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                         NUCLEAR POLICY
 
1 BBC: EU concern at Iran nuclear move 
2 Dpr Of Korea: UN Envoy Says Impasse Will Only End With Economic Aid
3 Las Vegas SUN: U.S. Downplays N. Korea Nuke Comments
4 BBC: N Korea 'threatens nuclear test' 
5 BBC: High stakes at North Korea talks 
6 KRT Wire: North Korea calls U.S. proposal `constructive'
7 Xinhuanet: US, DPRK show flexibility, nuke talks see progress   
8 Mos News: Moscow Advocates N Korea’s Right to Nuclear Research - 
9 US: NCT: House blocks Democrats from seeking larger refunds for powe
10 US: Washington Times: In support of executive privilege
11 US: Capital Times: Opinion: Editorial: Cheney's high court 
12 US: BulletinWire News: United States: Bailing out of peacekeeping?  
13 US: TomPaine.com - The Perils Of The Presidency
14 [NYTr] Scotland Activists Break into Nuke Base
15 Bellona: Russian government about Federal State Nuclear Regulatory
 
                         NUCLEAR REACTORS
 
16 US: [NukeNet] FBI WARNING boat bombs 
17 Pravda.RU: Nuclear power industry becoming more attractive
18 US: AP Wire: Future of Kewaunee nuclear plant debated
19 US: AP Wire: Comments on future of Kewaunee nuclear plant debated
20 US: Bennington Banner: Nuclear plant warning system has problems
21 US: TheChamplainChannel.com: State Berates Yankee For Reporting Emer
22 US: North Adams Transcript: Yankee Rowe meeting answers little
23 US: NRC: NRC Atomic Safety and Licensing Board to Hold Prehearing Co
24 US: NRC: Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.; Notice of Issuance of 
25 US: NRC: Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for th
 
                          NUCLEAR SAFETY
 
26 US: [FOODIRRADIATIONCA] Senate Health Comm. hearing on AB 1988 on
27 BBC: Starfish deaths puzzle Russian experts 
28 BBC: Nuclear cancer study is
29 Big News Network: World Bank fights Kyrgyz radiation
30 Maariv International
31 UK Independent: Russia's luxury Arctic tours 'risk nuclear disaster'
32 US: Pahrump Valley Times: FORMER TEST SITE WORKERS WANTED 
33 US: Paducah Sun: USEC cites 6 workers for misused computers 
 
                         NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE
 
34 Guardian Unlimited: House Panel Approves Yucca Mountain Bill
35 Las Vegas RJ: Yucca opponents win funding round 
36 Guardian Unlimited: Kazakhstan Sends 1st Radioactive Shipment
37 Las Vegas SUN: Nevada officials lobby against direct funding for Yuc
38 Las Vegas SUN: Pared-down Yucca budget set for OK
39 RGJ: Panel OKs Yucca funding plan
40 RGJ: Missing deadline won’t delay opening schedule, officials say
41 US: Sun Herald: Toxic releases should raise concerns over DuPont pla
42 US: heraldtribune.com: Water hookup charge upsets residents 
43 NineMSN: WA not a nuclear dump - Gallop
44 Pahrump Valley Times: Tech park gets small boost 
45 Pahrump Valley Times: History of nuclear waste and Nye County: Part 
46 AU ABC: Broken Hill reflects on waste dump ruling » 
 
                         NUCLEAR WEAPONS
 
47 asahi.com Takashi Hiraoka: Host A-bomb exhibitions around the world 
 
                        US DEPT. OF ENERGY
 
48 Meeting at Piketon with NRC 
49 Hanford radwaste dumping will be scaled back
50 DOE: whom it is not feasible to estimate their radiation dose, and o
51 Tri-City Herald: Hanford's future explored 
52 Guardian Unlimited: Los Alamos Lab Keys Lost for 16 Hours
53 Oak Ridger: Secret City Festival starts 							 							 							
54 U.S. Newswire: DOE Statement on Passage of Energy & Water 
55 PISJ: None hurt in INEEL gas leak, evacuation
56 Oak Ridger: Your View: City has unique stories to share 							 				
57 Daily Texan Report: Los Alamos violated 7 safety rules - 
58 Daily Texan Viewpoint: Noted in passing... (Los Alamos)
 
                          OTHER NUCLEAR
 
59 Google News Alert - nuclear
60 Las Vegas SUN: Nevada gov wants justification for new power plants
61 Mos News: Russian Scientists to Add 5 Chemical Elements to Periodic 
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                         FULL NEWS STORIES
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 1 BBC: EU concern at Iran nuclear move 
 
  Last Updated: Friday, 25 June, 2004
 
[Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant]                                  

Iran opened up to inspections after international pressure                                                                

Germany and the UK have voiced concern at Iran's decision to 
break a deal and resume production of centrifuge parts used in 
uranium enrichment. 

The two countries said they were working with France on a 
response. 

A UK Foreign Office spokesman told the BBC they were disappointed 
and did not understand Iran's move. 

Last week, the UN's atomic agency sharply rebuked the Tehran 
government for failing to co-operate fully with an inquiry into 
its nuclear activities. 

Suspicions 

Iran informed the three European nations and the UN body, the 
International Atomic Energy Agency, in writing that it would 
resume making centrifuge parts and the assembly and testing of 
centrifuges. 

In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by the BBC, Iran said 
it would begin these activities on 29 June. 

Under international treaties, Iran is allowed to make centrifuges 
for peaceful nuclear energy. 

[Aerial view of Natanz facility]                                
Iran insists its nuclear activities are peaceful [Photo: 
Digitalglobe]                       
			   		
But the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna, where the IAEA is based, 
says Tehran's move is being seen in western circles as a setback, 
amid suspicions that it is trying to develop a nuclear weapons 
programme. 

For US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control John Bolton, the 
letter was proof of Iran's intent to reprocess uranium as part of 
a covert weapons programme. 

"This is an act of defiance of the IAEA board of governors; it is 
a thumb in the eye of the international community," he said. 

The European governments were more circumspect, speaking of their 
disappointment and incomprehension at the move. 

"The foreign ministry in Berlin regrets the announcement made by 
the Iranian government, " a German spokesman said. 

A source in Paris told the French news agency, AFP, they were 
working with the British and Germans towards "a common and 
coordinated position on the matter". 

Pledge 

Last year, Iran reached a deal with the three countries to 
suspend its uranium enrichment activities - a move seen as a 
confidence-building measure.

But last week, Tehran reacted angrily after the IAEA passed a 
resolution which "deplored" the fact that "Iran's co-operation 
has not been as full, timely and proactive as it should have 
been". 

The IAEA expressed serious concern that important information 
about Iran's P2 centrifuges, which can be used to produce 
bomb-grade uranium, had been incomplete and unclear. 

Senior figures in the Iranian government say Iran is no longer 
bound by its commitments to the three EU nations, because, as 
they see it, the countries broke a pledge to help wrap up the 
IAEA investigation - an inquiry now set to continue for a few 
months at least. 

Tehran rejects US allegations that its nuclear programme is being 
used to make weapons and says it is solely for generating 
electricity. 
*****************************************************************
 2 Dpr Of Korea: UN Envoy Says Impasse Will Only End With Economic Aid
 
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 18:00:47 -0400

 
DPR OF KOREA: UN ENVOY SAYS IMPASSE WILL ONLY END WITH ECONOMIC AID
 
New York, Jun 25 2004  6:00PM
There will be no resolution to the international tension over the 
nuclear programme of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) 
unless the impoverished Asian country receives support for 
its ailing economy, a United Nations envoy said today.

Briefing reporters at UN Headquarters in New York after a recent 
trip to the region, Maurice F. Strong, the Secretary-General's Special 
Envoy, said the DPRK faces major economic problems despite 
some signs of recent progress.

"It's quite clear that there will be no long-term economic support 
without a settlement. But it's equally true that you won't get 
a settlement without a major economic dimension [to any package]," 
he said.

He said the DPRK's inability to meet its energy needs is "the single 
biggest constraint" on its development, retarding its economy, 
its security and its ability to provide humanitarian relief for 
its citizens.

Mr. Strong said that while the DPRK has had a closed economy, "it 
wants to move out," adding that during his most recent visit he 
saw a vibrant street market in the capital, Pyongyang.

But he said the country seriously lacked foreign investment to drive 
its economic development.

Mr. Strong's remarks come after another round of six-way talks in 
the so-called Beijing process between the DPRK, the Republic of 
Korea, China, Japan, the Russian Federation and the United States.

The six nations have been engaged in talks since Pyongyang announced 
in late 2002 that it planned to "lift the freeze" on its nuclear 
activities and that it was pulling out of the Nuclear Non-proliferation 
Treaty (NPT).

Mr. Strong said there has been "commendable" progress in the latest 
round of talks in Beijing, but warned there was still "a residue 
of deep mistrust built up over more than half a century."

The DPRK and ROK remain technically at war following the signing 
of a ceasefire agreement in July 1953.

Mr. Strong said the UN was "a very active supporter" of the Beijing 
process and was likely to exert an increased role in resolving 
the tensions in the future.

Meanwhile, at a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=600">press 
conference today, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he welcomed 
an offer by the US to provide some aid and security guarantees 
if the DPRK ends its nuclear programme as "a positive step."

"This also shows that the parties are determined to find a diplomatic 
way to resolve their differences and that at least they are 
beginning to exchange ideas and engage in dialogue seriously," he 
said in response to questions.

Asked about reports that the DPRK has threatened to conduct a nuclear 
test, Mr. Annan said he could not say "whether it's a bluff 
or whether it is real."

"But obviously, we need to get the parties that are involved in the 
talks also to engage them," he added. "The Chinese are playing 
a very important role here, and I hope they will be able to dissuade 
the North Koreans, if they are not bluffing, not to go in that 
direction."
 2004-06-25 00:00:00.000 

________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
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*****************************************************************
 3 Las Vegas SUN: U.S. Downplays N. Korea Nuke Comments

 By STEPHANIE HOO ASSOCIATED PRESS 

BEIJING (AP) - 

U.S. officials on Friday played down comments by North Korea
that it might test an atomic bomb, saying six-nation talks on
the North's nuclear program were "moving along" even though the
latest round produced no breakthroughs. 

North Korean envoys affirmed that Pyongyang regards its offer
this week to freeze its nuclear program as a step toward
dismantling it, which is the outcome demanded by Washington, a
senior U.S. official said. 

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that
a North Korean envoy mentioned Thursday that some in the North
wanted to test a bomb. 

"But it was not phrased as a threat," the official told
reporters. 

China canceled a planned closing ceremony Saturday, suggesting
the four-day talks might end on a sour note. Negotiators also
decided against issuing a joint statement after the talks,
choosing instead to release a less formal declaration. 

Still, diplomats portrayed the talks as the most useful and
substantive to date. Delegations held detailed discussions of
competing U.S. and North Korean proposals on the dispute, they
said. 

"There have been no breakthroughs," the U.S. official said. "The
process is moving along, but we're not ready to declare
success." 

The official said the envoys hadn't set a date for another round
of talks or for lower-level technical discussions but wanted to
proceed with work as quickly as possible. 

Two previous rounds of talks in the Chinese capital produced no
headway. Other participants were host China, South Korea, Japan
and Russia. 

The U.S. official's comments in Beijing contradicted an account
Thursday by an official in Washington, who told reporters the
North's envoy had threatened a nuclear test if the United States
did not accept its conditions for a freeze. The official in
Washington said the threat was made by Vice Foreign Minister Kim
Gye Gwan during a 2 1/2 hour private meeting Thursday with the
U.S. envoy, Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly. 

The dispute flared in late 2002 after Washington said Pyongyang
admitted operating a secret nuclear program, breaking a 1994
agreement on freezing the atomic program under which the North
received oil and other aid. 

The key issues include when the energy-starved North might
receive aid and who might offer it. 

The United States presented an offer this week of energy and a
security guarantee in exchange for scrapping the program. Japan
and South Korea have offered to provide fuel oil, but Washington
would not give aid under its proposal. 

The North's own proposal reportedly would freeze its main
nuclear facility at Yongbyon in exchange for aid, removal from
Washington's list of state sponsors of terrorism and an end to
U.S. economic sanctions. 

North Korea said late Friday its offer covered all of its
nuclear weapons programs and included a pledge not to make or
test weapons during its freeze or transfer them to others. 

That might have been a response to Washington's insistence that
any settlement cover what U.S. officials say is a secret
uranium-based program operated by Pyongyang in addition to its
acknowledged program based on plutonium. 

The North's statement, read by an official outside its embassy
in Beijing, insisted some energy aid had to come from
Washington, suggesting other conditions might be postponed if
that took place. 

"If the United States ... substantially participates in energy
assistance, we clearly stated that we are willing to show
flexibility concerning our demands on taking us off the list of
terrorism sponsors and economic sanctions and blockade," the
statement said. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue would not give
a reason for calling off Saturday's closing ceremony, but said
it did not reflect on the progress of talks. Earlier rounds have
ended with closing ceremonies shown on Chinese television. 

China believes the talks have shown the will of all six
countries to solve the issue through dialogue, Zhang said. 

"It has become the consensus of the various parties that as the
first step of denuclearization, there should be an early kickoff
of a nuclear freeze with corresponding measures," she said,
using a term employed by diplomats for aid to the North. 

"Of course there are differences on how to implement a nuclear
freeze. It's a positive sign that the various sides want to
study the various proposals." 

In Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday that
Russia believes North Korea "has the right to use nuclear energy
for peaceful purposes," so long as it cooperates with the
International Atomic Energy Agency and rejoins the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty, the news agency Itar-Tass reported. 

North Korea withdrew from the treaty in January 2003. 

-- 



*****************************************************************
 4 BBC: N Korea 'threatens nuclear test' 
 
  Last Updated: Friday, 25 June, 2004
 
[North Korean spent nuclear fuel rods in Yongbyon

(archive picture)]                              

Washington wants the North's nuclear facilities dismantled                                                           

North Korea has warned it could carry out a nuclear test if 
demands for aid are not met, US officials said. 

The threat was allegedly made on Thursday on the sidelines of 
six-nation talks between the US, the two Koreas, China, Russia 
and Japan. 

Unnamed US officials said Pyongyang had made similar threats 
before, and that the talks had still been useful. 

A nuclear test by North Korea would add to regional unease and 
pressure its neighbours to join a nuclear arms race. 

The warning about a possible nuclear test came during one-to-one 
talks between James Kelly, the US negotiator, and his North 
Korean counterpart Kim Kye-gwan. 

South Korean officials played down the incident, saying the 
warning had not been a "direct threat". 

BREAKING THE DEADLOCK?                  

US reportedly ready t agree to fuel aid and 'provisional 
guarantee' not to attack Talks on lifting US sanctions also on 
offer     

In return, North must seal nuclear facilities within 3 months    
Fuel aid and talks will continue if North then dismantles 
facilities       

Correspondents said the North Korean delegation may have raised 
the issue to stress the pressures it was under from hard-liners 
in Pyongyang. 

North Korea has reportedly demanded massive energy aid in 
exchange for freezing its main nuclear facility at Yongbyon. 

According to Japan's Kyodo news agency, the impoverished state 
has asked for 2m kilowatts of energy aid, equivalent to that 
which a previous, now defunct agreement with the US would have 
provided. 

The sides are thought to have been discussing a US proposal to 
allow other countries to supply energy aid if North Korea agreed 
to freeze and then dismantle its nuclear facilities. 

The BBC's Charles Scanlon, in Beijing, says that after a year of 
intermittent talks, the US has significantly changed its tactics. 

In the past it said it would not reward North Korea for meeting 
its international obligations. But pressure from the region, 
particularly South Korea and China, has persuaded Washington to 
change its stance. 

US officials earlier told The New York Times that the US' allies 
in the region would send tens of thousands of tonnes of heavy 
fuel oil to the energy-starved state in return for a commitment 
from North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-il, to dismantle his 
plutonium and uranium weapons programmes. 

The North would then have three months to seal its nuclear 
facilities, and the continuation of the oil aid would depend on 
the dismantlement of the nuclear infrastructure, as verified by 
international inspectors, the New York Times report said. 

It was the first detailed proposal from Washington since 
President George W Bush took office. 

Our correspondent says the US offer seems designed to see if 
North Korea is serious about a negotiated solution, and to show 
the region that the US is prepared to be more flexible. 

Japan has backed the US offer, while urging North Korea to make 
clear whether or not it genuinely wants to abandon its nuclear 
programme. 

But Pyongyang has issued no formal response to the proposal. 

It appears to have delayed the start of the third day of talks, 
on Friday, to hold consultations with its closest ally, China. 

However, US officials remained upbeat, saying that despite the 
threat the bulk of the meeting was fruitful. 

"The threat isn't anything new and came in the context of long 
and substantive discussion of our proposal and we left the 
meeting feeling that they would give the plan careful and serious 
consideration," one official told the AFP news agency. 

The talks are due to end on Saturday. 



*****************************************************************
 5 BBC: High stakes at North Korea talks 
 
  Last Updated: Friday, 25 June, 2004
 
By Jonathan Marcus BBC diplomatic correspondent   

North Korea's threat of a possible nuclear test has overshadowed 
the latest round of six-party talks in Beijing. 

[US Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly (left) listens to 
North Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan, at six-way 
talks]                                  

Still talking, but sides remain far apart
			 			   		
The talks are aimed at resolving the problem of North Korea's 
nuclear weapons programme. 

But Pyongyang's rhetoric is not new. 

Behind the scenes there are signs that some modest progress might 
be made and the broad lines of a potential future deal are 
becoming clearer. 

Experts believe that North Korea could have as many as eight 
nuclear weapons and that it retains the capacity to make many 
more. 

Any move by the Pyongyang government to conduct a nuclear test 
would alter the whole Asian security landscape. 

Other countries like Japan, South Korea and even Taiwan might 
look again at their non-nuclear status. 

Tensions in the region would inevitably increase. 

However this sort of rhetoric has been heard from North Korea 
before. 

It may well be intended to concentrate minds at the six-party 
talks, though few of the parties probably need any reminding that 
the stakes are high. 

US under pressure 

The Bush administration has been deeply divided on the stance to 
take towards North Korea with the state department urging 
dialogue and the Pentagon and the vice-president's office urging 
caution if not outright hostility towards Pyongyang. 

Washington has seized upon the six-party formula as a way of 
maintaining dialogue without having to hold face-to-face 
bilateral talks with the North Koreans. 

Nonetheless this latest round of talks is noteworthy for a 
significant re-packaging of the Bush administration's proposals. 

Washington is under huge pressure from Japan and South Korea - 
its main allies in the region - to show greater flexibility. 

The new plan involves immediate rewards for North Korea - heavy 
fuel oil imported from South Korea - if it agrees to dismantle 
its nuclear weapons programme. 

The new plan is presented by US diplomats as a way to test North 
Korea's true intentions. 

Washington's nightmare is not so much a nuclear-armed North Korea 
but the fear that Pyongyang could transfer nuclear technology to 
other countries or even to terrorist groups. 

*****************************************************************
 6 KRT Wire: North Korea calls U.S. proposal `constructive'

| 06/25/2004 | 

BY MICHAEL A. LEV

 Chicago Tribune

BEIJING - (KRT) - North Korea raised the possibility of testing a 
nuclear weapon but also said more clearly than ever that it would 
consider dismantling its nuclear programs, a senior U.S. official 
said Friday as a third round of international talks on the 
North's nuclear ambitions neared an end. 

The mixing of messages - what the official called "some good, 
some bad, some a little ugly" - is a hallmark of North Korea's 
brinkmanship style of negotiation, and it left the American 
delegation with little idea of the North's intentions. 

The U.S. and South Korea, along with Japan, China and Russia, are 
trying to coax North Korea into abandoning its nuclear ambitions. 
If Pyongyang were to test a nuclear device it would confirm that 
the isolated and belligerent regime of Kim Jong Il possesses 
nuclear weapons and it almost certainly would cross a dangerous 
diplomatic line, heightening tension. 

The senior U.S. official, who described the talks to American 
reporters on condition of anonymity, said the head of the North 
Korean delegation told U.S. chief negotiator James Kelly during 
one-on-one talks Thursday that there were some elements of the 
Pyongyang government that want to test a nuclear weapon and might 
do so. The North Korean did not identify the elements, but the 
American delegation assumed it was a reference to hard-liners in 
the military. 

"It was put to us as a statement intended, I guess, to interest 
us," the U.S. official said. "It was not phrased as a threat." 

The U.S. official called the statement "disappointing" but one 
that had to be put in the context of North Korean behavior, and 
thus could be more rhetorical than real. A Pyongyang official 
made a similar comment about testing to Kelly last year during 
another round of talks in Beijing. 

"There is no question they want to offer as little as possible 
for the highest possible price," the official said. "It's not yet 
clear whether the DPRK (North Korea) has made the choice to give 
up their nuclear weapons on a reasonable, serious basis." 

North Korea, one of the world's poorest, most isolated countries, 
is also one of the most militarized. There has often been 
speculation that the North Korean government is divided into 
liberal and conservative factions that have done battle over the 
question of whether to open the economy and negotiate with the 
outside world or keep it at bay to preserve the regime. It is 
also possible that this scenario was being promoted by the 
North's negotiators as another scare tactic. 

The nuclear threat arose in October 2002 when the United States 
confronted Pyongyang with evidence it was secretly enriching 
uranium, in violation of a 1994 freeze agreement. The North, 
surprisingly, acknowledged its activities but worsened tensions 
by expelling inspectors and ramping up its frozen plutonium-based 
program, saying it needed a deterrent threat against U.S. 
hostility. 

The North has put the plutonium program up for negotiation but it 
now denies enriching uranium. The U.S. has never backed away from 
its assertion about uranium, but intelligence analysts are unsure 
of the scope and sophistication of the North's programs. They 
believe the North possesses one or two nuclear bombs and may be 
close to producing several more. 

The progress of six-nation talks has been extremely slow, and at 
times they have appeared close to foundering. But this week's 
round of negotiations led the Bush administration to make its 
first detailed proposal of a solution to the North Koreans, while 
the North Koreans pushed their own offer. 

The U.S. deal is a step-by-step plan to provide a security 
guarantee and international aid to the North in exchange for a 
commitment to dismantle. The North would have three months to 
prove its intentions, while receiving a promise from the U.S. not 
to attack any oil shipments from South Korea and Japan. During 
the second phase the North would proceed with complete, 
verifiable disarmament. 

North Korea did not react to this offer but did not reject it out 
of hand. U.S. officials said the Pyongyang delegation even seemed 
"very pleased" that the offer was structured in a way that did 
not demand that North Korea do everything first before receiving 
any benefits. 

But it took some explaining for them to understand the concept of 
a "word-for-word, action-for-action" deal, the American said, as 
if it were hard for them to believe the U.S. might be willing to 
allow them to receive any aid before a complete dismantlement. 

The North offered one more positive sign, the American delegation 
said. In its own proposal, which has focused on freezing its 
nuclear activities, the North Korean delegation this time made 
clear that a freeze would be the first step toward dismantlement. 

"It's been acknowledged more forthrightly this time than ever 
before," the official said. 

A spokeswoman for the Chinese government, which is organizing the 
talks and wants to put them in the best possible light, focused 
Friday on the fact that both the U.S. and North Korea are 
talking, at least generally, about a freeze that leads to 
dismantlement. 

However, there are still far more disagreement than agreements, 
and so the two sides are still far from a breakthrough. North 
Korea must acknowledge its uranium program and make clear that 
its freeze and dismantlement includes all its nuclear activities, 
including any bombs it possesses. A timetable also must be an 
agreed upon. 

The deal has to include North Korea's nuclear energy program, but 
the North acknowledged that it has very little activity in this 
area. Its focus is on producing bombs. 

--- 

© 2004, Chicago Tribune. 

Visit the Chicago Tribune on the Internet at 
http://www.chicagotribune.com [http://www.chicagotribune.com] 

*****************************************************************
 7 Xinhuanet: US, DPRK show flexibility, nuke talks see progress   

  www.xinhuanet.com

  www.chinaview.cn 2004-06-26 03:19:08   

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhuanet) -- The six-party talks has 
witnessed progress after three days of consultation with the 
positive comments from the United States and the Democratic 
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on each other's plan for 
solving the nuclear issue. 

    Heads of delegations to the six-party talks on Korean 
peninsular nuclear issue said here Friday that the talks have 
gained positive momentum and they are ready for further rounds of 
talks in the future. 

    DPRK spokesman Hyun Hak-bong said that The DPRK maintains 
that nuclear freezing means no more production, transfer or test 
of thenuclear weapons, and the targets of the nuclear freezing 
includes all equipment related to nuclear weapons and all 
materials distilled after processing. 

    The DPRK will not only freeze, but also dismantle these 
nuclear equipment under mature condition, he said, noting that 
the DPRK needs a great political courage to put forward such a 
nuclear freezing proposal. 

    The DPRK will show flexibility over the issues such as the 
requirements to remove the DPRK from the list of supporting 
terrorism countries and to eliminate sanctions and blockage 
towards the DPRK if the United States and other countries 
practically participate in providing energy aid to the DPRK, Hyun 
said. 

    The US delegation said the US side expects further talks 
although "no breakthrough" has been achieved in this round. A 
senior official with the US delegation said some follow-up work 
has been discussed on Friday in bilateral and multilateral 
meetings, concerning the next round of talks and the 
responsibility of the working groups. 

    "We might have one back quite soon to have our working group 
working," said the official. 

    The US and DPRK sides has reacted positively to each other's 
proposals. DPRK described the US plan as "constructive" while the 
US side said the DPRK proposal is "more specific" than the one 
raised in the previous round of the talks. 

    The DPRK delegation has made it clear in its proposal to 
freeze its nuclear program for compensation, and they also has 
made it clear that this is the first step on the path to nuclear 
dismantlement, said the US official, adding "that's very positive 
indeed". 

