***************************************************************** 11/07/06 **** RADIATION BULLETIN(RADBULL) **** VOL 14.264 ***************************************************************** 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 BBC: Clean energy is 'cost effective' 2 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: IRI ready to join UN against WMD 3 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: Indonesia supports IRI's N-program 4 AFP: Israel will not strike Iran nuclear plants - US official 5 AFP: Major UN powers still deadlocked over Iran sanctions resolution 6 Korea Herald: [EDITORIAL] Sunshine policy to shine 7 Korea Herald: Korea, U.S. discuss ways to implement U.N. resolution 8 Korea Times: Seoul Balks at Joining in PSI 9 AFP: US officials urge SKorea to keep pressure on Pyongyang 10 Japan Times: Japan, U.S. vow to keep pressing North over nukes 11 AFP: US, S.Korea won't recognise N.Korea as nuclear-armed state - 12 AFP: US, SKorean officials discuss united front on NKorea nuke talks 13 UPI: Seoul denies U.S. claims of North funding 14 UPI: U.S., S.Korea deny N.Korea as nuke state 15 Guardian Unlimited: U.S. Won't Accept N. Korean Nuke Status 16 Guardian Unlimited: U.S., S. Korea Prepare for Nuke Talks 17 US: Elections, Nuclear Bombs & More - FCNL 18 US: Bush's Nuclear Folly and the National Security Lie 19 US: FedCast: Senators call for delay in closing EPA libraries 20 UPI: Satellite antenna can detect nuclear tests 21 Guardian Unlimited: Industry warns against Trident delay 22 Japan Times: Japan talk of nukes 'not desirable' - Ban NUCLEAR REACTORS 23 US: NRC: NRC Begins Special Inspection at Palisades Nuclear Power Pl 24 Sydney Morning Herald: Howard takes wind from the sails of alternati 25 Sydney Morning Herald: We'll help Indonesia go nuclear - 26 ForUm: Nuclear reactor shut down in southern Ukraine for emergency 27 BBC NEWS: World risks 'dirty' energy future 28 US: NRC: NRC to Discuss Process for Review of License Renewal Applic 29 US: Platts: German environment minister rejects call for more nuclea 30 IHT: Investing: A new nuclear revival: Uranium prices get hot - 31 Xinhua: First nuclear power plant on Yangtze to be built 32 US: NRC: Notice of Availability of Model License Amendment Request a 33 US: NRC: Nebraska Public Power District, Cooper Nuclear Station; Exe 34 US: NRC: Notice of Appointment of Adjudicatory Employees 35 globeandmail.com: Ontario secrecy on nuclear costs raises spectre of 36 AFP: IEA warns current energy system 'doomed to failure' - 37 US: NRC: Notice of Sunshine Act Meeting 38 Pakistan News Service: Pak, Hungary agree to hold talks on peaceful 39 Hemscott: IEA sees nuclear power as part of future energy solution 40 ITAR-TASS: Liquidators of Chernobyl aftermath demand compensations 41 US: Hampton Union Local News: Nuke watchdogs want change 42 US: The Day: Whistleblower Glad To Be Back At Work Millstone worker 43 AU ABC: Govt backs nuclear energy report. 44 US: WCAX: NRC finds low to moderate safety risk from VY shipment 45 US: Times Union: Kesselring reactors shut down until next year 46 Business Day: Koeberg shutdown no threat to Cape 47 The Australian: PM shrugs off anti-nuclear poll NUCLEAR SECURITY NUCLEAR SAFETY 48 Independent: Phosphorus shells used in Lebanon invasion, UN says 49 Naharnet: U.N.: No Evidence of Uranium-based Munitions Used in Leban 50 AFP: UN says it found no evidence of uranium-based munitions in Leba NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE 51 US: RIA Novosti: Russia to raise nuclear fuel prices for Ukraine in 52 US: Port Huron Times-Herald: Nuclear dump triggers protest 53 US: Ventura County Star: Boeing letter refutes 'flawed' conclusions PEACE US DEPT. OF ENERGY 54 Hanford News: Hanford board questions tanks' capability 55 Hanford News: Hanford subcontractor gets safety, performance bonuses 56 Hanford News: Hearing to discuss proposed changes to vitrification p 57 DOE: International Energy Agency Meeting 58 KnoxNews: Firm signs on to build on Y-12 idea ***************************************************************** ***************************************************************** FULL NEWS STORIES ***************************************************************** ***************************************************************** 1 BBC: Clean energy is 'cost effective' Last Updated: Tuesday, 7 November 2006 [Coal power station in China] China an India will be behind higher future energy demand World's 'dirty' energy risk Using cleaner and more efficient energy not only helps the environment but also makes economic sense, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). However, nations are likely to stick to fossil fuels, leading to a "dirty, expensive and insecure future", the IEA's World Energy Outlook reported. Using renewable power and nuclear energy could help the shift from fossil fuels, the agency said. The greatest future demand for energy will stem from China and India. 'Cost-effective' The good news is that the [alternative] policies are very cost-effective International Energy Agency executive director, Claude Mandil The World Energy Outlook, which looks at energy trends to 2030, says that the world faces two related energy threats. One is inadequate and insecure energy supplies at affordable prices, and the other is environmental damage stemming from over-consumption of energy. "The good news is that these [alternative] policies are very cost-effective," said IEA executive director Claude Mandil. "There are different upfront costs involved, but they are quickly outweighed by savings in fuel expenditure," he said. Each extra $1 invested in more efficient electrical equipment and appliances avoids more than $2 in power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure, the report says. The argument that switching to cleaner, more sustainable energy makes economic sense is being increasingly voiced. The IEA report comes on the heels of the Stern report, commissioned by the UK government, which argued that extreme weather could reduce global gross domestic product (GDP) by up to 1%. Demand Based on the IEA's alternative model, the agency forecasts that energy demand could be cut by 10% by 2030 - an amount equivalent to China's current annual output. One upshot of this scenario would be a 16% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. [Nuclear power station at Dungeness, UK. Image: PA] The IEA is promoting nuclear energy as part of a 'cleaner' mix But if nothing is done and energy demand continues, without underlying changes being made, primary energy demand would rise by 53% between 2006 and 2030. The report identifies that underinvestment in new energy supply as a "real risk". About half of all investment required is in developing countries, but "it is far from certain that this investment will actually occur", the report said. By 2010, China will be the world's largest emitter of CO2, overtaking the US, the report predicts. Such an increase would "amplify the magnitude of global climate change". Other energy As part of the proposed solution, the IEA says nuclear power could play a major role in reducing the reliance on imported gas and mitigate the impact of CO2 emissions. "But financing the upfront investment cost may remain a challenge," stressed Mr Mandil. In addition, biofuels could play a significant role in meeting future energy needs for road transport, helping to diversify energy and reduce emissions. ***************************************************************** 2 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: IRI ready to join UN against WMD 2006/11/07 Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to seriously cooperate in the international initiative to intercept and prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction under the supervision of the United Nations, Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said on Tuesday. He told reporters that adoption of a regional security treaty was the only way to ensure security in the Persian Gulf region. The Minister's remarks came amid military maneuvers, code-named `the noblest Messenger (S) 2', that are currently being staged by IRI in vast areas throughout the country. The 10-day maneuvers began Friday in the Persian Gulf and sea of Oman region with the testing of three different kinds of missiles. Similar maneuvers are also taking place in 10 provinces in the south, southwest, southeast, northwest and northeast of the country. The military exercise is intended to display IRI's defense capabilities and progress achieved in its missile industry. Najjar moreover said that the wargames are being staged to test the country's defensive and deterrent power. Stressing the nature of IRI's military power as being totally defensive, the Minister said IRI's military is in the service of regional peace and security. According to the Minister, the maneuvers have two distinctive messages: first, that the Iranian nation is prepared to defend its homeland, and, second, IRI's defense power in response to regional concerns are for the entire Islamic world and friendly neighboring states. 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 ***************************************************************** 3 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: Indonesia supports IRI's N-program 2006/11/07 Indonesian House of Representative Speaker Agung Laksono said Indonesian parliament like the government of this country strongly supports Iran's peaceful nuclear technology. In a meeting with visiting Iran's parliamentary friendship group on Monday, Laksono stressed on his country's full support for Iran's peaceful activities and reminded that two months ago, he declared support for Iran's peaceful nuclear technology development in America's Senate and House of Representatives. He added that the Indonesian officials believe there is no need that America impose sanction against Iran, "because Tehran's nuclear activities are for use in energy and agricultural affairs as Indonesia will do to find an alternative energy for oil." He also supported the growing trend of parliamentary cooperation between the two countries. The speaker declared, "I intends to participate in the meeting of Asian Parliaments Association for Peace in Tehran, soon." Head of Iranian parliamentary delegation Hojatoleslam Anoushiravan Mohseni by conveying Majlis Speaker's warm greetings to his Indonesian counterpart, expressed his satisfaction over growing ties between the two countries in recent years. By elaborating on Iran's nuclear activity, Mohseni appreciated Indonesian government and parliament supports in this concern. He also praised Indonesian cooperation in international organizations and common positions concerning important issues of Islamic world, like Palestine, Lebanon and the Western actions against Islamic sanctities. The Iranian parliamentary delegation arrived in Jakarta on Thursday evening for a seven-day visit. sam Copyright 2004, All Rights Reserved By Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting News Network Sponsored By IRIB News Computer Center. E-Mail: Info@IRIBNEWS.ir ***************************************************************** 4 AFP: Israel will not strike Iran nuclear plants - US official Tue Nov 7, 11:26 AM ET JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel" /> Israelwill not target Iran" /> Iran's nuclear facilities which the Jewish state says are used to secretly develop an atomic bomb, a senior US official said. "Israel will not target Iran's nuclear facilities because it has said this is a problem of the entire world," the official told AFP. "Israel understands that the only way to defuse the nuclear crisis is through diplomatic channels." Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will meet United States President George W. Bush" /> President George W. Bushin Washington next week for talks which are expected to focus on Iran's controversial nuclear programme. Israel -- widely considered the Middle East's sole, if undeclared nuclear weapons power -- considers Iran its chief foe, pointing to calls from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to wipe the Jewish state off the map. Iran denies it is seeking to develop an atomic weapon and insists its nuclear program is purely to generate electricity. Copyright © 2006 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 5 AFP: Major UN powers still deadlocked over Iran sanctions resolution by Gerard Aziakou Tue Nov 7, 6:53 PM ET UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Six major UN powers wound up another round of informal bargaining, still deadlocked over how to punish Iran" /> for its refusal to halt sensitive nuclear fuel work. Envoys of the Security Council's five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany huddled for one hour at France's UN mission for yet another inconclusive session on sanctions proposed by three European nations. Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya described the six-way talks, which focused on the European draft as well as on amendments offered by Russia and the United States, as "inconclusive" and spoke of differences "that cannot be bridged". "We are not in serious discussion. I believe we need more time," he added. "There should be more reflection in the capitals and also we need to talk to each other." His Russian counterpart Vitaly Churkin spoke of a "gap" between his amendments and the European text but sounded a little more upbeat. "There's a gap but I wouldn't describe it as a fundamental difference. We'll continue to pursue this objective of having a negotiated outcome" to the Iranian nuclear crisis. "I thought the mood was okay ... There's room for further constructive discussion on the text we have on the table," Churkin said, hinting that protracted haggling was likely before agreement could be reached. The draft, which had already been the subject of two previous meetings among envoys of the six powers over the past two weeks, mandates nuclear- and ballistic missile-related trade sanctions against Tehran. It also calls for a freeze on assets related to Iran's nuclear and missile programs and travel bans on scientists involved in those programs. But it would allow Russia to continue building a one-billion-dollar nuclear power plant in Bushehr -- an exemption that diplomats say is crucial to efforts to gain Moscow's approval. Earlier Tuesday, the full 15-member Security Council held its first formal consultations on the draft. Ahead of the consultations, US Ambassador John Bolton said amendments proposed by the Russians to a European draft resolution last week were not "consistent with" what foreign ministers of the six major powers had agreed last summer. But Churkin disagreed, saying after the council consultations: "We believe our approach, our proposals are fully in conformity with the understanding by the ministers." Diplomatic sources said there appears to be a philosophical difference in the way Western ambassadors on one side and their counterparts from Russia and China on the other interpreted what the ministers had agreed to do if Tehran refused to comply with the demand that it halt uranium enrichment. "The discussions (in the council) are still at a very preliminary stage," said Peru's UN envoy Jorge Voto-Bernales, the council president for November. "There is still much work to do ... No time frame has been put forward." "The Russian amendments narrow the scope of the