***************************************************************** 02/22/05 **** RADIATION BULLETIN(RADBULL) **** VOL 13.41 ***************************************************************** RADBULL IS PRODUCED BY THE ABALONE ALLIANCE CLEARINGHOUSE ***************************************************************** Send News Stories to news@energy-net.org with title on subject line and first line of body NUCLEAR POLICY 1 Guardian Unlimited: Bush Denies U.S. Plans to Attack Iran 2 AFP: Iran willing to consider US talks on nuclear program - 3 IPS-English NORTH KOREA-NUKE TENSIONS: Cuba supports 4 Korea: Digital Chosunilbo: Kim Jong-il Willing to Return to Talks 'A 5 Korea: Digital Chosunilbo: Kim Jong-il's Remarks 'Positive' - FM Ban 6 YWS: S. Korea, U.S., Japan to Hold Strategy Talks on North Korea 7 YWS: Seoul Opposes Referring Nuclear Issue to Security Council 8 YWS: U.S. Urges N.K. to Return to Nuclear Talks Without Precondition 9 Guardian Unlimited: N. Korea Indicates Return to Nuclear Talks 10 BBC: N Korea hints at return to talks 11 Korea Times: Kim Jong-il Conditional on 6-Way Talks 12 Hankyoreh: [Editorial] Time for United States to Respond 13 AFP: North Korea's Kim says he's willing to return to nuclear talks 14 US: [NukeNet] U.S. Won't Rule Out Waging War In Space, General 15 US: deseret news: Spending debate turns testy as GOP ponders priorit 16 US: PREX: WMD COMMISSION 17 US: Shorthorn Online: Opinion Nuclear Ambition NUCLEAR REACTORS 18 US: Exelon Shortchanges TMI Community on Taxes 19 US: NY Times Joins Call to Protect Nuclear, Chemical Plants 20 US: [NukeNet] NRC Admission Re Probability Of Meltdown 21 US: NRC: Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Subcommittee Meet 22 US: NRC: Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc.; Notice of Consideration 23 US: NRC: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collecti 24 US: NRC: Sunshine Act Meeting Notice 25 US: JS Online: Nuclear power plant goes off-line to fix weakness 26 China Daily: Goliaths compete for nuclear plant pact 27 US: Lincoln Journal Star: Cooper Nuclear completes refueling outage 28 US: Newhouse: Coal, Oil Problems Fuel Buzz About Nuke Rebirth 29 US: Fort St. John: NB Power hopes for federal money for nuclear plan 30 Ottawa Citizen: Fuel leak narrowly averted at Chalk River 31 US: NRC: Live NRC Meeting Webcast 32 US: NRC: NRC Proposes to Amend Licensing, Inspection and Annual Fees NUCLEAR SAFETY 33 US: 11,000 US soldiers dead from DU poisoning 34 US: [du-list] third N.C based soldier dies after exhibiting 35 US: [du-list] Gulf veterans seeking justice "pre-election speaking 36 US: NRC: Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes: Meeting 37 Bellona: $40m needed for dismantling nuclear cruiser 38 US: Times-News: Downwinder compensation moves one step closer NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE 39 US: Perchlorate found in dairy and breast milk samples from across 40 US: NRC: Request To Amend License To Import Radioactive Waste 41 US: The State: Push begins to restore some of 42 US: Bradenton Herald: Rep. Galvano proposes faster disclosure of pos 43 chillicothe gazette: Residents of New Mexico desert town stake their 44 Las Vegas RJ: YUCCA MOUNTAIN: Sandoval says project doomed 45 Las Vegas SUN: Battle over Nevada's federal land sales is about to b 46 Las Vegas SUN: Nevada projected to lose $432 million in federal budg 47 US: ACS: Perchlorate found in dairy and breast milk samples from acr 48 US: San Bernardino County Sun: Baca Jr. takes on eBay (Percholate) 49 ENN: Tenth Shipment of Reprocessed Japanese Nuclear Waste Heading Ho 50 News & Star: Radioactive sludge to be reprocessed 51 US: NRDC: EPA HEALTH GOAL FOR ROCKET FUEL-CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATE NUCLEAR WEAPONS US DEPT. OF ENERGY 52 chillicothe gazette: Where does Piketon stand? - OTHER NUCLEAR 53 [du-list] robot wars 54 Nuclear Test Watch: Nuclear Test Watch - Issue No. 4 ***************************************************************** ***************************************************************** FULL NEWS STORIES ***************************************************************** ***************************************************************** 1 Guardian Unlimited: Bush Denies U.S. Plans to Attack Iran From the Associated Press [UP] Tuesday February 22, 2005 7:01 PM AP Photo VM115 By TOM RAUM Associated Press Writer BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - President Bush said Tuesday that it is ``simply ridiculous'' to assume that the United States has plans to attack Iran over its alleged nuclear weapons program. ``This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. Having said that, all options are on the table,'' Bush said after discussing the issue with European allies. Bush used his bluntest language yet to give assurance to Iran's leaders. Last week, in a series of pre-trip interviews with European journalists, he also tried to dispel talk of a military attack, an issue that has been raised repeatedly since the United States went to war with Iraq primarily over its alleged weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons have been found in Iraq. On Iran, Bush has walked a careful line in expressing support for a European-led approach offering Iran technological, financial and political support in return for scrapping its uranium enrichment program. ``It's in our interests for them not to have a nuclear weapon,'' Bush said in a news conference with European Union leaders. The United States has refused to get involved in the bargaining with Tehran or to make commitments about incentives, insisting that Tehran abandon its program. Also on Tuesday, Bush hailed NATO's modest pledge to help train security forces in Iraq, saying ``every contribution helps.'' ``The NATO training mission is an important mission, because after all, the success of Iraq depends upon the capacity and the willingness of the Iraqis to defend their own selves against terrorists,'' he said during an earlier news conference at NATO headquarters. Bush also made clear his intention to challenge Russian President Vladimir Putin on recent actions, including restrictions on the press and Moscow's treatment of neighboring Baltic countries, that U.S. officials view as harmful to democracy there. The two leaders meet Thursday in Slovakia. ``A constructive relationship allows me to remind him that I believe Russia is a European country and European countries embrace those very same values that America embraces,'' Bush said. ``I'm confident that can be done in a cordial way.'' Putin defended his approach. ``Russia chose democracy 14 years ago not to please anyone, but for its own sake, for the sake of the nation and its citizens,'' Putin said. ``Naturally, basic principles and institutions of democracy must be adapted to today's realities of Russian life, to our traditions and history.'' Bush also reiterated U.S. opposition to Europe's plans to lift its 15-year arms embargo against China. ``There is deep concern in our country that a transfer of weapons will be a transfer of technology, that it will change the balance of relations between China and Taiwan,'' Bush said. He said he understands that the Europeans are working on a way to address U.S. worries about allowing China to modernize its military with arms and communications, intelligence and surveillance equipment that would give Beijing an edge over Taiwan. ``They know the Congress is concerned,'' Bush said. ``And so they'll try to develop a plan that will ease concerns. Now, whether they can or not, we'll see.'' But French President Jacques Chirac, while stressing that security guarantees could be worked out, indicated that Europe remains steadfast in its desire to end the ban. ``We intend to lift the last obstacles in our relations (with China), and this within a spirit of responsibility,'' he said. In Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said that abolishing the ``erroneous and outdated measure'' would help move forward China-EU relations. As Bush shuttled in between NATO headquarters and meeting with European Union leaders, opposition to the U.S. president was evident in the streets of Brussels as protesters lobbed a fire bomb at riot police. Police responded with water cannons to disperse the crowd that they estimated was 1,000 strong. Police said they did not know if anyone was injured. Associated Press Television News reporters saw several people arrested. On Iraq, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, whose country holds the rotating European Union presidency, said the United States and the EU will host a conference to rally international support for Iraq if the new government there requests it. NATO, meanwhile, succeeded after struggling for months to get a commitment from all allies to join the mission in Iraq, including those that vigorously opposed the U.S.-led war there. ``All 26 allies are working together to respond to the Iraqi government's request for support by training Iraqi security forces, providing equipment and helping to fund NATO's efforts,'' Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told the NATO summit. The development of a reliable Iraqi security force, so that Iraqis can handle their own security, is considered vital to lowering the U.S. troop presence there. Army Lt. Gen. David Petraeus, the general in charge of training Iraqi troops, has said that about 136,000 Iraqis have been trained and equipped - fewer than half the ultimate goal of a force of about 270,000. The NATO mission comprises just over 100 instructors training senior Iraqi officers in Baghdad's heavily protected ``Green Zone'' - more than half of them American. Alliance planners hope to expand that operation to 160 instructors. In September, they hope for NATO to help run a military academy outside the Iraqi capital - if it can find the troops and money needed. Bush said the assistance is more than a mere gesture designed to symbolize the end to bitter divisions wrought by the war. ``Twenty-six nations sat around the table saying, you know, `Let's get the past behind us and now let's focus on helping this - the world's newest democracy - succeed,''' Bush said. However, in a sign of lingering differences, France, Germany and other opponents of the war will not send instructors to Iraq, limiting their contribution to training outside the country or funding for the operation. Earlier Tuesday, Bush met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi and Viktor Yushchenko, the new, Westward-leaning president of Ukraine. Yushchenko, is the only non-alliance leader invited to the NATO summit, has said that withdrawing Ukraine's 1,600 troops from Iraq is topping the agenda for his country's cash-starved military. ^--- On the Net: White House site: http://whitehouse.gov NATO: http://www.nato.int European Union: http://europa.eu.int/index-en.htm Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005 ***************************************************************** 2 AFP: Iran willing to consider US talks on nuclear program - Tuesday February 22, 07:32 PM TEHRAN (AFP) - Tehran is willing to consider talks with the United States over Iran's controversial nuclear activities, despite non-existent diplomatic relations between the two countries, state media reported. "On the specific topic of the nuclear program, Iran is ready to enter into negotiations with the US to prove the civilian nature of the nuclear program," Mahmud Vaezi, deputy head of a studies institute affiliated to the foreign ministry, was quoted as saying by the IRNA news agency. But amid tough US anti-Iranian rhetoric, the official stressed: "Iran has made it clear that normalization of relations with the United States depends on a tangible shift in the US attitude toward Iran." The United States has repeatedly accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under cover of its alleged civilian activities. Speaking in Brussels, US President George W. Bush said the idea that Washington was preparing to attack Iran was "ridiculous", but that "all options are on the table." Britain, France and Germany are leading diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran to permanently abandon its nuclear enrichment program in return for a package of political and economic benefits. Copyright © 2005 AFP AFP. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 3 IPS-English NORTH KOREA-NUKE TENSIONS: Cuba supports Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 14:36:51 -0800 EU NA IP NORTH KOREA-NUKE TENSIONS: Cuba supports Pyongyang's nuclear possession Att.Editors: The following item is from the Emirates News Agency (WAM) SEOUL, Feb. 21 (WAM) - The (North) Korean Central Broadcasting Station reported Sunday that Cuba's Foreign Minister Felipe Perez expressed sincere support for Pyongyang's latest declaration, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. In a meeting with the North Korean Ambassador to Cuba Park Dong-chun on Feb. 15, Cuba's Foreign Minister Felipe Perez said that his country is paying keen attention to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, said the broadcaster, monitored in Seoul. Perez was quoted as adding that, "The United States is continuing its hostile policy toward North Korea and Cuba, and Washington should drop its attack plan." Cuba's taking sides with North Korea is in contrast with efforts by many other countries, including former communist regimes China and Russia, to coax Pyongyang to the bargaining table on its nuclear weapons program. (WAM) ***************************************************************** 4 Korea: Digital Chosunilbo: Kim Jong-il Willing to Return to Talks 'Anytime' Updated Feb.22,2005 19:43 KST Kim Jong-il's Remarks 'Positive': FM Ban North Korea Must Discuss 'Conditions' in Six-Party Talks BEIJING -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has said he is willing to return to six-party talks about his country's nuclear program if the conditions are "mature". "North Korea will return to the negotiating table at any time if the conditions are mature," Kim said in a statement carried by his country's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "I hope that the U.S. shows credible sincerity and acts accordingly." The statement was quoted in a report on Kim's meeting with Chinese envoy Wang Jiarui, the head of the Chinese Communist Party's international liaisons department. Kim said North Korea was committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and there was no change in its determination to resolve the nuclear issue peacefully through dialogue. "North Korea was never opposed the six-party talks and made every possible effort for their success," he added. In a message conveyed by Wang, Chinese President Hu Jintao said resolving the nuclear issue and North Korea's "reasonable concerns" through the six-party talks was in the fundamental interests of both Pyongyang and Beijing. Asked in Beijing what Kim's "conditions" were, Wang Jiarui said, "More action and sincerity on the part of the authorities." The envoy added, "China made it very clear that it wants North Korea to promptly return to talks." Chinese Ambassador on Korean Peninsula Affairs Ning Fukui, who accompanied Wang on his trip to North Korea, told reporters on his return to Beijing on Tuesday, "More effort is required on the part of the authorities to get North Korea to return to the talks. The situation is still complicated. We will continue to work for a quick restart of the six-party talks, but the strength of China alone is not enough. All concerned nations have to take responsibility." (Cho Jung-shik, jscho@chosun.com ) ***************************************************************** 5 Korea: Digital Chosunilbo: Kim Jong-il's Remarks 'Positive' - FM Ban Updated Feb.22,2005 22:27 KST Kim Jong-il Willing to Return to Talks 'Anytime' North Korea Must Discuss 'Conditions' in Six-Party Talks Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday called "a positive message" North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's remarks that his country will return to six-party talks on its nuclear program "if the conditions are mature." "While the North Korean Foreign Ministry's Feb. 10 statement focused on not attending the talks, the remarks this time around appear to focus on attending them - though conditions are attached," Ban told the National Assembly's Unification, Foreign Affairs and Commerce Committee. Kim's remarks earlier on the same day "are not much different from what they have been saying, and nothing is new," Ban said, adding, "North Korea will eventually come to the negotiation table." U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Christopher Hill, who heads the American delegation to the talks, said he hoped North Korea "will realize that its future hinges on the six-party talks... Nuclear weapons cannot offer North Korea any hope or future." In a seminar sponsored by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies' Alumni Association, Hill said the talks were a road Pyongyang had to take if it wanted to rejoin the international community. Kim Jong-il "must come to dialogue," he said. Meanwhile, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda described Kim's statement as a "natural outcome" and urged Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks unconditionally and soon. Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura commented, "Though we cannot understand why they issued the unreasonable statement that they are boycotting the six-way talks, we nonetheless welcome the remarks." (englishnews@chosun.com ) ***************************************************************** 6 YWS: S. Korea, U.S., Japan to Hold Strategy Talks on North Korea YONHAPNEWS WORLD SERVICE::ENGLISH NEWS [http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/] .. 2005/02/23 10:25 KST By Chang Jae-soon SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- The chief nuclear negotiators from South Korea, the United States and Japan will meet in Seoul on Saturday to discuss strategies on how to reopen six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program, officials said Wednesday. The meeting comes after North Korea showed signs of backing down after declaring two weeks ago that it possesses nuclear weapons and would boycott further negotiations. ***************************************************************** 7 YWS: Seoul Opposes Referring Nuclear Issue to Security Council YONHAPNEWS WORLD SERVICE::ENGLISH NEWS [http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/] .. 2005/02/22 17:34 KST By Byun Duk-kun SEOUL, Feb. 22 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government on Tuesday reaffirmed its opposition to referring the nuclear standoff over North Korea's drive to develop nuclear arms to the U.N. Security Council. Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said his country is not considering any follow-up measures in case ongoing international efforts to resolve the dispute peacefully through dialogue end in failure. ***************************************************************** 8 YWS: U.S. Urges N.K. to Return to Nuclear Talks Without Preconditions YONHAPNEWS WORLD SERVICE::ENGLISH NEWS Wednesday, February 23, 2005 ˘ş [http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/] .. WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (Yonhap) -- The United States said Tuesday North Korea should return to six-party talks on its nuclear program without preconditions, rejecting Pyongyang's demand for more "mature conditions" for dialogue. "All of the other parties, all of the other five parties -- the United States, China, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Russia -- are in fact ready to return to the table at an early date and without preconditions. It's only North Korea that claims current conditions are unfavorable," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher. ***************************************************************** 9 Guardian Unlimited: N. Korea Indicates Return to Nuclear Talks From the Associated Press [UP] Tuesday February 22, 2005 6:46 AM AP Photo NY117 By SANG-HUN CHOE Associated Press Writer SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Il told a visiting Chinese envoy that his government will return to six-party nuclear disarmament talks if the United States shows ``sincerity,'' the communist state's official news agency said Tuesday. The announcement - the latest in more than two years of conflicting statements over North Korea's nuclear program - came less than two weeks after Kim flouted Washington and its allies by claiming that it had nuclear weapons and would boycott the talks. ``We will go to the negotiating table anytime if there are mature conditions for the six-party talks thanks to the concerted efforts of the parties concerned in the future,'' Kim said Tuesday, expressing the hope that the United States would show ``trustworthy sincerity,'' according to the Korean Central News Agency. Kim spoke of his government's new position in over the nuclear issue in a meeting with Wang Jiarui, head of the Chinese Communist Party's International Department, KCNA said. Kim also said that North Korea ``would as ever stand for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and its position to seek a peaceful solution to the issue through dialogue remains unchanged,'' the news agency said. KCNA did not elaborate on what conditions Kim cited during his talks with the envoy from China, which is his impoverished country's only remaining major ally. In Washington, State Department spokesman Lou Fintor said that U.S. officials were ``aware of the report'' about Kim's remarks, and the U.S. position on resuming the six-party talks is well known. ``The United States remains ready to resume the six party talks at an early date without preconditions,'' said Fintor. He said, ``The six-party talks are the best way to resolve through peaceful diplomacy the international community's concerns about North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons and to end the North's international isolation.'' In its rejection of further meetings over the nuclear issue on Feb. 10, North Korea said it would only return to the talks that include South Korea, China, Russia and Japan if the United States drops what it called a ``hostile'' policy toward the North. At that time, it condemned a statement by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who called North Korea an ``outpost of tyranny,'' saying it was evidence that Washington seeks a regime change in Pyongyang. During three rounds of talks in Beijing since late 2002, North Korea has demanded more aid and a peace treaty with Washington in exchange for giving up its nuclear program - measures that it apparently hopes will guarantee the survival of Kim's Stalinist regime. The talks have made little progress amid deep distrust between Washington and Pyongyang. The United States wants a verifiable nuclear freeze and weapons dismantlement as part of any deal. North Korea says it remains convinced Washington wants to topple its communist regime, and that it needs a nuclear deterrent for protection. Though China helped defend North Korea in the 1950-53 Korean War, Beijing worries that a nuclear-armed North would raise tensions in the region and prompt Japan and South Korea to develop atomic weapons. In his meeting with Kim Monday, Wang relayed a verbal message from Chinese President Hu Jintao, KCNA said. ``Hu Jintao in his verbal message clarified that it is in the fundamental interests of the Chinese and DPRK sides to maintain the stand of realizing the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and protecting its peace and stability, settle the nuclear issue and clear the Korean side of its reasonable concerns through the six-party talks,'' KCNA said. DPRK stands for the North's official name - Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Wang expressed ``the hope that thanks to the concerted efforts of each side the six-party talks would resume soon,'' the report said. Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005 ***************************************************************** 10 BBC: N Korea hints at return to talks Last Updated: Tuesday, 22 February, 2005 [Poster of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, on his birthday] Kim rarely makes public statements on the nuclear standoff North Korea may reconsider its withdrawal from six-nation talks on its nuclear ambitions, the official KCNA news agency has said. It quoted leader Kim Jong-il as saying North Korea would negotiate "anytime if there are mature conditions". His comments were made to a Chinese envoy sent to persuade Pyongyang to rejoin the stalled talks process. North Korea abruptly withdrew from the talks earlier this month, claiming it possessed nuclear weapons. Mr Kim's latest comments appear to re-iterate long-standing North Korean demands for aid and concessions from the United States, says the BBC's Seoul correspondent, Charles Scanlon. Whether this breaks the impasse over the talks will now depend on the US, our correspondent says. We will go to the negotiati table anytime if there are mature conditions for the six-party talks Kim Jong-il But the extremely rare statement from North Korea's supreme leader does show Mr Kim is personally involved in the issue. The remarks will also be seen as a concession to China, its closest ally, since Beijing has been orchestrating the talks process and does not want nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula. The Chinese envoy, Wang Jiarui, carried a message from China's President Hu Jintao, which said it was in China and North Korea's "fundamental interests" to continue working towards peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, KCNA reported. Japan and the US had pressed China to get Pyongyang back to the negotiating table, warning the North Korean regime that its withdrawal would deepen its "international isolation". Six-nation stalemate In his first public statement since the withdrawal, the North Korean leader reportedly placed the onus on the US to create "mature conditions" to enable his country to rejoin the negotiations process. He said North Korea "never opposed the six-party talks but made every possible effort for their success". "We will go to the negotiating table anytime if there are mature conditions for the six-party talks," he said. However, he did not spell out what these conditions may be. Since late 2002, three rounds of negotiations between the six nations - the US, Russia, the two Koreas, Japan and China - have sought to ease nuclear tensions on the Korean peninsula, with little success. While the US has demanded North Korea dismantles its nuclear weapons as part of any peace deal, Pyongyang has said it needs its arsenal to defend itself against a possible US attack. ***************************************************************** 11 Korea Times: Kim Jong-il Conditional on 6-Way Talks Hankooki.com > The Korea Times > Nation By Ryu Jin Staff Reporter North Korean leader Kim Jong-il said his country would return to the six-party talks on its nuclear weapons program if certain ``conditionsˇŻˇŻ are met, urging the United States to show ``sincerity,ˇŻˇŻ the North Korean and Chinese media reported on Tuesday. Officials of South Korea and the U.S. dismissed the news report as ``nothing new,ˇŻˇŻ calling on the reclusive country once again to come back to the negotiation table ``immediately and unconditionally.ˇŻˇŻ KimˇŻs remarks, made in a meeting with a high-ranking Chinese official on Monday, appear to be in line with North KoreaˇŻs basic stance in its announcement of Feb. 10 in which it said it has developed nuclear weapons and decided to delay the talks indefinitely. ``We will return to the negotiating table as soon as conditions for the six-party talks are met,ˇŻˇŻ Kim was quoted as telling Wang Jiarui, the Chinese envoy, by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), PyongyangˇŻs official news agency. Wang, head of the Chinese Communist PartyˇŻs international department, visited Pyongyang Feb. 19-22 with a message from President Hu Jintao to persuade the North to change its mind and return to the six-party talks. In a similar report sent from the North Korean capital, ChinaˇŻs official Xinhua News Agency said Hu explained BeijingˇŻs basic stance that a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula should be realized peacefully. ``China believes a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula will conform to the best interests of the Korean people as well as the security interests of China,ˇŻˇŻ the Chinese news wire quoted Wang as telling the North Korean leader. Kim replied his country ``would as ever stand for the denuclearization of the Korean PeninsulaˇŻˇŻ and its ``position to seek a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue through dialogue remains unchanged,ˇŻˇŻ according to the KCNA. Kim hoped that relevant parties in the multilateral talks would show ``adequate sincerity and take concrete actionˇŻˇŻ to justify his countryˇŻs return to the dialogue, Xinhua said. The U.S. and its Asian allies, South Korea and Japan, showed no surprise at the North Korean leaderˇŻs remarks. ``It is nothing new and is not different from what theyˇŻve said so far,ˇŻˇŻ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-moon told reporters on his way to Chong Wa Dae to attend a weekly Cabinet meeting. Ambassador to South Korea Christopher Hill, who recently became the top nuclear negotiator representing the U.S., also repeated his countryˇŻs basic position that North Korea should return to the six-party talks unconditionally. ``He ought to just come to the talks,ˇŻˇŻ he said in response to a question at a breakfast seminar organized by the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul on whether Washington is willing to offer incentives to Pyongyang. ``We hope that North Korea will understand its futureˇ¦ depends on coming to these talks and beginning a long, difficult but essential road for them to return to the international community,ˇŻˇŻ he said. The nuclear dispute, the second of its kind, emerged in October 2002 when the U.S. said North Korea admitted to having a uranium-based nuclear weapons program in violation of international accords, a claim denied by the North. North Korea had frozen its plutonium-based nuclear weapons program under a bilateral agreement with the U.S. in 1994. Due to suspicions over the uranium-enriching program, the U.S. punished the North by halting promised fuel oil shipments. North Korea retaliated by expelling U.N. nuclear inspectors and quitting the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. jinryu@koreatimes.co.kr 02-22-2005 16:40 ***************************************************************** 12 Hankyoreh: [Editorial] Time for United States to Respond Updated : Feb.23.2005 02:54 KST [ border=] Comments by North Korean National Defence Commission Chairman Kim Jong Il to Chinese Communist Party international liaison department Wang Jiarui, in Pyongyang to convince the North to attend the six-party talks, confirm two things. The first is that the North Korean foreign ministry statement of February 10, which said it would not be participating in the talks and that it possesses nuclear weapons, was made with negotiations in mind. The other is that there will be no breakthrough in the current situation without a change of attitude from the United States. Now that the North's intentions are clear it is time for the US to produce a more developed offer. Chairman Kim said he "maintains the principle of a non-nuclear Korean peninsula and a peaceful resolution through dialogue," making it clear he wants to abandon the North's nuclear plans. He made none of the comments observers worried would make the situation worse. He said that the North would go to the talks if certain conditions were met, and as an example he cited "believable, good-faith action" on the part of the US. His expectation of change in American attitude regarding a security guarantee and compensation is, in its own way, consistent and rational, because as long as there is a possibility that hard-liners in the US will attempt to topple the North's government, it will be hard for there to be substantial progress in negotiations. Christopher Hill, US ambassador to Korea and the chief American representative to the six-party talks, however, says the proposal the US laid out in June of last year is still valid, and that the US can explain the proposal some more if the North would like to hear it. In other words, the US wants to show the North the same proposal it revealed before the breakdown in the process. It is not good to take the kind of attitude that deliberately disregards the North's concerns, and it differs also from the Chinese position. In his letter delivered by Wang, Chinese President Hu Jintao expressed to Chairman Kim understanding for the North's "reasonable concerns." It is too much for the US to demand the North give up its nuclear abilities when the North is saying it is ready to abolish its nuclear program through negotiations. If the US really wants to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue it must change its approach. The Korean government should employ diplomacy that will make the US and the North sit down across from each other over a constructive proposal. The Hankyoreh, 23 February 2005. [Translations by [http://www.seoulselection.com] (PMS)] Copyright 2005 Hankyoreh Plus inc. ***************************************************************** 13 AFP: North Korea's Kim says he's willing to return to nuclear talks Tuesday February 22, 4:45 PM BEIJING, (AFP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has said his country is willing to return to nuclear disarmament talks despite an earlier threat to withdraw from negotiations, Chinese officials reported. Less than two weeks after the North announced it had nuclear weapons and was snubbing the talks indefinitely, Kim told Chinese envoy Wang Jiarui he remained committed to a nuclear-free Korean peninsula. "He hopes that the international community can understand that in the February 10 declaration, the North Korean side never opposed the six-party talks and that the DPRK (North Korea) would be willing to return to the six-party talks at an early date, if the conditions are right," Wang told Chinese television. "General Secretary Kim Jong-Il made it very clear that to maintain a nuclear-free Korean peninsula and resolve the issue through dialogue, this goal and this position had not changed," he said. Wang, who returned to Beijing Tuesday after talks with Kim, did not specify what North Korea's conditions were. The Stalinist state has previously demanded one-on-one talks with the United States, which favours a multilateral approach. Kim expressed hope that the United States would "show trustworthy sincerity and move", the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. In Tokyo, Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura urged North Korea to drop its conditions and return to the talks immediately. "We want them to take concrete actions," he said. South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon said the gesture offered hope that negotiations could resume, adding that the February 10 statement "should be taken as rather unverified unilateral assertion" intended as part of its typical "brinksmanship." During his three-day mission to Pyongyang, Wang delivered a verbal message to the reclusive Kim from Chinese President Hu Jintao. Hu told his counterpart "it is in the fundamental interests of the Chinese and DPRK sides to maintain the stand of realizing the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," KCNA said. The Chinese president said it was crucial to protect "peace and stability, settle the nuclear issue and clear the Korean side of its reasonable concerns through the six-party talks." The United States and North Korea have been locked in a stand-off since October 2002 when Washington accused Pyongyang of operating a secret program based on highly-enriched uranium, violating a 1994 arms control agreement. North Korea denied the allegations. However it responded by expelling UN nuclear inspectors, re-starting a mothballed nuclear reactor and extracting weapons-grade plutonium from spent fuel rods. China has brokered three rounds of talks with North Korea, the United States, South Korea, Japan and Russia to resolve the issue. However, North Korea snubbed a fourth round last September, citing Washington's "hostile policy" and accusing it of trying to topple its government. Analysts said China was unlikely to have offered Kim any financial inducements, but instead would have made clear that sanctions by some countries were a stark reality. "I suspect that China held out the prospect that some of the powers might take limited sanctions, that Japan and South Korea are serious and the situation would deteriorate," said Brian Bridges, a North Korea expert at Lingnan University in Hong Kong. "I suspect China also passed the message on that the US will not respond with concessions. They won't do anything until they get back to the negotiating table." Analysts said the likely outcome would be a return to the six-party format during which the United States and North Korea would hold bilateral discussions. A flurry of diplomacy preceded Wang's trip, with the United States' new envoy to the talks Christopher Hill visiting Beijing in an attempt to help North Korea overcome its "big mistake". The rhetoric was stepped up when the CIA said North Korea has active biological and chemical weapons programs and could resume missile tests soon. Copyright © 2002 AFP. All rights reserved. All information ***************************************************************** 14 [NukeNet] U.S. Won't Rule Out Waging War In Space, General Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 14:41:10 -0800 NukeNet Anti-Nuclear Network (nukenet@energyjustice.net) See http://www.envirovideo.com for videos on space weaponization, nuclearization and more. ----- Original Message ----- From: ICIS-Institute for Cooperation in Space To: info@peaceinspace.com Sent: Monday, February 21, 2005 7:27 PM Subject: U.S. won't rule out waging war in space, general says: U.S. won't rule out waging war in space, general says: Satellites of enemies and even neutral states could be fair game for American attack The Ottawa Citizen Mon 21 Feb 2005 Page: A1 / Front Section: News Byline: David Pugliese Source: The Ottawa Citizen A top U.S. space commander says the United States can't rule out attacking the satellites and other spacecraft of enemy nations in the future. But Lt.-Gen. Daniel Leaf, vice-commander of the American air force space command, says at this point the U.S. is focused on protecting its own space capabilities, although it has to keep an eye on the potential that weapons will be developed by other nations to target U.S. satellites and spacecraft. And even if it does decide to directly counter such moves, that doesn't mean it will resort to putting weapons into orbit, according to the officer. The issue of turning space into a battleground has become a hot-button topic in the U.S. and Canada. Some defence analysts have voiced concern the Pentagon is preparing to fight a war in orbit and worry that Prime Minister Paul Martin's government is being drawn into those plans. Analysts also cite a report issued last August by the U.S. air force, which, they note, acknowledged that satellites of enemy or neutral countries could be destroyed if necessary. "Our active plans right now are not along those lines," Lt.-Gen. Leaf said in an interview with the Citizen. "They're along the lines of denying access to space capabilities, protecting our own access, and having space situational awareness to know what's going on." "We don't have the luxury of dismissing the fact that it may come to that point some day," he added. "It is not in our interest or in our policy to make that day come sooner. But our thinking has to consider an adversary might do it." Lt.-Gen. Leaf said countering efforts by other nations to strike at American space systems does not automatically mean the U.S. would respond by building space weapons. He cited an example of Iraqi forces trying to jam U.S. military navigation satellites, noting the response was to use aircraft to bomb the Iraqi jamming sites. But Washington-based defence analyst Theresa Hitchens said last year's report lays out for air force commanders the procedures they would follow for launching attacks in space. It also signals the air force's acceptance of space as a battle zone, said Ms. Hitchens, vice-president of the Center for Defense Information. She noted the study outlines the option of a pre-emptive attack on the satellites of other countries, including those operated by neutral nations that may be used by the Americans' adversaries. "That doctrine does not rule out the use of destructive measures," said Ms. Hitchens. She noted the Pentagon has become increasingly uneasy about the response from U.S. lawmakers concerned about a potential push to make space a battlefield. As a result, the U.S. military has increased its public relations efforts to downplay future space plans and to cast them as appearing to be defensive in nature, she added. "The air force talks about pre-emptive action against a satellite so isn't that by definition an offensive technique?" asked Ms. Hitchens. "I don't see how that is defensive." Lt.-Gen. Leaf acknowledged the air force's report discusses the potential to stop enemy nations from using satellites being operated by another nation, but said the answer to that is not in destroying those spacecraft. "When you ask how do we deny an enemy access to space capabilities that might come from a third country or a satellite that is used by others, the answer is clearly not through brute force," he explained. "It is going to have to be a precise, refined, sophisticated approach to denying those capabilities. And those are the kind of tough issues we are grappling with." Canada has several military space programs on the go, all designed to gather information for the Canadian Forces, but also to feed that data to the U.S. Included among those are Projects Sapphire and Polar Star as well as the ultra-secret program dubbed Polar Ice. Lt.-Gen. Leaf noted he can't speak for Canada on those programs but responded: "Can they contribute to what our nations do as partners? Yes." __________ SIGN OUR U.N. PETITION TO BAN WEAPONS AND WARFARE IN SPACE http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/832338563 Campaign for Cooperation in Space http://www.peaceinspace.org _______________________________________________________________________ Subscribe/Unsubscribe Here: http://www.energyjustice.net/nukenet/ Change your settings or access the archives at: http://energyjustice.net/mailman/listinfo/nukenet_energyjustice.net ***************************************************************** 15 deseret news: Spending debate turns testy as GOP ponders priorities [deseretnews.com] Tuesday, February 22, 2005 By Bob Bernick Jr. and Lisa Riley Roche Deseret Morning News Despite state government having record-setting tax surpluses, arguing over what to do with the money is leading to tough choices and sometimes hard feelings. Take Monday, for example. A House GOP caucus meeting — kept open to the public while Republican senators held their budget discussions behind closed doors — became heated as members argued for and against different spending proposals. Rep. Steve Mascaro, R-West Jordan, became so emotional at one point that he walked out of the caucus, leading House budget chairman Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley, to say it was good to conduct such business in public, even if emotions sometimes get the best of people. The Senate Republican caucus was much more sedate, its leaders said. Still, they aren't entirely in agreement with Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. yet, either. So far, the governor appears to be holding firm to his budget. "There's nothing new on the table," said Jason Chaffetz, the governor's chief of staff. "We're down to a half dozen key items and a dozen items overall." The amounts in dispute on each of the items range from about $25,000 to as much as $5 million, he said. Both House and Senate leaders, as well as aides to the governor, stressed Monday that no budget decisions are final, as legislators move to adopt a budget by midnight March 2. After legislators left their chambers Monday, leaders again huddled with Huntsman. Still, Mascaro and a few other GOP House members were not happy with parts of a four-page spending list brought to the caucuses Monday, claiming priorities made by budget subcommittees after weeks of hearings and votes were not strictly followed. Mascaro wanted to know what happened to some $8.7 million in priority funding to restore Medicaid dental and vision services — services trimmed in recent state budgets as tax revenues dwindled. It was hoped that such help for the poor could be found this year when lawmakers were told by budget experts they had more than $600 million in new and one-time funds. Restoring those benefits is also high on the governor's priority list. "I don't care how you explain this list," a still upset Mascaro said after the caucus. Not funding "the subcommittee's first and second priorities — the dental and vision care — is a bunch of crap." Restoring the dental and vision benefits is still an "open issue" among GOP senators, Senate Majority Leader Pete Knudson, R-Brigham City, said. They generally agree with the amount of money the governor wants but not how it should be distributed, he said. "What we're trying to decide is where to put the emphasis — children, adults and reimbursement rates," Knudson said. "When we're all done with all this, there'll be dollars in there. How much, I can't tell you." Senators were not asked to vote on budget priorities, Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said. "We're not asking for a vote at this point," he said. "We're giving them information about where the negotiations are so that if they have a severe objection . . . we know it." Bigelow said there will be more negotiations among the governor and House and Senate Republicans before the majority party puts together an estimated $8.6 billion budget for next year. Still, there appear to be some winners on the preliminary draft spending lists discussed Monday: • Huntsman gets another $4.7 million for increases in the Weighted Pupil Unit, the basic funding block for public education. Earlier this session, lawmakers adopted a 3.5 percent increase in the WPU. With Monday's extra cash, the WPU next year would be 4.5 percent, Bigelow said. "The governor insists on that number," Bigelow added. But Rep. Gordon Snow, R-Roosevelt, warned that some representatives want to revisit that number in coming days. Republican senators, though, support the 4.5 percent to cover growth in education, Knudson said. • Huntsman gets $3 million put into the LeRay McAllister open space fund. Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, joked last week that maybe Huntsman should get what he asked for in the open space fund after learning that the governor will pay around $3 million in state capital gains taxes when he sells out his stock in his family's large chemical worldwide firm later this year. • Conservative GOP lawmakers will push $90 million in ongoing tax revenue and $30 million in one-time tax surplus into road construction, for a whopping total of $120 million in new money going to increased transportation funding. Conservatives have been worrying this year that with so much new cash available, too many state programs would be increased, jumping overall state spending well above population growth and inflation. Pumping new tax growth into road construction hinders the growth in state programs. House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake, said: "Just call this the Legislature of transportation funding." Noting that Republicans have preliminarily put $120 million more into roads, "we see an imbalance — the new funding for roads is like 6-to-1 over education." Republicans are putting "$3 million more into open space and then all that into roads, you see their priorities." • $5 million dollars more will be spent on a program to persuade the federal government not to close Hill Air Force Base. • Huntsman gets $19 million more (spent over two years) to boost tourism marketing, part of the governor's economic development program. • Colleges and universities get $2.6 million (above the already-approved 2.5 percent employee base pay raises) in extra cash to keep and attract top professors and researchers. • State parks get an extra $300,000 so no parks will be closed and/or sold next year. • The Department of Environmental Quality gets $2 million to further the fight to keep high-level nuclear wastes from coming to Utah. Oddly enough, Rep. Dave Ure, R-Kamas, a member of that budget subcommittee, told the caucus "we got $2 million, but we don't want it." After the caucus, Ure said, "We've spent about $4 million already fighting" Private Fuel Storage, a consortium of eastern U.S. nuclear power firms, "bringing that stuff here." (PFS wants to temporarily store the dangerous spent nuclear fuel rods on a western Utah Indian reservation.) The rods will come or not come despite Utah's best efforts, Ure said. Spending $2 million more "is just pouring money down a rathole. We told (leaders) time and again we don't want to spend this money." E-mail: bbjr@desnews.com [bbjr@desnews.com] ; lisa@desnews.com [lisa@desnews.com] © 2005 Deseret News Publishing Company ***************************************************************** 16 PREX: WMD COMMISSION FR Doc 05-3275 [Federal Register: February 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 34)] [Notices] [Page 8583] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22fe05-56] EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT Office of Administration; Notice of Meeting of the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction (``Commission'') will meet in closed session on Wednesday, March 9, 2005, and Thursday, March 10, 2005, in its offices in Arlington, Virginia. Executive Order 13328 established the Commission for the purpose of assessing whether the Intelligence Community is sufficiently authorized, organized, equipped, trained, and resourced to identify and warn in a timely manner of, and to support the United States Government's efforts to respond to, the development of Weapons of Mass Destruction, related means of delivery, and other related threats of the 21st Century. This meeting will consist of briefings and discussions involving classified matters of national security, including classified briefings from representatives of agencies within the Intelligence Community; Commission discussions based upon the content of classified intelligence documents the Commission has received from agencies within the Intelligence Community; and presentations concerning the United States' intelligence capabilities that are based upon classified information. While the Commission does not concede that it is subject to the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 United States Code Appendix 2, it has been determined that the March 9-10, 2005, meeting would fall within the scope of exceptions (c)(1) and (c)(9)(B) of the Sunshine Act, 5 United States Code, Sections 552b(c)(1) & (c)(9)(B), and thus could be closed to the public if FACA did apply to the Commission. DATES: Wednesday, March 9, 2005 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), and Thursday, March 10, 2005 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.). ADDRESSES: Members of the public who wish to submit a written statement to the Commission are invited to do so by facsimile at (703) 414-1203, or by mail at the following address: Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction, Washington, D.C., 20503. Comments also may be sent to the Commission by e-mail at comments@wmd.gov [comments@wmd.gov] . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brett C. Gerry, Associate General Counsel, Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction, by facsimile, or by telephone at (703) 414-1200. Victor E. Bernson, Jr., Executive Office of the President, Office of Administration, General Counsel. [FR Doc. 05-3275 Filed 2-18-05; 8:45 am] ***************************************************************** 17 Shorthorn Online: Opinion Nuclear Ambition [UT-Arlington] [opinion-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu] 817-272-3661 OPINION | February 22, 2005 U.S. policy walks dangerous lines Its hard to say when it happened, but Ive never been a fan of nuclear weapons. I guess its the gamma radiation. Its not the nicest form of radiation. It thanked Madame Curie for using it in her experiments by killing her  and she was a nice lady. If it were living in a neighborhood, itd be like the Manson family. Well, this family is here to stay. Just six years ago, it seemed like it would be very limited, but not anymore. In the 1980s, people decided that nukes were a deterrent. If everybody had them, no one would use them. (Well, except for that one time when Japan wouldnt surrender.) Nowadays, the army is trying find more practical forms of nukes so that a lot of people can be killed but without all the unusable land. Thats why the U.S. government pulled out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Strangely enough, after we pulled out, so did other countries. While pundits will still argue that weve got to attack other countries to stop the threat, it would seem that U.S. policy inspires a more hostile and dangerous nuclear world. North Korea pulled out, and its now believed that it has at most two nuclear weapons. I think thats a CIA finding. Of course, recent intelligence failures, like believing that weapons of mass destruction exist and the assumed link between al-Qaida and Saddam Hussein, would inspire me to believe that there are no weapons at all and that North Korea is really making weapons-grade pencil sets. However, in April 1961, it was believed that Cuba didnt have any nukes, but they did. The Bay of Pigs was President Kennedys second-hand war with Cuba. He could have gone with a full-scale attack  based on the facts  but decided to be subtler. Good thing because, if Castro is to be believed, he was very willing to use them in defense of his nation. Whether true or not, I wonder why the U.S. government has continued to forgo one-on-one negotiations with North Korea. U.S. representatives always say they want six-way negotiations. Rather than nip the problem in the bud with great speed in 2001, the problem has been allowed to fester because politicians  who get paid by the American people  dont think that a greater threat to Americans is a priority. Oh wait, unless its coming from the Middle East. Ill just hedge my bets by visiting Los Angeles, Seattle and Anchorage and then light a candle for my neighbor who has family in South Korea  just in case these things dont stay contained. Ive probably got some time before I have to visit Pakistan, seeing as how the U.S. government usually waits 10 years before overthrowing the totalitarian leaders  like Castro and Hussein  that it put in office.  Richard-Michael Manuel is a communication senior and a contributor to The Shorthorn Richard-Michael Manuel [http://www.theshorthorn.com] [http://www.uta.edu] | Department of Student Publications © Copyright 2001. All Rights Reserved. Corrections | [online-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu] ***************************************************************** 18 Exelon Shortchanges TMI Community on Taxes Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 14:41:13 -0800 February 20, 2005 Re: Property Valuation Assessment of Three Mile Unit-1 & Three Mile Unit-2 prepared by EFMR Monitoring Inc. Dauphin County Commissioners: Enclosed you will find an analysis of the proposed Settlement between Exelon and Dauphin County and FirstEnergy and Dauphin County based on the limited legal data I received. This study is being embargoed until Tuesday, February, 22, 2005, at which time it will be released to the general public. The proposed Settlement demonstrates a lack of understanding of the technical, mechanical, and financial status of Three Mile Island and its environs. In addition, there appears to be a general reluctance to pursue alternative legal remedies. Frankly, Iąve been disappointed by the lack of communication from the Commission given the import of this matter and the donation of services rendered by EFMR. This Settlement proposal coincides with Exelonąs decision to abandon its real-time, gamma monitoring program (Reuter Stokes) around Three Mile Island in order to save an estimated $250,000 annually. This leaves EFMR as the only entity (including AmerGen, the DEP, and the NRC) providing real-time gamma monitoring for radioactive emissions from Three Mile Island. Unfortunately, we can no longer offer that program free of costs to local municipalities. Sincerely, Eric J. Epstein, Coordinator ericepstein@comcast.net 717-541-1101 Attachment Converted: "c:\program files\eudora\attach\Property value of TMI.pdf" ***************************************************************** 19 NY Times Joins Call to Protect Nuclear, Chemical Plants Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 14:41:24 -0800 The New York Times Sunday, February 20, 2005 EDITORIAL Our Unnecessary Insecurity ept. 11 changed everything," the saying goes. It is striking, however, how much has not changed in the three and a half years since nearly 3,000 people were killed on American soil. The nation's chemical plants are still a horrific accident waiting to happen. Nuclear material that could be made into a "dirty bomb," or even a nuclear device, and set off in an American city remains too accessible to terrorists. Critical tasks, from inspecting shipping containers to upgrading defenses against biological weapons, are being done poorly or not at all. Costly as the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks were in lives, the death toll from a chemical, biological or nuclear attack could be far, far greater. A nation as open and complex as ours can never be totally safe from such dangers. But there is a great deal that can be done, without compromising our basic liberties, to eliminate obvious openings for terrorist attacks. The biggest obstacles to making the nation safer have been lack of political will and failure to carry out the most effective policies. The Bush administration and Congress have been reluctant to provide the necessary money - even while they are furiously reducing revenue with tax cuts. The funds that are available are often misdirected. And Washington has caved to pressure from interest groups, like the chemical industry, that have fought increased security measures. Most of all, the government has failed to lay out a broad strategy for making the nation more secure. Among the most troubling vulnerabilities that have yet to be seriously addressed: Chemical Plants After Sept. 11, the Environmental Protection Agency identified 123 chemical plants that could, in a worst-case attack, endanger one million or more people. There is an urgent need for greater action to protect them. But the chemical industry, a major Bush-Cheney campaign contributor, has bitterly fought needed safeguards. In her recent book "It's My Party Too," the former administrator of the E.P.A., Christie Whitman, said that chemical industry lobbyists thwarted the reasonable safety rules that she and the Department of Homeland Security tried to impose. Nuclear Materials A nuclear attack in an American city is the ultimate nightmare. The desire, on the part of the terrorists, is there: Osama bin Laden has declared acquisition of nuclear weapons to be a religious duty. Fortunately, there are considerable logistical and technological hurdles to terrorists' setting off a nuclear device. But it is far from impossible, and a so-called dirty bomb, which disperses radioactive material without a nuclear explosion, could be less of a challenge to make. The key to prevention is identifying and securing nuclear weapons and materials, especially in the former Soviet Union. Nuclear Power Plants There are more than 100 nuclear reactors producing energy in the United States. Many of them are in heavily populated areas. Some may be vulnerable to a suicide attack from the air, particularly if a plane managed to crack the wall around the pool of spent fuel, causing a fire that would send clouds of toxic gas into the atmosphere. Setting off a truck bomb could also have a devastating effect. While the plants are protected by armed guards, not all of those teams are of the highest quality. If the government can federalize airport luggage checkers, it should be able to provide the same consistency to security around nuclear power plants. Port Security One of the greatest threats to national security is the possibility that a weapon of mass destruction could be smuggled in on one of the millions of shipping containers that arrive from overseas every year. The government is doing more than it once did to inspect these containers, but there is still far too little money and manpower devoted to this crucial task. Hazardous Waste Transport Millions of tons of highly toxic chemicals and nuclear waste are shipped by railroad and truck, much of it through or near densely populated areas. The District of Columbia Council recently adopted a temporary ban on such shipments after a Naval Research Laboratory scientist warned that if a 90-ton tanker car carrying chlorine crashed during a Fourth of July celebration at the National Mall, it could kill 100,000 people in 30 minutes. But it makes no sense that one municipality is protecting itself against a worst-case situation while in other parts of the country, regulation of the transport of hazardous materials remains woefully inadequate. Bioterrorism The anthrax attacks of the fall of 2001 only began to suggest the devastating power of biological weapons. While officials are all too aware of the mortality rate that would follow an attack with weapons-grade anthrax, smallpox or plague, controls are still spotty. Lethal pathogens are too often stored in insecure laboratories. Given these serious gaps, it is disturbing to see limited resources used as inefficiently as they have been. Fighting the last war, the Bush administration is devoting far too great a proportion of domestic security spending to preventing the hijacking of commercial aircraft. For a long time, it engaged in a draconian crackdown on academic visas, while the nation's borders - the likeliest entry points for future terrorists - remained as porous as ever. And with the stakes literally life or death, the pork-barrel politics that have controlled domestic security funds - giving Wyoming more per capita than New Jersey - are simply unconscionable. While the administration does too little on one hand, it overreacts on the other, and seems oblivious to how its excesses are actually making America less safe. The abuse of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay and the refusal to abide by either international law or basic constitutional principles do little to protect the nation, but make it harder for us to enlist much-needed allies, and provide powerful talking points for terrorist recruiting drives. Many Americans have a false sense of security because there has not been a terrorist assault in the United States since the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon were attacked. But that may have less to do with terrorists' intents than their timeline. Eight years went by between the 1993 attack that failed to bring down the World Trade Center and the one that finally did. Looking back, we feel a natural frustration at all the warning signs that were ignored before Sept. 11. There is now a wide array of government reports, private studies and even best-selling books alerting us to remaining vulnerabilities. If the United States is hit by another attack at one of those points, we will have only ourselves to blame. ***************************************************************** 20 [NukeNet] NRC Admission Re Probability Of Meltdown Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 14:41:06 -0800 NukeNet Anti-Nuclear Network (nukenet@energyjustice.net) NRC is charged with protecting us although we all know that's a joke[deadly joke]. Anyone allowing this kind of potentially catastrophic technology to exist is in complete dereliction of their duty and needs to be replaced with an agency that will truely protect the public. De facto this means the shutting down of ALL nuclear power facilities immediately or as close to immediately as is possible. The logical measure to take for supplying us with the energy we need and protecting us is a Manhattan Project for clean, renewable energy. Please call and/or fax [ http://www.senate.gov & http://www.house.gov ] your Rep and your two Senators now calling for the dismantling of the entire nuclear power industry and it's being replaced with wind, solar, geothermal and any/all other renewables deemed appropriate. Please spread this e-mail to other lists and interested individuals. The Congressional switchboard can be reached at: 1-877-762-8762 or 202-224-3121. http://www.mothersalert.org/probability.html This dosen't even address the issue of terrorism. One single attack on a spent fuel pool will be MUCH worse than Chernobyl to sat nothing of what it will do to the economny and environment. For some old statistics re economic damage as the result of a Class-9 meltdown see: http://www.mothersalert.org/crac.html -Bill Smirnow _______________________________________________________________________ Subscribe/Unsubscribe Here: http://www.energyjustice.net/nukenet/ Change your settings or access the archives at: http://energyjustice.net/mailman/listinfo/nukenet_energyjustice.net ***************************************************************** 21 NRC: Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, Subcommittee Meeting FR Doc 05-3261 [Federal Register: February 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 34)] [Notices] [Page 8643-8644] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22fe05-143] on Planning and Procedures; Notice of Meeting The ACRS Subcommittee on Planning and Procedures will hold a meeting on March 2, 2005, Room T-2B1, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. The entire meeting will be open to public attendance, with the exception of a portion that may be closed pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(2) and (6) to discuss organizational and personnel matters that relate solely to the internal personnel rules and practices of the ACRS, and information the release of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. The agenda for the subject meeting shall be as follows: Wednesday, March 2, 2005--10 a.m.--11:30 a.m. The Subcommittee will discuss proposed ACRS activities and related matters. The Subcommittee will gather information, analyze relevant issues and facts, and formulate proposed positions and actions, as appropriate, for deliberation by the full Committee. Members of the public desiring to provide oral statements and/or written comments should notify the Designated Federal Official, Mr. Sam Duraiswamy (telephone: 301-415-7364) between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. (e.t.) five days prior to the meeting, if possible, so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Electronic recordings will be permitted only during those portions of the meeting that are open to the public. Further information regarding this meeting can be obtained by contacting the Designated Federal Official between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. (e.t.). Persons [[Page 8644]] planning to attend this meeting are urged to contact the above named individual at least two working days prior to the meeting to be advised of any potential changes in the agenda. Dated: February 14, 2005. John H. Flack, Acting Branch Chief, ACRS/ACNW. [FR Doc. 05-3261 Filed 2-18-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 22 NRC: Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc.; Notice of Consideration of FR Doc 05-3262 [Federal Register: February 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 34)] [Notices] [Page 8641-8642] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22fe05-140] Issuance of Amendment to Facility Operating License, Proposed No Significant Hazards Consideration Determination, and Opportunity for a Hearing The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) is considering issuance of an amendment to Facility Operating License No. NPF-49 issued to the Millstone Power Station, Unit No. 3 for operation in New London County, Connecticut. The proposed amendment would revise Technical Specification 3/ 4.3.2, ``Engineered Safety Features Actuation System Instrumentation,'' Table 3.3-3, extending the allowed outage time for the Emergency Generator Load Sequencer (EGLS) from 6 hours to 12 hours. This extension was requested to support maintenance on the EGLS which would correct a recently identified failure of the automatic test circuit for the `A' EGLS. Before issuance of the proposed license amendment, the Commission will have made findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act), and the Commission's regulations. The Commission has made a proposed determination that the amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration. Pursuant to the Commission's regulations in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), section 50.92, this means that operation of the facility in accordance with the proposed amendment would not (1) involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated; or (2) create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated; or (3) involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety. As required by 10 CFR 50.91(a), the licensee has provided its analysis of the issue of no significant hazards consideration, which is presented below: Criterion 1: Does the proposed amendment involve a significant increase in the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated? Response: No. The proposed change increases the allowed time to restore the inoperable EGLS to operable status from 6 to 12 hours. The proposed change does not modify any plant equipment and does not impact any failure modes that could lead to an accident. Additionally, the proposed change has no affect on the consequence of any analyzed accident since the change does not affect the function of any equipment credited for accident mitigation. Based on this discussion, the proposed amendment does not increase the probability or consequences of an accident previously evaluated. Criterion 2: Does the proposed amendment create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated? Response: No. The proposed change increases the allowed time to restore the inoperable EGLS to operable status from 6 to 12 hours. It does not modify any plant equipment and there is no impact on the capability of existing equipment to perform its intended functions. No system setpoints are being modified and no changes are being made to the method in which plant operations are conducted. No new failure modes are introduced by the proposed changes. The proposed amendment does not introduce accident initiators or malfunctions that would cause a new or different kind of accident. Therefore, the proposed amendment does not create the possibility of a new or different kind of accident from any accident previously evaluated. Criterion 3: Does the proposed amendment involve a significant reduction in a margin of safety? Response: No. The proposed change increases the allowed time to restore the inoperable EGLS to operable status from 6 to 12 hours. The proposed change does not affect any of the assumptions used in the accident analysis, nor does it affect any operability requirements for equipment important to plant safety. Therefore, the proposed change will not result in a significant reduction in the margin of safety as defined in the Bases for Technical Specifications covered in this License Amendment Request. The NRC staff has reviewed the licensee's analysis and, based on this review, it appears that the three standards of 10 CFR 50.92(c) are satisfied. Therefore, the NRC staff proposes to determine that the amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration. The Commission is seeking public comments on this proposed determination. Any comments received within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice will be considered in making any final determination. Normally, the Commission will not issue the amendment until the expiration of the 30-day notice period. However, should circumstances change during the notice period such that failure to act in a timely way would result, for example, in derating or shutdown of the facility, the Commission may issue the license amendment before the expiration of the 30-day notice period, provided that its final determination is that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration. The final determination will consider all public and State comments received. Should the Commission take this action, it will publish in the Federal Register a notice of issuance and provide for opportunity for a hearing after issuance. The Commission expects that the need to take this action will occur very infrequently. Written comments may be submitted by mail to the Chief, Rules and Directives Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, and should cite the publication date and page number of this Federal Register notice. Written comments may also be delivered to Room 6D22, Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Federal workdays. Documents may be examined, and/or copied for a fee, at the NRC's Public Document Room, located at One White Flint North, Public File Area O1 F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. The filing of requests for hearing and petitions for leave to intervene is discussed below. Within 60 days after the date of publication of this notice, the licensee may file a request for a hearing with respect to issuance of the amendment to the subject facility operating license and any person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding must file a written request for a hearing and a petition for leave to intervene. Requests for a hearing and a petition for leave to intervene shall be filed in accordance with the Commission's ``Rules of Practice for Domestic Licensing