    In the first day of this round of six-party talks, the US 
delegation offered a seven-page proposal, which includes a 
three-month preparatory period for the DPRK to dismantle its 
nuclear programs, during which the DPRK would freeze work on its 
nuclear programs, submit a list of all nuclear activities. 

    The US proposal also promised conditional energy aid and 
security guarantee to the DPRK if its nuclear programs are 
dismantled. 

    Sources said that in the closed-door consultations held 
Friday among delegation heads, political consensus was achieved 
to welcome the starting of nuclear freezing, as the first step of 
nuclear dismantlement, as soon as possible while relevant 
measuresare adopted as well. 

    The delegations have expressed readiness to continue work 
underthe current six-party-talk framework for the final solution 
to theproblem. 

    The talks, involving China, the DPRK, the United States, the 
ROK, Russia and Japan, will be closed as scheduled on Saturday. 
Chinese delegation member Zhang Qiyue said there would be no 
closing ceremony since "the talks have become mechanized", and 
"there is no need to have opening and closing ceremonies for 
every round of the talks". But she noted that the consensus 
reached in this round of talks should be recorded in written 
form. 

    "The chance for peace has appeared, and it is most important 
for all parties to fully demonstrate their political will with a 
flexible and pragmatic attitude," said Chinese delegation head 
Wang Yi. 

    "Then we would overcome the difficulties and blaze a trail 
for solution to the nuclear issue," he said. Enditem   

  Copyright ©2003 Xinhua News Agency. All rights reserved.
*****************************************************************
 8 Mos News: Moscow Advocates N Korea’s Right to Nuclear Research - 

MOSNEWS.COM
 
Created: 25.06.2004 15:26 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 16:51 MSK 

MosNews
 
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that North Korea 
has a right to develop its own nuclear program, provided it joins 
the international organizations and observes all corresponding 
rules, Russian media reported on Friday. 

The DPRK has a right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes 
providing it rejoins the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) 
and resumes cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic 
Energy Agency), the minister said at a Friday briefing on the 
results of the talks with his Argentinean counterpart, Rafael 
Bielsa, in Moscow.

“As before, we see the final solution of the North Korean problem 
in the nuclear-free status of the Korean peninsula, in providing 
security guarantees to North Korea and assisting its economic 
development. We believe North Korea has a right to the peaceful 
use of nuclear energy as long as it rejoins the NPT and resumes 
cooperation with IAEA,” Lavrov said, commenting on the third 
round of the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear problem 
currently under way in Beijing.

According to Lavrov, “the results of the third round of the 
six-party talks confirm that this format is needed for reaching a 
comprehensive settlement of the Korean problem.” “Patient work 
should continue in this format and it can produce results,” added 
the foreign minister. SEE ALSO
 
Copyright © 2004 MOSNEWS.COM
*****************************************************************
 9 NCT: House blocks Democrats from seeking larger refunds for power
price gouging 

North County Times - North San Diego and Southwest Riverside 
County News
 
[http://www.nctimes.com

 News Last modified Friday, June 25, 2004 1:38 PM PDT 

By: ALAN FRAM - Associated Press Writer 

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House rebuffed a Democratic effort Friday 
to force regulators to order bigger refunds for electricity 
consumers in Western states who were victims of price gouging 
during the energy crisis of 2000 and 2001.

The move came shortly before the House approved a $28 billion 
measure financing energy and water programs for next year by a 
370-16 vote. The overall bill provides far less than President 
Bush proposed for building a nuclear waste storage facility in 
Nevada, none of what he wants to develop new nuclear weapons, and 
more than he sought for local water projects popular with 
lawmakers. 

Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., offered her election-year proposal to 
bolster federal energy regulators after recently released 
transcripts showed Enron Corp. traders crowing about manipulating 
power prices in California and elsewhere. 

"This is an issue about greed, greed gone insatiably wild," she 
said, telling Republicans, "You have not used your power to bring 
restitution" to consumers.

But in a procedural move, the GOP-led House voted 209-182 against 
allowing a vote on her amendment. Republicans said her proposal 
was a political one that would do nothing to resolve problems 
like shortages in power supplies that have built up for years.

"You can't come down here and beat your chest in 2004 because 
it's a presidential election year and try to rewrite history" by 
blaming Republicans, said Rep. Doug Ose, R-Calif.

Eshoo's proposal would have required the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission to order consumer refunds for the high 
power prices charged during the 2000 and 2001 energy crisis. It 
would have also forced the commission to open new investigations 
to pursue refunds and order reimbursements for any future 
manipulation.

By voice vote, the House approved one portion of Eshoo's plan -- 
requiring the commission to release documents relating to the 
2000 and 2001 power crisis.

The overall bill provides $131 million for continued preparations 
for a nuclear waste storage site to be built at Yucca Mountain in 
Nevada, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Bush proposed $880 million for the project, which the government 
hopes to complete by 2010. But the bill ignores Bush's request to 
finance $749 million of the sum by taking it from a special 
nuclear waste fund, which comes from fees electric utilities 
charge their customers.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation on 
Thursday requiring that at least $750 million be taken annually 
from that fund for work on the Yucca facility. That bill's 
prospects are uncertain, especially in the Senate, where Sen. 
Harry Reid, D-Nev., the chamber's No. 2 Democratic leader, 
opposes the Yucca plan.

The House-passed bill has $4.8 billion -- $700 million more than 
Bush -- for the Army Corps of Engineers and its dam, port, flood 
control and other water projects. While the bill finances no new 
studies or construction projects, it has money for hundreds of 
others from coast to coast -- and a noteworthy rebuke of the Bush 
administration by the GOP-controlled committee.

A report accompanying the bill says there is "an unwritten 
commitment on the part of Congress and the executive branch to 
meet the water resources needs of its citizens." Bush's request 
for water projects "demonstrates a surprising willingness ... to 
break such commitments," it says.

The bill has about the $9 billion Bush requested for the nation's 
nuclear weapons program.

But it lacks the $97 million he sought for several nuclear 
weapons initiatives. These include developing a "bunker buster" 
nuclear warhead that could penetrate underground targets, a 
low-yield small nuclear warhead, and a new plant for making 
plutonium triggers for the warheads -- and for accelerating 
nuclear bomb testing.

The measure also has less than Bush wanted for fuel cell 
technology, storage of high level nuclear waste, and efforts to 
help Russia secure its plutonium. 

NCTimes.com
*****************************************************************
 10 Washington Times: In support of executive privilege
 
Editorials/OP-ED - June 25, 2004

President Dick Cheney does not have to disclose records of the 
energy task force he led in 2001. While the decision does not end 
the matter entirely, it is an important clarification of 
executive power and reins in what had threatened to become an 
endless distraction to the executive branch. 
 
The complaints, brought by Judicial Watch and the Sierra Club, 
alleged that the confidential meetings of the vice president's 
energy task force violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act. 
They demanded that the deliberations of the task force be opened 
during the discovery process. The administration asserted that 
such deliberations were subject to executive privilege and that 
there was an important separation of powers question, since the 
discovery process interfered with the executive's ability to 
fulfill its duties of developing policy. 
 
 
While the Supreme Court sent the question of discovery back to 
the lower court for further analysis, it largely sided with the 
vice president. It decided that the document-release order had 
been written too broadly and that deference had to be shown to 
the Executive Branch. Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony 
Kennedy declared, "A president's communications and activities 
encompass a vastly wider range of sensitive material than would 
be true of any ordinary individual." 
 
It must not be forgotten that at the time the energy report was 
composed, the nation faced an energy crisis. To resolve it, Mr. 
Cheney had to have the candid opinions of energy experts, which 
could only be given in confidence. The vice president's 
determination  that America needs more energy  has only gained 
urgency since his report was issued. 
 
The political implications of the Supreme Court decision cannot 
be overlooked, although the vote of Justice Antonin Scalia would 
not have affected the outcome. Justice Scalia and Mr. Cheney have 
become favored targets for the outrageous arrows of the left. 
Partisans planned to leave no stone unturned in their search for 
alleged corruption. Even Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David 
Souter acknowledged in their dissent, "The discovery plan drawn 
by Judicial Watch and Sierra Club was indeed 'unbounded in 
scope.' " 
 
Fulfilling the demands of those unbounded discoveries would have 
been difficult for the Executive Branch  particularly given the 
demands of September 11. "This is not a routine discovery 
dispute," the court said, adding that the filters for frivolous 
discovery orders and civil lawsuits against the Executive Branch 
are insufficient. 
 
High-ranking members of the Executive Branch should have a 
reasonable expectation that they will be shielded from those 
lawsuits while fulfilling their official duties. As Justice 
Kennedy wrote, there is a "paramount necessity of protecting the 
executive branch from vexatious litigation that might distract it 
from the energetic performance of its constitutional duties." 
 
The court's decision yesterday sets an important precedent, 
providing protection to the Executive Branch and those who advise 
it. It will not stop partisans from filing lawsuits, but it 
should give executive officials greater confidence that such 
frivolous suits will be thrown out of court. 
 

 
*****************************************************************
 11 Capital Times: Opinion: Editorial: Cheney's high court 

Friday, June 25, 2004  7:52 PM                
             
captimes.com            

Unfortunately, the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to permit 
Vice President Dick Cheney to keep secret the records of his 
energy task force meetings came as no great surprise.

The willingness of the court to allow Justice Antonin Scalia to 
take part in the deliberations - despite the fact that Scalia has 
a 30-year friendship with Cheney and recently accompanied him on 
a duck hunting trip - gave a pretty good indication that this 
court would rather serve the private interests Cheney seeks to 
protect than the public interest.

While there are still legal issues to be resolved regarding 
Cheney's secrecy, the court's decision is disappointing.

The 7-2 ruling allows Cheney to continue to refuse to release 
notes, memos and other documents of his behind-closed-doors 
meetings with energy industry insiders, such as Enron CEO Ken 
Lay. It also makes it harder for congressional and media 
investigators to piece together the full story of how Cheney and 
his aides manipulated the energy task force's recommendations to 
serve the interests of Enron and other big energy firms.

Luckily, enough information has come out to reveal, as Rep. Henry 
Waxman, D-Calif., and others have noted, that the majority of 
Lay's suggestions were incorporated into Cheney's final report, 
and into the legislative agenda that resulted from it.

Of course, it would be good to know all the details of the vice 
president's backroom dealings, as well as those of other 
administration aides associated with the energy task force. But 
sufficient information is available to conclude that the process 
was corrupted by the coziness of Cheney, the former CEO of 
Halliburton, with Lay and other energy industry insiders. That 
ought to shame Congress into rejecting the energy agenda, and 
into continuing efforts to expose any and all wrongdoing related 
to the task force.

As for the court, it has again proven itself to be the tragic 
branch of the federal government. Established by the founders to 
keep watch on the executive and legislative branches, it has in 
recent years appeared to be little more than a rubber stamp for 
the executive branch when it comes to issues of secrecy and 
oversight. And, as the Scalia scandal indicates, it is, as well, 
far too friendly with the Bush administration.

But why should anyone be surprised by that? After all, this is 
the court that, with the shameful decision to shut down the 
Florida election recount of December 2000, cleared the way for 
this president and vice president to take office.

Published: 6:27 AM 6/25/04   		
   
Technical questions and comments may be directed to The Capital
Times . Please state your concern in the subject line. 
Copyright 2003 The Capital Times
*****************************************************************
 12 BulletinWire News: United States: Bailing out of peacekeeping?                                             
                   
The State Departments decision on June 23 not to continue 
pursuing an exemption from criminal prosecution for U.S. troops 
stationed abroad might affect the future of U.S. participation in 
peacekeeping operations.
 						
Without the exemption, which the U.N. Security Council opposed, 
under certain circumstances U.S. troops could face prosecution in 
the International Criminal Court, which was established by a 
treaty that the United States has not ratified. The United States 
has obtained an exemption in each of the past two years. In 
response to questions from reporters on June 23, Richard Boucher, 
a State Department spokesperson, said that Americans who 
participate in U.N. peacekeeping missions needed to be protected 
from misguided prosecution because of actions they might 
undertake while participating in those operations.
 						
Asked whether the absence of the exemption would affect U.S. 
participation in current or future peacekeeping operations, 
Boucher responded: We will have to examine each of these missions 
case by case. . . . [We] will have to look at it in terms of 
staffing and . . . what the risk might be of prosecution by a 
court to which were not party. In response to a later question 
about previous reports that the United States was planning to 
abandon certain peacekeeping efforts, he continued, Im not even 
sure that decision has been made, whether well have to pull them 
all or do it selectively. But were going to have to look at the 
consequences of not having this resolution.
 						
*****************************************************************
 13 TomPaine.com - The Perils Of The Presidency
 		
Al Gore
 												
June 24, 2004
 					
The former member of the executive branch delivers a timely
history lesson on the rationale for limited executive power.

Gore says what too few Democrats have been willing to say since
9/11that what Americans should be most fearful of is not Al
Qaeda, but how the government exploits our fear of terrorism to
expand its powers. Our nation will always face dangers, but to
weaken our democratic system in the name of security will be our
undoing. 

The following is a speech delivered by Vice President Al Gore on
Thursday, June 24, 2004, at the Georgetown University Law
Center. 

When we Americans first began, our biggest danger was clearly in
view: we knew from the bitter experience with King George III
that the most serious threat to democracy is usually the
accumulation of too much power in the hands of an executive,
whether he be a king or a president. Our ingrained American
distrust of concentrated power has very little to do with the
character or persona of the individual who wields that power. It
is the power itself that must be constrained, checked, dispersed
and carefully balanced, in order to ensure the survival of
freedom. In addition, our founders taught us that public fear is
the most dangerous enemy of democracy because under the right
circumstances it can trigger the temptation of those who govern
themselves to surrender that power to someone who promises
strength and offers safety, security and freedom from fear. 

It is an extraordinary blessing to live in a nation so carefully
designed to protect individual liberty and safeguard
self-governance and free communication. But if George Washington
could see the current state of his generations handiwork and
assess the quality of our generations stewardship at the
beginning of this 21st century, what do you suppose he would
think about the proposition that our current president claims
the unilateral right to arrest and imprison American citizens
indefinitely without giving them the right to see a lawyer or
inform their families of their whereabouts, and without the
necessity of even charging them with any crime. All that is
necessary, according to our new president is that hethe
presidentlabel any citizen an unlawful enemy combatant, and
that will be sufficient to justify taking away that citizens
libertyeven for the rest of his life, if the president so
chooses. And there is no appeal. 

What would Thomas Jefferson think of the curious and discredited
argument from our Justice Department that the president may
authorize what plainly amounts to the torture of prisonersand
that any law or treaty that attempts to constrain his treatment
of prisoners in time of war is itself a violation of the
constitution our founders put together. 

What would Benjamin Franklin think of President Bushs assertion
that he has the inherent powereven without a declaration of war
by the Congressto launch an invasion of any nation on Earth, at
any time he chooses, for any reason he wishes, even if that
nation poses no imminent threat to the United States. 

How long would it take James Madison to dispose of our current
presidents recent claim, in Department of Justice legal
opinions, that he is no longer subject to the rule of law so
long as he is acting in his role as Commander in Chief? 

I think it is safe to say that our founders would be genuinely
concerned about these recent developments in American democracy
and that they would feel that we are now facing a clear and
present danger that has the potential to threaten the future of
the American experiment. 

Shouldnt we be equally concerned? And shouldnt we ask
ourselves how we have come to this point? 

Even though we are now attuned to orange alerts and the
potential for terrorist attacks, our founders would almost
certainly caution us that the biggest threat to the future of
the America we love is still the endemic challenge that
democracies have always faced whenever they have appeared in
historya challenge rooted in the inherent difficulty of self
governance and the vulnerability to fear that is part of human
nature. Again, specifically, the biggest threat to America is
that we Americans will acquiesce in the slow and steady
accumulation of too much power in the hands of one person. 

Having painstakingly created the intricate design of America,
our founders knew intimately both its strengths and weaknesses,
and during their debates they not only identified the
accumulation of power in the hands of the executive as the
long-term threat which they considered to be the most serious,
but they also worried aloud about one specific scenario in which
this threat might become particularly potentthat is, when war
transformed Americas president into our commander in chief,
they worried that his suddenly increased power might somehow
spill over its normal constitutional boundaries and upset the
delicate checks and balances they deemed so crucial to the
maintenance of liberty. 

That is precisely why they took extra care to parse the war
powers in the constitution, assigning the conduct of war and
command of the troops to the president, but retaining for the
Congress the crucial power of deciding whether or not, and when,
our nation might decide to go war.  

Indeed, this limitation on the power of the executive to make
war was seen as crucially important. James Madison wrote in a
letter to Thomas Jefferson: The constitution supposes, what the
history of all governments demonstrates, that the Executive is
the branch of power most interested in war, and most prone to
it. It has accordingly with studied care, vested the question of
war in the legislature. 

In more recent decades, the emergence of new weapons that
virtually eliminate the period of time between the decision to
go to war and the waging of war have naturally led to a
reconsideration of the exact nature of the executives
war-making power. But the practicalities of modern warfare which
necessarily increase the war powers of the president at the
expense of Congress do not render moot the concerns our founders
had so long ago that the making of war by the presidentwhen
added to his other powerscarries with it the potential for
unbalancing the careful design of our constitution, and in the
process, threatening our liberty. 

They were greatly influencedfar more than we can imagineby a
careful reading of the history and human dramas surrounding the
democracies of ancient Greece and the Roman republic. They knew,
for example, that democracy disappeared in Rome when Caesar
crossed the Rubicon in violation of the Senates long
prohibition against a returning general entering the city while
still in command of military forces. Though the Senate lingered
in form and was humored for decades, when Caesar impoliticly
combined his military commander role with his chief executive
role, the Senateand with it the Republicwithered away. And
then, for all intents and purposes, the great dream of democracy
disappeared from the face of the Earth for 17 centuries, until
its rebirth in our land. 

Symbolically, President Bush has been attempting to conflate his
commander-in-chief role and his head of government role to
maximize the power people are eager to give those who promise to
defend them against active threats. But as he does so, we are
witnessing some serious erosion of the checks and balances that
have always maintained a healthy democracy in America. 

In Justice Jacksons famous concurring opinion in the Youngstown
Steel case in the 1950sthe single most important Supreme Court
case on the subject of what powers are inherent to the commander
in chief in a time of warhe wrote, The example of such
unlimited executive power that must have most impressed the
forefathers was the prerogative exercised by George III, and the
description of its evils in the declaration of independence
leads me to doubt that they created their new Executive in their
image&and if we seek instruction from our own times, we can
match it only from the Executive governments we disparagingly
describe as totalitarian. 

I am convinced that our founders would counsel us today that the
greatest challenge facing our republic is not terrorism but how
we react to terrorism, and not war, but how we manage our fears
and achieve security without losing our freedom. I am also
convinced that they would warn us that democracy itself is in
grave danger if we allow any president to use his role as
commander in chief to rupture the careful balance between the
executive, the legislative and the judicial branches of
government. Our current president has gone to war and has come
back into the city and declared that our nation is now in a
permanent state of war, which he says justifies his
reinterpretation of the Constitution in ways that increase his
personal power at the expense of Congress, the courts and every
individual citizen. 

We must surrender some of our traditional American freedoms, he
tells us, so that he may have sufficient power to protect us
against those who would do us harm. Public fear remains at an
unusually high level almost three years after we were attacked
on September 11, 2001. In response to those devastating attacks,
the president properly assumed his role as commander in chief
and directed a military invasion of the land in which our
attackers built their training camps, were harbored and planned
their assault. But just as the tide of battle was shifting
decisively in our favor, the commander in chief made a
controversial decision to divert a major portion of our army to
invade another country that, according to the best evidence
compiled in a new, exhaustive, bipartisan study, posed no
imminent threat to us and had nothing to do with the attack
against us. 

As the main body of our troops were redeployed for the new
invasion, those who organized the attacks against us escaped and
many of them are still at large. Indeed, their overall numbers
seem to have grown considerably because our invasion of the
country that did not pose any imminent threat to us was
perceived in their part of the world as a gross injustice, and
the way in which we have conducted that war further fueled a
sense of rage against the United States in those lands and,
according to several studies, has stimulated a wave of new
recruits for the terrorist group that attacked us and still
wishes us harm. 

A little over a year ago, when we launched the war against this
second country, Iraq, President Bush repeatedly gave our people
the clear impression that Iraq was an ally and partner to the
terrorist group that attacked us, Al Qaeda, and not only
provided a geographic base for them but was also close to
providing them weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear
bombs. But now the extensive independent investigation by the
bipartisan commission formed to study the 9/11 attacks has just
reported that there was no meaningful relationship between Iraq
and al Qaeda of any kind. And, of course, over the course of
this past year we had previously found out that there were no
weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. So now, the president and
the vice president are arguing with this commission, and they
are insisting that the commission is wrong and they are right,
and that there actually was a working co-operation between Iraq
and Al Qaeda. 

The problem for the president is that he doesnt have any
credible evidence to support his claim, and yet, in spite of
that, he persists in making that claim vigorously. So I would
like to pause for a moment to address the curious question of
why President Bush continues to make this claim that most people
know is wrong. And I think its particularly important because
it is closely connected to the questions of constitutional power
with which I began this speech, and will profoundly affect how
that power is distributed among our three branches of
government. 

To begin with, our founders wouldnt be the least bit surprised
at what the modern public opinion polls all tell us about why
its so important particularly for President Bush to keep the
American people from discovering that what he told them about
the linkage between Iraq and Al Qaeda isnt true. Among these
Americans who still believe there is a linkage, there remains
very strong support for the presidents decision to invade Iraq.
But among those who accept the commissions detailed finding
that there is no connection, support for the war in Iraq dries
up pretty quickly. 

And thats understandable, because if Iraq had nothing to do
with the attack or the organization that attacked us, then that
means the president took us to war when he didnt have to.
Almost 900 of our soldiers have been killed, and almost 5,000
have been wounded. 

Thus, for all these reasons, President Bush and Vice President
Cheney have decided to fight to the rhetorical death over
whether or not theres a meaningful connection between Iraq and
Al Qaeda. They think that if they lose that argument and people
see the truth, then theyll not only lose support for the
controversial decision to go to war, but also lose some of the
new power theyve picked up from the Congress and the courts,
and face harsh political consequences at the hands of the
American people. As a result, President Bush is now
intentionally misleading the American people by continuing to
aggressively and brazenly assert a linkage between Al Qaeda and
Saddam Hussein. 

If he is not lying, if they genuinely believe that, that makes
them unfit in battle with Al Qaeda. If they believe these flimsy
scraps, then who would want them in charge? Are they too
dishonest or too gullible? Take your pick. 

But the truth is gradually emerging in spite of the presidents
determined dissembling. Listen, for example, to this editorial
from the Financial Times : There was nothing intrinsically
absurd about the WMD fears, or ignoble about the opposition to
Saddams tyrannyhowever late Washington developed this. The
purported link between Baghdad and Al Qaeda, by contrast, was
never believed by anyone who knows Iraq and the region. It was
and is nonsense. 

Of course, the first rationale presented for the war was to
destroy Iraqs weapons of mass destruction, which turned out not
to exist. Then the rationale was to liberate Iraqis and the
Middle East from tyranny, but our troops were not greeted with
the promised flowers and are now viewed as an occupying force by
92 percent of Iraqis, while only 2 percent see them as
liberators.  

But right from the start, beginning very soon after the attacks
of 9/11, President Bush made a decision to start mentioning
Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein in the same breath in a
cynical mantra designed to fuse them together as one in the
publics mind. He repeatedly used this device in a highly
disciplined manner to create a false impression in the minds of
the American people that Saddam Hussein was responsible for
9/11. Usually he was pretty tricky in his exact wording. Indeed,
Bushs consistent and careful artifice is itself evidence that
he knew full well that he was telling an artful and important
lievisibly circumnavigating the truth over and over again as if
he had practiced how to avoid encountering the truth. But as I
will document in a few moments, he and Vice President Cheney
also sometimes departed from their tricky wording and resorted
to statements were clearly outright falsehoods. In any case, by
the time he was done, public opinion polls showed that fully 70
percent of the American people had gotten the message he wanted
them to get, and had been convinced that Saddam Hussein was
responsible for the 9/11 attacks. 

The myth that Iraq and Al Qaeda were working together was no
accidentthe president and vice president deliberately ignored
warnings before the war from international intelligence
services, the CIA, and their own Pentagon that the claim was
false. Europes top terrorism investigator said in 2002, "We
have found no evidence of links between Iraq and Al Qaeda. If
there were such links, we would have found them. But we have
found no serious connections whatsoever. A classified October
2002 CIA report given to the White House directly undercut the
Iraq-Al Qaeda claim. Top officials in the Pentagon told
reporters in 2002 that the rhetoric being used by President Bush
and Vice President Cheney was an exaggeration. 

And at least some honest voices within the presidents own party
admitted as such. Sen. Chuck Hagel, a decorated war hero who
sits on the Foreign Relations Committee, said point blank,
"Saddam is not in league with Al Qaeda&I have not seen any
intelligence that would lead me to connect Saddam Hussein with
Al Qaeda." 

But those voices did not stop the deliberate campaign to mislead
America. Over the course of a year, the president and vice
president used carefully crafted language to scare Americans
into believing there was an imminent threat from an Iraq-armed
Al Qaeda. 

In the fall of 2002, the president told the country You can't
distinguish between Al Qaeda and Saddam and that the true
threat facing our country is an Al Qaeda-type network trained
and armed by Saddam. At the same time, Vice President Cheney
was repeating his claim that there is overwhelming evidence
there was a connection between Al Qaeda and the Iraqi
government. 

By the spring, Secretary of State Powell was in front of the
United Nations claiming a sinister nexus between Iraq and the
Al Qaeda terrorist network. 