sanctions while the US proposals would broaden the scope of the sanctions," a Western diplomat close to the discussions said. A Western diplomat said the sponsors did not produce a new draft and indicated that the council's five permanent members and Germany likely would meet again before the end of the week. In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack expressed some impatience about the pace of UN negotiations on the Iran sanctions. "We believe that the matter merits some degree of urgency, because as we have these discussions, the Iranians are proceeding along their merry way, spinning their centrifuges, getting every single day a little bit better at this," he noted. Last week Churkin made it clear that the purpose of any future Security Council action was to encourage Iran to come back to the negotiating table, not to turn it away from negotiations. Diplomatic sources meanwhile said Washington was pressing for language making it clear that the Iranian nuclear program represents a "threat to international peace and security". Asked to comment on this point, Churkin replied Tuesday: "We don't see it that way." In a related development, the Russian foreign ministry announced Tuesday that Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Motaki would confer with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Iran's nuclear program and other issues during a visit to Moscow Thursday and Friday. Iran faces sanctions after spurning an August 31 Security Council deadline to halt its uranium enrichment program -- a process that can lead to the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and aimed at generating electricity. The six powers have offered Tehran a package of economic and diplomatic incentives if it gives up the enrichment program. Copyright © 2006 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 6 Korea Herald: [EDITORIAL] Sunshine policy to shine When North Korea tested its nuclear device last month, we suggested that the government close the Gaeseong Industrial Park and Geumgangsan tourism projects, the two major business ventures involving the North. The reason was clear and simple: North Korea now has nuclear weapons which they claim is a means of self-defense but is designed to be used against the South in the event of an attack from the United States. There is no sense in continuing these projects which have become the source of significant foreign exchange income for the North under Seoul's engagement policy, encouraged since the former Kim Dae-jung administration. Ending these projects was to be the expression of South Korea's resolute disapproval of the North's nuclear program, which in essence, is holding their brethren in the South hostage to nuclear blackmail. It was also to curtail funds that may be used for making nuclear bombs. But less than a month after the underground nuclear test in the North, President Roh Moo-hyun expressed the government's intention not to change the course of its North Korea policy, pushing for continued dialogue and exchanges. In his address to the National Assembly on Monday, he particularly clarified that the Gaeseong and Geumgangsan projects would go on "in accordance with the spirit and purpose of the U.N. Security Council Resolution." Officials have already affirmed that UNSC Resolution 1718 does not apply to the two inter-Korean projects, and the presidential address confirmed the continuation of Hyundai-Asan's tourism business in the North and investment in the industrial zone in Gaeseong. President Roh's confirmation must be a great relief to firms involved in the two projects. But it creates unease to many people who now fear that Pyongyang's leaders will now be more convinced than ever that the Seoul government would not and cannot abandon its engagement policy, whatever they do. Now, South Koreans will just have to wait and see how their government will "adjust the speed and scale" of its aid to the North as President Roh indicated, while Pyongyang takes maximum advantage of their newly demonstrated nuclear capability. 2006.11.08 ***************************************************************** 7 Korea Herald: Korea, U.S. discuss ways to implement U.N. resolution Vice ministers of South Korea and the United States held a series of meetings yesterday and discussed measures for the six-party talks and the U.N. resolution against North Korea's nuclear test, Foreign Ministry officials said. The two sides, however, refrained from mentioning the sensitive subject of the Proliferation Security Initiative, a U.S.-led global network of marine interception and search against trade of weapons of mass destruction. The South Korean side, instead, explained in detail the contents of the inter-Korean maritime agreement, the officials said. The Seoul government says the maritime agreement that went into effect since last year will fulfill Resolution 1718 which calls for all member states to undertake and facilitate inspection of cargo to or from the North. "PSI and the Resolution 1718 have nothing to do each other. We focused on the resolution implementation," a government official said on condition of anonymity. South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and U.S. Undersecretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns held the first Sub-Ministerial session of the U.S.-ROK Strategic Consultations for Allied Partnership meeting. Separately, Director-General for Policy Planning Park In-kook and Robert Joseph, the undersecretary for security affairs, discussed U.N. Resolution 1718 against North Korea's Oct. 9 nuclear test. "We shared our views on diverse agendas that are related to implementing the U.N. Resolution 1718 as well as the problem of Iran, the Nonproliferation Treaty and other international systems," the official said. South Korea is yet to announce its decision on the PSI. South Korea, which concedes to the principle of PSI, hesitates to formally join the move due to fear of a collision with North Korea as well as strong opposition from the liberal ruling Uri Party. The United States has been saying that joining the PSI formally would not necessarily mean a physical collision between the two Koreas. Park and Joseph spent most of their time explaining their respective plans of implementing the U.N. resolution. Each U.N. member state must submit their implementation reports to the Security Council by Nov. 13. Yu and Burns reaffirmed that the five parties of the six-nation talks do not view North Korea as a nuclear state. "We look forward to the resumption of the six-party talks, we look forward to the strict implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718. And we look forward to continuing to be a good ally in a modern sense," Burns told reporters while leaving the meeting. Yu and Burns also took time to discuss the free trade agreement negotiations, visa waiver issue and negotiations on sharing defense costs. (angiely@heraldm.com) By Lee Joo-hee 2006.11.08 ***************************************************************** 8 Korea Times: Seoul Balks at Joining in PSI Hankooki.com > The Korea Times By Park Song-wu Staff Reporter The strategic dialogue between South Korea and the United States ended on Tuesday with the two countries reconfirming the importance of their alliance, but with no tangible plan on how to cooperate in implementing the United Nations' punitive resolution on North Korea's first-ever nuclear test. One of the key points of this dialogue, the second of its kind this year, was to see whether Seoul would agree to increase its role in the U.S.-led efforts to interdict cargo ships suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction (WMD), going to and from North Korea. But Victor Cha, a director on East Asian affairs at the U.S. National Security Council, said there was no agreement on the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). ``We just discussed it,'' he said after the dialogue. ``We all want to implement the resolution. We had good discussions about this issue.'' South Korea has been participating in the PSI as an observer since early this year. The strategic dialogue was launched after President Roh Moo-hyun and President George W. Bush agreed to begin it at their summit in Kyongju, South Korea, in November last year. The first round was held in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 19, in which Seoul acknowledged the strategic flexibility of the U.S. Forces in Korea, allowing the United States to redeploy its troops from here to other areas of dispute. In Seoul this time however, the two sides only publicized the importance of their alliance ``We look forward to continuing to be a good ally in a modern sense, and we have a great respect for the Korean government,'' Nicholas Burns, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, told reporters after the end of the dialogue. Robert Joseph, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, held another meeting, separately from the dialogue, with his South Korean counterpart, Park In-kook. But they kept what they discussed in secret. Joseph is in charge of strengthening the network of PSI, which needs each state's voluntary participation. Later in the day however, a Seoul official indicated that Seoul will not fully endorse the PSI because the country already has a legal system of its own to inspect North Korean vessels. ``South Korea can implement the U.N. resolution by using our own legal system,'' he said, asking not to be named. ``We have the inter-Korean maritime agreement that can effectively inspect all North Korean vessels passing through our sea area. We fully explained it to the U.S. side today.'' The accord was activated in August 2005. South Korea has been struggling to strike a balance between its obligations to sanction the North in line with the U.N. resolution and concerns that provoking its communist neighbor could aggravate the security situation on the Korean Peninsula. The American officials are traveling to the region to search for ways to execute the U.N. resolution adopted to punish the North for its nuclear test on Oct. 9 and coordinate measures to move forward with the six-party talks that have been stalled over the past year. Pyongyang agreed last week to resume the talks, to ``negotiate'' measures to restore its access to the international financial system, which has been almost blocked since September last year when Washington blacklisted a Macau bank for its alleged money-laundering services for North Korea. But Washington wants to find a mechanism, probably by forming a working group within the six-party talks, to ``address'' the financial issue, Christopher Hill said in Beijing on Oct. 31. Yu Myung-hwan, vice foreign minister, said the talks are expected to resume in late November or early December. Regarding a news report that Washington agreed with Tokyo to hold a five-party talks, excluding North Korea, a Seoul official said it is groundless. ``Washington did not agree with Tokyo to hold such a meeting and we didn't get any proposal of its kind,'' he said, asking not to be named. The report said U.S. diplomats agreed with Japanese officials in Tokyo on Monday to seek a meeting of five dialogue partners on North Korea _ Seoul, Washington, Beijing, Tokyo and Moscow _ on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held later this month in Vietnam. The U.S. officials left for Beijing later in the day for meetings with Chinese and Russian officials. im@koreatimes.co.kr 11-07-2006 17:29 ***************************************************************** 9 AFP: US officials urge SKorea to keep pressure on Pyongyang Tue Nov 7, 1:07 AM ET SEOUL (AFP) - Senior US officials have held talks in South Korea" /> to prepare for nuclear disarmament negotiations with North Korea" /> , stressing the need for strict enforcement of UN sanctions to keep pressure on the communist regime. Undersecretaries of State Nicholas Burns and Robert Joseph arrived from Japan and will travel on to China seeking a strategy for progress when the six-nation talks -- which have dragged on since 2003 -- resume after a year-long break. The officials were also discussing ways to enforce UN sanctions imposed on the North after its October 9 nuclear test. "We had a very useful and very productive discussion today," Joseph told reporters after talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Park In-Kook. "All issues on our agenda are related to the importance of full implementation of UN Security Council (sanctions) Resolution 1718," he added, declining further comment. "We look forward to the resumption of the six-party talks," Burns said separately after discussions with Vice Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan. "We look forward to the strict implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1718." South Korea has pledged to obey the sanctions but refuses to drop its "sunshine" engagement policy with the North, the source of much domestic criticism since the test. It is also resisting US pressure to join the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) to inspect cargos to and from North Korea -- as provided for under the sanctions -- fearing bloody naval clashes. A group of 20 activists protested outside the foreign ministry where the talks were held. Some 50 riot police kept them at bay. "We oppose the war-sparking PSI," they shouted. "Dialogue, sanctions cannot go hand in hand," one banner read. Just three weeks after the test, North Korea announced it would end a year-long boycott and return to the six-party talks. But both Japan and the US have called for "concrete" action by North Korea to end its nuclear program when talks resume. Yu said he expected the forum to meet this month or next. It groups the two Koreas, Japan, China, the US and Russia. "While we welcomed the expected resumption of six-way talks, we also agreed that Japan and the United States must continue to cooperate and to use dialogue and pressure to demand concrete measures from North Korea," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki in Tokyo Monday. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice" /> has also said Washington wanted "concrete action" when talks resumed, based on an agreement signed in September 2005. Under that deal the North agreed in principle to scrap its nuclear programmes in exchange for energy, economic aid and security guarantees. But it boycotted the forum two months later in protest at US-inspired curbs on its overseas bank accounts. Washington has agreed to hold talks on those financial restrictions. South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun" /> vowed Monday to maintain two cross-border projects that have earned North Korea almost one billion dollars, despite the "intolerable provocation" of its nuclear test. He said the projects would be managed in a way compatible with the "spirit and objective" of the UN sanctions. Copyright © 2006 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 10 Japan Times: Japan, U.S. vow to keep pressing North over nukes japantimes.co.jp Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006 Japan, U.S. vow to keep pressing North over nukes By HIROKO NAKATA Staff writer Japan and the United States agreed Monday to keep pressuring North Korea to end its nuclear weapons drive, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said after meeting with Nicholas Burns, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs. Shiozaki also met with Robert Joseph, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security. The talks between the two allies were to confirm their ties ahead of the expected resumption of the long-stalled six-party talks to curb the Pyongyang nuclear threat. Coming on the heels of the North's reported Oct. 9 nuclear test, the talks are expected to restart as early as this month. "We will urge North Korea to give up all nuclear arms and existing (weapons) programs, following the U.N. Security Council resolutions 1695 and 1718," Shiozaki said. Foreign Minister Taro Aso told reporters after meeting with Burns that Japan and the U.S. cannot allow North Korea to possess nuclear arms. Japan will not loosen its own sanctions or others based on the U.N. resolutions even if North Korea returns to the talks, Aso said. He added that Japan and the U.S. will urge the other parties to the talks, except North Korea, to meet during the Nov. 18-19 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hanoi. Burns and Joseph are scheduled to visit South Korea on Tuesday, and China on Wednesday, where they will meet Russian delegates. The Japan Times (C) All rights reserved ***************************************************************** 11 AFP: US, S.Korea won't recognise N.Korea as nuclear-armed state - Tuesday November 7, 11:09 By Jun Kwanwoo [Nicholas Burns (R) shakes hands with Yu Myung-hwan] SEOUL (AFP) - The United States and South Korea have reaffirmed that they will not recognise North Korea as a nuclear-armed state, after a day of talks on a joint strategy in upcoming disarmament negotiations. The two sides agreed to work for an early agreement on scrapping the North's nuclear programmes when the six-nation talks -- which have dragged on since 2003 -- resume after a year-long break. North Korea, which has festooned its capital Pyongyang with banners hailing the test, is demanding it be treated as a member of the nuclear club when the talks resume, which would give it increased bargaining power. The joint statement came at the end of a visit by Undersecretaries of State Nicholas Burns and Robert Joseph. They arrived from Japan and will travel on to China to seek a united front in the talks and strict enforcement of UN sanctions imposed on the North after its October 9 nuclear test. "Both parties shared the view that North Korea's nuclear test is a grave threat to peace and security on the Korean peninsula, Northeast Asia and beyond," the statement said. "They welcomed the recent agreement to resume the six-party talks, and highlighted the importance of maintaining a unified voice in the international community through full and effective implementation of the UN Security Council (sanctions) Resolution 1718. "Both parties reaffirmed the position that North Korea will not be recognized as a nuclear-weapon state." The United States and South Korea said they look forward soon to achieving agreement on ways to implement the joint statement of September last year "and to bring North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons and nuclear-related programmes through the six-party talks." Vice Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan said after talks with Burns that he expects the forum to meet this month or next. Under the September 19, 2005, deal the North agreed in principle to scrap its nuclear programmes in exchange for energy, economic aid and security guarantees. But it boycotted the six-party forum two months later in protest at US-inspired curbs on its overseas bank accounts. Washington has agreed to hold talks on those financial restrictions when the talks resume. The visiting US officials praised the strength of the US-South Korean alliance which dates back to the 1950-53 war launched by the North. A Seoul foreign ministry official quoted by Yonhap news agency said areas of potential disagreement were sidestepped. South Korea has pledged to honour the sanctions but refuses to drop its "sunshine" engagement policy with the North, the source of much domestic criticism since the test. It is also resisting US pressure to join the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) to inspect cargos to and from North Korea -- as provided for under the sanctions -- for fear of bloody naval clashes. A group of 20 activists protested outside the foreign ministry where the talks were held. Some 50 riot police kept them at bay. "We oppose the war-sparking PSI," they shouted. The ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said PSI was not raised in a three-hour meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister Park In-Kook and Joseph, in charge of drawing up measures by their nations to implement the sanctions resolution. Also not on the agenda were two cross-border projects that have earned North Korea almost one billion dollars. Critics say the proceeds could have gone to produce missiles and nuclear weapons. Just three weeks after its test which shocked the world, North Korea announced it would return to the six-party talks. But both Japan and the US have called for "concrete" action by North Korea to end its nuclear programme when the talks grouping the two Koreas, Japan, China, the US and Russia resume. AFP ***************************************************************** 12 AFP: US, SKorean officials discuss united front on NKorea nuke talks Tuesday November 7, 03:59 [Robert Joseph (L) and Nicholas Burns.] SEOUL (AFP) - Senior US and South Korean officials have began debating a strategy for progress in upcoming talks on North Korea's nuclear programme, as well as ways to keep up the pressure on the communist regime. Undersecretaries of State Nicholas Burns and Robert Joseph arrived from Japan and will go on to China to stress the importance of a united front when six-nation talks resume after a year-long break. Joseph was also discussing ways to enforce UN sanctions imposed on the North after its October 9 nuclear test. South Korea, like other UN member states, must submit a list of its own measures against Pyongyang by early next week. But it has stopped short of supporting tough action proposed by Japan and the United States. Just three weeks after the test, North Korea announced it would end a year-long boycott and return to the nuclear disarmament talks. But both Japan and the United States have called for "concrete" action by North Korea to end its nuclear program when talks resume, possibly this month or next. The forum, which began meeting in 2003, groups the two Koreas, Japan, China, the United States and Russia. "It's clear that the United States and Japan see eye to eye on the question of North Korea," Burns said in Tokyo on Monday after meeting Foreign Minister Taro Aso. Joseph added: "We are in agreement that the (sanctions) resolution must be fully and effectively implemented until North Korea meets all of the demands of the Security Council." US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said last week that Washington wants "concrete action" when the talks resume, based on an agreement signed in September 2005. Under that deal the North agreed in principle to scrap its nuclear programmes in exchange for energy and economic aid and security guarentees. But it boycotted the forum two months later in protest at US-inspired curbs on its overseas bank accounts. Washington has agreed to hold talks on those financial restrictions. "We had a very good, successful trip to Japan," Burns said Tuesday before meeting South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Yu Myung-Hwan. "It was very, very supportive and very good. I know it's going to be equally good here." Joseph held separate talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Park In-Kook. "We had a very useful and very productive discussion today," he said afterwards. "All issues on our agenda are related to the importance of full implementation of UN Security Council (Sanctions) Resolution 1718," Joseph added, declining further comment. South Korea refuses to drop its "sunshine" engagement policy with North Korea despite the nuclear test. It says two joint projects which have earned the North almost one billion dollars since 1998 will continue. Seoul is also resisting US pressure to play a full part in an international initiative to inspect cargos to and from North Korea, as provided for under the sanctions. It fears this could spark bloody naval clashes with its neighbour. AFP ***************************************************************** 13 UPI: Seoul denies U.S. claims of North funding United Press International - Intl. Intelligence - 11/7/2006 8:23:00 AM -0500 SEOUL, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- South Korea Tuesday denied U.S. allegations that North Korea's military may be benefiting from inter-Korean industrial projects. Hard currency from South Korea has not reached the communist leadership in Pyongyang as most of the U.S. dollars paid in wages to North Korean workers in the Kaesong complex have been used to provide daily necessities for the workers, Seoul's Unification Ministry said. "The ministry has confirmed that most of the money paid in wages is used to buy daily necessities for the workers" from abroad, ministry spokesman Yang Chang-seok told journalists. It is the first time the ministry has officially rebuffed criticism from the Bush administration that the money had been used to finance the Stalinist state's weapons programs. The denial comes one day after President Roh Moo-hyun said in a major policy speech that South Korea would press ahead with joint projects with North Korea despite its nuclear test. Some 8,000 North Korean workers are working for a dozen South Korean firms operating in the joint complex. North Korean workers there are paid about $57.50 a month. The money is not paid directly to the workers, but instead goes to the North Korean authorities, raising questions about the transparency of the system. © Copyright 2006 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved ***************************************************************** 14 UPI: U.S., S.Korea deny N.Korea as nuke state United Press International - Intl. Intelligence - 11/7/2006 7:59:00 AM -0500 SEOUL, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The United States and South Korea Tuesday agreed not to recognize North Korea as a nuclear-weapon state. In their talks on a joint strategy against the North's nuclear threats, the two allies also agreed to work together for substantial progress in the upcoming six-way nuclear talks. "Both aides shared the view that North Korea's nuclear test is a grave threat to peace and security on the Korean peninsula, Northeast Asia and beyond," said a joint press release issued at the end of a "strategic consultation" session. "Both parties reaffirmed the position that North Korea will not be recognized as a nuclear-weapon state," the press release said. The talks were led by U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns and South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan. Robert Joseph, undersecretary for arms control and international security affairs, also met South Korean officials. But the two sides failed to reach a consensus on the U.S. push to interdict and search cargo coming and going out of North Korea. South Korea has refused to actively participate in the Proliferation Security Initiative for fear of angry response from North Korea. © Copyright 2006 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved ***************************************************************** 15 Guardian Unlimited: U.S. Won't Accept N. Korean Nuke Status From the Associated Press [UP] Tuesday November 7, 2006 4:31 PM AP Photo SEL101 By JAE-SOON CHANG Associated Press Writer SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - The United States, South Korea and Japan on Tuesday reaffirmed their opposition to treating North Korea as a nuclear state, a position that could complicate upcoming disarmament talks with the reclusive communist nation. Seoul and Washington also agreed on the need for ``full and effective'' implementation of the U.N. sanctions imposed on Pyongyang for conducting a nuclear test. But the nations made no mention of a U.S. initiative primarily aimed at the North that seeks to stem the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by stopping ships suspected of trafficking. The U.S. wants South Korea to increase its participation in the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative in light of the North's Oct. 9 nuclear test, but so far Seoul has only sent observers to exercises under the program. The talks Tuesday included Nicholas Burns, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, and Robert Joseph, U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security. ``Both parties shared the view that North Korea's nuclear test is a grave threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia and beyond,'' the U.S. and South Korea said in a statement after the talks. ``Both parties reaffirmed the position that North Korea will not be recognized as a nuclear weapon state.'' North Korea agreed last week to end its yearlong boycott of the negotiations that also include China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the U.S. - the first sign tensions are easing after Pyongyang's nuclear test. No date has been set for the six-nation talks to resume. Many experts say the prospect of progress at the talks is low because the North is expected to demand bigger concessions as a nuclear power. None of the other parties have said they would recognize the North as a nuclear state. Meanwhile, there were signs of disagreements between Seoul and Washington on how hard to press the North. South Korea has been struggling to strike a delicate balance between its obligations to punish the North and concerns that aggravating its volatile neighbor could destabilize the region. ``Let me confess that many challenges are ahead of us. We need confidence in our alliance,'' South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said at the start of a meeting with Burns. Joseph held separate talks Tuesday with Park In-kook, a deputy foreign minister, and later said the meeting focused on the ``importance of full implementation'' of the U.N. sanctions resolution. ``We've had very useful, very productive discussions,'' Joseph said, declining to give further details. Park said both countries were rushing to meet a Monday deadline to submit reports to the U.N. sanctions committee on how they are implementing the resolution against the North. The U.S. diplomats also met with South Korea's presidential security adviser, Song Min-soon, and agreed the two countries will hold a ``summit-level'' consultation on the nuclear issue on the sidelines of an upcoming regional economic summit in Vietnam, the presidential office said in a statement. It did not provide details. South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said Monday that efforts to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear program should not lead to a fresh conflict on the divided peninsula. On Tuesday, a leader of South Korea's ruling Uri Party said the country should send an envoy to Pyongyang to persuade the North to abandon its nuclear program. Kim Han-gill also stressed that major inter-Korean projects - a tourism venture at a North Korean mountain resort and an industrial complex - should ``never be halted.'' The U.S. has recently criticized the resort project as a means to funnel money to the North Korean regime. ``It is delusional to think that more peace will be created the stronger the sanctions against the North are,'' he said. In Tokyo on Monday, the U.S. diplomats agreed with Japanese officials on a meeting of all five dialogue partners of North Korea on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit this month in Vietnam. The U.S. officials were traveling to Beijing later Tuesday for meetings with Chinese and Russian officials. Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2006 ***************************************************************** 16 Guardian Unlimited: U.S., S. Korea Prepare for Nuke Talks From the Associated Press [UP] Tuesday November 7, 2006 3:46 AM By JAE-SOON CHANG Associated Press Writer SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Two senior U.S. diplomats met South Korean officials Tuesday to prepare for nuclear disarmament talks with North Korea and discuss enforcing sanctions against the communist regime for its atomic weapons test. The officials were expected to discuss how to make progress when a fresh round of six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear program resumes. ``Let me confess that many challenges are ahead of us,'' South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said at the start of a meeting with Nicholas Burns, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs. North Korea agreed last week to end its yearlong boycott of the negotiations with China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the U.S. in the first sign of a relaxation of tensions after Pyongyang's first nuclear test on Oct. 9. A date for resumption of the talks has yet to be set. Robert Joseph, U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, who is traveling together with Burns, also held separate talks with Park In-kook, a deputy foreign minister. The main topic was expected to be how to implement a U.N. sanctions resolution adopted to punish North Korea for its nuclear test which drew widespread international condemnation. South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Joseph was not originally planning to come to Seoul, but his itinerary was changed at the last minute. Local media have interpreted that as an indication that Washington wants to pressure Seoul to vigorously to implement U.N. sanctions on the North. South Korea has been struggling to strike a delicate balance between its obligations to punish the North under the U.N. sanctions resolution and concerns that aggravating its volatile neighbor could destabilize the region. South Korea has been noncommittal to a U.S. request to expand its role in a U.S.-led international program aimed at interdicting shipments of weapons of mass destruction. North Korea is a primary target of the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative. Seoul, which has participated in the program only as an observer, is concerned stopping and searching North Korean ships may lead to clashes with the North. South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun said Tuesday that efforts to get rid of North Korea's nuclear program should not lead to a fresh conflict on the divided peninsula. In Tokyo, the U.S. diplomats agreed with Japanese officials to seek a meeting of all five dialogue partners of North Korea on the sidelines of this month's summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Vietnam. The two sides also called for concrete results from future six-party talks on their demands that North Korea give up its quest for a nuclear weapon and allow outside verification that it is complying with such a pledge. The U.S. officials were to head to Beijing later Tuesday for meetings with Chinese and Russian officials. Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2006 ***************************************************************** 17 Elections, Nuclear Bombs & More - FCNL Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2006 16:07:22 -0600 (CST) X-Sender-Host-Name: chumbly.math.missouri.edu X-DSPAM-Result: mail; result="Innocent"; class="Innocent"; probability=0.0000; confidence=1.00; signature=N/A X-Spam-Class: HAM-VERY Read this newsletter online at: www.fcnl.org/email/e-newsletter/7nov06.htm *Elections: Send your best to Washington FCNL works with whomever you send to Congress. We hope that you vote today and help send the best people to Washington. In the next week, we will be examining what the elections mean for FCNL's legislative agenda as our General Committee gathers for its Annual Meeting. Watch the FCNL website and your email for updates and analysis next week... *From the Hill: Administration Proposes New Generation of Nuclear Bombs The Bush administration has proposed a new $5 billion to $10 billion facility to build the next generation of nuclear weapons. This next generation of nuclear weapons would escalate the arms race, undermine nuclear nonproliferation efforts, and pose a threat to the survival of the planet. War is not the answer. Find out what you can do: http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=9150726 *Report Back: Domestic Spying Congress so far has refused to legalize the president's illegal domestic spying program. But FCNL lobbyists expect that this legislation may be brought up again during the lame duck session of Congress this November. The proposed legislation would effectively legalize the president's warrantless wiretapping program by offering immunity from prosecution for government officials and private companies that participated in the effort over the last five years. Read more about the president's illegal domestic spying program at: http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=2170&issue_id=80 Take Action: http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=9086251 *FCNL Responds: The Death Penalty is Wrong in Iraq and Everywhere We seek the abolition of the death penalty because it denies the sacredness of human life. Read FCNL's Statement of Legislative Policy: http://www.fcnl.org/priorities/equity.htm *Quakers' Colonel: Military Papers Call for Rumsfeld to Resign The lead editorial in the November 4, 2006, Army Times newspaper group -- which includes the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force Times, all owned by Gannett -- called for Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. FCNL's Col Dan Smith remembers when during the Vietnam War the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff proposed to the other chiefs that they resign en masse to protest the "immoral" policy that would doom thousands more U.S. soldiers. Read more: http://quakerscolonel.blogspot.com/2006/11/will-joint-chiefs-dare-to-resign.html *FCNL in the News: Sounding the Bugle for Peace, (The Indianapolis Star) Following his whirlwind tour of Indiana just weeks before the election, a columnist for The Indianapolis Star profiles FCNL's Col. Dan Smith (USA, Ret.) "He also has found his 26 years of military experience -- in infantry, heavy weaponry, intelligence and teaching -- a perfect fit with the peace church and its advocacy arm, the Friends Committee on National Legislation." Read more: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006611010361 *Quotes of Week: The sentencing of Saddam Hussein So America's one-time ally has been sentenced to death for war crimes he committed when he was Washington's best friend in the Arab world. America knew all about his atrocities and even supplied the gas - along with the British, of course - yet there we were yesterday declaring it to be, in the White House's words, another "great day for Iraq". ~Robert Fisk, The Independent (London) http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=2167&issue_id=35 "[A] court-ordered execution lacks the cathartic power it might otherwise have had. It can neither close a chapter nor open a new era. It is just another death sentence - one of the dozens that Iraqi militias carry out each day against civilians from rival communities. For this reason, the verdict will also have no real impact on what is happening on the streets of Baghdad and Mosul. For Iraq has long since been engaged in a new war, one that was not caused by Saddam and cannot be ended by his death. ~Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz (Israel) http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/objects/pages/PrintArticleEn.jhtml?itemNo=784071 *War Is Not The Answer Photo of the Week: http://www.fcnl.org/images/wina/miranda.jpg Miranda Jean Garman, b. October 15, 2006 _______________________________________ The Next Step for Iraq: Join FCNL's Iraq Campaign, http://www.fcnl.org/iraq/ Contact Congress and the Administration: http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/ Order FCNL publications and "War is Not the Answer" campaign bumper stickers and yard signs: http://www.fcnl.org/pubs/ http://www.fcnl.org/forms/forms.php?type=bump Contribute to FCNL: http://www.fcnl.org/donate/ Subscribe or update your information to this list: http://capwiz.com/fconl/mlm/. To unsubscribe from this list, please see the end of this message. Subscribe to other FCNL legislative, policy, and action alert lists: http://www.fcnl.org/forms/forms.php?type=ls. ________________________________________ Friends Committee on National Legislation 245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795 fcnl@fcnl.org * http://www.fcnl.org phone: (202)547-6000 * toll-free: (800)630-1330 We seek a world free of war and the threat of war We seek a society with equity and justice for all We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled We seek an earth restored. --- If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please visit http://capwiz.com/fconl/lmx/u/?jobid=76071903&queueid=946250586. ***************************************************************** 18 Bush's Nuclear Folly and the National Security Lie Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2006 01:02:58 -0600 (CST) X-Sender-Host-Name: chumbly.math.missouri.edu X-DSPAM-Result: mail; result="Innocent"; class="Whitelisted"; probability=0.0000; confidence=1.00; signature=N/A X-Spam-Class: HAM-VERY http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/110706C.shtml Armagideon Time: Bush's Nuclear Folly and the National Security Lie By Chris Floyd, TO UK Correspondent t r u t h o u t | Perspective Tuesday 07 November 2006 I. Last Friday, just hours after the New York Times revealed that the Bush administration had posted advanced plans for building nuclear weapons on a public web site for months, six Arab nations formally announced they were launching nuclear programs of their own. The potential for disaster posed by this development is almost immeasurable: everything from Chernobyl-style accidents to the theft or transfer of nuclear material to terrorists to the near-certainty of new atomic arsenals appearing in the powder-keg of the Middle East. The announcement also signals the final and utter failure of the Bush administration's demented "non-proliferation" strategy, which has been centered around a relentless, deliberate drive to gut existing nuclear arms treaties in order to free the United States to enhance its own arsenal. This open denigration of legal strictures on the development of the most dangerous technology on earth has been accompanied by a cynical inconsistency. Bush has heaped monetary and military rewards on India and Pakistan for their illegally developed nuclear arsenals, while threatening war on Iran for what has so far been a peaceful nuclear power program carried out in accordance with international treaties - and doing nothing at all to head off North Korea's now apparently successful bid for atomic weapon capability. It is a record of astonishing recklessness and incompetence, one that has plunged the world into a new abyss of instability, insecurity and the ever-increasing likelihood of mass death and horror on an unfathomable scale. And the criminal negligence of Bush and his Congressional rubberstamps in dumping plans from Iraq's almost-complete, pre-1991 nuclear weapons program on the Internet - solely for partisan political advantage - has exacerbated these dangers by several magnitudes. On Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency announced that six nations had given notification of their intention to pursue nuclear programs, the Times (UK) reports: Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, which had revealed its nuclear ambitions last month, but had not given official notice to the IAEA. As the Times notes, arms experts view the announcement as "a stunning reversal of policy" in the Arab world, which has long called for a nuclear-free Middle East - a stance aimed at dismantling Israel's large if nominally secret nuclear arsenal and preventing Iran from acquiring atomic weaponry. But ill winds are blowing through the Middle East from all directions, and the six nations are seeking shelter from the storm - a "security hedge," as proliferation analyst Mark Fitzpatrick of the International Institute for Strategic Studies told the Times. One of the major factors behind the turnaround is certainly Bush's wanton destruction of Iraq, the Arab world's traditional bulwark against Persian Iran. Not only has the American blunderbuss cleared the way for unprecedented Iranian influence in the region - not least in Baghdad itself - it is also enflaming sectarian, political, ethnic and social tensions across the Arab lands. And in the case of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, there is also the desire to avoid becoming yet another target of "regime change" from the "full spectrum dominance" gang that is still, well, dominant in the White House under Dick Cheney. In Cairo and Riyadh they will not have forgotten how in 2002, top Pentagon adviser Richard Perle - then chairman of the Defense Policy Board, now a rather fat rat leaving the sinking ship of Bushism - sponsored a presentation calling for the American conquest of Saudi oil fields on the way to capturing the strategic "prize" of Egypt: one of the many presentations and papers of the Bush Faction and its neo-con outriders in which the Arab world is regarded as so much raw meat to be processed and repackaged as the Beltway poobahs see fit. But the radioactive core of these concerns is Israel's outlaw nuclear arsenal, hundreds of missiles strong, capable of wiping any and every country in the region "off the map," to quote the widespread misquote of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in one of his rabble-rousing fulminations. The Israeli arsenal serves as a veritable breeder reactor, generating the fear and strategic necessity that drive surrounding nations to follow suit. These anxieties have of course been elevated by the intensified bellicosity and reckless disregard for Arab lives displayed by the hardline Israeli government against Lebanon this summer - and day after day in Gaza. It's true that the six Arab nations told the IAEA they wanted nuclear capability solely for peaceful purposes: to run desalinization plants, for example, or to provide cheap, abundant energy for their economies. (Perhaps the supposedly oil-glutted Saudis, who trotted out the latter rationale, know something they're not telling us about "peak oil" and such.) But it's also true that this technology can always be weaponized - as the Bush administration never ceases to remind us when lambasting Iran for its nuclear program. Of