyists earned somewhere between $132,485,542 and $516,155,477 for their efforts. Two states—Missouri and North Dakota—were able for the first time to provide an overall total of lobby spending. Nevada also reported partial figures for 2003, but had not for 2002, because lobbyists there report their spending only for months when the legislature is in session – February to July in odd-numbered years. Pennsylvania has not compiled a spending total this year because of a lapse in its reporting statute, and North Carolina will release a 2003 total but has not done so yet. Hot issues spark spending increase in New York, Florida Lobbyists' time and money poured into a host of hot-button issues across the country. Two in particular—restrictions on medical malpractice lawsuit awards and further deregulation of telecommunications—attracted special attention. In New York, intense lobbying over tort reform contributed to a 22 percent increase in spending, from $92 to about $112 million, the first time the total reached or exceeded $100 million. (New York's overall state total of $120 million included lobbying expenditures at the local level.) In Florida, which saw an increase to more than $9 million—more than twice the amount spent in 2002—the hot issue was telephone service rates. Two of the most contentious public policy issues in the nation—medical malpractice insurance and tort reform—have turned doctors and lawyers into "the Hatfields and McCoys of state politics," as the Miami Herald put it. Associations for both groups have raised and spent millions of dollars over the past four years. In New York, lawyers and doctors spent at least $1 million each lobbying for their respective positions, resulting in a sort of legislative stalemate. The same is true of Florida, where the Florida Medical Association and the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers have taken their case directly to voters in the form of constitutional amendments. Not surprisingly, lobbying dollars in the state jumped a whopping 128 percent from 2002 to 2003; totals for neither year reflect salaries paid to lobbyists. The telecommunications industry has also been lobbying aggressively. Throughout 2003, in several states, the issue of rate-increase caps spurred the major local phone companies—SBC Communications, BellSouth, Verizon and Qwest—to deploy lobbyists around the capitals and fight rate freezes. During 2003, some of those same lobbyists contributed millions of dollars to various Florida campaigns; the state Senate in 2004 extended a rule to forbid legislators from raising money during session. Nevertheless, the flood of gifts, meals and parties continues unabated. The telecommunications issue also showed one of lobbying's more unseemly sides. As reported by the Miami Herald earlier this year, during a vote in the House on a bill to freeze local telephone rates, Eliseo Gomez, a BellSouth vice president and lobbyist, placed a call to Rep. Julio Robaina, a Republican who represents part of Miami and is also a longtime BellSouth employee. (Florida has a "citizen legislature," where legislators spend part of the year in session and the rest at another job.) The call occurred literally as voting took place, and lasted long enough that Robaina missed the vote. The Herald reported that witnesses described the legislator as visibly "flustered and teary-eyed" by the end of the call; he then proceeded to cast a late vote with the House clerk, which he subsequently changed twice, finally voting in favor of the freeze. Robaina would not disclose the substance of the phone call and told the newspaper that he didn't want to "pick a fight" with anyone. Gomez denied having threatened Robaina's employment status, but admitted to having lobbied hard for a vote against the rate freeze. Nevertheless, the incident disturbed many of the lawmakers who witnessed it. The freeze lost in the House by a wide margin. Rolling back regulations The Center for Public Integrity's May 2003 report on state lobbying, "Hired Guns," found that more than half the states received a failing grade for their lobbyist registration and spending disclosure requirements, leaving many details about how lobbying dollars are spent hidden from public view. In fact, no state received an "A" on the Center's 48-question survey. In the year since that release, the Center found that while some states have been working to strengthen lobby disclosure requirements, several have weakened theirs. Pennsylvania remains the only state in the union lacking basic lobbying regulations in state statute. (See Sunset in Harrisburg.) In the year since the report was published, the Center's ranking and Pennsylvania's score of 0 have been cited by several newspapers and citizen groups seeking to reinstate the lobbying laws that were struck down by a state Supreme Court decision in 2002. A recent clarification by the Court has paved the way for new regulations, and bills are currently in the drafting stage in the Pennsylvania House and Senate. Currently, however, there are no statutory reporting requirements for lobbyists. In 2003, the Alaska legislature voted to significantly relax lobbyists' registration requirements. Two separate bills—HB 106 and SB 89—introduced in 2003 essentially re-defined lobbying. According to Tammy Kempton of the Alaska Public Offices Commission, the agency that regulates lobbyists, the definition is now vague and easily confused. A lobbyist used to be defined as a person who represents himself or who is contracted to represent a third party to influence legislation. Both bills altered the definition by including an hour-based trigger to require registration and reporting by lobbyists only after they had spent a certain number of hours a month influencing legislation (HB 106 put that number at 40 hours; SB 89, at 80). Ultimately, the bill Gov. Frank Murkowksi signed into law changed the trigger to 40 hours a month. Comparing Alaska's now significantly weakened lobbying regulations to those of Washington State, which placed at the top of the Hired Guns ranking in 2003, Kempton identified the latter as a model that the APOC strives to emulate. "The basic problem with the law…is that we do not define lobbying; Washington starts from the basis of what it means to lobby," Kempton said. "[Alaska legislators] start with 'what is a lobbyist and how can we write the law so that you don't have to register?'" From 2002 to 2003, the total amount of expenditures reported by Alaska's lobbyists increased by 19 percent, from just under $12 million to well over $14 million. As a result of the new law, expenditure reporting will likely drop for 2004—although the same amount of money, if not more, will likely be spent influencing legislation. Disclosure in flux The disparity in the registration and reporting requirements for lobbyists among the 50 states is no less apparent now than it was a year ago; regulations continue to fluctuate as lawmakers, lobbyists and citizens advocate both for and against more regulations. Among recent developments: Alabama Gov. Bob Riley announced a series of ethics reform initiatives in January of 2004, to be considered in the current legislative session that runs through May 17. Included in Riley's proposals are reforms to the disclosure laws for lobbyists, including abolishing the reporting exemption of lobbyists who spend less than $250 per day entertaining legislators. In addition, Riley proposed registration and reporting requirements for executive branch lobbyists, who are currently exempt. In Arizona, Rep. Gary Pearce (R-Mesa) introduced legislation early in 2004 that would eliminate revolving-door restrictions from lobbying regulations in that state. For 10 years, ex-lawmakers have had to wait one full year before registering to lobby their former colleagues in the legislature. Pearce's bill is currently under committee review. Colorado state Rep. Shawn Mitchell (R-Broomfield) used a rare legislative procedure, called a "super motion," to call a halt to committee testimony on a bill and force a vote on whether to send it to the floor of the House. The bill would have restricted Colorado lawmakers from serving as paid political consultants on ballot issues and campaigns; currently, lawmakers are restricted from functioning as paid lobbyists. The bill was defeated by Republican committee members— on a five to four party-line vote, even though two Republicans who have worked as consultants abstained. Explaining why he used the super motion to halt testimony and call for a vote, Mitchell told the Denver Post, "It was 12:30 and I had a lunch meeting with a lobbyist." Even as a potential violation of existing lobbying regulations occurred in the Georgia State Senate, sweeping reforms of those regulations failed to pass both houses of the legislature. Gov. Sonny Perdue introduced legislation aimed at correcting the state's inability to fine lobbyists for not filing timely disclosure statements, and the Senate tacked on a few amendments that would have banned all gifts from lobbyists to legislators. The bill passed in the Senate but died in committee in the House. In April of 2004, the State Ethics Board opened an investigation into the potential violation by Patrick Gartland, a regional advocate for the U.S. Small Business Administration, who failed to register with the Board before lobbying a Senate committee about a pending bill in January of 2004. The bill, which some business groups favored, also passed in the Senate but died in the House. In late March, the Kansas House of Representatives passed a bill 64-58 that will amend the disclosure requirements for lobbyists' spending reports by exempting money spent on meals and anything else of less than $25 in value. A similar measure is under consideration in the Kansas Senate. The Wichita Eagle reported that under the requirements of the new bill, 80 percent of the spending reports filed by lobbyists in 2003 would have gone unreported. Both the Eagle and the Kansas City Star have been extensively tracking lobbyist gifts to legislators as the legislation has come under consideration. Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco has introduced ethics legislation that would expand the registration and reporting requirements to include executive branch lobbyists, part of a broader package that would reform campaign finance laws. However, Blanco's legislation fails to take into account the recommendations of the Louisiana Public Affairs Council, which has recommended an outright ban on gifts and meals from lobbyists to legislators. In January of 2004, New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey signed into law a new ethics reform package that prohibits lobbyists from giving gifts to legislators. In February of 2004, the New York Temporary State Commission on Lobbying briefly went out of service after attorneys for musician Russell Simmons challenged the constitutionality of the lobbying regulation. Simmons was under investigation for allegedly lobbying to have the state's aging, severe Rockefeller drugs laws, so named for New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller who oversaw their passage in 1973, reformed without having registered as a lobbyist. The Commission's director, David Grandeau, responded to the lawsuit by essentially siding with Simmons; he declared the existing regulations inadequate and then suspended them outright, leaving New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer as the official with the most oversight of lobbying in the state. The regulations were reinstated, and in April the state Supreme Court ruled that the Commission had overstepped its legal authority in its vigorous investigation of Simmons. Rhode Island Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Newport) has introduced legislation that would amend the definition of a lobbyist in Rhode Island to include those who lobby the executive branch exclusively; currently lobbyists must only register in the state if they attempt to influence executive decisions related to legislative matters. Paiva introduced the legislation in April, citing questionable decisions by former Gov. Lincoln Almond's office in resolving a contract dispute with Blue Cross &Blue Shield. A Republican candidate for governor in Utah, Jon Huntsman Jr., has presented an ethics proposal that would establish a two-year revolving-door provision that would prevent lawmakers from registering as lobbyists immediately upon leaving office, among other reforms. Jennifer Puckett assembled numbers for this report, made possible by support from the Joyce Foundation and the Ford Foundation. © 2004, The Center for Public Integrity. All rights reserved. this service is provided to you. 910 17th Street, NW · 7th Floor · Washington, DC 20006 · Tel. (202) 466-1300 ***************************************************************** 8 AGI: NUCLEAR: FRATTINI ASSURES EL BARADEI ITALY WILL SUPPORT IAEA Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - News In English Thursday May 20, 2004 h.09.23 Italy On Line Special service by AGI on behalf of the Italian Prime Minister's office (AGI) - Rome, Italy, May 19 - Itally "fully supports" the monitoring and prevention activities carried out by IAEA. That's what foreign affairs minister Frattini told IAEA general director, Mohamed El Baradei, during their talks in Rome. They also focused on the strengthening of the agency's role in the struggle against nuclear proliferation. Frattini confirmed that Italy considers IAEA an essential body to fight off nuclear proliferation, and totally supports its activities. El Baradei thanked Frattini for the (even financial) support Italy has always provided, and stressed the excellent relations with the Italian authorities. (AGI) - 191745 MAG 04 COPYRIGHTS 2002-2003 AGI S.p.A. [Invia questo articolo] Invia questo articolo ***************************************************************** 9 UK Independent: hastened war By Andrew Buncombe in Washington 19 May 2004 Washington said yesterday that it was to cease funding the Iraqi politician Ahmed Chalabi, the former exile whose "intelligence reports" and claims about Americans' likely reception among his countrymen helped push the Bush administration to war. Officials said the Pentagon would stop paying Mr Chalabi's group, the Iraqi National Congress (INC), $340,000 (Ł192,000) a month at the end of June, when the US is due to return sovereignty of Iraq. Entifadh Qanbar, an INC spokesman in Washington, said: "After 30 June, we expect all funding by US agencies to be ceased because the Iraqi government will be sovereign." The decision underlines Washington's growing frustration and disillusionment with the INC, which ­ for several years ­ had the ear of the administration as it supported the ousting of Saddam Hussein. The US ­ either through the CIA or the State Department ­ has provided tens of millions of dollars to the INC in exchange for information about Iraq and defectors from the regime. Although it suited the neo-conservative hawks in the administration to latch on to much of what the INC was saying, most ­ if indeed not all ­ of the predictions it made about the situation America would discover in Iraq have been proved wrong. Last September, a report by the Defence Intelligence Agency said that information from Iraqi defectors made available by the INC was of little or no use and that the individuals invented or exaggerated their claims to have knowledge of the regime's alleged WMD. Last weekend, General Colin Powell, the Secretary of State, said that the CIA had been deliberately misled. "It turned out that the sourcing was inaccurate and wrong and in some cases, deliberately misleading," he said. The US authorities were not the only ones fed this information. Judith Miller, a reporter with The New York Times, revealed last year that Mr Chalabi was the source of many of her stories about Saddam's alleged weapons programmes. None of the substantive claims that appeared in Ms Miller's stories have proved correct. Mark Zell, a right-wing Washington lawyer and former Chalabi supporter, recently told the website Salon.Com: "Ahmed Chalabi is a treacherous, spineless turncoat. He had one set of friends before he was in power, and now he's got another." Before the overthrow of Saddam, Mr Chalabi and the then London-based INC were controversial in Washington. Officials at the State Department and the CIA had been suspicious of Mr Chalabi, who has a conviction for fraud, since the mid-90s when his organisation was involved in a failed coup attempt. But he retained influential friends at the Department of Defence where Richard Perle, a Pentagon adviser with close links to the administration, was one of his champions. Reports from Iraq, where Mr Chalabi is a member of the Iraqi Governing Council, suggest the US has grown frustrated by efforts to ensure his role in a future Iraqi authority. When the UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi made clear he did not see a role for Mr Chalabi in the Iraqi body he has been asked to organise, the INC leader accused him of having an "Arab nationalist agenda". Another thing that has fuelled the anger of Paul Bremer, head of the US authority, are claims that Mr Chalabi has been providing information about America's plans for Iraq to Shi'ite leaders in Iran, with whom he has links. A recent report in Newsweek quoted a US official as saying some of that information "could get people killed". The claims remain unconfirmed, but the fact that US officials are making them underlines the way Mr Chalabi is now viewed. Mr Qanbar defended the information the INC provided, saying that the group had provided three defectors who had "interesting information" and that the group never said that it could vouch for them. "Iraqis working for the INC are risking their lives even now to save US lives in Iraq," he said. CHALABI'S CLAIMS Myth: Ahmed Chalabi provided CBS in March 2002 with a "defector", Major Hareeth, who said Saddam Hussein evaded weapons inspectors by using mobile biological-weapons laboratories. Reality: US government concluded Chalabi's defector was unreliable. Myth: That there was firm evidence of a link between Saddam Hussein and al-Qa'ida. Reality: The Defence Intelligence Agency said they could not prove any link with al-Qa'ida. Myth: Chalabi's "defectors" said Saddam was rebuilding his nuclear weapons programme. Reality: Officials now acknowledge that the defectors' tales were "shaky" at best. UK Independent Ltd. ***************************************************************** 10 ITAR-TASS: Kofi Annan’s envoy to look into situation in North Korea 19.05.2004, 13.08 PYONGYANG, May 19 (Itar-Tass) -- The main purpose of the just-started visit to North Korea by the U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s special envoy Morris Strong is to look into the political and humanitarian situation in the country, the chief of the World Health Organization’s mission in Pyongyang, Eigil Sorensen has told Tass. The U.N. envoy’s schedule will be very tight. Strong will be holding meetings with senior North Korean officials, including a deputy foreign minister and foreign trade minister. In the course of the negotiations Strong will discuss various aspects of humanitarian assistance to North Korea, Sorensen said. Kofi Annan’s spokesman has said at a news briefing in New York Strong’ s visit to North Korea is part of the U.N. Secretary General’s initiative geared to supporting the six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear problem and the promotion of multinational efforts to settle other issues in the Korean Peninsula. Strong is leaving North Korea on Saturday. This is his third visit to that country. © ITAR-TASS. All rights reserved. You undertake not to copy, ***************************************************************** 11 Scoop: President Bush Speaks To AIPAC In Washington www.scoop.co.nz Thursday, 20 May 2004, 10:34 am Press Release: The White House For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary May 18, 2004 President Bush Speaks to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Remarks by the President to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Washington Convention Center Washington, D.C. 8:53 A.M. EDT President George W. Bush waves before delivering remarks to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, May 18, 2004. "Many in this room have worked and waited a lifetime for peace in the Holy Land," said the President. "I hear that deep concern for peace. Our vision is a Middle East where young Israelis and Palestinians can play and learn and grow without living in the shadow of death." THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Finally, AIPAC elected a President I can kiss. (Laughter and applause.) I'm honored to be here at AIPAC, thank you for such a warm welcome. It's good to be with so many friends -- friends of mine and friends of Israel. (Applause.) For more than 50 years, the United States and Israel have been steadfast allies. AIPAC is one of the reasons why. (Applause.) You've worked tirelessly to strengthen the ties that bind our nations -- our shared values, our strong commitment to freedom. (Applause.) By defending the freedom and prosperity and security of Israel, you're also serving the cause of America. (Applause.) Our nation is stronger and safer because we have a true and dependable ally in Israel. (Applause.) I appreciate -- (applause) -- I'm just getting warmed up. (Laughter and applause.) I want to thank Amy for her leadership. (Applause.) I appreciate you taking time to serve a cause that -- in which you believe deeply. I want to thank Bernice for her willingness to serve, as well. (Applause.) I've known Howard for a long time. He's effective. (Laughter and applause.) I want to thank the AIPAC board -- AIPAC board members for their friendship and leadership. I'm honored to be in the presence of my friend, the Ambassador from Israel, Danny Ayalon. I appreciate you being here, Danny. (Applause.) Ehud Olmert is with us. Ehud, it's good to see you again. Thank you, sir. (Applause.) I remember the first time we visited in 1998. I had just been re-elected as the Governor of Texas. I went to Israel, and Ehud welcomed me and three over governors to, I guess, your office. You were the Mayor, if I'm not mistaken, at that point in time. And you were focused on filling potholes and emptying the garbage of the people -- (laughter.) But we struck up a good relationship then, and it's great to see you again. I appreciate the other ministers who are here, some of whom I have met before, some of whom I have had not the honor of meeting. I know I met Tommy before. Appreciate you all being here. Welcome to America. Thank you, Tommy. (Applause.) I'd like to also recognize many people this morning who are learning to participate in democracy. I'm told there are over 850 students here from 50 states. (Applause.) Make sure the Texas students behave well. (Laughter.) Your mothers are watching. (Laughter.) I know there are buses outside waiting to take you to Capitol Hill. I'm told -- Howard told me there's over 500 meetings scheduled with members of the Senate and the House. That is good news. I'm sure you're going to pass this message on to them: A free, prosperous and secure Israel is in this nation's national interest. (Applause.) AIPAC is doing important work. I hope you know that. In Washington and beyond, AIPAC is calling attention to the great security challenges of our time. You're educating Congress and the American people on the growing dangers of proliferation. You've spoken out on the threat posed by Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons. You've always understood and warned against the evil ambition of terrorism and their networks. In a dangerous new century, your work is more vital than ever. I thank you for doing your part in the cause of freedom. (Applause.) Our nation, and the nation of Israel, have much in common. We're both relatively young nations, born of struggle and sacrifice. We're both founded by immigrants escaping religious persecution in other lands. We have both built vibrant democracies, built on the rule of law and market economies. And we're both countries founded on certain basic beliefs: that God watches over the affairs of men, and values every life. (Applause.) These ties have made us natural allies, and these ties will never be broken. (Applause.) In the past, however, there was one great difference in the experience of our two nations: The United States, through most of our history, has been protected by vast oceans to our east and west, and blessed with friendly neighbors to our north and south. Israel has faced a different situation as a small country in a tough neighborhood. The Israeli people have always had enemies at their borders and terrorists close at hand. Again and again, Israel has defended itself with skill and heroism. And as a result of the courage of the Israeli people, Israel has earned the respect of the American people. (Applause.) On September the 11th, 2001, Americans saw that we are no longer protected by geography from the dangers of the world. We experienced the horror of being attacked in our homeland, on our streets, and in places of work. And from that experience came an even stronger determination, a fierce determination to defeat terrorism and to eliminate the threat it poses to free people everywhere. (Applause.) Not all terrorist networks answer to the same orders and same leaders, but all terrorists burn with the same hatred. They hate all who reject their grim vision of tyranny. They hate people who love freedom. They kill without mercy. They kill without shame. And they count their victories in the death of the innocent. We saw the nature of this enemy again in recent days when terrorists in Iraq beheaded an American citizen, Nicholas Berg. The message that accompanied the videotape of this brutal slaying promised more such atrocities. Here's what the killer said, "We will send you coffin after coffin, box after box, slaughtered in this way." The faces of the terrorists were cloaked, but we have seen their kind before. Followers of the terrorist ideology executed an elderly man in a wheelchair, Leon Klinghoffer, and pushed his body off the side of a ship into the sea. They kidnapped the journalist, Daniel Pearl, and cut his throat, because he was a Jew. This enemy has left blood on the streets of Jakarta and Jerusalem, Casablanca and Riyadh, Mombasa and Istanbul, Bali, Baghdad and Madrid. They have declared war on the civilized world -- and war is what they got. (Applause.) Freedom-loving people did not seek this conflict. It has come to us by the choices of violent men, hateful men. See, we seek peace. We long for peace. Israel longs for peace. America longs for peace. Yet, there can be no peace without defending our security. (Applause.) There is only one path to peace and safety. America will use every resource we have to fight and defeat these enemies of freedom. (Applause.) The lesson of September the 11th is clear and must never be forgotten. Emerging terrorist threats must be confronted before they can reach our country and harm our people. Every terrorist is at war with civilization, and every group or nation that aids them is equally responsible for the murders that the terrorists commit. (Applause.) So America has led a relentless global campaign against terrorists and their supporters. We're chasing them down one by one in caves, and in shadows where they try to hide. (Applause.) We have uncovered -- we have uncovered terrorist cells on several continents. We've prevented a number of terrorist attacks. We've removed the Taliban regime, which sheltered the plotters of September the 11th. (Applause.) We have stopped shipments -- we have stopped shipments of chemical precursors and nuclear-related -- weapons-related components bound for states that sponsor terror. By speaking clearly, and by meaning what we say, countries like Libya have gotten the message and have renounced their weapons programs. (Applause.) And for the sake of peace and security, we ended the regime of Saddam Hussein. (Applause.) That regime cast a shadow, a dark shadow of aggression over the Middle East for decades. They invaded both Iran and Kuwait. The regime built and used weapons of mass destruction against its neighbors, and its own people. The regime sponsored terror; it paid rewards of up to $25,000 to the families of Palestinian homicide bombers. That regime filled mass graves with innocent men, innocent women, and innocent children. That regime defied the demands of the free world, and America, for more than a decade. And America is more secure, and the world is better off, because that regime is no more. (Applause.) America is on the offensive, and we will stay on the offensive until the terrorists are stopped and our people are safe. (Applause.) I will use every asset at our disposal to do our most important job, which is to protect the American people. (Applause.) And that includes the United States military. We have come to know the skill and the courage of the men and women of the United States military. (Applause.) They have fulfilled every mission their country has given to them. They and their families have endured long deployments and uncertainty. Our men and women in uniform have fought in mountain passes and desert sands in the remotest part of the world. They've lost brave friends and comrades, who will always be remembered and honored by a grateful nation. (Applause.) They have done all this to defend our country and to advance the cause of freedom and peace. And their loved ones, and those who wear our uniform, must know that America is very grateful to their service. (Applause.) The peace we seek depends