But after the invasion, no ties were found. In June of 2003, the
United Nations Security Councils Al Qaeda monitoring agency
told reporters his extensive investigation had found no evidence
linking the Iraqi regime to Al Qaeda. By August, three former
Bush administration national security and intelligence officials
admitted that the evidence used to make the Iraq-Al Qaeda claim
was tenuous, exaggerated and often at odds with the conclusion
of key intelligence agencies. And earlier this year,
Knight-Ridder newspapers reported Senior U.S. officials now say
there never was any evidence of a connection. 

So when the bipartisan 9/11 commission issued its report finding
no credible evidence of an Iraq-Al Qaeda connection, it should
not have caught the White House off guard. Yet instead of the
candor Americans need and deserve from their leaders, there have
been more denials and more insistence without evidence. Vice
President Cheney insisted even this week that there clearly was
a relationship and that there is overwhelming evidence. Even
more shocking, Cheney offered this disgraceful question: Was
Iraq involved with Al Qaeda in the attack on 9/11? We dont
know. He then claimed that he probably had more information
than the commission, but has so far refused to provide anything
to the commission other than more insults. 

The president was even more brazen. He dismissed all questions
about his statements by saying The reason I keep insisting that
there was a relationship between Iraq and Saddam and Al Qaeda,
because there was a relationship between Iraq and Al Qaeda. He
provided no evidence. 

Friends of the administration tried mightily to rehabilitate
their cherished but shattered linkage. John Lehman, one of the
Republicans on the commission, offered what sounded like new
evidence that a Saddam henchman had attended an Al Qaeda
meeting. But within hours, the commissions files yielded
definitive evidence that it was another man with a similar
nameironically capturing the near-miss quality of Bushs entire
symbolic argument. 

They have such an overwhelming political interest in sustaining
the belief in the minds of the American people that Hussein was
in partnership with bin Laden that they dare not admit the truth
lest they look like complete fools for launching our country
into a reckless, discretionary war against a nation that posed
no immediate threat to us whatsoever. But the damage they have
done to our country is not limited to misallocation of military
economic political resources. Whenever a chief executive spends
prodigious amounts of energy convincing people of lies, he
damages the fabric of democracy, and the belief in the
fundamental integrity of our self-government. 

That creates a need for control over the flood of bad news, bad
policies and bad decisions also explains their striking attempts
to control news coverage. 

To take the most recent example, Vice President Cheney was
clearly ready to do battle with the news media when he went on
CNBC earlier this week to attack news coverage of the 9/11
Commissions conclusion that Iraq did not work with Al Qaeda. He
lashed out at the New York Times for having the nerve to print a
headline saying the 9/11 commission finds no Qaeda-Iraq Tiea
clear statement of the obviousand said there is no fundamental
split here now between what the president said and what the
commission said. He tried to deny that he had personally been
responsible for helping to create the false impression of
linkage between Al Qaeda and Iraq. 

Ironically, his interview ended up being fodder for the Daily
Show with Jon Stewart. Stewart played Cheneys outright denial
that he had ever said that representatives of Al Qaeda and Iraqi
intelligence met in Prague. Then Stewart froze Cheneys image
and played the exact video clip in which Cheney had indeed
directly claimed linkage between the two, catching him on
videotape in a lie. At that point Stewart said, addressing
himself to Cheneys frozen image on the television screen, Its
my duty to inform you that your pants are on fire. 

Dan Rather says that post-9/11 patriotism has stifled
journalists from asking government officials the toughest of
the tough questions. Rather went so far as to compare
administration efforts to intimidate the press to necklacing
in apartheid South Africa, while acknowledging it as an obscene
comparison. The fear is that you will be necklaced here (in
the U.S.), you will have a flaming tire of lack of patriotism 
put around your neck, Rather explained. It was CBS, remember,
that withheld the Abu Ghraib photographs from the American
people for two weeks at the request of the Bush administration. 

Donald Rumsfeld has said that criticism of the administrations
policy makes it complicated and more difficult to fight the
war.  CNNs Christiane Amanpour said on CNBC last September, I
think the press was muzzled and I think the press self-muzzled.
Im sorry to say but certainly television, and perhaps to a
certain extent my station, was intimidated by the
administration. 

The administration works closely with a network of rapid
response digital Brown Shirts who work to pressure reporters
and their editors for undermining support for our troops. Paul
Krugman, the New York Times columnist, was one of the first
journalists to regularly expose the presidents consistent
distortions of the facts.  Krugman writes, Lets not overlook
the role of intimidation. After 9/11, if you were thinking of
saying anything negative of the president&you had to expect
right-wing pundits and publications to do all they could to ruin
your reputation. 

Bush and Cheney are spreading purposeful confusion while
punishing reporters who stand in the way. It is understandably
difficult for reporters and journalistic institutions to resist
this pressure, which, in the case of individual journalists,
threatens their livelihoods, and in the case of the broadcasters
can lead to other forms of economic retribution. But resist they
must, because without a press able to report without fear or
favor our democracy will disappear. 

Recently, the media has engaged in some healthy self-criticism
of the way it allowed the White House to mislead the public into
war under false pretenses. We are dependent on the media, 
especially the broadcast media, to never let this happen again.  
We must help them resist this pressure for everyones sake, or we 
risk other wrong-headed decisions based upon false and misleading 
impressions. 

We are left with an unprecedented, high-intensity conflict every 
single day between the ideological illusions upon which this 
administrations policies have been based and the reality of the 
world in which the American people live their lives. 

When you boil it all down to precisely what went wrong with the 
Bush Iraq policy, it is actually fairly simple: he adopted an 
ideologically driven view of Iraq that was tragically at odds 
with reality. Everything that has gone wrong is in one way or 
another the result of a spectacular and violent clash between the 
bundle of misconceptions that he gullibly consumed and the 
all-too-painful reality that our troops and contractors and 
diplomats and taxpayers have encountered. Of course, there have 
been several other collisions between President Bushs ideology 
and Americas reality. To take the most prominent example, the 
transformation of a $5 trillion surplus into a $4 trillion 
deficit is in its own way just as spectacular a miscalculation as 
the Iraq war. 

But there has been no more bizarre or troubling manifestation of 
how seriously off track this presidents policies have taken 
America than the two profound shocks to our nations conscience 
during the last month. First came the extremely disturbing 
pictures that document strange forms of physical and sexual 
abuseand even torture and murderby some of our soldiers against 
people they captured as prisoners in Iraq. And then, the second 
shock came just last week, with strange and perverted legal 
memoranda from inside the administration, which actually sought 
to justify torture and to somehow provide a legal rationale for 
bizarre and sadistic activities conducted in the name of the 
American people, which, according to any reasonable person, would 
be recognized as war crimes. In making their analysis, the 
administration lawyers concluded that the president, whenever he 
is acting in his role as commander in chief, is above and immune 
from the rule of law. At least we dont have to guess what our 
founders would have to say about this bizarre and un-American 
theory. 

By the middle of this week, the uproar caused by the disclosure 
of this legal analysis had forced the administration to claim 
they were throwing the memo out and it was, irrelevant and 
overbroad. But no one in the administration has said that the 
reasoning was wrong. And in fact, a DOJ spokesman says they stand 
by the tortured definition of torture. In addition the broad 
analysis regarding the commander-in-chief powers has not been 
disavowed. And the view of the memothat it was within 
commander-in-chief power to order any interrogation techniques 
necessary to extract informationmost certainly contributed to 
the atmosphere that led to the atrocities committed against the 
Iraqis at Abu Ghraib. We also know that President Bush rewarded 
the principle author of this legal monstrosity with a seat on the 
U.S. Court of Appeals. President Bush, meanwhile, continues to 
place the blame for the horrific consequences of his morally 
obtuse policies on the young privates and corporals and sergeants 
who may well be culpable as individuals for their actions, but 
who were certainly not responsible for the policies which set up 
the Bush Gulag and led to Americas strategic catastrophe in 
Iraq. 

I call on the administration to disclose all its interrogation 
policies, including those used by the military in Iraq and 
Afghanistan and those employed by the CIA at its secret detention 
centers outside the U.S., as well as all the analyses related to 
the adoption of those policies. 

The Bush administrations objective of establishing U.S. 
domination over any potential adversary led to the hubristic, 
tragic miscalculation of the Iraq war, a painful adventure marked 
by one disaster after another based on one mistaken assumption 
after another.  But the people who paid the price have been the 
U.S. soldiers trapped over there and the Iraqis in prison. The 
top-heavy focus on dominance as a goal for the U.S. role in the 
world is exactly paralleled in their aspiration for the role of 
the president to be completely dominant in the constitutional 
system. Our founders understood even better than Lord Acton the 
inner meaning of his aphorism that power corrupts and absolutely 
power corrupts absolutely. The goal of dominance necessitates a 
focus on power. Ironically, all of their didactic messages about 
how democracies dont invade other nations fell on their own deaf 
ears. The pursuit of dominance in foreign and strategic policy 
led the bush administration to ignore the United nations, do 
serious damage to our most alliances in the world, violate 
international law and risk the hatred of the rest of the world. 
The seductive exercise of unilateral power has led this president 
to interpret his powers under the constitution in a way that 
would have been the worst nightmare of our framers. 

And the kind of unilateral power he imagines is fools gold in any 
case. Just as its pursuit in Mesopotamia has led to tragic 
consequences for our soldiers, the Iraqi people, our alliances, 
everything we think is important, in the same way the pursuit of 
a new interpretation of the presidency that weakens the Congress, 
courts and civil society is not good for either the presidency or 
the rest of the nation. 

If the congress becomes an enfeebled enabler to the executive, 
and the courts become known for political calculations in their 
decisions, then the country suffers. The kinds of unnatural, 
undemocratic activities in which this administration has engaged, 
in order to aggrandize power, have included censorship of 
scientific reports, manipulation of budgetary statistics, 
silencing dissent, and ignoring intelligence. Although there have 
been other efforts by other presidents to encroach on the 
legitimate prerogatives of congress and courts, there has never 
been this kind of systematic abuse of the truth and 
institutionalization of dishonesty as a routine part of the 
policy process. 

Two hundred and twenty years ago, John Adams wrote, in describing 
one of Americas most basic founding principles, The executive 
shall never exercise the legislative and judicial powers, or 
either of them&to the end it may be a government of laws and not 
of men. 

The last time we had a president who had the idea that he was 
above the law was when Richard Nixon told an interviewer, When 
the president does it, that means that it is not illegal& If the 
president, for example approves something, approves an action 
because of national security, or, in this case, because of a 
threat to internal peace and order, of significant order, then 
the presidents decision in this instance is one that enables 
those who carry it out to carry it out without violating the 
law. 

Fortunately for our country, Nixon was forced to resign as 
president before he could implement his outlandish interpretation 
of the Constitution, but not before his defiance of the Congress 
and the courts created a serious constitutional crisis. 

The two top Justice Department officials under President Nixon, 
Elliot Richardson and William Ruckelshaus, turned out to be men 
of great integrity, and even though they were loyal Republicans, 
they were more loyal to the constitution and resigned on 
principle rather than implement what they saw as abuses of power 
by Nixon. Then Congress, also on a bipartisan basis, bravely 
resisted Nixons abuse of power and launched impeachment 
proceedings. 

In some ways, our current president is actually claiming 
significantly more extra-constitutional power, vis-à-vis Congress 
and the courts, than Nixon did. For example, Nixon never claimed 
that he could imprison American citizens indefinitely without 
charging them with a crime and without letting the see a lawyer 
or notify their families. And this time, the attorney general, 
John Ashcroft, is hardly the kind of man who would resign on 
principle to impede an abuse of power. In fact, whenever there is 
an opportunity to abuse power in this administration, Ashcroft 
seems to be leading the charge. And it is Ashcroft who picked the 
staff lawyers at Justice responsible for the embarrassing memos 
justifying and enabling torture. 

Moreover, in sharp contrast to the courageous 93rd Congress that 
saved the country from Richard Nixons sinister abuses, the 
current Congress has virtually abdicated its constitutional role 
to serve as an independent and coequal branch of government. 

Instead, this Republican-led Congress is content, for the most 
part, to take orders from the president on what they vote for and 
what they dont vote for. The Republican leaders of the House and 
Senate have even started blocking Democrats from attending 
conference committee meetings, where legislation takes its final 
form, and instead, they let the presidents staff come to the 
meetings and write key parts of the laws for them. (Come to think 
of it, the decline and lack of independence shown by this 
Congress would shock our founders more than anything else, 
because they believed that the power of the Congress was the most 
important check and balance against the unhealthy exercise of too 
much power by the Executive branch.) 

This administration has not been content just to reduce the 
Congress to subservience. It has also engaged in unprecedented 
secrecy, denying the American people access to crucial 
information with which they might hold government officials 
accountable for their actions, and a systematic effort to 
manipulate and intimidate the media into presenting a more 
favorable image of the Administration to the American people. 

Listen to what U.S. News and World Report has to say about their 
secrecy: "The Bush administration has quietly but efficiently 
dropped a shroud of secrecy across many critical operations of 
the federal governmentcloaking its own affairs from scrutiny and 
removing from the public domain important information on health, 
safety, and environmental matters." 

Here are just a few examples, and for each one, you have to ask, 
what are they hiding, and why are they hiding it? 

More than 6000 documents have been removed by the Bush 
administration from governmental Web sites. To cite only one 
example, a document on the EPA Web site giving citizens crucial 
information on how to identify chemical hazards to their 
families. Some have speculated that the principle threat to the 
Bush administration is a threat by the chemical hazards if the 
information remains available to American citizens. 

To head off complaints from our nations governors over how much 
they receive under federal programs, the Bush administration 
simply stopped printing the primary state budget report. 

To muddy the clear consensus of the scientific community on 
global warming, the White House directed major changes and 
deletions to an EPA report that were so egregious that the agency 
said it was too embarrassed to use the language. 

Theyve kept hidden from view Cheneys ultra-secret energy task 
force. They have fought a pitched battle in the courts for more 
than three years to continue denying the American people the 
ability to know which special interests and lobbyists advised 
with Vice President Cheney on the design of the new laws. 

And when mass layoffs became too embarrassing they simply stopped 
publishing the regular layoff report that economists and others 
have been receiving for decades. For this administration, the 
truth hurts, when the truth is available to the American people. 
They find bliss in the ignorance of the people. What are they 
hiding, and why are they hiding it? 

In the end, for this administration, it is all about power. This 
lie about the invented connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq was 
and is the key to justifying the current ongoing Constitutional 
power grab by the president. So long as their big flamboyant lie 
remains an established fact in the publics mind, President Bush 
will be seen as justified in taking for himself the power to make 
war on his whim. He will be seen as justified in acting to 
selectively suspend civil libertiesagain on his personal 
discretionand he will continue to intimidate the press and 
thereby distort the political reality experienced by the American 
people during his bid for re-election. 

War is lawful violence, but even in its midst we acknowledge the 
need for rules. We know that in our wars there have been descents 
from these standards, often the result of spontaneous anger 
arising out of the passion of battle. But we have never before, 
to my knowledge, had a situation in which the framework for this 
kind of violence has been created by the president, nor have we 
had a situation where these things were mandated by directives 
signed by the Secretary of Defense, as it is alleged, and 
supported by the National Security Advisor. 

Always before, we could look to the chief executive as the point 
from which redress would come and law be upheld. That was one of 
the great prides of our country: humane leadership, faithful to 
the law. What we have now, however, is the result of decisions 
taken by a president and an administration for whom the best law 
is NO law, so long as law threatens to constrain their political 
will. And where the constraints of law cannot be prevented or 
eliminated, then they maneuver it to be weakened by evasion, by 
delay, by hair-splitting, by obstruction and by failure to 
enforce on the part of those sworn to uphold the law. 

In these circumstances, we need investigation of the facts under 
oath, and in the face of penalties for evasion and perjury. We 
need investigation by an aroused congress whose bipartisan 
members know they stand before the judgment of history. We cannot 
depend up on a debased Department of Justice given over to the 
hands of zealots. Congressional oversight and special 
prosecution are words that should hang in the air. If our honor 
as a nation is to be restored, it is not by allowing the mighty 
to shield themselves by bringing the law to bear against their 
pawns: it is by bringing the law to bear against the mighty 
themselves. Our dignity and honor as a nation never came from our 
perfection as a society or as a people: it came from the belief 
that in the end, this was a country which would pursue justice as 
the compass pursues the pole: that although we might deviate, we 
would return and find our path. This is what we must now do. 
										[ border=]    									 								
[http://www.tompaine.com/articles/preach_it_brother.php] June 25, 
2004 ARCHIVES Original + Reprints ---> 										   										     										    
                                                                                                                                                          [Enrich Public Discourse, Tax Free. Give to 
TomPaine.com.]                                                                                    [ /]                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
*****************************************************************
 14 [NYTr] Scotland Activists Break into Nuke Base
 
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 12:20:49 -0500 (CDT)

 
Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit
 
sent by Mart

TRIDENT PLOUGHSHARES
http://www.tridentploughshares.org

Press Release: 24th June 2004

Wheelchair User Breaks Into Nuke Base

Last night anti-Trident protesters again exposed serious flaws in security
at the Faslane as three activists, one in a wheelchair, broke into the high
security nuclear weapon base.

The three, Roz Bullen from Edinburgh, Morag Forbes and Sue Brackenbury, both
from Faslane Peace Camp, entered the base at the north end, cutting a hole
in the perimeter fence large enough to admit the wheelchair, made their way
without interruption to the inner fence, and were in the process of cutting
their way through that when they were detained. They also painted peace
slogans, such as =E2=80=9CNo WMD=E2=80=9D on buildings inside the base.

Roz, who relies totally on her wheelchair for mobility, has been charged
with causing =C2=A3200 worth of damage to the outer fence and =C2=A3600
damage to the inner one. Sue and Morag were charged with causing =C2=A3200
worth of damage to the outer fence and =C2=A3600 damage to the buildings.
Sue also has disabilities physical and hearing impairments.

The trio, who were released from custody this morning, were delighted with
the progress they had made in again exposing poor security at the base and
in highlighting UK hypocrisy over weapons of mass destruction.

Contacts:      
David Mackenzie 0870 458 3117  (07876593016)

Faslane Peace Camp      01436 820901
media@tridentploughshares.org
www.tridentploughshares.org
               
       
                                *
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=================================================================
  NY Transfer News Collective   *   A Service of Blythe Systems
           Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us
              339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012
  http://www.blythe.org                  e-mail: nyt@blythe.org
================================================================= 
*****************************************************************
 15 Bellona: Russian government about Federal State Nuclear Regulatory
 
The governmental decree no.192 issued in April, says in details 
about functions of the Federal State Nuclear Regulatory. 

2004-06-25 20:45

According to the Russian Government press-department, the Federal 
State Nuclear Regulatory, or FSNR, is a federal body of the 
executive power, which carries out control and supervision of the 
atomic energy application in the Russian Federation (excluding 
activities on design, production, testing, operation and 
decommissioning of the nuclear weapon and military nuclear 
installations) including licensing, as well as functions in the 
field of the state security in the mentioned field. The FSNR 
issues the legal decrees in the field of its competence basing on 
the Russian Constitution, the federal laws, decrees of the 
President, the government and the Ministry of Industry and 
Energy. The FSNR is under the supervision of the Ministry of 
Industry and Energy. 

The main functions of the FSNR are also to organise and carry out 
account and control of the nuclear and radioactive materials, 
radioactive waste, observance laws and regulations in the field 
of atomic energy application, physical protection of the nuclear 
installations, radiation sources, storage facilities, and 
transportation of the nuclear and radioactive materials etc. 

The head of the FSNR is allowed to have three deputies and seven 
departments in accordance with the main activities. The central 
FSNR office is allowed to employ 155 people and the regional 
departments may have 1214 people. All these specialists should 
take care of 213 nuclear sites and 454 places with stored nuclear 
materials in the various forms, including spent nuclear fuel. 
  
Publisher: Bellona Foundation [bellona@bellona.no] , President: 
Frederic Hauge [frederic@bellona.no] Information: info@bellona.no 
[info@bellona.no] , Technical contact: webmaster@bellona.no 
[webmaster@bellona.no] Telephone: +47 23 23 46 00 Telefax: +47 22 
38 38 62  * P.O.Box 2141 Grunerlokka, 0505 Oslo, Norway
*****************************************************************
 16 [NukeNet] FBI WARNING boat bombs 
 
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 14:05:04 -0700

 
<x-flowed>

We are not prepared for this at nuclear plants despite new boat exclusion zones

Scott Portzline

<http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,123701,00.html>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,123701,00.html

FBI Warns of Floating Bomb Devices
Thursday, June 24, 2004

NEW YORK — The FBI 
(<http://clickit.go2net.com/search?cid=307797&site=srch&area=is.clicktracking&shape=link&cp=info.foxnws&clickurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.foxnews.com%2Finfo.foxnws%2Fredirs_all.htm%3Fpgtarg%3Dwbsdogpile&ext_qcat=web&ext_qkw=FBI>search) 
warned law enforcement agencies of the potential for floating explosive 
devices — otherwise known as terrorist improvised mines — according to the 
weekly bulletin issued by the agency and obtained by FOX News.

"Although large-scale, military-style mining operations against the U.S. 
are assessed to be beyond the capabilities of transnational terrorists, the 
technological sophistication demonstrated in evolving improvised explosive 
device (IED) construction raises the possibility of limited, geographically 
dispersed waterborned IED attacks," the FBI said.

"The FBI possesses no information indicating a specific threat involving 
floating IEDs or terrorist plans for mining US waterways."

"However, international terrorists have shown interest in using floating 
explosives and the potential for isolated attempts to carry out such 
attacks cannot be discounted," the FBI said.

The FBI said that there have been some recent incidents involving floating 
IEDs, but there appeared to be no similarities in how these separate 
explosives were constructed. The FBI said that the lack of similarities 
indicates that the floating bombs involved lone individuals instead of a 
terrorist network at work.

Nevertheless "these incidents demonstrate potential vulnerabilities and the 
possibility exists that extremists may choose similar tactics to conduct 
attacks against the U.S. maritime infrastructure.
58cac.jpg58cbb.jpg

The FBI then listed possible designs for floating bombs, including IEDs 
attached to floats or buys, IEDs concealed in floating debris or trashbags 
and innertubes or rafts carrying IEDs onboard.

The FBI also included a list of potential indicators relating to planning a 
floating bomb or terrorist mine attacks:

— Reports of launching or retrieving boats from unusually remote areas

— Reports involve aircraft dropping objects at night near harbors, ports or 
commercial airways

— Reports of abandoned small boats found adrift near sensitive sights

— Reports or incidents of unusual or unidentified floating objects near 
vessels or in harbors, ports or commercial waterways

— Evidence suggesting trends or patterns in terrorist-related hoaxes or 
threat reporting dealing with mines or floating IEDds

— Reports of suspicious requests for hydrographic charts associated with 
naval or commercial port facilities

— Reports of attempts to purchase or steal large magnets, large styrofoam 
blocks, large diameter PVC pipe, empty compressed gas cylinders or 
watertight storage drums.
_______________________________________________________________________
Subscribe/Unsubscribe Here: http://www.energyjustice.net/nukenet/
Change your settings at:
http://energyjustice.net/mailman/listinfo/nukenet_energyjustice.net

</x-flowed>


Attachment Converted: 58cac.jpg: 00000001,70ee5a4e,00000000,00000000
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 17 Pravda.RU: Nuclear power industry becoming more attractive
 
[PRAVDA.RU]         Last update:06/26/2004 04:50 MSK     
        
 12:07 2004-06-25

 Rising gas prices induce the West to pay more attention to 
nuclear power plants (NPPs) once again, Dr. Nils Diaz, chairman 
of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, told RIA Novosti. Dr. 
Diaz is presiding over an international conference involving 
chiefs of G8 nuclear-safety administrations. 

The advantages of nuclear energy, i.e. high NPP capacity, 
independent sources, minimal fallout and stable prices, were 
known before; we knew all that in the past, Dr. Diaz added. 
However, the West preferred gas all of a sudden; gas has become 
very expensive nowadays, he went on to say. Consequently, nuclear 
energy is once again becoming quite popular with the G8, Dr. Diaz 
noted. 

In his words, the directors of G8 nuclear-safety administrations 
have never met in line with this format and at such high level 
before. This highlights the fact that G8 countries are paying 
serious attention to physical and technical protection of nuclear 
facilities, Dr. Diaz stressed. 

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has extended the licenses 
of all 38 NPPs operating on U.S. territory. All these NPPs have 
been overhauled. 

It takes $100 million to extend an average NPP's service life by 
20 years; meanwhile a new NPP would cost an impressive $1.5 
billion, Dr. Diaz noted. 

Andrei Malyshev in charge of Russia's nuclear-safety service 
noted that the United States, Russia, Canada and France intended 
to develop their respective nuclear power industries. Moreover, 
their specialists are now building Third World NPPs. 

For their own part, Italy, Great Britain and Germany have 
renounced NPPs, Malyshev went on to say. 

The first NPP was commissioned in Russia; the nuclear power 
industry is marking its 50th anniversary this year, Malyshev 
said. Let's wait and see; quite possibly, other G8 countries will 
decide to expand their respective nuclear power industries, he 
noted in conclusion. 

© RIAN

  Copyright ©1999 by " [http://www.pravda.ru/] ".
*****************************************************************
 18 AP Wire: Future of Kewaunee nuclear plant debated

| 06/24/2004 | 

Associated Press

MANITOWOC, Wis. - A proposal for a Virginia company to buy the 
Kewaunee nuclear power plant could save valuable jobs by making 
future operation of the plant more secure, witnesses testified at 
a hearing Thursday. 

Others said allowing the sale by the co-owners - the Green 
Bay-based Wisconsin Public Service Corp. and Wisconsin Power & 
Light Co. of Madison, a subsidiary of Alliant Energy - to 
Dominion Resources of Richmond, Va., would put the plant in 
jeopardy. 