course, converting a peaceful, public energy program into a covert weapons development scheme is much easier if you have a "cookbook" showing you how to do it. And that's exactly how the Bush administration's Iraqi data dump was described by European experts. With six new entrants in the nuclear sweepstakes - just a fraction of the 30 nations that IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei says "have the capacity to develop nuclear weapons in a short time" - the ramifications of the administration's nuke blogging are far more serious than the near-total media and political silence that has followed the revelations would indicate. How could this have happened? And more importantly, why did it happen and what does it really mean? Here's how the deal went down. II. Last March, in a bid to generate media smoke from overheated right-wing bloggers flailing their way ignorantly through raw intelligence data, the Bush Faction dumped thousands upon thousands of captured Saddam-era Iraqi documents into a public web archive. There was absolutely zero intelligence value to be gained from the exercise, as the administration's own intelligence experts repeatedly warned. Then again, history has shown us just how scantly the Bush Gang regards careful intelligence analysis; as in the run-up to the Iraq invasion, what they wanted was cherry-picked garbage that could be used for partisan propaganda. And so the sewage pipe of the unsifted Iraqi intel was opened, in hopes of generating a few stories that might dominate a news cycle here and there with "revelations" that could provide even the most tenuous "justification" for the administration's pre-war mendacities about Iraq's non-existent WMD threat and its equally spurious ties to 9/11 and al Qaeda. As we've seen in many other cases - such as the long-running spy fiction thriller, "Atta in Prague" - the barest micron of a hint of a whisper from some unnamed, uncorroborated source is enough for the warmongers and their sycophants to feast upon for years. But this trove of dross has produced no propaganda gold, and with good reason: the archives cannot yield what is not there. There are no records documenting active WMD programs, or even dormant WMD programs, because there had been no such programs in Iraq since the 1991 Gulf War - a fact that the western intelligence agencies, and the Clinton and Bush White Houses, knew very well, because they had been told of this in 1995 by the man in charge of the programs and their destruction: Saddam's own son-in-law, Hussein Kamel. However, as the New York Times reports, there was a good deal of material in the archives on Iraq's pre-1991 WMD programs. These included, says the NYT, "detailed accounts of Iraq's secret nuclear research before the 1991 Persian Gulf war. The documents, the experts say, constitute a basic guide to building an atom bomb." They contain "charts, diagrams, equations and lengthy narratives about bomb building that nuclear experts who have viewed them say go beyond what is available elsewhere on the Internet and in other public forums." One of the most important aspects of the information is that it spells out many of the mistakes and wrong turns that Iraqi scientists encountered on their road to the bomb. The handy roadmap provided by Bush will allow new aspirants for atomic weaponry to avoid these pitfalls and accelerate their programs accordingly. Secret nuclear weapons programs once took decades to complete, as in Pakistan, India and North Korea, or else simply sputtered out from technical ignorance, as in Libya. Now much of this knowledge gap has been bridged by the Bush administration, cutting years of trial and error out of the process. This potentially deadly data has been cast forth upon a world where long-effective non-proliferation structures are either collapsing or already dead. From the very beginning, the Bush administration deliberately set out to overthrow the old "containment" treaties that had held the demon of nuclear war at bay for decades. The administration was adamant that no shackles should hold back its expansion of the entirely ineffective but crony-enriching boondoggle known as "missile defense." Plans for "enhancing" the nation's nuclear arsenal with new, more "useable" tactical nukes, and weaponizing the global commons of outer space were also stated goals of the militarists who dominate the administration: the "Project for a New Century" crowd, led by Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, who spelled out their disdain for arms treaties and their plans for an aggressive nuclear weapons revamp in speeches and publications well before the unelected Bush was shoe-horned into the White House by the Supreme Court. Once in office, Bush "unsigned" the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban treaty and ash-canned the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty - the cornerstone of nuclear containment for a generation. In their place, Bush and his "unitary executive" counterpart in Russia, Vladimir Putin, signed the ludicrous "Moscow Treaty" in 2002. This worthless rag - which covers less than a single typewritten page - is perhaps the most cynical sham in international diplomacy since the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The treaty sets a nominal limit on the number of nuclear warheads actually mounted on working missiles and bombers, as the National Resources Defense Council reports. But this limit is operative for one day only - December 31, 2012, the day the treaty expires. "Before and after that date, the number of deliverable nuclear warheads could exceed the treaty's maximum 'limit' of 2,200 'operational' warheads," the NRDC notes. "Both countries would be free to keep thousands of 'reserve' warheads in storage, which could be remounted on delivery systems within weeks or months." There were no other limits placed on the world's two largest nuclear arsenals, nor does the treaty require "the destruction of a single nuclear warhead, missile, silo, bomber or submarine," the NRDC reports. It places no restrictions at all on tactical nuclear weapons: the ones most likely to be used in battle - and the ones most likely to be pilfered by "non-state actors." Nor does the treaty include any interim benchmarks for eliminating weapons or provisions for monitoring compliance. Why should it? It only requires that on the expiration date, both sides temporarily mothball enough weapons to reach the arbitrary limit - then start loading them up again the next day. Meanwhile, the administration has made a mockery of the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. As noted, Bush has embraced the nuclear weapons programs of three renegade nations that remained outside the NPT - India, Pakistan and Israel - while attacking nations that have remained within the treaty's allowances for carefully monitored peaceful nuclear energy programs. And Bush has of course continued the practice of all of his predecessors in arrogantly ignoring the obligations which the treaty placed on existing nuclear powers to liquidate their own stockpiles and work toward an international disarmament agreement. As with the US Constitution, the Geneva Conventions, the UN Charter and the Magna Carta, the Bush Faction regards the NPT as a "quaint relic" to be evoked - or discarded - according to the political needs of the moment. The concept of a binding law - even to protect the American people and the world from the nightmare of unbridled nuclear proliferation - means nothing to the Bushists. For them, the unfettered exercise of executive power - and the attendant wealth and privilege it brings - overrides all other values and considerations. And now, in heedless pursuit of this ultimate value, George W. Bush and his political allies have given every terrorist, "rogue" state, and aspiring nuclear state in the world unprecedented access to advanced plans for building a nuclear weapon. Bush has done more to actualize his much-trumpeted scenario of a "mushroom cloud" rising over American cities than any other group in the world: more than al Qaeda, more than the mullahs of Iran, more than the "unitary executive" of North Korea, Kim Il-Jong. Only a sociopathic idiot of the highest order would dump raw intelligence about weapons systems onto the Internet without even examining it first. What's more, the Bush Party knew for a certainty that there was very dangerous material lurking in the archive. As the NYT reports: "Last spring, after the site began posting old Iraqi documents about chemical weapons, United Nations arms-control officials in New York won the withdrawal of a report that gave information on how to make tabun and sarin, nerve agents that kill by causing respiratory failure." Those particular documents were finally pulled - after finding their way into how many hard drives of Islamic extremists, homegrown white-power nuts, or freakish death cults like Aum Shinrikyo? - but the archive stayed wide open. Why? Because the Bush Party fanatics still hoped to squeeze some propaganda value out of it. And even after the IAEA complained about the nuclear data on the site late last month, the administration took no action. Not until the New York Times story was about to appear did the Bushists finally take down the site, to lessen the political embarrassment. So who is responsible for this criminal idiocy? Let's name names: Representative Peter Hoekstra (R-Michigan), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, who led the campaign for the web site - and now, predictably, with breathtaking, Perle-like hypocrisy, is criticizing the White House for "not doing it right." Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, who joined Hoekstra in the formal request for the document dump. John Negroponte, Director of National Intelligence, who clearly realized the danger and stupidity of such a web site, but cravenly approved it anyway. George Walker Bush, Idiot in Chief, whose political handlers pressured Negroponte into giving his reluctant approval and launching the "cookbook" for nuclear weaponry into the public domain. What then can we make of such shallow fools, and their years of chest-thumping about "national security" and "keeping America safe?" The plain, unavoidable, indisputable fact of the matter is that they do not care about the security of the American people. This fact has been confirmed over and over by the public record of their policies and actions, as shown above. And it is underscored by this latest outrage. Had some intelligence agent or other government official posted such incendiary material on a web site on the sly, they would rightly be condemned as criminals, even traitors. Hoekstra, Roberts, Negroponte and Bush stand in that same rank. The Bush Faction's remaining claim to political power - that they are the "party of national security" - is a gargantuan lie. Those who believe them, those who support them, those who vote for them are tying a noose around their own necks, and the necks of all their fellow Americans. Chris Floyd is an American journalist. His weekly political column, "Global Eye," ran in the Moscow Times from 1996 to 2006. His work has appeared in print and online in venues all over the world, including The Nation, Counterpunch, Columbia Journalism Review, the Christian Science Monitor, Il Manifesto, the Bergen Record and many others. His story on Pentagon plans to foment terrorism won a Project Censored award in 2003. He is the author of "Empire Burlesque: High Crimes and Low Comedy in the Bush Imperium," and is co-founder and editor of the "Empire Burlesque" political blog. ***************************************************************** 19 FedCast: Senators call for delay in closing EPA libraries (11/6/06) [GovExec.com] By Jenny Mandel A group of senators has joined the fray over whether the Environmental Protection Agency should slow or stop a campaign to digitize materials in its technical libraries and close the facilities to agency researchers and the public. On Friday, 17 Democratic senators and one Independent wrote to appropriators asking that EPA be directed, through the budget process, to maintain physical access to its libraries while the public is given an opportunity to comment on planned closures. The agency in August published a plan to change how it delivers library services to its staff and the public, developed in anticipation of budget cuts. It entailed closing at least three regional libraries and eliminating physical access to the collections at its headquarters library. The materials will be digitized, "dispersed" to another facility or disposed of, depending on their nature. The plan did not detail the future beyond fiscal 2007 for the remaining libraries, but a June memorandum from EPA Chief Financial Officer Lyons Gray, leaked to the advocacy group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, suggested deeper cuts for fiscal 2008. On Monday, an EPA employee who asked to remain anonymous said it was "probably reasonable to assume" that libraries would be cut again. That employee confirmed that the regional and headquarters libraries have been closed as planned, as have two laboratory libraries and one that serves agency staff working on toxics and pesticides programs. EPA spokeswoman Suzanne Ackerman said all unique documents in the three regional offices already closed would be fully digitized by January 2007, and will be available online in common Internet formats like HTML and PDF. Full digitization will take two to three years, she said, and public access will not be restricted during that time. The agency has portrayed the library closures and digitization as part of an effort to modernize its library system and make the materials more universally accessible. But the senators who questioned the cut cited a 2004 EPA report that found agency libraries more than paid for themselves, accounting for staff savings of $7.5 million in 2003. Unions representing more than 10,000 agency employees also protested the cuts in a June letter to members of Congress. "Many of us rely heavily on our technical libraries to perform our jobs in an effective manner," the letter stated. Closures would impair EPA's ability to respond to emergencies because of delays in accessing documents from storage or remaining facilities, the union officials said. "Our library staff provides us with the latest research on cutting-edge homeland security and public health issues," the officials wrote. They accused the administration of "suppress[ing] information on environmental and public health-related topics while cloaking these actions under the guise of 'fiscal responsibility.' " In September, several House Democrats asked the Government Accountability Office to examine the library closures plan. A GAO spokesman confirmed that an investigation will be conducted, but could not say when the results would be available. Ackerman, the agency spokeswoman, said funding for digitization is not an issue because the agency already has the scanning equipment, and the associated labor costs are minimal. But she did not elaborate on an element in the 2007 plan that said "other regions may put their collections into stasis, i.e., neither fully operational nor fully closed, until funding for dispersion is available." The plan described separately how access to information would be provided for agency officials and members of the public under the closure plan. Where libraries have been closed, agency staff members are slated to have access to research librarians at other facilities. Members of the public will be directed to EPA's Web site or, if they contact public affairs offices, to agency-identified experts knowledgeable about given subjects. The agency official said that level of public service is a significant shift from having access to a research librarian. "It's a very different thing, to give the public access to a phone number for an expert ... rather than having a professional librarian assist you in tracking down obscure studies or journal articles that may provide you with a more in-depth discussion of those topics. It's not the same level of service." ©2006 by National Journal Group Inc. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 20 UPI: Satellite antenna can detect nuclear tests United Press International - Security &Terrorism - 11/7/2006 10:23:00 AM -0500 WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Northrop Grumman has delivered antenna assemblies for U.S. military Global Positioning System satellites to detect nuclear explosions. Astro Aerospace in California has now delivered all 18 V-Sensors plus six test units to Los Alamos National Laboratory for use in the Global Positioning Satellite 2F program. The antenna will be integrated into the satellites by Boeing, the prime contractor for the 2F program. Northrop called the V-Sensor a "pop-up" antenna that is about the size of a pack of cigarettes at launch, but extends to seven feet in length in space and can pick up the telltale electromagnetic pulse produced by a nuclear blast. The pulse can determine whether underground seismic activity was the result of an everyday earthquake or a secret underground test. The capability helps with enforcement of test ban treaties and in determining if any new members have crashed the world's nuclear club. The V-Sensor was made possible by Astro's STEM (Storable Tubular Extendible Member) technology. Astro has been building large structures for deployment in the weightless environment of Earth orbit. "Space deployable structures are critical technologies that are vital to the success of many national security programs,'' summed up Northrop Vice President Tom Romesser. The 2F satellites are slated to begin deployment later this decade. © Copyright 2006 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved ***************************************************************** 21 Guardian Unlimited: Industry warns against Trident delay Paul Owen and agencies Tuesday November 7, 2006 Guardian Unlimited Any delay in ordering a replacement for Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent could have a "catastrophic" impact on industry's ability to build a new generation of nuclear submarines, ministers were warned today. Murray Easton, the head of BAE Systems' submarines division, said that maintaining the essential skills base needed to build such complex vessels depended upon a regular flow of orders. Giving evidence to the Commons defence committee, Mr Easton said: "If there is a delay in the submarine-ordering programme it will have a significant and, I think, catastrophic impact on our ability to design and build, and therefore for this country to have its own nuclear submarines." The government is to publish a white paper on whether or not to replace Trident by the end of year; this will be followed by a debate and a vote in parliament. But, responding to Mr Easton's comments, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence told Guardian Unlimited that the government had not confirmed that any replacement for Trident would be a submarine-based system. The current fleet of Vanguard nuclear-powered submarines, which carry the Trident missiles, are due for replacement from 2020. Although the prime minister, Tony Blair, and the chancellor, Gordon Brown, have both signalled their support for a new nuclear deterrent, the issue is controversial within the Labour party, with many MPs deeply opposed. Mr Easton told the committee that the workforce at Barrow-in-Furness, where BAE builds submarines, had reached a "critical mass", and any losses of key staff would leave it in a "very perilous state". He said that BAE had already "haemorrhaged" vital skills as a result of the 16-year gap between ordering the Vanguard submarines and the new Astute hunter-killer submarines. With design work on Astute coming to an end next year, it was essential that there was no delay in starting work on a replacement for Vanguard if key staff were not to start leaving, he said. "We cannot, as an integrated business, cope with a delay to submarine programme." But the MoD spokesman said: "He hasn't said anything that hasn't been said before. He's obviously talking from a submarine industry point of view." He added: "It may not even be a submarine-based system." He said that the government's white paper setting out its view on the subject would be published by the end of the year "or thereabouts", and that that would be followed by a debate and a vote in parliament. Spokespeople for Rolls-Royce, which will build the nuclear generators for any new submarines, joined Mr Easton in emphasising the importance of maintaining the "drumbeat" of production if an essential skills base was to be retained. A written submission from the company to the defence committee also warned that the sharp decline of UK nationals among PhD science students and researchers in British universities was affecting its ability to recruit and retain staff for defence work. It said that around half the researchers at British university technology centres now came from abroad. "Many of these overseas research students make a major contribution to our activity while they are in the UK, but retention of this skill as a result of mobility is more difficult," the statement said. "In addition, they are also precluded from undertaking work on major defence projects." Nick Harvey, the Liberal Democrats' defence spokesman, said the decision had to be made on the basis of the national interest. "Any decision to retain an operationally independent deterrent obviously needs to consider whether we will actually have the skills available to make that decision a reality," he said. "However, to rush through a decision on such a complex issue, one that will effect the UK's strategic environment for decades to come, should not be made on the basis of demands from industry but on what is in the national interest. "The decision has to be based on the threats we are likely to face and whether Trident is the tool for the job of confronting those threats." Liam Fox, the shadow defence secretary, did not return a request for a comment in time for publication. Email your comments for publication to: politics.editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk [UP] Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2006 ***************************************************************** 22 Japan Times: Japan talk of nukes 'not desirable' - Ban Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006 By REIJI YOSHIDA Staff writer Ban Ki Moon, South Korea's foreign minister and the next U.N. secretary general, voiced concern Monday over discussions in Japan about the possibility of developing nuclear weapons in response to the recent nuclear test by North Korea. [News photo] South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki Moon talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a meeting at the Prime Minister's Official Residence on Monday. AP PHOTO Speaking through an interpreter at a news conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Ban said: "Not only as the South Korean foreign minister, but also as the (next) U.N. secretary general, I'd like to express concern." Ban said he understands the Japanese government will maintain its nonnuclear policy, as affirmed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. But he said it is still "not desirable" that influential politicians continue to discuss possessing nuclear arms as policy option. In response to the reported nuclear test by Pyongyang on Oct. 9, Shoichi Nakagawa, policy chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has repeatedly called for discussions on whether Japan should arm itself with nuclear weapons, ringing alarm bells both at home and overseas about a possible nuclear arms race in Asia. Foreign Minister Taro Aso also floated his own ideas about a nuclear Japan but later toned down his remarks in line with the government's official stance. He has since emphasized the nonnuclear policy. Ban said, "In a number of ways, such remarks are not desirable for the future of Japan." Ban, who will resign from the South Korean Cabinet on Friday and assume his U.N. post in January, is on his last trip to Japan as foreign minister. He met with Abe earlier in the day and with Aso on Sunday evening. At the meeting with Abe, Ban said Seoul will "adequately implement" a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear test. The two also agreed "on the importance of applying pressure, while keeping open a route for dialogue" with North Korea, the Foreign Ministry said. At the news conference, Ban said the six-party framework, consisting of the two Koreas, Japan, Russia, China and the United States, should play a key role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue. Ban denied media reports that he is considering a trip to Pyongyang to discuss the issue, although he said he is ready to undertake initiatives as U.N. secretary general. He also said he is thinking of appointing a special U.N. envoy to handle issues related to the Korean Peninsula. Asked to comment on the death sentence handed down Sunday to former Iraq President Saddam Hussein, Ban said he accepts the ruling as a decision made by the Iraqi people. The Japan Times (C) All rights reserved ***************************************************************** 23 NRC: NRC Begins Special Inspection at Palisades Nuclear Power Plant News Release - Region III - 2006-03 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region III No. III-06-032 November 7, 2006 CONTACT: Jan Strasma (630) 829-9663 Viktoria Mitlyng (630) 829-9662 E-mail: opa3@nrc.gov The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has dispatched a special inspection team to the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant after an NRC inspector found that the plants three auxiliary feedwater pumps were set in an incorrect operating mode during reactor shutdown and subsequent startup. The plant, operated by Nuclear Management Co., is located near Covert, Mich. The reactor was shut down on Nov. 1 due to an unrelated problem with a leak from an equipment cooling system. The leak was repaired, and operators began reactor startup on Nov. 3. During reactor startup, an NRC resident inspector discovered that the auxiliary feedwater pumps were set for manual operation when they were required to operate automatically. NRC Regional Administrator James Caldwell said, The reactor was safely cooled during the startup process, and there was no threat to public health and safety. Our inspection team will focus on why the pump control system was set incorrectly and why the plant staff did not discover the incorrect setting. The auxiliary feedwater pumps are used to supply water to cool the reactor during startup and shutdown and under certain accident conditions. The problem was identified while the plant was in the early stages of startup with one of the auxiliary feedwater pumps in operation. Plant operators stopped the startup procedure to reset the pump controls and, after further review, resumed starting up the reactor. The plant is now operating at full power. The plant staff determined that the pump controller was changed from automatic to manual on during the Nov. 1 reactor shutdown process. The NRC inspectors will review the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the plant staffs response to the situation and the operators training, knowledge of procedures, and actions. The special inspection team will issue its report 30 to 45 days after the completion of the inspection. The report will be available from the Region III Office of Public Affairs or from the agencys online document library at: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams/web-based.html. ----------------------------------------------------------------- NRC news releases are available through a free list serve subscription at the following Web address: http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web site. Last revised Tuesday, November 07, 2006 ***************************************************************** 24 Sydney Morning Herald: Howard takes wind from the sails of alternative energy - www.smh.com.au Water mark … boat ramps on Lake Hume have been left high and dry. A Herald /ACNielsen poll shows 91 per cent of Australians regard climate change as a serious issue. Phillip Coorey Chief Political Correspondent November 8, 2006 SYDNEY'S coastline would need to be festooned with windmills if clean, renewable energy was to generate enough electricity to replace that produced by fossil fuels or nuclear power, the Prime Minister said yesterday. John Howard was responding to a Herald/ACNielsen poll that found 91 per cent regarded climate change as a serious issue. More than 60 per cent were unhappy with the Federal Government's response to the challenge and were willing to pay more in taxes and for services if it helped. Mr Howard said he found the results "quite unsurprising" and natural given the recent publicity on climate change. He said he was particularly taken by the poll's finding that, when canvassed with energy options on how to best tackle global warming, almost 50 per cent opted for solar power. Mr Howard said he could understand why people preferred solar power, but it and wind power would never be mainstream generators of electricity. "Solar is a nice, easy soft answer. There is a vague idea in the community that solar doesn't cost anything and it can solve the problem. It can't … "Solar and all these other things can make a contribution at the margins, but unless you want to have a windmill every few hundred feet starting at South Head and going down to Malabar … you simply won't be able to generate enough power from something like wind in order to take the load of the power that is generated by the use of coal and gas and, in time, I believe, nuclear. "In the end, if you look years ahead, there are only two ways of generating the electricity that this nation needs - either through the current methods of fossil fuel use or through a combination of that in a cleaner form but with nuclear power." Mr Howard said he understood what the opinion polls were telling him, but they would never dictate policy. "I read what people say, I understand it, I'm sympathetic but in the end I've got to call it as it is, and calling it as it is means I have to say that solar and wind will not replace conventional power stations." Mr Howard doubted he would meet the former US vice-president Al Gore, due to revisit Australia soon. Mr Gore, who lost controversially to George Bush in the presidential election in 2000, visited Australia recently to promote the film An Inconvenient Truth. "We ought to be realistic," Mr Howard said. "I don't know I'm at the top of his popularity list. I am, after all, a rather close friend of somebody he's not very keen on." Copyright © 