*****************************************************************
09/06/06 ****     RADIATION BULLETIN(RADBULL)       **** VOL 14.211
*****************************************************************
   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 San Francisco Chronicle Should the US Bomb Iran's Nuclear Sites
2 [NYTr] US Zionists Push Hard for Iran Sanctions
3 Guardian Unlimited: Iran Abruptly Postpones Talks With EU
4 Guardian Unlimited: Envoy: Iran-EU Talks in Postponed
5 Guardian Unlimited: Delay Puts Iran Closer to U.N. Sanctions
6 Guardian Unlimited: Ahmadinejad Proposes Debate With Bush
7 AFP: Iran-EU nuclear talks postponed - Iranian envoy
8 BBC: Iran-EU nuclear talks postponed
9 IRNA: No reason for Iran to cooperate with IAEA if threats persist -
10 Xinhua: U.S. says it is determined to impose sanctions on Iran   
11 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: Iran demand nothing beyond its right 
12 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: West threatened sanctions not real 
13 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: OIC supports Iran's nuclear rights 
14 AFP: Bush steps up war of words with Iran 
15 AFP: Iran sanctions 'essential' - US
16 Guardian Unlimited: China, U.S. Discuss N.Korea Nuke Program
17 Hankyoreh: N. Korea admits it made mistake by test-launching missile
18 Korea Herald: U.S. eyes expanding nuke talks format   
19 Korea Herald: Korea, Romania boost ties   
20 Korea Herald: U.S. eyes expanding nuke talks format   
21 Korea: Digital Chosunilbo: Hill in China at 'Difficult' Point for N.
22 Korea Times: Korea, Romania Seek Atomic Alliance 
23 AFP: US envoy says NKorea talks in bad way 
24 UPI: S. Korea offers Romania nuclear reactors
25 US: IndyStar.com: The bomb that wasn't -- was it? 
26 Moscow Times: Nuclear Arsenal Will Be Upgraded by 2009
27 AFP: Disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist to undergo cancer surgery
 
                         NUCLEAR REACTORS
 
28 iafrica.com: sa news SA, Russia mull nuke power deal
29 US: San Luis Obispo Tribune: Diablo ruling figures in federal terror
30 US: SLO Trib: NRC's decision to deny the San Luis Obispo Mothers For
31 US: NRC: Sunshine Act Meeting
32 US: Dallas Morning News: No Quick Energy Fix: Nuclear plans don't cl
33 US: NRC: Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Pilgrim Nuclear Power
34 US: NRC: Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Find
35 US: NRC: In the Matter of Texas A University (Nuclear Science Center
36 US: NRC: In the Matter of University of Florida (University of Flori
37 US: UCS: Nuclear Power Plant Security Officers in Texas Reprimanded 
38 canada.com : Worst power option is nuclear energy
39 US: Dallas Morning News: Nuclear plant's security faulted 
 
                          NUCLEAR SECURITY
 
40 MercoPress: Energy short Chile heatedly ponders the nuclear option 
 
                          NUCLEAR SAFETY
 
 
                         NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE
 
41 US: Deseret News: Utahns in Congress draw up agenda
42 Pahrump Valley Times: DOE's Groundwater display at library  
43 Manila Times: Waste cargo mediator surfaces
44 Manila Times: OPINION > Now come toxic waste 
45 Toronto Star: Plant's radioactive waste a Brampton election issue
46 New Scientist: Yucca Mountain will not blow - earth - 
47 US: LompocRecord.com: Zero tolerance for known toxin
48 US: Vermont Guardian: Radioactive VY shipment lands in Pennsylvania
 
                           PEACE
 
49 [NukeNet] India Deal & NSG: Japanese NGOs speak out
 
                        US DEPT. OF ENERGY
 
50 Biowarfare agent research and Livermore Lab Site
51 Hanford News: More data needed on Hanford soil
52 DenverPost.com: No job too big for CH2M Hill 
53 lamonitor.com: Historical Society goes through exciting changes 
54 Knox News: Bechtel Jacobs, union workers arrive at deal
55 Knox News: Council OKs grant application for nuke facility study
*****************************************************************
*****************************************************************
                         FULL NEWS STORIES
*****************************************************************
*****************************************************************
 1 San Francisco Chronicle Should the US Bomb Iran's Nuclear Sites
 
Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2006 15:04:37 EDT

X-Sender-Host-Name: imo-m26.mx.aol.com
X-Spam-Class: HAM-VERY-WHITELIST


San Francisco Chronicle
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPEN FORUM

Bomb Tehran today or be bombed tomorrow?

Bennett Ramberg
Wednesday, September 6, 2006

Now that Iran has scorned diplomatic and economic overtures and the U.N. 
Security Council's demand that it halt nuclear fuel-cycle activity, has the time 
come to apply force to stem its suspect weapons program? True, U.N. sanctions 
may be in the offing. But proposed penalties are unlikely to move the 
revolutionary regime. The alternative -- concede Tehran's nuclear weapons future -- 
faces unalterable opposition from Washington and Jerusalem. 

In nuclear history, the "nonproliferation conundrum" -- use force or concede 
if diplomacy fails -- is not new. In fact, policymakers in different times and 
places have faced the dilemma often, and, more often than not, eschewed the 
military solution to stop The Bomb's spread. And while the past can provide 
context to guide the future, wrinkles in the current situation add an ominous 
portent: Given the hostility between Israel and Iran, only American military 
action to halt Tehran in the near term may prevent a regional nuclear war in the 
long term. 

History records only four applications of military force to thwart nuclear 
proliferation. To beat Hitler, the United States and Britain not only bombed a 
nuclear-related heavy-water plant in German-occupied Norway but determined to 
destroy or capture all elements of the atomic enterprise in the defeat and 
occupation of the Third Reich. Nearly four decades later, Iran would take a page 
from the Allies' playbook when its air force attacked Iraq's Osirak reactor in 
September 1980. The following year, Israel finished the job, setting back 
Baghdad's nuclear program by a decade. Then there was Washington's 2003 foray into 
Iraq. Premised on eliminating Saddam Hussein's weapons-of-mass-destruction 
capacity, it put a stake into a nuclear cadaver that had succumbed years 
earlier, the result of the search-and-destroy activities of international inspectors 
following the 1991 Persian Gulf War. 

Shrouded by this evident history were numerous contemplated military strikes. 
The Truman, Kennedy and Clinton administrations, however, went no further 
than gaming attacks against the budding Soviet, Chinese and North Korean nuclear 
programs. Likewise, Moscow refrained from hitting China and South Africa. 
India and Egypt also resisted attacking Pakistan and Israel, respectively. In all 
cases, the potential target got The Bomb. 

While many factors contributed to the decision not to strike -- logistics, 
political costs, the lack of support of others, radiological risks, the ability 
of the targeted state to regenerate its nuclear program -- one determinant 
persistently stood out: the ability of the targeted nation to strike back. To 
restrain Washington, Western Europe provided Moscow a hostage. China warned the 
Soviet Union that it would face a "peoples war." India feared that Pakistan 
would retaliate against its nuclear power plants while the United States 
recognized that an attack on North Korea could re-ignite the Korean war, placing 
millions of South Koreans at risk. Finally, Gamal Abdel Nasser's Egypt was not 
willing to risk a retalitory strike on Cairo for a strike on Israel's Dimona 
nuclear-weapons complex. 

By contrast, geographic separation coupled to Iraq's paltry retaliatory 
capacity made the strikes by Washington and Jerusalem against Baghdad a safe bet. 

The Iranian nuclear ambition, however, poses challenges unseen in other 
historical circumstance. True, the mullahs cannot strike the United States 
militarily. Against Israel, they have only a limited capability -- at this time -- 
given geographic separation. In addition, the recent Lebanon war established that 
Iran's Hezbollah surrogate can bruise, but not seriously wound, the Jewish 
state. But there remain other vital targets, notably Middle Eastern petroleum 
production and distribution. Iran also could aggravate America's Iraq quagmire. 
Then there are suicide bombers, which the mullahs reportedly have greenlighted 
to retaliate across the region and around the globe. 

But these risks pale by comparison to what could occur were the revolutionary 
regime to get The Bomb. Arguably, the United States and Israel could apply 
Cold War deterrence strategies. But here comes the wrinkle: the 
strategic/psychological sensitivities of the Jewish and Persian adversaries. The coupling of 
Tehran's implacable messianic hostility with Jerusalem's "never again" 
mentality generates a "use it or lose it" pre-emptive incentive. While Israel could 
inflict second-strike devastation from its nuclear cruise missile-armed 
submarines -- thereby sustaining deterrence -- its survival instinct will never leave 
its fate in the hands of a nation that calls for its extinction and has the 
capacity to launch an atomic first strike. Jerusalem could find its atomic 
arsenal the effective weapon of choice to suppress the risk because its 
conventional airpower and cruise and ballistic missile capacities lack the ability to 
destroy suspect sites and because nuclear weapons would have the best chance to 
eliminate Iran's hardened nuclear capacity and its leadership. 

This portent leaves the United States, the most capable country to contest 
Iran, with its own stark choice in the event it or others cannot resurrect 
effective diplomacy: destroy Tehran's nuclear capacity today with conventional air 
strikes, accepting the probability of significant oil market and terrorist 
disruption, or assume the risk of a regional nuclear holocaust resulting in far 
more dramatic energy and Middle East political turmoil tomorrow. 

Bennett Ramberg served in the U.S. State Department's Bureau of 
Politico-Military Affairs in the administration of George H. W. Bush. He is the author of 
three books on international security and the editor of three others. E-mail: 
bennettramberg@aol.com 

Page B - 11

Š2006 San Francisco Chronicle




*****************************************************************
 2 [NYTr] US Zionists Push Hard for Iran Sanctions
 
Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2006 14:28:52 -0500 (CDT)

X-Sender-Host-Name: chumbly.math.missouri.edu
X-Spam-Class: HAM-VERY-WHITELIST

Via NY Transfer News Collective  *  All the News that Doesn't Fit
 
Forward - Sep 1, 2006 issue
http://www.forward.com/articles/groups-push-for-sanctions-fear-us-will-falter-on/

Groups Push For Sanctions, Fear US Will Falter on Iran

By Ori Nir

WASHINGTON -- Jewish organization are seeking to mobilize the international
community, through direct meetings with foreign diplomats and by lobbying
the Bush administration, to impose sanctions on Iran for defiantly carrying
on with its nuclear program.

With the arrival of the August 31 deadline for Iran to stop its enrichment
of uranium, pro-Israel groups are stepping up their efforts to maintain the
international resolve to confront Tehran and immediately implement strong
political and economic sanctions on the Iranian regime.

"Iran's continued defiance of the international community, and its clear
role of using proxies to destabilize the region, underscores the need for
the [Jewish] community to act forcefully in halting the momentum of Iran's
ongoing defiance," said Jess Hordes, director of the Washington office of
the Anti-Defamation League. The Jewish community's efforts "will be broad
based," Hordes said, combining discussions with administration officials,
members of Congress and representatives of foreign governments.

Some Jewish communal activists are quietly worrying that the Bush
administration lacks the resolve and the skill to lead an international
effort to isolate Iran and compel the Islamic Republic to give up it pursuit
of nuclear weapons. Israeli and American observers are also saying that the
United States is increasingly unlikely to attack Iran, favoring an Israeli
attack.

Bolstering the administration's leadership and the international community's
resolve in the face of Iran's defiance is "at the top of our agenda," said
Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of
Major American Jewish Organizations.

On August 22, nine days before the deadline, Tehran submitted its reply to
the package of Western incentives that the five permanent United Nations
Security Council members and Germany proposed in an effort to convince Iran
to roll back its nuclear program. The incentives were offered in return for
Iran's suspension of its uranium enrichment, a process that is required for
producing weapons-grade nuclear material.

In its response, Iran said it is prepared for "serious negotiations" over
the proposal, but declared that it has no intention of halting uranium
enrichment. "Production of nuclear fuel is one of Iran's strategic
objectives," Teheran's lead negotiator Ali Larijani told Iran's state radio
on August 27. "Any action to limit or deprive Iran could not force Iran to
give up this goal," he added.

In addition to defiant rhetoric, in recent days Iran has test fired a
long-range sea-to-air missile, as well as a new above-water anti-ship
missile launched from a submarine. It held military exercises in the Persian
Gulf and inaugurated a new plant to produce heavy water for use in a new
nuclear research reactor. "They are clearly making a statement, saying
'Don't mess with us.' That's what the world just heard. And now the world
has to decide what's the next step," said David Twersky, director of
international affairs at the American Jewish Congress.

On the day that the deadline was set to expire, the International Atomic
Energy Agency was to report to the Security Council on Iran's compliance. If
Iran was found to have been in complaince, the Security Council was to
consider adopting "appropriate measures" under the U.N. Charter Article that
sets out enforcement powers.

"Security Council sanctions should range from targeting the Iranian
leadership by banning diplomatic travel, prohibiting nuclear technology
transfers and denying access to credit, to more serious economic sanctions,
including banning foreign investment in Iran," said a memorandum published
by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the influential pro-Israel
lobby.

Jewish activists worry that lining up international support will be
extremely difficult. Russia and China, both permanent members of the
Security Council with a veto power and strong economic relations with Iran,
oppose tough measures. Following Iran's rejection of the international
community's proposal, Moscow suggested that additional efforts would be made
to achieve a political solution through diplomacy.

China's special envoy to the Middle East, Sun Bigan, said that his country
is still seeking a "peaceful settlement rather than resorting to force or
threatening sanctions." Arab regimes, including those friendly to the United
States, are also advocating more diplomacy.

Facing a hesitant, fragmented international community and a defiant Iran,
Jewish activists say their first immediate priority is to make sure that the
Bush administration stays resolute in its face-off with Tehran.

This week, several Jewish groups contacted senior administration officials,
asking that Iran's former president, Mohammad Khatami, be denied a visa to
visit Washington. The former president, pro-Israel activists say, led Iran
for years as the country was deceiving the international community about its
nuclear ambitions and sponsoring terrorism. Allowing Khatami -- who was
elected twice as a reform candidate, but is widely viewed as failing to
institute major changes -- to visit the United States "will send a wrong
message," Hoenlein said. "If the expectation is that he will somehow present
another face of Iran, that's a sham."

On Tuesday, a State Department spokesman said that a visa was issued for
Khatami to visit the United States. He is scheduled to give a September 7
speech at Washington's National Cathedral on the role of Islam, Christianity
and Judaism in shaping peace. He will also be speaking at a U.N. forum in
New York, on September 5 and 6, addressing the issue of interfaith dialogue.
Khatami, a Shiite cleric, would be the most high-profile Iranian personality
to visit Washington since the country's Islamic revolution in 1979.

Hoenlein said that Bush administration officials had assured him that the
decision to issue the visa did not indicate a softening of America's
position on Iran. But several pro-Israel activists in Washington expressed
concern that the administration might not show the kind of resolve needed to
lead a decisive international drive against Iran.

As American pro-Israel activists are gearing up for a push to seek
international isolation of Iran, their concern is growing that the Bush
administration will not be able to muster the political strength and
diplomatic skills to lead such an international campaign. Several officials
with American Jewish organizations, speaking on condition of anonymity, said
in the past few weeks that there is growing concern in Israel and among
Jerusalem's friends in Washington that the Bush administration simply lacks
the political weight internationally to successfully lead such a drive.

Meanwhile, there is a growing consensus within Israel's defense
establishment that the United States will not launch a militarily attack
against Iran to block Tehran's quest for a nuclear weapon, the Jerusalem
Post reported last week. The paper quoted unnamed Israeli security sources,
who described the Bush administration's Iran policy as "appeasement." The
sources assessed that the administration lacked the domestic and
international support needed to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.

Over the past several years, the conventional thinking among foreign policy
experts was that if diplomacy fails to block Iran from acquiring nuclear
arms, the United States -- not Israel -- would attack Iran's nuclear
facilities. America's military is better positioned to launch the
consecutive air sorties that are needed to degrade the Iranian
fortifications, most military experts agree.

This week, one well-positioned pro-Israel activist told the Forward that
there is a growing sense in Israel and in America's foreign policy community
that Washington would rather not risk the political and international
fallout -- and, instead, now supports an Israeli air attack. "Many say that
the administration may find this to be the path of least resistance," the
official said.
       
                                *
================================================================
.NY Transfer News Collective    *    A Service of Blythe Systems
.          Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us         .
.339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012     http://www.blythe.org
.List Archives:   https://olm.blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/
.Subscribe: https://olm.blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr
================================================================
*****************************************************************
 3 Guardian Unlimited: Iran Abruptly Postpones Talks With EU
 
From the Associated Press        

[UP] 

Wednesday September 6, 2006 4:16 PM

AP Photo XHS101 

Associated Press Writer 

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Iran abruptly announced Wednesday that
last-ditch talks on its disputed nuclear program were postponed,
moving Tehran a step closer to U.N. sanctions after it defied a
deadline to freeze uranium enrichment. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, meanwhile, said any
sanctions must exclude military force, suggesting that Moscow
was contemplating the possibility of sanctions but remained
opposed to harsh and quick punishment. 

The talks between Iranian nuclear envoy Ali Larijani and
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana had been
tentatively set for Wednesday in Vienna as a final attempt to
see if common ground could be found to start negotiations
between Iran and the six nations that have been trying to
persuade Iran to limit its nuclear program. 

But while Solana had been ready to fly to the Austrian capital
at short notice, the talks had been left hanging by uncertainty
over whether Larijani would come. 

``We will not have the meeting today in Vienna,'' Ali Ashgar
Soltanieh, the chief Iranian envoy to the International Atomic
Energy Agency, told The Associated Press. ``Both sides are
arranging (a meeting) for a couple of days later.'' 

Instead, Iran's president proposed that he and President Bush
hold a debate at the U.N. General Assembly later this month. 

Solana's office in Brussels, Belgium, had no immediate comment.
But although Soltanieh said the decision to postpone any meeting
had been mutual, it appeared that Iranian reluctance to attend
had scuttled the chance of talks Wednesday. 

Russia, along with China, has steadfastly opposed efforts by the
United States and other Western nations to bring sanctions
against Iran for its nuclear program. Washington says Tehran is
seeking to build nuclear weapons; Tehran says its programs are
for electricity generation. 

Lavrov said the U.N. Security Council's recent resolution on the
issue holds out the possibility of further measures on Iran such
as economic penalties, banning air travel or breaking diplomatic
relations, but not the use of armed force. 

``This article envisages measures to exert influence on a
country that is not cooperating, including economic ones, but it
is written unambiguously there that this excludes any kind of
forceful measures of influence,'' ITAR-Tass quoted him as
saying. 

Lavrov spoke to reporters in Cape Town, South Africa, where he
was accompanying President Vladimir Putin on a state visit. 

U.S. and European diplomats have said they are focusing at first
on low-level punishment such as travel bans on Iranian officials
or a ban on the sale of dual-use technology, to win backing from
Russia and China. More extreme sanctions would be a freeze on
Iranian assets or a broader trade ban, but those would likely be
opposed by Russia, China and perhaps others, particularly since
the trade ban could cut off badly needed oil exports from Iran. 

Iran defied an Aug. 31 deadline by the U.N. Security Council to
freeze uranium enrichment. 

But the five permanent council members and Germany - the six
powers attempting to entice Iran into negotiating on its nuclear
program - had decided to hold off starting work on sanctions
until the outcome of any talks between Solana and Larijani. 

Senior negotiators of those six countries meet in Berlin on
Thursday to plan strategy. 

Looking ahead to those talks, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State
Daniel Fried said he had no doubt ``they will be very
substantive and very serious.'' 

In Ankara, Turkey, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose
visit to Tehran last week failed to budge the leadership on its
refusal to give up enrichment, urged Iran ``to do whatever it
can to reassure the international community that indeed its
intentions are peaceful.'' 

Soltanieh said ``a procedural matter'' had led to the
postponement, but offered no details. In Tehran, Foreign
Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said only the time and place of any
meeting continued to be ``under discussion by both sides.'' 

Iran's unyielding stance appeared to be based on the calculation
that sanctions will be opposed by Russia and China, both
veto-wielding Security Council members that have major
commercial ties with Iran. While skeptical that any new meeting
between Solana and Larijani would yield success, the United
States and key European allies Britain and France had agreed to
wait for the result of any such talks in attempts to mollify
Moscow and Beijing. 

In Beijing China's premier, Wen Jiabao, said that sanctions
``may even prove counterproductive.'' 

But U.S. officials on both sides of the Atlantic suggested the
time had already come for punitive Security Council action. 

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in Washington
that the Security Council had made clear in a resolution that it
was prepared to vote for sanctions if Iran failed to meet the
Aug. 31 deadline to suspend enrichment. 

And so, McCormack said Tuesday, the United States intended to
proceed ``down that pathway.'' 

In Vienna, Gregory L. Schulte, chief U.S. delegate to the IAEA,
accused Iran's leaders of making ``a strategic decision to
acquire nuclear weapons,'' adding: ``The time has come for the
Security Council to back international diplomacy with
international sanctions.'' 

Iran insists it has a right to enrich for generation of nuclear
power. But suspicions are growing it wants to develop the
technology to enrich uranium to the weapons-grade level for the
fissile core of nuclear warheads. 

In a further sign of Tehran's defiance, Iran's parliament took
the first step Tuesday toward blocking international inspection
of the country's nuclear installations in case of U.N.
sanctions. The measure would need approval by other bodies
before it could take effect. 
		 	 	   

Guardian Unlimited Š Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006
*****************************************************************
 4 Guardian Unlimited: Envoy: Iran-EU Talks in Postponed
 
From the Associated Press        
[UP] 

Wednesday September 6, 2006 11:16 AM

AP Photo VAH110 

By GEORGE JAHN 

Associated Press Writer 

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - Talks meant to give Tehran a last chance
to avoid U.N. sanctions over its nuclear defiance were postponed
Wednesday, with a senior Iranian envoy saying ``a procedural
matter'' had caused a delay of several days. 