on defeating the violent. Yet, we also have a larger mission in the world. In the long-term, we must end terrorist violence at its source by undermining the terrorist ideology of hatred and fear. Terrorists find influence and recruits in societies where bitterness and resentment are common, and hope and opportunity are rare. The world's best hope for lasting security and stability across the Middle East is the establishment of just and free societies. And so across that vital region, America is standing for the expansion of human liberty. This historic task is not easy in a part of the world that has known so much oppression and stagnation and violence. It's hard work. Yet, we must be strong in our firm belief that every human heart desires to be free. We must be strong in our belief that free societies are hopeful societies and peaceful societies. (Applause.) We have made progress that few would have predicted or expected just three years ago. In Afghanistan, our coalition is working with President Karzai to help the people of Afghanistan build a modern, peaceful and democratic government. In January, Afghans approved a new constitution that protects the rights of all Afghan citizens, including women. (Applause.) Through weeks of negotiation and compromise, they agreed upon a fundamental law that respects tradition and establishes a foundation of modern political rights, including free speech, due process, and a vote for every citizen. We're making progress. In Iraq, Saddam's brutal dictatorship is gone, and in its place an Iraqi democracy is emerging. Iraqi leaders have signed a transitional administrative law that will guarantee basic freedoms. Iraq now has an independent judiciary, a free market, a new currency, more than 200 newspapers in circulation, and schools free of hateful propaganda. (Applause.) It's hard work in Iraq. Our efforts are approaching a crucial moment. On June 30th, our coalition will transfer its authority to a sovereign Iraqi government. With the assistance of the United Nations and our coalition, Iraqi citizens are currently making important decisions about the nature and scope of the interim government. In time, Iraq will be a free and democratic nation, at the heart of the Middle East. This will send a message, a powerful message, from Damascus to Tehran, that democracy can bring hope to lives in every culture. (Applause.) And this advance of freedom will bring greater security to America and to the world. These are historic times, it's an historic opportunity. (Applause.) Yet, as June 30th approaches, the enemies of freedom grow even more desperate to prevent a rise of democracy in Iraq. That's what you're seeing on your TV screens: desperation by a hateful few, people who cannot stand the thought of free societies in their midst. They're targeting brave Iraqis who are leaning toward democracy, such as Izzedine Salim, who was assassinated in Baghdad yesterday. They're murdering Iraqi policemen who stand as symbols of order. They're killing foreign aid workers who are helping to rebuild Iraq. They're attacking our military. Their goal is to undermine the will of our coalition and the will of America, and to drive us out before our mission is complete. They're not going to succeed. They will not shake the will of America. (Applause.) My resolve is firm. (Applause.) The resolve of the American people is solid. Our military is skilled, spirits are high. They are determined to succeed. We understand the stakes are high for America and for the world. We will not be intimidated by thugs and assassins. We will win this essential important victory in the war on terror. (Applause.) This is an historic moment. The world watches for weakness in our resolve. They will see no weakness. We will answer every challenge. U.S. Army soldiers and Iraqi security forces are systematically destroying the illegal militia in the south of Iraq. (Applause.) Coalition forces are working with Iraqis in Fallujah to end control by Saddam loyalists and foreign fighters. (Applause.) We're building up Iraqi security forces so they can safeguard their own country. We're flexible in our methods, but our goal is unchanging: Iraq will be free, and Iraq will be a democratic nation. (Applause.) Freedom is also at the heart of our approach to bringing peace between Israel and the Palestinian people. The United States is strongly committed, and I am strongly committed, to the security of Israel as a vibrant Jewish state. (Applause.) Israel is a democracy and a friend, and has every right to defend itself from terror. (Applause.) For the sake of peace, this country is committed to helping the Palestinian people establish a democratic and viable state of their own. (Applause.) Israel needs a truly responsible partner in achieving peace. (Applause.) The Palestinian people deserve democratic institutions and responsible leaders. (Applause.) Progress towards this vision creates responsibilities for Israel, the Palestinian people, and Arab nations. Before these two states -- before there can be two states, all parties must renounce violence and fight terror. (Applause.) Security is the foundation for peace. (Applause.) All parties must embrace democracy and reform and take the necessary steps for peace. The unfolding violence in the Gaza Strip is troubling and underscores the need for all parties to seize every opportunity for peace. I supported the plan announced by Prime Minister Sharon to withdraw military installations and settlements from Gaza and parts of the West Bank. (Applause.) As I said in my statement on April 14, 2004, the Prime Minister's plan is a bold, courageous step, that can bring us closer to the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security. (Applause.) The Prime Minister's decision has given the Palestinian people and the free world a chance to take bold steps of their own toward peace. First, the Palestinian people must reject corrupt and failed leaders, and insist on a leadership committed to reform and progress and peace. (Applause.) Second, they must renounce terror and violence that frustrate their aspirations and take so many innocent lives. (Applause.) And, finally, by taking these steps, they will have an opportunity, a fantastic opportunity to build a modern economy and create the institutions and habits of liberty. The Palestinian people deserve a better future. (Applause.) And that future -- and that future can be achieved through democracy. (Applause.) Many in this room have worked and waited a lifetime for peace in the Holy Land. I hear that deep concern for peace. Our vision is a Middle East where young Israelis and Palestinians can play and learn and grow without living in the shadow of death. (Applause.) Our vision is a Middle East where borders are crossed for purposes of trade and commerce, not crossed for the purposes of murder and war. (Applause.) This vision is within our grasp if we have the faith and the courage and the resolve to achieve it. (Applause.) Perhaps the deepest obstacle to peace is found in the hearts of men and women. The Jewish people have seen, over the years and over the centuries, that hate prepares the way for violence. The refusal to expose and confront intolerance can lead to crimes beyond imagining. So we have a duty to expose and confront anti-Semitism, wherever it is found. (Applause.) Some of you attended a very important event in Berlin last month, the International Conference on Anti-Semitism. You understand that anti-Semitism is not a problem of the past; the hatred of Jews did not die in a Berlin bunker. In its cruder forms, it can be found in some Arab media, and this government will continue to call upon Arab governments to end libels and incitements. (Applause.) Such hatred can also take subtler forms. The demonization of Israel, the most extreme anti-Zionist rhetoric can be a flimsy cover for anti-Semitism, and contribute to an atmosphere of fear in which synagogues are desecrated, people are slandered, folks are threatened. I will continue to call upon our friends in Europe to renounce and fight any sign of anti-Semitism in their midst. (Applause.) We are living through historic times. We are called to do important work in the world. We will stand together against bigotry in every land and every language. We will answer violent men with patient, determined justice. We will expand human freedom and the peace that freedom brings. And by our resolve, and by our courage, we will prevail. (Applause.) I want to thank you -- I want to thank you for your dedication to the security of America and to the safety of Israel. I want to thank you for your warm hospitality today. May God bless America. May God bless Israel. Thank you for coming. Thank you all for your time. Thank you all. (Applause.) END 9:32 A.M. EDT Home Page| International| Previous Story| Next Story Copyright (c) Scoop Media ***************************************************************** 12 Scoop: Brash cares little about facts or Maori www.scoop.co.nz Press Release: New Zealand Government Wed, 19 May 2004 Further proof that Brash cares little about facts or Maori The Leader of the Opposition has continues down the same old track track "After a bad week for the National party where its true agenda on the nuclear question emerged Don Brash has fallen back on trying to reignite the race issue, to relegate Mâori to the margins. He has continued down the track National has been consistently plodding down in their opposition years - misunderstanding a Mâori situation, misrepresenting it and then encouraging the public to feel aggrieved about the imaginary "patronisation of Mâori people" Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia said today. "Dr Brash's on-going lack of understanding of Mâori issues followed by his misrepresentation of them and his constant claims that Mâori are after far more than they deserve is wearing thin. "He was wrong back in February when he claimed the nation's universities were lowering their standards to pass Mâori doctors, dentists, lawyers and other professionals. He is wrong now to claim that Mâori are failing in the tertiary education system. "In his speech yesterday Dr Brash said 'that there is a perception that National doesn't value the Mâori vote'. No kidding! Twice now the National party has given the very clear impression it is prepared to distort facts about Mâori achievement for political gain. "It's all very well talking about what the "next National Government" will do. It's what the last National Governments didn't do that has a lot to answer for. This Government made a conscious decision to address the needs of those who fell through the system and were left with few options under National. This government decided to give them a second chance. Many have taken that second chance with both hands by initially engaging in courses that offer them a hand-up and build their confidence. That done, further education is often their next step towards reaching their aspirations. "Already, in a little over two terms of Labour Government Mâori children are starting to reap the benefits of more targeted resources focused on them in their early childhood. "What we inherited was an education system not focussing on Mâori needs. One thing this Labour government is striving to achieve is a high percentage of well-educated New Zealanders, including Mâori. In recent years there has been a rapid growth in the number of Mâori participating in formal tertiary education. Since 1999, the number of Maori students in formal tertiary education has increased from 32,825 to 62,574 in 2003. "The way Mâori have embraced tertiary education speaks volumes about their desire to tool up for the modern New Zealand economy. Dr Brash should be applauding this fact, not denigrating it. "I am proud that more Mâori learners are going to university straight from school and that Mâori doctoral enrolments have almost doubled in the last six years. "Statements recently made by the leader of the opposition can only be seen as divisive. They signal that National does not want Mâori to go forward; that National are used to Mâori being behind. I am from the last generation of children of manual labourers. Ninety-nine percent of my parents' generation, like a whole lot of Mâori, worked for the Ministry of Works, worked for the Post and Telegraph Department, worked for the freezing works, worked on the railways, and did all those great labouring jobs. They were loyal; they worked for 30 to 40 years. They were neither close to management nor close to enterprise, because other people kept them out of the opportunities. "Times are a changing. For the third year in a row, Mâori exceeded non-Mâori in the Total Entrepreneurial Activity stakes. Just over 17 percent of the Mâori population has attempted to start a business in the past three years as opposed to 13.3 percent of the non-Mâori population according to the Unitec NZ Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2003/04 report. Globally, the Mâori entrepreneurship rate surpasses all but three countries in the GEM sample. "Mâori want to be the business managers, Mâori want to be the business owners, and Mâori want to make sure that Mâori have their rightful place as the first-nation people, the tangata whenua in this country, and this Government makes no apologies for assisting Mâori to that end. " What is good for Mâori is good for all New Zealanders - the sooner the opposition realise this, the better. ENDS Copyright (c) Scoop Media ***************************************************************** 13 Scoop: The Brash-Report - No. 30, 19 May 2004 www.scoop.co.nz Wednesday, 19 May 2004, 4:24 pm Column: New Zealand National Party THE BRASH-REPORT An update from the National Party Leader No. 30, 19 May 2004 It has been an eventful fortnight! The hikoi, the Government's foreshore and seabed legislation, the release of the Creech report on the relationship between New Zealand and the United States, and accusations by Helen Clark and Phil Goff that I told visiting US Senators in January that the next National Government would scrap the nuclear-free legislation - "by lunch-time". But first, some follow-up comments on the Holidays Act. The Holidays Act again In my last newsletter, I argued that the Holidays Act was a seriously damaging piece of legislation, and would destroy jobs as many companies would choose not to open on statutory holidays rather than pay the double-time-and-a-half required by the new law. It is abundantly clear that that has been only one of the results. I have received plenty of anecdotes which suggest that that is just part of the problem. The Hawkes Bay Fruitgrowers Association has pointed to the huge additional cost created by the new Act for those employing casual staff, noting that the cost of picking a bin of fruit on a statutory holiday had been $35.25 before the Holidays Act came into force, and was now $88.23. The result, of course, is that growers try hard not to employ anybody on public holidays and, if picking on public holidays is unavoidable, as it often is, the return to growers is very sharply reduced. The front page of the National Business Review last week quoted the personnel manager of the Alliance Group saying that, by the time the fourth week of annual leave becomes mandatory, the new Holidays Act will have added 5% to their total wage and salary bill. He claimed that since the Act came into force at the beginning of April, the incidence of sick leave had quadrupled. Blue Sky Meats advised that this year they did not work on Good Friday, Easter Monday, or Anzac Day for the first time in 10 years. And this as a result of a law passed by a Government which pretends to be concerned to create jobs and improve growth! The hikoi The hikoi has come and gone and has generated plenty of mixed emotions. It reflected how strongly many Maori felt about the Government's proposed foreshore and seabed legislation, and the extent to which the Government's 10 months of dithering over this issue since the Court of Appeal decision in the middle of last year has raised the expectations of many Maori to quite unrealistic heights. Many non-Maori New Zealanders felt angry. Why were the protestors allowed to close two lanes of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, at great inconvenience to Aucklanders and at some risk to themselves and the Bridge itself? How were so many people able to take time off work - or off school in the case of the children - or were they all supported by the generosity of the taxpayer? I shared some of that anger, but I also felt sadness that so many New Zealanders had been encouraged to believe - in contrast to the almost unanimously held view of New Zealanders since the 1860s - that a small minority of our number had rights akin to ownership over the foreshore and the seabed based on their ethnicity, and that acknowledging such rights would be conducive to economic prosperity and racial harmony. The fact of the matter is that for well over a century it has been understood that the Crown owned the foreshore and the seabed, with the exception of very limited areas in fee simple title (partly owned by Maori and partly by other New Zealanders). The National Party supports legislation to make the Crown's ownership of the foreshore and seabed unambiguous, but strongly opposes the Government's Bill. Why? Because, as explained in Newsletter #28, in addition to establishing Crown ownership, the Bill would also create two new jurisdictions, "ancestral connection" and "customary rights", both of which would in practice give iwi very considerable powers to determine what happens over a significant part of the coastline. That would be a recipe for racial tension for decades to come. Sadly, it would also do little to improve the economic lot of Maori New Zealanders. Originally, the Treaty settlement process was expected to involve the transfer to Maori of $1 billion over a period of years. This amounts to about $2,000 for each of the half a million New Zealanders who identify as Maori. Invested in the bank, that $2,000 would generate annual income in perpetuity of about $100. Let's suppose that acceding to the demands of some Maori for a right to clip the ticket over the use of the seabed and foreshore created a benefit equivalent to the transfer of a further $1 billion to Maori. That would be worth, say, a further $100 annually for every Maori New Zealander. Compare that with the difference between the average income of Maori in the private sector and the average income of other New Zealanders - currently about $6,500 annually. That is the gap which Maori leaders should be focused on, and that means not trying to clip the ticket on the use of the foreshore and seabed, but insisting on their children getting a decent education, not the pathetic excuse for an education which too many schools and polytechnics are now offering to Maori. The Creech report The National Party is indebted to former Deputy Prime Minister Wyatt Creech and a taskforce of six others who have over the last year or so produced an excellent report on the relationship between New Zealand and the United States, and on the feasibility of putting that relationship back on an even keel (a copy of that report is on the National Party's website, http://www.national.org.nz). The report suggests that it might be feasible to achieve that, and in so doing improve our relationship with the country with which we should have the closest relationship in the world, namely Australia, by retaining the legislative ban on nuclear weapons, scrapping the legislative ban on nuclear-propelled ships (for which there appears to be not the slightest scientific justification), but not actually inviting nuclear-propelled ships to visit. (All visits by naval ships are subject to an invitation from the New Zealand Government of course, and most of the ships in the US navy are no longer nuclear-propelled.) Eating our cake and having it too? Yes, on the face of it. But the Creech report suggests that this is similar to the policy followed by Denmark for a number of years, and if it succeeded in ending a long-standing source of friction that would seem worthy of careful consideration. I have made it clear that New Zealand's interests are not well served by having policy on this issue going backwards and forwards depending on which political party is in government, so I would expect there to be no change in National's policy on this issue without a very clear electoral mandate. In the meantime, I look forward to serious discussion of the issue. Dr Cullen's fifth Budget Next week, the Minister of Finance will bring down his fifth Budget. It is abundantly clear from the size of the fiscal surplus that the Government has been over-taxing hard-working New Zealanders for some years. Indeed, the extent of that over-taxation has probably never been greater in New Zealand's history. Now we are about to see the Government use that over-taxation to buy political support by oiling every wheel which squeaks, or which might possibly squeak between now and the next election. It is important that all New Zealanders understand that they are being bribed with money which belongs to them in the first place! Don Brash http://www.donbrash.com Copyright (c) Scoop Media ***************************************************************** 14 AU ABC: Green groups welcome ERA prosecution plan. 20/05/2004. ABC News Online Australian Broadcasting Corporation Environmental groups have welcomed the Northern Territory Government's recommendation to consider prosecuting Energy Resources of Australia in relation to an incident at the Ranger Uranium Mine. In March, workers at the mine showered in and consumed water that was later found to be contaminated by the mine's process water. The Government has referred a report into the incident to the Department of Justice. Friends of the Earth and the Australian Conservation Foundation say it is an important step towards making mining companies accountable. Nuclear campaigner Loretta O'Brien says the decision also lends weight to last year's Senate inquiry into mining processes. "We've been calling for the recommendations of the Senate inquiry. Obviously there are some issues at Ranger," she said. "Their performance is not good enough and it certainly has to improve and it's more important now than ever in light of the recent contamination and now the Northern Territory's indication they will prosecute, that the Federal Government act and implement the recommendations of the Senate inquiry." © 2004 Australian Broadcasting Corporation ***************************************************************** 15 GAO Still Not Convinced NRC Has Addressed Davis-Besse Properly Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 12:05:44 -0400 Mothersalert Home: http://www.mothersalert.org http://www.mothersalert.org/nrcprocessflawed.html http://www.mothersalert.org/nrccongress.html Had the commission shut down the plant sooner, officials would have found a corroded hole that nearly penetrated the reactor, the GAO said. The auditors said that three years later, they still aren't convinced that the NRC has addressed the problem adequately. ``We do not yet have adequate assurances from NRC that many of the factors that contributed to the incident at Davis-Besse will be fully addressed,'' said the GAO report http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Nuclear-Plant-Damage.html GAO: NRC Misjudged Ohio Nuke Plant Risk By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: May 18, 2004 Filed at 1:26 p.m. ET WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission miscalculated the risk to the public of letting an Ohio nuclear power plant continue to run in 2001 with suspected reactor leaks, congressional auditors said Tuesday. The General Accounting Office said in a report that government inspectors should have recognized warning signs years earlier that an unsafe amount of corrosive boric acid was accumulating on the reactor head at the Davis-Besse plant near Toledo. Advertisement ``NRC should have but did not identify or prevent the corrosion at Davis-Besse because its oversight did not generate accurate information on plant conditions,'' the GAO said. A copy of the GAO report was obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press. Davis-Besse was among 14 plants that were supposed to have been inspected in the fall of 2001 because of cracking in nozzles on the reactor head. The NRC, however, allowed the plant to postpone the inspection until a scheduled maintenance shutdown months later. Had the commission shut down the plant sooner, officials would have found a corroded hole that nearly penetrated the reactor, the GAO said. The auditors said that three years later, they still aren't convinced that the NRC has addressed the problem adequately. ``We do not yet have adequate assurances from NRC that many of the factors that contributed to the incident at Davis-Besse will be fully addressed,'' said the GAO report. Davis-Besse, located along Lake Erie about 30 miles east of Toledo, started producing electricity again in March after it was shut down for more than two years. It was closed for routine maintenance in February 2002. A month later, inspectors found corrosion on the reactor vessel, where leaking boric acid had eaten almost through a 6-inch-thick steel cap. The GAO said that three engineering consultants it retained concluded that the reasons cited by the NRC for delaying the shutdown in 2001 ``lacked credibility.'' It said the decision was so poorly documented that they couldn't judge if it was reasonable. The commission was faulted by the auditors for not making plant owners cultivate a ``safety culture'' among reactor workers and managers. The NRC should have better guidelines on when to shut down reactors for safety concerns, the auditors said. NRC spokesman Scott Burnell said Tuesday the agency has such guidelines. ``There are many areas of oversight, regulations, the technical specifications that a plant has to follow while it shuts down in order to be in compliance with its license,'' he said. Burnell said the idea of assessing a plant's safety culture ``is too subjective to have any real effect on safety performance.'' The commission's executive director, William Travers, said the GAO auditors did not take into account how much the agency depends on reactor operators to tell the truth about plant conditions. The NRC contends Davis Besse owner FirstEnergy Corp. gave the agency inaccurate and incomplete information about the reactor lid's status. A federal grand jury is probing whether the utility did so intentionally. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee with oversight of the NRC, plans to hold a hearing Thursday on the report's findings on Thursday. Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Republican Rep. Steve LaTourette, both of Ohio, requested the report along with Voinovich. Kucinich said the latest report must make the commission, the nuclear industry and Congress realize that changes are necessary. ``This report must serve as a wake-up call,'' said Kucinich. He opposed allowing the plant to start back up two months ago and last year he asked the commission to lift its license. ^------ On the Net: Nuclear Regulatory Commission: http://www.nrc.gov NIRS: http://www.nirs.org ***************************************************************** 16 NRC: NRC to Hold Two Public Meetings on Issues Regarding Diablo Canyon Power Plant News Release - Region IV - 2004-02 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region IV No. IV-04-022 May 19, 2004 CONTACT: Victor Dricks Phone: 817-860-8128 E-mail: opa4@nrc.gov The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold public meetings on June 9 and 10 to discuss issues regarding the Diablo Canyon power plant. Diablo Canyon is located near San Luis Obispo, California and is operated by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. The public will have an opportunity to participate in a Town Hall-style meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. on June 9, at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 333 Madonna Road, in San Luis Obispo. NRC staff will be available to discuss the results of inspections following the December 22 San Simeon earthquake, which was the subject of an NRC public meeting on February 4. Security issues, PG&Es license application for an independent spent fuel storage installation on site, and other topics related to the safety performance of the plant will also be discussed. As an agency, our primary mission is the protection of public health and safety. We want people who live near the plant to know the NRC values their opinions and wants to address their concerns, NRCs Region IV Administrator Bruce S. Mallett said. We are actively seeking public participation in this meeting and will use the informality of a Town Hall meeting to encourage this. On June 10, the NRC will hold a second meeting beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the PG&E Community Center, 6588 Ontario Road, in San Luis Obispo to discuss the agencys annual assessment of safety performance at Diablo Canyon. The performance period to be discussed is January 1 to December 31, 2003. The public is invited to observe the meeting, and NRC officials will be available before the conclusion of the meeting to answer questions from the public. In addition, the NRC staff will provide an overview of how the agencys Reactor Oversight Process works. A March 3 letter from the NRC to Diablo Canyon officials addresses the performance of the plant during this period and will serve as the basis for the meeting discussion. It is available at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/diab_2003q4.pdf [PDF Icon] . The NRC concluded that the plant operated safely last year. Plant performance does not require additional inspections beyond the normal inspection program. Routine inspections are performed by the two NRC resident inspectors assigned to the plant and by inspection specialists from the Region IV office in Arlington, Texas. With regard to security issues, the letter points out that the NRC has issued several orders and threat advisories to enhance security capabilities at all nuclear power plants and improve guard force readiness since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The agency has also conducted inspections to review the implementation of these requirements and has monitored the action of plant operators in response to changing plant conditions. The NRC will continue security inspections during 2004. Current performance indicators for Diablo Canyon Unit 1 are available on the NRC web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/DIAB1/diab1_chart.html. Current performance indicators for Unit 2 are available on the NRC web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/DIAB2/diab2_chart.html. NRC plans to make video broadcasts of both meetings available on SLO-Span, the San Luis Obispo County government cable access channel. A transcript of the NRCs February 4 public meeting regarding Diablo Canyon and answers to questions raised by attendees is available in the electronic reading room on the agencys web site and through the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) at:http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams/web-based.html. Help in using ADAMS is available from the Public Document Room staff by calling 1-800-397-4209. Last revised Wednesday, May 19, 2004 ***************************************************************** 17 NRC: NRC to Hold Public Meeting May 25 to Discuss a Risk-Informed Approach to Reactor Containment Sump Issue News Release - 2004-05 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov No. 04-059 May 18, 2004 Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet with interested stakeholders on May 25 in Rockville, Md., to discuss risk information relevant to resolving issues with containment sumps, which are a major component of the safety-related water recirculation systems found in nuclear power plants. The meeting will be held in room O-10B4 in One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Members of the public are invited to discuss the issue with NRC staff and ask questions at designated points during the meeting. The meeting agenda is available electronically through the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System on the NRC web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams/web-based.html, by entering accession number ML041320275. For further information, contact Mark Kowal via phone at 301/415-1663 or via e-mail at mxk7@nrc.gov. Last revised Wednesday, May 19, 2004 ***************************************************************** 18 NRC: NRC Updates Construction InspectionProcedures for Possible New Nuclear Plants News Release - 2004-06 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov No. 04-060 May 19, 2004 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued overall guidance for developing construction inspection manuals and procedures to be used by NRC inspectors if new nuclear power plants are built in the United States. The guidance document, NUREG-1789, is the culmination of efforts, dating back to 1991, to update the NRCs Construction Inspection Program (CIP). The new framework addresses the use of the combined construction permit/operating license process, including the use of early site permits and certified standard plant designs. The document incorporates existing requirements in areas such as tests, analyses and acceptance criteria, providing allowances for the rapid schedules possible with todays modular and parallel construction techniques. The NRC is developing a CIP Information Management System to coordinate inspections with licensee construction schedules, said Bruce Boger, Director of the Division of Inspection Program Management in the NRCs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. The system will also make it easier to access, retrieve and track inspection findings and related information. The CIP framework covers four phases of a new reactor project: Early Site Permit, Combined License, construction activities and preparations for operations. NUREG-1789 is available through the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System on the agencys web site, by entering accession number ML041340633 at this address: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams/web-based.html. Help in using ADAMS is available from the Public Document Room staff by calling 1-800-397-4209. Last revised Wednesday, May 19, 2004 ***************************************************************** 19 SFBJ: FP&L joins NuStart to push for new nuclear plant - 2004-05-19 - South Florida Business Journal LATEST NEWS 4:38 PM EDT Wednesday Juno Beach-based Florida Power & Light Co. said it has joined seven other energy companies and two reactor vendors to create the first license application for a new nuclear plant in 30 years and the first under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's new licensing process, which has never been used. The addition of FP&L, the principal subsidiary of Juno Beach-based FPL Group (NYSE: FPL), expands the NuStart Energy Development consortium to 10 companies, eight of which operate 55 nuclear units - more than half of the 105 nuclear power plants in the United States. FP&L has four nuclear power reactors in Florida. FPL Group's wholesale generator affiliate, FPL Energy, owns a controlling interest in and operates Seabrook Station, a nuclear power reactor in New Hampshire. Marilyn Kray, vice president at Exelon Nuclear in Philadelphia and executive lead of NuStart Energy, said the country needs nuclear power for energy diversity, energy independence and clean air. Art Stall, senior vice president of FP&L's, nuclear division, said his company is delighted to join the group working to develop a license for the next generation of nuclear power plants. "Nuclear power is an important part of our business and an important part of the nation's energy mix," he said. NuStart, formed on March 31, filed a proposal April 26 with the Department of Energy under its Nuclear Power 2010 program. The group said its proposal is designed to get a new nuclear plant under construction by that date. DOE is offering to share 50-50 the cost of preparing a construction and operating license, the group added. None of the consortium companies has committed to build a new nuclear plant, NuStart said. It plans to complete detailed engineering design work and to prepare construction and operating license applications for two advanced reactors, then commit to choose one of the applications and file it for Nuclear Regulatory Commission review and approval. After commission approval, NuStart said any individual company or group of companies could decide to use the license to build a new nuclear plant, based on its assessment of power demand, the price of competing electricity technologies, environmental requirements and other factors. FP&L joins Constellation Generation Group, a subsidiary of Constellation Energy of Baltimore; Duke Energy of Charlotte, N.C.; EDF International North America of Washington, a subsidiary of the large French utility; Entergy Nuclear, of Jackson, Miss.; Exelon Generation of Philadelphia; Southern Co. of Atlanta; the Tennessee Valley Authority of Knoxville; and two nuclear reactor vendors, Westinghouse Electric Co. of Pittsburgh and GE Energy's nuclear operations of Wilmington, N.C. © 2004 American City Business Journals Inc. ***************************************************************** 20 NRC: Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for the FR Doc 04-11295 [Federal Register: May 19, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 97)] [Notices] [Page 28950] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr19my04-80] Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request AGENCY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). ACTION: Notice of the OMB review of information collection and solicitation of public comment. SUMMARY: The NRC has recently submitted to OMB for review the following proposal for the collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35). The NRC hereby informs potential respondents that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and that a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. 1. Type of submission, new, revision, or extension: Revision. 2. The title of the information collection: 10 CFR Part 95-- Facility Security Clearance and Safeguarding of National Security Information and Restricted Data. 3. The form number is applicable: Not applicable. 4. How often the collection is required: On occasion. 5. Who is required or asked to report: NRC-regulated facilities and other organizations requiring access to NRC-classified information. 6. An estimate of the number of annual responses: 154 (146 plus 8 recordkeepers). 7. The estimated number of annual respondents: 8. 8. An estimate of the total number of hours needed annually to complete the requirement or request: 447 hours (335 hours reporting (2.3 hrs per response) and 112 hours recordkeeping (14 hrs per recordkeeper)). 9. An indication of whether section 3507(d), Pub. L. 104-13 applies: Not applicable. 10. Abstract: NRC-regulated facilities and other organizations are required to provide information and maintain records to ensure that an adequate level of protection is provided to NRC-classified information and material. A copy of the final supporting statement may be viewed free of charge at the NRC Public Document Room, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Room O-1 F21, Rockville, MD 20852. OMB clearance requests are available at the NRC World Wide Web site: http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/doc-comment/omb/index.html. The document will be available on the NRC home page site for 60 days after the signature date of this notice. Comments and questions should be directed to the OMB reviewer listed below by June 18, 2004. Comments received after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but assurance of consideration cannot be given to comments received after this date. OMB Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (3150-0047), NEOB-10202, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. Comments can also be submitted by telephone at (202) 395-3087. The NRC Clearance Officer is Brenda Jo. Shelton, 301-415-7233. Dated in Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day of April, 2004. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Brenda Jo. Shelton, NRC Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 04-11295 Filed 5-18-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 21 Advocate: Town officials, business owners support renewal of nuclear plant licenses Associated Press May 19, 2004 WATERFORD, Conn. -- Municipal officials and business leaders said they were confident the Millstone nuclear power plants were safe and promoted the reactors' importance to the economy, during public hearings Tuesday on proposed license renewals for the plants. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission held two hearings to seek public opinion on Millstone owner Dominion Nuclear Connecticut's proposal to extend Millstone 2 and 3's permits for another 20 years. The NRC said it wanted information from "local experts," people who live and work in the area, The Day of New London reported. Regulatory officials plan to issue a preliminary environmental impact statement in December, hold at least one more hearing and decide on the Waterford plants' licenses by July 2006. Dominion wants to extend Millstone 2's license from 2015 to 2035 and Millstone 3' license from 2025 to 2045. Millstone 1 is being decommissioned. There were few comments at the hearings about Millstone's affect on the environment. Nancy Burton of the Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone and other nuclear critics opposed license renewal, focusing on cancer clusters in the region that they say are associated with chemical and radiological emissions from the power plants. Dominion's report on license renewal to the NRC, filed in January, defends current company practices and says the company doesn't need to take steps to lessen the affect on the environment in order to obtain license renewals. Speaking in the afternoon on behalf of SeCTer, the Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region, John Markowicz called Millstone a cornerstone of the regional and state economy, accounting for more than 1,300 jobs and about a half billion dollars of southeastern Connecticut's gross domestic product of $10 billion. Several speakers, including one from Dominion, said Millstone supplies about 48 percent of the state's electric energy. Several others, including James Butler, executive director of the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments, New London Mayor Gerard Gaynor and East Lyme First Selectman Wayne Fraser, touted Dominion's spending on local goods and services and a demonstrated effort to communicate openly about safety and plant operations. At the evening hearing, area resident Peter Reynolds said he was not against people who work for Millstone but wary of a federal government that "lied to us since Hiroshima" about the safety of nuclear power. State Rep. Andrea Stillman, D-Waterford, said nuclear power was safer and cleaner than alternative energy sources, a claim also made by Dominion and challenged by its critics. The NRC will continue accepting public comment through June 4, in writing or by e-mail at MillstoneEIS(at)nrc.gov. Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press © 2004, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. All rights ***************************************************************** 22 NRC: Denial of UCS Petition on employee protection [Docket No. PRM-30-62] FR Doc 04-11296 [Federal Register: May 19, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 97)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 28849-28851] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr19my04-13] Union of Concerned Scientists; Denial of Petition for Rulemaking AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Petition for rulemaking: denial. SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is denying a petition for rulemaking (PRM-30-62) submitted by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). The petition requested that the NRC amend its employee protection regulations to require licensees to provide training to their management to make certain that their management is aware of its obligations under these regulations. Subsequent to submission of PRM-30-62, an event occurred which altered the processing for disposition of the Petition. On August 3, 2000, the Commission announced in the Federal Register the formation of a Discrimination Task Group (DTG) to evaluate NRC's processes used for handling discrimination allegations and violations of employee protection standards. A Senior Management Review Team (SMRT) was established to review the final recommendations of the DTG. Because the nature and concerns of PRM-30-62 fell within the objectives of the DTG charter, the NRC, with the petitioner agreeing, decided to incorporate consideration of the issues raised in the petition into the activities of the DTG. The NRC is denying the petition for rulemaking because it has determined that instead of promulgating new rules, the best approach to achieve the intent of the petition is through enhancement of the enforcement policy to encourage training, along with development of regulatory guidance and communicating this guidance to licensee management and to its employees. ADDRESSES: Copies of the petition for rulemaking, the public comments received, and NRC's letter of denial to the petitioner may be examined, and copied for a fee at the NRC Public Document Room, Room O1F23, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD. These documents also may be viewed and downloaded electronically via the rulemaking website. The NRC maintains an Agencywide Document Access and Management System (ADAMS), which provides text and image files of NRC's public documents. These documents may be accessed through the NRC's Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. If you do not have access to ADAMS or if there are problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, contact the NRC Public Document Room (PDR) Reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415- 4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James R. Firth, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Telephone (301) 415-6628, e-mail jrf2@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Petition The petition, assigned Docket No. PRM-30-62, was filed with the NRC by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) on August 13, 1999. Notice of receipt of the petition and request for public comment was published in the Federal Register on October 27, 1999 (64 FR 57785). The petitioner requested that the NRC amend its employee protection regulations to require licensees to provide training to their management (i.e., first line supervisors, managers, directors, and officers) to make certain they are aware of their obligations under these regulations, and that individual managers be held accountable for their actions under the deliberate misconduct regulations (e.g., 10 CFR 50.5). The petitioner believes that this would prevent licensee management from using ``ignorance of the law'' as an excuse for violating employee protection regulations and allow the NRC to take enforcement action against individual managers for such violations. Presently, the Commission's regulations prohibiting discrimination against employees are found at 10 CFR 30.7, 40.7, 50.7, 60.9, 61.9, 70.7, 72.10, and 76.7. These regulations provide notice that discrimination against an employee for engaging in protected activities as defined in Section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act (ERA) is prohibited; and that civil penalties and other enforcement action may be taken against licensees for violations of these regulations by licensees or by their contractors or subcontractors. The petition noted that between March 1996 and August 1999, the NRC took escalated enforcement action 111 times against individuals. Within this period, the NRC took 23 enforcement actions against licensees for discriminating against nuclear workers who raised safety concerns. The petition states that despite identifying ``who'' in these 23 cases was responsible for violating the Federal regulations, the NRC took enforcement action against individuals on only four occasions. In 1991, the Commission promulgated its deliberate misconduct regulations (e.g., 10 CFR 50.5), (hereafter Deliberate Misconduct Rule). Pursuant to the Deliberate Misconduct Rule, the Commission may take enforcement action directly against individual employees of licensees, or applicants and contractors or subcontractors of licensees and applicants, who engage in deliberate misconduct that causes a licensee or applicant to be in violation of the Commission's regulations, including those prohibiting discrimination. The petitioner asserts, however, that in the past the NRC has failed to use the authority afforded by the Deliberate Misconduct Rule to take enforcement action against managers who have discriminated against employees raising safety concerns, because these individuals claimed that they were not aware of the provisions of the employee discrimination regulations. The petitioner therefore requests that licensees be required to provide training to their management on these regulations, so that managers will not be able to claim that they were unaware of these regulations, and so that enforcement action may thus be taken directly against managers who violate these regulations pursuant to the Deliberate Misconduct Rule. [[Page 28850]] Public Comments on the Petition On October 27, 1999, the NRC published a notice of receipt of a petition for rulemaking (64 FR 57785), filed by UCS on August 13, 1999, inviting interested persons to submit comments. The comment period closed on January 10, 2000. The NRC received 153 comment letters that included comments from several utilities, a professional association, a quasi-government agency, several universities, a number of private companies, a law firm, and numerous public citizens. The majority of the comment letters received, 146, favoring the petition voiced the same opinions as those provided in an ``action alert'' from the UCS to its subscribers asking them to contact the NRC to support the petition. Support for the petition focused on two concerns: First, the asserted inadequacy of NRC's regulations to protect nuclear plant workers who raise safety issues from discrimination or retaliation; and second, the failure of the NRC to enforce its employee protection regulations based on the rationale that individuals who discriminate against whistleblowers are not aware that their actions are illegal. There were seven comment letters opposed to the petition. Reasons for opposition to the petition included: (1) One commenter believed the petition is inconsistent with NRC policy, which does not include promulgation of a training requirement for each substantive regulation with which licensees must comply; and therefore, training should not be the subject of Federal regulation. It was noted that licensees already offer voluntary employee training to their managers on a wide range of regulatory issues (including employee protection) to maintain a Safety Conscious Work Environment (SCWE). Therefore, contrary to the petition, the commenter asserted that licensees already train their management in an effort to provide individual managers with a basic understanding of the laws prohibiting discrimination, including offering practical ways to address employee concerns. With respect to the content and type of training needed to respond to the petition, several commenters felt licensees need flexibility to identify the scope and substance of the training in order to fit the needs of employees at their individual facilities. (2) One commenter believed the petition failed to provide adequate justification to support the requested agency action because it failed to explain, among other things, why existing mechanisms to ensure compliance with the employee protection regulations, such as in 10 CFR 50.7, including enforcement actions against licensees, are not sufficient to deter discriminatory behavior or encourage corrective action. In this regard, it was noted that an explicit requirement for training will not necessarily guarantee compliance with employee protection requirements or increase individual accountability because, in most cases, it is difficult to prove that adverse actions taken by licensee management were deliberate. To the commenter, the petitioner's inference that every employee protection violation necessarily includes a finding of deliberate misconduct against individuals as defined for example in 10 CFR 50.5 is overstated. The commenter believes that many cases involving alleged violations of the employee protection regulations result from good faith attempts by individual licensee managers to deal with difficult situations and not from deliberate attempts to discriminate against nuclear workers. The petitioner's assertion that there are frequent violations of the employee protection regulations was not supported by the facts provided in the petition in the commenter's view. However, the commenter noted that assuming the petitioner was correct, the fact there were 23 enforcement actions against licensees for violations of, in this case, 10 CFR 50.7 requirements over a 3 year period from March 1996 through August 1999 (less than 8 violations per year) does not demonstrate a widespread and pervasive industry problem that warrants a rule requiring employee protection training. Such a solution for issues involving human interactions and personalities will not solve all perceived problems of discrimination, and arguing that formal training will overcome this dilemma is simplistic. (3) One commenter noted the petition appears designed only to encourage additional punitive action against individuals by the NRC when discrimination findings are made. However, the commenter asserted that it was noted in the past (with no specific reference to where or when) that, in most cases, enforcement actions citing discrimination typically are based on circumstantial evidence and are often difficult to prove. (4) Several commenters noted that Section 211 of the ERA and the employee protection regulations such as in 10 CFR 50.7, Employee Protection, already set out the requirements that licensees and their contractors must meet to ensure that employees are free to raise safety concerns without fear of retaliation. Intervening Actions Subsequent to receipt of the petition, an event occurred which altered the processing and schedule for disposition of PRM-30-62. On April 14, 2000, the NRC approved the establishment of a working group to evaluate the NRC processes for handling discrimination cases. The purpose of the working group was to: (1) Evaluate the NRC's handling of matters covered by its employee protection regulations; (2) propose recommendations for improvement of the NRC's process for handling such matters; (3) ensure that the application of the NRC enforcement process was consistent with the objective of promoting an environment where workers are free to raise safety concerns in accordance with the NRC's employee protection standards; and (4) promote active and frequent involvement of internal and external stakeholders in the development of recommendations for future changes to the process. On August 3, 2000, a notice was published in the Federal Register (65 FR 47806) announcing the formation of an NRC Discrimination Task Group (DTG) to evaluate the NRC processes used in the handling of discrimination allegations and violations of the employee protection regulations. The DTG's objective was to propose recommendations for revisions to the regulatory requirements, the enforcement policy, or other agency guidelines as appropriate. A Senior Management Review Team (SMRT) was established to review the final recommendations of the DTG. Because the nature and concerns of PRM-30-62 fell within the objectives of the DTG charter, the NRC, with the petitioner agreeing, decided to incorporate consideration of the issues raised in the petition into the activities of the DTG. The DTG submitted a report to the Commission with its findings and recommendations on December 12, 2002. The report was provided as an attachment to a paper sent to the Commission, SECY-02-0166, and was entitled, ``Policy Options and Recommendations for Revising the NRC's Process for Handling Discrimination Issues.'' On March 26, 2003, the Commission issued a Staff Requirements Memorandum (SRM) on SECY-02-0166 approving the recommendations of the DTG, as revised by the SMRT and subject to the specific comments provided in the SRM. The SRM also stated that proposed guidance to licensees should be developed and [[Page 28851]] should emphasize training of licensee management as to its obligations under the employee protection regulations and provide information as to the recommended content of such training. Although the NRC believes the current employee protection regulations are adequate, clear, and sufficiently flexible to accommodate the concerns in PRM-30-62, the Commission believes that such guidance would further the NRC policy statement related to an SCWE. The DTG concluded that the petition would not correct the problem that was the basis for the petition. The fact that a licensee manager may have received training on the discrimination regulations does not constitute enough evidence to conclude that an adverse action taken was deliberate. Consistent with the Commission's direction in the SRM of March 26, 2003, regulatory guidance will be developed and made available for licensees' use that will consider those attributes that constitute an effective SCWE program. Developing such guidance is consistent with NRC's performance-based approach, which allows licensees flexibility to develop programs that are best suited for them. Reasons for Denial The NRC is denying the petition for the following reasons: 1. As discussed above, on March 26, 2003, the Commission issued a Staff Requirements Memorandum (SRM) on SECY-02-0166 approving the recommendations of the DTG, as revised by the SMRT and subject to the specific comments provided in the SRM. The SRM also stated that proposed guidance to licensees should be developed and should emphasize training of licensee management as to its obligations under the employee protection regulations and provide information as to the recommended content of such training. Although the NRC believes the current employee protection regulations are adequate, clear, and sufficiently flexible to accommodate the concerns in PRM-30-62, the Commission believes that such guidance would further the NRC policy statement related to an SCWE. 2. The NRC has concluded that the petition would not correct the problem that was the basis for the petition. The fact that a licensee manager may have received training on the discrimination regulations does not constitute enough evidence to conclude that an adverse action taken was deliberate. Consistent with the Commission's direction in the SRM of March 26, 2003, regulatory guidance will be developed and made available for licensees' use that will consider those attributes that constitute an effective SCWE program. Developing such guidance is consistent with NRC's performance-based approach, which also allows licensees flexibility to develop programs that are best suited for them. In sum, no new information has been provided by the petitioner that supports the need to undertake rulemaking action to amend the requirements of the employee protection regulations. The goals of the petition can be achieved through the development of regulatory guidance in conjunction with licensees and stakeholders and communicating this guidance to their managers and employees. Additional rulemaking would impose unnecessary regulatory burden on licensees and does not appear to be warranted for the adequate protection of the public health and safety and the common defense and security. For the reasons cited in this document, the NRC denies this petition. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 29th day of April, 2004. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. William D. Travers, Executive Director for Operations. [FR Doc. 04-11296 Filed 5-18-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 23 The Middletown Press: CY decon update By JOSH MROZINSKI Middletown Press Staff 05/19/2004 HADDAM -- Connecticut Yankee is coming closer to completing the decommissioning of its nuclear power plant by starting to transfer fuel and having a contractor pull together resources to demolish structures on the site. The fuel transfer process was presented to the public at Tuesday night’s Community Decommissioning Advisory Committee meeting held at the Haddam Neck Connecticut Yankee site. Connecticut Yankee has been decommissioning its plant since 1998 after it had shut down in 1996. The physical decommission of the site is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2006. Manafort Brothers, a development contractor based in Plainville, will begin to demolish the smaller buildings this year. The larger buildings, which are associated with the spent fuel, won’t be demolished until the spent-fuel transfer is complete. Eventually, the spent-fuel will be moved to Yucca Mountain in Nevada. So far, Connecticut Yankee has transferred two containers of very hazardous waste, greater than Class-C, to the controversial Venture Smith site where it will eventually be taken from CY’s property and brought to Yucca Mountain. By Tuesday night’s advisory committee meeting, Connecticut Yankee was in the process of moving a container of spent-fuel rods to the site. There are still 40 more containers to be transferred. The last containers of waste and spent-fuel roads are scheduled to be moved to the site by the first half of 2005. The containers are meant to reduce the workers’ exposure to radiation and to keep out environmental hazards. Frank Helin, the fuel transfer manager, said at Tuesday night’s meeting that the workers’ exposure to the radiation was far less than expected. "There was virtually hardly any dose at all for the first two cans we dealt with," Helin said. Although committee members had questions for Helin about the process, they generally seemed content with what they saw. Before the presentation began, Hugh Curley, the committee’s chairman, said he was generally impressed by the security around the site. He was agreeing with another committee member, Marcia Meyers, from the League of Women Voters, who was also impressed with what she saw on the tour. "I was impressed with the security around where the cask will be," Meyers said. To contact Josh Mrozinski, call (860) 3470-3331, ext. 222 or email jmrozinski@middletownpress.com. ©The Middletown Press 2004 ***************************************************************** 24 Newsday: Feds seek to reassure local officials ahead of Indian Point drill Newsday.com May 19, 2004, 7:12 PM EDT NEW YORK (AP) _ Federal officials met Wednesday with local leaders around the Indian Point nuclear power plant to discuss its security. Mike Brown, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Nils Diaz, the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, met with county executives for the four surrounding suburban counties. The meeting came ahead of a security drill next month. "It was a good roomful of folks; I felt we had a very collegial, frank discussion among ourselves about what their concerns are, how we can help them," said Brown, whose agency was criticized last year by those who feel the plant does not have adequate security in the post-Sept. 11 era. Other critics contend Indian Point is too close to the New York metropolitan area to be safe, but that argument has lost a great deal of momentum in the last year, especially after last summer's blackout. Brown said the agency is using federal hazard mitigation dollars to offer the counties technical advisers and support. The advisers will come from Argonne National Labs, a Department of Energy facility in Illinois, Brown said. An NRC spokesman said the chairman met with the executives to discuss emergency preparedness and security concerns. Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press ***************************************************************** 25 UCS: U.S. Nuclear Plants in the 21st Century [Union of Concerned Scientists] [Clean Energy] analysis U.S. Nuclear Plants in the 21st Century: The Risk of a Lifetime Note: The following is the executive summary of the report U.S. Nuclear Plants in the 21st Century: The Risk of a Lifetime. To view the full report, click on the link in the related links box below. The risks for catastrophe change as nuclear reactors age, much like the risks for death by accident and illness change as people get older. Protection schemes must evolve to remain correlated with age if the threat level is to be minimized. For people, it means replacing protective measures for toddlers (such as safety plugs in electrical outlets) with parental watchfulness against teenage drinking and driving. It also means testing for signs of age-related illness (such as glaucoma, heart disease, and osteoporosis) as people get older. For nuclear reactors, it means aggressively monitoring risk during the three stages of plant lifetime: the break-in phase, middle life phase, and wear-out phase. The risk profile for these three phases of life curves like a bathtub. The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) identified the best ways to manage the risks from nuclear power at all points along the bathtub curve. The Break-in Phase Any new reactors that are built will start out on the high-risk break-in segment of the curve. Several nuclear plant disastersFermi, Three Mile Island, and Chernobyl to name just a fewdemonstrated the perils of navigating this part of the curve. Literally thousands of unexpected safety problems surfaced at other nuclear plants. These surprises drove safety levels down and nuclear powers costs up unnecessarily. Public intervention in licensing proceedings led to numerous safety improvements, but recent changes to the licensing process limit the publics role to essentially that of a casual observer. If new reactors are built, we must benefit from these hard and expensive lessons by: (1) excluding new reactors from federal liability protection under the Price Anderson Act, thereby removing the current disincentive for vendors to design safety upgrades; (2) verifying safety performance against expectations on prototype reactors before commercial reactors are built; (3) conducting extensive inspections of new reactors during design and construction to verify compliance with safety requirements; and (4) allowing meaningful public participation in the licensing process. The Middle Life Phase Increasing the maximum power output while cutting back on safety inspections at existing reactors reduces the margin for error along the middle segment of the bathtub curve. The fact that 27 nuclear reactors have been shut down in the past two decades for safety problems that took a year or longer to fix demonstrates that errors are abundant and margins for error are still necessary. Many of the safety cutbacks at nuclear plants are being justified based on deficient risk assessments. These risk assessments have resulted in poor management decisions, such as the decision in 2001 allowing the Davis-Besse nuclear plant in Ohio to continue operating in an unsafe manner. Risk at existing reactors can be best managed by: (1) improving the oversight of methods used by plant owners to find and fix errors; (2) ending the practice of risk-informed decision making using flawed risk studies; and (3) using risk insights not just to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens but also to shore up regulatory gaps as well. The Wear-out Phase Todays aging reactors, and any reactors granted 20-year extensions to their current 40-year operating licenses, face the high-risk wear-out segment of the bathtub curve. Despite efforts to monitor the condition of aging equipment, there are recent age-related failures caused by monitoring the right areas using the wrong techniques and by monitoring the wrong areas using the right techniques. In addition, nuclear plants seeking license renewal conform not to todays safety standards, but to a unique assortment of regulations dating back nearly 40 years with countless exemptions, deviations, and waivers granted along the way. While each individual exemption or waiver may be justified as not reducing safety margins, the cumulative effect of so many exceptions can adversely affect safety. To properly manage the risk at aging reactors: (1) multiple inspection techniques must be required for high-risk equipment; (2) expanded inspections must be required for equipment currently considered less vulnerable to aging; and (3) all differences between todays safety regulations and the mix of regulations applicable to todays reactors must be identified and reviewed to verify that no safety gaps exist. What Needs to Be Done While the risks and reasons for the risks vary along the bathtub curve, the consequences of failing to manage the risks remain nearly constantpotentially massive releases of radioactivity into the atmosphere with devastating harm to people and places downwind. An aggressive regulator consistently enforcing federal safety regulations provides the best protection against these risks. Sadly, America lacks such protection. Since UCS began its nuclear safety project nearly three decades ago, we have engaged the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its predecessor, the Atomic Energy Commission, countless times. We advocated enforcement of existing regulations far more often than for adoption of new regulations. Regulations might provide adequate protection, but only when they are followed. By failing to consistently enforce the regulations, the NRC exposes millions of Americans to greater risk than necessary. The federal government must reform the NRC into a consistently effective regulator so it properly manages the risk at all points along the nuclear bathtub curve. Download the full report. © Union of Concerned Scientists Page Last Revised: 05.18.2004 ***************************************************************** 26 NRC: FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company, Davis-Besse Nuclear Power FR Doc 04-11297 [Federal Register: May 19, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 97)] [Notices] [Page 28951] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr19my04-81] [[Page 28951]] Station; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering withdrawal of an exemption from title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) part 50, Appendix R, subsection III.L.1 for Facility Operating License No. NPF-3, issued to FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC or the licensee), for operation of the Davis- Besse Nuclear Power Station (DBNPS), located in Ottawa County, Ohio. Therefore, as required by 10 CFR 51.21, the NRC is issuing this environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact. Environmental Assessment Identification of the Proposed Action The proposed action would withdraw an exemption to 10 CFR part 50, Appendix R, subsection III.L.1, regarding the plant's capability to achieve cold shutdown within 72 hours by the alternative shutdown process, independent of offsite power. The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application dated December 17, 2003. The Need for the Proposed Action The action is proposed because the licensee has now determined that DBNPS can achieve cold shutdown within 72 hours by the alternative shutdown process independent of offsite power; therefore, the exemption is no longer required. Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action The NRC has completed its evaluation of the proposed action and concludes that the proposed exemption withdrawal does not involve radioactive wastes, release of radioactive material into the atmosphere, solid radioactive waste, or liquid effluents released to the environment. The DBNPS systems were evaluated in the Final Environmental Statement (FES) dated October 1975 (NUREG 75/097). The proposed exemption withdrawal will not involve any change in the waste treatment systems described in the FES. The proposed action will not significantly increase the probability or consequences of accidents, no changes are being made in the types of effluents that may be released offsite, and there is no significant increase in occupational or public radiation exposure. Therefore, there are no significant radiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed action does not have a potential to affect any historic sites. It does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no other environmental impact. Therefore, there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. Accordingly, the NRC concludes that there are no significant environmental impacts associated with the proposed action. Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered denial of the proposed action (i.e., the ``no-action'' alternative). Denial of the application would result in no change in current environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action are similar. Alternative Use of Resources The action does not involve the use of any different resource than those previously considered in the DBNPS FES dated October 1975. Agencies and Persons Consulted On April 16, 2004, the staff consulted with Ohio State official, C. O'Claire of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. The State official had no comments. Finding of No Significant Impact On the basis of the environmental assessment, the NRC concludes that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the NRC has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed action. For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the licensee's letter dated December 17, 2003 (ADAMS ML033600026). Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, Public File Area O1-F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records will be accessible electronically from the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, should contact the NRC PDR Reference staff by telephone at 1- 800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov. Dated in Rockville, Maryland, this 12th day of May, 2004. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Jon B. Hopkins, Senior Project Manager, Project Directorate III, Section 2, Division of Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 04-11297 Filed 5-18-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 27 UCS: Critical Safety Issues At Nuclear Reactors Set To Escalate [Union of Concerned Scientists] May 18, 2004 Critical Safety Issues Set To Escalate As U.S. Commercial Reactors Extend Their Life Cycles NRC Must Increase Oversight and Enforcement to Deal with Nuclear Reactor Aging The Union of Concerned Scientists today released a report showing that the country's 103 aging commercial nuclear reactors are entering the most dangerous phase of their life cycle. The report, U.S. Nuclear Plants in the 21st Century: The Risk of a Lifetime, analyzes the unprecedented risks of reactors entering the wear-out phase and demonstrates that the combination of aging reactors and the Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRC) indifferent approach to safety enforcement will seriously jeopardize public health for years to come. "U.S. reactors are now entering the phase where safety system failures, unplanned reactor shutdowns, and accidental releases of radioactivity are becoming more likely," said Dave Lochbaum, Nuclear Safety Engineer with the Union of Concerned Scientists. "The NRC must rigorously enforce federal safety regulations to ensure public health and safety as plant owners try to extend the life cycle of our nations 103 commercial nuclear reactors." Risk of a Lifetime outlines the life cycle for commercial nuclear power plants. In the beginning of their life (Region A), nuclear reactors, like automobiles, experience more breakdowns. As reactors approach the middle of their productive lives, the flat part of the curve, (Region B) accidents occur less frequently. At the end of their lives, the failure rate curves upward (Region C) to mirror that occurring in the beginning of a reactors life. Every commercial nuclear reactor in the U.S. is moving towards Region C, if it is not there already. [ src=] "With Indian Points aging reactors we are entering a very dangerous time. We will have another accident like Three Mile Island if the NRC doesnt start taking its job seriously," said Kyle Rabin, Senior Policy Analyst with Riverkeeper. "The combination of aging and lax safety enforcement will lead to devastating accidents if our luck runs out." The Three Mile Island accident happened 25 years ago and the number of events have steadily declined, an expected transition from Region A to Region B of the bathtub curve. In Region C, the chances of accidents will increase again. The report makes ten recommendations for improving nuclear regulation to manage age-related safety risks. "Humans, like nuclear reactors, tend to require more care and supervision as infants and when they are elderly than when they are in middle age," said Rochelle Becker of Mothers For Peace, "We worry about the increasing number of nuclear reactors getting fewer safety check-ups as they age. We expect the NRC to protect the lives of our children and our grandchildren and not the financial interests of plant owners and the nuclear industry."   [In this Section] Commentary Experts Positions Press Release To set up interviews or for UCS info, contact: ERIC YOUNG Assistant Press Secretary 202-223-6133  eyoung@ucsusa.org LINDA GUNTER Press Secretary 202-223-6133 lgunter@ucsusa.org  © Union of Concerned Scientists Page Last Revised: 05.18.2004 ***************************************************************** 28 NRC: Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; Meeting Notice FR Doc 04-11298 [Federal Register: May 19, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 97)] [Notices] [Page 28951-28952] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr19my04-82] In accordance with the purposes of Sections 29 and 182b. of the Atomic Energy Act (42 U.S.C. 2039, 2232b), the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) will hold a meeting on June 2-4, 2004, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. The date of this meeting was previously published in the Federal Register on Monday, November 21, 2003 (68 FR 65743). Wednesday, June 2, 2004, Conference Room T-2B3, Two White Flint North, Rockville, Maryland 8:30 a.m.-8:35 a.m.: Opening Remarks by the ACRS Chairman (Open)-- The ACRS Chairman will make opening remarks regarding the conduct of the meeting. 8:35 a.m.-10:30 a.m.: Draft Final 10 CFR 50.69, ``Risk-Informed Categorization and Treatment of Structures, Systems, and Components for Nuclear Power Reactors'' (Open)--The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff and Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) regarding the draft final 10 CFR 50.69, and draft final Regulatory Guide DG-1121, ``Guidelines for Categorizing Structures, Systems, and Components in Nuclear Power Plants According to Their Safety Significances,'' which endorses NEI 00-04, ``10 CFR 50.69 SSC Categorization Guideline.'' 10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m.: Revised License Renewal Review Process (Open)--The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff [[Page 28952]] regarding the revised process for the staff's review of the license renewal applications. 12:45 p.m.-1:15 p.m.: Preparation for Meeting with the NRC Commissioners (Open)--The Committee will discuss the following topics scheduled for the ACRS meeting with the NRC Commissioners: PWR Sump Performance, PRA Quality for Decisionmaking, Risk-Informing 10 CFR 50.46, NRC Safety Research Program Report, Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) Pre-Application Review, and Interim Review of the AP1000 Design. 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.: Meeting with the NRC Commissioners, Commissioners' Conference Room, One White Flint North, Rockville, MD (Open)--The Committee will meet with the NRC Commissioners to discuss the topics noted above. 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Digital Instrumentation and Control System Research Activities (Open)--The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff and their contractors regarding NRC research activities in the area of digital instrumentation and control (I) systems and related matters. 5:45 p.m.-6:45 p.m.: Preparation of ACRS Reports (Open)--The Committee will discuss proposed ACRS reports on matters considered during this meeting. Thursday, June 3, 2004, Conference Room T-2B3, Two White Flint North, Rockville, Maryland 8:30 a.m.-8:35 a.m.: Opening Remarks by the ACRS Chairman (Open)-- The ACRS Chairman will make opening remarks regarding the conduct of the meeting. 8:35 a.m.-10:30 a.m.: NRC Staff's Response to the ACRS Report on the AP1000 Design (Open)--The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff regarding their response to ACRS comments and recommendations included in the March 17, 2004 ACRS report on the AP1000 design. 10:45 a.m.-12 Noon: Proposed Revisions to Standard Review Plan (SRP) Sections and Process and Schedule for Revising the SRP (Open)-- The Committee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff regarding the proposed revisions to SRP Sections: 5.2.3, ``Reactor Coolant Pressure Boundary Materials;'' 5.3.1, ``Reactor Vessel Materials;'' and 5.3.3, ``Reactor Vessel Integrity;'' as well as the process and schedule for revising various SRP Sections, including milestones for ACRS review of the proposed revisions. 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.: Future ACRS Activities/Report of the Planning and Procedures Subcommittee (Open)--The Committee will discuss the recommendations of the Planning and Procedures Subcommittee regarding items proposed for consideration by the full Committee during future meetings. Also, it will hear a report of the Planning and Procedures Subcommittee on matters related to the conduct of ACRS business, including anticipated workload and member assignments. 2:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m.: Reconciliation of ACRS Comments and Recommendations (Open)--The Committee will discuss the responses from the NRC Executive Director for Operations (EDO) to comments and recommendations included in recent ACRS reports and letters. The EDO responses are expected to be made available to the Committee prior to the meeting. 3 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Preparation of ACRS Reports (Open)--The Committee will discuss proposed ACRS reports. Friday, June 4, 2004, Conference Room T-2B3, Two White Flint North, Rockville, Maryland 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m.: Metrics for Evaluating the Quality of the NRC Research Programs (Open)--The Committee will discuss the quantitative metrics for use by the ACRS in evaluating the quality of the NRC research programs. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Preparation of ACRS Reports (Open)--The Committee will continue its discussion of proposed ACRS reports. 4 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Miscellaneous (Open)--The Committee will discuss matters related to the conduct of Committee activities and matters and specific issues that were not completed during previous meetings, as time and availability of information permit. Procedures for the conduct of and participation in ACRS meetings were published in the Federal Register on October 16, 2003 (68 FR 59644). In accordance with those procedures, oral or written views may be presented by members of the public, including representatives of the nuclear industry. Electronic recordings will be permitted only during the open portions of the meeting. Persons desiring to make oral statements should notify the Cognizant ACRS staff named below five days before the meeting, if possible, so that appropriate arrangements can be made to allow necessary time during the meeting for such statements. Use of still, motion picture, and television cameras during the meeting may be limited to selected portions of the meeting as determined by the Chairman. Information regarding the time to be set aside for this purpose may be obtained by contacting the Cognizant ACRS staff prior to the meeting. In view of the possibility that the schedule for ACRS meetings may be adjusted by the Chairman as necessary to facilitate the conduct of the meeting, persons planning to attend should check with the Cognizant ACRS staff if such rescheduling would result in major inconvenience. Further information regarding topics to be discussed, whether the meeting has been canceled or rescheduled, as well as the Chairman's ruling on requests for the opportunity to present oral statements and the time allotted therefore can be obtained by contacting Mr. Sam Duraiswamy, Cognizant ACRS staff (301-415-7364), between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., ET. ACRS meeting agenda, meeting transcripts, and letter reports are available through the NRC Public Document Room at pdr@nrc.gov, or by calling the PDR at 1-800-397-4209, or from the Publicly Available Records System (PARS) component of NRC's document system (ADAMS) which is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html or http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/ (ACRS & oc-collections/ (ACRS & ACNW Mtg schedules/agendas). Videoteleconferencing service is available for observing open sessions of ACRS meetings. Those wishing to use this service for observing ACRS meetings should contact Mr. Theron Brown, ACRS Audio Visual Technician (301-415-8066), between 7:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., ET, at least 10 days before the meeting to ensure the availability of this service. Individuals or organizations requesting this service will be responsible for telephone line charges and for providing the equipment and facilities that they use to establish the videoteleconferencing link. The availability of videoteleconferencing services is not guaranteed. Dated: May 13, 2004. Andrew L. Bates, Advisory Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 04-11298 Filed 5-18-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 29 NRC: Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Meeting of the ACRS FR Doc 04-11299 [Federal Register: May 19, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 97)] [Notices] [Page 28953] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr19my04-83] [[Page 28953]] Subcommittee on Materials and Metallurgy; Notice of Meeting The ACRS Subcommittee on Materials and Metallurgy will hold a meeting on June 1, 2004, Room T-2B3, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. The entire meeting will be open to public attendance. The agenda for the subject meeting shall be as follows: Tuesday, June 1, 2004--8:30 a.m. until the conclusion of business The purpose of this meeting is to hear presentations regarding materials degradation issues. The Subcommittee will hear presentations by and hold discussions with representatives of the NRC staff, the EPRI/MRP, NEI and other interested persons regarding this matter. The Subcommittee will gather information, analyze relevant issues and facts, and formulate proposed positions and actions, as appropriate, for deliberation by the full Committee. Members of the public desiring to provide oral statements and/or written comments should notify the Designated Federal Official, Ms. Maggalean W. Weston (telephone 301/415-3151) five days prior to the meeting, if possible, so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Electronic recordings will be permitted. Further information regarding this meeting can be obtained by contacting the Designated Federal Official between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (ET). Persons planning to attend this meeting are urged to contact the above named individual at least two working days prior to the meeting to be advised of any potential changes to the agenda. Dated: May 12, 2004. Marvin D. Sykes, Acting Associate Director for Technical Support, ACRS/ACNW. [FR Doc. 04-11299 Filed 5-18-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 30 NRC: Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Subcommittee Meeting on FR Doc 04-11300 [Federal Register: May 19, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 97)] [Notices] [Page 28953] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr19my04-84] Planning and Procedures; Notice of Meeting The ACRS Subcommittee on Planning and Procedures will hold a meeting on June 1, 2004, Room T-2B1, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. The entire meeting will be open to public attendance, with the exception of a portion that may be closed pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b(c) (2) and (6) to discuss organizational and personnel matters that relate solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of the ACRS, and information the release of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. The agenda for the subject meeting shall be as follows: Tuesday, June 1, 2004--1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. The Subcommittee will discuss proposed ACRS activities and related matters. The Subcommittee will gather information, analyze relevant issues and facts, and formulate proposed positions and actions, as appropriate, for deliberation by the full Committee. Members of the public desiring to provide oral statements and/or written comments should notify the Designated Federal Official, Mr. Sam Duraiswamy (telephone: 301-415-7364) between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. (ET) five days prior to the meeting, if possible, so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Electronic recordings will be permitted only during those portions of the meeting that are open to the public. Further information regarding this meeting can be obtained by contacting the Designated Federal Official between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. (ET). Persons planning to attend this meeting are urged to contact the above named individual at least two working days prior to the meeting to be advised of any potential changes in the agenda. Dated: May 12, 2004. Marvin D. Sykes, Acting Associate Director for Technical Support, ACRS/ACNW. [FR Doc. 04-11300 Filed 5-18-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 31 Bellona: Nuclear disaster victims to receive compensation Approximately $860 thousand have been allocated for elimination of the consequences of the nuclear accident at the Mayak plant in 1957. 