Manitowoc Mayor Kevin Crawford said if the sale goes through, the 
expiration of a power purchase agreement in 2013 would leave 
customers at the mercy of open-market rates. 

Doug Johnson, senior vice president and general counsel of the 
Wisconsin Merchants Federation, offered a similar argument. 

"A future that allows the sale of electricity to the highest 
bidders puts our members at risk," he said. 

Representatives of the cities of Two Rivers, Kewaunee and Green 
Bay, and the towns of Mishicot and Pierce were among those 
supporting the sale. Manitowoc was the only community taking a 
stand against it. 

Kewaunee Mayor Darin Jeanquart said market forces could guarantee 
performance. 

"Dominion must keep creating low-cost power or the state will 
look for low-cost power somewhere else, leading to possible 
closing of the plant," he said. 

Of the 70 people testifying at public hearings held by the state 
Public Service Commission, all but six favored the sale. Those 
who testified represented local governments, customers, plant 
employees, union members, environmentalists and others. 

Under the proposal, Dominion would pay $220 million, $130 million 
of which would go to WPS. Another $200 million in decommissioning 
funds would be available for return to customers. 

WPS leaders say they want to sell because of potential financial 
risks of operating and maintaining an aging nuclear plant. 

They say Dominion is a much larger company that can better accept 
those risks. 

A key issue for Manitowoc County Board member Glen Skubal of 
Mishicot was preserving employment after the county was hit by 
losses of many manufacturing jobs in the past several years. 

"I know quite a few people working at the plant. We can't have 
another shutdown or decommissioning," he said. "We cannot afford 
to lose any more jobs in Manitowoc County." 

Thursday was the only day of public hearings scheduled by the 
PSC. Commissioners are to decide on the sale during a public 
meeting which has not been scheduled. 

--- 
Information from: Green Bay Press-Gazette,
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com
[http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com]   

*****************************************************************
 19 AP Wire: Comments on future of Kewaunee nuclear plant debated

| 06/24/2004 | 

Associated Press

"Anytime you think major public utilities are devoted to public 
health, think again." - Vera Mayer of Manitowoc, who opposes the 
sale and contends there will be safety risks without PSC 
oversight. 

"I am confident WPS would not agree to an unreasonable wholesale 
rate contract. ... There is a chance rates will go up after 2013. 
This is a risk regardless of who owns the plant." - Byron Nolde, 
chief executive officer of Oconto Electric Cooperative. 

"I think we will see stable rates as a result of continued 
operation by an experienced operator. I live within 18 miles of 
the plant. I would certainly like to see the plant run as well as 
possible." - Kenneth Lionarons of Algoma, a contract engineer in 
the nuclear industry who said he worked at the Millstone, Conn., 
nuclear plant and saw improvement after Dominion purchased it. 

"Continued operation has its best chance under Dominion 
ownership." - Ethan Treptow of Green Bay, a shift technical 
adviser at Kewaunee. 

--- 

Information from: Green Bay Press-Gazette, 
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com 
[http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com]   

*****************************************************************
 20 Bennington Banner: Nuclear plant warning system has problems
 
www.benningtonbanner.com

June 25, 2004 Bennington, VT                                                                          
 			 								 					
By The Associated Press

BRATTLEBORO (AP) -- Operators of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant 
were 15 minutes late in notifying the state of Vermont about an 
emergency at the plant last week, officials say.

 In addition, the town of Brattleboro, which is located within 
the plant's emergency evacuation zone, was notified 20 minutes 
after Keene, N.H., which is not.

 By federal law, Entergy should have notified Vermont by 7:05 
a.m., 15 minutes after the unusual event was declared at 6:50 
a.m. Friday. Instead the call from Entergy was verified at 7:17 
a.m. by Vermont's Office of Emergency Management.

 Plant spokesman Robert Williams said Thursday that Vermont 
Yankee's logs showed that the plant had notified the state of 
Vermont at 7:11 a.m. last Friday, with word going to New 
Hampshire and Massachusetts officials shortly after that. 

Meanswhile Thursday, an anti-nuclear group, the New England 
Coalition, asked the Public Service Board to investigate whether 
last Friday's fire should be attributed to recent work at the 
plant done as part of its plan to boost its power output by 20 
percent.

 Under an agreement with the state, plant owner Entergy Nuclear 
has agreed to pay the state's retail utilities the extra cost if 
a plant outage related to the power boost forces the retail 
companies to buy more expensive power elsewhere.

 "The real possibility that the electrical fault, fire, and thus 
the outage, resulted from extended power uprate modifications 
made in the switchyard area cannot be excluded," the coalition 
said in papers filed at the Public Service Board.

 Entergy Nuclear control room operators failed to correctly use a 
new nuclear alert telephone system during Friday's low-level 
emergency, resulting in delays in notifying the state about the 
emergency, state and Entergy officials said Wednesday.

 Albert Lewis, director of the Vermont Office of Emergency 
Management, said the problems were not Vermont's fault, although 
he declined to point the finger directly at Entergy.

 "Let's just say it was 'operator error,"' Lewis said, who said 
the state was reviewing its overall emergency response.

 Williams acknowledged there were problems in the plant's control 
room in using the new nuclear notification phones. He said 
Entergy officials were investigating the problem and the plant 
personnel's response to the emergency.

 At the same time, the town of Brattleboro raised questions about 
Vermont's notification system, which they said lags far behind 
the New Hampshire emergency alert system.

 Lewis said the new phone system involved a dedicated telephone 
line that linked the emergency management offices of Vermont, New 
Hampshire and Massachusetts, with the Yankee control room. The 
new system was installed in May.

 No one was hurt in the fire, which was confined to the 
non-nuclear part of the plant. Yankee remains shut down, and 
Williams had no timetable for repairs or how soon the plant would 
be back on line. 

Copyright © 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This 
*****************************************************************
 21 TheChamplainChannel.com: State Berates Yankee For Reporting Emergency Late

Plant Blames Lateness On Operator Error

UPDATED: 8:26 pm EDT June 24, 					 					2004

BURLINGTON, Vt. -- Vermont Yankee is admitting to more problems 
during Friday's emergency.

The plant said it called the state of Vermont six minutes late, 
when the state says it was more like 10.

It all boils down to operator error.

Entergy confirms a plant worker pressed the wrong buttons on a 
new emergency telephone system and was forced to use a backup 
system instead.

 "It's a six minute delay, and overall, our plant staff did an 
excellent job responding to the transformer fire," one Vermont 
Yankee official insisted.

The plant called Emergency Management 25 minutes after it 
declared an emergency.

Federal law requires notification within 15 minutes.

From Vermont Emergency Management, word traveled to Vermont State 
Police, where a dispatcher paged town first responders.

Brattleboro town manager Jerry Remillard got the call an hour 
after the fire broke out -- and because of differences in 
notification systems, 20 minutes after New Hampshire sent out its 
tone.

New Hampshire uses a tone alert pager system. Vermont uses an 
alpha-numeric pager system, which can be slower.

Emergency Managment plans to consider switching over for faster 
notification.

A Vermont Yankee official said the communication breakdown was a 
result of "things getting more stressful when an event 
escalates."

Since Friday, Vermont Yankee admitted a recirculation pump failed 
during the fire.

"Entergy is apparently selectively reporting what they want to 
report and leaving it to the public to dig up what's really going 
on," said Peter Alexander of the NE Coalition. "This is not the 
sign of a good corporate citizen. This sounds like a company 
that's trying to take advantage."

Emergency Managment plans to consider switching over for faster 
notification.

Still no word on when Vermont Yankee might be back line.

 Previous Stories: + June 24, 2004: Vermont Yankee To Remain 
Off-Line Indefinitely + June 21, 2004: Vermont Yankee Fire Not So 
Serious + June 18, 2004: Fire Shuts Down Vermont Yankee 

Copyright 2004 by TheChamplainChannel.com [planews@ibsys.com] . 
*****************************************************************
 22 North Adams Transcript: Yankee Rowe meeting answers little

June 25, 2004 North Adams, MA                                                                                 
 			 								 					
By Susan Bush Special to the Transcript

 BUCKLAND -- There were many questions but few answers last night 
as members of citizen groups grilled officials of the federal 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Yankee Atomic Electric Co. 
during a public hearing about a proposed Yankee Rowe nuclear 
power facility license termination. 

About 60 people were present during the hearing held at the 
Mohawk Trail Regional High School. When asked before the hearing 
began just how much spent fuel is currently stored at the Yankee 
Rowe site, NRC Yankee Rowe project manager John Hickman said that 
he did not have specific information at hand.

 "Relatively speaking, not much," he said, and added that the 
number of dry-storage casks containing radioactive material on 
site at Yankee Rowe is about one-quarter of that at the Maine 
Yankee site.

 There are about 16 dry-storage casks containing radioactive 
material at the site, said Kelley Smith, a public information 
spokeswoman for Yankee. Smith was contacted before the hearing 
began. 

The license termination plan is a 263-page, eight-section 
document; last night's plan overview presentation consisted of a 
brief slide show that offered little precise information. The 
full termination document is written in technical language; an 
acronym identification chart alone contains 58 terms and covers 
one full page and part of a second page.

 The Yankee Rowe plant was shut down in February 1992, and a 
decommissioning process was launched in 1993. The decommissioning 
is entering its final phase, which includes dismantling on-site 
buildings, site restoration, and acquiring NRC approval of the 
license termination plan. According to information posted on the 
Yankee Rowe Web site, the area is expected to be ready for re-use 
in 2006.

 The meeting was moderated by North Adams City Councilor Gailanne 
Cariddi, who is also a member of the Yankee Citizens Advisory 
Board. Cariddi said yesterday that Yankee Rowe officials are 
expected to attend a city council meeting later this summer to 
discuss an environmental study of the Yankee site.

 Hickman, NRC Inspection Program lead inspector John Wray, Eric 
DeRoyce, a certified health physicist working for Yankee Atomic 
Electric Co., Greg Babineau, also of Yankee, and NRC official 
Claudia Craig shared one microphone as they attempted to answer 
questions and respond to comments during the hearing. Audience 
members repeatedly called out that they could not hear the 
officials responses to questions and comments.

 William Perlman, a member of the Franklin Regional Council of 
Governments and the citizens advisory board, questioned the panel 
about the discovery of tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen 
believed to be a cancer-causing agent, at the Sherman Dam. 
Perlman said he wants more information about possible tritium 
groundwater contamination and asked that any problem be defined. 
Tritium is a radioactive isotope.

 Citizens Awareness Network member Deb Katz questioned the panel 
about tritium levels at the site. Katz noted that a spent fuel 
cooling pool hasn't been removed from the site and that tritium 
could be lurking in the pools. Katz noted the absence of state 
officials, such as those with the Department of Environmental 
Protection and Department of Public Health, and called for a 
meeting with representatives of all involved agencies in 
attendance.

 No information about the on-site dry-cask storage of spent 
nuclear fuel rods was included in the NRC/Yankee presentation, 
but that situation was questioned repeatedly by members of the 
network and the New England Coalition. Both nonprofit grassroots 
groups are considered watchdog activist organizations that oppose 
nuclear energy and seek strict accountability standards for 
clean-up of nuclear pollution.

 In response to questions about the safety of the dry-casks and a 
call to keep spent fuel rod cooling pools in place on the site as 
a back-up spent rod storage option, NRC and Yankee officials 
stated that the current plan is to remove the pools, known as 
"wet storage," from the site.

 According to Hickman, the facility's license cannot terminate 
and Yankee cannot abdicate responsibility for the site until the 
spent fuel rods are removed. Speaking prior to the hearing, 
Hickman said that the about 2,200-acre property could be spilt, 
with the 10-acre industrial site that houses the rods separated 
from the remaining property. In that event, Yankee would remain 
licensed for the industrial site until the spent fuel is removed, 
Hickman said.

 During the hearing, Hickman said that the public hearing focus 
was the license termination plan, not the storage and removal of 
the fuel rods.

 Speaking yesterday from a Washington, D.C. office, NRC public 
information spokesman Scott Burnell said that the rods will not 
leave the Yankee Rowe site until a nuclear waste repository 
planned at Yucca Mountain in Nevada is built and approved.

 The federal Department of Energy contracted with Yankee Rowe 
officials to remove the spent fuel and transport was scheduled to 
begin in 1998.

 However, the DOE did not start moving the rods and a lawsuit 
focusing on the failure to remove the rods as agreed was 
subsequently initiated by Yankee officials. Meanwhile, said 
Burnell, the DOE is still assembling its license approval 
application for Yucca Mountain and expects to submit the 
application by the end of the year.

 The NRC must review the application, which could take several 
years, Burnell said. The best case scenario would have the 
repository open and accepting nuclear waste by 2010, but Burnell 
said that in reality, approving Yucca and moving the radioactive 
material could take decades.

 The dry-storage casks endured extreme condition testing and are 
safe, Burnell said.

 "Even if there were to be an armed attacker who used an 
explosive, it would be difficult to crack a cask," Burnell said.

 Burnell said that if all the Yankee Rowe casks were cracked, the 
release of radiation would be very low-level. Burnell said that 
the rods have been "out of use" for 13 years or longer, spent 
five years in a cooling pool before being placed in dry storage, 
and a release would not require a mass evacuation or pose a 
wide-scale threat to human health. Burnell did say that "some 
evacuation" and "some clean-up and remediation" might be 
necessary if a cask were to leak or be cracked open.

 Speaking last night before the hearing commenced, Peter 
Alexander of the coalition disagreed. According to Alexander, 
videotapes exist that demonstrate how a weapon can break a cask, 
and when told that state-governed evacuation plans were 
terminated when Yankee Rowe began decommissioning, Alexander said 
the move was a "mistake."

 "You don't have a core meltdown, and it would take a significant 
event, but if it [a cask] opened, there'd be big problems," he 
said, although he added that he did not have enough information 
to articulate what those problems might be.

 Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency spokesman Peter Judge 
said yesterday that security measures to protect Yankee Rowe 
against terrorist attack and other situations are in place.

 Judge said that security drills involving the National Guard, 
state police, and other forces occur annually. Judge, Cariddi and 
North Adams Commissioner of Public Safety E. John Morocco all 
said that they believe there is no longer a need for mass-scale 
evacuation plans involving Yankee Rowe.                              
 		   			 		   	 	
       Copyright ©1999-2004 New England Newspapers, Inc., a 
*****************************************************************
 23 NRC: NRC Atomic Safety and Licensing Board to Hold Prehearing Conference June 30 on Proposed
                    Millstone License Renewal
News Release - 2004-07
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION   
  Office of Public Affairs     Telephone: 301/415-8200   
  Washington, DC 20555-0001     E-mail:  [opa@nrc.gov]   
  No. 04-078     June 25, 2004   
  

Conn., on the application of Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc.,
to renew the operating licenses for its Millstone Nuclear Power
Station, Units 2 and 3. The plant is located in Waterford, Conn. 

Participants in the conference will be the Connecticut Coalition
Against Millstone, which has petitioned for a hearing on the
application, Dominion and the NRC staff. Members of the public
are welcome to attend as observers. 

Members of the Licensing Board are Paul B. Abramson, Chairman;
Ann Marshall Young and Dr. Richard F. Cole. 

The Radisson Hotel New London, 35 Governor Winthrop Boulevard,
will be the site for the conference, which will begin at 9:00
a.m. 

Dominion submitted its application on January 22 of this year to
renew the Millstone licenses for an additional 20 years beyond
the current expiration dates, which are July 31, 2015, for Unit
2 and November 25, 2025, for Unit 3. 

On March 12, the agency announced the opportunity to request a
hearing on the application, and Connecticut Coalition Against
Millstone submitted a request for a hearing and a petition to
intervene in the hearing. 

Copies of the application are available on the NRC web site at
http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applicati
ons/millstone.html. In addition, the document is available for
review at the following libraries: 
+ --Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford, and 
+ -- Thames River Campus Library, Three Rivers Community
College, 574 New London Turnpike, Norwich.   



  


 	Last revised Friday, June 25, 2004 	   
*****************************************************************
 24 NRC: Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.; Notice of Issuance of 
 
                        FR Doc 04-14428 
[Federal Register: June 25, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 122)] 
[Notices] [Page 35690-35691] From the Federal Register Online via 
GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr25jn04-137]                         
 
Director's Decision Under 10 CFR 2.206 Notice is hereby given 
that the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, has 
issued a Director's Decision with regard to a Petition dated 
September 8, 2003, filed by the Union of Concerned Scientists and
 
[[Page 35691]] Riverkeeper, Inc., hereinafter referred to as the 
``Petitioners.'' The Petition was supplemented on September 22 
and October 29, 2003.
 
The Petition concerns the operation of the Indian Point Nuclear 
Generating Unit Nos. 2 and 3 (IP2 and 3). The Petition requested 
that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC): (1) take immediate 
enforcement action against Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. 
(Entergy), the licensee for IP2 and 3, by issuing an Order 
requiring Entergy to immediately shut down IP2 and 3 and maintain 
the reactors shutdown until the containment sumps are modified to 
resolve Generic Safety Issue 191 (GSI-191), and (2) as an 
alternative, should the NRC deny the request to require IP2 and 3 
to shut down immediately, issue an Order to prevent plant restart 
following each plant's next refueling outage until such time that 
the containment sumps are modified to resolve GSI-191. If this 
alternative is chosen, the Petitioners further requested a 
requirement to be included within the Order for Entergy to (a) 
maintain all equipment needed for monitoring leakage of reactor 
coolant pressure boundary components within containment fully 
functional and immediately shut down the affected reactor upon 
any functional impairment to leakage monitoring equipment, and 
(b) refrain from any activity under 10 CFR 50.59, 10 CFR 50.90, 
Section VII.C of the NRC's Enforcement Policy, or Generic Letter 
91-18, Revision 1, that increases or could increase the 
probability of a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA).
 
As the basis for this request, the Petitioners stated that there 
is a lack of reasonable assurance that the IP2 and 3 containment 
sumps will be able to perform their function during a LOCA. The 
Petitioners, conclusions regarding the containment sumps were 
based on their analysis of publicly available reports that were 
prepared for the NRC by the Los Alamos National Laboratory 
(LANL). The NRC has stated that the potential for sump clogging 
in pressurized-water reactors is an issue that is currently being 
evaluated by the NRC through the NRC's Generic Issue Program. In 
particular, the NRC-sponsored studies that formulate the basis 
for your requested enforcement actions were performed in support 
of the NRC staff's review of GSI-191.
 
On September 24, 2003, the Petitioners met with the staff's 
Petition Review Board (PRB) to discuss the Petition and provide 
additional details in support of this request.
 
The NRC sent a copy of the Proposed Director's Decision to the 
Petitioners and to the licensee for comment on February 19, 2004. 
The Petitioners responded with comments on March 30, 2004, and 
the licensee had no comments. The Petitioners' comments and the 
NRC staff's response to them are included with the Director's 
Decision.
 
The Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation has 
determined that the request to order the licensee to suspend 
operations of IP2 and 3 be denied. The reasons for this decision, 
along with the reasons for decisions regarding the remaining 
Petitioners' requests, are explained in the Director's Decision 
pursuant to 10 CFR 2.206 (DD 04-02), the complete text of which 
is available in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management 
System (ADAMS) for inspection at the Commission's Public Document 
Room, located at One White Flint North, Public File Area O-1F21, 
11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland, and from 
the NRC Web site (http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm.html 
[http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leaving 
FR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm.html] ) on 
the World Wide Web, under the ``Public Involvement'' icon.
 
As stated in its letter to the Petitioners on October 22, 2003, 
the NRC staff told the Petitioners that the request that the NRC 
issue an Order to immediately shut down IP2 and 3 was denied. 
Consistent with the generic issue process, the NRC is currently 
developing guidance to be used by individual plants to evaluate 
the potential for sump clogging. Although many plants have taken 
steps to further ensure adequate sump recirculation in the event 
of a LOCA, an NRC-approved methodology for evaluating each 
plant's sump performance is intended to (1) ensure that each 
plant evaluates the potential for debris-clogging in a consistent 
manner based on state-of-the-art, staff-approved methods and 
plant-specific information; and (2) provide the NRC with the 
technical basis for ensuring that any proposed solution 
adequately addresses the issue. The data reviewed by the staff to 
date, including the Petition and the Parametric Study, does not 
support the actions requested by the Petitioners. If, at any time 
during the resolution of the generic issue, the NRC should 
determine that unsafe conditions exist at Indian Point or any 
other plant, immediate actions will be taken to ensure the 
continued health and safety of the public.
 
A copy of the Director's Decision will be filed with the 
Secretary of the Commission for the Commission's review in 
accordance with 10 CFR 2.206 of the Commission's regulations. As 
provided for by this regulation, the Director's Decision will 
constitute the final action of the Commission 25 days after the 
date of the decision, unless the Commission, on its own motion, 
institutes a review of the Director's Decision in that time.
 
Dated in Rockville, Maryland, this 18th day of June, 2004.
 
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
 
Brian W. Sheron, Acting Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation.
 
[FR Doc. 04-14428 Filed 6-24-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

 
*****************************************************************
 25 NRC: Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for the 
 
                        FR Doc 04-14429 
[Federal Register: June 25, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 122)] 
[Notices] [Page 35690] From the Federal Register Online via GPO 
Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr25jn04-136]                         
 
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: Extension.
 
2. The title of the information collection: 10 CFR Part 11-- 
Criteria and Procedures for Determining Eligibility for Access to 
or Control Over Special Nuclear Material.
 
3. The form number if applicable: None. 4. How often the 
collection is required: New applications, certifications, and 
amendments may be submitted at any time. Applications for renewal 
are submitted every 5 years.
 
5. Who will be required or asked to report: Employees (including 
applicants for employment), contractors and consultants of NRC 
licensees and contractors whose activities involve access to or 
control over special nuclear material at either fixed sites or in 
transportation activities.
 
6. An estimate of the number of responses: 5. 7. The estimated 
number of annual respondents: 5 NRC licensees.
 
8. An estimate of the total number of hours needed annually to 
complete the requirement or request: Approximately 0.25 hours 
annually per response, for an industry total of 1.25 hours 
annually. 9. An indication of whether section 3507(d), Pub. L. 
104-13 applies: Not applicable.
 
10. Abstract: NRC regulations in 10 CFR part 11 establish 
requirements for access to special nuclear material, and the 
criteria and procedures for resolving questions concerning the 
eligibility of individuals to receive special nuclear material 
access authorization. Personal history information which is 
submitted on applicants for relevant jobs is provided to OPM, 
which conducts investigations.
 
NRC reviews the results of these investigations and makes 
determinations of the eligibility of the applicants for access 
authorization.
 
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 F23, 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.hmtl 
[http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leaving 
FR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/doc-comm 
ent/omb/index.hmtl] . 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 July 26, 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 
(3150-0062), 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 21st day of June, 2004.
 
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
 
Brenda Jo. Shelton, NRC Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
 
[FR Doc. 04-14429 Filed 6-24-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

 
*****************************************************************
 26 [FOODIRRADIATIONCA] Senate Health Comm. hearing on AB 1988 on
 
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 14:06:22 -0700

 
<x-flowed>
AB 1988 is going to the Senate Health Committee on Wednesday, June 30!
Today, AB 1988 passed out of the Senate Education Committee and is
headed to the Health Committee. This landmark legislation will require
irradiated foods to receive school board approval before they can be
served, require schools to make available information about irradiated
foods to parents, and require irradiated foods to be labeled on school
lunch menus.

Please call Senators on  the Health Committee and urge their support
for AB 1988!  Visit www.senate.ca.gov to find your Senator.  Scroll down
for a phone rap.

Health Committee Target List
Senator Deborah Ortiz, Committee Chair (Sacramento county)
916-445-7807
or send a FREE fax at:
http://www.citizen.org/fax/background.cfm?ID=358&source=56

Senator Wes Chesbro (Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, Lake, and
Sonoma Counties)
916-445-3375
or send a FREE FAX at:
http://www.citizen.org/fax/background.cfm?ID=356&source=56

Senator Martha Escutia (parts of LA city and county)
916-327-8315

Senator Dean Florez (Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties)
916 445-4641

Sample phone rap:  Hi, I am calling to urge Senator _________ to
support AB 1988.  This bill requires schools boards to approve
irradiated foods before schools can serve them, and requires parental
disclosure.  I believe that parents have the basic right to know  and
decide what their children are eating at school, especially when it may
be something as controversial as irradiated foods.

Background
In May of 2003, the USDA approved irradiated foods for the National
School Lunch Program, which provides free or reduced price meals to
needy schoolchildren.  This USDA decision was made despite overwhelming
opposition from parents, teachers, students, and concerned citizens who
oppose serving irradiated food to children.

Irradiation exposes food to extremely high doses of ionizing radiation
in order to kill bacteria.   In the process, nutrients are destroyed and
new toxic chemicals are formed.  Consumption of irradiated foods has
been linked to numerous health problems in humans and animals, including
reproductive dysfunction, fatal internal bleeding, and a rare form of
cancer.  Irradiation perpetuates the filthy and inhumane conditions in
factory farms and slaughterhouses, which cause massive amounts of water
contamination and degrade air quality.  Irradiated foods have been
rejected by consumers in the marketplace, and no population has ever
consumed irradiated food as a substantive part of their diet.

In February, 2004 Assemblywoman Loni Hancock introduced AB 1988.  This
bill requires school board approval before a school can serve irradiated
meat, requires schools to notify parents, label irradiated foods as
such, and provide a non-irradiated meal option.