``We will not have the meeting today in Vienna,'' Ali Ashgar
Soltanieh, the chief Iranian envoy to the International Atomic
Energy Agency told The Associated Press. ``Both sides are
arranging for a couple of days later.'' 	 
		 	 	   
Guardian Unlimited Š Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006
*****************************************************************
 5 Guardian Unlimited: Delay Puts Iran Closer to U.N. Sanctions
 
From the Associated Press        

[UP] 

Wednesday September 6, 2006 2:01 PM

AP Photo XHS102 

By GEORGE JAHN 

Associated Press Writer 

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - A senior Iranian envoy abruptly announced
Wednesday that last-ditch talks on his country's disputed
nuclear program were postponed, moving Tehran a step closer to
U.N. sanctions after it defied a deadline to freeze uranium
enrichment. 

The talks had been tentatively set for Wednesday in Vienna as a
final attempt to see if there was common ground to start
negotiations between Iran and the six nations that have been
trying to persuade Iran to limit its nuclear program. 

But while the European Union's Javier Solana had been ready to
fly to the Austrian capital at short notice, the talks had been
left hanging by uncertainty over whether Iranian nuclear envoy
Ali Larijani would come. 

``We will not have the meeting today in Vienna,'' Ali Ashgar
Soltanieh, the chief Iranian envoy to the International Atomic
Energy Agency, told The Associated Press. ``Both sides are
arranging (a meeting) for a couple of days later.'' 

There was no immediate comment from Solana's office in Brussels.
But although Soltanieh said the decision to postpone any meeting
had been mutual, it appeared that Iranian reluctance to attend
had scuttled the chance of talks Wednesday. 

In Ankara, Turkey, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose
visit to Tehran last week failed to budge the leadership on its
refusal to give up enrichment, urged Iran ``to do whatever it
can to reassure the international community that indeed its
intentions are peaceful.'' 

Soltanieh said ``a procedural matter'' had led to the
postponement, but offered no details. In Tehran, Foreign
Minister Manoucher Mottaki said only the time and place of any
meeting continued to be ``under discussion by both sides.'' 

Iran defied an Aug. 31 deadline by the U.N. Security Council to
freeze uranium enrichment. 

Still, the five permanent council members and Germany - the six
powers attempting to entice Iran into negotiating on its nuclear
program - had decided to hold off starting work on sanctions
until the outcome of any talks between Solana and Larijani. 

Senior negotiators of those six countries meet in Berlin on
Thursday to plan strategy. 

Iran's unyielding stance appeared to be based on the calculation
that sanctions will be opposed by Russia and China, both
veto-wielding Security Council members that have major
commercial ties with Iran. While skeptical that any new meeting
between Solana and Larijani would yield success, the United
States and key European allies Britain and France had agreed to
wait for the result of any such talks in attempts to mollify
Moscow and Beijing. 

Still, with Iran remaining intransigent, even Russia appeared to
be contemplating the possibility of sanctions - although
comments by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov indicated Moscow
continued to oppose harsh and quick punishment. 

``We'll decide whether or not to make use of these measures in a
complex way, but guided by just one goal - to prevent the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,'' Lavrov was
quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. ``We are also
aware that economic pressure should be proportional to a real
threat to peace and security.'' 

Lavrov spoke to reporters in Johannesburg, South Africa, where
he was accompanying President Vladimir Putin on a state visit. 

He said the U.N. Security Council's recent resolution on Iran
holds out the possibility of further measures on Iran -
including those spelled out in Article 41 of the U.N. Charter.
The article allows punishments that do not involve the use of
armed force, such as economic penalties, banning air travel or
breaking diplomatic relations. 

In Beijing China's premier, Wen Jiabao, said that sanctions
``may even prove counterproductive.'' 

But U.S. officials on both sides of the Atlantic suggested the
time had already come for punitive Security Council action. 

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in Washington
that the Security Council had made clear in a resolution that it
was prepared to vote for sanctions if Iran failed to meet the
Aug. 31 deadline to suspend enrichment. 

And so, McCormack said Tuesday, the United States intended to
proceed ``down that pathway.'' 

In Vienna, Gregory L. Schulte, chief U.S. delegate to the IAEA,
accused Iran's leaders of making ``a strategic decision to
acquire nuclear weapons,'' adding: ``The time has come for the
Security Council to back international diplomacy with
international sanctions.'' 

Iran insists it has a right to enrich for generation of nuclear
power. But suspicions are growing it wants to develop the
technology to enrich uranium to the weapons-grade level for the
fissile core of nuclear warheads. 

In a further sign of Tehran's defiance, Iran's parliament took
the first step Tuesday toward blocking international inspection
of the country's nuclear installations in case of U.N.
sanctions. The measure would need approval by other bodies
before it could take effect. 
		 	 	   
Guardian Unlimited Š Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006
*****************************************************************
 6 Guardian Unlimited: Ahmadinejad Proposes Debate With Bush
 
From the Associated Press        

[UP] 

Wednesday September 6, 2006 8:16 PM

AP Photo VAH102 

By NASSER KARIMI 

Associated Press Writer 

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's president on Wednesday proposed a
debate with President Bush at this month's U.N. General
Assembly, saying it would be the perfect place for an uncensored
discussion that the whole world could watch. 

The White House had no immediate response. But it dismissed a
previous TV debate proposal from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
as a ``diversion'' from serious concerns over Iran's nuclear
program. 

It was not clear if Iran planned to make a formal proposal
through diplomatic channels or whether - as seemed more likely -
Ahmadinejad's comments were merely another in a line of
provocative and often confrontational statements he has made
since taking office a year ago. 

The overture did seem to signal that Ahmadinejad is determined
to try to shape the world debate over Iran's intentions and
continue to ignore the West's insistence to curb its nuclear
program. 

Iran on Wednesday also postponed a tentative meeting with a top
European Union official to discuss the nuclear controversy - a
step that seemed to dim prospects the country will make
concessions. The United States has said it will push for U.N.
sanctions because of Iran's refusal to suspend uranium
enrichment as the U.N. had demanded. 

Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful energy uses
only but the United States and some Europeans believe the regime
seeks nuclear weapons. On Tuesday, Bush said he would never
allow a nuclear-armed Iran because such a government could
blackmail the free world. 

``I am not going to allow this to happen,'' Bush said in a
speech on terrorism. ``And no future American president can
allow it, either.'' 

A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan demurred when
asked if the late September world gathering, also known as the
General Debate, would be a suitable place for a Bush-Ahmadinejad
get-together. 

The United Nations headquarters has no formal debating facility,
though one of its numerous conference rooms could certainly be
used. 

``I'm just not going to go down this road, I've decided,'' said
the spokesman, Stephane Dujarric. 

Ahmadinejad made the debate proposal at a Cabinet meeting in
Tehran and it was reported on his official Web site. He said the
U.N. venue would allow Americans and people around the world to
watch and listen without censorship, and that Bush could bring
advisers. 

``We are ready to discuss the ways of managing the world for
achieving justice, peace, friendship and removing violations and
threats,'' he said in the Cabinet meeting, according to the Web
site. 

During an earlier speech Wednesday to a religious conference,
the president said he proposed a debate originally ``to say that
the period of bullying has expired. But false advocators of
democracy avoided it because of their arrogance and lack of
logic,'' Ahmadinejad said, according to the Islamic Republic
News Agency. 

He also issued a veiled threat to Bush at the religious
conference, the news agency said, saying that anyone who turned
down an invitation was likely to face a bad fate - although the
agency did not release his exact quotes. 

The nuclear talks had been tentatively set for Wednesday in
Vienna as a final attempt to see if there was common ground to
start negotiations between Iran and the six nations trying to
persuade it to limit its nuclear program. 

The European Union's Javier Solana had been ready to fly to the
Austrian capital at short notice, but the talks had been left
hanging by uncertainty over whether Iranian nuclear envoy Ali
Larijani would come. 

``We will not have the meeting today in Vienna,'' Ali Ashgar
Soltanieh, the chief Iranian envoy to the International Atomic
Energy Agency, told The Associated Press, after Iran postponed
the meeting. ``Both sides are arranging (a meeting) for a couple
of days later.'' 

There was no immediate comment from Solana's office in Brussels.
Soltanieh said the decision to postpone any meeting had been
mutual, but it appeared that Iranian reluctance had scuttled the
chance of talks Wednesday. 

Annan, whose trip to Tehran last week failed to budge the
leadership on its refusal to give up enrichment, urged Iran
during a visit to Ankara, Turkey, ``to do whatever it can to
reassure the international community that indeed its intentions
are peaceful.'' 

Russia and China, which are both veto-wielding members of the
Security Council and have key trade ties with Tehran, have urged
patience with Iran. 

Some European nations also remain hesitant to call a halt to
three years of talks, with Britain the firmest backer of the
U.S. drive for punitive measures. 

On Wednesday, Moscow appeared to hold out a possible compromise,
saying any U.N. sanctions - if imposed on Iran - would
necessarily rule out military action against the country. Iran
has long craved just such a security guarantee from the United
States, but it was unclear if Washington would agree to any such
explicit guarantee, or insist on keeping its options open. 

--- 

Associated Press reporter George Jahn contributed to this report
from Vienna, Austria. 
		 	 	   
Guardian Unlimited Š Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006
*****************************************************************
 7 AFP: Iran-EU nuclear talks postponed - Iranian envoy

Wednesday September 6, 6:25 PM
 
 VIENNA (Reuters) - High-level European Union-Iranian talks on
Tehran's nuclear programme that were expected on Wednesday have
been postponed but could be held on Friday, a senior Iranian
diplomat said. 

Aliasghar Soltanieh, Iranian ambassador to the U.N. nuclear
watchdog agency, told Reuters that the talks -- which were
tentatively set to take place in Vienna -- were put off for
unspecified procedural reasons. 

"Yes, the talks were cancelled for today. They will be convened
in Vienna in a couple of days. Possibly Friday or so. But it's
not sure (yet)," Soltanieh said. 

Asked why the talks were put off, he said: "Nothing specific. It
was just a matter of procedural arrangements, and the ability of
the two parties to get together. It may be more convenient for
both parties to meet at that time (Friday)." 

The talks between EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and
Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani were intended to
explore Iranian hints that it could negotiate on the scope of
its nuclear programme. 

Iran defied an Aug. 31 deadline to stop enriching uranium or
risk sanctions by the U.N. Security Council. 

Copyright Š 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
*****************************************************************
 8 BBC: Iran-EU nuclear talks postponed
 
Last Updated: Wednesday, 6 September 2006
 
[View of Iranian nuclear facility.]                             

Iran insists its nuclear programme is purely civilian                                                                

Talks between Iran and the EU over Tehran's nuclear programme 
have been postponed for several days, Iranian envoys say. 

They are now likely to take place after top UN powers meet on 
Thursday to discuss the deadlock over Iran. 

The US is pushing for sanctions against Tehran, which it fears 
wants to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies this. 

Russia has now said it will consider supporting economic 
sanctions against Tehran for defying UN resolutions. 

Iran ignored a 31 August deadline, set by the UN Security 
Council, to stop uranium enrichment. 

'Last chance' 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that 
Russia was considering supporting UN economic sanctions. 

"We will consider this from all points of view, in totality, 
based on our goal of not allowing the spread of WMD [weapons of 
mass destruction] and technology that is linked with this," he 
was quoted as saying by Russia's state-run RIA Novosti news 
agency. 

This appeared to be a hardening of Russia's position. It has 
previously signalled that it might oppose sanctions. 

The talks in Vienna - originally set tentatively for Wednesday - 
had been described as a last chance for Iran to avoid sanctions 
over its enrichment of uranium in contravention of UN orders. 

"We will not have the meeting today in Vienna, but it will be 
held in a couple of days" in Vienna, the Iranian ambassador to 
the International Nuclear Energy Agency, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, 
said. 

There was speculation it could take place on Friday. 

He would say only that "a procedural matter" had caused the 
delay. 

"It is more appropriate for both sides to meet later," he said. 
*****************************************************************
 9 IRNA: No reason for Iran to cooperate with IAEA if threats persist - speaker - 

, Sept 6, IRNA

-- 
Iran on Wednesday said it sees no reason to continue its
cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
if threats against it continue.

 Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel made the remarks while
speaking to reporters.

 "There had been an understanding that the IAEA would guarantee
that Iran had not diverted in its nuclear activities (towards
non-peaceful purposes).

 "But there will be no reason to continue with Iran's
cooperation with the IAEA if with our all-out cooperation with
the agency threats continue," he said.

 "We hope Iran's nuclear case will be resolved through
 negotiations."
 The speaker said he was very optimistic the dispute would be
resolved because "Iran demands nothing beyond its rights." He
expressed hope a bill approved in the Majlis National Security
and Foreign Policy Commission would not have to be raised again
in parliament for final approval.

 "Iran's Majlis (parliament) has announced it will set
limitations to the country's cooperation with the IAEA when it
becomes necessary to impose such limitations on Tehran when the
country's rights are ignored," Haddad-Adel said.

 He added the measure passed by the National Security and
Foreign Policy Commission was correct, logical and based on the
nation's demand, and stressed "it will be meaningless to
cooperate with a body that does not intend to recognize any
right of the Iranian nation."
*****************************************************************
 10 Xinhua: U.S. says it is determined to impose sanctions on Iran   
    
  www.chinaview.cn 2006-09-07 04:54:37   

 Special report: Iran Nuclear Crisis     

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The United States said on
Wednesday that imposing sanctions on Iran will represent the
next step of the U.S. diplomacy. 

    As the deadline of the UN Security Council Resolution 1696,
which required Iran to suspend uranium enrichment by the end of
August, had passed and "since Iran has not taken the steps
required by the IAEA and the Security Council, it is now
essential that we move to adopt sanctions against Iran," said
Robert Joseph, undersecretary of state for arms control and
international security, at a briefing on Wednesday.  

    "Sanctions represent the next step in our diplomacy, as the
United States continues to persuade Iran to change its course
and abandon its nuclear weapons program," Joseph said, adding
that the United States is now discussing the issue with other
members of the UN Security Council. 

    The United States has accused Iran of trying to develop
nuclear weapons under the cover of civilian nuclear programs.
Iran has said that its nuclear programs are for peaceful
purposes only. Enditem 

Related story: 

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- A nuclear-armed Iran is
intolerable not only to the United States, but also to the
entire international community, said Robert Joseph,
undersecretary of state for arms control and international
security, at a briefing on Wednesday. 

    "With nuclear weapons, Teheran would be even more aggressive
in its support for terror and its subversion of peace and
stability in Lebanon, in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and elsewhere in
the region," Joseph said.      

  Editor: Mu Xuequan   
*****************************************************************
 11 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: Iran demand nothing beyond its right 

  2006/09/06   
  

Iran on Wednesday said it sees no reason to continue its
cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
if threats against it continue. 

Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel made the remarks while
speaking to reporters.

 "There had been an understanding that the IAEA would guarantee
that Iran had not diverted in its nuclear activities (towards
non-peaceful purposes). But there will be no reason to continue
with Iran's cooperation with the IAEA if with our all-out
cooperation with the Agency threats continue," he said.

 "We hope Iran's nuclear case will be resolved through
negotiations,"he said. 

The Speaker said he was very optimistic the dispute would be
resolved because "Iran demands nothing beyond its rights." He
expressed hope a bill approved in the Majlis National Security
and Foreign Policy Commission would not have to be raised again
in parliament for final approval.

 "Iran's Majlis (parliament) has announced it will set
limitations to the country's cooperation with the IAEA when it
becomes necessary to impose such limitations on Tehran when the
country's rights are ignored," Haddad-Adel said. 

He added the measure passed by the National Security and Foreign
Policy Commission was correct, logical and based on the nation's
demand, and stressed "it will be meaningless to cooperate with a
body that does not intend to recognize any right of the Iranian
nation." 

M.H.Z   

  Copyright 2004, All Rights Reserved By Islamic Republic of Iran 
Broadcasting News Network Sponsored By IRIB News Computer Center. 
E-Mail: Info@IRIBNEWS.ir     
*****************************************************************
 12 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: West threatened sanctions not real 

  2006/09/06   
  
The west's insistence on imposing sanctions on IRI is aimed at
causing psychological fear in foreign investors in investing in
the country, said a senior commercial official on Wednesday.
 
Addressing a monthly meeting, the Head of the Tehran Chamber of
Commerce, Industries and Mines, Mohammad Nahavandian, said that
the west's threatened sanctions on IRI is "not real."
 
He said their aim is really to create an "atmosphere of
uncertainty so as to discourage investors from making long-term
investments in IRI."
 
Referring to IRI's huge economic potential, the official said
investors had all the reason to be interested in making both
long-and short-term investments in the country.
 
Imposing sanctions on IRI would not bring the desired results
because of the country's long borders, its massive economic
activities and numerous foreign trade partners, Nahavandian said.
 
Besides, he added, that there is no consensus among the world's
industrialized countries on the imposition of sanctions on IRI.
 
M/D   

  Copyright 2004, All Rights Reserved By Islamic Republic of Iran 
Broadcasting News Network Sponsored By IRIB News Computer Center. 
E-Mail: Info@IRIBNEWS.ir     
*****************************************************************
 13 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: OIC supports Iran's nuclear rights 

  2006/09/06   
  
The Organization of Islamic Conference, OIC, in an statement has
voiced support for Iran's peaceful nuclear issue and called for
a negotiated settlement over Tehran's nuclear stand-off with the
West.

 Meanwhile, OIC Secretary General, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu touching
upon a recent statement released in the Azerbaijan Republic,
said all OIC member states, including Iran have the inalienable
right to develop, research and use nuclear energy for peacuful
purposes.

 Ihsanoglu said the OIC is opposed to the use of pressure by the
Western countries against Iran, adding any attepmt to resort to
force would not only further complicate the issue, but provoke
tension in the region.

 M.H.Z   

  Copyright 2004, All Rights Reserved By Islamic Republic of Iran 
Broadcasting News Network Sponsored By IRIB News Computer Center. 
E-Mail: Info@IRIBNEWS.ir     
*****************************************************************
 14 AFP: Bush steps up war of words with Iran 

 by Olivier Knox Wed Sep 6, 4:44 AM ET 		 	 

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush" /> called Iran" 
/> 's leaders "tyrants" as dangerous as Al-Qaeda terrorists and 
said they must not be allowed to get nuclear weapons -- "the 
tools of mass murder." 

 "The world's free nations will not allow Iran to develop a
nuclear weapon," he said as the US ambassador to the UN nuclear
watchdog agency in Vienna said it was time to slap sanctions on
Tehran over its atomic activities. 

In a response Wednesday Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
said Bush was "nothing" compared to God's will. 

"I am telling him (Bush) that all the world is threatening you
since the general path that the world is taking is towards
worshipping God and divinity," Ahmadinejad told a conference in
Tehran. 

"This massive stream is moving and you are nothing in comparison
to God's will," he added. 

Bush on Tuesday branded Iran's leaders "tyrants" as dangerous as
Al-Qaeda, saying said they must not be allowed to get nuclear
weapons -- "the tools of mass murder." 

"If you (Bush) think you are sitting in your glass palaces and
governing the world, you are mistaken," Ahmadinejad said to the
conference, held ahead of the birthday of the "hidden" twelth
Imam of Shiite Islam, Mahdi, on Saturday. 

"If we are telling you something it is for the sake of your own
prestige. We are doing this so you do not reach the point of no
return. 

"The development of the world is quickly going towards the
government of the pure Islam of (the Prophet) Mohammed," he
added. 

The sharp escalation in rhetoric came as Bush made the second of
a series of speeches on the war on terrorism in the run up to
November US legislative elections expected to be overshadowed by
the unpopular war in Iraq" /> . 

It followed the White House's release of a 23-page
anti-terrorism strategy that called Iran and Syria" />
"especially worrisome" threats and downplayed the role of the
Iraq war and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in fueling
terrorism. 

In Vienna, the US ambassador to the International Atomic Energy
Agency" /> , Gregory Schulte, said that "the time has come for
the ( United Nations" /> ) Security Council to back
international diplomacy with international sanctions." 

Bush made no explicit reference to sanctions in his speech but
stressed that: "The world is working together to prevent Iran's
regime from acquiring the tools of mass murder." 

Quoting Ahmadinejad as saying last month that the United States
must "bow down" before Iran, the US president fired back:
"America will not bow down to tyrants." 

Bush accused Iran of funding the Lebanese Shiite militia
Hezbollah and other groups in order to attack Israel" /> and the
United States "by proxy" and said Tehran aimed to dominate its
neighbors. 

"Like Al-Qaeda and the Sunni extremists, the Iranian regime has
clear aims. They want to drive America out of the region, to
destroy Israel, and to dominate the broader Middle East," said
the US president. 

"The Shia strain of Islamic radicalism is just as dangerous and
just as hostile to America and just as determined to establish
its brand of hegemony across the broader Middle East" as
Al-Qaeda, he said. 

But, he said, Shiite extremists have done something Al-Qaeda
only dreams of by taking over Iran in 1979, "subjugating its
proud people to a regime of tyranny and using that nation's
resources to fund the spread of terror and to pursue their
radical agenda." 

"The Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies have demonstrated
their willingness to kill Americans, and now the Iranian regime
is pursuing nuclear weapons," said Bush. 

Tehran has insisted that it seeks only civilian nuclear power,
but has rejected an incentives package from the United States,
France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany in return for
freezing uranium enrichment. 

In its report, a reworked version of previous anti-terrorism
blueprints, the White House warned that the United States was
"not yet safe" from terrorism five years after the September 11,
2001 attacks. 