2004-05-19 17:49 This year Chelyabinsk region Administration allocated about $96,000 for elimination of the accident’s consequences, RIA Novosti reported. The money will be divided between social-economical rehabilitation of the population and the territory ($25,000), protection of the population’s health who suffered from radiation including their children and grandchildren ($26,600), rehabilitation and protective measures in the agriculture of the contaminated regions ($14,800), technical equipment for the agricultural complex ($14,800), social-psychological work rehabilitation of the suffered in the accident ($8,700), information work (($8,700) etc. It is also earmarked $358,800 in 2004 for construction works in the suffered regions. Mayak plant also promised $414,000 earned on spent nuclear fuel reprocessing for construction of the flats for the families suffered in the accident. Last year 81 flat was handed over to the victims of the disaster, a hospital was renovated in Bagryak settlement, a nutrition unit was constructed in Argayash. The radiation catastrophe at the Mayak plant in 1957 led to the evacuation of 18,000 people from the local villages, 22 settlements were abandoned. The hospitals and clinics of Chelyabinsk County were filled to capacity with thousands of people whose condition was being monitored for a couple of years after the explosion. At least 200 people died as a result of radiation sickness in the years following the accident. Agricultural production in the area was also affected. In 1958, 106,000 ha of agricultural land were laid fallow in Chelyabinsk and Sverdlovsk counties. All agricultural areas in Sverdlovsk had been returned to cultivation by 1961, whereas in Chelyabinsk County, an area of 40,000 ha could not be farmed again until 1978. However, there are some remaining areas totalling 180 km2 in which the farmland still cannot be used because of this accident. Publisher: Bellona Foundation, President: Frederic Hauge Information: info@bellona.no, Technical contact: webmaster@bellona.no Telephone: +47 23 23 46 00 Telefax: +47 22 38 38 62 * P.O.Box 2141 Grunerlokka, 0505 Oslo, Norway ***************************************************************** 32 Las Vegas SUN: Nuke adviser warns of threat from Cold War's leftovers May 19, 2004 By Mary Manning LAS VEGAS SUN Thomas C. Reed, an adviser on nuclear issues to Presidents Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, told a group at the Atomic Testing Museum Tuesday night that it is remarkable that the Cold War did not end in nuclear war. Reed, former Air Force secretary, was in Las Vegas to talk about his book, "At the Abyss: An Insider's History of the Cold War." in which he spells out how close the U.S. came to the nuclear brink with the old Soviet Union through the last half of the 20th century. "The Cold War was a fight to the death, fought with bayonets, napalm and high-tech weaponry of every sort -- save one," Reed said. "It was not fought with nuclear weapons." When the United States and the former Soviet Union bristled with nuclear weapons, the threat of a nuclear explosion from "some terrible mistake, a terrorist statement or an act of war" troubled Reagan, Reed said. Over a lunch of macaroni and cheese one day with Nancy Reagan, the president vowed "to lean on the Soviets until they went broke," Reed said. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, there is "a distinct chance" of a nuclear event from radioactive materials sold on the black market, he said. The United States has failed to help the Russians keep track of nuclear materials unguarded and unaccounted for in the old Soviet republics. "There is a distinct chance of a nuclear event," Reed said. "I have a terrible feeling that a bunch of guys with petro dollars are looking for it, too." ***************************************************************** 33 TheIowaChannel.com: Nuclear Weapons Workers Get Help With Claims Former Ammunition Plant Workers Sick From Radiation POSTED: 6:36 am CDT May 19, 2004 UPDATED: 6:48 am CDT May 19, 2004 IOWA CITY, Iowa -- A new federal rule enacted this week is intended to speed compensation to 650 nuclear weapons workers who became sick from exposure to radiation and other harmful materials. But critics say it's not enough to help the former Iowa Army Ammunition Plant workers, all diagnosed with cancer. Some have died while waiting for government payments and help with their medical bills -- promised four years ago. The new rule, published Monday, creates a special classification, exempt from certain processing requirements, to speed the claims of such workers. Iowa Sens. Tom Harkin, a Democrat, and Charles Grassley, a Republican, have sought for years to win such a designation for the workers. The group is among 4,000 workers who assembled and tested nuclear weapons components at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown from 1947 to the mid-1970s. Other former workers have lung disease and other illnesses blamed on exposure to materials that were used in weapons production, such as silica and beryllium. Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This ***************************************************************** 34 WVLT VOLUNTEER TV Knoxville, TN: Radioactive Spill Investigation May 20, 2004 The Department of Energy says the cost to clean up and repair a radioactive spill in Roane County last week will exceed one million dollars. A Bechtel-Jacobs truck leaked the chemical Strontium-90 onto Highway 95 in Roane County, forcing emergency workers to close part of the road. The high cost of the clean up prompted the Department of Energy Wednesday to upgrade the investigation. "In this particular situation, we came to the realization the cost would likely exceed one million dollars. Essentially, automatically pushing us into a Type B," Steven Wyatt from the Department of Energy said. A Type B investigation is the second highest level of review by the Department of Energy into environmental concerns. Wyatt says one focus of the investigation will be the apparent communication breakdown that delayed closing the highway for several hours. 5/19 19:05 All content © Copyright 2001 - 2004 WorldNow and WVLT VOLUNTEER ***************************************************************** 35 [CMEP] Demand Proper Management of Nuke Waste! Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 11:29:14 -0500 (CDT) *** Apologies for cross posting *** *** Please forward widely *** !!! A C T I O N A L E R T !!! May 19, 2004 Don't let Congress absolve the DOE from its responsibility to clean up radioactive waste! Tell your senators to oppose the reclassification of high-level waste! The Senate's Defense Authorization bill (S. 2400, the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005"), as currently drafted, would allow the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to shirk its cleanup responsibilities by reclassifying high-level radioactive waste in South Carolina so that it can be simply covered with cement and abandoned in aging tanks. The bill would also require that the states of Washington and Idaho agree to these lower cleanup standards -- or they will lose funding for the cleanup of their nuclear waste legacy sites. This legislation would make these sites high-level waste dumps, threatening severe contamination of important water resources such as the Savannah River. ACTION: Urge your senators to keep this waste appropriately classified and properly managed! Tell them to support the amendment sponsored by Sens. Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Hollings (D-S.C.) to strike the waste reclassification language -- in sections 3116 and 3119 -- from the Defense Authorization bill. The vote could happen as early as TODAY -- call your senators NOW! Connect to your senators via the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or find their contact information at: http://www.congress.org BACKGROUND South Carolina's Republican Senator, Lindsay Graham, has done the DOE a favor by inserting language into the Defense Authorization bill (Sec. 3116) that would absolve the DOE from carrying out the waste management requirements of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act in South Carolina. This waiver would allow the DOE to abandon millions of gallons of high-level radioactive waste in the state. Instead of properly managing this waste, the DOE would be able to proceed with a plan to simply fill the aging storage tanks containing waste residue with concrete. This would create high-level waste dumps at the site, threatening vital water supplies that are used for drinking, irrigation, fishing, and recreation. Section 3116 would also (1) overturn a ruling by a federal court in Idaho that prohibited the DOE from unilaterally reclassifying radioactive waste and (2) give the DOE the sole authority to determine which radioactive waste may be classified as "high-level" in South Carolina. Moreover, Sec. 3119 would withhold $350 million in essential cleanup funds until the states of Washington and Idaho also agree to adopt the DOE's weakened cleanup standards. Don't let Congress absolve the DOE from its responsibility to clean up its deadly waste! Call your senators today! ********** If you would like to be removed from the CMEP ListServ, send an email to listserv@listserver.citizen.org with the words "unsubscribe CMEP" in the message. Questions about the CMEP ListServ can be directed to CMEP-request@LISTSERVER.CITIZEN.ORG. To learn more about this and other Public Citizen Critical Mass Energy and Environment Program campaigns, visit our website at http://www.citizen.org/cmep/ -Public Citizen's Critical Mass Energy and Environment Program ***************************************************************** 36 AJC: Vote on nuclear sludge looms By CHARLES SEABROOK Cox News Service ATLANTA -- A Senate vote could come as early as today on a bill that would leave millions of gallons of highly radioactive sludge in underground tanks in South Carolina. The waste -- leftover from decades of making nuclear bombs -- is stored in aging tanks at the sprawling Savannah River Site in South Carolina, just across the border from Georgia near Augusta. The legislation, introduced by U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), is an effort to overturn a federal judge's ruling last year that the Energy Department would violate federal law if it reclassified the material as low-level waste. Such a designation would mean the agency would not have to ship the material to a special high-level waste repository slated for Nevada. The Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this month agreed to put Graham's proposal in a defense authorization bill. That bill is being debated this week, and a vote on Graham's provision could come today or Thursday, Senate aides said. Graham said his measure would save the government some $16 billion and speed the cleanup of SRS by 23 years. Environmentalists and some politicians, however, fear that radioactive waste left in the tanks will leak and contaminate groundwater in Georgia and South Carolina. Last week, U.S. Sen. Ernest F. Hollings (D-S.C.), in a letter to leaders of the Armed Services Committee, called Graham's proposal "troubling." "Senator Hollings feels this is some of the most dangerous waste in the world, and he wants to make sure it's disposed of properly," his spokeswoman Ilene Zeldin said. In Georgia, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, a Republican, supports the bill, according to a spokesman. U.S. Sen. Zell Miller, a Democrat who has criticized SRS's operation in the past, has not made up his mind yet about the legislation, his office said. Georgia Environmental Protection Division officials, who have expressed considerable concern in past years about pollution from SRS, had no comment this week on Graham's bill. The aging underground tanks at SRS hold about 37 million gallons of high-level radioactive waste. Most is immobilized by mixing it with molten glass that quickly hardens in glass logs. The glass logs, temporarily stored at SRS, are scheduled to be shipped to a final repository in Nevada when it opens. Even after the liquid waste is removed, however, a highly radioactive sludge clings to the bottom and sides of the tanks. In seeking the authority to reclassify the high-level radioactive waste last year, the Energy Department claimed the residual sludge is too expensive to remove from the tanks. Instead, it said the material can be diluted, covered with grout and left in place as less radioactive "low-level" waste. But in a lawsuit filed last year by the Natural Resources Defense Council, a federal judge in Idaho ruled that the department would violate the 1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act, which requires the Energy Department to dispose of high-level waste in a deep, geologic respository. Charles Seabrook writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. © 2004 Cox Newspapers, Inc. - The Rocky Mount Telegram ***************************************************************** 37 Deseret news: Panel resists hotter waste [deseretnews.com] Wednesday, May 19, 2004 Envirocare isn't giving up on its licensing bid By Lisa Riley Roche Deseret Morning News A legislative task force on hazardous waste voted Tuesday to recommend the state not accept hotter radioactive waste. But the company seeking a permit to do just that isn't giving up yet. The vote by the Hazardous Waste Regulation and Tax Policy Task Force came at the end of a four-hour meeting that included a public hearing on Envirocare of Utah's battle to win approval to accept so-called "Class B and C" waste. Such waste comes primarily from decommissioned power plants and is thousands of times hotter in radioactivity than the waste Envirocare is now licensed to accept at its Tooele County landfill. Members of the task force stopped short of telling lawmakers to reject Envirocare's pending permit application, raising questions about how much impact their recommendation not to take the hotter waste may have. The company needs approval from the governor and the Legislature before its permit application expires in 2006. The application already has been approved by the county and by state regulators. "We're a little disappointed, but I still think there's an opportunity for the Legislature to take expert testimony," Tim Barney, Envirocare's senior vice president, said after the meeting. "The more they pursue that, the better it is for us." About a dozen people spoke at Tuesday's meeting about Envirocare, including Claire Geddes of Utah Legislative Watch. Geddes warned that Envirocare has "plenty of money" to lobby lawmakers for the needed approval. "This is just too important to the state to leave to the company to drive the issue," she said. Several members of the task force said they weren't ready to make a decision yet because they needed more information about the hotter waste. "What really is it? I can't see it. I can't smell it. I can't taste it," said Rep. Eli Anderson, D-Tremonton. He and others on the task force said they wanted to study the issue further by traveling to South Carolina, where one of only two facilities in the country that accepts the hotter waste is located, and by hiring an independent expert. Others, however, said it was time to take a stand. "We know what we know. We know enough. Let's vote," said Sen. Greg Bell, R-Farmington, who unsuccessfully pushed for the task force to oppose Envirocare's application. Envirocare officials told the task force the waste they are seeking permission to bring into their Tooele County facility amounts to less than 0.05 percent of their business but would boost state tax revenues by an estimated $10 million to $20 million. Several task force members suggested that wasn't enough money to outweigh the safety concerns raised by their constituents, as well as the negative impact permitting the waste would have on the state's image. The task force devoted only a short time to a performance audit of the Department of Environmental Quality's oversight of commercial waste facilities like Envirocare, promising to take a closer look at its next meeting. The Legislative Auditor General's Office found the department isn't collecting all of the waste disposal fees it could, costing the state more than $270,000 over a two-year period in the case of one facility that was not identified in the 53-page report. The audit cited a number of other problems, including with the Division of Radiation Control's monitoring of groundwater testing done by the waste facilities. The state chose the cheapest sites to double-check, the auditors said, rather than those most at risk. The head of the department, Dianne Nielsen, said she doesn't agree with everything in the report. But she told the committee in brief remarks that she looks forward to the opportunity "to build on what I see as already a strong and effective program." No comments were made on the audit by members of the task force, who interrupted their debate on the waste issue for about 15 minutes to hear from the auditors and from Nielsen. Public comment will be accepted on the audit at the next task force meeting, in June. E-mail: lisa@desnews.com © 2004 Deseret News Publishing Company ***************************************************************** 38 Brattleboro Reformer: Entergy: Missing rods not in spent fuel pool Article Published: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - By CAROLYN LORIÉ Reformer Staff BRATTLEBORO -- At a meeting of the Vermont State Nuclear Advisory Panel, officials from Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee confirmed that the two missing segments of highly radioactive fuel rods are not in the spent fuel pool, and the New England Coalition asked for a "seat at the table." "We have found nothing conclusive as of today to indicate where the fuel rods might be," said Jay Thayer, site vice president at Vermont Yankee. The segments were placed in a special container in the fuel pool in 1979, after a fuel rod came apart. On April 21, the container was ordered opened by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission resident inspector, David Pelton, revealing that they were missing. The entire spent fuel pool has been searched with cameras, but turned up nothing. According to Thayer, the search is now focused on combing through 25 years of records and interviewing past personnel who may have knowledge of why and how the segments were removed from the pool. So far about 65 personnel have been contacted. Several panel members pressed Thayer to account for how the rods could have been lost and possibly shipped out with low-level waste. "How in heaven's name could that happen?" asked Russell Kulas. Larry Crist, director of health protection with the Department of Public Health, criticized what he characterized as the prevailing attitude in the nuclear industry that "nothing can happen." "That's not true, things do happen," said Crist, adding that "some things are too big to fix after they happen." Thayer said that Entergy's response to the missing rods should be taken as evidence of how seriously the company is taking the issue. "I live in the Brattleboro area. I'm accountable to my employees. I'm accountable to my neighbors," said Thayer. While most of the meeting was dominated by Entergy's presentation, the New England Coalition made a request at the end of meeting to be granted a "seat at the table." Calling VSNAP meetings "infomercials" for Entergy, executive director Peter Alexander asked the panel to allow the coalition's nuclear experts to present information at future meetings. According to Alexander, the coalition would present a more "skeptical view" than the Department of Public Service has taken or been presented with. David O'Brien, commissioner of the Department of Public Service and chairman of the panel, said that he was not opposed to hearing other opinions. However, he did not agree with Alexander's assessment that the department and the coalition had opposing views. "We may have different opinions but we're not on opposite sides," said O'Brien. Kulas suggested that the panel "aggressively consider what is being offered by the New England Coalition." Panel member Tim Nulty agreed with Kulas. "The New England Coalition has earned the right to be recognized in a more organized way," said Nulty. Also discussed at Tuesday's meeting were the cracks discovered in the steam dryers. A total of 20 cracks were discovered during the most recent fuel outage. Brian Hobbs, engineer supervisor at Vermont Yankee, characterized 16 of those cracks as "hairline" and not requiring repair, Similarly, two 14-inch cracks found in the skirt of the dryer were left untouched. The last pair, which were 3 inches each, were fixed. "We will be inspecting the steam dryer as thoroughly as we did during this past outage at every outage, I believe," said Hobbs. Plants that have undergone extended power uprates, such as Vermont Yankee is requesting, have had problems with cracking in the steam dryer. According to Hobbs, engineers will re-examine the component during the refueling outage of 2005, eight months after the plant has increased power by 15 percent, if the request is approved by the NRC. Ultimately Vermont Yankee hopes to boost power by 20 percent. The cracks were not discovered beforehand, said Hobbs, because the steam dryer is not a safety-related component and therefore not subject to thorough inspection. Because Vermont Yankee made uprate-related modifications during the most recent refueling, the plant was more closely scrutinized. Tuesday's meeting was attended by about 40 members of the public. Although most VSNAP meetings are structured so that public comment comes only at the end, many people challenged O'Brien on this point. He acquiesced and the floor was opened up to allow for some public input throughout Entergy's presentation. The meeting ran almost 90 minutes longer than scheduled. ***************************************************************** 39 AU SMH: NT govt wants ERA prosecuted - Breaking News - http://www.smh.com.au NT govt wants ERA prosecuted May 19, 2004 - 4:06PM A Northern Territory government department has recommended mining giant Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) be prosecuted after a uranium contamination at its Ranger Mine. About 24 workers at the Ranger mine, in Kakadu National Park, became ill after drinking uranium contaminated water at the mine site in March. NT Mines and Energy Minister Kon Vatskalis said a review found ERA had breached sections of NT legislation. The report had been forwarded to the NT Department of Justice, which would advise of any appropriate action. "We identified breaches of legislation," Mr Vatskalis said. "We recommended prosecution. "We want the Department of Justice to assess our recommendations and decide what's the best way to proceed." Comment is being sought from ERA. © 2004 AAP Brought to you by [aap] + Top of Page Page Tools Copyright © 2004. The Sydney Morning Herald. ***************************************************************** 40 AU SMH: Inquiry into leak at uranium mine finds more problems - minister Sydney Morning Herald Online [www.smh.com.au] By Lindsay Murdoch in Darwin May 20, 2004 On notice . . . the Ranger mine. Photo: Tamara Voninski An investigation into a leak of uranium-contaminated water at the controversial Ranger mine in the Kakadu National Park has uncovered more breaches of regulations by its owner Energy Resources Australia, the Northern Territory Minister for Mines and Energy, Kon Vatskalis, said yesterday. The Northern Territory Government viewed breaches of regulations at the mine "very seriously" and had recommended the first prosecution against ERA in the 23 years it has operated the mine in the world heritage listed park, he said. "This is a serious incident. We have identified serious breaches of the legislation," Mr Vatskalis said. "I have put ERA on notice. I have put other mining companies in the Northern Territory on notice." ERA has admitted that at least 26 workers became unwell after either drinking or showering in water containing 400 times the legal limit of uranium at the mine on March 24. Doctors were unable to advise the workers on the long-term effects on their health because nobody in the world had ever before drunk such large amounts of uranium-contaminated water. Advertisement Advertisement The company indicated at the time that an erroneous connection of pipes caused the contamination of drinking water and the overflowing of a tank of contaminated water into a creek. Mr Vatskalis said his department had identified "two or three" breaches of regulations other than the March leak. He said they related to housekeeping, training, supervision and taking insufficient care. He declined to give details. Mr Vatskalis said he had asked the Department of Justice to act on the report urgently. A company spokeswoman said it would "co-operate fully with the Northern Territory Government and the Commonwealth on any inquiries into this incident." + Top of Page Page Tools Copyright © 2004. The Sydney Morning Herald. ***************************************************************** 41 projo.com: Nuclear fuel rods still missing; more cracks found | Providence, R.I. | AP's The Wire 05.19.2004 07:34 A.M. The Associated Press BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (AP) - Despite three weeks of searching through its nuclear fuel records from the past 25 years, Entergy Nuclear still hasn't found any documentation that shows where the two pieces of highly radioactive nuclear fuel are, Entergy Nuclear vice president Jay Thayer told a state nuclear advisory panel Tuesday. Meanwhile, plant personnel said 16 more hairline cracks had been discovered in a steam dryer in addition to the four cracks previously disclosed last month. The cracks are a result of the aging of the stainless steel plate, engineer Brian Hobbs said. They were discovered when the plate was cleaned. Thayer told the Vermont State Nuclear Advisory Panel that the fuel rod pieces from Vermont Yankee are probably in a low-level nuclear waste site in South Carolina or Washington state -- or in a now-closed federal facility in Beatty, Nev. The panel and members of the public questioned Thayer for most of an hour Tuesday about the rods, which were discovered missing April 20. An extensive search of the plant's spent fuel pool with robotic cameras failed to turn up a trace of the highly radioactive items. "How in heavens could this happen? How could this happen? There's something unbelievable about this. Spent fuel is much more dangerous," said panel member Russell Kulas, a physicist and public member of the panel. Thayer said he didn't know if Entergy personnel would have discovered the rods were missing if they hadn't been pushed by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspector to look for them. David O'Brien, commissioner of the state Department of Public Service, criticized the NRC, saying it has ignored Vermont's concern about a key aspect of the plant's proposed 20 percent increase in power. Another panel member, Larry Crist of the Vermont Department of Health, sharply faulted Entergy Nuclear for its "practice and attitude. "The attitude is that the plant is so well run nothing can happen," Crist said. "The attitude overwhelms the ability to look beyond." Crist said several recent problems at Yankee could be traced to human error. But Thayer denied that. "I take this very seriously," Thayer said. William Sherman, the Vermont