To read the bill visit www.leginfo.ca.gov
To learn more about irradiated foods and their inclusion in the
National School Lunch Program, visit www.safelunch.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tracy Lerman
Senior Organizer
Public Citizen, California Office
1615 Broadway, 9th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
ph: 510-663-0888 x 103  f: 510-663-8569
tlerman@citizen.org
www.citizen.org/california

Keep irradiated food out of your child's lunch!
Visit www.safelunch.org to find out more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tracy Lerman
Senior Organizer
Public Citizen, California Office
1615 Broadway, 9th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
ph: 510-663-0888 x 103  f: 510-663-8569
tlerman@citizen.org
www.citizen.org/california

Keep irradiated food out of your child's lunch!
Visit www.safelunch.org to find out more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**********
If you do not wish to recieve these emails in the future, please send a 
email to tlerman@citizen.org with "unsubscribe foodirradiationca" in the 
subject line. 

</x-flowed>
*****************************************************************
 27 BBC: Starfish deaths puzzle Russian experts 
 
  Last Updated: Friday, 25 June, 2004
 
[Dead starfish on Russian beach]                                

Mass poisoning is one explanation                                                              

Environmentalists in northern Russia have expressed concern at 
the latest incident of mass deaths among marine fauna on the 
shores of the White Sea. 

Russia TV reported that thousands of dead starfish and crabs have 
washed ashore near the village of Syuzma in the Archangel region, 
along a nine-mile stretch of coast. 

The marine creatures were deposited on top of each other in 
layers two to three deep. 

"It's scary," schoolgirl Natasha Ludkova told the TV channel. 

"There are so many starfish there. You can't even walk around 
them because the whole shore is full of starfish. We had to tread 
on them and it wasn't pleasant." 

Local children collected several specimens of starfish and crabs 
and handed them over to Severodvinsk and Archangel ecologists to 
investigate. 

Some 20 dead seals were also found washed ashore on the sandy 
beach of the island of Yagry in Severodvinsk after a recent 
storm. 

Cause unknown 

This is not the first time that the White Sea coastline has been 
hit by the mass death of marine creatures. 

In 1990, millions of starfish, as well as a large number of 
mussels, crabs, dozens of nerpa seals, seals and belugas were 
killed. 

The TV said it was established at the time that the deaths were 
caused by short exposure to a highly toxic substance, but it said 
no further details were made known. 

A similar incident was reported by the Russian press in 1992. 
Izvestiya newspaper said at the time that one team of Archangel 
scientists believed that the deaths were due to the dumping of 
radioactive debris and chemical weapons in Barents Sea waters. 

Vladimir Glushko, spokesman for the Severodvinsk environmental 
council, said that the latest incident might be a case of mass 
poisoning. 

"That's possible," he said, "but it's just a theory. What we need 
is a thorough independent investigation." 

[http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk] , based in Caversham in southern 
England, selects and translates information from radio, 
television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 
countries in more than 70 languages. 
*****************************************************************
 28 BBC: Nuclear cancer study is
 
  Last Updated: Friday, 25 June, 2004
 
by Nic Rigby BBC News Online, Norwich   

[Bradwell Power Station]                                

Bradwell Power Station in Essex is at the centre of controversy                                                                

A major study into the rates of cancer near a former nuclear 
power station has been called off, BBC News Online can 
exclusively reveal. 

The investigation into a possible cancer cluster at Bradwell, 
Essex, had the support of all sides in the radiation debate. 

Environmental scientists say it has been scrapped because of 
"strong evidence of a cluster". 

But that has been disputed by another scientist who blames lack 
of time. 

The investigation, revealed by BBC News Online in December 2003, 
was to have been carried out by CERRIE - the Committee Examining 
Radiation Risks from Internal Emitters. 

	

	
                                                                We 
are left with our origin finding which shows the existence of the 
effect Dr Chris Busby          

Dr Ian Fairlie, a member of the secretariat of CERRIE, said at 
the time that the study was expected to be completed by spring. 

"We will look at leukaemia rates and see if they are higher than 
expected in this area," he said. 

CERRIE members, scientist Dr Chris Busby of the environmental 
consultancy Green Audit, and Richard Bramhall, claimed the 
pro-nuclear members of the committee feared the study would show 
that cancer levels increased in the area near Bradwell nuclear 
power station. 

'Extra cancer deaths' 

Dr Busby told BBC News Online: "The study would have confirmed 
the effect was there. They did not want this. They pulled the 
plug. We are left with our original finding which shows the 
existence of the effect." 

The original Green Audit study compared the female population of 
Maldon and another Essex town Burnham-on-Crouch, which is on the 
River Crouch and away from Bradwell. 

Dr Busby said: "Our study and their data shows an extra four 
breast cancer deaths per year in areas around Bradwell and 
Blackwater estuary area including Maldon. 

"I feel quite angry about it. We have done an awful lot of work 
for CERRIE on this. We have done it because we believe it is 
important to find the answer to this. 

Confidentiality issues 

"It is not just about Bradwell it has implications for all 
nuclear power stations which discharge into water, including 
Sizewell nuclear power station. If this was backed the litigation 
(from people who have developed cancer) would be enormous. 

"It would be a research study agreed by a government committee. 
CERRIE came to the conclusion that this would be embarrassing to 
the nuclear industry, so they pulled the carpet from under it." 

Dr Richard Wakeford, principal research scientist at British 
Nuclear Fuels and CERRIE member, disputed Green Audit's study 
showing a cancer cluster. 

He said the CERRIE study was delayed by confidentiality issues 
surrounding people living in the Maldon area who are alive, but 
have at some point developed cancer. 

Dr Wakeford said the Office of National Statistics feared with 
people living in "small areas, there is a possibility that 
individual patients could be identified". 

"Essentially we just ran out of time to do this study," he said. 

CERRIE includes representatives from the Low Level Radiation 
Campaign, Green Audit, the National Radiological Protection 
Board, Greenpeace, British Nuclear Fuels. 

Bradwell, one of the oldest nuclear power stations in the UK, 
shut down in March 2003 when it stopped generating electricity. 

*****************************************************************
 29 Big News Network: World Bank fights Kyrgyz radiation
 		 		 		
[http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/]     

Friday 25th June, 2004  

  The World Bank has approved a $6.9 million project to fight 
radiation dangers in Kyrgyzstan, the TCA news agency reported 
Friday.
 
The project aims to minimize the exposure of humans and livestock 
to radionuclides associated with abandoned uranium mine tailings 
and waste rock dumps in the Mailuu-Suu area and reduce the loss 
of life and property in key landslide areas of the country, TCA 
said.
 
Kyrgyz First Deputy Finance Minister Emirian Toromyrzaev welcomed 
the bank's decision. Given the problem with high external debt of 
the country, we are pleased that this project is grant-funded, he 
said.
 
The former Soviet republic in Central Asia was heavily exploited 
for its uranium reserves by the old Soviet Union's nuclear 
weapons programs, and no concern was taken for decades over the 
health risks of exposed radioactive deposits that were left 
behind.
 
Breaking News Saturday 26th June, 2004 
                                
*****************************************************************
 30 Maariv International
 
  25 June, 2004   

Pills against radiation sickness for southern residents Security
officials recommend distributing pills to residents near nuclear
reactors. 

Amir Rappaport [contact@maariv.co.il?subject=Amir Rappaport] 

Security officials have decided that pills against radiation 
sickness should be given to residents of cities near nuclear 
reactors. The recommendation for house to house distribution of 
the pills is likely to be discussed by the government on Sunday. 

If the measure is approved, the pills, known as Logol, will be 
distributed in Dimona and Yerucham, which are near the Negev 
Nuclear Research Institute and residents of Yavne, near the Nahal 
Sorek nuclear plant. Distribution may be limited to those 
neighborhoods closes to the nuclear plants.

After considering the issue for more than two years, a join 
committee of the Israel Defense Forces, the Ministry of Defense 
and the Atomic Energy Commission, decided earlier this week that 
the pills, which have been stored in government warehouses for 
decades should be distributed. In the event of an actually 
emergency it is more efficient if residents do not have to wait 
for the pills to be distributed. On the other hand, there are 
concerns that the very fact that the pills are being distributed 
will create panic. 

The medication protects the body against the negative effects of 
radiation by acting on the thyroid gland and preventing 
carcinogenic substances from being absorbed.

Security sources emphasized that the decision does not reflect a 
change in the risk level. â€œInternationally, and in Israel, too, 
the odds of an accident in a reactor are one out of ten million. 
However, we want citizens to be preparedâ€™.
 
(2004-06-25 09:56:49.0)   
      
*****************************************************************
 31 UK Independent: Russia's luxury Arctic tours 'risk nuclear disaster'
 
By Andrew Osborn in Moscow
 
26 June 2004

A luxurious cruise to the North Pole on a Russian nuclear-powered 
ice-breaker, complete with champagne, the promise of polar bear 
sightings and rare birds is billed as the trip of a lifetime. But 
environmentalists say such cruises are imperilling one of the 
world's most fragile and pristine ecosystems. 

Friends of the Earth Norway yesterday demanded that the cruises 
be halted on environmental and ethical grounds. "We can't just 
sit and watch this happen," Anders Larsen, of the organisation's 
youth group, said. "It is playing Russian roulette with the 
environment in the Arctic. The further north they go the more 
dangerous it is for the ecosystem. 

"Wealthy Western tourists should take responsibility for 
themselves. They can't just blame the Russians; they have ethical 
responsibilities." 

The cruises hit the headlines in Russia after prosecutors alleged 
this week that the country's fleet of nuclear-powered 
ice-breakers had been illegally used for the lucrative tourist 
jaunts and the government had been cheated out of millions of 
dollars. 

The firm that operates the ships, the Murmansk Maritime Company, 
was also accused of imperilling national security on the grounds 
that cruises on vessels powered by nuclear reactors offered a 
soft target for terrorists posing as foreign tourists and 
needlessly increased the risk of a radiation leak through 
unnecessary wear and tear. 

Mr Larsen echoed that view, saying the cruises unnecessarily 
risked a nuclear accident whose fallout would be catastrophic for 
the Arctic. Environmentalists also complain that Russia has 
problems disposing of the nuclear waste generated by the ships' 
activities. 

Sergei Javaronkin, of the nuclear safety group Bellona, said 
yesterday from Murmansk: "[The cruises] get the adrenaline going 
and give people a special feeling. " But he said little thought 
had gone into the wider impact. "Western tour firms and the 
Russian company just haven't thought about the consequences. It's 
a good business and they only think of money and profit." 

Russia is the only country that uses nuclear-powered 
ice-breakers; it has six. They were originally built to keep 
shipping lanes along the northern coast of Siberia open for cargo 
ships. 

Cruises to the North Pole on the vessels, organised through 
upmarket Western tour firms, have boomed since the collapse of 
the Soviet Union in 1991. Prices start at about £8,000 for a 
two-week holiday. 

The vessels are state property and the government owns more than 
25 per cent of the operating company's shares. The criminal case 
alleges, however, that managers at the Murmansk Maritime Company 
exceeded their authority and embezzled millions of dollars from 
the state. 

The daily Izvestia reported yesterday that the state had been 
swindled out of $7.4m (£4m) each year the cruises had operated. 
The government appeared to have been squeezed out of its 
management role of the ice-breakers and money made from tourist 
trips went through accounts over which it had no control, the 
paper said. 

The firm is also accused of failing to repair a seventh 
ice-breaker, Siberia, which was withdrawn from service in 1992 
and has since cost the state a fortune to maintain. 

Vladimir Blinov, a representative of the Murmansk Maritime 
Company, denied all the allegations and said that the firm had 
launched its own legal challenge against them. National security 
was not endangered because the trips were sanctioned and overseen 
by the FSB, the successor organisation to the KGB, he said. Nor, 
he added, was safety an issue, with stringent security measures 
in place to guard against the risk of a terrorist hijacking and a 
regular maintenance schedule for the nuclear reactors. 

Highlights of such cruises typically include walking around the 
North Pole, passing through 24 time zones in less than five 
minutes, a brief dip in the Arctic Ocean, and seeing polar bears 
and other exotic flora and fauna. On their way back from the 
North Pole the tourists get the chance to see Russia's Franz 
Josef islands, famed for birds and their stark lichen-covered 
tundra. 

The ships have been luxuriously converted. Most have a swimming 
pool, a sauna and gym. The cruises are particularly popular with 
wealthy American businessmen.              


UK Independent Ltd.
*****************************************************************
 32 Pahrump Valley Times: FORMER TEST SITE WORKERS WANTED 
 
June 25, 2004

Illness payments available 

Nevada Test Site employees and survivors of deceased employees 
might be eligible for compensation for illnesses they could have 
incurred as a result of work-related exposure to radiation, 
beryllium or silica during their employment.

 The U.S. Department of Labor announced that over $13 million in 
compensation benefits is available under the Energy Employees 
Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. The compensation 
program will provide benefits to eligible employees, contractors 
and subcontractors (or their survivors) of certain Energy 
Department facilities, beryllium vendors and atomic weapons 
employers who have suffered from radiogenic cancer, chronic 
silicosis or beryllium disease.

 Benefits include medical coverage for the accepted condition 
from the date the file was claimed and a lump sum payment of 
$150,000, which survivors of covered employees may also be 
eligible for.

 Additionally, covered uranium employees who are entitled to 
compensation under Section 5 of the Radiation Exposure 
Compensation Act, are also eligible to file for compensation 
under the act.

 The Nevada Test Site has the largest covered employee population 
in the state, with coverage dates from 1951 through the present. 
Underground nuclear test sites covered under the act include 
Project Faultless from 1967-1974 and Project Shoal from 
1962-1964. The Tonopah Test Range has also been identified as a 
covered facility.

 The labor and energy departments have teamed to fund and 
establish resource centers to aid employees and survivors in 
filing claims. The Las Vegas Resource Center can be contacted at 
702-697-0841 or toll-free at 866-697-0841. Telephone interviews 
can be arranged to assist individuals who are unable to visit the 
resource center in completing claim forms.

For comment or questions, please e-mail 
webmaster@pahrumpvalleytimes.com 
[webmaster@pahrumpvalleytimes.com] Copyright © Pahrump Valley 
Times, 1997 - 2003 
*****************************************************************
 33 Paducah Sun: USEC cites 6 workers for misused computers 

- Paducah, Kentucky
 
Friday, June 25, 2004;Paducah, Kentucky     

[http://www.paducahsun.com/] 
 
Six workers at the Paducah plant have been disciplined, and
there are some instances at other sites 

By Joe Walker jwalker@paducahsun.com--270.575.8650
 
Six USEC Inc. employees at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant 
have been disciplined for "inappropriate nonbusiness use of the 
Internet," including accessing pornography sites, spokeswoman 
Elizabeth Stuckle said.

 The action was taken during the past month as a result of a 
six-month study of suspected computer misuse across the company, 
followed by documentation of specific problems, she said. Various 
levels of discipline were imposed, but no one was fired.

 Stuckle declined to elaborate on the type of misuse but said 
some of the workers were accessing pornography sites and others 
were using computers for personal matters.

 "It's not all a pornography issue," she said.

 Those punished at the 1,300-employee uranium enrichment plant 
were both union and nonunion workers in various jobs, Stuckle 
said. Citing employee-privacy issues, she declined to reveal 
names or job titles, or provide specifics on the discipline.

 "We have stringent rules about nonbusiness use of the Internet, 
and we've counseled and coached our employees on an ongoing basis 
about this," Stuckle said. "We're continuing to reinforce that 
policy."

 It is uncertain how long the computer misuse was going on before 
the probe, she said.

 Stuckle said USEC has taken similar disciplinary action in "a 
few cases" at its headquarters in Bethesda, Md. Evaluations 
aren't complete on the study at a closed enrichment plant at 
Piketon, Ohio, she said.

 The study also covered a small number of workers at Oak Ridge, 
Tenn., where USEC is doing preliminary work toward opening a gas 
centrifuge plant in Piketon. That factory will replace the 
Paducah plant starting in 2010.

 Since the terrorism of Sept. 11, 2001, the plant has been at 
various levels of increased security. Asked if the computer 
misuse posed a serious security concern, Stuckle said she could 
not discuss security matters. 

"We do make an effort to try to block a variety of Web sites," 
she said. "Sometimes people are able to get around those blocks."

 Stuckle also declined to discuss the computer misuse as it 
relates to business sensitivity. The company enriches uranium for 
use worldwide in nuclear fuel.

 "In an increasingly competitive global market such as we're in, 
it's very important that our operations remain as efficient as 
possible," she said. "Efficiency is based on each individual's 
performance being high and efficient." 

*****************************************************************
 34 Guardian Unlimited: House Panel Approves Yucca Mountain Bill
 
From the Associated Press        

[UP] 

Thursday June 24, 2004 10:46 PM

By H. JOSEF HEBERT 

Associated Press Writer 

WASHINGTON (AP) - A House committee approved legislation Thursday 
aimed at resolving a budget problem that threatens the proposed 
nuclear waste facility in Nevada. 

The bill still faces an uncertain future in the Senate. 

The legislation, passed by the House Energy and Commerce 
Committee by a 29-19 vote, would assure a steady stream of money 
for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project over the next five 
years. The measure would keep the project on schedule to open in 
2010, assuming it gets a federal license. 

Money for the project 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas was cut 
recently to $131 million for next year, a fraction of the $880 
million requested by the Bush administration. 

The House bill requires that at least $750 million collected into 
a special nuclear waste fund each year be spent on the Yucca 
project. This would allow lawmakers to come up with the 
additional money the Energy Department wants. 

Lawmakers traditionally have used the nuclear waste fund to 
offset other spending and to help narrow the federal deficit. 
Many of them are reluctant to go along any legislation that would 
change that practice. 

The House bill also is certain to run into trouble in the Senate 
where it would need 60 votes to overcome procedural hurdles. 

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., is testing congressional sentiment on 
another way to give the project more money. He has proposed a 
one-time annual surcharge to collect an additional $446 million 
from electricity users to make up the shortfall for Yucca 
Mountain next year. 

The nuclear industry has criticized Domenici's plan, saying that 
electricity consumers already have paid $22 billion into the 
nuclear waste fund, $15 billion of which has not been spent. 

The department hopes to submit a permit application for the Yucca 
project with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in December and 
open the facility by 2010. 

The underground facility would have room for 77,000 tons of 
defense waste and used reactor fuel now at commercial power 
plants and government sites in 39 states. 

(Corrects spelling of Domenici in 9th graf, The nuclear, and 
corrects number of states to 39, adding government sites, in last 
graf) 
  

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004
*****************************************************************
 35 Las Vegas RJ: Yucca opponents win funding round 
 
Friday, June 25, 2004
 
Tough ground rules set in House, limiting chances of project
receiving more money 
By STEVE TETREAULT STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU 

WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers battled behind the scenes late Thursday
night to shape a bill cutting funding to the Yucca Mountain
Project so deeply that it could cripple the planned nuclear
waste repository. 

Finally, opponents of the repository announced they had
prevailed. 

As a result, supporters of the repository will have only a
limited chance to seek more money for the program when the House
debates an energy spending bill today, according to Reps. Jon
Porter, R-Nev., and Shelley Berkley, D-Nev. 

The bill contains only $131 million for the repository, 85
percent less than what the Department of Energy requested for
2005. 

"We have won this battle," Porter said of the project's
opponents, although the repository funding level will not be
cemented until further votes today. 

Lobbying on the House floor and in the hallways of the Capitol,
both sides struggled for an upper hand through the evening as
the House Rules Committee formed ground rules for today's
debate, according to officials familiar with the process. 

Republican supporters of the repository, which would be built
100 miles northwest of Las Vegas, sought a rule making it easier
to boost the allocation and establish new accounting rules to
free up money for the program. 

The White House also exerted pressure on behalf of the project,
according to sources involved in the talks. 

Porter, Berkley and Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., lobbied to block
them. Senior Democrats also worked against the repository
effort, Berkley said. 

"We have managed to limit the money going into the bill," she
said. 

Officials in Congress and in the Bush administration have
predicted dire outcomes if the repository budget is not
increased. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham predicted 1,700
layoffs later this year. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said the
program would be shut down "in three or four months." 

Domenici has proposed legislation to increase Yucca Mountain
spending through a one-year added fee on nuclear utilities. That
plan might be debated next month, with Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev.,
and John Ensign, R-Nev., preparing to oppose it. 

Except for Nevada lawmakers and a few dozen allies who oppose
the Yucca Mountain Project, the House generally is supportive of
the planned repository. 

But a split developed over how to bail out the project from a
shortfall this year, and how to preserve adequate spending in
future years. The Energy Department has estimated it will need
an average $1.3 billion annually for repository construction. 

Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., said the repository problems
illustrated Bush administration budget mismanagement. 
"Every project is put under the gun when you have massive
deficits, and this is part of that story," Markey said.
 
 
Copyright Las Vegas Review-Journal
*****************************************************************
 36 Guardian Unlimited: Kazakhstan Sends 1st Radioactive Shipment
 
From the Associated Press        

[UP] 

Thursday June 24, 2004 8:46 PM

By BAGILA BUKHARBAYEVA 

Associated Press Writer 

ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) - Kazakhstan has delivered its first 
batch of radioactive isotopes to the United States under a deal 
to prevent the spread of nuclear materials, a Kazakh official 
said Thursday. 

The Nuclear Physics Institute sent a tiny amount - about 100 
millicuries - of the isotope germanium-68 to the Los Alamos 
National Laboratory in New Mexico on June 18, said Professor 
Artem Arzumanov of the Kazakh National Nuclear Center. 

By comparison, medical devices used in cancer radiation therapy 
typically emit more than 1,000 curies, or 1 million millicuries. 

It was the first shipment of radioactive material by this former 
Soviet republic as part of the U.S. Energy Department's 
Initiative for Proliferation Prevention, Arzumanov said. 

The program aims to prevent the spread of nuclear materials and 
weaponry by helping nuclear research and productions facilities 
in ex-Soviet countries to make peaceful products and to secure 
radioactive stockpiles. 

The Central Asian nation has surrendered the considerable arsenal 
of nuclear weapons it inherited from the Soviet Union, but still 
has several nuclear materials production facilities and 
stockpiles of radioactive waste. 

Under the deal, the institute in Kazakhstan's commercial capital 
Almaty is expected to deliver another 200 millicuries of 
germanium-68 isotope to the Los Alamos laboratory next year and 
300 millicuries in 2006. 

Germanium-68 is used in early diagnosis of cancer, heart disease 
and other ailments. Many hospitals and research institutions also 
use isotopes such as germanium-68 to calibrate medical imagining 
equipment. 

On Jan. 12, the Los Alamos lab dedicated a $23 million facility 
to produce short-lived isotopes - including germanium-68 - for 
medical diagnosis and treatment. 

Demand for the isotopes has grown dramatically in the past 
decade, said Dennis Phillips, a chemist at the lab. 
        
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004
*****************************************************************
 37 Las Vegas SUN: Nevada officials lobby against direct funding for Yucca
 
Today: June 25, 2004 at 9:48:21 PDT 

By Suzanne Struglinski <suzanne@lasvegassun.com 
[suzanne@lasvegassun.com] > SUN WASHINGTON BUREAU

 WASHINGTON -- Rules placed on the Energy and Water spending
bill debate taking place in the House today could make it hard
for the Yucca Mountain project to get the money it needs.

 Supporters of the proposed nuclear waste dump 90 miles
northwest of Las Vegas had sought to make money from a nuclear
waste fund available directly to the project, without making it
compete with other projects that Congress funds, but the rules
will make that tough.

 Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, had said he hoped to add an amendment
to the spending bill that would provide $750 million directly to
the Yucca Mountain project.

 The Nevada House delegation lobbied the House Rules Committee,
which can make it easy or difficult for amendments to get
consideration, to make sure there was a level playing field
during the debate on the spending bill.

 Right now the Energy and Water spending bill contains only $131
million for the project, a severe cut from the department's $880
million request. The Energy Department has said at the lower
funding, it would have to lay off more than 1,700 Nevada
employees and contractors working on the project.

 To make up the difference, Congress would have to take the
money from other projects or pass a budget policy change to get
money directly from the nuclear waste fund, the pool paid into
by nuclear ratepayers for the project, without hurting other
projects. The House was to vote on the bill later today.

 Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., and Rep.
Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., worked with their parties' leadership
in the committee and in the House as a whole, urging them to
reject any consideration of making money available directly to
the Yucca project.

 During spending bill debate, an amendment to make the change
could still be offered but the rule on the bill allows for
debate and a vote on it, Berkley spokesman David Cherry said.
The rule creates a "disincentive" to bring up the amendment,
since those who oppose it would challenge it, Cherry said.

 Cherry said this came after a daylong plea with the Rules
Committee that the change would not only be bad for Nevada but
that there are more important priorities for federal funding and
this project does not deserve special treatment.

 Cherry said though that the rule just "dodges a bullet" and
that things can still change.

 Gibbons and Porter spoke before the Rules Committee Thursday
night. Gibbons said the project does not deserve a blank check,
according to spokeswoman Amy Spanbauer. He had sent a letter to
committee chairman Rep. David Drier, R-Calf., saying if the
committee allowed an amendment that would change the budget
rules "we would place not only the budget, but the safety of
this nation at risk."

 "With every week that goes by and with every dollar spent in an
attempt to make the Yucca Mountain waste repository feasible,
additional flaws that should render the project unsuitable for
licensing are exposed," Gibbons wrote.

 Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., blocked
a similar move in the Senate. Ensign sits on the Senate Budget
Committee and did not let the change into the Senate budget
resolution passed earlier this year.

 Reid, who is the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations
Energy and Water spending bill, will also work to stop the
change during that bill's debate and in conference with the
House version. 

*****************************************************************
 38 Las Vegas SUN: Pared-down Yucca budget set for OK
 
Bill would grant DOE $131 million

 By Suzanne Struglinski <suzanne@lasvegassun.com 
[suzanne@lasvegassun.com] > SUN WASHINGTON BUREAU

 The House of Representatives was expected to pass a bill today
that would give the Energy Department $131 million for work on
Yucca Mountain next year, a fraction of what the department
requested.