It labeled the possible acquisition of weapons of mass
destruction (WMDs) by terrorists "our greatest and gravest
concern" and said: "Most troubling is the potential
WMD-terrorism nexus that emanates from Tehran." 

Amid the soaring price tag and rising death toll in Iraq and
uncertainty about US efforts to resolve the Middle East
conflict, the report downplayed the impact of both crises as
sources of anger that fuels extremist violence. 

"Terrorism is not simply a result of hostility to US policy in
Iraq," it said. "Terrorism is not simply a result of
Israeli-Palestinian issues." 

In each case, the White House said that Al-Qaeda had plotted the
September 11 attacks in the 1990s, during an "active period" in
Middle East peace talks and well before the March 2003 invasion
of Iraq. 

However, the report also acknowledged that "the ongoing fight
for freedom in Iraq has been twisted by terrorist propaganda as
a rallying cry." 

Opposition Democrats fired back quickly, with Senator John
Kerry" /> , Bush's 2004 rival for the White House, declaring
that "We need to change course, not more of the same." 

"Afghanistan is slipping back into chaos, Pakistan is one coup
away from becoming a radical Islamic state with nuclear weapons,
Iran is closer to a nuclear arsenal, and Iraq has become a
recruitment poster for terror," he said. 	 		 			

Copyright Š 2006 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. The
*****************************************************************
 15 AFP: Iran sanctions 'essential' - US

 Wed Sep 6, 2:45 PM ET 		 	 

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States said it was "essential" for 
the United Nations" /> United NationsSecurity Council to impose 
sanctions on Iran" /> Iran, saying the prospect of Tehran with a 
nuclear arsenal was "intolerable." 

 Robert Joseph, US under secretary of state for arms control and
international security, said he believed a vote on sanctions
could come this month, and he expected permanent council members
Russia and China would sign on. 

The latest US call for sanctions came days after Iran ignored an
August 31 deadline to stop uranium enrichment, and on the eve of
six-nation talks in Berlin on the deepening nuclear crisis. 

The campaign also picked up pace after President George W. Bush"
/> President George W. Bushon Tuesday branded Iran's leaders
"tyrants" and said they must not be allowed to get nuclear
weapons, "the tools of mass murder." 

"It is now essential that we move to adopt sanctions against
Iran," Joseph told foreign reporters in Washington. 

"A nuclear-armed Iran is intolerable -- not just to the United
States but to the entire international community," Joseph said. 

"As the president said, now there must be costs, there must be
costs imposed on Iran." 

Joseph also said he expected China and Russia to support
sanctions, despite signs they were reluctant to punish Tehran. 

"I think China, like Russia and the other states that voted for
the resolution, will support what is called for in the
resolution," he said. 

"I think it is very important when a country like Russia or
China supports a resolution that is going to have an impact on
their decision making," said Joseph, referring to UN Resolution
1696, which threatened sanctions if Iran missed the deadline. 

"The fundamental bargain has been struck." 

Joseph said it was difficult to predict how quickly diplomatic
discussions would take, but asked whether a vote could take
place this month, he said: "My own personal assessment would be
yes." 

Iran denies that its nuclear program is geared toward weapons
development. 

Copyright Š 2006 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. The
*****************************************************************
 16 Guardian Unlimited: China, U.S. Discuss N.Korea Nuke Program
 
From the Associated Press        

[UP] 

Wednesday September 6, 2006 10:16 AM

By AUDRA ANG 

Associated Press Writer 

BEIJING (AP) - China and the United States discussed warning
North Korea against conducting a nuclear test, a top American
envoy said Wednesday. He also blamed Pyongyang for holding up
international talks on the isolated regime's nuclear program. 

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill's visit to
Beijing came amid growing concern that North Korea might soon
test a nuclear bomb. South Korea's main spy agency warned last
week that Pyongyang could test a nuclear device at any time.
That followed reports of increased activity at a suspected North
Korean underground nuclear testing site. 

Hill, the chief American negotiator on North Korea's nuclear
program, said he and his Chinese counterpart, Wu Dawei, talked
about the need to make clear to Pyongyang ``that this would be a
very, very unwelcome development.'' He did not give any details. 

The North claims to have nuclear weapons but has not performed
any known tests. A nuclear test would escalate tensions in the
region, boost the North's confrontation with the United States
and likely anger China, which has pushed for a swift resumption
of six-nation talks on the crisis. 

``The Chinese government consistently calls for making the
Korean Peninsula nuclear-free through dialogue and
negotiation,'' Premier Wen Jiabao was quoted as saying in an
interview with foreign journalists posted Wednesday on the
Foreign Ministry's Web site. 

``Given the sensitivity of the situation ... all the parties
concerned should be cool-headed and exercise restraint, refrain
from making statements or taking moves that will escalate
tension, and work to create conditions for resuming the
six-party talks at an early date,'' he said. 

Hill said he and Wu also discussed a U.N. Security Council
resolution imposing sanctions on the North after it test-fired a
barrage of missiles July 5. 

The resolution bans U.N. member states from selling material or
technology for missiles or weapons of mass destruction to North
Korea. It also bans all countries from receiving missiles,
banned weapons or technology from Pyongyang. 

``I made it very clear that the United States would be pursuing
our obligations,'' Hill told reporters. 

The resolution was passed unanimously, but only after heated
negotiations and a veto threat from China, the North's last
major ally, which favored weaker language. 

Wen said that imposing sanctions on North Korea and Iran over
their nuclear programs ``may even prove counterproductive.'' 

``The parties involved should be cautious about moving towards
sanctions,'' he said. 

Hill's stop in Beijing was part of an Asian tour that included
Japan and South Korea. He held talks Tuesday with Vice Foreign
Minister Cui Tiankai, China's chief envoy in charge of
nonproliferation issues. 

Efforts to restart six-nation discussions aimed at persuading
the North to give up its nuclear ambitions have been mired in
difficulty because of Pyongyang's refusal to cooperate, Hill
said. 

``Clearly we are in a very difficult moment in the six-party
talks,'' Hill said. ``That's because (North Korea) is not giving
any signals that it wants to return.'' 

The talks, which also involve South Korea, China, Japan and
Russia, have been at a year-long standstill since North Korean
boycotted over U.S. financial restrictions aimed at Pyongyang. 

Hill also said he ``had no concrete information'' on reports by
South Korean media of a possible trip by North Korean leader Kim
Jong Il to China. 

``They remain, as far as I'm concerned, to be rumors,'' he said. 

The JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported Tuesday that Kim's special
train had arrived in a city on the Korean-Chinese border and a
visit would likely begin in the next few days. 

China has denied that any arrangements have been made for such a
trip. 

Kim rarely travels abroad, but has occasionally visited allies
China and Russia, last traveling on a tour through several
Chinese cities in January. Beijing and Pyongyang didn't
officially acknowledge Kim had been in the country until after
he left. 	 
		 	 	   
Guardian Unlimited Š Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006
*****************************************************************
 17 Hankyoreh: N. Korea admits it made mistake by test-launching missiles

lawmaker 

North Korea has admitted, at least internally, that its July 
missile tests were a mistake and they were counterproductive, a 
South Korean ruling party lawmaker said Wednesday, citing 
information from the intelligence authorities.
 
As a result, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's leadership 
suffered a serious blow, added Rep. Choi Jae-cheon of the Uri 
Party.
 
On July 5, North Korea test-fired seven missiles into its eastern 
waters in defiance of international warnings, and the United 
Nations Security Council responded with a punitive resolution.
 

The North's provocative move has prompted the U.S. to tighten its 
restrictions on Pyongyang's alleged counterfeiting and other 
illicit financial activities.
 
"North Korea has concluded that the missile tests were a mistake. 
It is accurate intelligence from the authorities handling North 
Korea affairs," Choi told Yonhap News Agency.
 
His remarks could undercut media speculation that North Korea
may fire more missiles or conduct a nuclear test in a bid to
avoid the U.S. financial crackdown.
 
The lawmaker said North Korea is waiting for the results of the
summit between South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and U.S.
President George W. Bush next week.
 
North Korea has finally begun to send positive signals, he said,
referring to the latest statement by its Foreign Ministry.
 
In the statement issued late last month, the North said it
"would like to have the six-party talks more than ever as it
will gain from the implementation of the agreement more than
others."
 
The problem, however, is that there is little chance of Roh and
Bush producing a significant deal on the North Korean nuclear
issue, Choi said.
 
"The U.S. does not even want to discuss the issue seriously at
the upcoming summit," he said. "After all, South Korea will have
to send a special envoy to the North to make a breakthrough on
the deadlock."
 
Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung is still willing to
visit Pyongyang again, Choi said, citing his meeting with Kim
last month.
 
"The best timing will be around the U.S. mid-term election in
November," he said. "If the Republicans lose to the Democrats,
related discussions will gain further momentum."
 
The former South Korean president earned the 2000 Nobel Peace
Prize for his efforts for reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula.
 
He met with North Korean leader Kim in Pyongyang in June that
year for the first inter-Korean summit ever.
 
He planned to re-visit Pyongyang in a civilian capacity but with
government support early this year, but postponed the trip
indefinitely because of heightened tension over the communist
state's missile activity.
 
Seoul, Sept. 6 (Yonhap News)
 
Š 2006 The Hankyoreh Media Company. All rights reserved.
*****************************************************************
 18 Korea Herald: U.S. eyes expanding nuke talks format   
        
 The United States is interested in talking to countries outside
the existing six-nation forum about North Korea's nuclear issue
but still sees the existing format as the primary track, State
Department officials said Tuesday.

 Speaking to reporters, the officials in charge of Asia affairs
said the United States is not going to abandon the six-party
talks aimed at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. 

The forum, involving South and North Korea, the United States,
China, Russia and Japan, has been dormant since November last
year due to Pyongyang's boycott.

 U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the top
U.S. negotiator at the talks, is traveling through Asia and
talking to counterparts about how to revive the forum. 

While in Tokyo, he suggested a different track to the
negotiations, such as the so-called "five-plus-five," which
would bring together members of the six-party talks, except
North Korea, and five other regional states.

 This format was tried in July during a regional security forum
held in Kuala Lumpur. North Korea was invited but refused to
attend.

 "We can look at other formats," Hill had said. "The time for
organized, multilateral diplomacy in Asia is now."

 A State Department official said the basic message is that the
United States is open to a diplomatic solution.

 Another official said North Korea is not interested in coming
back to the six-party forum, "but that doesn't mean that we
don't want to talk about the problems and their (North Korean)
behavior with other countries."

 But discussing another track of dialogue is "bit further" than
what Hill said, according to the official.

 South Korea said yesterday it is open to multilateral talks on
regional security alongside the six-party talks on North Korea's
nuclear problem.

 "We agree with the view that there must be multilateral efforts
to secure stability in the region on a long-term basis. But we
also believe that the six-party talks framework must be
maintained in order to solve the immediate issue of North
Korea's nuclear intentions," said Lee Kyu-hyung, the South
Korean second vice foreign minister in a press briefing.

2006.09.07
*****************************************************************
 19 Korea Herald: Korea, Romania boost ties   
        
 BUCHAREST - South Korea and Romania on Wednesday agreed to
increase practical cooperation in trade and atomic power, and
the information technology and science sectors, the office of
President Roh Moo-hyun said.

 The agreement was reached at the summit between Roh and
Romanian President Traian Basescu, the office said.

 Following the summit, Roh and Basescu also signed a joint
declaration of strategic partnership and agreed to further
enhance bilateral relations in politics, economy, culture and
education.

 In particular, Romania agreed to extend full support to Korean
companies willing to advance into its nuclear power plant
construction market, it added.

 Roh arrived in Bucharest, the capital of Romania, on Tuesday on
the second leg of his 14-day swing through three European
countries and the United States.

 Roh is to visit Romania until Thursday, followed by Finland
from Thursday to Saturday, and will attend the sixth Asia-Europe
Meeting on Sept. 10-11 in the Finnish capital, Helsinki.

 On the sidelines of the ASEM summit, Roh will hold talks
separately with his counterparts from the EU, Poland, Slovakia,
Germany, France and Denmark.

 In the Untied States, President Roh will visit Washington on
Sept. 12-14 before a two-day stopover in San Francisco on Sept.
14-15. His summit with U.S. President George W. Bush will be
their sixth since Roh was inaugurated in February 2003.

 Prior to his arrival in Romania, Roh and Greek President
Karolos Papoulias held a summit on Monday and agreed to increase
bilateral practical cooperation in the fields of marine
transportation and tourism. 

2006.09.07
*****************************************************************
 20 Korea Herald: U.S. eyes expanding nuke talks format   
        
 The United States is interested in talking to countries outside
the existing six-nation forum about North Korea's nuclear issue
but still sees the existing format as the primary track, State
Department officials said Tuesday.

 Speaking to reporters, the officials in charge of Asia affairs
said the United States is not going to abandon the six-party
talks aimed at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. 

The forum, involving South and North Korea, the United States,
China, Russia and Japan, has been dormant since November last
year due to Pyongyang's boycott.

 U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the top
U.S. negotiator at the talks, is traveling through Asia and
talking to counterparts about how to revive the forum. 

While in Tokyo, he suggested a different track to the
negotiations, such as the so-called "five-plus-five," which
would bring together members of the six-party talks, except
North Korea, and five other regional states.

 This format was tried in July during a regional security forum
held in Kuala Lumpur. North Korea was invited but refused to
attend.

 "We can look at other formats," Hill had said. "The time for
organized, multilateral diplomacy in Asia is now."

 A State Department official said the basic message is that the
United States is open to a diplomatic solution.

 Another official said North Korea is not interested in coming
back to the six-party forum, "but that doesn't mean that we
don't want to talk about the problems and their (North Korean)
behavior with other countries."

 But discussing another track of dialogue is "bit further" than
what Hill said, according to the official.

 South Korea said yesterday it is open to multilateral talks on
regional security alongside the six-party talks on North Korea's
nuclear problem.

 "We agree with the view that there must be multilateral efforts
to secure stability in the region on a long-term basis. 

But we also believe that the six-party talks framework must be
maintained in order to solve the immediate issue of North
Korea's nuclear intentions," said Lee Kyu-hyung, the South
Korean second vice foreign minister in a press briefing.

2006.09.07
*****************************************************************
 21 Korea: Digital Chosunilbo: Hill in China at 'Difficult' Point for N.Korea Talks 
 
  >     Updated Sep.6,2006 21:29 KST   
 
  U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill met with 
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Vice Foreign Minister Wu 
Dawei Wednesday. They discussed ways to unlock six-party talks on 
North KoreaĄŻs nuclear problem and implementing the UN Security 
Council resolution against Pyongyang over its missile tests. 

  U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, center, and 
special assistant Thomas Gibbons, left, leave their hotel in 
Beijing on Wednesday./AP-Yonhap   

Immediately after a breakfast meeting with Wu, his counterpart
as delegation chief in the nuclear talks, Hill told reporters
both Washington and Beijing are finding it difficult to persuade
Pyongyang back to the negotiating table. Ą°We're at a difficult
juncture. It seems [North Korea] isn't interested in coming back
to talks,Ąą he admitted. 

The two sides stressed the need to let North Korea know that a
nuclear test would make the situation worse, he said. But Hill
added there was no clear evidence to support reports that
Pyongyang may be preparing for a nuclear test. No details of
their discussions on the implementation of the UN resolution
were made public. A diplomatic source in Beijing said China
strongly opposes harsher sanctions against its long-time ally. 

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao earlier urged concerned countries to
be cautious about imposing sanctions. Wen told reporters Monday
that sanctions might not produce the right solution to the North
Korean nuclear quagmire, namely a peaceful resolution of the
problem, but Ą°may even prove counter-productive.Ąą 

(englishnews@chosun.com ) 
*****************************************************************
 22 Korea Times: Korea, Romania Seek Atomic Alliance 

Hankooki.com > The Korea Times > Nation   

By Ryu Jin Korea Times Correspondent

 BUCHAREST, Romania _ President Roh Moo-hyun and Romanian
President Traian Basescu agreed on Wednesday to cooperate on
nuclear power generation.

 In a joint press conference after a summit here, Roh said they
shared the view that the atomic energy cooperation would bring
``great benefitsĄŻĄŻ to both countries.

 South Korea hopes to participate in RomaniaĄŻs nuclear power
plant project at Cernavoda, officials accompanying Roh said. 

They also agreed to substantially boost economic cooperation in
the fields of information-technology (IT), culture and education
so that bilateral ties could develop into a future-oriented
partnership.

 The officials said Roh and Basescu discussed international
issues as well, such as the North Korean nuclear weapons
programs, and shared a common understanding that such an issue
should be resolved peacefully through dialogue.

 After the summit, ministers from the two countries signed an
investment guarantee agreement and a protocol on cooperation for
science-technology and innovation.

 Seated in a strategic point, Romania has been a slower
developer than other former communist states of Eastern Europe.
In 2004, it joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
and is now also set to join the European Union.

 With the energy industry as one of its economic engines, the
Balkan country aims to be a major energy provider in the region
based on its wealthy natural resources. It has 128 million tons
of petroleum and 100 million cubic meters of gas deposits.

 Trade between Seoul and Bucharest reached about $460 million
last year. It is the first time a South Korean president has
made a state visit to Romania. The two nations established
diplomatic relations in 1990.

 Roh, accompanied by first lady Kwon Yang-suk, arrived here
Tuesday for a three-day visit after his visit to Greece. He met
the Romanian prime minister and parliamentary leaders and also
held a luncheon meeting with business leaders from South Korea
and Romania.

 He is scheduled to fly to Helsinki, Finland, on Thursday on the
third and last leg of his three-nation European tour.

 During his stay in Helsinki, Roh is to attend the sixth
Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

 Roh will then travel to the United States for a summit with
President George W. Bush in Washington on Sept. 14. He will
return home on Sept. 16. 

jinryu@koreatimes.co.kr 09-06-2006 17:28         
*****************************************************************
 23 AFP: US envoy says NKorea talks in bad way 

 by Robert J. Saiget Wed Sep 6, 11:06 AM ET 		 	 

BEIJING (AFP) - Efforts to drive North Korea" /> North Koreaback 
to stalled nuclear talks are in big trouble, the top US 
negotiator said after meeting a senior Chinese official to try 
and forge a breakthrough. 

 "I think clearly we are in a very difficult moment with the
six-party talks process because the DPRK (North Korea) is not
giving the signals it wants to return," Christopher Hill told
reporters in Beijing. 

Hill's latest trip to the region comes amid media reports that
North Korea could soon test a nuclear bomb. Pyongyang said in
February 2005 that it was a nuclear power but is not known to
have tested an atomic weapon. 

The US envoy, who is on a regional tour, said he had spoken with
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei about "the danger that
the DPRK could take additional, provocative steps." 

"We talked about the need to make very clear to the DPRK that
this would be a very, very unwelcome development," he told
reporters, when asked directly about a possible nuclear test. 

The North agreed in principle in September last year to give up
its nuclear weapons program in exchange for aid and security
guarantees. 

But Pyongyang walked out of talks two months later to protest US
sanctions on a Macau-based bank accused of laundering and
counterfeiting money on behalf of the impoverished regime. 

The six-nation talks -- involving China, the United States, the
two Koreas, Japan and Russia -- were further waylaid when North
Korea tested ballistic missiles in July. 

The tests resulted in a UN Security Council resolution which
called on the global community to work together to prevent North
Korea from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and urged
Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks. 

Hill nudged China to make sure it was applying the right
pressure on Pyongyang, and said Washington would be looking into
possible financial and other economic sanctions against North
Korea in accordance with the resolution. 

"China understands that the UN Security Council resolution needs
to be fully implemented. We would expect the Chinese to do the
same pursuant to their obligations," he said. 

The topic was likely to soon be discussed in a meeting between
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice" /> Condoleezza Riceand
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing in New York, said Hill, the
assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs. 

According to South Korean lawmaker Choi Jae-Cheon, the
international uproar over the missile tests has now led North
Korea's ruling circle to believe that the launches were a
mistake. 

"North Korea's leadership has concluded in an internal report
that the missile tests were a mistake," Choi of the ruling Uri
Party told AFP Wednesday. 

"North Korea's leadership believes the missile launch has caused
unwanted political results as it deepened the country's
isolation." 

He did not say how he learned of the report but said the North
was surprised by the severity of the international condemnation,
including from China. 

Hill said late Tuesday he believed China was "disappointed" with
Pyongyang's decision to test-fire the missiles. 

"Clearly, what happened in July was a very difficult moment for
China," Hill said. 

Hill arrived in Beijing from Tokyo on Tuesday as part of a
five-day tour of China. 

He left the Chinese capital Wednesday for visits to US
diplomatic missions in Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shanghai, US
officials said. He will also visit Seoul on September 10. 

His visit has come amid South Korean press reports that North
Korean leader Kim Jong-Il was either visiting or preparing to
visit China. 

"I have asked and not gotten any more concrete information on
these rumors, they remain as far as I'm concerned to be rumors,"
Hill said of the reports. 

China said Tuesday it had not made any arrangements for a visit,
but previous Kim visits to Beijing have been secretive and not
announced until after he returns to the North. 	 		 			

Copyright Š 2006 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. The
*****************************************************************
 24 UPI: S. Korea offers Romania nuclear reactors
     
United Press International - NewsTrack - 

	9/6/2006 4:00:00 PM -0400 	 	 				 				 					
 
BUCHAREST, Romania, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- South Korean President Roh
Moo-Hyyn Wednesday said his country wants to build two reactors
at a nuclear power plant in southeastern Romania. 

Emerging from talks with Romanian President Traian Basescu in
Bucharest, Roh said Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Corp. wants to
construct the reactors at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, the
Rompres news agency reported. 