nuclear engineer, said reports indicate Entergy Nuclear violated federal regulations regarding the inventory of the fuel, even though the company hasn't been charged with such violations so far. "It looks like a violation," Sherman said. ***************************************************************** 42 Salt Lake Tribune: Karras has close ties to Envirocare May 19, 2004 [PHOTO] Nolan Karras Race for Governor, By Dan Harrie On the face of it, radioactive waste doesn't seem a big issue in the Utah governor's race because all three major-party candidates say they oppose bringing any hotter waste than currently allowed into the state for disposal. But underneath the apparent agreement among Republican hopefuls Jon Huntsman Jr. and Nolan Karras and Democrat Scott Matheson Jr. is a momentum-gathering whisper campaign that casts Karras in the role of villain because of his close relationship with radioactive-waste czar Khosrow Semnani. Huntsman said Karras has "a lot of campaign support staff aligned with the waste industry," along with substantial campaign contributions from Semnani and employees of his Envirocare disposal facility. Envirocare's attempt to obtain state permission to dispose of so-called B and C categories of low-level radioactive waste 80 miles west of Salt Lake City "could very easily be a defining issue" of the campaign leading up to the June 22 Republican primary, Huntsman said in an interview. Karras insists his business and personal relationship with Semnani add up to nothing nefarious and he wants to get the controversy and questions out in the open. "Anybody that's not lived in a vacuum will have conflicts of interest, including Jon," Karras said in an interview Tuesday at his Salt Lake City campaign headquarters. "I'm all in favor of having it out on the record -- that's where it ought to be." So Karras disclosed that he has been Semnani's personal financial adviser since 1993, served as a trustee on the board of Semnani's tax-exempt foundation until earlier this year and even is the appointed custodian for the financial holdings of Semnani's minor children. "I act as a sort of quarterback for his investments and he is a substantial client," Karras said of the multi-millionaire businessman, who made his fortune by founding one of the few commercial disposal facilities in the nation licensed to take low-level radioactive waste from government and other projects. "I have done work for him and over time we have become friends," said Karras. "It's not like we're bosom buddies, but I consider him a business friend." He said he has been to Semnani's posh Salt Lake County home twice, including for a fund-raising dinner and reception last winter for Karras' gubernatorial campaign. The $4,527 bill for that event was listed as an in-kind donation by Semnani. Another $6,700 has been contributed to Karras by Envirocare officials, attorneys and lobbyists. At least three Karras campaign workers also have ties to Envirocare. Strategist Spencer Stokes is a registered lobbyist for the company; Mark Walker, a campaign volunteer, recently was hired at Envirocare, and campaign supporter Bob Linnell helped Envirocare run its $3 million campaign two years ago to defeat a ballot initiative to ban higher levels of radioactive waste and increase taxes on Envirocare. Karras actually recommended Linnell, a longtime friend, to Semnani for the campaign. And, Karras acknowledged Tuesday he also sent former Gov. Norm Bangerter -- another longtime friend -- to Semnani for a personal loan about three years after Bangerter left office in January 1993. Information on that loan first surfaced during the 2001 federal trial of Larry Anderson, a former director of Utah's Division of Radiation Control who was accused of extorting hundreds of thousands of dollars from Semnani. Anderson was acquitted by a jury on those counts, but was sent to prison on his conviction for tax cheating in connection with the Envirocare scandal. Semnani, for his part, was permitted to plead guilty to a misdemeanor tax charge in exchange for his cooperation with federal prosecutors and paid a $100,000 fine. Karras also brought Bangerter and Semnani together for a fishing trip in British Columbia several years ago. Karras said he picked up the expenses for the two, with airfare covered by Karras friend and business client Ned Parsons, who flew the group up in his private plane. All the dealings with Envirocare and its owner have been aboveboard, said Karras, adding it should not be held against him in the governor's race. "I haven't done anything wrong," he said. "But there is this whisper campaign." Huntsman has been the most vocal candidate against Envirocare's plan to take B and C waste at its facility, issuing a news release Tuesday saying that, "If elected governor, I shall use the full force of the office to oppose all efforts to bring into our state any radioactive waste other than what is currently permitted." Matheson, the Democratic nominee, said he also opposes hotter waste. "Utah should be known for its beautiful landscapes and not as a place that glows in the dark," he said. Karras insisted he is equally opposed to Envirocare's plan to bring in hotter waste -- not because he believes the disposal facility is dangerous, but because residents are set against it and "I didn't want people to be concerned about my relationship with" Semnani. A Tribune poll in January showed that 86 percent of Utahns oppose high levels of waste coming into the state. "I am going to have to be more careful about some issue PacifiCorp [on whose board he sits] or Envirocare or some other client brings to the state," Karras said. " I'm going to have to be tougher on them," he said, because any action perceived as benefiting those companies "would reflect worse on me than someone else." "> --> Copyright Salt Lake City Tribune ***************************************************************** 43 Salt Lake Tribune: Audit rips waste oversight May 19, 2004 By Joe Baird On the same day an audit was released skewering the state for its lax oversight of Envirocare, a legislative task force recommended that Utah lawmakers reject the Tooele County landfill company's pending application to begin accepting hotter forms of radioactive waste. However, Tuesday's action wasn't quite the blow to Envirocare's bid that it appears. Most members of the Hazardous Waste Regulation Task Force had not read the audit before they voted. And the motion, as approved, did not call for repealing the procedure that might allow Envirocare to eventually gain approval for a license to accept the so-called B and C waste -- which is much more radioactive than the class A waste the company currently receives. In fact, the task force intends to continue studying the B and C issue throughout the summer. So, no one was really happy after a nearly four-hour hearing. "We're a little disappointed," said Tim Barney, Envirocare's senior vice president. "But there's still an opportunity for legislators to come up with more expert testimony. There's still an opportunity for [more study]. My hope is that they'll listen to those experts." Envirocare opponents were even more let down. "This gives Envirocare a chance to move at a time of its choosing and run a bill through the Legislature," said legislative watchdog Claire Geddes. "What came out of this is that Envirocare will continue to drive the debate." For at least the next few weeks, Utah's Legislative Auditor General will drive a new debate -- the one about the glaring holes in the state's oversight and regulation of Envirocare and Utah's other waste facilities. In a stinging, 55-page review, state auditors rebuked the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) not only for lacking a clearly developed oversight plan for waste storage providers, but for failing to recoup all the revenue due the state under the existing fee structure and its "sporadic" monitoring efforts in carrying out the state's groundwater oversight program. "We've been saying for a long time that [the state's] not wearing out too many pairs of tires out to the [Envirocare] site," said Jason Groenwald, spokesman for the Healthy Environment Alliance. The audit did praise DEQ in general for its inspection programs. "We found division inspectors appear thorough and effective," the report said. Said DEQ Executive Director Dianne Nielson: "At the end of the day, our primary job is to protect the public health and environment. Clearly there are areas we agree with [the audit] and areas we disagree." But at least one lawmaker was unnerved after skimming through the report. "The audit exposes a number of issues that are concerning to me and deserve study," said Rep. Patricia Jones, D-Holladay. Task force members waded through a half-dozen motions and substitutes before supporting a consensus measure put forth by the committee co-chairman, Sen. Curtis Bramble, R-Provo. "This gives us direction so far as our future activities," he said. "It doesn't preclude bringing forth a task force bill or resolution. It's a policy statement." But the task force came close to scuttling Envirocare's bid to house B and C waste altogether. Sen. Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights, put forth a recommendation that would have repealed the application procedure for the hotter waste -- which, if passed by the Legislature, would essentially terminate Envirocare's license and prohibit the company and others from receiving future licenses. It was narrowly defeated. jbaird@sltrib.com "> --> Copyright Salt Lake City Tribune ***************************************************************** 44 Salt Lake Tribune: Audit: DEQ administration, collections fall short May 19, 2004 By Joe Baird Conflicting roles. Outdated, or nonexistent oversight plans. Fee collection problems. The Legislative Auditor General paints a troubled picture of the state agency in charge of monitoring Utah's hazardous waste storage providers. In a report released Tuesday, auditors found that while the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) "adequately" follows hazardous and radioactive waste safeguards, the department falls well short of even its own guidelines in the administrative and revenue collection aspects of its operation. And it suggests the heart of the problem might be DEQ's inherent dilemma -- the agency assigned to oversee the state's hazardous waste industry is also charged with promoting its economic development. "These charges are intended to foster the cooperation of industry in maintaining a healthy environment. Yet, in many instances, the point [where] the department needs to step in as a regulator is not clearly defined," the audit said. Findings in the 55-page report, which also includes a response from DEQ, are: * The department lacks "a coordinated, written plan to guide the division's oversight of commercial waste disposal facilities." The last comprehensive oversight plan was initiated in 1991 and completed in 1994. The plan has not been updated since. Not only do Division of Radiation Control staffers not use the plan, the audit said, they were unable to locate a copy when auditors requested it. * The DEQ is dependent on fees collected from the hazardous waste industry for a significant portion of its budget. Revenues have fallen short of expenditures in three of the past four years. But at least part of the problem, the audit said, was that DEQ does a poor job of prioritizing needs and has not budgeted funds which could improve efficiency. * Because of a lack of regular facility audits, the state has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees. A detailed look into fees paid out to the state by one facility showed an underpayment of $270,000 over a two-year period, according to the report. * Division of Radiation Control inspectors got generally high marks in the report, but the division's water sampling frequency is in need of review. "Infrequent groundwater sampling reduces the ability to ensure the site operator's performance," the audit said. "> --> Copyright Salt Lake City Tribune ***************************************************************** 45 Las Vegas RJ: Official shrugs off comments Wednesday, May 19, 2004 Yucca Mountain will clear hurdles,energy secretary says STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU WASHINGTON -- Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said Tuesday he is undeterred by troublesome comments from Congress about Yucca Mountain and said the nuclear waste project has overcome political expectations "at every step of the way." "Ever since I took this job, every issue that pertained to Yucca Mountain has been one in which I was told you couldn't do it," Abraham said at a meeting with reporters. Abraham said he was told that "political pressure" would prevent him from recommending a site for nuclear waste disposal. "Even if a secretary made such a recommendation, the president, of whatever party, would never endorse it, and even if that happened, the Congress would never go along," Abraham said. "At every step of the way there's been people who said you couldn't get things done, and we have been successful at each stop in essentially overcoming those predictions," he said. He did not specify who had made such predictions. Abraham recommended a nuclear waste site on Feb. 14, 2002, and President Bush signed off on it a day later. Congress ratified the site selection, 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas, on July 9, 2002. Abraham commented after a question about Yucca Mountain Project funding in Congress this year. Several lawmakers have said chances are slim that Congress will pass a bill to ease accounting rules that would help the Energy Department get money for the repository next year. The chairman of a House subcommittee that funds the Yucca Mountain Project told Abraham in a letter earlier this month the project might be allocated only a fraction of the $880 million the department has requested. Abraham said he would continue to push lawmakers to pass accounting legislation and bills to fund the program fully. "Unless I am absolutely convinced otherwise, our intent in the administration is to fight for the proposals," he said. Copyright Las Vegas Review-Journal ***************************************************************** 46 Bellona: Bellona Web launches interactive environmental map of Russia in cooperation with ‘Environment &Rights’ magazine ST. PETERSBURG—An English-language web page for the Environment and Rights Russian-language magazine published by the Bellona Foundation’s St. Petersburg branch has been opened on the foundation’s web site, Bellona Web. 2004-05-13 15:10 The new page features English translations of the magazine’s articles in summarized form, while the magazine’s editorials are available in full translation. The page also features an interactive map of Russia, called Russia Environmentally which offers readers point and click environmental information and articles about each featured site on the comprehensive, region by region diagram of the country’s ecological hot spots. “Until now the magazine’s site was only for those, who speak Russian. Today we’ve corrected this pitiful mistake,” said the magazine’s Deputy Editor, Victor Tereshkin. “Environmentally unfortunate regions of Russia are well seen on the map: you can just click on Chelyabinsk or Murmansk,” said Managing Editor Rashid Alimov, who designed and engineered the new interactive map and English page. Environment &Rights on the web To see the interactive map and the section, click here All the articles concerning the situation in the country as a whole are published in the Politics, society and legislation section. The magazine’s board comprises a range of renowned Russian environmentalists and human rights activists, including the chair of Bellona-St.Petersburg, Alexander Nikitin and Academician Alexei Yablokov from Center for Ecological Policy of Russia. The magazine’s editor, the well-known environmental journalist and whistle-blower Grigory Pasko was in prison when the magazine put out its first issues in 2002. The first six issues of the magazine were prepared by editors Tereshkin and Alimov, who could communicate with Pasko only through his lawyers—who themselves were not permitted to hand over any written material without permission from prison officials—or by mail, all of which was opened and inspected. Now the magazine—officially registered by Russia’s Ministry of Communications — is active not only in providing first class investigative reports on the state of Russia’s environment, but also compelling government agencies to address environmental problems by lodging official inquiries. This practice stems from the fact that that legal experts work together with the journalists at the magazine to not only write about the environment, but to spread the word about how to solve ecological problems and seek legal redress for activities effecting the well being of the environment and the people who live in it. Readers are thus not only informed about the myriad environmental dangers encroaching on Russia, but are given a legal guide on how to stop their progress. Publisher: Bellona Foundation, President: Frederic Hauge Information: info@bellona.no, Technical contact: webmaster@bellona.no Telephone: +47 23 23 46 00 Telefax: +47 22 38 38 62 * P.O.Box 2141 Grunerlokka, 0505 Oslo, Norway ***************************************************************** 47 Bellona: Zheleznogorsk Chemical Combine received spent nuclear fuel from Balakovo NPP The Zheleznogorsk Chemical Combine specialists began unloading spent nuclear fuel on from the special train, which had arrived on May 18. 2004-05-19 18:17 ”More than 130 such shipments took place since 1985, and no accidents happened during the shipments” head of Zheleznogorsk Combine press department Mr. Morozov said to minatom.ru. He also added that each train with spent nuclear fuel consisting of 7 cars is accompanied with Zheleznogorsk Combine specialists who monitor the state of the spent fuel day and night. Besides, the special police squad guards the train, minatom.ru reported. Publisher: , President: Information: , Technical contact: Telephone: +47 23 23 46 00 Telefax: +47 22 38 38 62 * P.O.Box 2141 Grunerlokka, 0505 Oslo, Norway ***************************************************************** 48 Las Vegas SUN: Columnist Jeff German: Nevadans have ally in Kerry Columnist Jeff German: Nevadans have ally in Kerry Jeff German's column appears Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays in the Sun. Reach him at german@lasvegassun.comor (702) 259-4067. ••• Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry couldn't have been any clearer during his Sunday campaign stop in Las Vegas. "Rest assured, Nevada," he said. "If I'm the president of the United States, Yucca Mountain will not be a repository." No presidential candidate, even the Nevada-friendly Bill Clinton and Al Gore, has gone this far and promised to kill the high-level nuclear waste dump, which is overwhelmingly opposed by Nevadans. And though it would not be an easy task because the Republican-controlled Congress already has designated Yucca Mountain as the national repository, Kerry's pledge has defined the difference between his campaign and President Bush's on this vital Nevada issue. It's a difference that could -- and should -- end up giving Kerry the state's five electoral votes in November. Without question Kerry has given himself an opening to go for Bush's throat in the fight for Nevada. We now have a clear choice when we go to the polls. We can vote for the man who says he will use his presidential powers to kill Yucca Mountain, which is 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Or we can re-elect the man whose administration is working to dump the deadly nuclear waste in our back yard. We didn't have that choice in Campaign 2000, before Congress designated Yucca Mountain as the lone repository. Both Gore and Bush pledged to make a decision on whether to recommend Yucca Mountain to Congress based on sound science -- the mountain had to be safe. With the Yucca Mountain issue neutralized, Bush went on to carry Nevada and ultimately win the presidency in one of the closest national elections in history. Two years later the new president broke his promise and, without a thorough scientific study, recommended Yucca Mountain. This week, even as Kerry laid down the gauntlet, Bush's Department of Energy was holding a public meeting here to push construction of planned rail lines outside Las Vegas that could haul 77,000 tons of waste from nuclear plants across the country to Yucca Mountain. At the same time, Republicans and the Bush-favoring Las Vegas Review-Journal were dismissing Kerry's commitment as an empty promise. What's their evidence? It must be they think Kerry is as low as Bush, who out-and-out lied to Nevada four years ago to get votes he didn't deserve. But Kerry isn't like Bush. The Democratic challenger has a consistent track record in the Senate of opposing Yucca Mountain. And last Sunday Kerry pointed out anti-Yucca actions available to him as president, including withholding Energy Department money earmarked for Yucca Mountain and ordering other federal agencies to do more scientific studying before proceeding with the project's licensing. That's more than Bush has ever done or said. The president wouldn't even speak to the local media during his one and only visit to Las Vegas last November, refusing to answer the tough questions he was sure to have fielded. Whether Kerry would have success killing Yucca Mountain is another story. The nuclear industry wields considerable power on Capitol Hill, especially among the Republicans in control. But Kerry would have the courage to take on the power brokers and do what's right for Nevada -- and the country. ***************************************************************** 49 Bradenton Herald: Tallevast brings cries for new cleanup policy | 05/19/2004 | Manatee Commission wants residents told sooner KEVIN O'HORAN Herald Staff Writer BRADENTON - Local officials blasted Florida's environmental policy that can keep residents in the dark for months about contamination at industrial sites such as the former American Beryllium Co. plant and called Tuesday for changes in the public notice process. Saying they are frustrated it took residents years to learn of toxic releases at the Tallevast site, Manatee County commissioners will consider drafting their own plan to notify the public, one calling for state regulators to come forward sooner. And Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said he will work the state capital to revamp a process that allows regulators to sit on contamination findings until they clear a cleanup plan. "At this point, my impression is that the notice requirements are a mess," Galvano said Tuesday. "It seems as if they're either requirements that notice be given too late or that notice is slipping through the cracks." Florida Department of Environmental Protection officials have monitored cleanup activities at the 1600 Tallevast Road plant since crews working for Lockheed Martin Corp. found toxins in the soil and groundwater at the site in January 2000. The findings then included petroleum products in the soil and cancer-causing metals and solvents in groundwater. Tests through 2003 showed the metals in soils on-site and solvents in groundwater on- and off-site. But DEP didn't air the findings. "Essentially, there are no reporting requirements in state law, unless it pertains to a noticeable discharge," said Mike Zavosky, a spokesman with DEP's Tampa office. Policies scrutinized Regulators decided the Tallevast chemicals posed no direct threat to residents, since the soil mess was contained on-site and later cleaned, and the groundwater contamination didn't affect private drinking wells. So, DEP stuck to a policy that called for notifying plant neighbors only after the agency OKs a cleanup plan by Lockheed, the aerospace giant that bought the site in 1996 and uncovered the pollution during a 2000 sale of the plant. "Once it's approved by the department," Zavosky said, "then the notification is made." That troubles county officials. "I've been really frustrated by the way this whole thing has played out," Manatee County Commissioner Jonathan Bruce said Tuesday during the seven-member commission meeting. He noted that residents learned of the contamination only after noticing a flurry of testing activity, from official cars cruising the narrow streets to big rigs drilling monitoring wells. And alarmed residents didn't get the information from DEP - instead, they had to grill Lockheed directly. "If I lived there," Bruce said of the Tallevast community, "I would be right there with them in terms of the fear and the concern." Much of that fear could have been alleviated, panelists said, if someone in authority had gone directly to the community after finding out about the releases. Which is what they want to see spelled out in a county policy. Changes sought Commissioners voted 7-0 to craft a directive - one they'll revisit for discussion at a future meeting - that clearly lays out whom to contact and when. "If you find contamination, you go to this page and it tells you to do this," said Commissioner Joe McClash. And you go to the public. "It just never hurts to talk to people," Bruce said. "You bring them all into a room and tell them, 'Look, this is what we know, this is what we don't know and this is where we go from here.' " County leaders say they can't do that without DEP, the agency that oversees cleanup projects, keeping local leaders informed. "The way it is now, DEP notifies us, if at all, way down the line," said Karen Collins-Fleming, director of the county's environmental management department. Galvano would like to see that change. While the state representative points out that he, like many others, is still learning the details of who has to come forward with what and when, he already noted the flaw of a system that deprived Tallevast residents of potential decision-shaping information. "Something in this process was not working," Galvano said. "And I'm going to get to the bottom of this, in terms of disclosure." That may mean mandating public notice in state law, he said, or working with the county to set a code that requires the agency to go public early on with findings. And the county may have the legal hammer to make that happen, he noted, since local governments generally can adopt requirements more, but not less, restrictive than a state agency's. "Can the county control what DEP does?" Galvano asked. "There are instances where, yes, they can. "I don't know about this specific instance, but I'll look into it." ***************************************************************** 50 Pahrump Valley Times: Hobson claims Yucca shortfall May 19, 2004 Hobson: Berkley calls remarks 'pathetic' By STEVE TETREAULT PVT WASHINGTON BUREAU WASHINGTON - An influential lawmaker has warned the Energy Department may get only a small portion of the money it requested for the Yucca Mountain Project next year, a budget cut that could cause job layoffs and delays in opening a nuclear waste repository. Rep. David Hobson, R-Ohio, the chairman of the House energy and water subcommittee, said spending for the repository may be limited to $131 million for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The warning from Hobson came in an April 29 letter to Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham that was made public this week. It came as House leaders are preparing to write their 2005 spending bills for federal departments. The Energy Department had asked for a record $880 million for the Yucca Mountain Project. It told Congress the money would be spent to defend a repository license application before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, continue developing a waste transportation plan and begin preparing utilities to turn over spent nuclear fuel to the government for disposal. Department spokesman Joe Davis said a budget cut of the magnitude Hobson mentioned would force layoffs and jeopardize the DOE plan to build a repository and have it opened by 2010. Davis said DOE would have money available to file a license application in December, but beyond that would face "significant problems" paying lawyers and contractors to defend the application before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Hobson, a supporter of the Yucca project, posted detailed questions to Abraham about the impact of a deep budget cut, including requesting a state-by-state listing of how many jobs might be lost. "Congress has on numerous occasions voted to support the project," Davis said. "Our answers will demonstrate why full funding for Yucca Mountain is important." Hobson could not be reached. John Scofield, a spokesman for the House Appropriations Committee, said the chairman's letter stemmed from "a very tight budget we're working under. Apart from a bake sale, we don't have a lot of cash lying around." But Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said she did not take Hobson's warning seriously. She said it would be out of character for him to slash repository funding. "If you read between the lines, this is phony baloney." Berkley said. "The only reason I could see (Hobson) would send this letter is to give Abraham cover to come back to the Hill and start lobbying big time for additional funds. It's pathetic." Other sources in Congress, the nuclear industry and in the Energy Department also characterized Hobson's warning as part of the jockeying that accompanies the appropriations process, although they added there are special circumstances this year. The Bush administration asked Congress