 The Energy Department, which has fought for more money, has
said cuts to its request of $880 million would mean 1,700
workers in Nevada would be laid off and work on the planned
nuclear waste repository 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas would
be slowed.

 The House Rules Committee on Thursday night passed provisions
that would make changing the budget very difficult. Reps.
Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., and Jon Porter,
R-Nev., lobbied for the restrictions to stop an attempt by Rep.
Joe Barton, R-Texas, to make an amendment to give the project
$750 million.

 A Barton spokeswoman said the congressman did not plan to offer
the amendment today.

 Rep. David Hobson, R-Ohio, who is the chairman of the committee
that oversees Yucca Mountain, pledged to continue to work for
the repository.

 "This is a program that this country has taken a position on,"
he said on the House floor. "We have to solve this problem. This
is where the repository is supposed to go. We've spent a ton of
money on it, and it's moving forward."

 The Energy Department has said at $131 million for the project,
it would have to lay off more than 1,700 Nevada employees and
contractors working on the project. The department has also said
that with that amount it would not meet its planned 2010 opening
date. Nevada wants to stop the project any way it can, but the
funding battle is not over yet.

 "We continue to face an uphill fight against an administration
and Republican leaders in Congress who care more about the
profits of the nuclear industry than the do about the lingering
scientific uncertainties that surround Yucca Mountain or the
threat to the safety of millions of Americans that nuclear waste
shipments will create," Berkley said. "Those working to see
nuclear waste dumped in Nevada are already vowing to use the
conference process to restore any shortfall in the president's
record $880 million dollar budget request for Yucca Mountain.
This is a daily battle as we move forward on spending bills that
fund nuclear waste projects."

 The budget will be decided later this year.

 The Senate has yet to set a budget for Yucca Mountain and will
take up work on the bill after the Fourth of July. Sen. Harry
Reid, D-Nev., the top Democrat on the Senate committee that sets
the energy budget, has regularly cut money from the Yucca
Mountain budget.

 The budget will be finalized by a conference committee made up
of House and Senate members, which will determine the final bill.

 Yucca Mountain proponents wanted to change the way Congress
funds the project and let the Energy Department take money from
the Nuclear Waste Fund, which comes from fees on users of
nuclear power. But a House committee rebuffed that attempt,
leaving the Energy Department with the lower amount.

 As the energy bill neared the House floor, Nevada's three
representatives then successfully lobbied the rules committee to
prevent a last-minute change, which would have allowed a
representative to put an amendment on to the bill for more money
for Yucca Mountain.

 Gibbons and Porter spoke before the Rules Committee last night.
Gibbons said the project does not deserve a blank check,
according to spokeswoman Amy Spanbauer. He had sent a letter to
committee chairman Rep. David Drier, R-Calif., saying if the
committee allowed an amendment that would change the budget
rules "we would place not only the budget, but the safety of
this nation at risk."

 Gibbons wrote: "With every week that goes by and with every
dollar spent in an attempt to make the Yucca Mountain waste
repository feasible, additional flaws that should render the
project unsuitable for licensing are exposed."

 Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., blocked a similar move in the Senate.
Ensign sits on the Senate Budget Committee and did not let the
change into the Senate budget resolution passed earlier this
year.

 Reid and Ensign will continue to fight the proposal and overall
funding for the Yucca project.

 Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., the chairman of the Senate
Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee, is
trying to get nuclear ratepayers to pay more this year to make
up the funding difference, so he would not have to take money
away from other programs in the bill.

 

*****************************************************************
 39 RGJ: Panel OKs Yucca funding plan
 
| Home [http://www.rgj.com/]

Friday | Jun 25, 2004

Reno Gazette-Journal] 
 			     			     			     		 		
[online@rgj.com] ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — A House committee approved legislation Thursday 
aimed at resolving a budget problem that threatens the proposed 
nuclear waste facility in Nevada.

The legislation, passed by the House Energy and Commerce 
Committee by a 29-19 vote, would assure a steady stream of money 
for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project over the next five 
years. The measure would keep the project on schedule to open in 
2010, assuming it gets a federal license.

Money for the project 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas was cut 
recently to $131 million for next year, a fraction of the $880 
million requested by the White House.

The House bill requires that at least $750 million collected into 
a special nuclear waste fund each year be spent on the Yucca 
project. This would allow lawmakers to come up with the 
additional money the Energy Department wants.

Lawmakers traditionally have used the nuclear waste fund to 
offset other spending and to help narrow the federal deficit. 
Many of them are reluctant to go along with any legislation that 
would change that practice.

The House bill also is certain to run into trouble in the Senate 
where it would need 60 votes to overcome procedural hurdles.

U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., is testing congressional 
sentiment on another way to give the project more money. He has 
proposed a one-time annual surcharge to collect an additional 
$446 million from electricity users to make up the shortfall for 
Yucca Mountain next year.

The nuclear industry has criticized Domenici’s plan, saying that 
electricity consumers already have paid $22 billion into the 
nuclear waste fund, $15 billion of which has not been spent.    

© Copyright Reno Gazette-Journal, a Gannett 
*****************************************************************
 40 RGJ: Missing deadline won’t delay opening schedule, officials say
 
   [http://www.rgj.com/]             
Friday | Jun 25, 2004

the Reno Gazette-Journal] 

   [online@rgj.com] 	   

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Missing a self-imposed deadline to certify Yucca 
Mountain project information for the Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission might not delay the Energy Department’s schedule for 
opening the national nuclear waste dump, officials said.

“I see a high quality license application in December,” Joseph 
Ziegler of the Energy Department Office of Repository Development 
said Thursday in Washington, D.C.

The Energy Department had planned to provide millions of 
documents to the NRC by Wednesday — as required six months before 
applying for a license to open the nuclear waste dump in 2010.

Officials agreed this week the department faces few consequences 
if it still submits a license application in December to open the 
repository 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is expected to take at least 
three years evaluating the application. Regulations call for 
planners to certify that everything known about the project is in 
a database to be turned over to the commission to support the 
license request.

Ziegler told the NRC Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste that 
about 50 scientific questions remain to be answered by August, 
and updates to other reports should be completed by September. He 
said department technical staff was up to the challenge and said 
there should be no technical errors.

Charles Fitzpatrick, a McLean, Va., lawyer handling Nevada’s 
opposition to the Yucca Mountain project, said he expects 
certification of the database will come in the next few days. 
That still would allow the license application to be submitted in 
December. Fitzpatrick said a larger delay could come if the 
commission finds the documentation insufficient.        

© Copyright Reno Gazette-Journal, a  [http://www.gannett.com]
*****************************************************************
 41 Sun Herald: Toxic releases should raise concerns over DuPont plans

| 06/25/2004 | 

By DR. PETER DEFUR

 A SUN HERALD FORUM

Recently DuPont DeLisle received permission to increase air 
pollution on the Gulf Coast for a 16 percent expansion even 
though the American Lung Association has given Harrison County an 
"F" for high ozone levels in the air. 

DuPont also is seeking a number of other permits, including a 
request to fill in 24 acres of wetlands to build a new landfill 
near the Bay of St. Louis that would accept dangerous wastes such 
as heavy metals, PCBs and dioxins. 

The facility applying for this permit has a long history of 
environmental problems. DuPont's Titanium Dioxide plant in 
DeLisle had at least one incidence of non-compliance with its 
wastewater permits in every quarter from April 2002 until the 
beginning of this year, and formal action was taken against the 
plant recently because of violations of its air permits over a 
15-year period. 

The site already has two sizable plumes of contaminants beneath 
the property. The contaminants include perchloroethene and other 
organics, as well as heavy metals such as arsenic, barium, 
beryllium, manganese, and lead. Although the PCE plumes are 
mostly contained under the plant, other compounds such as 
manganese have been found in drinking water wells beyond the 
boundaries of the plant. 

Currently DuPont DeLisle is No. 1 in the entire country for 
releases of dioxin-like compounds, according to EPA's Toxic 
Release Inventory. While DuPont only "discovered" the dioxin in 
its waste materials a few years ago, it is now known that the 
dioxin has been produced there for the 25 years the plant has 
operated. In earlier years the waste was transported in uncovered 
trucks up Kiln-DeLisle Road to a landfill, and residents report 
so much waste was blown out of the backs of the trucks that the 
roads turned white. 

DuPont contends that the type of dioxins created at their plant 
are 10,000 times less toxic than the most dangerous variety 
(TCDD, the one found in Agent Orange), but that does not mean 
that they are not dangerous. This particular compound dioxin 
(OCDF) is one of the most persistent varieties of dioxins. With 
such low thresholds required to cause such a wide range of 
adverse effects, any releases of these compounds can have 
dangerous consequences. 

Dioxins have tremendous longevity in the environment and in 
living tissues, including human bodies. Dioxins have a half-life 
(the time it takes for half of it to be lost) in humans of about 
10 years and dioxin in soils or sediments can remain there for 
upwards of 100 years. Though not very soluble in water, its 
hydrophobic (repels water) properties give the compounds an 
affinity for fats, oils and organic sediments similar to PCBs. 
When dioxins move into sediments these compounds can enter the 
aquatic food chain. They enter the food chain because of their 
high solubility in fats, storing the toxic compound within any 
organism that consumes the dioxin-tainted sediment. Once in the 
food web, as one animal consumes another, the dioxin is 
concentrated in these "higher" predators. Therefore, when that 
organism is consumed by a top predator (human or otherwise), the 
dioxins are passed up the food chain. 

Dioxins in animal tissues are not inert, but are released into 
the blood stream and circulate to other tissues where the effects 
can be exerted over time. A critical experiment conducted at the 
University of Wisconsin and published in 1991 and 1992 
demonstrated the high toxicity of dioxins. A single dose of 
dioxin given to pregnant rats caused abnormalities in the male 
offspring. 

The fact that dioxins do not dissolve well in water means that 
these compounds will dissolve in body fats and will be retained 
by animals, causing health problems over very long periods and 
throughout the body. Small amounts in the environment will be 
concentrated at high levels in animals --- including humans. 

In spite of these risks, DuPont plans to excavate some 
already-processed waste to remove another 10 percent more 
titanium dioxide. This re-mining of waste could release more 
dioxins, PCBs and heavy metals into the surrounding environment. 
Dioxin exposure leads to diseases such as diabetes, various 
cancers including prostate cancer, endometriosis, birth defects, 
and heart disease. Serious damage comes from a very small 
exposure level, equivalent to spitting into an Olympic-size 
swimming pool. 

The EPA estimates that the average U.S. resident is now already 
over-exposed to dioxin-like compounds. Furthermore, EPA concludes 
that the most highly exposed individuals are those who live in 
the vicinity of a source facility; DuPont DeLisle is such a 
source facility. 

Dr. Peter deFur, president of Environmental Stewardship Concepts, 
is a technical advisor to Sierra Club on the DuPont DeLisle 
permit applications. He is an affiliate associate professor in 
the Center for Environmental Studies at Virginia Commonwealth 
University where he conducts research on environmental health and 
ecological risk assessment. He is president of the Association 
for Science in the Public Interest. by Peter deFur   

*****************************************************************
 42 heraldtribune.com: Water hookup charge upsets residents 

Southwest Florida's Information Leader
 	 	 	 	 	
Lockheed Martin promises to pay the fees for new water service, 
necessitated by pollution in Tallevast. 

By SCOTT CARROLL
 
 [scott.carroll@heraldtribune.com] 

TALLEVAST -- Frank Williams, who got a temporary hookup to 
Manatee County water three weeks ago, got a shock this week when 
he opened his bill and found out he owes $135.

That is the deposit the county is charging Williams and the other 
16 residents who signed up for public water after discovering 
that a plume of contaminated ground water was threatening their 
wells.

John Barnott, the county's utilities customer service 
administrator, said the deposit is standard for all new hookups 
and can't be waived. He said, though, that the county will work 
out a payment plan for any resident who can't pay the entire 
amount.

Residents say they shouldn't have to pay for water hookups made 
necessary by a pollution problem they didn't cause. They also say 
the county water they get is dirty and ranges from warm to hot 
because it comes from a hose that is exposed to the sun.

"We were told that we weren't supposed to pay anything," Williams 
said. "Why should I pay?"

The residents live near the former American Beryllium Co. plant 
on Tallevast Road. The plant, which made missiles for the 
military, polluted the ground water with potentially dangerous 
chemicals. At least 17 wells in the community are contaminated 
with trichloroethylene, which can cause liver and kidney cancer 
and a host of other ailments.

Lockheed Martin, which bought the plant in 1996 and is 
responsible for the cleanup, sent residents a letter this month 
telling them the company would pay the water bills for those 
folks being hooked up to county water.

"Lockheed Martin has agreed to underwrite the cost of the water 
usage during this temporary connection," the letter said. 
"Lockheed Martin also has agreed to provide your home with a 
permanent connection to the public water system."

Lockheed Martin spokeswoman Meredith Davis said she was surprised 
the residents were being charged a security deposit, since they 
already have accounts with the county for their sewer service. 
Davis also said the company will abide by its promise to pay the 
bills.

"I can understand their shock. I'd be shocked too," Davis said. 
"I'll contact the utility department tomorrow to make sure 
residents don't have to pay anything."

The residents first learned that their wells are contaminated, 
then they were told that high levels of arsenic were found in the 
yard of at least one house. They blame the pollution for what 
they say are high rates of cancer and other illnesses in the 
area.

Frank Bryant Jr. said his father recently died and his mother is 
in a nursing home. When he called the county to complain about 
the bill, Bryant was told he had no choice but to pay it.

"I can't afford to pay it," Bryant said. "All the bills are on 
me."

Laura Ward, president of the community group Focus, said the 
bills are just another example of how county and state officials 
neglect Tallevast residents. Those officials knew about the 
pollution for at least four years, but never told the residents.

"This whole experience has really taught us to not take anybody's 
word for anything," Ward said.

Staff writer Daneesha Davis contributed to this report. 

heraldtribune.com | Advertise With Us Serving the Herald-Tribune 
newspaper and SNN Channel 6 © Sarasota Herald-Tribune. All rights 
*****************************************************************
 43 NineMSN: WA not a nuclear dump - Gallop

ninemsn.com.au

12:35 AEST Fri Jun 25 2004

The federal government has been warned Western Australia is not a 
backup destination for a nuclear waste dump, after a court 
decision scuttled a plan to build a facility in South Australia's 
outback.

The Full Court of the Federal Court set aside the Commonwealth 
compulsory acquisition of land near Woomera in SA's north, which 
was slated for a low-level nuclear waste dump.

Federal Science Minister Peter McGauran said the government would 
probably appeal the case to the High Court, but was also 
considering other options.

But WA Premier Geoff Gallop has warned any consideration of WA as 
a possible site would be met with fierce opposition.

"WA is a clean and green state and this will not be compromised 
by a federal government intent on offloading its nuclear waste in 
our backyard," Dr Gallop said.

Dr Gallop also said the state had "legislated to ensure it was 
not viewed as a potential dumping ground for other people's 
dangerous waste" by amending WA's Nuclear Waste Storage 
Prohibition Act earlier this year.

The act - which prohibits the construction and operation of a 
nuclear waste storage facility for any radioactive material - was 
extended to cover all nuclear waste, whether generated in 
Australia or overseas.

Â©AAP 2004

© 1997-2004 ninemsn Pty Ltd - All rights reserved
*****************************************************************
 44 Pahrump Valley Times: Tech park gets small boost 

June 25, 2004

BRADSHAW OFFERS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PARK UPDATE 

By PHILLIP GOMEZ PVT 
  
Les Bradshaw briefed Nye County Commissioners, Sheriff Tony 
DeMeo, Chief Deputy District Attorney Ron Kent, seated in the 
middle, and Public Works Director Samson Yao, behind Bradshaw, on 
the status of the Amargosa Valley Science and Technology Park at 
a Tuesday teleconference in Pahrump.   

Unanticipated infrastructure costs in finishing work on the 
foundation of the Yucca Mountain-related business park in 
Amargosa Valley led Nye County commissioners on Tuesday to 
appropriate $58,000 to complete the project.

 Nye County's initiative establishing the Amargosa Valley Science 
&Technology Park - at what would be the main entrance to the 
Yucca Mountain Repository at Lathrop Wells in Amargosa Valley - 
came under review at the meeting, even as workers from the 
county's Public Works Department were on the ground with spades 
and heavy equipment to mark off the site's principal 
thoroughfares: Science Court, Technology Court and the Busted 
Butte Street entranceway. 

The upshot, according to Bradshaw, was that the site's well is 
not working and the site as a whole lacks federally required 
infrastructures, such as a pump house for fire protection, water 
tanks and mains. Also, the street system needs a road base, and 
the Nevada Department of Transportation requires better 
construction materials and turn-lanes on Nevada Highway 95 before 
the county's contract with Rafael Construction can be called 
completed.

 The extra work will cost the county about $56,200, Bradshaw 
said, but he asked for and received $58,000, just to be sure. The 
original project component had been reduced in scope to $920,000 
in order to keep costs under budget. 

Until now, the project was funded entirely by the U.S. Commerce 
Department's Economic Development Administration. 

The original 1999 EDA grant was then the largest grant ever 
awarded in Nevada. Since then, the city of Fallon has received a 
larger one for its water problems, Bradshaw said. 

The $6 million grant allowed the county to build and equip the 
Community College of Southern Nevada Pahrump campus at the high 
school and helped get the county's economic development agency, 
Economic Development Authority of Esmeralda and Nye, or EDEN, off 
the ground to boost economic activity in the county and increase 
the tax base. 

The science and technology park is the third phase in the overall 
project. 

The work will extend the construction for another two weeks, 
Bradshaw said. Upon completion the project would be a saleable 
concern to developers. Omitted from the county's work order are 
street paving, streetlights and electrical facilities.

 The project is modeled on the federal nuclear facilities for 
Department of Energy contractors and their subs in Hanford, 
Wash., Bradshaw said. The strategic impetus for the project is to 
allow the county access to potential tax revenues that otherwise 
would go to Clark County.

 Pahrump resident Sally Devlin called the project "another 
boondoggle" being foisted upon the public. She asked for the 
district attorney "to look into it."

 But Pahrump resident Dan Simmons encouraged passage of the 
appropriation, saying the idea was for private enterprise to take 
over and develop the park. 

"The first lot sale will more than recoup the $58,000," Bradshaw 
later said.

 Buyers stand ready, said Commissioner Joni Eastley from Tonopah.

 The commissioners voted to approve the measure 5-0.

For comment or questions, please e-mail 
webmaster@pahrumpvalleytimes.com 
[webmaster@pahrumpvalleytimes.com] Copyright © Pahrump Valley 
Times, 1997 - 2003 
*****************************************************************
 45 Pahrump Valley Times: History of nuclear waste and Nye County: Part III 
 
June 25, 2004

 NYE COUNTY HISTORY 

By BOB MCCRACKEN 

(Editor's note: The following is the third and final chapter in a 
three-part series on the history of the Yucca Mountain Project.)

 As a member of the Senate Energy Committee, Sen. Chic Hecht 
spent years studying nuclear energy and the nuclear waste 
disposal situation. He consulted with many of the world's leading 
scientists on atomic energy. He became good friends with Dr. 
Edward Teller, one of the great physicists of his or any 
generation. Moreover, Sen. Hecht, as one of President Ronald 
Reagan's strongest supporters in the Senate, also enjoyed a close 
relationship with the highest officials in the Reagan 
administration. He met often with Energy Secretary John 
Harrington. As a result, it can be said that Sen. Hecht was in 
the loop composed of those who knew the most about nuclear issues 
and those who were in a position to make things happen.

 From what I have learned from Sen. Hecht and others, Nevada and 
especially Nye County have paid a heavy price for the state's 
hardheaded opposition to Yucca Mountain. For example, many 
observers in Washington believe that Nevada has long mortgaged 
much of what little political power it has because of its stand 
on Yucca Mountain. If this is not the case, then where in Nevada 
are the big-ticket federally funded programs and projects? They 
aren't to be found. They don't exist. Where are the jobs and 
infrastructure in Nye County based on federal money? As the old 
prospector said when the gold flakes he thought he had seen in 
his pan disappeared, "They went a-glimmering." To keep things in 
perspective, remember - the federal government wants to spend a 
billion dollars per year on a program in Nye County for decades 
into the future. And that is just for openers! The first job of 
any politician in Washington is to bring home the "bacon." Nevada 
gets very little "pork barrel" money. The state gets back only 73 
cents for every dollar its citizens pay in federal taxes. On that 
measure, Nevada is one of the worst performers among the states.

 In the late 1980s, a powerful representative from the nuclear 
industry asked an important and highly respected Nye County 
official what Nevada might take to accept the repository. The 
official said, "How about the supercollider [a $5-7 billion atom 
smasher that would have turned Nevada into a world science 
center]? "OK," was the response. "What else do you want?" "How 
about the superspeed train from Las Vegas to Los Angeles?" "OK, 
what else do you want?" "I'll have to get back to you," was the 
official's astonished reply. But given the anti-Yucca Mountain 
political climate that was being deliberately cultivated in 
Nevada, the offer was dead on arrival.

 In my interview with Sen. Hecht, he spoke of an offer made to 
Nevada in about 1987 in exchange for the state's acceptance of 
the repository. When asked if he thought the offer was bona fide 
and deliverable, he replied he believed it would have been 
"forthcoming; very forthcoming." Secretary of Energy Harrington 
proposed to Hecht that if Nevada would accept the repository, 
Nevada would be given billions of dollars (remember, those are 
1980s dollars) for "a large university in conjunction with UNLV." 
The institution would be so well funded, and its mission so 
important and prestigious, the secretary said, that in a short 
time it would employ more Nobel Prize winners than any university 
on Earth. Part of the focus of the institution - but not the only 
one - would be the study of nuclear power (including hydrogen 
fusion) and nuclear medicine. The Nevada Test Site, the senator 
was told, could become a huge laboratory for research on two 
problems that have plagued human beings since time immemorial: 
availability of energy and disease. Dr. Teller endorsed the idea. 
Imagine what this could have meant for the future of Nye County! 
A world-class research institute based at least in part in 
southern Nye County, a city of science on the desert.

 After receiving the offer from Secretary Harrington, Sen. Hecht 
made an appointment to meet with the president of UNLV. At that 
meeting, the senator was told that "if any professor at the 
university [were] ... to endorse the ... [idea], they would not 
have a job the next day." Sen. Hecht reluctantly dropped the 
idea. The opportunity evaporated.

 In the mid-1980s, according to Hecht, Sen. Bennett Johnson of 
Louisiana introduced legislation in the Energy Committee that 
would have given Nevada $100 million to $200 million per year for 
accepting the repository. The proposal was voted down in 
committee, Hecht said, because Nevada politicians showed no 
interest in the money. In 1987, Johnson proposed a grand 
compromise on Yucca Mountain to former Nevada Gov. Grant Sawyer 
and Bob Loux. In making his offer, Sen. Johnson said, "Maybe the 
people of that [Nye] County should never have to pay property 
taxes again; maybe they ought to have great schools provided by 
the federal government." Another offer gone a-glimmering. 

We now have the benefit of a 20-year perspective on the Yucca 
Mountain issue. The world is a very different place from what it 
was when President Reagan signed the Nuclear Waste Policy Act in 
1983 - it is more interconnected and in many ways more fragile. 
Our future is more uncertain. The tens of thousands of tons of 
high-level nuclear waste stored at 139 sites around the country 
are vulnerable to terrorism. We realize that our civilization's 
voracious consumption of fossil fuels is altering the planet's 
climate, placing an alarmingly large percentage of the world's 
species at risk, possibly including large numbers of human 
beings. World oil production seems likely to soon peak, and then 
begin to decline just as the energy needs of China and India 
begin increasing exponentially. Added to that is the potential 
unreliability of existing oil supplies. Wind and solar power will 
not prevent the coming energy shortage. Like it or not, the 
world's nations will need nuclear power, and lots of it, to stave 
off an inevitable energy crisis that may well be calamitous for 
civilization. That crisis may occur in 10 years or it could be 50 
years, but it is coming.

 One thing needs to be made clear in the debate on storage of 
high-level nuclear waste, whether at Yucca Mountain or somewhere 
else: Unreprocessed nuclear waste, the kind currently proposed 
for deposit at Yucca Mountain, is unlikely to remain buried in 
the ground for long. As Dr. Teller told Sen. Hecht on a number of 
occasions, "If Nevada ever does take the nuclear waste, make sure 
they take title to it. It will be enormously valuable in 50 to 75 
years." The best and most rational way to deal with high-level 
nuclear waste is to reprocess and recycle it, and then bury the 
residue. This residue will remain dangerous for a much shorter 
period than unreprocessed waste, 300 to 1,000 years for 
reprocessed waste vs. 10,000-plus years for unreprocessed waste. 
After a few hundred years, reprocessed waste will be no more 
radioactive than naturally occurring uranium ore. It can then be 
safely stored in existing container technology. Moreover, future 
technology may find important uses for the residues left over 
from reprocessing.

 It would seem that history shows Nevada has taken the wrong path 
on Yucca Mountain and nuclear waste storage. Nevadans have paid a 
substantial price for this unproductive approach, and Nye County 
has paid the heaviest price of all. What an enormous lost 
opportunity! But instead of paralysis on the issue, perhaps 
Nevada is yet destined to play a vital role in helping to solve 
some of the world's most important problems. Imagine a Yucca 
Mountain where nuclear waste is reprocessed and then re-burned in 
big reactors on the Nevada Test Site. The resulting 
pollution-free power goes into distribution throughout the West, 
making life better for all of us. And out in the Amargosa Valley 
sits a city of the future, a Science City, devoted to science 
research and the best that humanity has to offer. Perhaps it is 
not too late for Secretary Harrington's concept, proposed to Sen. 
Hecht nearly 20 years ago, to become a reality.