Basescu noted Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Corp., was on a list
for another project and among 12 companies being considered to
build nuclear reactors 3 and 4 of the Cernavoda power plant. 

Following the 1989 downfall of Romania's communist regime, South
Koreans were among the first to invest in Romania's steel, car,
automotive and naval industries, Basescu said. 

The two heads of state signed a joint statement of friendship,
partnership and cooperation as well as protocols on investments
and cooperation in science and technology, the agency said.

 Story Tools:  --> Del.icio.us | Digg it | RSS 

Š Copyright 2006 United Press International, Inc. All Rights
Reserved
*****************************************************************
 25 IndyStar.com: The bomb that wasn't -- was it? 

Columnists    Dan Carpenter                                             

September 6, 2006  

Did the Southern Indiana town of Mitchell dodge a 700-ton bullet, 
or was all the sound and fury a mere public relations implosion 
on the part of the Pentagon?
        
Mayor Butch Chastain and local leaders are just thanking heaven 
they won't be visited by Divine Strake, a defense experiment that 
was chased out of Nevada at least temporarily by public protests 
over its possible impact on air, ground and water.

Reportedly intended to test the capabilities of American 
conventional and nuclear bombs to destroy deep tunnels where 
weapons of mass destruction might be hidden, Divine Strake would 
have detonated 700 tons of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil in the 
desert 85 miles from Las Vegas, sending a plume of smoke 10,000 
feet into the air.

Concerns over the consequences, including fears of the release of 
radioactive matter from past nuclear bomb tests, led to a 
lawsuit, objections from Nevada congressional representatives and 
a decision by the feds to delay the test at least until next 
year.
After a spokesperson for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency 
mentioned alternative locations, including a limestone quarry 
near Mitchell where two much-smaller tests were held in 2004 and 
2005, it didn't take long for press reports to reach the mayor's 
office.

Petitions were circulated. Letters were written to such eminences 
as Sen. Richard G. Lugar and Gov. Mitch Daniels. "We wanted to 
make clear," Chastain said, "that we didn't want it here."
According to DTRA, it was never -- or at least not -- going to 
happen.

In terse letters late last month, the agency told Lugar and the 
area's congressman, Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., it had no plans to 
conduct its "Tunnel Target Defeat" experiment anywhere in 
Indiana.

So, was a hollow rumor spiked, or was an explosive venture 
scrapped? When I asked DTRA for elaboration, I was instructed to 
submit my questions by e-mail. I had received no response to them 
as of late Tuesday afternoon.

Spokespersons for Lugar and Buyer said they were taking the no as 
a never. They had only mild criticism for DTRA's failure to act 
on its own to allay the fears it had generated, rather than 
waiting to be prodded by federal elected officials who themselves 
were reacting to grassroots clamor.

David Sanders, Buyer's Democratic opponent in the November 
election and a Purdue University biology professor with 
experience in federal weapons research, had far harsher words as 
he joined Mayor Chastain's protest.

Buyer, he said, should have blasted DTRA for its cryptic ways and 
made it clear "this is not an appropriate place" for a blast that 
would have been one of the largest of a non-nuclear nature ever 
set.

Buyer spokesperson Laura Zuckerman said the congressman did his 
job by getting to the bottom of the contretemps. But Sanders 
isn't so certain there was no Divine Strake in the first place, 
and calls it "a victory for the community" that there evidently 
is none now.

As for Mayor Chastain, all's well that ends well, assuming it's 
ended. He says he would have preferred some "forewarning," not 
only about Divine Strake but about the 2004 and 2005 blasts, also 
news to him. If it's all the same to DTRA, he and the town 
council have decided to send their petitions to the powers that 
be, just in case.

Carpenter is Star op-ed columnist. Contact him at (317) 444-6172 
or at dan.carpenter@indystar.com.

444-6172 or at Copyright 2006 IndyStar.com. All rights reserved                                                  
*****************************************************************
 26 Moscow Times: Nuclear Arsenal Will Be Upgraded by 2009

  Thursday, September 07, 2006 / Updated Moscow Time         
  
News 
A A A [Print this] [E-mail this] [Request reprint rights]
Thursday, September 7, 2006. Issue 3492. 

Page 4. 

The Moscow Times 

The military will complete security upgrades of its nuclear
arsenal by late 2009 to further guard it against terrorists, a
senior general said this week. 

"In the course of the next two to three years, we plan to
complete the modernization of the security systems of nuclear
weapons storage facilities," General Vladimir Verkhovtsev told
Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper. 

Verkhovtsev heads the Defense Ministry's 12th Main Directorate,
which is responsible for storage and maintenance of the
country's nuclear arsenal. 

Verkhovtsev said the security upgrade included all aspects of
the storage facilities, including perimeter defenses. All such
facilities will be equipped with intruder detection,
surveillance and access-control systems, he said. 

In addition to beefing up nuclear security, Verkhovtsev's
directorate is also working to increase the professionalism of
its personnel. In the interview with Krasnaya Zvezda, the
Defense Ministry's official newspaper, the general said he had
introduced tough new selection criteria for new staff members. 

Verkhovtsev acknowledged that the threat of nuclear terrorism
was on the rise, and said Russia's participation in global
nonproliferation efforts reflected the government's concern
about the issue. 

Verkhovtsev was careful not to praise U.S. assistance in
increasing the security of Russia's nuclear arsenal and fissile
material. 

The Defense Ministry has recently cooled on joint projects with
the United States, as demonstrated by the cancellation this week
of the annual Torgau military exercise.   

 			 																																																				 Š
Copyright 2006. The Moscow Times. All rights reserved.
*****************************************************************
 27 AFP: Disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist to undergo cancer surgery
    
 Wed Sep 6, 8:40 AM ET 		 	 

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Pakistan's disgraced nuclear hero, Abdul Qadeer 
Khan, who is suffering from prostate cancer, would undergo 
surgery in the southern city of Karachi, the government has said. 

 "In consultation with his family and after deliberate
discussion with the doctors, Dr A.Q. Khan has decided to undergo
radical prostatectomy (surgery) at the Agha Khan Hospital in
Karachi," a government statement said Wednesday. 

Khan will be moving to Karachi "shortly for surgery and post
operative care", it said. 

The government last month made the 70-year-old Khan's condition
public, but said the disease was not at an advanced stage. 

Recent tests conducted on Khan by a team of specialist doctors
revealed that the disease was "localised", the statement said. 

"It was ascertained by the doctors that cancer of the prostrate
tumour has not affected other parts of the body and is
localised. Ultrasound scan of the prostate repeated and
reconfirmed that the tumour seems resectable (able to be
removed)," it said. 

Khan -- who is at the centre of an international nuclear
proliferation scandal involving North Korea" /> , Libya and
Iran" /> -- is still revered as a hero in military-ruled
Pakistan as the father of the Islamic world's first atomic bomb. 

In February 2004, he made a televised confession in which he
admitted passing nuclear secrets to Libya, Iran and North Korea,
placing him in the thick of a global atomic black market. 

President Pervez Musharraf pardoned him the same month. But Khan
has since lived under virtual house arrest in a leafy diplomatic
sector in Islamabad and makes no public appearances. 

Copyright Š 2006 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. The
*****************************************************************
 28 iafrica.com: sa news SA, Russia mull nuke power deal
 
CAPE TOWN 
 
Wed, 06 Sep 2006

 South Africa and Russia could also work together in nuclear
matters, visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin said on
Wednesday. 

He said in Cape Town a friendship and partnership treaty signed
between the two countries could lead to "opportunities" on the
peaceful use of nuclear energy. 

"Our South African colleagues can now participate in the work of
the United Nuclear Research Institute of the Russian Academy of
Science," he told a meeting of business leaders from both
countries. 

"There are many opportunities here for the practical
implementation of such works. Here we have the opportunity for
uranium production, for construction and operation of different
facilities." 

There were also unique opportunities for engineering designs
requiring highly-skilled personnel, he said. 

Just over 20 years ago, the world's worst-ever accident in the
history of nuclear power occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power
plant in the Ukraine. 

Explosions at the plant and a nuclear meltdown released a plume
of radioactive fallout that drifted over large parts of the then
Soviet Union and Europe. 

Theories as to what caused the accident place the blame on the
Russian-trained engineers operating the plant, or suggest flaws
in the Russian-built reactor might be to blame. In either case,
the accident was avoidable. 

Sapa 



Copyright Š 2002-2005
iafrica.com, a division of Metropolis* - a Primedia company
*****************************************************************
 29 San Luis Obispo Tribune: Diablo ruling figures in federal terrorism decision

09/06/2006 | 

NRC delays decision whether terror should factor in Jersey nuke
plant license

 The Associated Press 

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal regulators on Wednesday postponed
deciding whether the threat of terrorism should be part of the
license renewal review for New Jersey's Oyster Creek nuclear
power plant. 

The state's Department of Environmental Protection has asked
that the threat of terrorism be included in the license renewal
consideration. Oyster Creek's operating license expires in April
2009. 

The state in making its request had cited a June ruling by the
9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In that decision, involving
the storage of spent fuel at the Diablo Canyon power plant near
San Luis Obispo, the three-judge panel ruled that the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission must consider the likelihood of a
terrorist attack more seriously. 

The judiciary panel unanimously disagreed with the NRC's 2003
finding that an attack was "remote and speculative" and
therefore unnecessary to consider. 

The NRC said Wednesday that the Supreme Court has extended by 30
days the Aug. 31 deadline to review the 9th Circuit ruling, and
decided to postpone its decision. 

Oyster Creek, which opened in 1969, is facing the expiration of
its 40-year operating license and applied last summer for a
30-year extension. The plant, in Lacey Township, produces about
4 percent of the electricity distributed by the PJM power grid
serving five mid-Atlantic states, according to owner Exelon
Corp. 

Critics say the 636-megawatt plant has deteriorated with age and
is no longer safe to operate, and that a population explosion in
Ocean County during its lifetime has made emergency evacuation
plans for the surrounding communities obsolete.
*****************************************************************
 30 SLO Trib: NRC's decision to deny the San Luis Obispo Mothers For Peace's motion

SanLuisObispo.com | 

09/06/2006 | 

SERVED 09/06/06 Dale E. Klein, Chairman Edward McGaffigan, Jr. 
Jeffrey S. Merrifield Gregory B. Jaczko Peter B. Lyons 

In the Matter of PACIFIC GAS &ELECTRIC CO. Docket No. 72-26-ISFSI 
) (Diablo Canyon Power Plant Independent) Spent Fuel Storage 
Installation)

CLI-06-23 
  
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER 
  
This proceeding stems from an application by Pacific Gas and
Electric Company (PG) to operate an independent spent fuel
storage installation (ISFSI) at the site of its two Diablo
Canyon nuclear power plants in California.  Before us today is a
Motion by San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace, Sierra Club, and
Peg Pinard for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief with Respect to
Diablo Canyon ISFSI (July 5, 2006) (SLOMFP motion).  The
motion is an offshoot of a recent judicial decision, San Luis
Obispo Mothers for Peace v. NRC, 449 F.3d 1016 (9th Cir. 2006),
finding our categorical refusal to consider the environmental
effects of a terrorist attack unreasonable under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).[1]  The 
court remanded the NEPA-terrorism question to the Commission for
further proceedings consistent with this opinion.[2] 

The SLOMFP motion seeks three forms of relief.  First, it asks
us to declare invalid PGs already-granted ISFSI license.[3] 
Second, it asks us to declare that PG proceeds with ISFSI
construction at the risk that the NEPA-based judicial remand
may result in denying the license or in changes in the design
and construction of the ISFSI.[4]  And, third, the motion asks
for a Commission order enjoining PG from loading spent fuel
into the ISFSI pending completion of an Environmental Impact
Statement discussing the environmental impacts of a terrorist
attack.[5]  We deny the motion as unnecessary and premature. 
            As the SLOMFP motion acknowledges, the court of
appeals has not yet issued its mandate formally returning the
ISFSI proceeding to the Commission.[6]  So the court-ordered
remand proceeding has not yet begun.  Nor did the court impose
any interim remedy, direct the Commission to impose one, or
specify the procedures the Commission must follow on remand.  On
the contrary, the court gave the Commission maximum procedural
leeway. The court stated that it was not circumscribing the
procedures that the NRC must employ, and that [t]here remain .
. . a wide variety of actions [the NRC] may take on remand.[7]  
In the meantime, the Supreme Court has extended (by 30 days) the
August 31 deadline for asking the Court to review the Ninth
Circuit decision.  Moreover, while PG has continued construction
of the ISFSI, it has stated publicly that it will not be ready
to use the ISFSI to store spent fuel until at least November,
2007.[8] 

In these circumstances, notwithstanding SLOMFPs motion, we see
no urgent reason to consider now the validity of PGs ISFSI
license and PGs right to load spent fuel into its ISFSI. 
Neither issue has practical significance until late in 2007 at
the earliest.[9]  As for SLOMFPs request that we declare that
PG is going forward with construction at its own risk, PG itself
has already said as much: it fully acknowledges that continuing
to construct the ISFSI comes at its own financial risk.[10] 
Thus, in light of PGs acknowledgment, there is 
no controversy as to who bears the financial risk of going
forward with construction of the 
ISFSI. 
The long and short of this matter is that there remains well
more than a year before PG will be in position to use its ISFSI
license to load radioactive spent fuel.  In the interval,
further judicial review or further administrative review, or
both, may take place.  And, as 
litigation moves forward or terminates, the equities that
traditionally govern stays or injunctive relief may change.[11] 
The Commission can decide later, if necessary, whether it is
appropriate 
or necessary to prohibit or postpone loading spent fuel into the
Diablo Canyon ISFSI.  But the current state of affairs  ongoing
construction but no loading of spent fuel  causes no 
imminent or irreparable harm justifying immediate Commission
action.  Such harm is the sine qua non of the kind of equitable
relief SLOMFP seeks.[12] 
  

For these reasons, the Commission denies SLOMFPs motion for
declaratory and 
injunctive relief. 
  
IT IS SO ORDERED. 
  
For the Commission 
  
/RA/ 
  
___________________________ 
Annette L. Vietti-Cook Secretary of the Commission 
  
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this  6th  day of September, 2006 
  
Commissioner Gregory B. Jaczko respectfully dissents: 
  
I dissent from this order because, as I have stated in the
recent past, the NEPA 
terrorism issue is a significant matter that needs resolution. 
I believe the agency should conduct a review of the impacts of
terrorist attacks on nuclear facilities as part of a NEPA
analysis.  More importantly, I believe continuing to refuse to
consider the environmental effects of terrorist attacks will
subject the agency to unnecessary judicial challenges.  Thus, I
am fully supportive of all efforts to give this matter the
thorough and deliberate review warranted. 

In addition, I believe that the current uncertainty surrounding 
the impact of this issue may lead to unnecessary confusion in the 
review of new reactor licenses.  To eliminate this uncertainty, 
the agency should expeditiously develop a process to review 
terrorism issues as part of a NEPA analysis consistent with the 
recent Ninth Circuit decision.  This particular case presents a 
timely opportunity for the Commission to resolve these matters, 
providing clarity and certainty for the potential increase in 
licensing reviews the Commission may conduct in the next few 
years.  

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 
  
In the Matter of PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC CO.Docket No. 
72-26-ISFSI DIABLO CANYON POWER PLANT   ) (Independent Spent Fuel 
Storage  Installation  
  
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 
  
I hereby certify that copies of the foregoing COMMISSION
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER 
(CLI-06-23) have been served upon the following persons by
electronic mail this date, followed by deposit of paper copies
in the U.S. mail, first class, and NRC internal mail. 

Office of Commission Appellate 
  Adjudication 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
Washington, DC  20555-0001 
E-mail: ocaamail@nrc.gov     
  
Chief Administrative Judge 
E. Roy Hawkens 
Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel 
Mail Stop - T-3 F23 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
Washington, DC  20555-0001 
E-mail: erh@nrc.gov   
  
  
Margaret J. Bupp, Esq. 
Office of the General Counsel 
Mail Stop - O-15 D21 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
Washington, DC  20555-0001 
E-mail: mjb5@nrc.gov     
  
Diane Curran, Esq. 
Harmon, Curran, Spielberg 
   &Eisenberg, L.L.P. 
1726 M Street, NW, Suite 600 
Washington, DC  20036 
              E-mail: dcurran@harmoncurran.com     
  
  
David A. Repka, Esq. 
Martin J. ONeill, Esq. 
Winston &Strawn LLP 
1700 K Street, NW 
Washington, DC  20006 
drepka@winston.com; moneill@winston.com     
  
Antonio Fernandez, Esq. 
Pacific and Gas Electric Company 
77 Beale Street, B30A 
San Francisco, CA  94105 
E-mail: axfn@pge.com     
  
[Original signed by Evangeline S. Ngbea] Office of the Secretary 
of the Commission 
  
Dated at Rockville, Maryland 
this 6th day of September
2006


[1] 449 F.3d at 1028. 
[2] Id. at 1035. 
[3] See SLOMFP Motion, at 9. 
[4] Id. at 9-10. 
[5] Id. at 10. 
[6] Id. at 2.  See Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule
41(b). 
[7] San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace v. NRC, 449 F.3d at 1035. 
[8] See Answer of Pacific Gas and Electric Company to Motion for
Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, at 15 (July 17, 2006). 
[9]As a legal matter, PG does not need an NRC license for
construction activity; no one argues otherwise.  See generally
Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. (Erwin, Tennessee), CLI-03-3, 57 NRC
239, 246-50 (2003). 
[10] See id. at 18. 
[11] See generally Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, L.L.C. and
Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power
Station), CLI-06-8, 63 NRC 235, 237-38 &nn. 4-7 (2006).  
[12] See id. at 237. 

*****************************************************************
 31 NRC: Sunshine Act Meeting
 
                         FR Doc 06-7479 
[Federal Register: September 6, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 172)] 
[Notices] [Page 52590] From the Federal Register Online via GPO 
Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr06se06-113]                         
 
DATE: Weeks of September 4, 11, 18, 25, October 2, 9, 2006.
 
PLACE: Commissioners' Conference Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, 
Rockville, Maryland.
 
STATUS: Public and Closed.
 
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: Week of September 4, 2006 Wednesday, 
September 6, 2006 1:50 p.m. Affirmation Session (Public) 
(Tentative).
 
a. Pacific Gas & Elec. Co. (Diablo Canyon ISFSI), Docket No. 
72-26- ISFSI ``Motion by San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace, 
Sierra Club, and Peg Pinard for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief 
with respect to Diablo Canyon ISFSI''. (Tentative.) b. AmerGen 
Energy Company, LLC (License Renewal for Oyster Creek Nuclear 
Generating Station) Docket No. 50-0219, Legal challenges to 
LBP-06-07 and LBP-06-11. (Tentative.) c. Pa'ina Hawaii, LLC, 
LBP-06-4, 63 NRC 99 (2006) and LBP-06-12, 63 NRC 409 (2006). 
(Tentative.) Week of September 11, 2006--Tentative Monday, 
September 11, 2006 9:30 a.m. Discussion of Security Issues 
(Closed--Ex. 1). 1:30 p.m. Discussion of Security Issues 
(Closed--Ex. 1 & 3). Tuesday, September 12, 2006 9:30 a.m. 
Meeting with Organization of Agreement States (OAS) and 
conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) (Public 
Meeting) (Contact: Shawn Smith, 301-415-2620.) This meeting will 
be webcast live at the Web address-- .
 
1 p.m. (Discussion of Security Issues (Closed--Ex. 1). Week of 
September 18, 2006--Tentative There are no meetings scheduled for 
the Week of September 18, 2006.
 
Week of September 25, 2006--Tentative There are no meetings 
scheduled for the Week of September 25, 2006.
 
Week of October 2, 2006--Tentative There are no meetings 
scheduled for the Week of October 2, 2006.
 
Week of October 9, 2006--Tentative There are no meetings 
scheduled for the Week of October 9, 2006.
 
* * * * * *The schedule for Commission meetings is subject to 
change on short notice. To verify the status of meetings call 
(recording)--(301) 415- 1292. Contact person for more 
information: Michelle Schroll, (301) 415- 1662.
 
* * * * * The NRC Commission Meeting Schedule can be found on the 
Internet at: .
 
* * * * * 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, Deborah Chan, at 301-415-7041, TDD: 301-415-2100, or 
by e-mail at  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 .
 
Dated: August 31, 2006.
 
R. Michelle Schroll, Office of the Secretary [FR Doc. 06-7479 
Filed 9-1-06; 9:46am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-M

 
*****************************************************************
 32 Dallas Morning News: No Quick Energy Fix: Nuclear plans don't clear up coal issues

News for Dallas, Texas | Opinion: Editorials
 
10:21 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 

TXU's plan to build up to three nuclear power plants fills in an
important piece of our state's energy puzzle. 

Texas needs more power. And we need to develop a strategy that
considers both the growing demand for electricity and the
serious problems that result from polluted air. 

Adding more nuclear plants to the mix tackles these issues
head-on, delivering one part of what must be a multifaceted
solution. While TXU has released few details about its plan, the
utility's pledge to add up to 6 gigawatts of nuclear capacity
and to develop a less expensive design for nuclear facilities is
good news for customers and for North Texas' dirty air. Also
Online 
09/03/06: Texas cool to confront global warming 

Unfortunately, the proposed plants are not a quick fix for our
power grid problems. Nuclear facilities do not spew the
pollutants that coal plants do, but the fuel and waste present
unique risks. Accordingly, the nuclear permitting process is 
and should be  careful and deliberate. 

TXU doesn't expect to complete the facilities until sometime
between 2015 and 2020. Although we support the utility's
long-term efforts to diversify, this new proposal does nothing
to address immediate concerns about the 11 coal plants TXU wants
to build. 