for special legislation to change accounting methods for the fund that supplies the Yucca Mountain Project. That bill would enable Congress to spend as much as DOE says it needs, but chances of passage are growing increasingly slim, according to lawmakers. In comments to reporters last month, Hobson said he would find money to fully fund the Yucca Mountain Project. But he told Abraham that adequate funding would be tough to come by. In a related development, Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., a senior lawmaker and a Yucca supporter, asked the White House budget office in a May 4 letter if it is possible for the Bush administration to change accounting for the project on its own, without action by Congress. Officials in the White House Office of Management and Budget had not responded as of Thursday, according to a Dingell spokeswoman. For comment or questions, please e-mail webmaster@pahrumpvalleytimes.com Copyright © Pahrump Valley Times, 1997 - 2003 ***************************************************************** 51 Cincinnati Enquirer: Report suggests breaking promise on Fernald waste alt="Cincinnati.Com" Wednesday, May 19, 2004 By Dan Klepal The Cincinnati Enquirer CROSBY TOWNSHIP - Department of Energy officials, in a weekly report sent Tuesday to its employees at the Fernald nuclear cleanup site, said one option for resolving the dispute with the state of Nevada over disposal of radioactive waste is to break a promise and not provide Nevada officials with a 45-day notice before the shipments begin. When asked by a reporter about the memo Tuesday, Department of Energy spokesman Gary Stegner said, "I wouldn't get too excited about that. We were just listing the universe of options available." Minutes later, however, Stegner called the reporter back and said the memo contained a "typo." Instead of saying that the shipments might start "without 45-day notification," the memo should have said that the shipments might start with the proper notice. Stegner said a corrected memo would be sent out today. Officials with the Nevada Attorney General's office have threatened the Department of Energy with a federal lawsuit to stop the planned shipment of 153 million pounds of radioactive silo waste to the Nevada Test Site, outside of Las Vegas. They say the planned disposal there is illegal and unsafe. That threat has left energy department officials scrambling because the shipments are scheduled to begin at the end of June and it has no other disposal site for the waste. To appease Nevada officials, who demanded a response by April 30, Department of Energy lawyers said in a letter last month that they need more time to analyze the legal arguments Nevada has raised, and promised a 45-day notice before starting any shipments. But Tuesday's memo to employees at Fernald says: "To maintain (the completion) schedule, and to be consistent with the commitment made by the Office of General Counsel (OGC) to give a notification 45 days prior to shipment, the notification must be made immediately. OGC has stated that they are unwilling to provide the notification until all issues are thoroughly and completely evaluated; this process may take several months. "The immediate issue is for DOE to determine which option is preferred for Silo 3 operations: proceed with processing and shipping without 45-day notification, proceed with processing and store (the) material, or postpone waste processing and shipping." Bill Taylor, the Department of Energy's second in command at Fernald and author of Tuesday's memo, said he couldn't violate the promise and order shipments to begin without the notice. When asked if anyone could, Taylor said: "I suppose the guy who wrote the letter at OGC." "We've taken a hit, no doubt about it," Taylor said. "There is no way for us to maintain our schedule with Silo 3 and provide Nevada with notification. But we are going to solve the issues brought up by the Nevada attorney general. We believe we can legally dispose of the waste in Nevada." To do so, energy department officials face another potential crisis: Rules governing the silos' cleanup state that the waste must be removed, processed and shipped in a continuous process without temporary storage at the Fernald site, other than to ensure that the trucks hauling the waste are full when they leave. The department would be violating those rules if crews begin removing the waste on schedule next month, then have a court order issued halting the shipments for any length of time. Tuesday's memo also said officials are going to "develop recommended language for a legislative remedy," meaning it could ask Congress to change the rules governing disposal of nuclear waste. Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval wrote a letter Tuesday to the Department of Energy's lawyers saying the waste should not be removed from the silos until a clear destination is found. Marta Adams, senior assistant attorney general in Sandoval's office, said there is a lack of trust between Nevada and the Department of Energy. She said it is unclear what her office will do in response to Tuesday's memo. She said the idea of the Department of Energy appealing directly to Congress for a solution is also troubling, but not unexpected. "That would be par for the course," Adams said. "When they can't make something fit within the rules of the game, they try to change the rules." Fluor Fernald stands to earn a $250 million bonus if it completes the cleanup by June 2006. Taxpayers have been spending more than $1 million a day for a decade trying to make the Fernald site clean. E-mail dklepal@enquirer.com ----------------------------------------------------------------- TOP STORIES Summer air traffic to soar Arts center hires veteran director More police hitting streets Tall Stacks owed big payment KY. PRIMARY RESULTS It'll be Davis vs. Clooney Bunning, Mongiardo easily win U.S. Senate primaries Three Covington City Council incumbents move forward Twelve to vie for six Independence City Council seats Roeding fights off challenge in 11th Senate District Nurse wins 1st race for office Keene wins in 67th District Democratic upset IN THE TRISTATE Bingo bill disagreements unlikely to be settled before summer recess Former mayor a tireless civic gem Study: 'Jury still out' on reforms Broadnax denied erasure of record Housing to join stores Lakota wants resident input before acting on ballot issue News briefs Two mental health agencies consolidating operations Neighborhood briefs Panhandler law may end if not renewed today City may streamline pit bull procedures Church dismisses gay marriage ruling's appeal Public safety briefs Report suggests breaking promise on Fernald waste Women told to ponder finances Agency outreach questioned Growing pains unabated [Cincinnati.Com] ***************************************************************** 52 The Mercury: Radioactive waste found on trash truck during inspection Thursday 20 May, 2004 Sharon Stahl sstahl@pottsmerc.com 05/19/2004 NEW MORGAN -- A surprise trash truck inspection Tuesday at the Conestoga Landfill found 17 violations, including a truck from New York that had radioactive waste. State Department of Environmental Protection officials are investigating the truck with the radioactive material and are looking for a registered source. Radioactive material is regulated by the federal government, so officials expect to find the source of the contaminated waste. DEP officials inspected 181 trucks from 4 a.m. to noon and issued 17 summary violations. Seven were issued for tarps that had holes or were torn, two were issued for overweight trucks, five trucks didn’t have proper signs on them, one truck was leaking, and two others didn’t have fire extinguishers or had one that was already discharged. DEP spokeswoman Sandy Roderick said notices of violations will be sent to two trash haulers that were not local. In addition, the DEP issued 25 verbal warnings for trucks that didn’t carry the state-issued registration letter in addition to the sticker issued by the state. Overall, Roderick said, the haulers are getting better at complying with the DEP regulations. "It does look like, as far as the waste regulations go, they are getting it," Roderick said. "The violations that we did have are important ones, but they weren’t a real environmental problem." Terry Cooney, the manager of the Conestoga Landfill, said the landfill encourages surprise inspections by the state. The landfill conducts its own inspections randomly, according to Cooney. The landfill cannot cite haulers, but can stop them from coming into the facility. ©The Mercury 2004 Copyright © 1995 - 2004 PowerOne Media, Inc.All Rights Reserved. ***************************************************************** 53 Morning Journal: $1 million price tag for cleanup of contaminants MIKE SAKALMorning Journal Writer 05/19/2004 LORAIN -- An environmental study of the Lorain Pellet Terminal site found contaminants on two portions that will cost as much as $1 million to clean up, according to Don Romancak, chief planner for the city's Community Development Department. Contaminants including lead, beryllium and naphthalene were discovered by URS Corp. on the southwest corner of the site near East Erie Avenue and a western portion of the property, which was formerly the Brush Beryllium site, Romancak said. The city paid $3 million for the 30-acre site in 2002, and the environmental study cost $260,000, which was funded by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. According to Romancak, URS Corp. said the city needs to: n Excavate and fill in a 50-by-50-foot area about 10 feet deep where the former Brush Beryllium site was. n Excavate and fill in a 50-by-50-foot area about 10 feet deep on a grassy parcel of the site near East Erie Avenue. ''Anytime you're dealing with environmental issues, you expect to have to do some remediation work,'' Romancak said. ''Then, there's the costs involved of dealing with the quantities and having to take the material to a secured landfill.'' To help pay for the cleanup, Romancak said the city plans to apply through URS Corp. for a Clean Ohio Grant, which is overseen by the Ohio EPA. If Lorain applies for the Clean Ohio grant, it should know whether it receives the funding by the fall, Romancak said. ''We were pleased with the results of the URS study,'' Romancak added. ''Anytime you have a former industrial site with 120-plus years of industrial use, you never know what you're going to find.'' ©The Morning Journal 2004 ***************************************************************** 54 AU ABC: NT considers prosecuting over Ranger water contamination » ABC Darwin » Local News Wednesday, 19 May 2004 A Northern Territory Government report has recommended the Justice Department consider prosecuting Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) over a contamination incident at the Ranger Uranium Mine. A number of workers fell ill after drinking or showering in water that had been contaminated by process water from the mine site. Mines Minister Kon Vatskalis says he has referred his department's report to lawyers at the Justice Department to decide how the government will proceed. He has confirmed he is considering prosecuting ERA. "The department has actually identified breeches of regulation," he said. ERA chief executive Harry Kenyon-Slaney says he has not received a copy of the report and is not aware of what it contains. "Obviously we'll cooperate fully with the regulators and we're now part of a process that is including the Department of Justice," he said. "You know we've been cooperating fully with the Territory and Commonwealth regulator since day one. "We let them know what was occurring out at the Ranger mine each step of the way. "At this stage we really can't comment any further until we've got some indication of what is contained in the report." The Government says it will probably be weeks before the Justice Department announces its decision. [ more news ] Last Updated: 7:22:00 PM (ACST) ***************************************************************** 55 DOE: Proposed Subsequent Arrangement FR Doc 04-11316 [Federal Register: May 19, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 97)] [Notices] [Page 28884-28885] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr19my04-33] AGENCY: Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of subsequent arrangement. SUMMARY: This notice is being issued under the authority of Section 131 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2160). The Department is providing notice of a proposed ``subsequent arrangement'' under the Agreement for Cooperation Concerning [[Page 28885]] Civil Uses of Atomic Energy between the United States and Canada, and the Agreement for Cooperation Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Korea Concerning Civil Uses of Atomic Energy. This subsequent arrangement concerns the retransfer of seventeen 18-element driver fuel bundles, totaling 22,000 grams uranium, 4,355 g of which is in the isotope uranium-235, from Atomic Energy of Canada, Limited to the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) Hanaro Reactor Center. The material, which is currently located Chalk River, Ontario, will be used by KAERI for additional fueling for the Hanaro Reactor Center. The material, which was originally obtained from the U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, exported to Canada under export license number XSNM3305. In accordance with Section 131 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, we have determined that this subsequent arrangement will not be inimical to the common defense and security. This subsequent arrangement will take effect no sooner than fifteen days after the publication of this notice. For the Department of Energy. Trisha Dedik, Director, Office of Nonproliferation Policy. [FR Doc. 04-11316 Filed 5-18-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P ***************************************************************** 56 Rocky Mountain News: Report: Firm has conflict of interest as watchdog in Iraq Tuesday, May 18 Eyes on CH2M Hill By John Rebchook, Rocky Mountain News May 19, 2004 Local engineering giant CH2M Hill is being criticized in a report by congressional Democrats who contend the firm has a conflict of interest in Iraq, where it is overseeing contractors while doing business with them in the United States. The report questions the ability of CH2M Hill and California-based Parsons Corp. to detect fraud, waste and abuse in noncompetitive rebuilding contracts that have no cost limitations. "My advice to taxpayers is, 'Hold on to your wallet,' " Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., told a news conference. Privately held CH2M Hill is based in Douglas County. It posted about $2.1 billion in revenues last year and has 11,000 employees worldwide, including 1,100 in Colorado. The company dismissed the report's allegations. "There is absolutely no conflict of interest in connection with our work with the Public Works Sector Program Management Office," the company said in a statement on Tuesday. Parsons and CH2M Hill are being paid $28.5 million in a joint venture to oversee $1.7 billion in public works and water construction projects. CH2M Hill said it followed U.S. Department of Defense procurement processes fully and complied with all disclosure requirements, which were fully transparent about its business relationships. "Current and prospective business relationships were disclosed through that process or as a matter of public record," the company said. O.C. Ferrell, co-director of the Center of Business Ethics at Colorado State University and a marketing professor at CSU, said every large engineering firm in Iraq will face potential conflicts of interests by virtue of their size. "There have been repeated violations in Iraq of all kinds of conflicts of interests," Ferrell said. "It's very hard to avoid. But there are so very few of these very large companies, you can't disbar them." Instead, all the potential conflicts need to be made public, and CH2M Hill and other companies must be held accountable to an ethical compliance program, he said. "It all has to be very transparent." CH2M Hill and a company it monitors - Boise, Idaho-based Washington Group International - are collaborating on a $314 million contract for environmental cleanup work at Miamisburg, Ohio. And CH2M Hill is the Department of Energy's prime contractor for storing and retrieving 53 million gallons of radioactive and hazardous waste at the Hanford nuclear site in Washington state. The report was issued by Dingell and three other Democrats: Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, along with Rep. Henry Waxman of California. The four have hammered the Bush administration repeatedly for awarding noncompetitive contracts to rebuild Iraq. They said they would propose amendments to Defense Department spending legislation that would require termination of the two watchdog contracts and five similar contracts that were not covered in the report. If the legislation should be successful, the Defense Department would take over the monitoring. Waxman said it would be all but impossible to catch fraud, waste and abuse, given the financial connections involved. The Iraq reconstruction and watchdog projects in question were awarded by the Coalition Provisional Authority, the U.S.-run governing body in Iraq. The report said the overseers' fees increase if the companies they're monitoring perform well, creating a financial incentive for the supervising firms to give reconstruction firms high marks. CH2M Hill is ranked 674th on the Fortune magazine list of top 1,000 companies in 2004. The company showed an 8 percent increase in revenues last year from 2002 and $24 million in profits, down 20 percent from 2002. And it was the fifth-most-admired engineering and construction company in the nation, according to Forbes magazine. Cost of doing business $28.5 million How much CH2M Hill and Parsons Corp. are being paid to oversee $1.7 billion in public works and water construction projects in Iraq The Associated Press contributed to this story. ***************************************************************** 57 Salt Lake Tribune: N-weapon funding battle divides Utah delegation May 19, 2004 By Christopher Smith WASHINGTON -- Utah's congressional delegation will probably split along party lines this week as both chambers of Congress stage floor fights over the Bush administration's budget request to study "bunker buster" nuclear weapons that critics say may one day be tested upwind of Utah. Both the House and Senate are considering defense spending bills authorizing $422 billion in military and Energy Department funding next year, an increase of $21 billion from this year. A key fight in both chambers will be over the $27.6 million request for continued feasibility studies of the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator, a proposed atomic weapon modified to destroy deeply buried enemy targets. Democrats, including Utah Rep. Jim Matheson, are skeptical of Republican claims the money is just to study the idea, since the original cost projection has grown from $45 million over three years to $485 million through 2009. "At almost a half a billion dollars, I think this is clearly putting us down the road to having this weapon and testing it," said Matheson, who joined with 83 other Democrats in signing a letter to House Armed Services leadership last week asking the funding be stripped. "This defense bill is going to pass and I'm going to vote for it, but it's unfortunate this program gets slipped into this larger must-pass bill, so we'll have an amendment vote on the bunker buster to see where everyone stands." Matheson was uncertain whether the House Rules Committee would allow floor consideration of a separate amendment he sponsored Tuesday to the defense bill, which will be debated today and Thursday in the House. The amendment would require a vote of Congress before any nuclear testing resumes at the Nevada Test Site near Las Vegas, similar to legislation he is sponsoring seeking pre-test public health safeguards and environmental studies. Atmospheric nuclear detonations at the Nevada Test Site in the 1950s and 1960s are blamed by so-called "downwinders" in Utah and across the country for diseases related to radioactive fallout. Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, said he supports funding the study because he is convinced the Bush administration has no plans to resume nuclear testing in the short-term and Congress must give the green light to any construction, testing or deployment of such a weapon. "It's hard to vote to stop something that is not going to happen," said Bishop. A spokesperson for Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, said he also supports funding the study. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, like fellow Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, supported funding the bunker buster study. But Bennett said that if President Bush or a future president were to come to Congress "and say, 'OK, we have done the research, we think this is a viable weapon, we want to fund it, and we are going to use it in a situation quite like Iraq,' this senator would not vote in favor of that." "My view of a deterrent and the use of the nuclear stockpile through the Cold War is it is never used unless the other side puts you in a position where you do it," said Bennett. "> --> Copyright Salt Lake City Tribune ***************************************************************** 58 The State: SRS waste plan poses risk to 05/19/2 By HARRIET KEYSERLING Guest columnist Having spent a good portion of my time in the S.C. Legislature working on nuclear waste issues, any news on this subject grabs my attention  for instance, two articles on the same day (May 8), on the same page in The State. The first covered the visit of Energy Secretary Abraham to the Savannah River Site to announce, to smiling South Carolina leaders, the designation of SRS as a national laboratory for nuclear research. There was a hope by USC that it would include research on hydrogen, but then it was noted that $150 million had been allotted to three other states for hydrogen storage research, so SRS would continue to focus on nuclear waste cleanup. The second article focused on nuclear waste. As everyone in South Carolina should know by now, the SRS complex houses 34 million gallons of high-level radioactive waste, much of it in the form of liquid sludge. (Thats about enough to fill a bathtub for every resident of Richland, Lexington and Aiken counties.) The waste is the leftovers from producing fuel and materials necessary to make nuclear weapons during the Cold War era. It is being stored in old rusty tanks that have been known to leak into one of the largest and most important watersheds in the Southeast. The Savannah River, and the entire watershed, serves agriculture, industry and recreational activities. Failing to clean up the tanks and remove the waste can lead to serious long-lasting pollution of the Savannah River, which provides water for drinking and irrigation. Many South Carolinians and Georgians also depend on it to provide fish for subsistence. When SRS was built in the 1950s, the promise was that the waste would be moved out within 10 years, but it is still there 50 years later. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 requires that this waste be buried deep underground, in a repository chosen for disposal of this waste. The Yucca Mountain site in Nevada was selected after years of study and political maneuvering. But the Bush administration wants to leave some of the highly radioactive waste on the SRS site forever, claiming it will be faster and cheaper to just dilute it with grout, than glassifiy it and move it to Nevada. How do officials propose getting around the Nuclear Waste Policy Act? By changing the definition of high-level nuclear waste. By calling it less toxic than it really is, naming it incidental waste instead of high-level waste, presto, it will not have to be moved, even though the waste itself has not been altered and will still be dangerous for thousands of years. (This is consistent with many Bush administration environmental policies  ignore or redefine scientific facts to accomplish political or economic ends) Sen. Lindsey Graham sponsored an amendment to the defense authorization bill to change the waste policy act as desired by the Energy Department. It will be under debate in the Senate this week. If passed, it will allow the rusty tanks to remain  barely above the water table  for the foreseeable future, instead of moving the sludge out of state, as the law now requires. Last year a federal court in Idaho rejected the agencys attempt to reclassify the wastes as less hazardous through rulemaking. Attorney General Henry McMaster filed an amicus brief on behalf of South Carolina agreeing with the Natural Resources Defense Council, the environmental group that initiated the lawsuit against reclassifying the waste. Another concern is that the amendment would allow the U.S. Energy Department sole discretion in deciding what constitutes high-level radioactive waste in South Carolina, severely limiting the states voice on such matters. Senators and other officials from the states of Washington and Idaho, where the same type of highly radioactive wastes are stored, oppose Sen. Grahams amendment, even though their wastes are not covered in the amendment: It applies only to South Carolina waste. The Energy Department is negotiating with the other states on how the sludge will be handled. So far, our own Sen. Fritz Hollings is the lone South Carolina voice openly opposing Grahams amendment. Our political leaders still seem to prefer the promise of new projects to long-term protection of our environment. Ms. Keyserling is a former member of the S.C. House of Representatives. TheStateOnline ***************************************************************** 59 U.S. Newswire: DOE Surpasses Congressional Target of Recovering Radioactive Sources 5/18/2004 3:06:00 PM To: National Desk, Energy Reporter Contact: Joe Davis, 202-586-4940, or Bryan Wilkes, 202-586-2154, both of the U.S. Department of Energy WASHINGTON, May 18 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Department of Energy (DOE) has surpassed a congressional target of recovering and securing 5,000 radioactive sources domestically within an 18-month time period, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham said today. These radioactive materials could be used in a radiological dispersal device, also known as a "dirty bomb." The Department's National Nuclear Security Administration passed the congressional target this month by recovering and securing 5,529 high-risk sources during the specified time-period. As a key part of Secretary Abraham's efforts to strengthen DOE's activities to address the threats posed by radiological materials, he established DOE's Nuclear and Radiological Threat Reduction Task Force in November 2003. The task force consolidated three existing DOE programs to address international and domestic radiological materials into one office, and accelerated and expanded these efforts. "We are continuing to work overtime to secure and recover radioactive materials that can be used for dangerous purposes. The national security effort we are involved in to recover these materials with other U.S. agencies is vital to the safety and security all Americans," Abraham said. Secretary Abraham said the DOE continues recovering at-risk radiological materials domestically at universities, hospitals, and other locations. Because of the Bush administration's priority on nonproliferation, the Nuclear and Radiological Threat Reduction Task Force accelerated its efforts, which has resulted, to date, in the recovery of over 9,500 high-risk radiological sources within the United States. The announcement marks the recent one-year anniversary of the March 2003 International Conference on the Security of Radioactive Sources held in Vienna, Austria, which was co- sponsored by the United States, Russia, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Since the conference, DOE has initiated important radiological threat reduction efforts in over 25 countries and is planning to expand its cooperation to 40 by the end of this calendar year. The conference, called for and co-chaired by the Secretary, was attended by 123 nations and resulted in recommendations to mitigate the threat posed by at-risk radiological materials around the world. In his remarks at the time, the Secretary said, "It is our critically important job to deny terrorists the radioactive sources they need to construct such weapons." Then, Abraham announced a new radiological security partnership program with the IAEA to address dangerous radiological materials globally as well as accelerate current efforts. As part of these activities, DOE provided critical security enhancements to secure high-risk radiological materials in Uzbekistan. The materials removed had been housed in the immediate vicinity of a recent terrorist attack in Tashkent. The Secretary noted that DOE is working hard to address the radiological threats in other areas as well that are critical to U.S. national security interests, including Iraq and Greece, in support of the upcoming Olympic games. In the past three months, the Task Force has had two key achievements. It recovered four high-risk Strontium-90 Radioisotopic Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) in the Houston area in close cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Texas officials. These were the largest high risk sources recovered to date by the task