 McCracken is the author of "A History of Pahrump, Nevada" and 11 
other books about Nye County published by the Nye County Press.

For comment or questions, please e-mail 
webmaster@pahrumpvalleytimes.com 
[webmaster@pahrumpvalleytimes.com] Copyright © Pahrump Valley 
Times, 1997 - 2003 
*****************************************************************
 46 AU ABC: Broken Hill reflects on waste dump ruling » 

"Australian Broadcasting Corporation Online">
[http://abc.net.au/]     

Friday, 25 June 2004 

An anti-nuclear campaigner says the Federal Court's ruling 
against a nuclear waste dump near Woomera, in northern South 
Australia, makes it easier to fight the establishment of any 
repository and the transport of nuclear material through Broken 
Hill. 

The court ruled the Federal Government's compulsory acquisition 
of the land in South Australia's north was illegal. 

Broken Hill city councillor Darriea Turley says the options now 
facing the Government are all time-consuming. 

"The Federal Government probably has four processes that they can 
go through now...challenging in the High Court, trying to amend 
the Land Acquisition Act which would be stopped in the Senate," 
she said. 

"They would look at going through normal land acquisition which 
will be a delay or they could give up and that's what I'm hoping 
they're going to do." [ more news ] Last Updated: 10:47:00 AM 
(AEST)                 

[http://www.abc.net.au/privacy.htm]  
*****************************************************************
 47 asahi.com Takashi Hiraoka: Host A-bomb exhibitions around the world 
 
  [asahi.com]      
  
POINT OF VIEW / 

Kuniko Inoguchi quit her post as Japan's ambassador to the 
Conference on Disarmament in April. Since she was appointed 
ambassador from the private sector two years ago, I, as an 
advocate of the abolition of nuclear weapons, have looked to her 
to play a positive role in advancing the move. 

However, she was unable to break the deadlock of the disarmament 
conference in which the interests of member states clashed. 

When I look back on the way the Japanese government tackled 
nuclear disarmament, I cannot help but think Inoguchi's hard 
efforts were wasted. 

The United States is currently attempting to build up its nuclear 
war potential. It is preparing to resume nuclear tests, 
developing robust nuclear earth penetrators and advancing 
research to make nuclear weapons smaller and easier to use. Along 
with the decision to launch a pre-emptive strike, these projects 
completely ignore ``a clear commitment to abolish nuclear 
weapons'' that the five nuclear powers agreed on at the Nuclear 
Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in 2000. 

Even though the U.S. administration led by George W. Bush 
displayed such glaring double standards, the Japanese government 
failed to raise any objection. Moreover, Japanese officials have 
recognized U.S. subcritical nuclear experiments, given the 
go-ahead for a missile defense system and even dispatched 
Self-Defense Forces to Iraq. 

With such behavior, the government ``stepped on the edge of 
Ambassador Inoguchi's skirt'' and held her back from doing her 
job. Japan cannot escape criticism that it is only making a show 
of advancing nuclear disarmament. 

When I met then-Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto during his visit 
to Hiroshima in the summer of 1997, I told him, ``If Japan really 
wants to promote nuclear disarmament, it should seriously 
consider moving out of the nuclear umbrella.'' ``There's no way 
we can do such a thing,'' he said flatly. 

At last year's Aug. 6 Hiroshima peace memorial service, Prime 
Minister Junichiro Koizumi vowed to ``advance initiatives for 
nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation by taking steps such as 
urging foreign governments for early ratification of the 
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.'' He also stressed that Japan 
firmly stands by the three non-nuclear principles (of not 
producing, possessing or allowing nuclear weapons into Japan). 

However, if I were to make the same proposal to Koizumi, I think 
he would give the same answer as Hashimoto's. 

This gap between what Japan professes and what it really thinks 
is what makes Japan's diplomacy weak and shallow. 

Recently, high-ranking government officials and lawmakers have 
been speaking of re-examining Japan's three non-nuclear 
principles. Furthermore, there is a growing voice stressing the 
need for a nuclear umbrella to counter the North Korean threat. 

Many people continue to suffer the effects of nuclear testing 
throughout the world. We also hear reports about the serious 
impact of depleted uranium weapons on human health. Under such 
circumstances, once again, we need to seriously ask ourselves: 
Can nuclear weapons really protect the people? 

The nuclear umbrella is not the answer to the security of the 
Japanese people. I believe a more realistic approach would be to 
create a nuclear-free zone in Northeast Asia, for example. 

The six-party talks now under way may be a step toward realizing 
a nuclear-free Northeast Asia, not to mention the settlement of 
the abduction issue for Japan. 

Japan must advance its nuclear disarmament diplomacy based on 
such values. 

It is important that Japan actively use such international forums 
as the United Nations and the Conference on Disarmament to 
promote the abolition of nuclear weapons. At the same time, if 
the government seriously wants to tackle the problem, it should 
also make a positive effort to arouse international public 
opinion calling for abolition. 

As countries prepare for the NPT Review Conference to be held 
next year, the Foreign Ministry should organize ``atomic bomb 
exhibitions'' around the world with the cooperation of Hiroshima, 
Nagasaki and nongovernmental organizations in order to stir 
international public opinion for the abolition of destructive 
nuclear weapons. 

The United Nations has 191 member states. If exhibitions are held 
in 10 countries each year, it would take nearly 20 years to cover 
the world. Sending the SDF and providing official development 
assistance are not the only ways for Japan to influence the 
international arena. The hosting of ``atomic bomb exhibitions'' 
is a peaceful and useful contribution that only Japan is capable 
of making. 

The author is a former mayor of Hiroshima City. He contributed
this comment to The Asahi Shimbun.(IHT/Asahi: June 25,2004)
(06/25) 

[Copyright Asahi Shimbun. All rights reserved. No reproduction
*****************************************************************
 48 Meeting at Piketon with NRC 
 
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 14:05:14 -0700

 
<x-flowed>
From: "evan" <<mailto:evan@iwaynet.net>evan@iwaynet.net>

Here's the shorter of two versions of today's story about last night's
hearing. This one is a little long ( 4:20) and the other is actually 5
minutes but they may have room to run the 5 min version. Tune in if you
can to KPFK ( via <http://www.pacifica.org.)>http://www.pacifica.org.) at 
6:00 pm or 9:00 pm
tonight to catch the broadcast or go to; 
<http://www.fsrn.org>http://www.fsrn.org  ( also
linked to via Pacifica) and click on the latest listing under "broadcast".
      Thanks for all of your help!
     Evan

         Lead;
       The Nuclear Regulatory Commission held a public hearing last
night in the small town of Piketon, Ohio to answer citizens' concerns
about a proposed new uranium enrichment facility there which, if
approved, could become operational by the end of the decade and would
make Ohio the nation's leading producer of radioactive fuel.
     Evan Davis files this report
          *  Piketon, Ohio, a town of 2,000 near the Ohio/Kentucky
border along the Scioto river has long been dependent on the nuclear
industry as a major source of employment and revenue. The uranium
enrichment plant near Piketon has been in operation since 1954 when it
was managed by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber company to produce
fissionable materials for the first generation of atomic weapons. In
the 1960's the Piketon plant supplied fuel for commercial nuclear
power plants until 1992 when the United States Enrichment Company, or
"USEC",  the contractor now in charge of the government's uranium
production idled the Piketon facility and consolidated operations at
its Paducah, Kentucky facility, thus laying off more than 500 workers
in the Piketon area.
         But the Paducah, Kentucky facility  is now on the National
Priorities List as a "superfund" site and is being phased out.  USEC
is applying to re-open the Piketon plant to test a newer method of
unarium enrichment, known as the Gas Cetrifuge method.
       Billy Spencer is the mayor of Piketon. He was at the hearing to
speak in favor of USEC's proposal. *

           <It's just..I...I...I just think it's good for the whole ...
  economy of the... Southern...at least...in a  four or five county...
area of Southern Ohio, in a... in a... an area that's ...that's...
desparate... for good jobs, you know. Like I said; 25 years ago I was
knockin' down the door when Goodyear run the place ... looking for a
job...> 18 sec

        * The prospect of new jobs in this economically depressed area
has some, like the mayor, willing to discount concerns over potential
environmental and health impacts from the proposed new operation.
Again, Mayor Spencer;
  *
        <Y'know, 'safety'... it's a...it's a... uh...y'know what does
that mean exactly- you know I'm concerned, of course. I don't want to
see anybody get sick or... or DIE, you know, but people get sick and
die every day that have never walked in to the plant - and I'm not
saying that's not a safety issue there - I don't KNOW that - I
don't... I don't get in to that.> 16 sec.
          *  Not everyone in Piketon is celebrating, however
       Elisa Young was one of more than 100 people who attended the
hearing; *
                         I'm really concerned about the
radioactive legacy that this centrifuge has the potential to leave us
with. When you look at the plant that they're in the process of
shutting down in Kentucky the Department of Energy's estimate was two
hundred and sixty billion dollar clean-up and one of my concerns is,
first off; are we going to have the money to clean up the mess once
these guys are done and does the short term benefit of inexpensive
energy even begin to approach the amount of money that we're going to
have to spend on cleaning up?>  28 sec.
            * Uranium 235, the highly radioactive isotope extracted from
uranium ore is the primary fuel used by the nation's one hundred-plus
nuclear power plants. It is also processed further to create plutonium
239 which is used in nuclear weapons. The by-product of the extraction
process, uranium 238 , known as "depleted uranium" is also radioactive
and has been used to make a range of products from silverware to
munitions used by the U.S. military in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo
but most of the depleted uranium or "tails" are stored on site at the
enrichment facilities where they become the responsibility of the
Department of Energy .


  *
               *  But Department of Energy and its contractors are not
regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, however and the bulk
of the radioactive material at the Piketon plant which has accumulated
since its construction 50 years ago is under the DOE's jurisdiction.
Despite this USEC spokesperson, Elizabeth Stockwell insists that the
dangers are neglible. *

                   < I think that it's very important for people to
understand the difference between cold war legacy-day operations and
today's operations. In today's world the operations are very safe,
very... environmentally compatible and , um....( sigh)... people
should not be concerned about them.> 16 sec.

                   *  Some former plant employees disagree. Vina Colley
is the president of the Portsmouth/Piketon residents for
Envirinmental  Safety and Security. Vina is manager of National Nuclear 
Workers for Justice <http://www.nnwj.com>www.nnwj.com

  *
                  < There's radition 100 times above background levels
2 miles of this site. When I worked as an electrician we took and
cleaned down contaminated cells that had plutonium and technetium in
'em and we took the trichloroethylenes and we poured 'em down the
drains 'cause they didn't tell us any different. Then when I started
getting sick and started complaining about health and safety issues
they quit letting the workers dump it down the drains. And I don't
care how many contractors they have here, it all goes back to the
department of energy and the community's fooled and the workers are
fooled because they go by NRC regulations and this and that and this
is another dog and pony show to make the community feel like it's safe
- I mean, yeah, we need jobs but my co-workers are dyin'>  40 sec
                                   *USEC will formally submit its
application in August and the NRC will begin its multi-stage review
process then which could take up to 24 months during which time more
public hearings will be held.
       For Free Speech Radio News this is Evan Davis in Piketon, Ohio
  *



</x-flowed>
*****************************************************************
 49 Hanford radwaste dumping will be scaled back
 
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 14:10:03 -0500 (CDT)

 
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/179310_hanford24.html

LISA STIFFLER
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

The federal government promised yesterday to immediately stop dumping
radioactive garbage into unlined dirt trenches at the Hanford Nuclear
Reservation, and agreed to send much less waste there than originally
proposed.

The decision by the U.S. Department of Energy ended more than six years of
planning and debate over how much low-level radioactive and toxic waste will
be imported to the Eastern Washington site.

Watchdog groups and Washington state regulators have criticized plans to
bring thousands of truckloads of waste to Hanford, most of it for permanent
disposal, arguing that it undermines a multibillion-dollar cleanup and poses
new health and environmental risks.

Officials with the Energy Department said they've tried to allay those
fears.

"We've taken very seriously their concerns," said Jessie Roberson, the
agency's assistant secretary in charge of cleanup. "We really are focused
on, and committed to, the cleanup of Hanford."

Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., applauded the decision to stop using unlined
trenches for disposal.

"Today's announcement ... represents an incredible and long-fought victory
for the people of Washington state," Inslee said. "There is no reason we
should continue to dump radioactive wastes in unlined fills, particularly at
Hanford where there is a track record of groundwater contamination ending up
in the Columbia River."

Washington Attorney General Christine Gregoire, however, wasn't satisfied
with the federal plan.

"There should be no more shipments to Hanford until waste improperly stored
at the site is cleaned up," Gregoire said. "Until (the Energy Department)
has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to clean up the contamination
already at Hanford, they should not ship additional waste."

Washington Ecology Department officials were reviewing the federal decision
yesterday afternoon and were not sure if the Energy Department addressed all
of their concerns.

In addition to stopping the use of unlined trenches, Ecology wanted
monitoring to track underground leaks from the trenches already in use and
clear plans for treating waste that is so dangerous it can only be handled
with remote-controlled devices.

Another key issue for the state is getting written commitments for specific
cleanup projects at Hanford in return for importing waste from nuclear
cleanup sites around the country.

"This issue of linking waste-import to measurable milestones has not been
resolved," said Ecology spokeswoman Sheryl Hutchison.

Some environmental groups also bristled at the federal plan to truck
radioactive waste along interstates for burial at Hanford.

"This decision opens a tremendous floodgate of radioactive waste to be
dumped in the ground at Hanford," said Gerald Pollet, executive director of
Heart of America Northwest, a Seattle-based watchdog group.

The department is planning to send 2.9 million cubic-feet of debris to
Hanford -- about one-quarter of the volume proposed as recently as January.

Hanford is the largest radiation cleanup project in the nation. The site
along the Columbia River was created for production of plutonium used in a
bomb dropped on Japan during World War II.

The Energy Department has argued that waste needs to be shipped to Hanford
from other former defense projects so they can finish cleanup of smaller
sites and close them down, which will save money. Agency officials say
Hanford is exporting some of its waste for disposal in other states and that
there needs to be reciprocity.

Pollet is promoting Initiative 297, a measure that will be on the November
ballot that bans the use of unlined trenches, creates an advisory board to
oversee waste issues and requires disclosure of how much is being spent on
handling waste.

The state and watchdog groups are still battling the Energy Department in
federal court over the importing of transuranic waste, which includes
long-lived radioactive material, such as plutonium.

The Energy Department briefly trucked this kind of waste into Hanford until
stopping the shipments in March 2003, around the time the suits were filed.
The sides disagree over whether the state has authority over the shipments.
Other types of waste are still being imported to Hanford.

P-I reporter Lisa Stiffler can be reached at 206-448-8042 or
lisastiffler@seattlepi.com.
*****************************************************************
 50 DOE: whom it is not feasible to estimate their radiation dose, and on 
 
                        FR Doc 04-14470 
[Federal Register: June 25, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 122)] 
[Notices] [Page 35632-35633] From the Federal Register Online via 
GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr25jn04-88]                         
 
whether there is reasonable likelihood that such radiation doses 
may have endangered the health of members of this class.
 
Background: The Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health met 
on June 3, 2004, in closed session to discuss the Proposed 
Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) for the Board's Task 
Order contract and a submitted proposal of work. This contract, 
once awarded, will provide technical support to assist the Board 
in fulfilling its statutory duty to advise the Secretary, HHS, 
regarding the dose reconstruction efforts under the Energy 
Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. A 
Determination to Close the meeting was approved and published, as 
required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
 
Summary of the Meeting: Attendance was as follows: Board Members: 
Paul L. Ziemer, PhD, Chair; Larry J. Elliott, Executive 
Secretary; Antonio Andrade, PhD, Member; Roy L. DeHart, M.D., 
M.P.H., Member; Richard L. Espinosa, Member; Michael H. Gibson, 
Member; Mark A. Griffon, Member; James M. Melius, M.D., Dr.P.H., 
Member; Wanda I. Munn, Member; Robert W. Presley, Member; 
Genevieve S. Roessler, PhD, Member; NIOSH Staff: Cori Homer, Liz 
Homoki-Titus, and Jim Neton; Ray S. Green, Court Recorder. 
Summary/Minutes Dr. Ziemer called to order the ABRWH in closed 
session on June 3, 2004, at 1:30 p.m. The purpose of the closed 
meeting was to discuss the Proposed IGCE for the Board's Task 
Order contract and a submitted proposal of work.
 
General topics discussed: Closed session procedures.
 
IGCE for task proposals of the task order contract.
 
Dr. Paul Ziemer adjourned the closed session of the ABRWH meeting 
at 1:40 p.m. with no further business being conducted by the 
ABRWH.
 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Elliott, Executive 
Secretary, ABRWH, NIOSH, CDC, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, 
Ohio 45226, telephone 513/533-6825, fax 513/533-6826.
 
 
[[Page 35633]] The Director, Management Analysis and Services 
Office, has been delegated the authority to sign Federal Register 
notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other 
committee management activities for both the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and 
Disease Registry.
 
Dated: June 17, 2004.
 
Alvin Hall, Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 
[FR Doc. 04-14470 Filed 6-24-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4163-19-P

 
*****************************************************************
 51 Tri-City Herald: Hanford's future explored 

This story was published Friday, June 25th, 2004 

By Annette Cary Herald staff writer 

Participants at a two-day workshop in Richland see the Hanford 
nuclear reservation north of Gable Mountain being used for 
recreation in the next 50 years. 

But whether people will be hiking and fishing in the shadow of 
old nuclear reactor cores was a debate that could not be decided 
now. 

Regulators and the Department of Energy have asked for the 
public's help to clarify the vision of what Hanford should look 
like when cleanup is completed. Should reactor cores be removed 
from near the Columbia River? Should B Reactor be saved? Should 
pipes be pulled from the river? 

The information will be used to help regulators make decisions on 
what to include in changes in the next few years to the Tri-Party 
Agreement, which regulates cleanup at the nuclear reservation 
where plutonium was produced in World War II and the Cold War. 

"This is going to drive the Hanford site," said Roy Gephart, 
author of Hanford -- A Conversation About Nuclear Waste and 
Cleanup. "Most of what we are doing is not for you and me, but 
for future generations." 

The information from the workshop also will be considered as the 
DOE Richland Operations Office prepares a document requested by 
DOE Headquarters. It will detail what Hanford eventually would 
look like -- and the cleanup that would be needed -- based on 
projected future use of the Hanford site. 

The Risk-Based End States Vision Document could form the basis to 
re-evaluate current cleanup activities and plans to determine 
whether DOE should consider changing its approach. 

The preparation of the document has been controversial with 
regulators and members of the Hanford Advisory Board who want 
cleanup done to the standards laid out in the Tri-Party 
Agreement. 

Shirley Olinger of DOE assured the approximately 60 people who 
attended the workshop that participation did not imply they 
endorsed the document. 

The Wednesday and Thursday workshop considered only the Hanford 
area north of Gable Mountain, which includes the Hanford Reach 
National Monument and defunct nuclear reactors on the south side 
of the Columbia River. 

Participants decided that for the next 50 years the site is 
likely to be controlled by the federal government and use should 
be similar to that proposed for the national monument -- boating, 
fishing, hunting, hiking and camping. 

However, Native Americans at the workshop said they'd prefer less 
public use of the land to allow for tribal fishing, hunting and 
gathering. 

Beyond 50 years, the possibility of development on the site had 
to be considered, said participants, although they did not favor 
it. That means DOE would have to consider leaving the land clean 
enough that far in the future so it could safely be used for 
homes, farming, industrial use or continued recreational use. 

The group was about evenly divided on whether huge reactor cores, 
which are being cocooned and given new roofs for safe storage for 
75 years, eventually should be removed. 

"We're not willing to accept more waste sites along the river," 
said John Stanfill, representing the Nez Perce. "It is hard 
enough that 200 (Area) is going to be a sacrifice zone." 

Radioactive waste is being permanently buried in the 200 Area at 
the center of Hanford. 

Most participants agreed that for now the huge reactor cores 
should not be removed. Workers would be protected by letting the 
core's radioactivity cool over the next decades before any 
possible additional work is done. 

However, a decision or at least some accountability for their 
future disposition needs to be in place before DOE declares 
cleanup complete in about 30 years and its environmental 
management division leaves Hanford, participants said. 

No consensus could be reached on what to do about the most 
difficult ground water issue in the 100 Area, a strontium plume 
in the area of N Reactor. 

It's the most radioactive plume near the Columbia River, and some 
participants said that was ample reason to clean it up. However, 
no good technology exists to clean it up, and other participants 
questioned whether tax money should be spent on ineffective 
remedies. 

Many people agreed that pipes extending into the river needed to 
be dealt with, even if they did not pose a contamination threat 
to the river. 

"This is still trash. Get it out of the river," said Larry 
Gadbois of the Environmental Protection Agency, paraphrasing some 
of the comments he heard in sessions he led. 

The group came close to agreement on B Reactor, the world's first 
full-scale plutonium production reactor. It's being proposed for 
a museum, but money must be found for the project. 

"Everyone thought it had important historical value," said Dennis 
Faulk of EPA, who led some discussions. Some participants 
suggested separating elements of the reactor from its core to 
move them to a place that would be more accessible than its 
remote location at Hanford. 

Workshops will continue in August and September to discuss the 
future of other areas of Hanford. 

© 2004 Tri-City Herald, Associated Press &Other Wire Services

*****************************************************************
 52 Guardian Unlimited: Los Alamos Lab Keys Lost for 16 Hours
 
From the Associated Press        

[UP] 

Saturday June 26, 2004 12:16 AM

LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) - The keys to a Los Alamos National 
Laboratory research center containing nuclear materials were 
missing for 16 hours last week before a security guard noticed. 

Two shift changes of security guards passed without accounting 
for the set of keys, said Kevin Roark, a lab spokesman. 

An investigation determined that no security breach occurred 
before the keys to Technical Area 18 were found, Roark said. 

After the keys were reported missing, an immediate sweep of the 
area was ordered, according to a report from Protection 
Technology Los Alamos, the subcontractor that provides security 
for the area. 

A guard known to have had the keys last on June 16 reported that 
he returned them and inventoried them on that date, according to 
the incident report. 

Security personnel confirmed the keys were missing by 9 a.m. June 
18. 

The locks were reconfigured after the discovery, Roark said. 

The keys were found Tuesday in a security vehicle, lodged under 
some equipment that had not been moved during earlier searches, 
he said. 

The center, a canyon-bottom testing site, contains plutonium, 
enriched uranium and other ``special nuclear material,'' Roark 
said. He declined to say how much nuclear material is kept there. 

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham has said he is committed to 
moving the nuclear materials out of the research center because 
the area is difficult to defend and vulnerable to terrorist 
attack. Shipment of the nuclear materials to a site in Nevada is 
scheduled to begin in September. 

Lab Director Pete Nanos has called for the security company to be 
held responsible, but not to the extent of losing its contract, 
Roark said. 

The lab, operated by the University of California under contract 
with the Energy Department, has suffered a string of embarrassing 
management failures in recent years. They include reports of 
financial abuse by employees, two misplaced computer hard drives 
with secret nuclear-related material and the firing of two lab 
investigators who raised concerns about management.   
  
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004
*****************************************************************
 53 Oak Ridger: Secret City Festival starts 							 							 							
 
Story last updated at 12:17 p.m. on June 25, 2004

By: Stan Mitchell | Oak Ridger Staff 
[stan.mitchell@oakridger.com] 

The Secret City Festival begins today on the Civic Center grounds 
at A.K. Bissell Park.

More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the two-day 
festival, which will feature a wide range of activities.

These activities include concerts, games for children, battles as 
part of a World War II re-enactment and plenty of arts and 
crafts, including antiques.

There will also be a film festival taking place at the American 
Museum of Science and Energy.

Park Thursday for the upcoming Secret City Festival. 					  
				 			
Featured in this year's festival are six entertainment groups 
over two nights, including Grammy-nominated country-bluegrass 
band Bering Strait and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The 
Shirelles and The Platters.

Bering Strait plays Friday after Blue Moon Rising and Kim Kalman, 
with the concert beginning at 6 p.m.

The Shirelles and The Platters play Saturday, after LB1 kicks off 
the concert at 6 p.m.

Gates open at 5 p.m. both nights and parking is at the Oak Ridge 
Mall, from where shuttles will be running.

Concert tickets are $10 at the gate.

This year's World War II re-enactment should be two or three 
times larger than last year's, with a planned "fly-over," 12 
historical vehicles and almost 100 "soldiers" taking part in two 
mock battles. The U.S., British and German re-enactors will 
organize on Saturday afternoon to

recreate a glimpse of what life on the front lines of the biggest 
invasion in history was really like.

The main battle will start at noon on Saturday and will last 
approximately 45 minutes. Then at 3 p.m., a second battle 
concludes the historical presentations.

Children will also have plenty of things to do, since many 
activities are planned for them, such as a rock climbing wall, 
petting zoo, monster mural painting and pony rides.

Parking is at Oak Ridge Mall, where shuttles will make regular 
pick-ups. 
*****************************************************************
 54 U.S. Newswire: DOE Statement on Passage of Energy & Water 
Development Appropriations Bill (HR 4614)
 
 6/25/2004 5:06:00 PM 

To: National Desk, Energy Reporter 

Contact: Joe Davis of the U.S. Department of Energy, 202-586-4940 

WASHINGTON, June 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- U.S. Secretary of Energy 
Spencer Abraham released the following statement today following 
the passage of the Fiscal Year 2005 Energy and Water Development 
Appropriations Bill by the House of Representatives: 

"While we are early in the budget process, we will continue to 
work with the House and Senate to ensure that the Department's 
national security, environmental cleanup and other important 
projects receive the funding necessary to continue forward. 
Congressional leaders have assured us that these areas will 
receive strong consideration and review in the annual 
appropriations conference." 