The Dallas-based company is pushing for an unmatched expansion
of coal-fired facilities, which are cheap and dirty compared to
other energy options. If all 11 are approved, TXU's new plants
would saturate our polluted air with 78 million tons of carbon
dioxide a year. As The Dallas Morning News reported Sunday,
Texas already produces more greenhouse gas emissions than any
other state and more than most countries. 

We understand that coal will be a part of Texas' power palette.
But green-lighting an emissions increase of this magnitude is a
dangerous proposition. That's why we have sought to slow the
permitting process and have called for additional consideration
of energy alternatives and new technologies. 

During the last several weeks, TXU has unveiled multiple
big-picture plans aimed at addressing air-quality issues. The
utility's efforts to develop carbon dioxide solutions and to
retrofit older plants with emissions controls eventually could
help clear our air. 

These proposals are commendable but should not shift attention
away from more pressing issues. Regardless of what the distant
future holds, the proposed coal plants could have an immediate
impact on the air we breathe. This text is invisible on the
page, but this text is affected by the invisible item's flow.
This text is invisible on the page, but this text is affected by
the invisible item's flow. More headlines... 

No Quick Energy Fix: Nuclear plans don't clear up coal issues 

Š 2006 The Dallas Morning News Co. 	 	   
*****************************************************************
 33 NRC: Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Pilgrim Nuclear Power
 
                        FR Doc E6-14700 
[Federal Register: September 6, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 172)] 
[Notices] [Page 52590-52591] From the Federal Register Online via 
GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr06se06-114]                         
 
Station); Notice of Reconstitution Pursuant to 10 CFR 2.321, the 
Atomic Safety and Licensing Board in the above captioned Entergy 
Nuclear Operations, Inc. proceeding, is hereby reconstituted by 
appointing Administrative Judge Paul B. Abramson in place of 
Administrative Judge Nicholas G. Trikouros who, pursuant to 10 
CFR 2.313(b)(1), recused himself from the proceeding on August 
30, 2006.
 
In accordance with 10 CFR 2.302, henceforth all correspondence,
 
[[Page 52591]] documents, and other material relating to any 
matter in this proceeding over which this Licensing Board has 
jurisdiction should be served on Administrative Judge Abramson as 
follows: Administrative Judge Paul B. Abramson, Atomic Safety and 
Licensing Board Panel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555- 0001.
 
Issued at Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day of August 2006.
 
E. Roy Hawkens, Chief Administrative Judge, Atomic Safety and 
Licensing Board Panel.
 
[FR Doc. E6-14700 Filed 9-5-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

 
*****************************************************************
 34 NRC: Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding
 
                        FR Doc E6-14706 
[Federal Register: September 6, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 172)] 
[Notices] [Page 52589-52590] From the Federal Register Online via 
GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr06se06-112]                         
 
of No Significant Impact for License Amendment for Western 
Nuclear, Inc., Jeffrey City, WY AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission.
 
ACTION: Notice of availability.
 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen J. Cohen, Project 
Manager, Fuel Cycle Facilities Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle 
Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and 
Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555. Telephone: (301) 415-7182; fax number: (301) 415-5955; 
e-mail: sjc7@nrc.gov.
 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Introduction The U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission (NRC) plans to issue a license amendment to 
Source Materials License No. SUA-56 held by Western Nuclear, Inc. 
(the Licensee), to authorize the establishment of alternate 
concentration limits (ACLs) at its Split Rock uranium mill 
tailings site in Jeffrey City, Wyoming. The NRC has prepared an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) in support of the proposed action 
in accordance with the requirements of 10 CFR part 51. Based on 
the EA, the NRC has concluded that a Finding of No Significant 
Impact is appropriate. Final action on the Licensee's amendment 
request will be taken following publication of this notice. The 
NRC will issue a technical evaluation report addressing the 
safety aspects of establishing ACLs at the Licensee's facility.
 
II. EA Summary The purpose of the proposed amendment is to 
authorize the establishment of ACLs instead of ground water 
protection standards for six constituents at the Licensee's 
Jeffrey City, Wyoming, facility. Specifically, this amendment 
will establish ACLs for ammonia, manganese, molybdenum, nitrate, 
radium-226 and -228, and natural uranium. This amendment will 
also require the Licensee to establish institutional controls on 
all properties within the long-term surveillance boundary to 
preclude domestic ground water use. On October 29, 1999, the 
Licensee requested that NRC approve the proposed amendment.
 
The staff has prepared the EA in support of the proposed license 
amendment. The staff considered impacts to ground water, surface 
water, land use, ecology, socioeconomic conditions, and 
historical and cultural resources. Impacts to ground water are 
mitigated by the use of institutional controls that prevent human 
consumption of contaminated ground water within the long-term 
surveillance boundary.
 
However, agricultural and livestock uses have been preserved 
within the long- term surveillance boundary. A surface water and 
ground water monitoring program has been established to track 
ground water contamination, and trigger levels for surface water 
and ground water have been established, the exceedance of which 
would require a response from the Licensee.
 
III. Finding of No Significant Impact On the basis of the EA, the 
NRC has concluded that there are no significant environmental 
impacts from the proposed amendment and has determined not to 
prepare an environmental impact statement.
 
IV. Further Information Documents related to this action, 
including the application for amendment, the EA, and other 
supporting documentation, are available electronically at the 
NRC's Electronic Reading Room at 
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. From this site, you can 
access the NRC's Agencywide Document Access and Management System 
(ADAMS), which provides text and image files of NRC's public 
documents. The ADAMS accession numbers for the documents related 
to this notice are:
 
[[Page 52590]] 
----------------------------------------------------------------- 
------- Document                        ADAMS Accession No.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------- 
------- Ground Water Characterization and         ML003672396, 
Evaluation.                              ML003672400 Baseline 
Risk Assessment, Appendix I to   ML003672619 Site Closure Plan.
 
Supplement to October 29, 1999, Split     ML010380246 Rock Site 
Closure Report.
 
WNI Response to NRC Request of September  ML021710273 6, 2001, 
for Additional Information on Site Closure Plan for the Split 
Rock, Wyoming, Site.
 
Supplemental Data Collection, Program     ML021710422 Trip 
Report.
 
WNI Response to NRC Request of September  ML022110059 6, 2001, 
for Additional Information on Site Closure Plan for the Split 
Rock, Wyoming, Site.
 
Supplemental Ground Water Modeling        ML030760336 Report.
 
Letter to Robert A. Nelson Regarding      ML041490156 Risk 
Assessment of Ground Water for Agricultural Uses.
 
Response to Request for Additional        ML050690064 
Information.
 
Environmental Assessment for Amendment    ML062130316 to Source 
Materials License SUA-56, Ground Water Alternate Concentration 
Limits.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------- 
------- If you do not have access to ADAMS or if there are 
problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, contact the 
NRC's Public Document Room (PDR) Reference staff at 
1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov. These 
documents may also be viewed electronically on the public 
computers located at the NRC's PDR, O 1 F21, One White Flint 
North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. The PDR 
reproduction contractor will copy documents for a fee.
 
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day of August 2006.
 
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
 
Stephen J. Cohen, Project Manager, Fuel Cycle Facilities Branch, 
Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear 
Material Safety and Safeguards.
 
[FR Doc. E6-14706 Filed 9-5-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

 
*****************************************************************
 35 NRC: In the Matter of Texas A University (Nuclear Science Center 
 
                        FR Doc E6-14824 
[Federal Register: September 6, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 172)] 
[Notices] [Page 52586-52587] From the Federal Register Online via 
GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr06se06-110]                         
 
TRIGA Research Reactor); Order Modifying Amended Facility 
Operating License No. R-83 I The Texas A University (the 
licensee) is the holder of Amended Facility Operating License No. 
R-83 (the license). The license was issued on December 7, 1961, 
by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and subsequently renewed on 
March 30, 1983, by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the 
NRC or the Commission). The license includes authorization to 
operate the Nuclear Science Center TRIGA Research Reactor (the 
facility) at a power level up to 1,000 kilowatts thermal (1,300 
kilowatts thermal for purposes of testing and calibration) and to 
receive, possess, and use special nuclear material associated 
with the operation. The facility is on the campus of the Texas A 
University, in the city of College Station, Brazos County, Texas. 
The mailing address is Nuclear Science Center, Texas Engineering 
Experimental Station, Texas A University, 3575 TAMU, College 
Station, Texas 77843-3575.
 
II On February 25, 1986, the Commission promulgated a final rule, 
Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 
50.64, limiting the use of high-enriched uranium (HEU) fuel in 
domestic non- power reactors (research and test reactors) (see 51 
FR 6514).
 
The regulation, which became effective on March 27, 1986, 
requires that if Federal Government funding for 
conversion-related costs is available, each licensee of a 
non-power reactor authorized to use HEU fuel shall replace it 
with low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel acceptable to the Commission 
unless the Commission has determined that the reactor has a 
unique purpose. The Commission's stated purpose for these 
requirements was to reduce, to the maximum extent possible, the 
use of HEU fuel in order to reduce the risk of theft and 
diversion of HEU fuel used in non-power reactors.
 
Paragraphs 50.64(b)(2)(i) and (ii) require that a licensee of a 
non-power reactor (1) not acquire more HEU fuel if LEU fuel that 
is acceptable to the Commission for that reactor is available 
when the licensee proposes to acquire HEU fuel and (2) replace 
all HEU fuel in its possession with available LEU fuel acceptable 
to the Commission for that reactor in accordance with a schedule 
determined pursuant to 10 CFR 50.64(c)(2). Paragraph 
50.64(c)(2)(i) requires, among other things, that each licensee 
of a non-power reactor authorized to possess and to use HEU fuel 
develop and submit to the Director of the Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation (Director) by March 27, 1987, and at 12-month 
intervals, thereafter, a written proposal for meeting the 
requirements of the rule. The licensee shall include in its 
proposal a certification that Federal Government funding for 
conversion is available through the U.S. Department of Energy or 
other appropriate Federal agency and a schedule for conversion, 
based upon availability of replacement fuel acceptable to the 
Commission for that reactor and upon consideration of other 
factors such as the availability of shipping casks, 
implementation of arrangements for available financial support, 
and reactor usage.
 
Paragraph 50.64(c)(2)(iii) requires the licensee to include in 
the proposal, to the extent required to effect conversion, all 
necessary changes to the license, to the facility, and to 
licensee procedures. This paragraph also requires the licensee to 
submit supporting safety analyses in time to meet the conversion 
schedule.
 
Paragraph 50.64(c)(2)(iii) also requires the Director to review 
the licensee proposal, to confirm the status of Federal 
Government funding, and to determine a final schedule, if the 
licensee has submitted a schedule for conversion.
 
Section 50.64(c)(3) requires the Director to review the 
supporting safety analyses and to issue an appropriate 
enforcement order directing both the conversion and, to the 
extent consistent with protection of public health and safety, 
any necessary changes to the license, the facility, and licensee 
procedures. In the Federal Register notice of the final rule (51 
FR 6514), the Commission explained that in most, if
 
[[Page 52587]] not all, cases, the enforcement order would be an 
order to modify the license under 10 CFR 2.204 (now 10 CFR 
2.202). Section 2.309 states the requirements for a person whose 
interest may be affected by any proceeding to initiate a hearing 
or to participate as a party.
 
III On December 29, 2005, as supplemented on July 17, and August 
4 and 21, 2006, the NRC staff received the licensee's conversion 
proposal, including its proposed modifications and supporting 
safety analyses. HEU fuel elements are to be replaced with LEU 
fuel elements. The reactor core contains fuel bundles, each fuel 
bundle contains up to four fuel elements of the TRIGA design, 
with the fuel consisting of uranium-zirconium hydride with 30 
weight percent uranium. These fuel elements contain the 
uranium-235 isotope at an enrichment of less than 20 percent. The 
NRC staff reviewed the licensee's proposal and the requirements 
of 10 CFR 50.64 and has determined that public health and safety 
and common defense and security require the licensee to convert 
the facility from the use of HEU to LEU fuel in accordance with 
the attachments to this Order and the schedule included herein. 
The attachments to this Order specify the changes to the License 
Conditions and Technical Specifications that are needed to amend 
the facility license and contains an outline of a reactor startup 
report to be submitted to NRC within six months following 
completion of LEU fuel loading.
 
IV Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 51, 53, 57, 101, 104, 161b, 
161i, and 161o of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and 
to Commission regulations in 10 CFR 2.202 and 10 CFR 50.64, it is 
hereby ordered that: Amended Facility Operating License No. R-83 
is modified by amending the License Conditions and Technical 
Specifications as stated in the attachments to this Order. The 
Order become effective on the later date of either (1) the day 
the licensee receives an adequate number and type of LEU fuel 
elements to operate the facility as specified in the licensee's 
proposal, or (2) 20 days after the date of publication of this 
Order in the Federal Register.
 
V Pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended any 
person adversely affected by this Order may submit an answer to 
this Order, and may request a hearing on this Order, within 20 
days of the date of this Order. Any answer or request for a 
hearing shall set forth the matters of fact and law on which the 
licensee, or other person adversely affected, relies and the 
reasons why the Order should not have been issued. Any answer or 
request for a hearing shall be filed (1) by first class mail 
addressed to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemaking and 
Adjudications Staff; or (2) by courier, express mail, and 
expedited delivery services to the Office of the Secretary, 
Sixteenth Floor, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, 
Rockville, Maryland 20852, Attention: Rulemaking and 
Adjudications Staff. Because of continuing disruptions in 
delivery of mail to the United States Government Offices, it is 
requested that answers and/or requests for hearing be transmitted 
to the Secretary of the Commission either by e-mail addressed to 
the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
hearingdocket@nrc.gov; or by facsimile transmission addressed to 
the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC, Attention: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff at 
301-415-1101 (the verification number is 301- 415-1966). Copies 
of the request for hearing must also be sent to the Director, 
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and to the Assistant General 
Counsel for Materials Litigation and Enforcement, Office of the 
General Counsel, with both copies addressed to the U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, and the NRC 
requests that a copy also be transmitted either by facsimile 
transmission to 301-415-3725 or by e-mail to 
OGCMailCenter@nrc.gov. If a person requests a hearing, he or she 
shall set forth in the request for a hearing with particularity 
the manner in which his or her interest is adversely affected by 
this Order and shall address the criteria set forth in 10 CFR 
2.309. If a hearing is requested by a person whose interest is 
adversely affected, the Commission shall issue an Order 
designating the time and place of any hearing. If a hearing is 
held, the issue to be considered at such hearing shall be whether 
this Order should be sustained.
 
In accordance with 10 CFR 51.10(d) this Order is not subject to 
Section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act, as 
amended. The NRC staff notes, however, that with respect to 
environmental impacts associated with the changes imposed by this 
Order as described in the safety evaluation, the changes would, 
if imposed by other than an Order, meet the definition of a 
categorical exclusion in accordance with 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9). 
Thus, pursuant to either 10 CFR 51.10(d) or 51.22(c)(9), no 
environmental assessment nor environmental impact statement is 
required.
 
For further information see the application from the licensee 
dated December 29, 2005 (Agencywide Documents Access and 
Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML062200390), as 
supplemented on July 17, and August 4 and 21, 2006 (ADAMS 
Accession Nos. ML062220189, ML062220278 and ML062410495), the 
staff's request for additional information dated June 1, 2006 
(ADAMS Accession No. ML061500125), and the cover letter to the 
licensee, attachments to the Order, and the staff's safety 
evaluation dated September 1, 2006 (ADAMS Accession No.
 
ML062410474), available for public inspection at the Commission's 
Public Document Room (PDR), located at One White Flint North, 
Public File Area O1 F21, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), 
Rockville, Maryland.
 
Publicly available records will be accessible electronically from 
the ADAMS Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the 
NRC Web site, http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. Persons 
who do not have access to ADAMS or who have problems in accessing 
the documents in ADAMS should contact the NRC PDR reference staff 
by telephone at 1-800- 397-4209 or 301-415-4737 or by e-mail to 
pdr@nrc.gov. Dated this 1st day of September 2006.
 
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
 
J.E. Dyer, Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
 
[FR Doc. E6-14824 Filed 9-5-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

 
*****************************************************************
 36 NRC: In the Matter of University of Florida (University of Florida 
 
                        FR Doc E6-14825 
[Federal Register: September 6, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 172)] 
[Notices] [Page 52587-52589] From the Federal Register Online via 
GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr06se06-111]                         
 
Training Reactor); Order Modifying Amended Facility Operating 
License No. R-56 I The University of Florida (the licensee) is 
the holder of Amended Facility Operating License No. R-56 (the 
license) issued on May 21, 1959, by the U.S. Atomic Energy 
Commission, and subsequently renewed on August 30, 1982, by the 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the NRC or the Commission). 
The license authorizes operation of the University of Florida 
Training Reactor (the facility) at a power
 
[[Page 52588]] level up to 100 kilowatts thermal. The facility is 
a research reactor located on the campus of the University of 
Florida, in the city of Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida. The 
mailing address is Department of Nuclear and Radiological 
Engineering, 202 Nuclear Sciences Center, P.O. Box 118300, 
Gainesville, Florida 32611-8300. II On February 25, 1986, the 
Commission promulgated a final rule, Title 10 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (10 CFR) section 50.64, limiting the use of 
high-enriched uranium (HEU) fuel in domestic non- power reactors 
(research and test reactors) (see 51 FR 6514).
 
The regulation, which became effective on March 27, 1986, 
requires that if Federal Government funding for 
conversion-related costs is available, each licensee of a 
non-power reactor authorized to use HEU fuel shall replace it 
with low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel acceptable to the Commission 
unless the Commission has determined that the reactor has a 
unique purpose. The Commission's stated purpose for these 
requirements was to reduce, to the maximum extent possible, the 
use of HEU fuel in order to reduce the risk of theft and 
diversion of HEU fuel used in non-power reactors.
 
Paragraphs 50.64(b)(2)(i) and (ii) require that a licensee of a 
non-power reactor (1) not acquire more HEU fuel if LEU fuel that 
is acceptable to the Commission for that reactor is available 
when the licensee proposes to acquire HEU fuel and (2) replace 
all HEU fuel in its possession with available LEU fuel acceptable 
to the Commission for that reactor in accordance with a schedule 
determined pursuant to 10 CFR 50.64(c)(2). Paragraph 
50.64(c)(2)(i) requires, among other things, that each licensee 
of a non-power reactor authorized to possess and to use HEU fuel 
develop and submit to the Director of the Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation (Director) by March 27, 1987, and at 12-month 
intervals thereafter, a written proposal for meeting the 
requirements of the rule. The licensee shall include in its 
proposal a certification that Federal Government funding for 
conversion is available through the U.S. Department of Energy or 
other appropriate Federal agency and a schedule for conversion, 
based upon availability of replacement fuel acceptable to the 
Commission for that reactor and upon consideration of other 
factors such as the availability of shipping casks, 
implementation of arrangements for available financial support, 
and reactor usage.
 
Paragraph 50.64(c)(2)(iii) requires the licensee to include in 
the proposal, to the extent required to effect conversion, all 
necessary changes to the license, to the facility, and to 
licensee procedures. This paragraph also requires the licensee to 
submit supporting safety analyses in time to meet the conversion 
schedule.
 
Paragraph 50.64(c)(2)(iii) also requires the Director to review 
the licensee proposal, to confirm the status of Federal 
Government funding, and to determine a final schedule, if the 
licensee has submitted a schedule for conversion.
 
Section 50.64(c)(3) requires the Director to review the 
supporting safety analyses and to issue an appropriate 
enforcement order directing both the conversion and, to the 
extent consistent with protection of public health and safety, 
any necessary changes to the license, the facility, and licensee 
procedures. In the Federal Register notice of the final rule (51 
FR 6514), the Commission explained that in most, if not all, 
cases, the enforcement order would be an order to modify the 
license under 10 CFR 2.204 (now 10 CFR 2.202). Section 2.309 
states the requirements for a person whose interest may be 
affected by any proceeding to initiate a hearing or to 
participate as a party.
 
III On December 2, 2005, as supplemented on June 19 and 29, July 
20 and 21, and August 4 and 22, 2006, the NRC staff received the 
licensee's conversion proposal, including its proposed 
modifications and supporting safety analyses. HEU fuel elements 
are to be replaced with LEU fuel elements. The fuel elements 
contain fuel plates, typical of the materials test reactor 
design, with the fuel consisting of uranium silicide dispersed in 
an aluminum matrix. These plates contain the uranium-235 isotope 
at an enrichment of less than 20 percent.
 
The NRC staff reviewed the licensee's proposal and the 
requirements of 10 CFR 50.64 and has determined that public 
health and safety and common defense and security require the 
licensee to convert the facility from the use of HEU to LEU fuel 
in accordance with the attachments to this Order and the schedule 
included herein. The attachments to this Order specify the 
changes to the License Conditions, Technical Specifications and 
Emergency Plan that are needed to amend the facility license and 
contains an outline of a reactor startup report to be submitted 
to NRC within six months following completion of LEU fuel 
loading.
 
IV Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 51, 53, 57, 101, 104, 161b, 
161i, and 161o of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and 
to Commission regulations in 10 CFR 2.202 and 10 CFR 50.64, it is 
hereby ordered that: Amended Facility Operating License No. R-56 
is modified by amending the License Conditions, Technical 
Specifications and Emergency Plan as stated in the attachments to 
this Order. License Condition 2.B.(2), allowing possession of LEU 
fuel, becomes effective 20 days after the date of publication of 
this Order in the Federal Register. All other changes become 
effective on the later date of either (1) the day the licensee 
receives an adequate number and type of LEU fuel elements to 
operate the facility as specified in the licensee proposal, or 
(2) 20 days after the date of publication of this Order in the 
Federal Register.
 
V Pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, any 
person adversely affected by this Order may submit an answer to 
this Order, and may request a hearing on this Order, within 20 
days of the date of this Order. Any answer or request for a 
hearing shall set forth the matters of fact and law on which the 
person adversely affected, relies and the reasons why the Order 
should not have been issued. Any answer or request for a hearing 
shall be filed (1) by first class mail addressed to the Office of 
the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555-0001, Attention: Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff; or (2) 
by courier, express mail, and expedited delivery services to the 
Office of the Secretary, Sixteenth Floor, One White Flint North, 
11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852, Attention: 
Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff. Because of continuing 
disruptions in delivery of mail to the United States Government 
Offices, it is requested that answers and/or requests for hearing 
be transmitted to the Secretary of the Commission either by 
e-mail addressed to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, ; or by facsimile transmission addressed 
to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission, Washington, DC, Attention: Rulemakings and 
Adjudications Staff at 301-415-1101 (the verification number is 
301-415-1966).
 
Copies of the request for hearing must also be sent to the 
Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and to the
 
[[Page 52589]] Assistant General Counsel for Materials Litigation 
and Enforcement, Office of the General Counsel, with both copies 
addressed to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, 
DC 20555-0001, and the NRC requests that a copy also be 
transmitted either by facsimile transmission to 301-415-3725 or 
by e-mail to .
 
If a person requests a hearing, he or she shall set forth in the 
request for a hearing with particularity the manner in which his 
or her interest is adversely affected by this Order and shall 
address the criteria set forth in 10 CFR 2.309. If a hearing is 
requested by a person whose interest is adversely affected, the 
Commission shall issue an Order designating the time and place of 
any hearing. If a hearing is held, the issue to be considered at 
such hearing shall be whether this Order should be sustained.
 
In accordance with 10 CFR 51.10(d) this Order is not subject to 
Section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act, as 
amended. The NRC staff notes, however, that with respect to 
environmental impacts associated with the changes imposed by this 
Order as described in the safety evaluation, the changes would, 
if imposed by other than an Order, meet the definition of a 
categorical exclusion in accordance with 10 CFR 51.22(c)(9) and 
(10). Thus, pursuant to either 10 CFR 51.10(d) or 51.22(c)(9) and 
(10), no environmental assessment nor environmental impact 
statement is required.
 
For further information see the application from the licensee 
dated December 2, 2005 (Agencywide Documents Access and 
Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML062220375), as 
supplemented on June 19 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML061720498 and 
ML062220178) and 29 (ADAMS Accession No. ML061840285), July 20 
(ADAMS Accession No. ML062050252) and 21 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML062060139), and August 4 (ADAMS Accession No. ML062350107) and 
22 (ADAMS Accession No. ML062400265), 2006, the staff's requests 
for additional information dated May 2 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML061220262 with clarification dated May 18, 2006, ADAMS 
Accession No. ML061420119) and 22, 2006 (ADAMS Accession No. 
ML061380167), and the cover letter to the licensee, attachments 
to this Order and staff's safety evaluation dated September 1, 
2006 (ADAMS Accession No. ML062440086) available for public 
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room (PDR), 
located at One White Flint North, Public File Area O1 F21, 11555 
Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland. Publicly 
available records will be accessible electronically from the 
ADAMS Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet at the NRC 
Web site, . Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who have 
problems in accessing the documents in ADAMS should contact the 
NRC PDR reference staff by telephone at 1-800-397-4209 or 
301-415-4737 or by e-mail to .
 
Dated this 1st day of September 2006.
 
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
 
J. E. Dyer, Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
 
[FR Doc. E6-14825 Filed 9-5-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P

 
*****************************************************************
 37 UCS: Nuclear Power Plant Security Officers in Texas Reprimanded for
Trying to Provide Security

September 5, 2006

Lax Security Puts the Public at Risk 

WASHINGTON, September 5A new study released today by the Union
of Concerned Scientists (UCS) details a massive breakdown of
security at the South Texas Project nuclear power plant near
Houston, Texas. According to the report, vehicles enter
protected areas of the reactor unsearched, surveillance cameras
don't work, and the cleaning staff has easy access to firearms.
Security officers at the nuclear plant have alerted supervisors
to these problems only to have their concerns ignored and the
supervisors retaliate against them. 

"The security officers at the South Texas Project are the first
line of defense against terrorist attacks on this nuclear
plant," said Dave Lochbaum, Director of the Nuclear Safety
Project at UCS. "For too long, security officers have raised
concerns about ineffective drills, deficient security posts and
equipment, improper access controls, and unmitigated
vulnerabilities through proper channels. Too often, their
concerns only resulted in retaliation." 

Security is provided at the plant by Wackenhut, a private
security firm. UCS reviewed an extensive paper trail
demonstrating that security officers at the plant have become
targets for retaliation despite good faith efforts to fix the
safety problems. The NRC must promptly investigate these
concerns and insure all vulnerabilities are corrected.
Congressman Edward Markey formally asked the NRC Chairman to
investigate the matter and report back with the agency's
findings. 

"As long as these problems go unfixed, the public's safety is at
risk," said Lochbaum. "Fortunately for the community around the
South Texas Project plant, the security officers take their jobs
too seriously to remain silent about lax security at their
nuclear power plant. They should receive accolades, not
harassment."  

  Contacts 

  Reporters: Join our notification listto receive breaking news 
from UCS.

For general media inquiries, please call our press office at 
202-331-5420.

Press Contacts:

 ERIC YOUNG Press Secretary 202-331-5439 <FONT face=Arial 
size=1>eyoung@ucsusa.org</FONT> 

EMILY ROBINSON Press Secretary 202-331-5427 erobinson@ucsusa.org 

AARON HUERTAS Assistant Press Secretary 202-331-5458 <FONT 
face=Arial size=1>ahuertas@ucsusa.org</FONT> 

RICH HAYES Media Director 202-331-5437 <FONT face=Arial 
size=1>rhayes@ucsusa.org</FONT> 
  
Š Union of Concerned Scientists 
Page Last Revised: 09/05/06   
*****************************************************************
 38 canada.com : Worst power option is nuclear energy

The Leader-Post

Published: Wednesday, September 06, 2006                                 

Recent surveys and other media hype would have the public believe 
that Saskatchewan is all for expansion of nuclear energy. Premier 
Lorne Calvert was quoted as saying that "communities are 
clamouring to have a uranium refinery built in their area".

Please do not be fooled.

For instance, the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce survey
claimed 95 per cent support from provincial regulatory bodies,
yet did not even include Prince Albert, our third-largest city.

Let us not remain passive about this. As a member of the Green
Party of Saskatchewan, the only provincial party to oppose
nuclear expansion, I am compelled to speak out. Investing in
nuclear energy is a terrible idea!

Here's why: nuclear energy is not environmentally friendly, no
matter how "clean" it is advertised to be.

We're told that it produces few greenhouse gas emissions. This
sounds good until you consider every step of the nuclear fuel
chain. Uranium mining leaves behind radioactive tailings that
ruin water sources and cause cancer in animals and humans. There
is no known safe disposal method of radioactive waste. The
present practice of underground storage requires monitoring for
thousands of years and remains highly vulnerable to terrorist
attack and climate variation.

Scientists predict that radioactivity will persist in
underground reserves for over 50,000 years. Just to put that
into perspective, the pyramids in Egypt are 5,000 years old. In
today's world of political turmoil and global warming, how can
we presume control over these highly toxic substances, let alone
during such a long and distant future? What kind of legacy are
we leaving our grandchildren?

Even economically speaking, nuclear energy offers shady
promises. Building and maintaining nuclear reactors incurs
astronomical costs. When closing them down, the cost of
decommissioning the fully contaminated structures roughly equals
their initial building cost. True, that investment in nuclear
will create some jobs, but, again, at what price?

Contact with uranium quadruples a person's incidence of lung
cancer during their working lifetime. No other industry allows
for this outrageous degree of harmful substances in the
workplace.

So what's the solution to the energy crisis? Just step outside
in the sun and wind and you will see. Saskatchewan has so much
renewable energy that it only makes sense to harness it as
power. Wind and solar power are entirely clean energy sources
whose costs have dramatically decreased in the past decade. And
chances are, no one will ever bomb a wind turbine or solar panel
...

Sylvie Charpentier

Charpentier is president of the Green Party of Saskatchewan.

Prince Albert Š The Leader-Post (Regina) 2006 		 	 	  	         
	 		 		 		  		  		 		 		
ÂŠ 2006 CanWest Interactive, a division of . All rights
*****************************************************************
 39 Dallas Morning News: Nuclear plant's security faulted 

 | News for Dallas, Texas | Business
 
South Texas Project guards didn't follow rules, study says 

07:50 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 

By ELIZABETH SOUDER / The Dallas Morning News 

Whistleblowers at the South Texas Project nuclear power plant
have reported instances of security guards failing to follow
protocol, leaving the facility vulnerable to intruders,
according to a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists. 

The nonprofit group released a report Tuesday outlining
instances when security guards didn't follow rules, such as
failing to search an equipment truck and allowing it to park 40
yards from a container of spent fuel and allowing a convicted
felon into the plant. 

An official with the South Texas Project, which is 90 miles
southwest of Houston and co-owned by NRG Energy and the cities
of Austin and San Antonio, said the plant has addressed each of
the complaints. 

"The issues that are identified in here have all been identified
to us. We have investigated them and taken actions. We've done
some fairly significant management changes," said Mark
McBurnett, vice president of oversight and regulatory affairs
for two new reactors that the South Texas Project intends to
build. 

The report further states that guards' radio equipment doesn't
work properly, some mock intrusion drills don't reflect
real-world situations, and cleaning and maintenance staff has
access to a room where weapons are stored. 

Mr. McBurnett said the guards told plant officials about the
problems. He said the complaints seem to stem from friction
during the last nine months between guards and management at the
company that provides security at the plant, Wackenhut Corp. 

NRG is planning to expand the South Texas Project in the next 10
years, and rival TXU Corp. plans to build six nuclear reactors
at three sites, possibly in Texas. 

Email esouder@dallasnews.comThis text is invisible on the page,
but this text is affected by the invisible item's flow. This
text is invisible on the page, but this text is affected by the
invisible item's flow. More headlines... 

Š 2006 The Dallas Morning News Co. 	 	   
*****************************************************************
 40 MercoPress: Energy short Chile heatedly ponders the nuclear option 

Falklands-Malvinas & South Atlantic News
 
[MercoPress - www.mercopress.com]   

- Wednesday, 06 September

Leaders within her own ruling Concertación coalition, however,
are now forming a united front to promote further research into
the alternative energy source, citing an estimated seven percent
yearly increase in energy demand and diminishing prospects for
gas imports from Argentina and Bolivia. 

On August 21, the presidents of the four Concertación parties,
during a routine meeting to set the political agenda, demanded
explanations for Bachelets steadfast opposition to nuclear
energy. Though a taboo subject for decades in Chile, nuclear
energy is gaining followers within Latin America, most notably
Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil, as well as around the world,
where 440 nuclear power plants provide for 16% of the worlds
energy needs. 

It is necessary to begin studying nuclear energy to decide
whether it should or should not be used, said Radical Party
President José Antonio Gómez. Doing a study does not mean were
going to build a power plant, but its important to have this
information. 

Bachelet last month announced plans to make Chile energy
independent within two years but has steadfastly rejected
nuclear energy. 

The responsible thing to do is to study, I reiterate, study,
all of the different alternatives that are within reach, from
hydroelectric to thermoelectric, said Lagos Weber. 

But Bachelet has given mixed signals ever since her presidential
campaign in November 2005, when she signed a pact with 20
leading environmentalists to refrain from nuclear energy. Mining
and Energy Minister Karen Poniachik, along with Lagos Weber,
confirmed Bachelets position over the last few weeks. 

However on August 12, the Chilean president signed a bilateral
agreement with Brazil to cooperate in the peaceful use of
nuclear energy, the implications of which are still unclear. 

Nuclear energy resurfaced on the Chilean political agenda in
2004 - during the height of an energy crisis with Argentina -
when then President Ricardo Lagos ordered a study into
alternative energy sources. One year later, in his last
Congressional address, Lagos said Chile cannot ignore nuclear
energy as it plans for the future. 

The outlook about gas-exporting countries Argentina and Bolivia
is no better today. 

Starting next year Argentina will begin to cut its exports,
thanks in part to a booming economy and a 10% annual growth in
energy demand. These gas shortages may affect Chilean homes as
soon as next year, said high-profile economist Alcadio Ońa, and
some experts predict that Argentina will cut off all exports by
2009 or 2010. 

Bolivia, though rich in natural gas reserves, offers no relief.
Its annual production of 35 million cubic meters of gas are
either consumed internally or sent to Brazil and Argentina.
Neither private companies nor the government seem willing to
expand production, an additional million cubic meters per day
would cost 100 million US dollars. 

Northern Chile alone requires four million cubic meters daily.
And with Bolivias demand for a land passage to the Pacific
still unmet, prospects look even dimmer. 

Liquid gas and hydroelectric power are two of the most viable
alternatives. ENAP, the state-owned fuel company, is erecting a
liquid gas plant in Quinteros, and four hydroelectric dams to be
built by the private sector along the Pascua and Baker Rivers in
southern Chile will generate an estimated 2,355 MW for Chiles
central power grid, supplying 25% of the nations current energy
needs. 

But a recent study by Endesa, one of two energy companies
spearheading the 4 billion US dollars hydroelectric project,
reported that Chiles energy demand will grow by 10,000 MW 
four times the capacity of the dams - over the next 10 years.
Given that it takes an average of 10 years to build a nuclear
power plant, the Concertación leaders reason that Chile must
look into new energy sources as quickly as possible. 

One argument in favour of nuclear power is that plants are
expensive to build but relatively cheap to maintain. Consultant
Hugh Rudnick estimated a start-up cost of 1.6 million US dollars
per MW for nuclear plants, compared to the 500,000 to 700,000 US
dollars needed to construct a gas-powered plant. Once up and
running, however, one megawatt hour would cost between 5 and 10
US dollars, less than half the 12 to 30 US dollars price tag for
liquid or natural gas. The nuclear option becomes more
attractive as the countrys overall energy needs increase. It
poses too great of a risk to concentrate more than 15% of the
countrys energy production in any one power plant. A 1000 MW
nuclear power plant  any smaller would not be feasible  would
surpass the current 15% threshold of 800 to 900 MW. In the next
10 to 12 years, however, energy output will grow to around
18,000 MW, thereby reducing the risk of nuclear energy
dependence. 

Proponents point to Taltal, 300 kilometers south of Antofagasta,
as prime real estate for a possible nuclear power plant. Taltal
is located at the meeting point of Chiles two primary energy
distributors--one to the north (the Interconnected System of
Norte Grande, or SING) and one to the south (the Central
Interconnected System, or SIC)--which could both be served by
one nuclear power plant. 

For now, though, the Bachelet administration is focused on
developing other forms of alternative energy, primarily
hydroelectric and liquid gas, as well as wind energy. The
National Environmental Commission (CONAMA) listed seven wind
energy projects that are approved or under review. One is a 372
million US dollars investment by the Spanish company Acciona
Energía Chile S.A. Endesa Eco hopes to invest another 17 million
US dollars into wind power in Region IV. 

Responding to concerns that these alternative energy sources
will not be sufficient to attain independence without nuclear
energy, Lagos Weber said that the energy crisis is not as severe
as some critics have stated. 

No gas stoppages have been announced, he said. There are
indications from anonymous sources that Argentina will not be
able to meet its contracts with us. This is true for the moment,
but Argentina has reiterated its promise to provide gas for both
residential and commercial use in Chile, in the quantity that we
need. 

Chilean gas executives, who met last week with Argentine
authorities in Buenos Aires, are drawing up contingency plans in
case Lagos Webers predictions dont come true, just as the rest
of Chiles energy sector is bracing itself for an uncertain
future. 

By Renata Stepanov 

Fin del Texto - Mercosur - Wednesday, 06 September 

MERCOPRESS is a news agency concentrating in Mercosur
*****************************************************************
 41 Deseret News: Utahns in Congress draw up agenda
 
[deseretnews.com] 

Wednesday, September 6, 2006                             

By Suzanne Struglinski

Deseret Morning News                                          

WASHINGTON  Utah's lawmakers have their own list of what they 
would like to accomplish as Congress heads back to session this 
week and the leadership lays out its fall agenda.

       A tight schedule and upcoming election puts added
pressure on everyone to get bills done  especially because
anything not passed by the end of the year will need to be
reintroduced at the start of the 110th Congress in January.
 
      "I remain optimistic that the Washington County Growth
and Conservation Act can pass this year," said Sen. Bob Bennett,
R-Utah. "We continue to receive comments from constituents on
this, and hearings will likely occur in both the House and
Senate by the end of the month."

       Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah said the Agriculture Committee
will take up an interstate meat shipment bill that he says will
put the state's ranchers on a level playing field with national
and foreign meat producers. He also hopes GOP leadership will
bring up his bill creating a new mandatory reporting system for
dietary supplements and over-the-counter medications.

       "Before we adjourn, I'd love to see the Senate repeal the
estate tax, act on a bill to make health care more affordable
for small businesses, confirm more judicial nominees, and get
its act together on immigration," Hatch said. "But look, it's an
election year, and pundits are saying the majorities in both
houses might change this election. That means partisanship's
likely going to win over policy."

       Hatch said Congress will be able to pass at least one
more of the 13 spending bills still pending  the Defense
Appropriations bill  but he predicts there will be a larger,
catch-all bill Congress will have to approve after the election.
The Senate has only approved the Homeland Security spending bill
while the House passed all its spending bills except for the
Labor and Health and Human Services department bill.

       Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, has provisions in the
Labor/HHS bill that would help community health clinics on the
Navajo Reservation and other rural areas, according to
spokeswoman Alyson Heyrend.

       He also wants the Water Resources Development Act
Reauthorization to go through. Each chamber has passed the bill
and now differences just need to be worked out before it can go
to the president. She said the bill contains water projects that
would benefit some of Utah's rural counties. He'd also like to
see progress on dealing with energy legislation and immigration
reform.

       Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, wants to see something pass that
would strengthen security at the borders.

       "We should pass legislation for more enforcement, more
patrols, more fencing, and more resources to secure our
borders," Bishop said. I'm not sure we'll have a huge
comprehensive package of immigration reform, but we can start
right now by funding more efforts on our borders."

       Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, is "hopeful," his Utah
Recreational Land Exchange Act will be taken up before recess,
according to his office. The bill would swap about 40,000 acres
of federal land for 40,000 acres of land managed by the Utah
School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration in Grand and
Uintah Counties. He also wants to see a "workable" immigration
bill pass and bills extending patent protection to American
Legion badges, among others.

       There is also a bill that would grant the District of
Columbia a voting member in the U.S. House of Representatives
while granting Utah an extra at-large seat until the next
census. The Energy and Water spending bill contains money for
interim storage of nuclear waste, which could have an effect on
Private Fuel Storage in Tooele County.

       Congress has roughly a month to accomplish a long list of
items before members head back to their states to finish up
campaigns before the November election and even then just a
handful of days before adjourning for the year.

       The Senate reconvened Tuesday after the monthlong August
recess and the House returns to session today. In a conference
call with reporters, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.,
said he would be meeting with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid,
D-Nev., and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., on how to
accomplish what he called an "aggressive agenda."

       The Senate picked up debate on the Defense Appropriations
bill Tuesday, a spending bill left hanging before it went on
recess. Frist said it was too early to tell if all the spending
bills would need to go into on big bill as Hatch predicted.

       Frist aims to go on another recess starting Sept. 29
through the Nov. 7. Congress would reconvene after the election
and work up until Thanksgiving. The House could have a similar
schedule.

       In a speech on the Senate floor, First said much of the
agenda for the next few weeks will focus on the safety and
security of the American people.

       He wants to pass the Defense and Homeland Security
spending bill as well as have the Senate vote on John Bolton to
be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and other
security-related nominations.

       Frist also wants to see an update energy package go to
the President  to help reduce dependence on foreign oil  and
work on the terrorist surveillance program, budget reform,
healthcare technology and Internet gambling, he said his speech.

       "As it is now, this industry threatens to undermine the
quality of life of millions of Americans by bringing an
addictive behavior right into our living rooms," Frist said.

       But Reid would rather see more dialogue on changing the
course in the Iraq war, health care policies and education.

       "I don't favor Internet gambling but we have a lot of
things that are so critical in this country, as important as
some might think (a ban on) Internet gambling is, do we need to
spend time in the next 12 days working on it? That's all we
have, 12 days." Reid said.

       He said he cannot even "comprehend" that some Republicans
are talking about bringing the estate tax repeal up again when
time is so short, especially when it would only benefit "the
richest of the rich." He would like to see the Congress focus on
a new direction in the Iraq war, port security, chemical plant
security and nuclear power plant security.

       The congressional schedule usually runs Tuesday through
Thursday, with members using Mondays and Fridays to head back to
their districts. Frist's office said the exact day-by-day
schedule has not been worked out yet so senators might be here
extra days to complete what needs to be done.

       "We don't have much time to do real legislating," Reid
said. 


Š 2006 Deseret News Publishing Company
*****************************************************************
 42 Pahrump Valley Times: DOE's Groundwater display at library  

Sep. 06, 2006 

 PVT 


The U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security
Administration Nevada Site Office, Environmental Management
Groundwater display is on exhibit at the Pahrump Community
Library through Oct. 2. 

The groundwater display addresses frequently asked questions
regarding groundwater at the Nevada Test Site. 

The Pahrump Community Library is located at 701 East St. through
Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. 