force. This effort served as a model of cooperation between DOE and other U.S. national security agencies. Just last month, the task force recovered, in close cooperation with the NRC and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Radiation Protection, approximately 500 at-risk radiological sources from a bankrupt company in Pennsylvania. The task force is also exploring additional ways within the U.S. to leverage DOE's expertise and experience in reducing the threat posed by radiological materials that could be used to make a dirty bomb. /© 2004 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/ ***************************************************************** 60 U.S. Newswire - UPDATE: DOE Secretary Abraham Travels to IEF in Amsterdam; To Meet with Key Oil Ministers, OPEC President 5/19/2004 5:04:00 PM To: International and Assignment desks, Daybook Editor, Energy Reporter Contact: Jeanne Lopatto, 202-586-4940, or Drew Malcomb, 202-586-5806, both of U.S. Department of Energy News Advisory: Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham departs today to participate in the International Energy Forum (IEF) meeting hosted by The Netherlands and held in Amsterdam May 22-24. The IEF is a high-level biennial informal gathering that brings together energy-producing and energy-consuming nations to discuss the world's energy issues. The IEF expects delegations from 80 countries to participate, with approximately 500 attendees. The Secretary will also hold bilateral meetings with the Ministers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar and Indonesia. As part of the IEF trip, Secretary Abraham will also travel to London, Athens, Vienna, Krakow and Moscow. In London, Secretary Abraham will sign an agreement on renewable energy cooperation with Minister of State for Energy, E-Commerce and Postal Services Stephen Timms, and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Margaret Beckett. The agreement is a result of the U.S./U.K. energy dialogue that President Bush and the Prime Minister agreed to during Blair's visit to Crawford, Texas, in April, 2002. While in London, Secretary Abraham will also give a major science speech titled "21st Century Challenges: Science and Technology and the Promise for Our Energy Future." He will also hold meetings on energy developments and non-proliferation issues with other British government officials. Secretary Abraham next travels to The Netherlands, where he will participate in the IEF meetings and hold meetings with energy officials of several major energy-producing and -consuming nations. This year's conference titled "Investing in Energy; Choices for the Future" and will focus on forthcoming investment choices concerning oil and gas. In Greece, Secretary Abraham will announce DOE Radiation Detection Security Assistance for the Summer Olympic Games as well as hold discussions with Minister of Development Demetris Sioufas. Secretary Abraham will then travel to Vienna for a two-day visit, during which he will hold discussions with Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Secretary will also make a major announcement concerning nuclear nonproliferation actions in a speech to the IAEA. The Secretary's next stop is Moscow, where he will hold a series of meetings to discuss energy issues and non-proliferation with several high-ranking Russian Federation officials. Itinerary: -- London, England WHO: Secretary Abraham WHAT: Major Science Address -- "21st Century Challenges: Science and Technology and the Promise for Our Energy Future" WHEN: Thursday, May 20, 5:30 p.m. WHERE: Chatham House -- Amsterdam, The Netherlands WHO: Secretary Abraham WHAT: Participation in the International Energy Forum WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, May 22-23 WHERE: Okura Hotel -- Athens, Greece WHO: Secretary Abraham WHAT: Olympic Security Announcement WHEN: Monday, May 24, TIME TBA WHERE: TBA -- Vienna, Austria WHO: Secretary Abraham WHAT: Speech, to IAEA Delegates WHEN: Wednesday, May 26, 9:30 a.m. WHERE: IAEA -- Vienna, Austria -- Event 2 WHO: -- Secretary Abraham -- Secretary General ElBaradei WHAT: Press Availability WHEN: Wednesday, May 26, 10 a.m. WHERE: General Conference Room, IAEA Headquarters -- Krakow, Poland WHO: (TBD) WHAT: (TBD) WHEN: (TBD) WHERE: (TBD) -- Moscow, Russia WHO: Secretary Abraham WHAT: (TBD) WHEN: (TBD) WHERE: Location TBD http://www.usnewswire.com/ /© 2004 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/ ***************************************************************** 61 Times News: Energy Department plans Pit 4 dig ... The Times-News Online -- Twin Falls, Idaho www.magicvalley.com The Times-News | AG Weekly | Thursday, May 20, 2004 • Twin Falls, Idaho Project follows successful results of Pit 9 test projectOriginally published Wednesday, May 19, 2004By Jennifer Sandmann Times-News writer TWIN FALLS -- The Energy Department plans to dig up more radioactive waste threatening the regional aquifer following the success of a long-awaited test project. For nearly a decade the public has heard about Pit 9. It became the mark of failed efforts and expensive delays in efforts to dig up buried nuclear waste in Idaho. But success at Pit 9 finally arrived this year -- eight months ahead of schedule. Now Pit 4 is up for discussion. It's another burial pit at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory near Idaho Falls. Pit 4 contains Cold War-era nuclear weapons production waste shipped to Idaho from the Rocky Flats weapons lab near Denver. Waste in the project dig area was buried between 1966 and 1967. The INEEL targeted half an acre of the burial pit for retrieval because it is known to contain a high concentration of transuranic waste including plutonium, beryllium and americium. It also contains uranium and volatile chemicals used as solvents and degreasers in weapons production. Pit 4 contains about 7 percent of the transuranic waste buried in the entire landfill, said Jeff Perry, a project manager for waste retrieval. Experience gleaned from Pit 9 excavation paved the way for Pit 4. "We found out two things that were really important," Perry said. Pit 9 project managers were concerned about over-exposing workers to radiation, primarily from airborne contaminants, he said. A misting system was used effectively to knock down contaminants contained inside a structure that had a ventilation system equipped with HEPA filters. And a camera operator was able to get a good picture of the buried waste and direct the dig operator accordingly. "We were able to visually identify what specific wastes were. This allows us to visually identify the transuranic waste and remove that for disposal at WIPP," Perry said. Too much dilution of the transuranic waste with other matter such as soil means it no longer can qualify for disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico, he said. Estimated retrieval cost at Pit 4 is $208 million. That's for half of an acre compared with the $80 million it cost to retrieve 75 cubic yards of waste in a small Pit 9 test plot. "To actually dig up waste, and not to do it in a cost-prohibitive manner is a complete, 180-degree shift by the Energy Department," said Jeremy Maxand, director of the nuclear watchdog group Snake River Alliance. But the Alliance remains concerned that ultimately only some of the waste will be removed and the rest will be left behind, he said. The landfill's fate remains uncertain. The state of Idaho contends that the Energy Department must remove all of the transuranic waste from the landfill, but other radioactive and hazardous waste is buried there, too. The Energy Department plans to issue a cleanup decision for the entire landfill in 2007. Times-News writer Jennifer Sandmann can be reached at 733-0931, Ext. 237, or jsandmann@magicvalley.com. Public meeting A Pit 4 meeting will be held tonight at the College of Southern Idaho on the second floor of the Taylor Building. Project staff will be available at 6 p.m. to answer questions. The public meeting begins at 7 p.m. More information about the Pit 4 project is available online at http://cleanup.inel.gov. Public comments will be accepted until June 4. Submit comments online through the cleanup Web site or send them to Jeff Perry, Department of Energy, P.O. Box 1625, MS 1222, Idaho Falls, 83415-1222. E-mail comments to Perry at perryjn@id.doe.gov. Copyright © 2004, Lee Publications Inc. Magicvalley.com is an on-line division of The Times-News, published daily at 132 W. 3rd St., Twin Falls, Idaho 83301 by Lee Publications, Inc., a subsidiary of Lee Enterprises. ***************************************************************** 62 Oak Ridger: Oak Ridge to ask for DOE land transfer Story last updated at 12:01 p.m. on May 19, 2004 CITY MANAGER: 'I've been told there is plenty of developmental interest.' By: Stan Mitchell | Oak Ridger Staff stan.mitchell@oakridger.com The Oak Ridge City Council voted on Monday to ask the Department of Energy to transfer land in west Oak Ridge for residential development. The land, Parcel D, contains approximately 245 acres and is l-shaped, with one axis bordering Oak Ridge Turnpike and the other bordering Wisconsin Avenue. City Manager James R. O'Connor said the request is being made as a no-cost transfer. "I've been told there is plenty of developmental interest," O'Connor said. City Council approved requesting the transfer unanimously, with little discussion. Information provided from city staff to Council members said preliminary discussions with DOE officials have been conducted. Staff information states the "portion of the parcel does not conflict with the preliminary boundary of the proposed Black Oak Ridge Conservation easement." To date, DOE has transferred more than 2,300 acres of land to Oak Ridge. But, more than 10,000 acres remain, including Parcel D, to be transferred, according to city staff information. O'Connor said during a phone interview today he has heard it can take from three months to one year for DOE to transfer property after a request such as this. And, he described how he thought the property would be handled by the city. "I would anticipate something like Parcel A, where the city request bids from developers to purchase the property," O'Connor said. Parcel A was a 278-acre piece of property that sold for $1.75 million. In all, nearly 900 residential units could be built on Parcel A. It's unclear at this time how many homes could be built on Parcel D if the land is transferred, or if the land would be subdivided or bid out as one large parcel. ***************************************************************** 63 Oak Ridger: Nearly $800K for PR firm Story last updated at 12:01 p.m. on May 19, 2004 OFFICIAL: The NNSA reviews costs on a regular basis to ensure that expenditures are allowable under the contract and are in support of the Y-12 mission. By: Paul Parson | Oak Ridger Staff paul.parson@oakridger.com Since November 2000, a Knoxville-based marketing and public relations firm has amassed close to $800,000 in contracts for various services at Oak Ridge's nuclear weapons plant. In fact, according to one federal official, Laine Communications has multiple tasks and contracts with BWXT Y-12, which manages the Y-12 National Security Complex for the National Nuclear Security Administration. "These activities are paid for through NNSA programmatic resources," said Steven Wyatt, a spokesman for the NNSA's Oak Ridge office. "The value of the contracts from November 2000 to date is $782,619.25. Of this amount, $525,785 has been costed (spent)." The NNSA is a quasi-independent agency within the Department of Energy that oversees the nuclear weapons complex. According to Wyatt, the purpose of Laine's work is to help BWXT Y-12 deal with staffing shortages in the plant's public affairs department and to provide communications support as needed. "This is not uncommon as the company often out sources work at the plant," Wyatt said. Although BWXT Y-12's president, Dennis Ruddy, has declined to be interviewed about Laine's work, he issued a written statement last week essentially providing the same response as Wyatt. BWXT Y-12 took over as the managing contractor for Y-12 in November 2000, with John Mitchell serving as the company's president. Ruddy replaced Mitchell in February 2003. Since then, Sandra Plant and Mark Neuhart, who each served as manager of the public affairs department, have taken other jobs within the government contractor realm. A third person, Matthew Guilford, reportedly left his job at the Y-12 National Security Complex for a position in the private sector. As for Laine's role, the company has assigned at least one person to work directly with BWXT Y-12. As part of the job, the Laine official, Bill Gubbins, is required to provide monthly reports to Ruddy summarizing communication-related activities. Last week, The Oak Ridger obtained copies of the January, February and March reports, which detail the elected officials and media representatives Ruddy met with during those months. The documents also outline various public relations-related strategies, including offering specific journalists certain stories. In addition, the documents describe a media blitz that would essentially make Ruddy "the face" of BWXT Y-12. The reports also note that Ruddy has been advised not to take a "no comment" stance on controversial or negative stories - a practice he continues to follow. Generally speaking, the Laine contracts are considered allowable costs, according to Wyatt. "However, NNSA reviews such costs on a regular basis to ensure that expenditures are allowable under the contract and are in support of the programmatic mission at the plant," Wyatt noted. ***************************************************************** 64 Oak Ridger: Union talks off for now Story last updated at 12:01 p.m. on May 19, 2004 TIMELINE: Officials had hoped to have a contract by this week. By: Paul Parson | Oak Ridger Staff paul.parson@oakridger.com With no deal in place, negotiations were brought to a halt this morning on union contracts that impact more than 2,000 hourly workers at Oak Ridge federal facilities. A federal mediator will be brought in Tuesday to assist with negotiations, according to Carl "Bubba" Scarbrough, president of the Atomic Trades and Labor Council, which represents the workers. Scarbrough said he requested the mediator. "We're meeting, but nobody's negotiating," the union official said this morning. Carl "Bubba" Scarbrough A negotiating team had hoped to hammer out deals over a four-day period that began Monday. Union members had expected to vote on a contract by this weekend, according to Scarbrough. The ATLC official noted that the Department of Energy has to approve any contracts that result from negotiations. The union contracts are currently on an extension that expires June 22. The negotiating process actually involves around nine deals for union members who are employed hourly with BWXT Y-12, UT-Battelle, Bechtel Jacobs Co., Duratek Federal Services, The Washington Group, WESKEM, Canberra, Bionetics Corp. and Buddy's Bar-B-Q. Scarbrough also pointed out that while DOE's Oak Ridge budget is substantial, it includes no money for insurance and no funds for pensions. The ATLC chief also said the cost of health insurance is going up by 60 percent for workers at federal facilities while the amount of coverage is decreasing by about the same percentage. Previously, Scarbrough said the requested wage increases for the new contracts could be in the neighborhood of what was decided on during the 2001 negotiations: Reportedly around a 4-percent increase for the first year and raises of 3.8 percent and 3.5 percent respectively for the following two years. However, he said the union could seek higher wage increases if the cost of health insurance jumps a significant amount. During the negotiation process, officials had hoped to determine the length of the contracts. A three-year extension was inked in 2001, with a five-year deal OK'd in 1996. ***************************************************************** 65 Oak Ridger: DOE investigating both emergency situations Story last updated at 12:03 p.m. on May 19, 2004 By: Paul Parson | Oak Ridger Staff paul.parson@oakridger.com The Department of Energy is launching its second formal investigation in less than two weeks due to emergency-related situations generated by Oak Ridge cleanup projects. Both probes are classified as "Type B" - DOE's second highest level. Federal officials revealed Tuesday afternoon their plan to investigate the contamination of Highway 95 in Roane County and other roads on the Oak Ridge Reservation. DOE's announcement follows a decision by Bechtel Jacobs Co. to do its own "Type B-like" investigation. Small amounts of strontium 90 leaked onto a portion of Highway 95 Friday from a truck carrying radioactive waste material to the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility - a disposal site located on Bear Creek Road near the Y-12 National Security Complex. Strontium 90 is a byproduct of the fission of uranium and plutonium in nuclear reactors. The radioactive waste was from a cleanup project at the old Hydrofracture Facility in Melton Valley. A leak in a 600-gallon tank associated with the cleanup project was identified and reportedly remedied prior to it being transported on Highway 95. However, when the tank arrived at the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility Friday, it was surveyed and officials determined that material had leaked out during transport. The truck was on the road four to five miles from the cleanup project to the waste facility. Highway 95 was shut down by the state of Tennessee late Friday afternoon. Extensive radiological surveys and repaving were completed over the weekend, allowing for the well-traveled road to reopen by late Sunday. In addition, portions of Bethel Valley and Bear Creek roads had to be repaved. Asphalt removal and repaving of a Melton Valley access road should be completed by the end of the week. A DOE news release issued Tuesday afternoon stated: "The estimated cost of the emergency response, cleanup and recovery would exceed the requirements as set by DOE orders for Environment, Safety and Health-related investigations," thus requiring the DOE-led "Type B" investigation. The price tag could be in the ballpark of $1 million or more. DOE is also participating in the investigation launched by Bechtel Jacobs - the company under contract to manage Oak Ridge cleanup projects. Additionally, Bechtel Jacobs has temporarily suspended work at the Hydrofracture Facility. Safety and Ecology Corp. is responsible for the cleanup of the facility that was built in 1963 to test the concept for deep geologic disposal of liquid radioactive waste. Friday's incident on Highway 95 follows a May 8 chemical fire on federal property just outside the security fence of the Oak Ridge K-25 site - also referred to as the Heritage Center or the East Tennessee Technology Park. The incident resulted in the voluntary evacuation of a couple hundred workers and residents who lived in a half-mile area of the site. The fire started when sodium that was being packaged for commercial reuse by Commodore Advance Sciences Inc., caught fire during heating for repackaging. Commodore is working under a subcontract with Toxco Inc., a private-sector company leasing space at K-25. No radioactive material burned in the fire. And, inspections conducted by DOE, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency identified no impact to areas surrounding the K-25 site, including waterways. In addition to DOE's investigation of the fire, the incident is also being reviewed by the Emergency Response Planning Committee of the Oak Ridge Reservation Local Oversight Committee's Citizens' Advisory Panel. Both of DOE's "Type B" investigations should take about three to four weeks to complete. Concerned by what impact the Highway 95 incident might have on local cleanup efforts, Oak Ridge City Council unanimously voted Monday night to send a letter to DOE noting that the long-term, overarching benefit of DOE's cleanup program should outweigh the short-term concern the incident generated within DOE's Environmental Management Program. ***************************************************************** 66 ONN: Energy Department retracts memo on breaking notice Ohio News Now: May 20, 2004 CINCINNATI The U.S. Department of Energy has withdrawn and corrected an internal memo suggesting that the department could violate a promise to give Nevada 45 days notice before shipping radioactive wastes, a spokesman said Wednesday.The government last month promised it would give 45-day notice to Nevada officials before shipping the waste from the former Fernald uranium processing plant 18 miles northwest of Cincinnati.A Tuesday memo to workers at the site said one of three options for keeping the project schedule was to begin shipping without the notice."We immediately saw the mistake, called it back and made the correction," department spokesman Gary Stegner said. "Obviously, we cannot ship without giving 45 days notice, since we're on record as saying we'll give it."The other two options were to store waste temporarily on the site or postpone removal from the silo.Nevada has threatened a lawsuit to block shipment of wastes to a former nuclear weapons test site from three 50-year-old concrete silos at Fernald.Also Tuesday, Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval objected to plans to begin removing wastes from the silos for temporary storage at Fernald before legal issues are settled.Doing so would allow crews to call an "emergency," because the cleanup plan doesn't include temporary storage, Sandoval said, and then force shipment despite Nevada's challenge.Fernald processed uranium from 1951 until 1989 for nuclear weapons. The Energy Department plans thousands of truck shipments of powdered and sludge wastes to Nevada starting this summer. The department hopes to finish the $4 billion cleanup in 2006, leaving undeveloped parkland.Nevada's opposition has left federal officials scrambling, because there is no alternative disposal location. Utah officials rejected using a site there.___On the Net:http://www.fernald.govhttp://www.ag.state.nv.us Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This All content © Copyright 2004, WorldNow and Dispatch Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ***************************************************************** 67 KRNV: Energy Department backtracks on internal memo May 20, 2004 CINCINATTI, OH, May 19 The US Department of Energy is backing off an internal memo that suggests the government could break a promise to Nevada over the timing of radioactive-waste shipments. A spokesman at the Energy Department's Fernald cleanup site near Cincinnati says today the memo mistakenly suggested that the government could violate its promise to give Nevada 45 days' notice of the waste shipments. Spokesman Gary Stegner says the memo was corrected yesterday and the commitment to give the advance notice will be honored. Energy Department officials in Washington gave Nevada the commitment last month after that state threatened a lawsuit to block the planned radioactive waste shipments. The Energy Department plans thousands of truck shipments from Ohio to Nevada starting this summer to fulfill a commitment to environmental regulators to finish cleaning up the Fernald site by 2006. (Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) content © Copyright 2001 - 2004 WorldNow and KRNV. All Rights ***************************************************************** 68 Google News Alert - nuclear Date: Wed, 19 May 2004 14:09:35 -0700 (PDT) FPL Joins Nuclear Industry Consortium to Develop Engineering ... Business Wire (press release) - USA JUNO BEACH, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 19, 2004--Florida Power & Light Company today announced it has joined a nuclear industry consortium to develop a ... See all stories on this topic: PAKISTAN, India to Hold Nuclear Talks Aljazeerah.info ISLAMABAD, 18 May 2004 — Pakistan will hold its first talks with India since its change of government on nuclear restraint next week, the Foreign Ministry ... See all stories on this topic: NRC faulted for nuclear plant laxity Chicago Tribune (subscription) - Chicago,IL,USA OHIO -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission miscalculated the risk to the public of letting an Ohio nuclear power plant continue to run in 2001 with suspected ... See all stories on this topic: OFFICIALS support renewal of nuclear plant licenses WTNH - New Haven,CT,USA ... and local economy. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission held its first environmental review hearing last night in Waterford. The NRC ... See all stories on this topic: UN joins nuclear talks Calgary Sun - Calgary,Alberta,Canada ... UN envoy Maurice Strong arrived in North Korea yesterday to support six-country talks aimed at settling a standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear program as well as ... See all stories on this topic: US on Iran's nuclear activities Payvand - Iran The US Congress has voted overwhelmingly to condemn Iran for its covert nuclear activities. In a three-hundred-seventy-six to three ... See all stories on this topic: VOTE nears on nuclear sludge Atlanta Journal Constitution (subscripition) - Atlanta,GA,USA The waste — leftover from decades of making nuclear bombs — is stored in aging tanks at the sprawling Savannah River Site in South Carolina, just across ... See all stories on this topic: CORIXA and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology ... Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco,CA,USA Corixa Corporation (Nasdaq:CRXA) today announced that it has signed a new, 12 year agreement with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization ... KOIZUMI Ready to Normalize Ties if North Solves Abductees, ... Chosun Ilbo - South Korea ... during his term as prime minister (which ends September 2006) if Pyongyang resolves issues related to the abduction of Japanese and its nuclear weapons programs ... See all stories on this topic: LINKS with Pakistan cloud China's membership in global nuclear ... Channel News Asia - Singapore WASHINGTON : The US government pressed its case in Congress for China's membership in a multilateral nuclear group but lawmakers cautioned Beijing's moves to ... See all stories on this topic: This daily-once News Alert is brought to you by Google News (BETA)... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Remove this News Alert: http://www.google.com/newsalerts/remove?s=92d1672a1b037a07&hl=en Create another News Alert: http://www.google.com/newsalerts?hl=en Try Google News: http://news.google.com/ ***************************************************************** 69 FHG: Kabelschlepp Metool cable reels for America's nuclear clean-up Edie weekly summaries 21/05/2004 News release: Kabelschlepp Metool, the UK's largest manufacturer of flexible cable handling systems, has won two contracts totalling $7 million to supply high-specification cable reels for the U.S. Department of Energy's Waste Treatment Plant project in Washington State, USA. The $5.7 billion Waste Treatment Plant is being designed, built and commissioned by Bechtel National Inc. The project centres on the Hanford Site in south-eastern Washington which, from the Manhattan Project onwards, was used for a number of nuclear-related purposes, including plutonium production and research and development. A large portion of the 53 million gallons of highly radioactive and hazardous waste currently stored in underground tanks at Hanford will be vitrified into glass logs at the Waste Treatment Plant and made ready for eventual transfer to permanent disposal sites. The reels will be used for feeding twelve remotely controlled cranes being built by PaR Systems of Minneapolis and ACECO of Philadelphia for the waste vitrification plant. There are two types of reel; those for PaR have twin cables carrying power and a wide variety of functions, such as controls, camera feed, variable speed/variable frequency motor drive, profibus and resolvers to the robotic arms. The ACECO cranes have a single-cable reel supplying power and control of similar design. Kabelschlepp Metool has over twenty years' experience in designing and manufacturing reels for the British nuclear industry. For Hanford, the reels are of a special through-wall design with the reels and cables on the radioactive side and drive and sliprings on the safe side. The reels are driven by Metool's patented Vectorq electronic drive system to control torque and tension. This design enables the reels to be energised continuously, so ensuring that the cable is controlled at all times and eliminating the possibility of slack. Based in Beeston, Nottingham, Kabelschlepp Metool is the UK's largest manufacturer of flexible cable and hose handling systems supplying power as well as controls to all types of moving machinery. In addition to cable and hose reels, products include a comprehensive range of Kabelschlepp cable carriers, drag chains, cables and festoon systems. Metool's industrial hose and cable reels range from large motorized reels for heavy plant to smaller, spring-operated reels for workshops and mobile applications, such as broadcasting and film. Metool Products Ltd. is a member of the international Kabelschlepp group of companies. For more information please contact Kabelschlepp Metool Source: Kabelschlepp Metool © Faversham House Group Ltd 2004. edie news articles may be ***************************************************************** NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: *****************************************************************