The Department also released the Statement of Administration 
Policy on H.R. 4614: 

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503 

June 25, 2004 

(House) 

STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY 

H.R. 4614 - Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill, FY 
2005 

(Sponsors: Young (R), Florida; Obey (D), Wisconsin) 

The Administration supports House passage of the FY 2005 Energy 
and Water Development Appropriations Bill. 

The President supports a discretionary spending total of not more 
than $819 billion, in addition to the $2.5 billion in advance 
appropriations for Project BioShield, consistent with his FY 2005 
Budget. The President's Budget responsibly holds the growth in 
total discretionary spending to less than four percent and the 
growth in non-security spending to less than one percent, while 
providing the critical resources needed for our Nation's highest 
priorities: fighting the War on Terror, strengthening our 
homeland defenses, and sustaining the momentum of our economic 
recovery. 

Consistent with the need for responsible spending restraint, the 
Administration urges the Congress to fully fund unavoidable 
obligations and not to include any emergency funding, including 
contingent emergencies, unless mutually agreed upon in advance by 
both the Congress and the Administration. Within this context, 
the Administration urges the House to fully fund Presidential 
priorities, such as the Nuclear Waste Repository at Yucca 
Mountain, NV and the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative. 

The Administration is pleased that the Committee-reported bill is 
consistent with the overall $819 billion discretionary total and 
looks forward to working with the House to address the following 
concerns. 

Administration Priorities 

Nuclear Waste Repository. It is vital to secure nuclear waste now 
scattered at 126 sites in 39 States in one appropriate 
underground facility. Further delay increases the costs and 
security risk of storing materials at these various sites. 
Therefore, it is imperative that the Department of Energy (DOE) 
have the necessary resources for licensing and constructing the 
repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The President's Budget 
contains a proposal to facilitate the long-term financing for 
this project and the Energy and Commerce Committee has reported a 
bill consistent with the proposal. We strongly urge the House to 
adopt this financing proposal and will continue to work with the 
Congress to ensure its enactment. 

Hydrogen Fuel Initiative. The Administration strongly urges the 
House to fund the President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, which 
will reduce the Nation's dependence on foreign oil and provide 
cleaner air. The Committee's $31 million reduction for fuel cell 
technologies should be restored by redirecting funds from the 
Corps of Engineers, which is funded well above the President's 
request. 

National Security. The Administration strongly opposes the 
elimination of funding for the Advanced Concepts Initiative, the 
Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator study, and planning for the 
Modern Pit Facility. These reductions, if sustained, would 
diminish the Nation's ability to respond to future national 
security threats. Once again, this reduction could be restored by 
redirecting some of the funds from the Corps of Engineers or 
DOE's nuclear energy research and development program. 

Army Corps of Engineers - Civil Works 

The Administration commends the Committee for focusing the Civil 
Works program on completing projects already under construction 
and limiting new starts. These efforts are consistent with the 
Administration's policy to reduce the backlog of ongoing civil 
works construction projects. We urge the House to eliminate 
funding and cancel balances for projects that have low estimated 
economic or environmental returns or that are outside the Corps 
main mission, as requested. 

We urge the House to restore funding that is necessary to sustain 
operations on four nationally significant Corps projects: $18 
million for Columbia River fish recovery to comply with a 
biological opinion pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA); 
$12 million to revitalize the side channels of the Upper 
Mississippi River; $8 million for Everglades Restoration; and $51 
million to improve Missouri River habitat and support continued 
operation of the river in compliance with the ESA. We also 
request that the House restore $10 million to the Regulatory 
Program to avoid delays in the permitting process and ensure 
effective enforcement. 

Department of Energy 

The Administration strongly opposes reductions to the National 
Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Nonproliferation 
programs to eliminate weapons-grade plutonium production in 
Russia and to dispose of 68 metric tons of surplus weapons-usable 
plutonium in the Russian Federation and the United States. The 
proposed reductions could delay the programs and escalate their 
costs, thereby damaging critical components of the Nation's 
comprehensive nonproliferation strategy. 

The Administration objects to the bill's reductions to important 
nuclear stockpile stewardship programs, such as the Life 
Extension Programs, Directed Stockpile Work, and the science and 
engineering campaigns. Furthermore, the Committee's restrictive 
funding controls for the complex Inertial Confinement Fusion 
National Ignition Facility program may prevent NNSA from 
achieving the milestones the Congress has directed for the 
program. 

The Administration is concerned with the $76 million reduction to 
the high-level waste proposal. The Defense Nuclear Facilities 
Safety Board has recently communicated to DOE its view that the 
safety consequences of delaying radioactive waste disposition 
activities at the Savannah River site are unacceptable. Moreover, 
the Administration and the State of South Carolina have reached 
agreement on radioactive waste disposal and underground storage 
tank closure at DOE's Savannah River site. While we share the 
Committee's preference for a legislative solution that extends 
beyond the Savannah River site and are continuing to pursue a 
consensus with all affected States on such legislation, the funds 
are crucial to allowing the clean up of the Savannah River tanks. 

The Administration rejects the Committee's suggestion to reduce 
spending on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor 
in FY 2005, as well as its shift in funding for the Gridwise and 
Gridworks programs from the Office of Electric Transmission and 
Distribution (OETD) to the Office of Energy Assurance. OETD was 
established to provide a single, focused organization to 
strengthen Federal leadership on electricity reliability. While 
we understand the need to restrain expenses for departmental 
overhead, the funding reductions to the Departmental 
Administration account in the House bill would hinder the 
Secretary's ability to manage the Department. 

Bureau of Reclamation and the Central Utah Project 

The Administration appreciates the Committee's support for fully 
funding the Water 2025 Initiative and for directly funding the 
Utah mitigation and conservation activities through the Central 
Utah Project rather than indirectly through the Western Area 
Power Administration. However, we urge the House to include the 
Administration's proposal to make a corresponding transfer of 
authority for project mitigation from the Secretary of Energy to 
the Secretary of the Interior. 

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) 

The Administration is disappointed that the Committee did not 
provide, as the Subcommittee did, the requested appropriation of 
$9 million for TVA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) to be 
derived from the TVA Fund. This proposal would allow the OIG to 
conduct its duties in a more independent manner, similar to the 
Inspectors General of other Federal agencies. 

Constitutional Concerns 

Section 501 of the bill purports to limit the use of appropriated 
funds by the Executive Branch in communicating with the Congress. 
To the extent this provision would preclude the President or his 
subordinates from initiating communications with the Congress, it 
would interfere with the Executive Branch's ability to influence 
congressional action and would violate the Recommendations Clause 
of the Constitution. The Administration urges the House to remove 
this provision or amend it to allow normal and necessary 
Executive Branch communications. 



http://www.usnewswire.com/ [http://www.usnewswire.com/] 

-0- 

/© 2004 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/                                                                                                                

*****************************************************************
 55 PISJ: None hurt in INEEL gas leak, evacuation

Pocatello Idaho State Journal: 

By Holden Parrish [hparrish@journalnet.com] 

Assistant City Editor

ARCO - A hazardous gas leak Thursday afternoon led to an 
evacuation and temporary shut down at the Idaho National 
Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. 
  
Although most of the site remained open, a 400-meter area around 
the incident's location was secured and evacuated, an official 
said.

"All personnel in the area have been accounted for. There were no 
injuries," said Ray Grant, coordinator for INEEL's public 
information center. According to a Department of Energy news 
release, the incident occurred at INEEL's Idaho Nuclear 
Technology and Engineering Center. At about 1:34 p.m., site 
workers detected a leak as they were attempting to remove 
40-year-old cylinders containing anhydrous hydrofluoric gas, an 
extremely hazardous material also known as hydrogen fluoride.

INEEL's fire department was notified and stopped the leak soon 
after it was discovered, the bulletin said. Although emergency 
response crews detected no residual material present, the area 
was secured and evacuated. Neither Grant nor the department's 
news bulletins said how much material was leaked.

"It may be a while before (investigating officials) ascertain the 
actual amount that's been released," Grant said, adding 
hydrofluoric gas has a variety of applications, including 
cleaning cast iron, removing rust and etching or frosting glass. 
According to the department's final bulletin, emergency 
operations have concluded and normal activities at the site have 
resumed. 

*****************************************************************
 56 Oak Ridger: Your View: City has unique stories to share 							 							
 
Story last updated at 1:10 p.m. on June 25, 2004
							
To The Oak Ridger:

I would like to correct a small point in Richard Cook's fine 
column last Friday that may have reinforced the mistaken 
impression some Ridgers have that saving a chunk of the K-25 
Gaseous Diffusion Plant now being demolished is out of the 
question financially.

The DOE here in Oak Ridge has been trying hard for over a year to 
find some "do-able" means of saving some part of that historic 
1945 facility that contributed so much to our nation. One very 
professional effort to find a way was the Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut 
&Kuhn (EE) six-month study Bechtel Jacobs contracted for last 
year. EE has a wealth of experience in historic preservation and 
their report presented many fine insights and ideas that will 
help in preserving and interpreting this unique story for future 
generations.

Unfortunately, EE's cost table was not easy to grasp, and the 
media reports back when it came out were almost all wrong. In his 
Friday column, Richard understandably quoted one of these, that 
the cost of saving a 140,000-square-foot section (that's about 8 
percent of the "U") would be $537 million.

Happily, not true. That's the total cost of preserving that 
section ($66 million) plus the cost of demolishing the rest of 
K-25 ($471 million).

We Oak Ridge Heritage &Preservation folks have been working 
closely under DOE leadership with Bechtel Jacobs and many other 
stakeholder groups for the past six months as a follow-on to the 
EE study, building on its many good points trying to come up with 
a really "doable" preservation option that will let us tell the 
story of this monumental WWII Oak Ridge achievement in a very 
entertaining and educational way to future generations of 
townspeople, visitors and tourists.

The very different package now under study is both a lot more 
"doable" and far less costly than the January $66 million one, 
but how to fund it and many other details still have to be worked 
through.

Judy Randall for sure did hear many different voices in those 
hearings here - each appealing for attention to one or more of 
the many attractions our town has to offer. As Richard said, she 
urged us to pull together in the interest of appealing to the 
future heritage tourists.

And, that we surely can and will do under the fine leadership of 
our ORCVB's Joe Valentino and others.

The working together on the K-25 preservation issue during the 
past six months of DOE-ORO, Bechtel Jacobs, AMSE, ORH, ORCVB, ORR 
LOC, SSAB, the city, the state, and DOE Washington Historic 
Preservation people demonstrates that Oak Ridgers have both the 
will and the know-how to rise up to the even greater challenge of 
telling and showing the whole story of our city's past and 
emerging contributions to future generations.

Ours is a story no other city can match of how we played the 
biggest role in the Manhattan Project in terms of dollars and 
people. And, then, in the years since have succeeded so 
magnificently in applying nuclear science to the lasting benefits 
of mankind the world around in many fields of medicine, 
agriculture, industry, energy and basic science.

What a show-and-tell it can be.

Let's go for it.

Bill Wilcox Oak Ridge 







*****************************************************************
 57 Daily Texan Report: Los Alamos violated 7 safety rules - 

[http://www.dailytexanonline.com]   

Top Stories | 7/25/2004 
 
Lab issued "symbolic" fine of $770,000
 By Matt Wright 

The National Nuclear Security Administration issued a preliminary 
report Monday that found Los Alamos National Laboratory and its 
manager, the University of California System, in violation of a 
number of safety regulations, which led to a 2003 incident that 
exposed two employees to unhealthy levels of radiation.
 
The report, authored by NNSA administrator Linton Brooks, 
proposed a civil fine of $770,000 against the UC System. However, 
the amount is largely symbolic, since federal statutes exempt all 
nonprofit nuclear lab managers from such fines.
 
The lab and the UC System must respond in writing to the notice 
within 30 days.
 
In question is an Aug. 5, 2003, incident in which a corroded 
container exposed two LANL employees to radiation levels greater 
than the maximum annual amount allowed by federal law.
 
The report drew largely from the results of an investigation by 
the Department of Energy - Price-Anderson Enforcement Program, 
which LANL saw for the first time in March 2004, and from an 
April 2004 meeting among officials from Los Alamos, the UC 
System, the Office of Enforcement and NNSA.
 
Brooks said that "with respect to the factual accuracy of the OE 
Investigation Summary Report, LANL management indicated they had 
no substantive disagreement with the conclusions of the report."
 
NNSA issued seven Severity Level I violations. 

According to the Department of Energy's Web site, "Severity Level 
I violations have the greatest likelihood of impacting worker or 
public safety."
 
In addition to the exposure incident, NNSA found violations in 
evacuation procedures, the packaging of radioactive materials, 
container maintenance, non-compliance with minimal protective 
clothing requirements for employees and failure to properly 
secure containers to protect against seismic activity.
 
Five of the seven violations would have normally been classified 
as less severe violations, but "due to the long-standing nature 
of the underlying problems that led to this event, each violation 
is being escalated to a Severity Level I problem," Brooks wrote. 
The other two violations were deemed Severity Level I because 
they directly contributed to an event that had a "high-potential 
safety consequence."
 
Another incident in September 2003 exposed five employees to 
toxic vapors, but NNSA opted not to cite LANL because "no 
radiological consequences occurred," Brooks wrote.
 
Brooks acknowledged ongoing efforts at the lab to improve safety 
conditions, but he also emphasized the severity of repeated 
violations. 

"While NNSA recognizes the fundamental changes you are attempting 
to make to address the deficient safety culture at LANL," Brooks 
wrote, "I cannot continue to mitigate enforcement citations when 
significant safety events continue to occur, and particularly 
when, once again, only good fortune prevented these exposures 
from being much higher." 

Calls to LANL, the University of California System, NNSA and the 
Office of Enforcement to learn the status of the exposed 
employees, the exact conditions of the accident and the frequency 
of safety violations at nuclear laboratories were not returned 
Thursday.
 
Randa Safady, UT System vice chancellor for external relations, 
says the System is taking the violations into account as it 
decides whether to bid on LANL management. 

"The regents, and primarily the task force, are staying on top of 
all issues related to security and management. Those issues will 
be at the top of the list when we're exploring the possibility of 
management," Safady said.                 

*****************************************************************
 58 Daily Texan Viewpoint: Noted in passing... (Los Alamos)

Opinion | 7/25/2004 

 Must be a fun place to work

The U.S. Department of Energy on Monday stuck Los Alamos managers 
with a symbolic $770,000 fine for a series of safety violations 
involving two workers' exposures to excessive doses of 
radioactive material and a failure to store radioactive waste 
safely.

It's symbolic because laws don't require a nonprofit manager to 
pay. 

The department also said five workers were exposed to toxic 
vapors, leading to at least one injury. No violations were issued 
for this incident, because it was "non-radiological."

The safety problems, which in one instance included contamination 
of a worker's face, are described in five categories of a letter 
signed by Linton F. Brooks, administrator of the National Nuclear 
Security Administration. Most of Brooks' attention is devoted to 
the two radioactive exposures, on which he makes chilling 
comments:

* "... The workers did not evacuate ... to the corridor, but 
instead proceeded to the adjacent. At the time of the 
[radioactive material] release event, LANL had neither determined 
nor documented the airflow ... and the worker movement ... could 
have resulted in additional uptakes of radioactive material."

* "Based on data in DOE's release fractions guidelines on what is 
feasible for various conditions, it is clear that the release 
could have been much larger by orders of magnitude, and the 
corresponding personnel exposure much larger as well. 

* "The failure mechanisms associated with the deterioration of 
the packaging that led to the Aug. 5, 2003 [radioactive material] 
release were known from previous [radioactive material] storage 
package failures at LANL and at other facilities in the DOE 
weapons complex ... "

* "Only a few months before the Aug. 5, 2003 [radioactive 
material] uptake event, LANL personnel had discovered a package 
during processing activities ... where the bottom of the inner 
can had rusted out completely, in the same manner as the inner 
can that failed in this event."

The Energy Department's Office of Price-Anderson Enforcement, 
which found the violations, also investigated problems 
"identified in a LANL assessment of the radiological control 
program," Brooks wrote, but are being addressed in "a timely 
manner," so no violations are warranted.



UT statements this year in support of Los Alamos bid

"What the national lab does, including Los Alamos, ... is 
constitutional, legal and ethical, and I don't see any problem 
with any of that,"

- now-former Board of Regents Chairman Charles Miller, Feb. 5



One might ask the contaminated guy about that "legal and ethical" 
thing.



"We are interested in the national lab business ... I think we 
have demonstrated on many occasions our capability to bring 
resources to the table and manage very complex operations."

- former UT System Chancellor Dan Burck, Feb. 5



As complex as noticing rust in a radioactive storage barrel?



"It does allow you to be able to recruit and retain top national 
scientists when you are associated with a national lab," 

- Randa Safady, UT System vice chancellor for external relations, 
April 13



And then you can expose them to nuclear waste.



Bad UC System! Bad, bad!

NNSA administrator Brooks, whose harshly worded letter mentions a 
previous rebuke for safety concerns, gives lab managers a tougher 
slap on the wrist than before:

"I am escalating several of the citations in this action to 
Severity Level I that otherwise would have been classified as 
Severity Level II problems to emphasize LANL's failure to address 
the many systematic issues that contributed to this latest event 
..."

But a slap nonetheless. Managers have to respond to the 
administrator's letter, saying they're very sorry and explaining 
what exactly went wrong and why exactly it won't happen again.

In bureaucratic terms, this humiliation may be a rough equivalent 
to getting photographed naked. But managing an unsafe workplace, 
then not having to pay up when somebody gets hurt, doesn't fit 
notions of justice with which we are familiar. The law exempting 
nonprofit lab managers from civilian fines should be repealed.

For interested students, Brooks' letter is posted online at 
www.eh.doe.gov. 

The letter discusses uncorrected safety problems dating back to 
the late 1990s. These points make clear that the Los Alamos 
bureaucracy is too big and too defunct to change under new 
leadership, even if the UT System was committed to cleaning up 
the messes. UT officials might have to settle for irradiating 
people with relative impunity.



Big Brother beat

Ever wonder what the Austin Police Department is doing with its 
surveillance cameras?

We did. So we asked.

Now that state Attorney General Greg Abbott upheld most of our 
open records request in a ruling released Thursday, it's up to 
the city to challenge the ruling with a lawsuit or release the 
information.

That information would include "user instructions for a remote 
surveillance module and portions of the city's police department 
procedures manual." 

The released information, however, would not include a particular 
police incident report.

This Texan request is a refiled version of a fall 2002 request, 
which the city sued to withhold.

"If we were to challenge the AG's opinion, that wouldn't be my 
call to make," said Assistant City Attorney Brad Norton, who also 
said the law department would take a few days to makes its 
decision. "I'd have to run that by higher officials."

Our thanks to Abbott, as usual, for asserting the strength of 
open records laws against overly secretive antiterrorism 
legislation. After all, the city cited the Texas Homeland 
Security Act, which the UT System allegedly supported through an 
illegal lobbying effort last legislative session to avoid 
releasing campus surveillance records to the Texan.              

*****************************************************************
 59 Google News Alert - nuclear
 
Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 14:31:41 -0700 (PDT)

 
US, N. Korea Show Willingness to End Nuclear Arms Dispute
Bloomberg - USA
June 26 (Bloomberg) -- Talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program showed
signs of progress as the communist nation and the US said they were willing
to ...
<http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=arOcghp_DGHA&refer=asia>
See all stories on this topic:
<http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&num=30&hl=en&client=google&newsclusterurl=http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news%3Fpid%3D10000080%26sid%3DarOcghp_DGHA%26refer%3Dasia>

NO breakthroughs in NKorean nuclear talks, but US plays down test ... 
Channel News Asia - Singapore
BEIJING : Talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons programme ended with no
breakthroughs, the United States said, but it played down concerns that
elements in ...
<http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/92073/1/.html>
See all stories on this topic:
<http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&num=30&hl=en&client=google&newsclusterurl=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/92073/1/.html>

DPRK to keep flexibility, patience in nuclear issue
Xinhua - China
... The delegation from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
will continue to seek peaceful solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear
issue with ...
<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-06/26/content_1547828.htm>
See all stories on this topic:
<http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&num=30&hl=en&client=google&newsclusterurl=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-06/26/content_1547828.htm>

US expects further talks on nuclear issue
Xinhua - China
¡¡BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhuanet) -- A senior official of the US delegation
to the third round of six-party talks on the nuclear issue in the Korean
Peninsula ...
<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-06/25/content_1547766.htm>
See all stories on this topic:
<http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&num=30&hl=en&client=google&newsclusterurl=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-06/25/content_1547766.htm>

IRAN and North Korea prompt new nuclear fears
Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
... and North Korea have made separate announcements that spurred concern
they are heading towards confrontations with the United States over their
nuclear programs ...
<http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/25/1088144977505.html>
See all stories on this topic:
<http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&num=30&hl=en&client=google&newsclusterurl=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/25/1088144977505.html>

US Wary Of Iran's Nuclear Program, House Panel Told
Defenselink.mil - USA
... Iran, one of three "Axis of Evil" nations identified by President Bush
in 2002, "is still pursuing a strategic decision to have a nuclear weapons
capability ...
<http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2004/n06252004_2004062502.html>
See all stories on this topic:
<http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&num=30&hl=en&client=google&newsclusterurl=http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jun2004/n06252004_2004062502.html>

NUCLEAR cancer study is scrapped
BBC News - London,England,UK
by Nic Rigby. A major study into the rates of cancer near a former nuclear
power station has been called off, BBC News Online can exclusively reveal.
...
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/essex/3838627.stm>

CHINA denies connection between closing ceremony, nuclear talks ... 
People's Daily - China
Whether to hold a closing ceremony for the third round of six-party talks
on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue has no connection with the talks'
progress ...
<http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200406/25/eng20040625_147563.html>
See all stories on this topic:
<http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&num=30&hl=en&client=google&newsclusterurl=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200406/25/eng20040625_147563.html>

FIRSTENERGY overhauling nuclear operations
Cleveland Plain Dealer (Subscription) - Cleveland,OH,USA
A massive shake-up is under way at FirstEnergy Corp.'s nuclear operating
company that by summer's end will eliminate an undetermined number of
jobs at three ...
<http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1088156200139501.xml>
See all stories on this topic:
<http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&num=30&hl=en&client=google&newsclusterurl=http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf%3F/base/news/1088156200139501.xml>

UK gives £ 15m to help Russia dump nuclear fuel
Ireland Online - Dublin,Ireland
The UK is to give a £15m (€22m) grant to Russia to help pay for a storage
facility for spent nuclear fuel, the British government announced today.
...
<http://212.2.162.45/news/story.asp?j=108828488&p=yx88z9y94&n=108829248>

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*****************************************************************
 60 Las Vegas SUN: Nevada gov wants justification for new power plants
 
Today: June 25, 2004 at 10:07:05 PDT 
 
ASSOCIATED PRESS 

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Gov. Kenny Guinn's energy adviser has
outlined new policies that Guinn wants to send to the Nevada
Legislature early next year - including a proposal requiring
companies to justify building new power plants. 

Guinn wants a study to determine whether the state's permitting
procedures allow officials to see if proposed power plants are
justified in the amount of water they use and the damage they do
to air quality, explained Richard Burdette, the governor's
energy adviser. 

Burdette discussed the policy proposals Thursday during a
teleconference of the Nevada Renewable Energy &Energy
Conservation Task Force. 

"Virtually all power plants have the ability to cause serious
detriment on the air shed and to use water resources in a
destructive way," Burdette said. 

"I don't mind exporting the power (out of Nevada), but the state
needs to have some benefits from that facility. If there's no
need in Nevada for the power, there's no need to damage our
environment." 

His comments underscore a theme among critics that states such
as Arizona and Nevada could become power farms that sell
electricity to California where environmental restrictions are
strict. 

Burdette called for comparative analysis of the advantages and
disadvantages of projects; and for new rate schedules that
provide benefits to large power customers that reduce
consumption and charge them 50 percent more for excessive power
consumption. 

He also advocated promoting time-of-use rates for residential
customers, which rewards them for using less power during
periods of peak demand. 

The energy adviser also suggested changes in building codes that
would lead to more energy-efficient buildings and houses; and
spoke in general terms about taking temporary measures to
bolster the "impaired credit" of Nevada investor-owned
utilities. 

Developers of renewable-energy projects, such as solar and wind
power plants, complain that they have been unable to get
financing for projects because of lender fears that Nevada Power
Co. or Sierra Pacific Power Co. would file for bankruptcy and
cancel contracts to buy their power. 

-- 



*****************************************************************
 61 Mos News: Russian Scientists to Add 5 Chemical Elements to Periodic Table
         
- NEWS - MOSNEWS.COM
 
Created: 25.06.2004 16:49 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 19:24 MSK 

Five new chemical elements will appear in the periodic table, a 
Russian academician said Friday.

The leader of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions of the Joint 
Institute of Nuclear Researches, Yuri Oganessian, quoted by 
Russian media, said that this would be the result of their 
five-year work.

The academician received an award “For Achievements Before the 
Motherland” on Friday.

The new elements will be placed at the end of the Mendeleyev 
periodic table, after number 112. They are called superheavy. The 
atoms of two of these new elements were created during science 
experiments and had existed for about a second each. Those 
experiments were held by Oganessian’s laboratory and the Lawrence 
Livermore National Laboratory in California, in 2003. The 113th 
was called Ununtrium, the Washington Post newspaper wrote in 
February 2004.

Superheavy elements may be generated by explosions in supernova 
stars or by fusion during the first moments of the Universe 
creation, the paper wrote. The particles of such elements can 
appear on the Earth only in the atom smasher. But they may help 
the scientists understand some principles that influence the 
matter.

The Joint Institute of Nuclear Researches is situated in the
town of Dubna, Moscow region.
     
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