2006. The Sydney Morning Herald. ***************************************************************** 25 Sydney Morning Herald: We'll help Indonesia go nuclear - www.smh.com.au Mark Forbes, Herald Correspondent in Jakarta November 8, 2006 AUSTRALIA will help Indonesia develop a nuclear program, conduct joint border protection patrols, expand military and intelligence ties and agree to suppress Papuan independence supporters under a historic security treaty to be signed on Monday. The groundbreaking security treaty would be comprehensive but would not include a formal military alliance, sources close to the negotiations said. The Foreign Affairs Minister, Alexander Downer, will fly to Indonesia to sign the treaty with his counterpart, Hassan Wirayuda, on Monday. Its details were finalised when the pair met in New York last month. The treaty will provide a framework for stronger ties and expanded co-operation with Indonesia across a wide range of areas. Sources said it marked a new era in the relationship, putting an end to the diplomatic rift caused when Australia granted 43 Papuans asylum earlier this year. Both nations will agree to respect each other's territorial integrity. The treaty will recognise Indonesian sovereignty over Papua and commit both countries to suppressing independence activists. The Indonesia and Australia Framework for Security Co-operation includes a commitment for both nations to help each other in developing nuclear power for peaceful purposes. It opens the way for Australia to sell uranium to Indonesia, which is planning to begin construction of its first nuclear power plant in 2010. Both nations will also commit to acting to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction to other countries in the region. Intelligence sharing will be boosted, along with joint counter-terrorism operations, sources confirmed. Australia would enhance its and Indonesia's border protection with joint naval and surveillance patrols. Co-operation will be increased in all areas of law enforcement, with Australia providing resources to Indonesian police, prosecutors and immigration and customs officials. Military exercises and joint training, including with Indonesia's Kopassus unit, will also increase. Both militaries will be told to draw up specific programs for greater co-operation. Under six broad principles, the treaty states both nations should be treated as equals, respect the other's values and not interfere in internal affairs. They also state neither country would allow itself to become a "staging post" for separatist activities - a clause clearly aimed at an Australian crackdown on anti-Indonesian activists. The treaty goes further than a traditional military treaty, placing more emphasis on broader security issues. It commits both nations to increasing public understanding about the other. Education and advertising campaigns are envisaged to reduce public mistrust, which has shown up in recent polling. Announcing the negotiations for a treaty earlier this year, Mr Downer promised the process would be transparent. "People will be able to make public submissions long before this treaty is formally ratified," he said. However, diplomatic sources confirmed the treaty's details had been privately finalised last month, and final approval from the Indonesian cabinet was simply a formality. Arrangements for the foreign ministers to meet on the island of Lombok on Monday have already been made. Under Paul Keating, Australia signed a security treaty with Indonesia in 1995, but it was torn up by Jakarta in 1999 amid the tensions surrounding Australia's involvement in East Timor's independence. The treaty marks a dramatic turnaround after months of diplomatic turmoil fuelled by Australia's decision to grant asylum to 43 Papuan independence supporters. In response, the Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, froze relations with Australia for three months. Sydney Morning Herald. ***************************************************************** 26 ForUm: Nuclear reactor shut down in southern Ukraine for emergency repair work News / 7 November 2006 | 15:20 A nuclear reactor was shut down in southern Ukraine early Tuesday for emergency repair work to fix a defect, officials said, "International Herald Tribune" reported. There was no increase in radiation levels, the state-run nuclear operator Energoatom said. The cause of the shutdown was the malfunction of a pipe that helps cool the second reactor, said Yulia Shayda, Energoatom spokeswoman. The Southern-Ukraine nuclear power plant, in the Mykolayvsky region, has two other reactors: one is operating, and another is undergoing planned repairs. Ukraine was the site of the world's worst nuclear accident when a reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear plant exploded and caught fire in April 1986, spewing radiation over the western part of the Soviet Union and northern Europe. Chernobyl was closed down in 2000. Ukraine has 15 working nuclear reactors; officials said 12 are in operation now. Editorial staff:english@for-ua.com All rights are reserved by © LTD. Inter-Media, ForUm 2001-2006 ***************************************************************** 27 BBC NEWS: World risks 'dirty' energy future Last Updated: Tuesday, 7 November 2006, 10:00 GMT [ src=] The world could be dependent on "dirty, insecure and expensive" energy by 2030, an influential report has warned. Current trends showed that demand for power was set to grow by 53% by 2030, the International Energy Agency said. But if governments delivered on their promises to push cleaner and more efficient supplies, demand could be cut by about 10%, the agency suggested. Greater use of nuclear power could be a "valuable option" to cut imports and curb CO2 emissions, the study added. Projected primary energy demands in 2030 The International Energy Agency's (IEA) World Energy Outlook (WEO) 2006 also echoed the findings of a recent UK report that said the benefits of cutting emissions outweighed the costs of combatting climate change. "WEO 2006 reveals that the energy future we are facing today, based on projections of current trends, is dirty, insecure and expensive," said Claude Mandil, executive director of the IEA. "But it also shows how new government policies can create an alternative energy future which is clean, clever and competitive," he added. The document considered two scenarios: + Business as usual - Referred to in the report as the "reference scenario", this projects how the globe's energy mix would look in 2030 if current trends were followed + Alternative policy scenario - projects how the energy mix would appear in 2030 if the package of policies and measures being considered by governments were adopted Under the business as usual scenario, the document warned that the demand for fossil fuels, and the related carbon emissions, would continue to grow through to 2030, if there was no action from the world's politicians. Overall, the WEO says primary energy demand would grow by about 53%, with fossil fuels accounting for 83% of the increase between 2004 and 2030. But it said that the alternative policy scenario projected that demand for energy could be cut by 10% by 2030 - the equivalent to China's current total energy consumption. It also said this scenario would deliver 16% less carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than the business as usual scenario, the same as the current total emissions from the US and Canada combined. Nuclear option The WEO champions the role of nuclear power, saying it could make a "major contribution to reducing dependence on imported gas and curbing CO2 emissions". It forecasts that the total global generation capacity of nuclear power plants could increase from 368 gigawatts in 2005 to 519 gigawatts in 2030. The additional nuclear power plants would also have the advantage of being less vulnerable to fuel price changes than coal or gas-fired generation, helping to enhance the security of electricity supplies. However, it said that governments would have to convince the private sector that the initial investment of about $2bn-3.5bn (£1-1.8bn) per reactor would be a wise move. Ian Hore-Lacy, director of public communications for the World Nuclear Association, welcomed the IEA's report. "Given that world energy demand, and more particularly electricity demand, is increasing strongly, we need sources of electricity supply that are safe, affordable, with abundant fuel and are environmental benign," he said. "The virtues of nuclear power in all of those respects are becoming widely obvious." But Greenpeace International called it a "wasted opportunity". In a statement, the environmental group said: "While it is important that the IEA has finally recognised the need to drastically change the global energy supply in light of climate change, it has offered 'business as usual' solutions, which are not commensurate with the problems it seeks to solve." They said the agency's nuclear plan would require more than 200 new nuclear reactors in the next 24 years, which was "neither desirable nor realistic". Biofuels growth The report also projected that biofuels were set to play an increasing role in road transport, providing up to 7% of the total consumption in 2030. [A refinery (Image: EyeWire)] Biofuels: The next generation To meet this demand, the IEA envisaged that the total amount of arable land required would be equivalent to at least the combined size of France and Spain. But the WEO warned that the growing demand for food would limit the potential of the plant-derived fuel produced using current technologies. Yet the emergence of new "second generation" technologies, which allow more of a plant's material to be turned into fuel, could allow biofuels to play a much bigger role in either of the projections outlined in the report's two scenarios, it said. As for the financial viability of the alternative policy scenario, the IEA reached a similar conclusion to the findings outlined in a report by Sir Nicholas Stern, who was commissioned by the UK government to assess the economic impact of climate change. "The good news is that these policies are very cost effective," said Mr Mandil. "There are additional upfront costs involved, but they are quickly outweighed by savings in fuel expenditure." He added that every $1 invested in energy efficient appliances and equipment delivered a $2 saving on power generation. The report concluded that a shift to the alternative scenario would "serve all three of the principal goals of energy policy: greater security, more environmental protection and improved economic efficiency". ***************************************************************** 28 NRC: NRC to Discuss Process for Review of License Renewal Application for Susquehanna Nuclear Plant, Seeks Environmental Input News Release - Region I - 2006-05 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region I No. I-06-058 November 6, 2006 CONTACT: Diane Screnci (610) 337-5330 Neil A. Sheehan (610) 337-5331 E-mail: opa1@nrc.gov Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will conduct two public meetings on Wednesday, Nov. 15, to discuss the agencys review process for the license renewal application for the Susquehanna nuclear power plant, located in Salem Township (Luzerne County), Pa. The sessions will also provide an opportunity for members of the public to comment on environmental issues they believe the NRC should consider during its review of the application, which requests an additional 20 years of operation. The meetings will be held at the Eagles Building, 107 S. Market St. in Berwick, Pa. (Directions to the building are available at: http://www.luzerne.edu/offcampus/Berwick/berwickdirections.asp[ex it icon] .) The first session will begin at 1:30 p.m. and continue until 4:30 p.m., as necessary. The second session, which will offer the same presentation as the earlier one, will get under way at 7 p.m. and continue until 10 p.m., as needed. Both meetings will begin with NRC staff presentations on how the overall license renewal review process, which includes safety and environmental assessments, will work. Following the presentations, attendees will be able to offer their comments. These meetings will afford interested citizens the chance to learn exactly what it is we look at when we perform these reviews, NRC License Renewal Branch Chief Rani Franovich said. Whats more, they will be able to call our attention to any environmental issues they think our review should include. The NRC will host an open house beginning 1 hour before the start of each meeting to give members of the public an opportunity to talk informally with agency staff. However, formal comments must be expressed during the transcribed meetings. Under NRC regulations, the original operating license for a nuclear power plant has a term of 40 years. The license may be renewed for up to an additional 20 years if NRC requirements are met. The current operating license for the Susquehanna Unit 1 reactor is due to expire on July 17, 2022, while the current license for Susquehanna Unit 2 has an expiration date of March 23, 2024. PPL Susquehanna, LLC, submitted its license renewal application for the plant on Sept. 15 of this year. As part of its application, the company submitted an environmental report. A copy of the application is available via the NRCs web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applicati ons/susquehanna.html. In addition, the Berwick Public Library, located at 205 Chestnut St., Berwick, Pa., and the Mill Memorial Library, at 495 E. Main St., Nanticoke, Pa., have agreed to make the license renewal application available for public inspection. An existing NRC document, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants (NUREG-1437), assesses the scope of environmental impacts that would be associated with license renewal at any nuclear power plant site. The document for which the NRC will gather environmental comments at the Nov. 15th meetings will be a supplement to that report that is specific to the Susquehanna plant. It will contain a recommendation regarding the environmental acceptability of the license renewal action. At the conclusion of the information-gathering process, the NRC staff will prepare a summary of the conclusions reached and significant issues identified. A copy will be sent to each person who participated in the scoping process. The summary will also be available on the NRCs web site. The NRC staff will subsequently prepare a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) supplement for public comment and will hold a public meeting to solicit comments. After consideration of comments on the draft report, the NRC will prepare a final EIS supplement. Interested individuals may register to attend or present oral arguments at the Nov. 15th meetings by contacting Alicia Mullins of the NRC at 1-800-368-5642, ext. 1224, by Nov. 13th. Those who wish to offer comments may also register at the meetings within 15 minutes of the start of each session. Individual oral comments may be limited by the time available, depending on the number of persons who register. In addition, members of the public may send written comments on the environmental scoping process for the supplement to the GEIS to: Chief, Rules and Directive Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Office of Administration, Mailstop T-6D59, Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md., from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. during