Proceedings'' in 10 CFR Part 2. Interested persons should consult a current copy of 10 CFR 2.309, [[Page 8642]] which is available at the Commission's Public Document Room, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland, or electronically on the Internet at the NRC Web site http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/cfr/ [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leaving FR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collecti ons/cfr/] . If there are problems in accessing the document, contact the Public Document Room Reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov [pdr@nrc.gov] . If a request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene is filed by the above date, the Commission or an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, designated by the Commission or by the Chairman of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, will rule on the request and/or petition; and the Secretary or the designated Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will issue a notice of hearing or an appropriate order. As required by 10 CFR 2.309, a petition for leave to intervene shall set forth with particularity the interest of the petitioner in the proceeding, and how that interest may be affected by the results of the proceeding. The petition should specifically explain the reasons why intervention should be permitted with particular reference to the following factors: (1) The name, address, and telephone number of the requestor or petitioner; (2) the nature of the petitioner's right under the Act to be made party to the proceeding; (3) the nature and extent of the petitioner's property, financial, or other interest in the proceeding; and (4) the possible effect of any order which may be entered in the proceeding on the petitioner's interest. The petition must also set forth the specific contentions which the petitioner/ requestor seeks to have litigated at the proceeding. Each contention must consist of a specific statement of the issue of law or fact to be raised or controverted. In addition, the petitioner shall provide a brief explanation of the bases of the contention and a concise statement of the alleged facts or expert opinion which support the contention and on which the petitioner intends to rely in proving the contention at the hearing. The petitioner must also provide references to those specific sources and documents of which the petitioner is aware and on which the petitioner intends to rely to establish those facts or expert opinion. The petition must include sufficient information to show that a genuine dispute exists with the applicant on a material issue of law or fact. Contentions shall be limited to matters within the scope of the amendment under consideration. The contention must be one which, if proven, would entitle the petitioner to relief. A petitioner who fails to file such a supplement which satisfies these requirements with respect to at least one contention will not be permitted to participate as a party. Those permitted to intervene become parties to the proceeding, subject to any limitations in the order granting leave to intervene, and have the opportunity to participate fully in the conduct of the hearing, including the opportunity to present evidence and cross- examine witnesses. If a hearing is requested, the Commission will make a final determination on the issue of no significant hazards consideration. The final determination will serve to decide when the hearing is held. If the final determination is that the amendment request involves no significant hazards consideration, the Commission may issue the amendment and make it immediately effective, notwithstanding the request for a hearing. Any hearing held would take place after issuance of the amendment. If the final determination is that the amendment request involves a significant hazards consideration, any hearing held would take place before the issuance of any amendment. A request for a hearing or a petition for leave to intervene must be filed by: (1) First class mail addressed to the Office of the Secretary of the Commission, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff; or (2) courier, express mail, and expedited delivery services: Office of the Secretary, Sixteenth Floor, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852, Attention: Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff; or (3) e-mail addressed to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, HearingDocket@nrc.gov [HearingDocket@nrc.gov] ; or (4) facsimile transmission addressed to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC, Attention: Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff at (301) 415-1101, verification number is (301) 415-1966. A copy of the request for hearing should also be sent to the Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, and it is requested that copies be transmitted either by means of facsimile transmission to (301) 415- 3725 or by e-mail to OGCMailCenter@nrc.gov [OGCMailCenter@nrc.gov] . A copy of the request for hearing and petition for leave to intervene should also be sent to Lillian M. Cuoco, Senior Nuclear Counsel, Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc., Rope Ferry Road, Waterford, CT 06285, attorney for the licensee. Nontimely filings of petitions for leave to intervene, amended petitions, supplemental petitions and/or requests for hearing will not be entertained absent a determination by the Commission, the presiding officer or the presiding Atomic Safety and Licensing Board that the petition and/or request should be granted based upon a balancing of the factors specified in 10 CFR 2.309(c)(1)(i)-(viii). For further details with respect to this action, see the application for amendment dated February 10, 2005, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's PDR, located at One White Flint North, File Public Area O1 F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly available records will be accessible from the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leaving FR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html] . Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, should contact the NRC PDR Reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov [pdr@nrc.gov] . Dated in Rockville, Maryland, this 14th day of February, 2005. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Victor Nerses, Senior Project Manager, Section 2, Project Directorate I, Division of Licensing Project Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. 05-3262 Filed 2-18-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 23 NRC: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; FR Doc 05-3263 [Federal Register: February 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 34)] [Notices] [Page 8640-8641] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22fe05-139] Comment Request AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). ACTION: Notice of pending NRC action to submit an information collection request to OMB and solicitation of public comment. SUMMARY: The NRC is preparing a submittal to OMB for review of continued approval of information collections under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Information pertaining to the requirement to be submitted: 1. The title of the information collection: 10 CFR Part 81, Standard Specification for Granting of Patent Licenses. 2. Current OMB approval number: 3150--0121. 3. How often the collection is required: Application for licenses are submitted once. Other reports are submitted annually or as other events required. 4. Who is required or asked to report: Applicants for and holders of NRC Licenses to NRC inventions. 5. The number of annual respondents: 1. 6. The number of hours needed annually to complete the requirement or request: 37 hours estimated; however, no applications are anticipated during the next 3 years. 7. Abstract: 10 CFR Part 81 establishes the standard specifications for the issuance of licenses to rights in inventions covered by patents or patent applications invested in the United States, as represented by or in the custody of the Commission and other patents in which the Commission has legal rights. Submit, by April 25, 2005, comments that address the following questions: 1. Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the NRC to properly perform its functions? Does the information have practical utility? 2. Is the burden estimate accurate? 3. Is there a way to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected? 4. How can the burden of the information collection be minimized, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology? A copy of the draft supporting statement may be viewed free of charge at the NRC Public Document Room, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Room O-1 F21, Rockville, MD 20852. OMB clearance requests are available at the NRC worldwide Web site: [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.html] . The document will be available on the NRC home page site for 60 days after the signature date of this notice. Comments and questions about the information collection requirements may be directed to the NRC Clearance Officer, Brenda Jo. Shelton (T-5 F53), [[Page 8641]] U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, by telephone at 301-415-7233, or by Internet electronic mail to [ INFOCOLLECTS@NRC.GOV] . Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 14th day of February 2005. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Brenda Jo. Shelton, NRC Clearance Officer, Office of Information Services. [FR Doc. 05-3263 Filed 2-18-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 24 NRC: Sunshine Act Meeting Notice FR Doc 05-3395 [Federal Register: February 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 34)] [Notices] [Page 8644] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22fe05-144] AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. DATE: Weeks of February 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28, 2005. PLACE: Commissioners' Conference Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. STATUS: Public and Closed. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Week of February 21, 2005 Tuesday, February 22, 2005 9:30 a.m. Briefing on Status of Office of Information Services (OIS) (formerly OCIO) Programs, Performance, and Plans (Public Meeting) (Contact: Patricia Wolfe, 301-415-6031). This meeting will be webcast live at the Web address--http://www.nrc.gov [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leaving FR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nrc.gov] . 1:30 p.m. Briefing on Emergency Preparedness Program Initiatives (Closed--Ex. 1). Wednesday, February 23, 2005 9:30 a.m. Briefing on Status of Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) Programs, Performance, and Plans (Public Meeting) (Contact: Edward New, 301-415-5646). This meeting will be webcast live at the Web address--http://www.nrc.gov [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leaving FR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nrc.gov] . Thursday, February 24, 2005 1 p.m. Briefing on Nuclear Fuel Performance (Public Meeting) (Contact: Frank Akstulewicz, 301-415-1136). This meeting will be webcast live at the Web address--http://www.nrc.gov [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leaving FR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nrc.gov] . Week of February 28, 2005--Tentative There are no meetings scheduled for the Week of February 28, 2005. Week of March 7, 2005--Tentative Monday, March 7, 2005 10 a.m. Briefing on Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Programs, Performance, and Plans--Materials Safety (Public Meeting) (Contact: Shamica Walker, 301-415-5142). This meeting will be webcast live at the Web address--http://www.nrc.gov [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leaving FR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nrc.gov] . Week of March 14, 2005--Tentative Wednesday, March 16, 2005 9:30 a.m. Meeting with Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW) (Public Meeting) (Contact: John Larkins, 301-415-7360). This meeting will be webcast live at the Web address--http://www.nrc.gov [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leaving FR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nrc.gov] . Week of March 21, 2005--Tentative There are no meetings scheduled for the Week of March 21, 2005. Week of March 28, 2005--Tentative Tuesday, March 29, 2005 9:30 a.m. Briefing on Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) Programs, Performance, and Plans (Public Meeting) (Contact: Robert Caldwell, 301-415-1243). This meeting will be webcast live at the Web address--http://www.nrc.gov [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leaving FR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nrc.gov] . 1 p.m. Discussion of Security Issues (Closed-Ex. 1). *The schedule for Commissioner meetings is subject to change on short notice. To verify the status of meetings call (recording)--(301) 415-1292. Contact person for more information: Dave Gamberoni, (301) 415-1651. * * * * * The NRC Commission Meeting Schedule can be found on the Internet at http://www.nrc.gov/what-we-do/policy-making/schedule.html [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leaving FR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nrc.gov/what-we-do/policy-makin g/schedule.html] . * * * * * The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in these public meetings, or need this meeting notice or the transcript or other information from the public meetings in another format (e.g., braille, large print), please notify the NRC's Disability Program Coordinator, August Spector, at 301-415-7080, TDD: 301-415- 2100, or by e-mail at aks@nrc.gov [aks@nrc.gov] . Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. * * * * * This notice is distributed by mail to several hundred subscribers; if you no longer wish to receive it, or would like to be added to the distribution, please contact the Office of the Secretary, Washington, DC 20555 (301-415-1969). In addition, distribution of this meeting notice over the internet system is available. If you are interested in receiving this Commission meeting schedule electronically, please send an electronic message to dkw@nrc.gov [dkw@nrc.gov] . Dated: February 16, 2005. Dave Gamberoni, Office of the Secretary. [FR Doc. 05-3395 Filed 2-17-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-M ***************************************************************** 25 JS Online: Nuclear power plant goes off-line to fix weakness By EILEEN MOZINSKI emozinski@journalsentinel.com Posted: Feb. 21, 2005 The Kewaunee nuclear power plant was shut down early Sunday after workers detected a possible weakness in an auxiliary feed-water system. "This issue that we identified is a hypothesized issue. There was no event per se at the plant," said Maureen Brown, spokeswoman for plant operator Nuclear Management Co. "On February 12, we notified the Nuclear Regulator Commission that one of the auxiliary feed water pumps might not operate properly if there was a tornado event. We began digging deeper and looking at what systems might be affected," Brown said. The plant was removed from service when questions were posed by a staff engineer investigating how a tornado could affect the plant. Nuclear Management has not determined how long the plant will be off-line or what the review will cost. The Kewaunee plant, which is owned by Green Bay-based Wisconsin Public Service Corp. and Wisconsin Power and Light Co. of Madison, was shut down for almost two months in late 2004 to replace the plant's vessel head cover and to refuel the reactor. In 1996, the NRC fined Wisconsin Electric Power Co., the operator of the Point Beach nuclear power plant, $100,000 for starting up a power unit when an auxiliary feed-water pump was inoperable. From the Feb. 22, 2005, editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [http://www.jsonline.com/copyright.html] , Journal Sentinel Inc. ***************************************************************** 26 China Daily: Goliaths compete for nuclear plant pact By Fu Jing (China Daily) Updated: 2005-02-23 02:07 Three global nuclear power heavyweights now competing for designing and building four nuclear units in China will submit their proposals next Monday, a national nuclear technology company said yesterday. The photo shows the nearly-finished Tianwan nuclear power plant, co-constructed by China and Russia, in Lianyungang, east Jiangsu Province on December 16, 2004. [newsphoto] US-based Westinghouse, France's Areva and Russia's AtomStroyExport (ASE) are busy with finishing touches on their plans for four nuclear reactors in Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces. The Preparatory Office of the State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation told China Daily that a ceremony will be organized on Monday to accept finished bids from the three competitors. "We will soon organize assessments," the preparatory office official said. He did not reveal when an announcement would come on a winner of the contract for the four 1,000-megawatt, pressurized-water nuclear power facilities. Two of the four units will be located in Sanmen, East China's Zhejiang Province, and the other two in Yangjiang, South China's Guangdong Province. The preparatory office, which started work last September under the direct authority of the State Nuclear Power Self-reliance Leading Committee, is to set up the nuclear power corporation, organize tenders, carry out technology transfers and negotiate contracts for nuclear power projects. Having been buried in aggressive competition, the three companies all boasted firm support from their own governments and are confident their companies will stand out. The US-based Westinghouse, which has won no power plant contracts during its two-decade presence in China, stepped forward at the weekend with news that a combination of loans of up to almost US$5 billion have been approved by the US Export-Import Bank to help construct the four nuclear power reactors. Liu Xingang, chief representative of Westinghouse China, said the promised loan will help meet the financial requirements required by the Chinese side, which has asked competitors to earmark capital for their proposals. Liu said his confidence resulted from cutting-edge technology of the equipment and the government's deregulation of technology exports. "The US Government has done a lot since last year to approve exports of the AP-1000 reactor to China," he said. Arnaud de Bourayne, president AREVA China, said preparatory work on bidding started five months ago, with great enthusiasm, to meet the exact bid objectives. "We are ready to deliver our scheme," said the president. But he did not disclose information on financing efforts. Russia's ASE did not respond but an earlier report cited company confidence based on the close relationship between Russia and China. It has already been involved in the construction of two nuclear power units in China, which are expected to start operating this year. China has drafted ambitious plans to construct nuclear power plants by 2020 in an effort to meet the increased demand for power. (China Daily 02/23/2005 page1) ***************************************************************** 27 Lincoln Journal Star: Cooper Nuclear completes refueling outage [http://www.journalstar.com] Employees at Cooper Nuclear Station, owned and operated by Nebraska Public Power District, recently completed one of the best refueling outages in the plant's history, the utility announced Tuesday. Cooper, about 3 miles south of Brownville along the Missouri River, was back on line at 10:33 p.m. on Friday after the fourth shortest refueling outage in the plant's history and the shortest since 1979. The refueling outage lasted 34 days, 22 hours and 33 minutes. "The safe, timely completion of the refueling outage at Cooper Nuclear Station is a major accomplishment for our team at Cooper," said Bill Fehrman, NPPD president and CEO. Although a final tabulation of the refueling outage costs is not yet available, preliminary estimates set the price tag at $27 million. This figure excludes capital improvements at the station, the most significant of which was the installation of two low-pressure turbines at a cost of $36.9 million. The refueling outage also was an opportunity to perform necessary maintenance on the 30-year-old plant. -- Lincoln Journal Star Copyright © 2005, Lincoln Journal Star. All rights reserved. 926 P Street Lincoln NE 68508 402 475-4200 • [feedback@journalstar.com] ***************************************************************** 28 Newhouse: Coal, Oil Problems Fuel Buzz About Nuke Rebirth [Newhouse News Service] BY STAN FREEMAN c.2005 Newhouse News Service The U.S. nuclear power industry has functioned under a cloud since the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island in 1979. Now there are rumors of its resurrection. With America's oil dependency becoming a dangerous addiction, with the smokestacks of coal- and oil-fired power plants adding daily to global warming, with the promise of the alternatives -- solar, wind, tidal, hydrogen, fusion etc. -- yet to be fulfilled, it may not be that nuclear power is coming up in the world. It may only be that everything else is going down. President Bush is calling for the construction of nuclear power plants, the first sought in this country since the 1970s. Recently, he acknowledged the contributions to global warming made by coal-burning power plants, and said that nuclear plants, which do not directly issue greenhouse gases, may be part of the solution. Once the new debate over nuclear power hits critical mass, though, will it end as the old one did? Will the drawbacks of nuclear power -- principal among them being the tons and tons of highly radioactive waste, some of which can linger in that state for 250,000 years -- still be as ominous as ever? "It's the height of irresponsibility," said Daniel Becker, director of the Sierra Club's global warming program. "The waste is the most toxic material ever created. People have spent the last 40 or 50 years trying to find a way to make the nuclear waste go away or become less dangerous, and no one has succeeded. Then, there are the risks of terrorism, which are very real." "We've been there before; nuclear power was a bad idea then, and it's probably a worse idea now," said James F. Manwell, director of the Renewable Energy Research Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. "No one has solved the waste question. And until you solve the waste question, you can't really begin to think about making more nuclear waste." Nevertheless, there is "the buzz," said Gilbert J. Brown, a UMass colleague of Manwell, but at the school's Lowell campus. "There is something different out there," said Brown, who is head of the nuclear engineering department. "We call it a renaissance." What is driving the renewed interest in nuclear power? Primarily two issues -- oil and global warming. With oil, the basic equation tells it all. Global demand is growing, driven by developing economies in places like China, and the global supply is diminishing. Many argue that America's future economic security relies on ridding itself of its dependency on oil and on the unstable nations that produce it. Concern about the impact of global warming is recruiting supporters of nuclear power from a surprising group -- environmentalists. Last year, British environmentalist James Lovelock, best known for his Gaia theory (which says that the Earth functions like a single, living organism) and his role in the start of the green movement, said nuclear power plants are needed to prevent the damage that the burning of fossil fuels -- coal, oil and to some extent natural gas -- would cause over the next century. His position, which rocked the environmental community, was ridiculed by many greens, but found support among some. "I wholly support the `green' wish to see all energy eventually come from renewable sources, but I do not think that we have the time to wait until this happens," Lovelock said. "Nuclear is the only practical energy source that we could apply in time to offset the threat from accumulating greenhouse gases. Its worldwide use as our main source of energy would pose an insignificant threat compared with the dangers of intolerable and lethal heat waves and sea levels rising to drown every coastal city of the world." James Tocci, a health physicist who serves as a consultant to industry on radiation safety, said nuclear power has a clear advantage over fossil fuels. "The differences between nuclear power and fossil fuels are spectacular," Tocci said. "The Environmental Protection Agency says that each year, coal-fired power plants -- which are used to generate about 56 percent of the nation's electricity -- release more than 2.3 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere. Natural gas is less polluting than coal, but even power plants that burn natural gas emit carbon that's well in excess of 100 million tons a year. Altogether, power plants that consume fossil fuels account for 40 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions." While nuclear power plants produce no greenhouse gases during operation, the mining of uranium produces small amounts, about the same amount per kilowatt-hour as produced in the production of photovoltaic panels for solar power. Currently, the United States gets 20 percent of its electricity from nuclear power. There are 103 commercial nuclear reactors operating in 31 states. While this country shied from nuclear power after Three Mile Island, some other nations did not. France embraced it. Today, 77 percent of that country's electricity needs are met by nuclear power, the highest percentage of any nation. China, India and South Africa also have aggressive nuclear power programs. Other countries, like the United States, have backed away. Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain and Italy have imposed moratoriums on new plants, and are investing heavily in wind power and other renewable sources. In fact, Italy went so far as to close its existing plants following the 1986 meltdown at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine. Italy is now the largest importer of electricity in Europe, some of it originating at other nations' nuclear plants. In 2003, all of Italy was plunged into darkness, with the blackout lasting up to 18 hours in places, when one of these import lines failed. The situation has revived the debate about resuming a nuclear power program in an effort to make Italy more energy-independent. Both Tocci and Brown envision a U.S. economy by mid-century in which vehicles run on hydrogen and a new generation of nuclear power plants produce both electricity and hydrogen. "Hydrogen, as a fuel, does not exist in nature," Brown said. "It will take large quantities of energy to extract it from, for example, ordinary water, and turn it into a useful fuel. Of energy sources that are currently available, nuclear power is the only practical way to produce large quantities of energy for hydrogen production without polluting the air or emitting carbon dioxide. "Automobiles that run on hydrogen are not decades away; they're being developed now. Several U.S. and foreign auto companies expect to begin producing hydrogen-fueled vehicles for sale in the next several years. They will be far cleaner than gasoline-powered automobiles -- emitting only water vapor that does not contribute to smog or global warming." If new nuclear plants were to be built, they would be safer than those constructed a quarter-century ago, Brown said. "A myriad of things have changed," he said. "For one thing, the attention to training is much more sophisticated today. There have also been a lot of hardware design changes that make plants safer. With the new plants, all the lessons learned over the last 25 years have been integrated into them. So they are much simpler to build and operate, and safer for all of that ... . "There is no such thing as zero risk. The risk of nuclear power is not zero. But there are so many other greater risks, a lot of them driven by our need for oil. Nuclear comes out looking pretty good." Despite improvements in safety, there has been no improvement in one feature of nuclear reactors -- the danger of the wastes they produce. Typically, a U.S. nuclear plant produces 20 tons of used fuel containing highly radioactive waste every year, materials that will have to be kept isolated for 250,000 years. Currently, the wastes that have been produced over the past 50 years are stored in steel-lined concrete pools near the reactors where they were created. However, the government wants to place them deep inside Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The excavated shaft would offer a usable area of about 1,200 acres. The day it opens (and Nevada is fighting to prevent that), currently stored wastes would fill about a third of the mountain repository. If nuclear power is embraced internationally as the answer to current energy and climate questions, storage facilities like Yucca Mountain might be needed somewhere in the world every few years. Opponents of nuclear power say we cannot leave such a legacy for future generations. Critics also say proliferation of radioactive materials increases the chance that terrorists will eventually capture some of it, gaining the ability to create "dirty" bombs or, in the worst case, nuclear weapons. "Switching from dirty coal plants to dangerous nuclear power is like giving up smoking cigarettes and taking up crack," said the Sierra Club's Becker. As a long-term solution, Manwell argues that a cost-efficient, environmentally benign alternative to fossil fuels and nuclear power already exists: Wind power that relies on state-of-the-art turbines is now competitive in cost with coal, oil and gas. "If you really wanted to do it only with wind, and no one would object on the basis of aesthetics, yes, you could do it," he said. "But that is a lot of steel. The intelligent way to do it is some mixture of wind and solar. You can really go a long way toward solving your problem if you are willing to transcend the short-term worries about how these things look." February 22, 2005 (Stan Freeman is a staff writer for the Springfield, Mass., Republican. He can be contacted at sfreeman@repub.com.) ***************************************************************** 29 Fort St. John: NB Power hopes for federal money for nuclear plant canada.com network February 22, 2005 The president of NB Power says the federal government will be a major factor in the future of the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant. David Hay says he needs to see what emission credits Ottawa is willing to set under the Kyoto accord. He says it's a critical piece of the puzzle in determining if the $1.4-billion refurbishment is economic or not. Hay says under U.S. guidelines, the utility would qualify for $400 million. NB Power is negotiating with Ontario-based Bruce Power to become a private partner in the Lepreau project, which would extend the life of the reactor by 25 years. Hay says negotiations are continuing, but the federal government's position is needed before a recommendation to the province is made. The provincial government will make the final decision on whether to proceed with refurbishment. © Broadcast News 2005 Copyright © CanWest Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. CanWest Interactive Inc. is an affiliate of [http://www.canwestglobal.com/] ***************************************************************** 30 Ottawa Citizen: Fuel leak narrowly averted at Chalk River canada.com network OttawaCitizen.com Failed valve on nuclear reactor last serviced in 1972; safety device kicked in to prevent radioactive accident Tom Spears The Ottawa Citizen Tuesday, February 22, 2005 Canada's oldest working nuclear reactor has had an accident at Chalk River, and federal nuclear safety regulators say only an automatic safety system prevented a radioactive leak and possibly melting of the fuel. The aging NRU reactor -- which opened in 1957, and was overdue for retirement -- started losing steam through a badly worn valve after an "inadequate" repair job. Investigators can find no record of any maintenance on the failed valve since 1972, when Paul Henderson's goal beat the Soviet Union in hockey, and Bob Stanfield ran for prime minister. The accident happened in June; full details are just now being released by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, which regulates our nuclear industry. It is Chalk River's first "loss of coolant accident." Far more serious loss of coolant accidents caused the Chernobyl and Three Mile Island meltdowns. An automatic safety system tripped the reactor 13 minutes after a main valve failed, investigators found. If it hadn't, "this event could have led to a fuel failure and a significant release" of radioactive material that would likely have reached the public. This accident, they say, caused "a reduction in the margin of safety" for the reactor. But there was no actual radioactive leak, no injury, and no lasting damage. Now the federal regulators are blasting Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. for "complacency" and lack of written procedures, and say the event was "a serious process failure." AECL is the Crown corporation that operates the Chalk River reactors. But a veteran professor of engineering says the incident wasn't dangerous at all. Terry Rogers, an emeritus professor from Carleton University, said there was only a small loss of steam, and the fact that the reactor shut itself down properly prevented any harm. As well, he questioned whether the valve really had gone without maintenance since 1972. "It's just inconceivable" that the plant operators would ignore this, he said, as all Canadian nuclear plants are forced by the rules of their licences to check and re-check all parts of their high-pressure systems. He believes the records of maintenance are simply missing. AECL wouldn't comment yesterday. It's due to meet the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission officials later this week, and says it will be pleased to discuss the issue publicly after that meeting. The event started with a drip. Workers knew last June that a main flow control valve was leaking a little water and tried to repack it on the overnight shift, but failed to do the job properly. The valve started to leak again after the reactor was cranked up to high power. Staff the following afternoon heard a noise and went to investigate, and were surprised to see "significant quantities of steam" rushing out of the leak. The safety system kicked in properly and there was no radioactive leak. The reactor was operating at 54 million watts -- high power -- at the time of the accident. Reactors need liquid coolant just as car engines do -- to keep the machinery from overheating. If too much coolant escapes, the reactor core can end up like a car engine with an empty radiator: It overheats until the metal changes shape enough to seize up. This can damage the reactor heavily, or even cause more rising temperatures that melt the uranium fuel itself -- a fuel failure. Chalk River's leaky main valve was in a "loop" -- a pressurized tube that's not found in the commercial reactors that produce Ontario's electricity. It can be used for experiments that simulate what happens in a Candu reactor. It runs through the reactor core, but contains its own coolant water at the same temperatures and pressures as the core. Inspectors found specific mistakes including: - "The valve was poorly maintained." - AECL had no scheduled maintenance for the valve that leaked. No technical person was responsible for its maintenance. - The valve was seen to be leaking and repaired by repacking, but the repair job was "inadequate." There were no written procedures for how to do the work properly. - The repair person didn't really know how to do the job. - The valve packing was replaced on the spot, not in a workshop. The nuclear safety commission says AECL has begun to write proper procedures for fixing major flow control valves, and is designing a maintenance schedule. It's the second time in a month that federal regulators have criticized AECL's work at Chalk River. Last month the safety commission blasted the company for dumping low-level radioactive sludge from its sewage into sandy pits instead of using proper radioactive waste disposal. The safety commission staff couldn't find anyone to answer questions yesterday. c The Ottawa Citizen 2005 ***************************************************************** 31 NRC: Live NRC Meeting Webcast [http://video.nrc.gov:8383/nrc_webcast/nothing.jsp] The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is currently broadcasting some Commission meetings over the Internet as a means of improving communications with the public. Upcoming webcasts are: Date Subject 2/23/05 Briefing on Status of Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) Programs, Performance, and Plans 9:30 A.M. + Slides 2/24/05 Briefing on Nuclear Fuel Performance 1:00 P.M. + Slides 3/7/05 Briefing on Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Programs, Performance, and Plans - Materials Safety 10:00 A.M. 3/16/05 Meeting with Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW) 9:30 A.M. 3/29/05 Briefing on Status of Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) Programs, Performance, and Plans 9:30 A.M. The following resources will assist you in participating: + Public Meeting Schedule - provides a complete listing of agency meetings. Live meetings shown as [webcast] + Commission Meeting Schedule - lists all Commission meetings for a six week period. Live meetings shown as [webcast] + Slides - available in advance of the meeting + Transcripts - available within 48 hours of the conclusion of the live meeting + Meeting SRM - documentation of any Commission's decisions from the meeting To view a webcast you will need to download the RealOne plugin [RealNetworks Media Streaming Player icon] . You may also view previously held webcast meetings at our Webcast Archive [http://video.nrc.gov:8383/nrc_webcast/archive.jsp] . Comments and Feedback To help us determine the value of continuing to provide this service, the NRC would appreciate your assistance by providing comments and feedback on the usefulness, performance, and frequency with which you might use this service or any other items related to this service. + Contact Us About Webcasts + Webcast Interest Survey Notes on Accessibility Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires equal access to the Federal government's electronic and information technology. In compliance with this Act, NRC is including text equivalents (captioning) as part of the video image being shown over the Internet during the Commission meeting. Although every effort is made to assure the accuracy and completeness of this text, users should be aware that errors may nonetheless occur. Expressions of opinion in this text do not necessarily reflect final determination or beliefs. No pleadings or other paper may be filed with the Commission in any proceeding as a result of any statement or argument contained in the text-equivalent (captioned) material. Last revised Tuesday, February 22, 2005 ***************************************************************** 32 NRC: NRC Proposes to Amend Licensing, Inspection and Annual Fees Rule News Release - 2005-03 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: [opa@nrc.gov] No. 05-032 February 22, 2005 The agency is required by Congress to recover for the Treasury nearly all of its annual appropriated budget through two types of fees. One is for specific NRC services, such as licensing and inspection activities, that apply to a specific license; this fee is calculated using an hourly rate. The other is an annual fee paid by all licensees, which recovers generic regulatory expenses and other costs not recovered through fees for specific services. These fees are contained in NRC regulations 10 CFR Part 170 (fees for licensing and inspection services) and 10 CFR Part 171 (annual fees). These fees are paid to the U.S. Treasury and go into the general fund. By law, the NRC must recover 90 percent of its budget for FY 2005 (Oct. 1, 2004 - Sept. 30, 2005) from fees, less the amount ($68.5 million) appropriated from the Nuclear Waste Fund for high-level waste activities. The total amount to be recovered in FY 2005 is $540.7 million, about $4.6 million less than last year, when the mandate was to recover 92 percent of the agencys budget. After accounting for carryover and billing adjustments, the net amount to be recovered is approximately $538 million. Under the proposed rule, the hourly rates used to assess Part 170 fees would change to allow the funds recovered to reflect more accurately the resources NRC expends providing licensee-specific services. The proposal also reflects higher salaries and benefits resulting from the Government-wide pay raise. The new hourly rates ($205 for the Nuclear Reactor Safety Program and $198 for the Nuclear Materials and Waste Safety Program) would not alter the total amount of fees recovered from licensees, though it would change the apportionment of fees charged to Part 170 and Part 171. Fees not recovered under Part 170 would still be recovered under Part 171 to collect the 90 percent of the budget for FY 2005. Annual fees for FY 2005 have been determined under the re-baselining method because of the magnitude of budget changes for certain classes of licensees. Re-baselining fees would result in decreased annual fees compared to FY 2004 for five classes of licenses (power reactors, test and research reactors, spent fuel storage/reactor decommissioning, rare earth mills, and transportation), and increased annual fees for two classes (fuel facilities and uranium recovery). Most materials users would have increased annual fees. The proposed FY 2005 annual fees include the following: Class/category of licenses FY 2005 Annual fee Operating Power Reactors (including Spent Fuel Storage/Reactor Decommissioning annual fee) $3,067,000 Spent Fuel Storage/Reactor Decommissioning $164,000 Test and Research Reactors (Nonpower Reactors) $54,400 High Enriched Uranium Fuel Facility $5,383,000 Low Enriched Uranium Fuel Facility $1,612,000 UF6 Conversion Facility $691,000 Rare Earth Mills $71,000 Transportation: Users/Fabricators $80,200 Users Only $4,300 Typical Materials Users: Radiographers $12,800 Well Loggers $4,100 Gauge Users (Category 3P) $2,500 The proposed rule was published today in the Federal Register. Written comments on the proposed fee changes should be received by March 24. They should be addressed to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555-0001, ATTN: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff. Comments may also be e-mailed to [SECY@nrc.gov] , faxed to (301) 415-1011, or submitted online via the NRCs rulemaking Web site at [http://ruleforum.llnl.gov] . Last revised Tuesday, February 22, 2005 ***************************************************************** 33 11,000 US soldiers dead from DU poisoning Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 23:43:15 +0000 -------------------------------------------------------- From: Jim Macgregor Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2005 11:35:57 EST Subject: Fwd: Scandal Over Depleted Uranium To: richard@cyberjournal.org ------ Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2005 19:19:29 -0800 To: Recipient List Suppressed:; From: Tom Cahill Subject: Scandal Over Depleted Uranium Heads roll at Veterans Administration Mushrooming depleted uranium (DU) scandal blamed by Bob Nichols Project Censored Award Winner 2/2/05 S.F. Bay View http://www.sfbayview.com/012605/headsroll012605.shtml Considering the tons of depleted uranium used by the U.S., the Iraq war can truly be called a nuclear war. Preventive Psychiatry E-Newsletter charged Monday that the reason Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony Principi stepped down earlier this month was the growing scandal surrounding the use of uranium munitions in the Iraq War. Writing in Preventive Psychiatry E-Newsletter No. 169, Arthur N. Bernklau, executive director of Veterans for Constitutional Law in New York, stated, "The real reason for Mr. Principi's departure was really never given, however a special report published by eminent scientist Leuren Moret naming depleted uranium as the definitive cause of the 'Gulf War Syndrome' has fed a growing scandal about the continued use of uranium munitions by the US Military." Bernklau continued, "This malady (from uranium munitions), that thousands of our military have suffered and died from, has finally been identified as the cause of this sickness, eliminating the guessing. The terrible truth is now being revealed." He added, "Out of the 580,400 soldiers who served in GW1 (the first Gulf War), of them, 11,000 are now dead! By the year 2000, there were 325,000 on Permanent Medical Disability. This astounding number of 'Disabled Vets' means that a decade later, 56% of those soldiers who served have some form of permanent medical problems!" The disability rate for the wars of the last century was 5 percent; it was higher, 10 percent, in Viet Nam. "The VA Secretary (Principi) was aware of this fact as far back as 2000," wrote Bernklau. "He, and the Bush administration have been hiding these facts, but now, thanks to Moret's report, (it) ... is far too big to hide or to cover up!" "Terry Jamison, Public Affairs Specialist, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, at the VA Central Office, recently reported that 'Gulf Era Veterans' now on medical disability, since 1991, number 518,739 Veterans," said Berklau. "The long-term effects have revealed that DU (uranium oxide) is a virtual death sentence," stated Berklau. "Marion Fulk, a nuclear physical chemist, who retired from the Lawrence Livermore Nuclear Weapons Lab, and was also involved with the Manhattan Project, interprets the new and rapid malignancies in the soldiers (from the 2003 Iraq War) as 'spectacular -- and a matter of concern!'" When asked if the main purpose of using DU was for "destroying things and killing people," Fulk was more specific: "I would say it is the perfect weapon for killing lots of people!" Principi could not be reached for comment prior to deadline. References 1. Depleted uranium: Dirty bombs, dirty missiles, dirty bullets: A death sentence here and abroad" by Leuren Moret, http://www.sfbayview.com/081804/Depleteduranium081804.shtml. 2. Veterans for Constitutional Law, 112 Jefferson Ave., Port Jefferson NY 11777, Arthur N. Bernklau, executive director, (516) 474-4261, fax 516-474-1968. 3. Preventive Psychiatry E-Newsletter. Email Gary Kohls, gkohls@cpinternet.com, with Subscribe" in the subject line. Email Bob Nichols at bobnichols@cox.net. -- ============================================================ If you find this material useful, you might want to check out our website (http://cyberjournal.org) or try out our low-traffic, moderated email list by sending a message to: cj-subscribe@cyberjournal.org You are encouraged to forward any material from the lists or the website, provided it is for non-commercial use and you include the source and this disclaimer. Richard Moore (rkm) Wexford, Ireland "Escaping The Matrix - Global Transformation: WHY WE NEED IT, AND HOW WE CAN ACHIEVE IT ", somewhat current draft: http://www.ratical.org/co-globalize/rkmGlblTrans.html _____________________________ "...the Patriot Act followed 9-11 as smoothly as the suspension of the Weimar constitution followed the Reichstag fire." - Srdja Trifkovic There is not a problem with the system. The system is the problem. Faith in ourselves - not gods, ideologies, leaders, or programs. _____________________________ cj list archives: http://cyberjournal.org/cj/show_archives/?lists=cj newslog list archives: http://cyberjournal.org/cj/show_archives/?lists=newslog _____________________________ Informative links: http://www.indymedia.org/ http://www.globalresearch.ca/ http://www.MiddleEast.org http://www.rachel.org http://www.truthout.org http://www.williambowles.info/monthly_index/ http://www.zmag.org http://www.co-intelligence.org ============================================================ --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: cj-unsubscribe@cyberjournal.org For additional commands, e-mail: cj-help@cyberjournal.org ***************************************************************** 34 [du-list] third N.C based soldier dies after exhibiting Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 14:34:01 -0800 http://www.wral.com/news/4209862/detail.html Third N.C.