For more information on this display and other Nevada Test Site
programs, visit www.nv.doe.gov. <img border="0" 
src="http://ads.stephensmedia.com/image.ng/site=pvt&channel=pahru 
mp&size=t">

webmaster@pahrumpvalleytimes.com
Copyright Š Pahrump Valley Times, 1997 - 2006 
*****************************************************************
 43 Manila Times: Waste cargo mediator surfaces
 	 	
Thursday, September 07, 2006   
      
By Maricel V. Cruz and William Depasupil, Reporters 

Rep. Joseph Santiago of Catanduanes on Wednesday admitted
requesting Customs officials to release the shipment of 1.84
million liters of used oil that was seized in Surigao City. 

But Santiago said he was only trying to help the owner of the
shipment, Joseph Cua, who is his constituent. Cua owns shipping
agency and a bus company in Catanduanes. 

Cua is my constituent, he asked for my help . . . I asked him
if he has all the necessary permits [to transport his cargo] and
based on the documents he gave me it appears he did not violate
any law, Santiago told The Manila Times, noting that Cua called
him up last Monday about the issue. 

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said Santiago had
interceded in Cuas behalf, but made it clear he was not
pressured to release the shipment. 

I was not pressured. He called me to clarify that the seized
cargo was not nuclear waste but rather used oil, Morales said
in a telephone interview. 

Santiago said Cua showed him documents to prove the shipment was
aboveboard. Among the papers were the clearance from Palau to
ship the used oil from Koror, Palau, to Malaysia; the
Environmental Quality Protection Board (EQPB document No.
26-1495); contract between the government of Palau; agreement
between Power Zone Petroleum Products Corp. (owner of the
shipment) and the Golden Eastern Synergy (the recipient of the
shipment), bill of lading, etc. 

He said the tugboat towing the barge of used oil experienced
vilination and unusual tracking vessel from beneath forcing it
to make an unscheduled stop in Surigao on August 22. 
Santiago also denied that the shipment contained nuclear waste. 

I could not understand why environment officials declared that
the cargo contains nuclear waste when in fact its used oil,
which also being sold in the Philippines, he said. 

Santiago called on the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources and the Bureau of Customs to make the immediate action
to resolve the issue. 

Asked if Santiago was the owner of Power Zone Corp., the
consignee of the seized shipment, Morales said that as far as he
knew, the firm was owned by a former politician from Bicol. 

The estimated 500,000 to one million of liquid waste, which the
Coast Guard said was used oil and not nuclear waste, was loaded
onto barge Cheryl Ann and was being towed by the tugboat Jacob
when it was intercepted. 

Based on documents, which The Times has obtained, the shipment
came from the Aimeliik power plant in Palau. 

Morales said that Customs allows ships with engine problems to
dock in Philippine ports but stressed that he was not buying the
ships captain argument hook, line and sinker. 

Maj. Isabelo Tibayan III, Customs enforcement and security
service operations chief, had said that the shipment was nuclear
waste. 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources will have
the shipment tested to find out if it is radioactive. 

Dennis Guerrero, head of the three-man team sent by the National
Anti-Environmental Crime Task Force to investigate the shipment,
said they would send a sample of the contraband to the
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) to verify the
nature of the oil. 

Other members of the team are Alex de Guzman and Engr. Ramon
Aguilar. 

Guerrero said he believes that the oil is a form of nuclear
waste but he wants the final say to come from the PNRI. 

He said the cargo was not hazardous per se and was only
classified as such under the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and
Nuclear Waste Control Act. 

The law defines hazardous substances as those which cause
short-term acute hazards, such as acute toxicity by ingestion,
inhalation or skin absorption, corrosivity or other skin or eye
contact hazards or the risk of fire or explosion; or long-term
environmental hazards, including chronic toxicity upon repeated
exposure, carcinogenicity [which may in some cases result from
acute exposure but with a long latent period], resistance to
detoxification process such a biodegradation, the potential to
pollute underground or surface waters, or aesthetically
objectionable properties such as offensive odors. 

Hazardous waste are those without any safe commercial,
industrial, agricultural or economic usage and are shipped,
transported or brought from the country of origin for dumping or
disposal into or in transit through any part of the territory of
the Philippines. They also refer to by-products, side-products,
process residues, spent reaction media, contaminated plant or
equipment or other substances from manufacturing operations, and
as consumer discards of manufacture products. 

On the other hand, nuclear waste are hazardous waste made
radioactive by exposure to the radiation incidental to the
production or utilization of nuclear fuels but does not include
nuclear fuel, or radioisotopes which have reached the final
stage of fabrication so as to be usable for any scientific,
medical, agricultural, commercial, or industrial purpose. 

Roy Kyamko, deputy chief of the National Anti-Environmental
Crime Task Force, said used oil could be used as boiler fuel and
furnace oil after it is treated. 

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said on Wednesday that based
on Kyamkos report, Palau Utility Corp., the Power Zone
Petroleum Corp. and Coastal Shipping Corp., could also be
penalized for violation of the countrys security law. 

It has a security implication because of the charge that the
barge was carrying nuclear waste, Ermita said during his
regular Wednesday briefing.

 --With Mark Ivan Roblas and Sam Mediavilla   
        
         Copyright (c) 2001 The Manila Times | Terms of Service
*****************************************************************
 44 Manila Times: OPINION > Now come toxic waste 
	 	
Thursday, September 07, 2006   
      
EDITORIAL   
  
 Still reeling from the damage of the oil spill off Guimaras
province, our country was almost hit last week by another
environmental disaster of a different kind but with similar
deadly consequences. 

We refer to the foiled dumping of an estimated 500,000 to one
million liters of liquid nuclear waste in Philippine waters.

Fortunately, the vessel carrying the hazardous cargo was seized
off the coast of Surigao by alert Customs operatives before it
could dispose of the shipment. 

The waste, declared as used oil, is said to have come from a
nuclear power plant in Palau and were consigned to Power Zone
Corp. in Manila. 

Dumping of highly radioactive waste has far-reaching dangerous
results. That is the reason it has been banned worldwide for
more than three decades. We have outlawed it in the Philippines
by passing the Antiwaste Dumping Law. 

The perils of nuclear waste disposal stem mainly from the threat
it poses to plants, marine and human life. It kills fish with
enormous social and economic costs to our fishing industry and
the environment. 

In early 1993 when radioactive waste dumping was prevalent in
Europe, fish poisonings were reported in the Barents Sea. It was
found that seals were dying from blood cancer caused by nuclear
waste dumped into the sea. What about the people who ate
radioactive fish? 

The former Soviet Union had been blamed for much of the nuclear
waste unloading into the Arctic Sea when it was running out of
ground space to store them. This practice caused international
problems. At one point, Norway assailed the dumping as a
security risk to people and to the biology of northern waters. 

Since many Filipinos depend on fishing for livelihood, the
dumping of a large volume of liquid nuclear waste by the ship
seized by Customs operatives would have poisoned our fishing
grounds, throwing thousands of fishermen out of work. 

The ship captain claims that the deadly cargo was destined for
Malaysia but sources interviewed by Customs investigators said
the shipment was really intended for the Philippines. 

It is highly unconscionable for an unidentified Bicol
congressman to pressure the Bureau of Customs into releasing the
vessel obviously to save the consignee from prosecution. The
legislator has committed a disservice to his country by
protecting a person or a company potentially involved in
polluting Philippine waters with nuclear waste. 

The government should unmask the people behind the attempted
dumping and prosecute them to the hilt for violations of the
antiwaste dumping laws and of the Customs and Tariff Code of the
Philippines and the Basel Convention. 

The attempted dumping underscores the vulnerability of the
Philippines as a trash can for a variety of spoiled goods and
waste. One reason is the lack of vessels and surveillance
equipment with which to watch our porous borders. Another is the
laxity of our customs, immigration and coast patrol personnel in
guarding our coastlines.   

The government should stop the proclivity of many countries to
dump their trash, rotten goods, spoiled meat, unwanted
throwaways and all sorts of garbage in Philippine waters and at
the Customs compounds. Even the trafficking of undesirable
people is taking place under the noses of our immigration
authorities.   
        
Copyright (c) 2001 The Manila Times 
*****************************************************************
 45 Toronto Star: Plant's radioactive waste a Brampton election issue
 
being asked to sign pledge 
Company denies it has plans for incinerator

Sep. 6, 2006. 01:00

AMMIKE FUNSTONSTAFF REPORTER

A Brampton group is using the municipal election as a
conventional weapon in a battle to shoot down a metal recycling
company's nuclear aspirations.

People Against Radioactive Contamination is enlisting the
support of Brampton councillors and any candidates challenging
them in the Nov. 13 vote, according to group spokeswoman Dora
Jeffries.

Council has supported the group's stand against an application 
since withdrawn  by Mississauga Metals &Alloys Inc. to install
an incinerator for low-level radioactive waste (nothing stronger
than radiation from a dental X-ray, the company says), and so
have other registered candidates who have been approached,
Jeffries said.

The group plans to ask all candidates to sign a written pledge
of support as a way of discouraging a change of heart after the
election, she said.

It also wants elected officials to oppose any possible revival
of the incinerator application or renewal of a licence to
process or recycle low-level radioactive materials near
residential areas.

The plant is located on Sun Pac Blvd., at Williams Parkway E.

The dispute heated up recently when the company fired back,
warning the group to stop distributing flyers containing alleged
defamatory statements.

"The company is not trying to stifle public debate," said Chris
Barnett, a lawyer acting for the firm. "We understand people are
entitled to their opinions and we're happy to engage in public
debate. But it has to be based on facts. There is material being
distributed which really doesn't have a foundation in fact.

"People are in their homes and someone comes to the door with a
picture of a barrel with a radioactive symbol on it with the
wording `Radioactive waste in our backyard.' We don't think
that's promoting responsible debate," Barnett said.

When the company is processing low-level radioactive waste, it
makes up only 10 per cent of the overall materials being
recycled, he said.

In a letter to the group, Barnett wrote that the flyers "wrongly
convey to members of the public that there is a
health-and-safety risk posed by the ongoing operations."

The term "radioactive waste" is being used "to convey a sense of
dangerous and highly radioactive material."

And the low-level radioactive waste present on-site "is stored
in keeping with the strict requirements of the Canadian Nuclear
Safety Commission, the federal regulatory body."

Statements by the group referring to "multiple fires and
explosions" at the plant, with references to processing of
nuclear materials, "are meant to convey that there is a
persistent safety hazard," the letter said.

There were fires at the plant in May and June, but they were
extinguished without injury, the company said. The plant was
cited for national fire code and other safety violations and was
shut down for about three weeks.

Jeffries said the group has stopped handing out the flyer and
the wording will be changed.

 Barnett said the company has no further plans for an
incinerator in Brampton. But it will seek renewal of its licence
on Sept. 30 to process and recycle metals with low-level
radiation, he said.

The company hasn't processed radioactive materials in the city
since Dec. 20, 2005, the letter states. The operation was
stopped at the request of the nuclear commission.

Copyright Toronto Star 
*****************************************************************
 46 New Scientist: Yucca Mountain will not blow - earth - 

09 September 2006 - 

[NewScientist.com]                      

NEVADA'S Yucca mountain, the chosen site for a massive nuclear
waste repository, may be a bit safer than previously thought. 	 

In 2005, the US Department of Energy (DoE) estimated the odds of
a volcanic eruption at Yucca mountain in the next 10,000 years
at about 1.6 in 10,000, making it a small but legitimate
concern. Surveys of the area are incomplete, however, prompting
a warning from researchers later that year that the DoE may be
underestimating the risk by a factor of 10 to 100. 	 

Now Tom Parsons of the US Geological Survey in Menlo Park,
California, says the risk might be even lower than DoE
predictions. Using a 3D computer model of the Earth's crust in
the region, he found that volcanic activity should concentrate
to the north and south of the mountain, near the ends of the
area's three major faults (Geology, vol 34, p 785). "The
proposed repository lies between faults," says Parsons. "As long
as those faults remain active, magmatism will probably stay away
from [Yucca Mountain]." 	 

He says other models overestimate the risk because they
concentrate on the frequency of eruption, rather than the
location.               

From issue 2568 of New Scientist magazine, 09 September 2006, 
page 6  
*****************************************************************
 47 LompocRecord.com: Zero tolerance for known toxin
 
Perchlorate is an ingredient in rocket fuel. Unfortunately, the
toxic chemical has not confined itself to that medium. 
Perchlorate has leached its way into the water and food supply.
Scientists have found it in milk, cheese, lettuce and other
vegetable crops in California and anywhere else military
installations used it as a combustible component of rocket fuel.
State and federal health officials have identified more than 450
wells and other sources in Southern California contaminated by
perchlorate. 

As you might expect, this volatile chemical is not harmless. In
heavy enough concentrations, it can disrupt the proper
development of brain function in children and in human fetuses. 

Federal and state officials disagree over what level of exposure
to perchlorate is enough to cause problems in humans. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency says 24.5 parts per billion.
California health officials say the limit is 6 ppb. Private
environmental watchdog groups say the safe level is more like 1,
or at most 2 parts per billion. 

State officials plan to make 6 ppb the allowable level - over
the strenuous objections of the chemical industry - making
California the second state to impose restrictions tougher than
the federal rules. 
Why would states - or the federal government, for that matter -
not enforce zero tolerance for perchlorate? 
Government agencies that are supposed to protect citizens from
environmental risks too often take a how-much-can-they-stand
approach, apparently worried about the cost to industry. What
about the costs to the human race? 


Sept. 6, 2006 

Copyright Š 2006 Lee Central Coast Newspapers. All Rights
Reserved. 
*****************************************************************
 48 Vermont Guardian: Radioactive VY shipment lands in Pennsylvania

By Kathryn Casa | Vermont Guardian 

Posted September 6, 2006 

Editors note: This is a revised and corrected version of a story
posted earlier this morning. 

BRATTLEBORO  A container shipped from Vermont Yankee on Aug. 31
ended up at its destination later that night with radiation
readings four times higher than those allowable under federal
law, according to a report filed Sept. 1 with the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC). 

The shipment  a box measuring 6x7x8 feet containing a machine
used to cut and crush control rods, the devices inserted between
fuel rods in the reactor to control the fission process 
registered no more than 60 millirem per hour before it left
Vermont, according to Vermont Yankee (VY) records. That level is
well below the federal Department of Transportations (DOT) 200
millirem hourly contact exposure limit. 

However, when it arrived at the Susquehanna reactor in Berwick,
PA, the bottom of the container registered 820 millirem per
hour, more than four times the DOT limit. 

The container was shipped on a flatbed truck by a private
contractor  Hittman Transport Services of Barnwell, SC. As of
Tuesday the container remained closed in a controlled area at
the Susquehanna plant, while inspectors made special
preparations before opening it, according to NRC spokesman Neil
Sheehan. 

He said they planned to open the container Wednesday. 

En route to its destination, the truck stopped at rest stops on
the westbound side of the Massachusetts Turnpike and on
southbound Interstate 87 after existing Interstate 90, according
to an incident report filed by Susquehanna officials, who were
required to make a report to the NRC because of the high
radiation recording. 

No one to the knowledge of the driver came in contact with the
shipment, the report states. The truck arrived at Susquehanna at
8:45 p.m. and the driver, who was wearing a radiation detection
monitor, slept in the vehicle. Sheehan said the drivers
dosimeter showed readings well within acceptable levels. 

A spokeswoman for the trucking company said she had no knowledge
of the incident. 

According to the NRC report, the shipment was formally received
at the Susquehanna facility at 8:05 a.m. the next morning. The
high reading was recorded at 11:15 a.m., and Susquehanna
officials notified the NRC at 12:15 p.m. 

The shipment showed no signs of surface contamination, the
report declared, and it exceeded the dose rate limit only on the
bottom of the container once it was lifted off the truck. Doses
under the trailer prior to lifting the shipment did not exceed
the limit," the report states. 

Unless someone got right up under it, the probability that
someone would have received any kind of exposure from that
configuration is low, said Deputy Regional Administrator Marc
Dapas. 

VY spokesman Rob Williams also emphasized that despite the
unexplained high radiation levels, the shipment represented no
threat to public health and safety in transit because the
radioactive side was against the bed of the truck, which
provided additional protection, he said. 

At no time during the shipment was there any additional exposure
to anyone because the flatbed truck provided adequate shielding,
Williams said. In fact, the radiation level in question was
detected only at the bottom of the package, and only after it
was lifted off the flatbed, so this had no impact on public
health and safety. 

Vermont Yankee is responsible for shipments while in transit,
Williams noted. Two experts from VYs radiological shipping group
had left for Pennsylvania to determine what may have caused the
increase, he said Tuesday. 

Weve reviewed our radiological survey and confirmed that the
package left here in compliance, Williams noted. 

Sheehan speculated the increase might have been due to the
machine shifting during transit, resulting in a part with higher
contamination levels closer to the bottom of the box. Or, he
said, a piece of debris from the VY spent fuel pool could still
have been attached to it. 

The tool is what Sheehan called a cutter-shearer machine that
crushes control rods in order to ship them more easily. Control
rods are used to separate spent fuel rods in the reactor. They
are inserted between the fuel rods in crucifix form, with a
centerpiece and four blades inserted between the fuel bundles,
and later stored in the plants spent fuel pool, Sheehan said. 

He said reactor operators periodically install new control rods
and remove old rods from the fuel pool. 

Anti-nuclear activist Ray Shadis, technical advisor to the
Brattleboro-based New England Coalition, speculated that the
discrepancy in radiation readings could have been due to
inaccurate VY detection equipment. 

What is serious is the possibility that VY radiation detection
was off by a whopping factor of four and/or the probability that
the contents of the package leaked and/or became more exposed as
shielding shifted or settled, Shadis said in an e-mail to the
Vermont Guardian. 

At 820 millirem per hour, a person exposed to the hottest part
of the container could have, in one hour, received eight times
the annual dose allowed by the NRC, or their annual allowable
dose in less than eight minutes, Shadis noted. 

Unlike the DOT, the NRC does not set a contact exposure ceiling,
but the agency limits exposure for members of the public to 100
millirem annually. 

This is just a real sloppy performance, Shadis continued. Let's
hope it is an exception and not the standard. 

    | | Northern Vermont: PO Box 335, Winooski, VT 05404 Southern 
Vermont: 139 Main Street, Suite 702, Brattleboro, VT 05301 
Contact: 802.861.4880 (ph) | 802.861.6388 (fax) | 877.231.5382 
(toll-free)

 Š2005 Vermont Guardian | 

Visit us: www.vermontguardian.com This document can be located 
online: www.vermontguardian.com/local/092006/VYShipment.shtml 
*****************************************************************
 49 [NukeNet] India Deal & NSG: Japanese NGOs speak out
 
Date: Wed, 06 Sep 2006 16:03:42 -0700

X-Nohoney: yes white-hard - relay H=adsl-63-203-231-61.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net (borg.energy-net.org) [63.203.231.61]
X-Sender-Host-Address: 63.203.231.61
X-Sender-Host-Name: adsl-63-203-231-61.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net
X-Spam-Class: HAM-VERY-WHITELIST

<x-flowed>
NukeNet Anti-Nuclear Network (nukenet@energyjustice.net)

48 Japanese NGOs today submitted a petition to Prime Minister Koizumi
calling on the Japanese government to oppose lifting Nuclear Suppliers
Group (NSG) restrictions on nuclear trade with India. Since NSG
decisions are made by consensus, if Japan says "No", the sanctions will
remain in place. For many reasons, including Japan's special position
as the victim of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
opposition to the deal by Japan is likely to make it easier for other
countries to voice their opposition too.

The petition, initiated by CNIC, was released at a press conference
today in which representatives of the following groups presented their
reasons for signing the petition:

Citizens' Nuclear Information Center
Femin Women's Democratic Club
Greenpeace Japan
Japan Congress Against A- and H-Bombs
Japan Council against A & H Bombs
Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations
National Christian Council In Japan, Peace and Nuclear Issues Committee
Stop the Monju Tokyo

We encourage groups and individuals outside of Japan to also lobby the
Japanese government (e.g. letters to the Japanese Ambassador) about
this issue.

Philip White
International Liaison Officer

6 September 2006
Appeal to the Japanese Government
"Oppose lifting Nuclear Suppliers Group restrictions on nuclear trade
with India"

We appeal to the Japanese government to resolutely oppose lifting
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) restrictions on nuclear trade with India
for the following reasons:

1. In defiance of the global yearning for nuclear disarmament, India
produced and tested nuclear weapons. Hitherto, India has followed its
own path, pointing to the lack of effort towards nuclear disarmament on
the part of the nuclear weapons states and to the inequality of the
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). However, as far as the international
non-proliferation regime is concerned, there is no alternative to the
NPT.

2. The proposed deal could send a dangerous message to other nuclear
proliferators. Pakistan is already demanding the same treatment as
India, while North Korea, Iran and other countries will conclude that
if they once acquire nuclear weapons, eventually their possession of
these weapons will gain international acceptance.

3. India is not a party to the NPT and it has not signed the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Furthermore, it has not joined
the fissile material production moratorium and it has not played a
constructive role in negotiations for a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty
(FMCT). For its part, the US has not ratified the CTBT and it too has
not played a constructive role in FMCT negotiations. The House
legislation promotes a moratorium on the production of fissile material
and the implementation of the FMCT as US policy. However, it lacks
binding force on these points. The Japanese government calls for the
speedy implementation of the CTBT and the FMCT and the universal
application of the NPT, but the existing circumstances in regard to
these treaties are unlikely to change under the proposed deal.

4. Under the proposed deal, India will accept safeguards on some of its
nuclear facilities, but many nuclear facilities will be declared
"military" and thus remain outside the scope of these safeguards.
India's fast breeder reactors, uranium enrichment facilities and
reprocessing facilities, which are of particular significance for
nuclear proliferation, will not be covered by safeguards. It will
therefore remain possible to produce fissile material and nuclear
weapons at these facilities.