-Based Soldier Dies After Exhibiting Flu-Like Symptoms Sgt. Clay Garton Reportedly Dies From Infection POSTED: 6:49 pm EST February 17, 2005 UPDATED: 9:04 am EST February 18, 2005 RALEIGH, N.C. -- The mysterious death of a third soldier with North Carolina ties is raising questions. All three died from flu-like symptoms after returning from overseas deployments. Sgt. Clay Garton was a flight medic at Fort Bragg. He spent 16 months in Iraq and returned home in July. Then, he got sick. His family said he had symptoms like the flu. He fought it for three weeks, but his fever soared to 106 degrees. The day after Christmas, he died. "They came out in five minutes and said, 'He's gone,'" said Duane Garton, Clay's father. According to a preliminary autopsy report, Garton's liver and spleen were swollen. His wife said doctors told her he died from infection. It is the third recent example of soldiers dying after exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Capt. Gilbert Munoz was a special forces soldier at Fort Bragg who was deployed to the Middle East. After he got back, he died from a bacterial infection. Video Sgt. Christopher Rogers was a reservist from Raleigh. He went to Afghanistan. After he came home, his temperature hit 109 degrees. His widow, Windy Rogers, wonders whether he had what Munoz had. "Chris was admitted with flu-like symptoms. Whatever it was, it shut all of his organs down -- shut them all down -- and I want to know what happened," she said. Garton's family has questions, too. His wife said while Garton was in Iraq, he treated someone exposed to depleted uranium. Garton's father wonders if that had something to do with his death. "He went through 16 months of hell and he came back and they didn't do nothing for him," he said. WRAL called Fort Bragg, the Department of the Army and some congressional offices. At this point, it does not appear that anyone is investigating the deaths or trying to determine if there is a common cause. ---------- Previous Stories: • February 15, 2005: Doctors Try To Determine Cause Of Death For Raleigh Army Reservist --------------------------------- ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - all new features - even more fun! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> In low income neighborhoods, 84% do not own computers. At Network for Good, help bridge the Digital Divide! http://us.click.yahoo.com/EA3HyD/3MnJAA/79vVAA/FGYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To unsubscribe from this groups send a message to du-list-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com. In the body of the message type unsubscribe and send. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/du-list/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: du-list-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ***************************************************************** 35 [du-list] Gulf veterans seeking justice "pre-election speaking Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 14:41:17 -0800 GULF VETERANS SEEKING JUSTICE PRE-ELECTION SPEAKING TOUR OF UK Gulf Veteran and outspoken activist against the government cover-up over Gulf War syndrome and Depleted Uranium are undertaking a national "pre-election" speaking tour. The aim of the tour is to present the true picture of causalities from gulf war one, the many service personnel who have died or who are now very ill due to the weapons and injections they were exposed to while serving. He will also illustrate how this government denial of "casualties" has carried on into Gulf war 2, with many soldiers in the US, now returning with similar symptoms to their Gulf 1 predecessors, some already dieing once on home soil. Tony is a knowledgeable speaker, divulging new data on civilian casualty figures in Iraq, showing the true affect of WIE (weapons of indiscriminate effect) such as Depleted uranium, upon civilian and veteran off-spring alike. This is a chance before the elections for the country to know fully what Blair has done for veterans - absolutely nothing - and the legacy of radiological poisoning which it has left upon Iraq, its neighbouring countries, and the many troops that it still naively sends into contaminated areas. Tony Flints biog is below and his contact address Many thanks Davey Garland Pandora Depleted Uranium Research Project (thunderelf@yahoo.co.uk) Dear Friends I was a regular reservist who was called up for the gulf war in 1991, being part of the Royal Army medical corp, my job being to council battle shock casualties. I served in the gulf from january to mid march 1991. From late december until late January, i had a total of 13 vaccinations, some of which were not licenced to be used in the UK, this simiilarly applied to anti-nerve agent tablets which we had to take. On returning from the gulf, my wife cold see taht i was ill but it was not until april 1994, when i had a compleat medical and mental breakdown, and have not been able to work since. My time is now spent when i am well enough helping other veterans and giving talks in public to make them aware of what is going on in the 1st/2nd gulf wars, plus the effects upon the local populations in Iraq and Kuwait due to depleted uranium etc. Regards Tony Flint (A veteran seeking justice) For those who would like me to talk, then i can be emailed at: tonymedic@msn.com --------------------------------- ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - all new features - even more fun! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Has someone you know been affected by illness or disease? Network for Good is THE place to support health awareness efforts! http://us.click.yahoo.com/RzSHvD/UOnJAA/79vVAA/FGYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To unsubscribe from this groups send a message to du-list-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com. In the body of the message type unsubscribe and send. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/du-list/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: du-list-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ***************************************************************** 36 NRC: Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes: Meeting FR Doc 05-3260 [Federal Register: February 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 34)] [Notices] [Page 8643] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22fe05-142] Notice AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of meeting. SUMMARY: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will convene a teleconference meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes (ACMUI) on March 8, 2005. The meeting will be a continued discussion on the ``Update to Medical Event Criteria Definition.'' During this discussion, an ACMUI subcommittee will forward to the full ACMUI its final recommendations regarding revision of the medical event criteria definition in 10 CFR Part 35. NRC staff is seeking the ACMUI's recommendations on this issue, as well as any recommendations on communicating associated risks to the public. DATES: The teleconference meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2005, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., eastern standard time. Public Participation: Any member of the public who wishes to participate in the teleconference discussion may contact Ivelisse M. Cabrera using the contact information below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ivelisse M. Cabrera, telephone (301) 415-8152; e-mail: imc1@nrc.gov [imc1@nrc.gov] of the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Conduct of the Meeting Leon S. Malmud, M.D., will chair the meeting. Dr. Malmud will conduct the meeting in a manner that will facilitate the orderly conduct of business. The following procedures apply to public participation in the meeting: 1. Persons who wish to provide a written statement should submit a reproducible copy to Ivelisse M. Cabrera, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Two White Flint North, Mail Stop T8F3, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Hard copy submittals must be postmarked by March 1, 2005. Electronic submittals must be submitted by March 4, 2005. Any submittal must pertain to the topic on the agenda for the meeting. 2. Questions from members of the public will be permitted during the meeting, at the discretion of the Chairman. 3. The transcript and written comments will be available for inspection on NRC's Web site (http://www.nrc.gov [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leaving FR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nrc.gov] ) and at the NRC Public Document Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852-2738, telephone (800) 397-4209, on or about May 8, 2005. Minutes of the meeting will be available on or about March 22, 2005. This meeting will be held in accordance with the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (primarily Section 161a); the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App); and the Commission's regulations in Title 10, U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, Part 7. Dated: February 14, 2005. Andrew L. Bates, Advisory Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 05-3260 Filed 2-18-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 37 Bellona: $40m needed for dismantling nuclear cruiser The Zvezdochka shipyard proposes to raise the question of dismantling the Russian battle cruiser Admiral Ushakov with the help of the Global Partnership programme. 2005-02-22 15:54 Russian budget has not been able to come with funding for dismantling, and the representatives of Zvezdochka now hope the necessary project money could be obtained within the Global Partnership, Arnews.ru reported. The dismantling of the Admiral Ushakov was originally planned to start already in 1999. However, a group of MPs engaged heavily in the case, trying to rescue the vessel from becoming scrap metal. They established a fund aimed at raising money for the cruiser’s upgrade, but it did not help to save the nuclear cruiser. Now, the engineering company Onega has got the task to elaborate a plan on dismantling. No similar vessel has ever been decommissioned and dismantled in Russia and the project is believed to offer major technical difficulties. Experts from the Zvezdochka plant believe that at least 40 million USD will be needed to complete the project. The Global Partnership was organised in 2002 with the aim of allocating 20 billion USD to international nuclear security and clean-up projects. Publisher: [bellona@bellona.no] , President: [frederic@bellona.no] Information: [info@bellona.no] , Technical contact: [webmaster@bellona.no] Telephone: +47 23 23 46 00 Telefax: +47 22 38 38 62 * P.O.Box 2141 Grunerlokka, 0505 Oslo, Norway ***************************************************************** 38 Times-News: Downwinder compensation moves one step closer www.magicvalley.com The Times-News | AG Weekly | Tuesday, February 22, 2005 • Twin Falls, Idaho By John Miller The Associated Press BOISE -- A state Senate committee on Monday backed expanding a federal program that would pay $50,000 to Idaho residents with diseases linked to fallout from Cold War-era nuclear testing in neighboring Nevada. The Senate State Affairs Committee voted to back a measure that's already gotten House approval and is likely to pass the full Senate. It would encourage Idaho's U.S. congressional delegation to support adding at least four counties -- Blaine, Gem, Custer and Lemhi -- to a list of 21 others in Arizona, Nevada and Utah already included in the 1990 Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. That program pays out money to victims and their beneficiaries. Idaho residents who say their health was compromised believe the money -- and official recognition that they were injured by 1950s atmospheric nuclear weapons-testing fallout when it wafted over the state -- would make it easier to stomach years of mysterious, often-deadly diseases. "We were innocent victims," said Sheri Garmon, who grew up in Emmett in Gem County, and has developed thyroid cancer and breast cancer that has spread to her liver. "We were involuntarily sacrificed for the national security of America," she told the committee. Garmon was like other Idaho kids who drank milk from local dairies. Cows ingested radioactive fallout from Nevada that came north on the wind, sometimes covering the land with fine, white ash. "My parents were unaware we were eating radiated food, in a county that was radiated by our government," said Margaret Satterlee, a native of Bellevue in Blaine County who is now infertile after three surgeries to remove ovarian tumors. Satterlee's sister died of ovarian cancer, she told the committee. The 1990 program has paid out $434 million to about 8,700 downwinders in Arizona, Utah and Nevada, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The payments are linked to tests from 1951 to 1958 and in 1962. But Idaho isn't on the list. In 1997, the National Cancer Institute released a study with a map tracing the fallout's path. Iodine-131, an isotope released when a nuclear bomb is detonated, spread from ground zero in Nevada to the East Coast. Four Idaho counties ranked just behind Montana's Meagher County as getting the highest doses of the isotope, which can cause thyroid disease. "I have no reason to believe that the nuclear tests in Nevada didn't affect us," said Sen. Edgar J. Malepeai, D-Pocatello. "So I'm going to look very seriously at what they (proponents) have to say. The testimony this morning was pretty compelling." The National Academy of Sciences is now studying the 1990 compensation program's adequacy -- in light of the information from the National Cancer Institute study about the path of the fallout. The study will include testimony from hundreds who spoke at meetings in Idaho last November before the academy's Board on Radiation Effects Research. It's due to be released by March 31. That's when members of Idaho's U.S. congressional delegation say they'll decide whether to back the effort spearheaded by Garmon and Satterlee to compensate Idaho victims. U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, is "waiting for what the science says," said Mike Tracy, a Craig spokesman in Boise. "That's going to be the determining factor for him at this point." Calls to the offices of U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson and U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo weren't immediately returned for comment. State Sen. Brad Little, R-Emmett, who agreed to sponsor the bipartisan resolution along with state Sen. Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum, said just how many Idaho residents become eligible for payments would depend on how much of the state is included in possible changes to the federal compensation plan. Copyright © 2005, Lee Publications Inc. Magicvalley.com is an on-line division of The Times-News, published daily at 132 W. Fairfield St., Twin Falls, Idaho 83301 by Lee Publications, Inc., a subsidiary of Lee Enterprises. ***************************************************************** 39 Perchlorate found in dairy and breast milk samples from across Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 13:35:13 -0600 (CST) Perchlorate found in dairy and breast milk samples from across the country Public release date: 22-Feb-2005 http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-02/acs-pfi022205.php Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org 202-872-6042 American Chemical Society Perchlorate found in dairy and breast milk samples from across the country In a new study of breast milk and store-bought milk from across the United States, scientists at Texas Tech University found perchlorate in every sample but one. The results suggest that this thyroid-disrupting chemical may be more widespread than previously believed. The report was published Feb. 22 on the Web site of Environmental Science & Technology, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society. Perchlorate occurs naturally and is also a primary ingredient in solid rocket fuel. The chemical, which has been showing up in many segments of the environment, can interfere with iodide uptake in the thyroid gland, disrupting adult metabolism and childhood development. The researchers, led by Professor Purnendu Dasgupta, Ph.D., of the university's department of chemistry and biochemistry, analyzed 47 dairy milk samples purchased randomly from grocery stores in 11 states, and 36 breast milk samples from women recruited at random in 18 states. Every sample of breast milk contained perchlorate, and only one sample of dairy milk contained no detectable levels. The average perchlorate concentration in breast milk was 10.5 micrograms per liter; the dairy milk average was 2.0 micrograms per liter. No definitive national standard exists, although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had suggested a limit of 1.0 micrograms per liter in drinking water. The researchers also found that high levels of perchlorate correlated with low levels of iodide in breast milk, which can inhibit thyroid function in nursing womenan essential component for proper neural development of the fetus. Although the data are limited, the levels of iodide in this study are sufficiently low to be of concern, according to the researchers. They suggest that the recommended daily intake of iodine for pregnant and nursing women may need to be revised upwards. The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization, chartered by the U.S. Congress, with a multidisciplinary membership of more than 159,000 chemists and chemical engineers. It publishes numerous scientific journals and databases, convenes major research conferences and provides educational, science policy and career programs in chemistry. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio. Jason Gorss The online version of the research paper cited above was published Feb. 22 on the journal's Web site. Journalists can arrange access to this site by sending an e-mail to newsroom@acs.org or calling the contact person for this release. ### ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- [ | E-mail Article ] [demime 0.98e removed an attachment of type image/gif which had a name of back2e.gif] ***************************************************************** 40 NRC: Request To Amend License To Import Radioactive Waste FR Doc 05-3264 [Federal Register: February 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 34)] [Notices] [Page 8642-8643] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22fe05-141] Pursuant to 10 CFR 110.70(c) ``Public notice of receipt of an application,'' please take notice that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has received the following request to amend an import license. Copies of the request are available electronically through ADAMS and can be accessed through the Public Electronic Reading Room (PERR) link http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/ADAMS/index.html [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leaving FR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/ADAMS/index.html] at the NRC Homepage. A request for a hearing or petition for leave to intervene may be filed within 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Any request for hearing or petition for leave to intervene shall be served by the requestor or [[Page 8643]] petitioner upon the applicant, the Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555; the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555; and the Executive Secretary, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520. The information concerning this amendment request follows. NRC Import License Application name of Applicant, date of application, date received, Description of material End use Country of origin application number, docket number diversified Scientific Services, Class A radioactive mixed For processing, Canada. Inc., December 21, 2004, December waste containing tritium incineration and return 28, 2004, IW004/03, 11004982. and carbon-14, and mixed of resultant residue to fission product Canada. Amend to: (1) radionuclides. extend the expiration date from December 31, 2004, to December 31, 2006; and (2) update the domestic Radioactive Materials License to R- 73014-414.. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- Dated this 14th day of February 2005, at Rockville, Maryland. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Janice Dunn Lee, Director, Office of International Programs. [FR Doc. 05-3264 Filed 2-18-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 41 The State: Push begins to restore some of 02/22/2 By JEFF STENSLAND Staff Writer Lawmakers are poised to restore $25 million taken from a trust fund set up to pay for environmental hazards at Barnwell Countys low-level nuclear waste dump. House budget writers meet today to begin piecing together a nearly $6 billion budget that is expected to include money for the Barnwell fund  which is not technically a trust fund, though it usually is referred to as one. The proposal also could include more than $15 million for 40 other trust funds depleted during recent budget cycles that forced state agencies to weather three straight years of cuts. Gov. Mark Sanford, who pushed for restoring some of the Barnwell money in his executive budget, will visit the county today to urge lawmakers to do just that. Theres general unanimity to restore the funds, said Ways and Means Committee chairman Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston. I agree with the governors position, but we ought to be looking at all 40 trust funds. Those include trusts set up to pay for fraud insurance for farmers and an extra malpractice insurance fund for doctors. The Barnwell Extended Care Maintenance Fund was created to monitor and clean up leakage from the site, which holds contaminated nuclear reactor shells, medical waste, and some power plant garbage. But the General Assembly has sucked $90 million from the Barnwell fund since 2001 to fill budget gaps. The fund is now down to about $23.6 million. If Harrell has his way, the state will budget enough money in coming years to restore the entire amount. Raids on the trust fund, part of which went to offset budget cuts at state universities, infuriated environmental groups and fiscal conservatives alike. This stuff is going to be there for many, many, many generations, and were going to have to pay for cleaning up this mess, said Bob Guild, an attorney for the Sierra Club. The 235-acre landfill, which opened near the town of Snelling in 1971, is expected to close for good when it reaches full capacity in about 30 years. But the radioactive waste stored there could linger for thousands of years, posing a risk to rivers, streams and drinking water. Radioactive tritium, a byproduct from nuclear reactors, already has leaked into groundwater. The extent of the leak is unknown. Environmental groups are challenging a permit renewal for Chem-Nuclear Systems, the company that manages the site, charging it has not properly contained the waste. Chem-Nuclear says that the site is safe and that it is unrealistic to substantially change its containment design. Since 2001, the General Assembly has borrowed $187 million from various trust funds, including the Barnwell fund. Harrell, the Houses chief budget writer, said lawmakers were justified in using the money because they always intended to pay it back. We treated the funds as savings accounts, he said. And now that times are better, its time to put money back in. Restoring money to the trusts should be much easier this year because revenue projections put the state squarely in the black. A revised estimate by the states Board of Economic Advisors this month added an extra $190 million to the pool of money budget writers have to work with. Sanford spokesman Will Folks said raiding the Barnwell fund in the first place was irresponsible. We dont think that was a risk worth taking, Folks said. Trust funds are essentially sacred. Theyre a promise. In addition to the $25 million for the Barnwell site, Sanfords budget proposal calls for putting nearly $1 million back into a trust for Sumter Countys Pinewood hazardous waste landfill. Sierra Club lawyer Guild said the General Assembly should pass laws that make it impossible to take money from funds designed to protect against environmental catastrophes. Youve got to have funds available that no politician will be tempted to tap to pay for their pet projects, he said. Reach Stensland at (803) 771-8358 or jstensland@thestate.com [jstensland@thestate.com] [http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/thestate.homepage/homepage;kw=bot tom;pos=bottom;group=234x60;ord=1109126361284?] TheStateOnline ***************************************************************** 42 Bradenton Herald: Rep. Galvano proposes faster disclosure of possible pollution | 02/22/2005 | STEPHEN MAJORS Herald Staff Writer TALLAHASSEE — Spurred by the outrage from Tallevast community residents, Rep. Bill Galvano has filed a bill that would impose a 10-day deadline on state regulators to notify affected residents of contamination. Unsatisfied with the state Department of Environmental Protection's notification rules, Galvano, R-Bradenton, created the bill to prevent another situation like Tallevast. There, Lockheed Martin purchased the former American Beryllium Company property and notified the DEP in 2000 that goundwater contaminants from the plant had spread to adjacent properties. But residents did not find out until 2003, when they inquired about ongoing test drilling. Galvano said he waited to see if the DEP would adopt specific notification requirements at a Feb. 2 hearing. But Galvano felt no substantive notification changes were made, so he filed a bill to get the requirements into law. "It didn't go far enough," Galvano said about the DEP rule changes. "It was always my goal at the end of the day to see that the people who may be affected would know in a timely fashion." At the recent hearing, the DEP specified that property owners who find that contamination has spread into adjacent properties must now notify the DEP within 10 days. But DEP officials said that leaving the time period for notification of residents open ended provides for a more informative notice, but said it would work with Galvano on the issue. "The problem with trying to put a stringent deadline on us is that it doesn't take into account the data that we receive," said spokesman Russell Schweiss. "The data has to be analyzed and an analysis has to be made. This provides for better notification. It is in the interest of our mission to notify residents, and that is why it's in our rule." Galvano understands that the department has the responsibility of testing, but said public knowledge is paramount. "The fact that people who are affected are given a heads up should be nothing but a positive," he said. "A great delay like Tallevast ... does nothing but raise suspicions and concerns and cause mistrust." Galvano said he hopes that his bill will inspire the DEP to shore up its own rules, but is he is looking for co-sponsors in the House and a sponsor in the Senate. He doesn't foresee much opposition to the bill, but suspects that some legislators will feel it places view it as placing an undue burden on the DEP. "We think it's a reasonable request that should get some support," Galvano said. But he acknowledged, "We don't have the advantage of an early filed bill." Robert Fox, vice president of SCS Engineers in Tampa, a consulting firm that does site assessment and clean up, said Galvano's legislation isn't necessary and that it would publicize information before the facts have been gathered. "When you look at it from a regulated entity standpoint, folks didn't want to gratuitously throw information out there," Fox said. "This was kind of a compromise between industry and the agency. The agency makes appropriate interpretations on their own." Fox said he wasn't updated on the developments from the latest DEP hearing, but said the legislation was "a little premature" because the DEP rule changes haven't gone into effect. Schweiss of the DEP said that wouldn't happen until mid-April. Laura Ward, president of FOCUS, a group that represents Tallevast residents, said the group was in contact with Galvano and supported the bill. "We, too, felt there needed to be some changes in notification, and how quickly it should be done," Ward said. "We think it will be a good thing. It doesn't benefit us at this point but there are other communities that could benefit, and other problems that could be remedied." The bill, HB 937, has not yet been assigned to a committee for review, but Galvano predicted that the Water &Natural Resources Committee would be its first stop. He said he is also open to negotiation on the specified time for notification. "If it comes back later that a longer period is more easily complied with, I'd be open to that," Galvano said. "I just want to make sure it's not a situation where it's three years later." ***************************************************************** 43 chillicothe gazette: Residents of New Mexico desert town stake their future on uranium - www.chillicothegazette.com Tuesday, February 22, 2005 By PETER BARNES Associated Press Writer EUNICE, N.M. -- Like many others in this former boomtown, Mayor James Brown knows more about isotopes, centrifuges and uranium-235 than your average college student. Brown's recent crash course in nuclear physics was a prerequisite: Many of his constituents are counting on the jobs and economic trickle-down that are being promised if a $1.3 billion uranium enrichment plant that would make fuel for nuclear power plants comes to town. Critics say the proposed National Enrichment Facility could pollute the environment, guzzle scarce water and leave this oil-producing town with tons of radioactive waste and nowhere to put it. But the mayor warns that without the plant, Eunice faces extinction. "We have to have something else in place or communities like Eunice and Jal will just disappear," he said. "The oil industry won't be able to support our economy 20 or 30 years from now." The project is racing with United States Enrichment Corp., who's American Centrifuge plant in Piketon is slated to go online at roughly the same time. Whichever company gets its plant up and running first would have the first privately operated uranium enrichment plant in the United States and the first U.S. installation to use centrifuge technology. The old technology, still being used by USEC at a plant in Paducah, Ky., is essentially a filtering process known as gaseous diffusion that has been around since the Manhattan Project of World War II. Piketon's gaseous diffusion plant was mothballed in 2001. Finally found a home? Louisiana Energy Services, the international consortium behind the plant, wanted to build the project in rural Louisiana, but backed out in 1998 after opponents accused it of targeting a predominantly poor and black parish. Then it pulled out of Hartsville, Tenn., in 2003 after running into opposition from former Vice President Al Gore and others. The new proposed site is in the flat, scrub-covered desert 340 miles from Albuquerque in the southeastern corner of the state, close to the Texas line. LES has promised the plant would employ 400 workers during the construction phase and, once it is up and running, 210 people, with a payroll of more than $10 million and an average salary of $50,000. Last week, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board held public meetings on the LES plan. At one, Lea County Commissioner Darrold Stephenson made his point by flipping the lights off. If the project is turned down, "this is what we're passing on to our future generations: nothing," the 70-year-old commissioner said later. One resource replaces another Oil and natural gas have been the region's lifeblood for decades. Today, bobbing oil pumps and high-pressure gas lines are woven into Eunice's modest street grid. But many oil-related jobs are disappearing because of new labor-saving technology, and companies have discovered more lucrative oil fields elsewhere. Since 1985, Eunice's population has fallen by a third, to 2,500. The uranium enrichment plant would be the biggest commercial nuclear project in the United States in years. The nuclear industry is watching the project's fate closely, said Marshall Cohen, an LES spokesman. "If it's a good, steady, on-track process, that's encouraging to others who might want to look at nuclear-related construction. Because it's very expensive -- the amount of money spent on obtaining the license is serious money," he said. Opinions vary in Eunice Townspeople in Eunice overwhelmingly support the project. Some have grown tired of environmentalists and other out-of-towners preaching doom, and many note that they have lived with industrial hazards all their lives. "Don't tell me how dangerous this is when I grew up in this oil field," said Fay Thompson, owner of The Bakery and More restaurant on Main Street. Compared to working with oil, the plant is a "walk in the park," Thompson said. Her husband, she said, died 40 years ago of cancer related to benzene, a petroleum byproduct. Still, a few in town are skeptical. "We're such a gullible lot here, what can I say?" said Rose Gardner, owner of Desert Rose Flowers and Gifts. "The whole world knows the negative side, but Lea County doesn't seem to know it." Environmentalists worry that radioactive material could seep into the groundwater and the air. Moreover, they say, uranium processing generates a type of waste that currently cannot be dumped anywhere in the United States. With processing, it could be sent to a low-level nuclear waste dump. Currently, no U.S. processing facility can do that. A French company has offered to build such a plant in this country, but it will be years before it even applies for a license. Construction is already underway on a waste-processing plant in Piketon, owned by Uranium Disposition Services, to handle the leftovers of USEC Inc.'s planned centrifuge enrichment plant. Where does waste go? Gov. Bill Richardson, who was energy secretary in the Clinton administration, has indicated his support for the project is contingent on an assurance the waste will be sent out of the state. Mike Sheehan, an economist hired by Nuclear Information and Resource Service, an anti-nuclear group, also said the new plant would undercut financially an anti-proliferation government-to-government program between Russia and the United States that takes Russian weapons-grade uranium and turns it into power plant fuel. In the United States, that program, Megatons-to-Megawatts, is run by USEC; the Russian weapons-grade uranium is downblended for use in reactors in Russian, then shipped to USEC's Paducah plant to be readied for commercial use. Other critics point out that the United States discourages the same kind of plants in places like Iran, which might use them to produce uranium for nuclear weapons. (Gazette Staff Writer Daniel Prazer contributed to this story.) Originally published Tuesday, February 22, 2005 Copyright ©2004 Chillicothe Gazette. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 44 Las Vegas RJ: YUCCA MOUNTAIN: Sandoval says project doomed Tuesday, February 22, 2005 Attorney general addresses lawmakers By BRENDAN RILEY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CARSON CITY -- Lawmakers were told Monday that a proposed federal nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain will never open because of major problems, including its creation over time of "the world's largest septic field" of radioactive material. Attorney General Brian Sandoval said proposed tanks in which the waste would be stored probably would fail within 100 years, causing the high-level waste material to leach into groundwater. Sandoval said he was surprised to hear repository advocates tell lawmakers last week that the project in the Southern Nevada desert is inevitable. The advocates included former Gov. Bob List, a strong repository opponent while in office but now a Nuclear Energy Institute consultant and lobbyist. The repository's location, about 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas, is "literally a volcano that sits on an earthquake fault, above an aquifer, next to the Nevada Test Site, next to one of the nation's largest organic farms, next to the state's largest dairy, adjacent to ... the United States' fastest growing metropolitan area, next to one of the busiest Air Force bases in the country," Sandoval said. "If you could choose a worse place to store nuclear waste, I really challenge you to do so," he said. "My best analysis is that it's a matter of time before this project fails," Sandoval told the Senate Finance Committee, adding that it's behind schedule, funding from Congress and the Bush administration has been cut, and Nevada won a key legal battle over required radiation standards. While Sandoval said he had heard rumors of a possible attempt in Congress to legislate a new standard, he was "very confident with the strength of our congressional delegation" and its ability to stop such an effort. The five-member delegation includes Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. State Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, praised Sandoval for his legal efforts against the plan to bring some 77,000 metric tons of waste from U.S. reactors, adding, "We have to keep the full-court press right up to the last buzzer." "They didn't know what was underground until they started digging," Coffin said. "If our people hadn't kept them honest, they would have just blown it right by us -- just like they did the nuclear tests above ground that threw radiation everywhere." Sandoval said there's proven technology for recycling radioactive wastes, adding, "I can't think of a more primitive way to deal with this waste ... than to dig a hole in the ground and cover it up." List told the state Senate Judiciary Committee last week that "the likelihood of this project is greater than it has ever been" despite a valiant fight by state officials and the state's congressional delegation. List was joined by Michael Bauser, associate general counsel for the Nuclear Energy Institute, which sets policy for the nuclear industry and includes companies that operate nuclear power plants and nuclear fuel suppliers. Bauser said that out of 13 legal cases, nine of which were initiated by the state, all but one of the challenges were rejected. The successful challenge involved the Environmental Protection Agency's radiation standard. A federal appeals court found the standard inconsistent with a National Academy of Science recommendation and told the EPA that it can either revise its regulations or go to Congress for legislation to clear up the matter. While that will take time, Bauser said the Department of Energy still plans to submit its application for a repository license sometime this year. Bauser also said holdups on the project -- the DOE is putting the opening date at 2012, two years later than originally scheduled -- have nothing to do with the litigation and are results of the "inability of DOE to complete tasks in a timely fashion." Copyright Las Vegas Review-Journal ***************************************************************** 45 Las Vegas SUN: Battle over Nevada's federal land sales is about to begin Today: February 22, 2005 at 11:12:09 PST By Benjamin Grove SUN WASHINGTON BUREAU WASHINGTON -- No lawmaker has stepped forward -- yet -- to champion President Bush's proposal to slash Clark County's profit from federal land sales. But the high-stakes battle that pits Nevada lawmakers against the White House -- with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake -- has entered its early phases on Capitol Hill. The proposal, unveiled as part of the $2.57 trillion budget Bush sent to Congress Feb. 7, drew the ire of Nevada's five lawmakers. They are now lobbying their colleagues to kill the proposal. Meanwhile the Interior Department is gearing up to draft the legislation required to make Bush's proposal a reality. It's not clear exactly when the bill would be ready for introduction, Interior spokesman John Wright said. "It's a work in progress," he said. Departments with controversial budget proposals often draft legislation in cooperation with a lawmaker or lawmakers who are willing to carry the bill through the legislative process. Wright declined to comment on who might be willing to sponsor the bill or on how the department plans to sell it to lawmakers. White House Office of Management and Budget spokesman Chad Kolton also declined to comment on the Bush administration's lobbying strategy. At issue is profit from public land auctions under the 1998 Southern Nevada Lands Management Act, which designed a plan to sell federal land in Clark County, with proceeds to remain in Nevada. Under the law, 5 percent of the money is funneled to Nevada school accounts; 10 percent is used for water projects; and 85 percent is deposited into an account for wildlife and land conservation programs. The profit has been far better than expected, and White House budget officials took note of that as they scoured federal expenditures looking for cost savings. Officials originally estimated that the land sales would generate about $70 million per year, but receipts could be 17 times that in 2005 alone, according to White House estimates. Bush budget officials argue that some share of the federal land sale profit belongs to federal taxpayers. Bush proposed cutting the special Nevada account share of 85 percent to 15 percent. He proposed diverting 70 percent of total profit to the federal treasury to offset the deficit. The bill likely would land in the House and Senate committees that deal with natural resource issues. Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., is among the top-ranking members on the House Resources panel, and none of his colleagues have rushed forward to advocate the proposal, spokeswoman Amy Spanbauer said. Gibbons is pressuring key allies on three committees -- Resources, Budget, and Appropriations -- to make sure the bill "never makes it to the House floor," Spanbauer said. If lawmakers are taking an interest in the bill, they are mum so far, Nevada congressional aides said. House Resources Chairman Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., declined comment, spokeswoman Jennifer Zuccarelli said. "The committee is still looking into it, but there is no official position or comment on it," Zuccarelli said. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., the top-ranking Democrat on the House Resources panel, declined to comment through his spokeswoman Kristen Bossi. She said she was not aware of any Democratic members who had an interest in pushing the proposal. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, declined comment through spokeswoman Marnie Funk. Gibbons and Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., sent a Feb. 11 letter to Joshua Bolten, director of the White House Office and Management and Budget, asking him to back off the proposal. The money from the land sales is "critical compensation for the federal government's control over our land," the lawmakers wrote in the letter. "These funds were raised by Nevadans for Nevada land and should remain in Nevada," Gibbons and Porter wrote. Adopting Bush's proposal would hurt the state and contradict "congressional intent" of the legislation, they wrote. Bolten had not responded as of Friday. However, in response to questions about Gibbons' and Porter's February letter, White House budget office spokesman Kolton said Bolten believes that under the Bush proposal Nevada would still reap a profit beyond the state's expectations. ***************************************************************** 46 Las Vegas SUN: Nevada projected to lose $432 million in federal budget cuts Today: February 22, 2005 at 11:12:09 PST By Benjamin Grove SUN WASHINGTON BUREAU WASHINGTON -- Nevada by 2010 could lose an estimated $432 million in federal budget cuts to education, human services, environmental and community development programs, according to a new analysis. The study released today by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities examined how states would fare under the proposed federal budget for fiscal year 2006 that President Bush sent to Congress Feb. 7. The liberal nonprofit research group estimated Bush budget cuts through 2010, projecting that cuts to domestic discretionary programs could total $214 billion nationally. The cuts are the deepest proposed by a president in recent memory, center executive director Bob Greenstein said today. White House officials say the report is premature because the budget does not contain specific proposals beyond next year and that it is too early to make estimates for the next five years. The center in its projected estimates relied on supplementary budget tables and data that Bush provided to members of Congress but did not include in the budget released to the public Feb. 7. Center officials say the Bush administration aims to propose certain budget caps for future years. They said that Bush outlined only $18 billion in specific cuts for 2006. But the White House intends $196 billion in cuts from 2007 to 2010, the center says. Nevada could be hurt by cuts to a variety of federal grants received by the state and local governments, according to center estimates. In Nevada, Bush aims to slash an estimated $65.4 million for K-12 education programs and $63.7 million in community-development block grants, according to the center. The cuts pass a burden to states and are disproportionately worse for Nevada because the state is growing so fast, said Jan Gilbert, Northern Nevada coordinator for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, which tracks the Bush budget. "Rather than investing in our children, disabled residents and seniors and low-income families, this budget is actually going to do some real damage," Gilbert said. According to the center, the Bush proposals also include: + $22 million in cuts for Nevada housing agencies, including about $16.2 million less in Clark County + $12.6 million in cuts for abused and neglected children and Head Start pre-school programs in Nevada. + $3.7 million in cuts for HIV/AIDS program money in Nevada. + $3.7 million in cuts for the Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, nutrition program in Nevada, which could affect roughly 3,800 fewer low-income families. White House officials dismiss the center estimates. It's not fair to make predictions about "severe, draconian cuts," White House Office of Management and Budget spokesman Chad Kolton said. The data outlining future-year estimates that was given to lawmakers is not a "reflection on reality," Kolton said. Budget proposals will be made annually by the president and debated annually in Congress, Kolton said. Bush will continue to call for "spending restraint" to reduce the deficit in the next five years and aims to trim waste and duplicative programs, Kolton said. But Bush in future years could propose increased budgets for certain "priority" domestic programs, Kolton said. "These organizations are organizations that always want to spend more money," Kolton said. "We think there is a smarter way to do it." Center officials said it was difficult to say how receptive Congress will be to cuts, given that they are generally protective of federal money that flows to their states "These are more than just numbers on a page," Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said in a statement. "They are investments in our future that are on the chopping block in this budget." ***************************************************************** 47 ACS: Perchlorate found in dairy and breast milk samples from across the country EurekAlert! ]] Public release date: 22-Feb-2005 Contact: Michael Bernstein m_bernstein@acs.org [m_bernstein@acs.org] 202-872-6042 American Chemical Society [http://www.acs.org] Perchlorate found in dairy and breast milk samples from across the country In a new study of breast milk and store-bought milk from across the United States, scientists at Texas Tech University found perchlorate in every sample but one. The results suggest that this thyroid-disrupting chemical may be more widespread than previously believed. The report was published Feb. 22 on the Web site of Environmental Science &Technology, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society. Perchlorate occurs naturally and is also a primary ingredient in solid rocket fuel. The chemical, which has been showing up in many segments of the environment, can interfere with iodide uptake in the thyroid gland, disrupting adult metabolism and childhood development. The researchers, led by Professor Purnendu Dasgupta, Ph.D., of the university's department of chemistry and biochemistry, analyzed 47 dairy milk samples purchased randomly from grocery stores in 11 states, and 36 breast milk samples from women recruited at random in 18 states. Every sample of breast milk contained perchlorate, and only one sample of dairy milk contained no detectable levels. The average perchlorate concentration in breast milk was 10.5 micrograms per liter; the dairy milk average was 2.0 micrograms per liter. No definitive national standard exists, although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had suggested a limit of 1.0 micrograms per liter in drinking water. The researchers also found that high levels of perchlorate correlated with low levels of iodide in breast milk, which can inhibit thyroid function in nursing women—an essential component for proper neural development of the fetus. Although the data are limited, the levels of iodide in this study are sufficiently low to be of concern, according to the researchers. They suggest that the recommended daily intake of iodine for pregnant and nursing women may need to be revised upwards. The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization, chartered by the U.S. Congress, with a multidisciplinary membership of more than 159,000 chemists and chemical engineers. It publishes numerous scientific journals and databases, convenes major research conferences and provides educational, science policy and career programs in chemistry. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio. — Jason Gorss The online version of the research paper cited above was published Feb. 22 on the journal's Web site. Journalists can arrange access to this site by sending an e-mail to newsroom@acs.org [newsroom@acs.org] or calling the contact person for this release. EurekAlert! ***************************************************************** 48 San Bernardino County Sun: Baca Jr. takes on eBay (Percholate) www.sbsun.com Article Published: Monday, February 21, 2005 - By Staff Reports His dad's moniker is Workin' Joe while he goes by Genuine Joe. But perhaps we should change Joe Baca Jr.'s nickname to Rocket Joe. The rookie assemblyman may send his political rep into orbit with an effort he's launched to curtail the sale of perchlorate by marketing goliath eBay. Jr.'s nickname to Rocket Joe. The rookie assemblyman may send his political rep into orbit with an effort he's launched to curtail the sale of perchlorate by marketing goliath eBay. Rocket Joe is concerned that groundwater in the Inland Empire is contaminated by the substance found in rocket fuel. Now Baca Jr. has taken his concern straight to the top in a letter to eBay President William C. Cobb asking that he "cease all future transactions' on the chemical until the state sets up oversight on the substance. He copied his letter to The Sun, which we appreciate, along with a news release headlined in part that he "asks eBay to Slam the Brakes on Rocket Fuel Sales.' Of course, perchlorate also used as a lubricant and in propellants for automotive air bags, nuclear energy and fireworks isn't by itself a rocket fuel. But it is part of the soup that kicks those satellites into orbit. Doing something nice for GI kids Workin' Joe Baca deserves a pat on the back for thinking of the well-being of military kids. He's reintroduced a bill in the House of Representatives that would provide free school lunches for the children of enlisted men and women on active duty. Making ends meet is always tough for military personnel with families during both war and peace. Back when it was known as three hots and a cot, many married soldiers even with combat pay were forced to accept welfare to keep their kids clothed and fed. And military housing was pretty scarce, too. So now that Workin' Joe's looking out for military kids, perhaps it's time to use some of that congressional clout he's accrued with added seniority. He could throw his shoulder behind a living-wage bill for service men and women. That way their kids wouldn't need free lunches or be forced to subsist on welfare. But Congress is forgetful. If the bill waits until the war is over, odds of passage will be somewhere near zero. Truth shouldn't be political stranger While we are on the subject of truth, we should all remember that today is George Washington 's birthday, although Presidents Day, a day set aside to create another three-day weekend, was observed Monday. Despite that his cherry-tree myth has long been debunked as apocryphal, it placed our first president in the pantheon of truth tellers. He is an example for children, but when we grow up and run for office, we soon learn that truth is expendable one of those acceptable losses in political warfare. Wouldn't it be nice if politicians, while in office, had to agree to be connected continuously to a lie detector and made to sip regularly from a cup of truth serum before being allowed to represent the rest of us? If a lie were detected, a jolt of electricity would ensue. The shocks would be completely voluntary. They could be avoided simply by telling the truth. We could call it the George factor. Week's news is Baca fest The Bacas are at it again with good deeds. Workin' Joe and Rocket Joe Jr., will tag team up this week in jointly hosting a Black History Month event in cooperation with San Bernardino Valley College. The Bacas are calling it an African American History Month Event: A Salute to African American Heroes of the Inland Empire. It's a great idea and a worthy cause. Tickets are required for the 6 p.m. Friday happening at the college but they are free by calling Workin' Joe's district office at (909) 885-2222. There's one little tip that we got from a black friend we'd like to pass along to Joe 'n' Joe. Your efforts at political correctness are commendable but it's still Black History Month. Our friend says there are other things in black history than just African American history, although that is a substantial section. Protester shows up for rally vs. city Carolyn Zazueta's crusade against San Bernardino City Hall was washed down the drain Monday afternoon in front of Mayor Judith Valles' home. Zazueta planned a rally to criticize San Bernardino's attempt to use eminent domain to revitalize lower-income neighborhoods. Nearly an hour after its scheduled start time, no one had arrived. The news media outnumbered Zazueta four to one. Valles was inside exercising when the small group gathered outside her home in front of Arrowhead Country Club. She didn't seem too upset about having her workout interrupted by a reporter's knock on the door. "The opposition is to be expected,' said Valles, who was decked out in sweats. "They have every right to protest, as long as it's peaceful.' Notice the mayor's use of the word "they.' Even she was expecting at least two protesters to show up. The Insider is compiled by reporters, columnists and editors of The Sun. But don't let them hog the spotlight. If you have a tip for The Insider, call (909) 386-3891, fax it to (909) 885-8741 or e-mail to theinsider@sbsun.com [theinsider@sbsun.com] . Copyright © 2005 Los Angeles Newspaper Group ***************************************************************** 49 ENN: Tenth Shipment of Reprocessed Japanese Nuclear Waste Heading Home Environmental News Network February 18, 2005 — By Associated Press CHERBOURG, France — Reprocessed nuclear waste headed for Japan was loaded aboard a ship Thursday for the nearly two-month journey home, France's state-run reprocessing plant said. The "Pacific Sandpiper" was loaded with 124 containers of highly radioactive waste which was reprocessed at the Cogema plant at nearby La Hague. Trucks traveling under tight security delivered the containers, bound in five packages, to this western port. Details of the sea route were not divulged. The cargo -- the tenth such shipment to Japan -- is to leave on Thursday night and arrive in Japan in April. Japanese electricity companies are under contract with Cogema to reprocess the waste from plants in Japan. The waste is routinely sent on ships to Britain and France for vitrification, a process by which it is packed into glass, then returned home. Environmental groups, as well as some Pacific and Caribbean states, have said the shipments pose a potential threat. The first such shipment was in 1995. Source: Associated Press ***************************************************************** 50 News & Star: Radioactive sludge to be reprocessed [http://www.lcwc.ac.uk] 22/02/2005 WORK to remove radioactive sludge from disused sea tanks at the Sellafield nuclear site is soon to begin. The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate this week gave the go-ahead to start this part of the nuclear clean up at the site. The 10 sea tanks operated from the 1950s to the early 1990s and were used to clean liquid effluents from reprocessing before they were disposed of in the Irish Sea. The technology has since moved on and the site now has effluent treatment plants to handle liquid waste. The radioactivity removed from the liquid was contained in the sludge — also called floc — which is now stored in six of the large sea tanks. It will take two years to process the sludge in each tank and it will be encased in cement inside steel drums for long term storage. [http://www.nwemail.co.uk/] | [http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/] | [http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/] | [http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/] ***************************************************************** 51 NRDC: EPA HEALTH GOAL FOR ROCKET FUEL-CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER FAILS TO PROTECT INFANTS AND UNBORN CHILDREN, SAYS NRDC [Natural Resources Defense Council] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press contact: Elliott Negin at 202-289-2405 or Elizabeth Heyd at 202-289-2424 Agency is Protecting the Defense Department and its Contractors, Not Public Health, NRDC Charges WASHINGTON (February 18, 2005) -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued a new public health goal for rocket fuel-contaminated drinking water that fails to protect infants and unborn children, according to NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). The group said the agency is aware that it will have to revise its goal for the rocket-fuel ingredient perchlorate to a more protective level, but announcing a higher acceptable level could make it easier for the Department of Defense and its contractors to oppose stricter cleanup standards. "The EPA's new drinking water goal will not protect millions of Americans, especially infants and babies in the womb who are exposed to rocket fuel," said Erik D. Olson, an NRDC senior attorney. Perchlorate, which has been found in water and food supplies nationally, attacks the thyroid gland. Specifically, EPA today announced a "Drinking Water Equivalent Level," or DWEL, for perchlorate of 24.5 parts per billion (ppb) in water, which it qualified by stating that "exposures above the DWEL are not necessarily considered unsafe." This level is 24.5 times higher than the 1 ppb level that the agency proposed in its January 2003 risk assessment. In calculating the new level, EPA ignored the fact that children, infants and fetuses weigh less than adults, as well as the fact that the widespread contaminant also is found in lettuce, milk and other foods. A DWEL is not an enforceable standard. However, it is likely to be cited by industry and the Pentagon when they oppose stricter cleanup standards than the DWEL. Moreover, EPA uses DWELs when it establishes drinking water standards. EPA also issued a second calculation for perchlorate, called a reference cose (RfD), which is the level at which exposure to perchlorate is considered safe. It is expressed as an amount of perchlorate per unit of body weight per day (milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day, or mg/kg-d). EPA's RfD is identical to the one suggested in the January 2005 report by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), "Health Implications of Perchlorate Ingestion." (For more information about the NAS study, click here.) EPA ultimately will use the RfD with the DWEL if it establishes an enforceable drinking water standard. For more than 20 years, the EPA has adjusted an RfD for the body weight of a particular vulnerable population -- in this case infants and fetuses -- and also for human exposure from food so that drinking water alone does not over-expose people to a toxin. If the EPA follows this standard scientific practice, NRDC experts said, the actual enforceable drinking water standard using the agency's new RfD would be about 1 ppb. However, EPA has not made its intentions clear as to when, or if, it intends to set a drinking water standard for perchlorate that accounts for the lower weights of infants and fetuses and the fact that perchlorate-contaminated water contaminates the food supply. "People don't just drink perchlorate, they eat it too," said Dr. Gina Solomon, an NRDC senior scientist. "This chemical is in lettuce and milk, yet EPA today misleadingly suggests that our only exposure is from water, thereby putting millions of Americans at risk." The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has more than 1 million members and e-activists nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Related NRDC Pages January 10, 2005, Academy Succumbs to Pentagon-White House-Industry Pressure, Recommends Perchlorate Safety Level That Fails to Protect Children ***************************************************************** 52 chillicothe gazette: Where does Piketon stand? - www.chillicothegazette.com Tuesday, February 22, 2005 The Gazette staff As Louisiana Energy Services pushes forward on its centrifuge uranium enrichment plant in New Mexico, the U.S. Enrichment Corp. already has the buildings in place for its version, the American Centrifuge. USEC is building a facility of 240 centrifuge machines, called a lead cascade, to demonstrate the technology. It's scheduled to go online near the end of this year. The lead cascade is the basic building block of an enrichment plant, according to the company, but it isn't designed to produce enriched uranium. Instead, it generates data on costs, schedules and performance, in part to help attract investors. USEC began testing a single centrifuge machine in January in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The full-sized enrichment plant is expected to cost about $1.5 billion and employ as many as 500 full-time workers. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is in the process of doing a detailed review of USEC's license application for the American Centrifuge -- slated to be hitting its initial production capacity by 2010. In July 2004, government officials broke ground on a plant owned by a separate company, Uranium Disposition Services, that will convert leftovers from the enrichment process that fill thousands of cylinders, some dating back to the 1950s. The waste will be chemically split into two more stable compounds. Once that plant goes online, sometime near the end of 2006 or the beginning of 2007, it will employ about 150 people for at least the 18 years it's expected to take to work through the existing cylinders. -- Daniel Prazer Originally published Tuesday, February 22, 2005 ***************************************************************** 53 [du-list] robot wars Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2005 14:39:51 -0800 Just read that killer-robots are being manufactured by the Foster- Miller company, which is owned by the QinetiQ Group, "a joint venture between the UK's Ministry of Defence and the US-based holding company, Carlyle Group." QinetiQ Group also has a presense in the SouthWest of Scotland at the Dundrennan army test range where depleted uranium munitions are fired by the military. Wonder if this means that robots are going to be lumbering over the moors of southwest Scotland. http://www.infowars.com/articles/iraq/us_plans_robo_soldiers_carlyle_g roup.htm ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater? Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good! http://us.click.yahoo.com/TzSHvD/SOnJAA/79vVAA/FGYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To unsubscribe from this groups send a message to du-list-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com. In the body of the message type unsubscribe and send. Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/du-list/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: du-list-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ ***************************************************************** 54 Nuclear Test Watch: Nuclear Test Watch - Issue No. 4 [http://nucleartestwatch.blogspot.com] Nuclear Test Watch is dedicated to monitoring US Government activity relevant to the resumption of nuclear testing, and advocating a continuation of the moratorium on test explosions of American nuclear weapons Monday, February 21, 2005 To receive Nuclear Test Watch via email, please send a request to michaelroston -at- yahoo -dot- com 1. Bodman's testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee A major question raised by the elevation of relatively unknown Dr. Samuel Bodman to Secretary of Energy was whether he had the knowledge and capability to tackle the complicated stewardship of America’s nuclear weapons. After Bodman’s February 15 testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on DOE’s “atomic energy defense activities,” it is evident that he is far behind the learning curve on nuclear weapons issues. We must question whether or not he’ll catch up. Senator John Warner (R-VA), committee chair, made clear that Bodman has yet to grasp issues relevant to the nuclear weapons program by observing that “it's going to be important for you to do additional study before you can fully develop your full range of opinions regarding” the science-based stockpile stewardship programs. Bodman agreed that he would have to “look forward to learning much more…as I get into the work over the weeks and months ahead.” Bodman’s shaky understanding of the nuclear weapons program was evident in a gaffe made after Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) asked him about the $9 million Reliable Replacement Warhead Program. The transcript indicates that Bodman started off his reply with “The RNEP -- this is the Reliable Replacement Warhead...” In fact, the RRWP and the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator are separately funded programs. His imprecision came next while speaking of the actual RNEP, when he explained that the research DOE wanted to do was a “test.” He then caught himself, and observed “I'm finding if I may say, "test" has a connotation that I'm still learning to grapple with, meaning that that utilizes nuclear materials.” Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) later asked him to detail the state of research on the RNEP, to which Bodman replied “I've only been here a couple of weeks, so I haven't really gotten into all the details of it.” In response to a question about the National Ignition Facility by Senator Reed, Bodman quipped “Again, I would add that I have only been here two weeks and I would ask for your understanding. I hope to get there before long and to be able to understand what it is exactly that they are attempting to do and why it will work.” Hopefully, by the time that Bodman’s underlings insist that we just have to perform a live test explosion, he will have taken the time to “get into the details.” But isn’t this administration one that’s long insisted that its leadership not dwell too much on the details of individual programs? How then can we be confident that if the Energy Secretary says America cannot do anything but test a nuclear weapon, it really is the case that such a thing is truly an absolute requirement? 2. Bodman’s confirmation hearing, redux There wasn’t much of a chance to ask any of these questions during the course of the confirmation hearings for Bodman. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee of the Senate spent little time asking Bodman what he thought about nuclear weapons, and presumably these issues were discussed in his answers to Questions for the Record. In fact, Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), the committee’s chair, emphasized the importance of these questions by closing the hearing with the observation “You want to share in the inauguration festivities, but…you will share your time in answering the questions that we give you if you want to get them in on time and if you want to be confirmed.” Bodman turned in his answers on time, one would presume, as he was confirmed with little debate or fanfare. So where are those answers? In fact, they are virtually inaccessible to citizens of this country and even congressional staff-members, cloaked in secrecy by guardians in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Nuclear Test Watch placed several calls to press officers and other staff in both the majority and minority offices of the committee. Staff at last responded that the their chief counsel had determined that an electronic copy of the answers to Questions for the Record would not be transmitted. The only way the document could be accessed was to come in and view it in person, making the answers only of use to people located inside the beltway. Even then, only “hand-written notes” could be taken down. A member of the staff of a Senator currently sitting on the committee had received answers to questions posed by that Senator. But after writing to committee staff requesting a copy of the full set of questions and answers, the Senator’s staff-member was informed that the answers would not be transmitted to the Senator’s office either. Committee staff in all of these circumstances emphasized that once the Government Printing Office produced a record of the hearing, Dr. Bodman’s answers would be available. But in the meanwhile, it is troubling that citizens of this country not hanging around Capitol Hill, and in fact even their senators, were not able to make an informed decision of whether or not Bodman should be confirmed as the next Secretary of Energy of the United States by seeing his explanations of what motivations will guide the policies that he promulgates and champions over the course of his term. The veil of secrecy covering the executive branch now seems to be spreading over elements of this country’s legislative branch as well. 3. Pretexts for nuclear testing In his February 15 testimony, Bodman sought to assure Senator Warner that the target of being ready to test a nuclear weapon within 18 months of a decision to do so would certainly be met by the time of the October 1, 2006, deadline. DOE continues to emphasize that the advancement of the test readiness posture is simply insurance against an unforeseen turn of events. But this statement is not believable. Buried within the FY 2005 budget request (on Page 4) of the Science Campaign for the Department of Energy’s nuclear weapons activities is a reference to ongoing efforts through FY 2009 to “produce list of possible test scenarios and confirm that plans will enable these tests.” These “scenarios” should be understood for what they are – the production within corners of the nuclear weapons labs of pretexts to conduct live tests of nuclear weapons. If enhancing test readiness was just insurance against a failure in an existing weapon, there would be no need for “test scenarios” or confirmed “plans.” Enhanced readiness would be akin to a running start in the event of a problem. Instead, it is evident that multiple plans for nuclear testing are being produced within the labs, and these will filter their way up the chain of command until President Bush in late 2006 or early 2007 can insist that there’s really no other way for America to guarantee the credibility of its deterrent. One example of such a pretext is evident in the Center for Security Policy’s latest missive, “The Terror Next Time.” CSP’s Frank Gaffney warns that America must worry about North Korea or Iran deliberately detonating a nuclear weapon in the atmosphere and “instantly transform this country from an advanced 21st Century society to an 18th Century one.” Only by conducting test explosions, Gaffney insists, can America be certain that its technological systems will survive electromagnetic pulses brought on by bomb explosions. Gaffney’s warning that America could be undone with a single explosion is no doubt based on the thinking drawn from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s “High Altitude Nuclear Detonations against Low Earth Orbit Satellites” study, a report yanked from DTRA’s website in 2002 after a colleague and I linked its content to efforts on the part of the Defense Department to produce nuclear-tipped interceptors for the beleaguered and dysfunctional missile defense system. Within this study, it is worth noting the observation that the Defense Special Weapons Agency is already hard at work to defend American military resources in space against the radiation that might result from the explosion of a weapon in space. Also, a separate study Gaffney cites makes no reference to nuclear testing being necessary to ensure the survivability of America’s technological infrastructure. By looking at the content of these reports, it is difficult to see what underground nuclear testing really has to do with defending against effects of nuclear explosions in space. But the point is not that we really need nuclear testing for this purpose: instead, an intellectual case for testing at all costs is being promulgated by advocates of nuclear testing. Opponents of such a disastrous turn need to begin looking over the horizon toward countering these pretexts prior to 2006 when the administration will be able to authorize a test within a short timeframe. 4. Stopping nuclear testing The Salt Lake Tribune published an excellent editorial that defends Rep. David Hobson’s efforts to block America from slouching into a threatening nuclear weapons posture. The paper’s editorial attention to this subject in Republican Utah emphasizes that the “downwind” fears are very much on the minds of people outside Nevada where nuclear tests would take place. Combined with the possibility of citizens of New Mexico being organized to press their senators who make decisions relevant to the Energy Department’s budget to oppose any decision to develop and test new nuclear weapons, it is increasingly evident that a strong front can be developed outside Washington to defeat advocates of nuclear proliferation by America. This has been NUCLEAR TEST WATCH. ***************************************************************** NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more information go to: *****************************************************************