5. The possible supply of nuclear fuel to India would, in fact, add to
its nuclear weapons capabilities by freeing-up its existing and limited
domestic capacity to produce highly enriched uranium and plutonium
exclusively for weapons.

6. The devastation which resulted from the bombing of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki gave Japan a deep insight into the inhumanity of nuclear
weapons. This insight, gained through great suffering, confers upon
Japan a special duty to work for non-proliferation and nuclear
disarmament. Japan must not stand idly by when the principles of
non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament are trampled upon with such
contempt.

Petition was submitted to the Japanese government on 6 September 2006
and was signed by 48 groups including the following:

Citizens' Nuclear Information Center
Chernobyl Children's Fund, Japan
Consumers Union of Japan
Depleted Uranium Center Japan
Femin Women's Democratic Club
Global Peace Campaign
Green Action
Greenpeace Japan
Harmonics Life Center
Humankind Survival Research Society
Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies
Japan Congress Against A- and H-Bombs
Japan Council against A- and H-Bombs
Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations
National Christian Council In Japan, Peace and Nuclear Issues Committee
No Nukes Asia Forum Japan
Peace Boat
Stop the Monju Tokyo
YWCA of Japan

(Groups with no English name are not included on this list.)

Background
On July 26, 2006 the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation
to exempt a proposed nuclear cooperation agreement with India from
existing nuclear trade restrictions. The Senate is likely to pass
similar legislation this Autumn. Before the nuclear cooperation
agreement can become effective, the House legislation requires that the
final text be submitted to Congress for approval.

The House legislation is a major step towards implementation of a July
18, 2005 joint statement by President Bush and Prime Minister Singh, in
which President Bush promised to work to lift US and international
restrictions on nuclear trade with India.

Since India does not have comprehensive International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) safeguards covering all its nuclear activities and
facilities, nuclear trade with India requires exemption from the U.S.
Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and also from the rules of the Nuclear
Suppliers Group of countries (NSG). The House legislation provides
exemption from the Atomic Energy Act subject to various conditions. One
of the conditions is that the NSG must decide by consensus to permit
supply to India of nuclear items covered by the guidelines of the
NSG. That means lifting NSG restrictions on nuclear trade with India.

In order to be eligible for the exemption, the legislation also
requires India to adopt certain nonproliferation measures. However,
these measures fail to meet minimum nonproliferation standards. As
shown in the following quote, the proposed agreement will, in fact, do
great damage to the nonproliferation regime.

Twelve nuclear experts summed up the deal as follows in a letter to
IAEA Director Mahomed ElBaradei:
"...the deal threatens to undermine the nonproliferation regime by
granting India the benefits of civil nuclear commerce, while securing
no meaningful constraint on the growth of India's nuclear weapons
stockpile or requiring India to accept the equivalent of the
nonproliferation obligations of Articles I and VI of the nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)."1

Two Indian and two Pakistani nuclear experts found that "the Bush-Singh
proposal...would allow India not only to continue but also potentially
to accelerate the buildup of its stockpile of weapons materials." 2
They concluded that "the deal will enable India, should it choose to do
so, to grow its stocks of weapons grade plutonium from the present rate
of about 7 weapons worth a year to about 40-50 weapons worth a year."
By giving India access to nuclear fuel from overseas, the proposed
agreement will free up India's own limited supplies for use in nuclear
weapons.

The legislation requires India to provide the U.S. and the IAEA with a
credible plan to separate civil and military nuclear facilities,
materials, and programs and to conclude a safeguards agreement with the
IAEA. However, many key nuclear facilities will not be subject to
safeguards.

Of India's 22 existing and under construction nuclear power reactors,
it is proposed that only 14 will be subject to safeguards. However, 4
of India's existing reactors and 2 reactors which are under
construction are from overseas and their supply was conditional upon
the application of safeguards anyway. Hence safeguards will be applied
to only 50% (8 out of 16) of India's indigenous reactors. India's
plutonium producing military reactors and its fast breeder reactors
will not be subject to safeguards. Its uranium enrichment and
reprocessing facilities will also be exempt. Finally, India will retain
the right to determine which future nuclear facilities it builds will
be civilian and open to safeguards and which will not.

Clearly such a safeguards agreement will not prevent India from
increasing its stock of nuclear weapons. Rather, it will enable India
to continue to expand its supplies of unsafeguarded nuclear weapons
material.

The other conditions that the House legislation imposes on India rely
on subjective judgments, which will be made on the basis of the
prevailing political circumstances. It can be expected that India's
support for US geopolitical objectives in regard to Iran, Iraq and
China, as well as its war against terror, will be prioritized over
non-proliferation issues.

Japan's Influence as a Member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group
The Bush-Singh joint statement and the legislation being considered in
Congress show a careless disregard for the NPT. They are likely to
great damage to the international nonproliferation regime. Fortunately,
there is still a chance for more prudent countries to influence the
outcome.

The NSG must decide whether to permit nuclear trade with India. So far
Japan has not indicated that it supports the US on this issue. Since
NSG decisions are made by consensus, Japan's voice on the NSG carries
great weight. Furthermore, if Japan takes a stand, other countries will
be encouraged to follow Japan's example.

References:
1. Experts Challenge IAEA Head's Statements on U.S.-Indian Nuclear
Deal, July 24, 2006 "An Open Letter To Mohamed ElBaradei,
Director-General, International Atomic Energy Agency"
http://www.armscontrol.org/pressroom/2006/20060724_ElBaradei_India.asp

2. "Fissile materials in South Asia and the implications of the
U.S.-India nuclear deal: Draft report for the International Panel on
Fissile Materials", by Z. Mian, A. H. Nayyar, R. Rajaraman and M.V.
Ramana, 11 July 2006, pages 4,5.
http://www.fissilematerials.org/southasia.pdf

Citizens' Nuclear Information Center
3F Kotobuki Bdg, 1-58-15, Higashi-Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-0003
Phone: 81-3-5330-9520
Fax: 81-3-5330-9530
http://cnic.jp/english/
cnic@nifty.com

_______________________________________________________________________
Subscribe/Unsubscribe Here: http://www.energyjustice.net/nukenet/
Change your settings or access the archives at:
http://mail.energyjustice.net/mailman/listinfo/nukenet_energyjustice.net

</x-flowed>
*****************************************************************
 50 Biowarfare agent research and Livermore Lab Site
 
Date: Wed, 06 Sep 2006 16:04:15 -0700

X-Nohoney: yes white-hard - relay H=adsl-63-203-231-61.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net (borg.energy-net.org) [63.203.231.61]
X-Sender-Host-Address: 63.203.231.61
X-Sender-Host-Name: adsl-63-203-231-61.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net
X-Spam-Class: HAM-VERY-WHITELIST

<x-flowed>
Greetings. You are invited! The workshop topic is controversial biowarfare
agent research. Please read on...    -- Marylia

Media Advisory
for more information, contact:
Loulena Miles, Tri-Valley CAREs (925) 443-7148
Edward Hammond, US Director of the Sunshine Project (512) 494-0545
Bob Sarvey, Business Owner in Tracy (209) 830-0349

COMMUNITY WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS BIOWARFARE AGENT RESEARCH COMPLEX AT
LIVERMORE LAB SITE 300 NEAR TRACY

Watchdog Groups, Scientists to Present New Information, Safety Risks of
Locating one of the World's Largest Biolabs in California's Agricultural
Heartland

WHAT:
Presentations and community discussion on the proposed National Bio and
Agro Defense Facility (NBAF) at Site 300. The bio-complex would include
half-a-million  square feet of Bio-Safety Level 3 and 4 space in which
experiments with mad cow disease, avian flu and Ebola virus (among others)
could be conducted.

WHEN:
Tuesday, September 12, 2006 from 7 PM - 9 PM

WHERE:
Community space at Sarvey Shoe Store - 501 W. Grantline Road, Tracy

WHO:
* Dr. Judith Flanagan is a Molecular Biologist and an Assistant Professor
at UC San Francisco Medical School. Dr. Flanagan serves as an expert
consultant to Tri-Valley CAREs to advise on health and safety issues
concerning biowarfare agent research.

* Edward Hammond is Director of the US office of the Sunshine Project. He
has worked on biotechnology-related policy since 1993. Hammond conducted a
national comprehensive study of committees that oversee biolabs like the
ones planned in Livermore and Tracy and he found serious problems. He
presented his study at the Biological Weapons Convention in Geneva.

* Loulena Miles is the Staff Attorney at Tri-Valley CAREs. She serves as
the group's project manager for the Livermore Lab Site-Wide Environmental
Impact Statement and heads the effort to prevent the
collocation of advanced biowarfare agent research and nuclear weapons at
Livermore Lab.

WHY:
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will determine its "finalist"
candidate sites by the end of 2006, and perhaps as early as October.
According to DHS, "community acceptance" will be a major criteria used by
the agency in deciding where to locate the NBAF. Tracy residents have a
short period of time to educate themselves and speak out. Tri-Valley CAREs
is sponsoring this forum, and also circulating petitions, fact sheets, and
other materials to offer to community members in the               Central
Valley and Bay Area a mechanism for voicing their concerns.

For more info: Tri-Valley CAREs (925) 443-7148 or www.trivalleycares.org

Listed speakers will be available for pre-event interviews upon request.

  -- 30 --

Marylia Kelley
Executive Director
Tri-Valley CAREs
(Communities Against a Radioactive Environment)
2582 Old First Street
Livermore, CA USA 94551

<http://www.trivalleycares.org> - is our web site address. Please visit us
there!

(925) 443-7148 - is our phone
(925) 443-0177 - is our fax

</x-flowed>
*****************************************************************
 51 Hanford News: More data needed on Hanford soil
 
This story was published Wednesday, September 6th, 2006 

By Annette Cary, Herald staff writer 

The Department of Energy knows too little about the chemical and
radioactive contamination in Hanford soil that eventually could
migrate to the ground water, according to a Government
Accountability Office report. 

DOE faces a 2008 deadline to propose to regulators its plans for
addressing some ground water and soil contamination at the
Hanford nuclear reservation. 

But agreeing that it does not know enough about soil
contamination, DOE has asked regulators for a three-year delay
on the legally binding deadline. 

"Generally on the ground water front we are realizing we need
more information to design effective treatment systems and
address vadose zone concerns," said Nick Ceto, Hanford program
manager for the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA and the
Washington State Department of Ecology regulate Hanford. 

However, EPA would expect work on cleaning up and protecting
ground water to continue and even expand in the meantime, Ceto
said. 

DOE has extensive knowledge of what contaminants already are in
the ground water, according to the GAO report released Tuesday.
The problem is understanding the extent and location of
contaminants in the vadose zone, or soil beneath the earth's
surface and above the ground water, that pose a risk to ground
water, it said. 

"The extent to which contamination from the Hanford site has
threatened, or will threaten, the Columbia River, is not fully
understood," the GAO report said. However, it noted that DOE has
found that contamination that already has reached the river is
barely detectable because the high volume of water dilutes it. 

During the past production of plutonium for the nation's nuclear
weapons program, about 450 billion gallons of contaminated water
and liquid waste was dumped into the ground at Hanford. In
addition, underground tanks holding 53 million gallons of
radioactive waste are believed to have leaked 500,000 to 1
million gallons of waste containing 1 million curies of
radioactivity in the past. 

DOE has limited knowledge on the location and extent of
contamination from wastes dumped in cribs and trenches near
underground tanks in central Hanford, the GAO said. In addition,
characterization of the lower portions of the vadose zone is
difficult and expensive and few technologies have been tested or
developed for removing or isolating that waste. 

DOE is taking steps to better understand the risk to the
Columbia River from contamination and replace ineffective
cleanup technologies, the report said. 

It is reworking its approach to computer modeling of the future
effects of contamination on river conditions following a lawsuit
brought by Washington state and settled earlier this year. 

Data discrepancies were found in DOE data during the lawsuit and
questions were raised about inconsistent assumptions in computer
models. DOE has agreed to consolidate two studies on the
cleanup's effects on ground water into a single, integrated
study. 

DOE also is looking at new methods to treat ground water
contamination to supplement or replace treatment methods that
have not worked well. That includes testing a chemical treatment
for uranium in ground water just north of Richland to prevent it
from migrating to the Columbia River. 

DOE is making a second attempt to address management problems
with its ground water protection efforts, the GAO said. 

After a 1998 GAO report calling for better integration of
projects to protect the river, DOE took some initial steps to
better coordinate its ground water and vadose zone programs, the
GAO said. However, the improvement plan was not completed after
DOE Hanford offices were reorganized and contracts changed. 

DOE proposes to consolidate most vadose zone and ground water
characterization cleanup activities under Fluor Hanford by the
end of the month. The work has been spread among three
contractors. 

Proposed management improvements are important and needed, but
DOE also needs to establish results-oriented performance
measures for its management initiative, the GAO said.
Performance measures could help ensure that potential benefits
continue when organizational and contract changes are made, it
said. 

On the Net: www.gao.gov 

Š 2006 Tri-City Herald. All rights reserved.
*****************************************************************
 52 DenverPost.com: No job too big for CH2M Hill 

  Article Last Updated: 09/06/2006 12:03:52 PM MDT  

By Chryss Cada ColoradoBiz Magazine  

When you discuss CH2M Hill, Colorado's second-largest private
company, the easiest question to ask might be, "What don't they
do?" And the answer is just as simple: They don't do small. 

CH2M Hill, which until this year was ranked for three years at
the top of the ColoradoBiz Top 250 Private Companies list, is a
global engineering and construction firm with 18,000 employees
who provide services in nearly every corner of the world, from
building super cleanrooms in Japan, to building bridges in Iraq,
to strengthening the levees in Louisiana, to cleaning up a
retired nuclear plant here in Colorado. 

"We have a diverse portfolio, no question," said John Corsi,
CH2M Hill director of corporate communications. "But the common
thread is that we like to take on projects that involve large,
complex infrastructure wherever in the world they may be." Size
is no hindrance to the company, unless the project is too small. 
"You won't see us going into the residential-home market," Corsi 
said. "That doesn't fit our mission." 

The company, founded in 1946 to build wastewater treatment plants 
in the Northwest, isn't afraid to say it's on a mission. "It may 
sound trite, but our goal really is to make the world a better 
place," Corsi said. 

"Sustainability is behind everything we do; from environmental 
cleanup to wastewater treatment, we want to leave a lasting 
legacy." 

Read the full story at ColoradoBiz Magazine.   
            
All contents Copyright 2006 The Denver Post or other copyright
*****************************************************************
 53 lamonitor.com: Historical Society goes through exciting changes 

The Online News Source for Los Alamos
 
CAROL A. CLARK lanews@lamonitor.comMonitor Senior Reporter

Director Hedy Dunn, board member Larry Campbell and museum
assistant/web master Heather McClenahan discussed many of the
exciting changes occurring at the Los Alamos Historical Society
to Kiwanis Club members Tuesday. 
For 25 years, the Society has dedicated itself to preserving and
promoting the cultural, scientific and historical legacy of Los
Alamos and related regions.

The Society supports the Los Alamos Historical Museum, publishes
books on the cultural and natural history of the region, and
provides lectures and other events to further the knowledge of
the history of Los Alamos. 

"We now have over 100 people recorded on tapes and CDs in our
expanded oral history," Dunn said. "And we're working with PAC 8
to begin videotaping oral histories."

Dunn told the group that the Society is now offering their
newest books, "The History of Norris Bradbury" and one for
children titled, "The Secret Project Notebook." 
Campbell briefed the group on the Oppenheimer House.

"This house serves as a centerpiece for preserving and promoting
the legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer," he said. 
Campbell also spoke about the exciting addition of 800
photographs to the museum's collection of Trinity and Hiroshima
from 1941-1945. He shared the fact that their collection also
now includes petroglyph photos from Jim Duffield and Brad Draper
and photos from Bob Martin and Berlyn Brixner.

He informed Kiwanis members that the Society has acquired the
"LANL - The Real Story" blog.

"Love it or hate it - it's our history and we are now the
custodians of the total and complete authentic record of that
blog," Campbell said. "It probably won't be interesting until 20
years from now but then it will be the record people will come
to for information."

The Society now has an updated website, McClenahan said adding
that Ask Me Graphics in White Rock is providing free web hosting
for the Society.

"The website now provides podcasts of oral histories for people
to listen to," McClenahan said. "And we've expanded the
information on the site about the history of Los Alamos. We've
also added additional photographs."

McClenahan told the group that an online shopping feature is now
available. The public can purchase historical books, photos,
mugs and other items including historical society memberships.

The Los Alamos Historical Museum exhibits artifacts of early
Pajarito Plateau dwellers as well as memorabilia from the Los
Alamos Ranch School and displays from the Los Alamos National
Laboratory's wartime era.

Their archives are open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a
staff of two including an archivist and a curator and offer a
small space in which researchers can work.

The museum features award-winning exhibits including the
following:


+  Area Geology - How and why the Jemez Volcano erupted 1.4
million years ago;


+  Anthropology - 700 years of human habitation: grind corn as
American Indians have done for centuries, experience the
pristine wilderness that was once the Ranch School;


+  Ranch School - an elite boys school founded by Ashley Pond in
1917, and


+  Manhattan Project - enter the actual gate of the project's
Santa Fe headquarters when Los Alamos was known as the Manhattan
Project. Walk through "Life in the Secret City."

The museum is currently showing Rider of the Pale Horse: A
Memoir of Los Alamos and Beyond, with illustrations for the book
of the same name by MacAllister Hull in their changing exhibit
area.

The Los Alamos Historical Museum also offers an outreach program
called the "Suitcase History Kit".

A visiting docent brings artifacts, photos, models, lesson plans
and age appropriate games to classrooms and organization.

For information on the historical society and museum access
visit www.losalamoshistory.org.   

  Š 2003 Los Alamos Monitor All Rights Reserved.   
*****************************************************************
 54 Knox News: Bechtel Jacobs, union workers arrive at deal

By News Sentinel staff 

September 6, 2006

OAK RIDGE - Bechtel Jacobs Co., the government's cleanup 
contractor in Oak Ridge, has reached a contract agreement with 
the United Steelworkers of America. 

Union workers ratified the contract last week. The four-year pact 
covers about 230 workers at Bechtel Jacobs and subcontractors 
Shaw International Corp., URS Corp. and WESKEM. 

The workers are involved in cleanup of the East Tennessee 
Technology Park, which is the former K-25 uranium-enrichment 
plant. 

According to information released by Bechtel Jacobs, the new 
contract includes a 4.5 percent wage increase on Oct. 1, followed 
by annual increases of 4 percent, and 3.5 percent. Limited 
negotiations will be reopened in 2009 to discuss wages for the 
final year of the agreement. 

The union agreed to pay a higher percentage of health-care costs, 
and the new contract allows for employees to work a four-day, 
10-hour schedule when "deemed appropriate," Bechtel Jacobs said. 

In a statement released to the news media, Bechtel Jacobs 
President Mike Hughes said, "It is extremely important to us that 
the United Steelworkers know that they are an important part of 
our overall team and that without their support we cannot 
successfully and safely accomplish this challenging mission." 

Dennis Pennington, president of United Steelworkers Local 9-288, 
said, "This settlement remains consistent with our belief that 
everyone - the union, company and the DOE - can benefit when the 
interests of the workers are successfully addressed in a 
nonadversarial environment."

Š 2006 - Knoxville News Sentinel
*****************************************************************
 55 Knox News: Council OKs grant application for nuke facility study

By BOB FOWLER, fowlerb@knews.com 

September 6, 2006

OAK RIDGE - City Council on Tuesday voted 7-0 to endorse a grant 
application for a study of Oak Ridge as a possible site for a new 
nuclear facility that would treat highly radioactive spent fuel. 

Eyed as part of a new Bush administration push to revive interest 
in nuclear power is a processing plant that would recycle spent 
nuclear fuel. 

Also under consideration: A burner reactor that would remove 
long-lived radioactive elements from spent fuel. 

Council members said Tuesday they would want to receive a revenue 
stream for hosting either facility, and they want a study of 
"stakeholder sentiment'' before proceeding. 

A nuclear waste processing facility is "large and nasty,'' warned 
audience member Ellen Smith. 

"It has the largest potential for environmental releases, 
exposures and accident risks,'' Smith said. 

"The perception is going to be we're trading exposure for 
dollars,'' Smith said of the council's move to seek remuneration 
for hosting either facility. 

The council approved a resolution to support a pre-application 
for up to $5 million in grant money for the feasibility study, 
Mayor David Bradshaw said. 

"With this resolution, we're not supporting this (nuclear) 
facility in Oak Ridge,'' Councilman Leonard Abbatiello said. 
"Let's make that very clear.'' 

East Tennessee Economic Council and DOE contractor UT-Battelle 
are in favor of the study, Bradshaw said. 

A 4,000-acre tract near Highway 95 on the west end of the 
Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Reservation would be studied for 
either or both of the two facilities. 

The Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee, a nonprofit 
group that seeks economic development of former DOE properties, 
is filing the grant application, due Thursday. 

CROET has contracted with Science Applications International 
Corp. to file the 20-page grant application. If Oak Ridge wins 
the grant, SAIC or a subcontractor would do the study. 

DOE official Sherrell Greene said the decision on where the two 
facilities would be located is expected in 2008. 

Audience member Robert Kennedy questioned whether the Oak Ridge 
Reservation land is suitable for either facility. 

He said there are issues about the land's geology and hydrology. 

Smith and other audience members expressed concern about CROET's 
involvement in the grant application. That organization hasn't 
involved the community in its prior decision-making processes, 
they said. 

Bob Fowler, News Sentinel Anderson County editor, may be reached 
at 865-481-3625.

 2006 - Knoxville News Sentinel
    
*****************************************************************

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: 
<http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml> 
    
*****************************************************************