Federal workdays. To be considered, written comments should be postmarked or dropped off by Jan. 2, 2007. Electronic comments can also be sent via e-mail to SusquehannaEIS@nrc.gov, again no later than Jan. 2, 2007. NRC news releases are available through a free list serve subscription at the following Web address: http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web site. Last revised Tuesday, November 07, 2006 ***************************************************************** 29 Platts: German environment minister rejects call for more nuclear plants London (Platts)--6Nov2006 German environment minister Siegmar Gabriel of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) has rejected the demand of the International Energy Agency (IEA) to build nuclear power plants, the BBC Monitoring Service reported Monday. Looking to the world climate summit in Nairobi that starts November 6, the IEA had called on industrialized countries to build new nuclear power plants to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide and thereby get control over the problem of global warming. Nuclear power has virtually no effect on climate policy, Gabriel said November 5 on German radio "Deutschlandfunk." Gabriel argued that nuclear power plants generate power but not heat. The result is that in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant many thermal power stations are needed that all emit carbon dioxide. "The sensible alternative is combined heat and power plants," Gabriel said. These generate electricity and heat with an efficiency of 90% and as a result produce less carbon dioxide than nuclear power plants plus thermal plants. He feels the choice between the dangers of radioactivity and those of carbon dioxide is one between cholera and the plague. Intelligent policy does not consist of choosing between two evils. If an effort is made in the direction of more energy efficiency, of renewable energies, but also of modern coal technologies, then neither a power shortage nor problems with carbon dioxide need be feared, he said. The greatest task of the upcoming climate conference in Nairobi is to help the developing countries adapt to the climate change already occurring, Gabriel said. Only then would they be willing to talk with the industrialized countries about reducing greenhouse gases. Nonetheless, the medium-term goal of the next 10 to 20 years must be to sharply cut greenhouse gases. "We are assuming that in Germany we will reach the goal of a 21% reduction by 2012. In the period after that, by 2020, we want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% in the EU. But since these are always average figures and there are countries that are just beginning their economic development, as in Eastern Europe, Germany will have to achieve 40%," the environment minister said. Greenhouse gases worldwide must be reduced by 60% to 80% by 2050. This could only be achieved through new technologies and greater energy efficiency, he added. Copyright © 2006 - Platts, All Rights Reserved [The McGraw-Hill Companies] ***************************************************************** 30 IHT: Investing: A new nuclear revival: Uranium prices get hot - International Herald Tribune WELLINGTON: Uranium is the energy investment of choice for a growing number of hedge funds, who say a sixfold gain since 2001 is just the beginning of a rally that will last years. "We're in an historic uranium shortage," said James Passin, who manages investments at Firebird Management in New York and began buying shares of uranium producers five years ago. "We're in a global nuclear revival." Uranium, up 7 percent last week to a record $60 a pound, is likely to rise to $70 by January after a flood at Cameco's Cigar Lake mine in Canada, said Jean-François Tardif , who has $180 million invested in uranium at Sprott Asset Management. Bob Mitchell at Adit Capital Management said $80 to $100 a pound was possible. Even with new mines, growth in the supply of uranium is straining to keep up with demand from utilities. Production from five of the six largest mines in Canada, Australia and Namibia fell in the first half from a year earlier, according to Nukem, a supplier of uranium in Danbury, Connecticut. Today in Marketplace by Bloomberg Power producers are paying record prices for uranium to run plants that produce 16 percent of the world's electricity. Russia plans to make nuclear power the source of 25 percent of its needs by 2030, from 16 percent now, creating a state-run company to compete with Areva of Paris. Demand for nuclear energy is bolstered by government efforts under the Kyoto Protocol to limit emissions of carbon dioxide and curb imports of fossil fuels. Australia, home to 40 percent of the world's known uranium deposits, said that it might build a nuclear industry that can compete with oil and coal within 15 years. "It is a very tight, producer's market," said Robert Godsell, chief executive of AngloGold Ashanti in Johannesburg, whose gold mines also produce enough uranium to meet the needs of Électricité de France, the world's biggest nuclear-energy provider. "We're very optimistic about the long-term price of uranium because it's the only alternative to coal and oil-based energy on scale." The spot price of uranium has advanced 45 percent on average in each of the past five years, based on data from Ux Consulting, a pricing benchmark in the nuclear industry. That beats the average annual gain of 23 percent for copper and nickel on the London Metal Exchange. The Reuters-Jeffries CRB index of commodities is down 8 percent this year, while uranium is up 66 percent. "There's nothing to stop the rally in uranium, unless nuclear has a big accident," said Thomas Neff, a physicist who monitors the uranium industry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The industry's worst accident, the explosion and fire that killed almost 50 people at the Soviet plant at Chernobyl, occurred in 1986. "We had 20 years of low prices," said Neff. "The cost of that is there had been virtually no investment in new mining projects." Passin's Firebird Global Fund has earned average annual returns of 46 percent over the past five years. Passin is the largest shareholder in Summit Resources of Perth in Western Australia and has been a "long- time holder" of uranium explorer UEX of Vancouver. By comparison, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has returned 8.8 percent a year over the same period. Buffett's energy investments have been in oil, natural gas, coal and renewable power, not nuclear. Buffett completed a $5.1 billion takeover of the electricity producer PacifiCorp from Scottish Power in March, and at his annual shareholders meeting in May singled out utilities as an area of interest. He would not comment for this article. Tudor Investment, the $14.7 billion fund founded by Paul Tudor Jones, in the second quarter bought a stake in Cameco, the world's biggest uranium supplier, worth 32.2 million Canadian dollars, or $29 million. Citadel Investment Group, a $12 billion hedge fund, in that period had a stake worth 12.4 million Canadian dollars. Bryan Locke, a spokesman for Citadel of Chicago, and Gwenn Daniels, who speaks for Tudor, declined to comment. Christopher Donville reported from Vancouver. [ Copyright © 2006 the International Herald Tribune All rights reserved [IHT] ***************************************************************** 31 Xinhua: First nuclear power plant on Yangtze to be built www.chinaview.cn 2006-11-07 15:07:13 HEFEI, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- China will build a nuclear power plant on the Yangtze River -- the first on the famous river -- if government approves the project. An organization that will prepare construction of the plant has been set up in Wuhu, a city in east China's Anhui Province. Approval from the State Development and Reform Commission is needed before construction can begin, according to information from the Wuhu City government. According to the sources, the China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co. plant will have four nuclear power units and a total installed capacity of four million kw. The plant will be located at Bamaoshan, about 60km from downtown Wuhu. Two generating units will be installed during the first phase of construction. 46 billion yuan (5.75 billion US dollars) have been earmarked for the project. A delegation from China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co., led by company chairman Qian Zhimin, inspected the plant location early this month and concluded that the site is very suitable for a nuclear power plant. A feasibility study on the project is under way. Editor: Pliny Han ***************************************************************** 32 NRC: Notice of Availability of Model License Amendment Request and FR Doc 06-9094 [Federal Register: November 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 215)] [Notices] [Page 65148-65160] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr07no06-79] Safety Evaluation on Technical Specification Improvement Regarding Revision to the Completion Time in STS 3.6.6A, ``Containment Spray and Cooling Systems'' for Combustion Engineering Pressurized Water Reactors Using the Consolidated Line Item Improvement Process AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of availability. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has prepared a model license amendment request (LAR), model safety evaluation (SE), and model proposed no significant hazards consideration (NSHC) determination related to changes to the completion times (CT) in Standard Technical Specification (STS) 3.6.6A, ``Containment Spray and Cooling Systems,'' contained in NUREG-1432 (Standard Technical Specifications for Combustion Engineering Plants, Rev. 3.0). The proposed changes would revise STS 3.6.6A by extending the CT for one containment spray system (CSS) train inoperable from 72 hours to seven days, and add a Condition, Required Actions and associated CT when one CSS train and one containment cooling system (CCS) train are inoperable. These changes are based on analyses provided in a joint applications report submitted by the Combustion Engineering Owner's Group (CEOG). The CEOG participants in the Technical Specifications Task Force (TSTF) proposed these changes to the STS in Change Traveler No. TSTF-409, Revision 2. The purpose of these models is to permit the NRC to efficiently process amendments to incorporate these changes into plant-specific STS for Combustion Engineering pressurized water reactors (PWRs). Since TSTF-409 involves a risk-informed approach to extending the CT for one CSS inoperable, the NRC staff must verify that licensees who apply for this TS change have a valid, up-to-date probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) model that employs PRA principles to ensure that public health and safety are maintained when the CSS CT of 7 days is implemented. Therefore, the model LAR contains several conditions requiring licensees to make specific validations of their plant PRA quality and methods. The intent of using the CLIIP to adopt TSTF-409 is to eliminate [[Page 65149]] the need for additional technical review and requests for additional information (RAIs) on plant-specific amendments. Licensees of nuclear power reactors to which the models apply can request amendments conforming to the models. In such a request, a licensee should confirm the applicability of the model SE and NSHC determination to its plant, and provide the expected supplemental information requested in the model LAR. DATES: The NRC staff issued a Federal Register Notice (71 FR 18380, April 11, 2006) which provided for public comment a model SE, model LAR, and NSHC determination related to changes to the CT for one CSS train inoperable in STS 3.6.6A. The NRC staff herein provides a revised model SE, revised model LAR, and NSHC determination. The NRC staff can most efficiently consider applications based upon the model LAR, which references the Model SE, if the application is submitted within one year of this Federal Register Notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Kobetz, Mail Stop: O-12H2, Division of Inspection Program Management, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555- 0001, telephone 301-415-1932. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Regulatory Issue Summary 2000-06, ``Consolidated Line Item Improvement Process [CLIIP] for Adopting Standard Technical Specifications Changes for Power Reactors,'' was issued on March 20, 2000. The CLIIP is intended to improve the efficiency and transparency of NRC licensing processes. This is accomplished by processing proposed changes to the STS in a manner that supports subsequent license amendment applications. The CLIIP includes an opportunity for the public to comment on proposed changes to the STS following a preliminary assessment by the NRC staff and finding that the change will likely be offered for adoption by licensees. The CLIIP includes NRC staff evaluation of any comments received for a proposed change to the STS. In several instances, the staff's evaluation did result in changes to the model LAR and/or model SE. Those licensees opting to apply for the subject changes to TSs are responsible for reviewing the staff's evaluation, referencing the applicable technical justifications, and providing any necessary plant-specific information. The model LAR shows licensees the expected level of detail that needs to be included in order to adopt TSTF-409, Rev. 2, as well as guidelines for staff review. The NRC has established an internal review plan that designates the appropriate staff and approximate timelines to review plant-specific LARs that reference TSTF-409, Rev. 2. Each amendment application made in response to the notice of availability will be processed and noticed in accordance with applicable NRC rules and procedures. This notice involves an increase in the allowed CT to restore an inoperable CSS train on Combustion Engineering PWRs. By letter dated November 10, 2003, the CEOG proposed this change for incorporation into the STS as TSTF-409, Revision 2. This change is based on the NRC staff- approved analyses contained in CE NPSD-1045-A, ``Joint Applications Report: Modification to the Containment Spray System, and Low Pressure Safety Injection System Technical Specifications,'' dated March 2000, as approved by the NRC in a SE dated December 21, 1999, accessible electronically from the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System's (ADAMS) Public Electronic Reading Room on the Internet (ADAMS Accession No. ML993620241) at the NRC Web site http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. Persons who do not have access to ADAMS or who encounter problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, should contact the NRC Public Document Room Reference staff by telephone at 1- 800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov. This notice, along with TSTF-409, Rev. 2, will be posted on the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/techspecs/changes -issued-for-adoption.html . Applicability This proposed change to revise the Technical Specification (TS) CT for one inoperable CSS train is applicable to Combustion engineering PWRs. To efficiently process the incoming license amendment applications, the NRC staff requests that each licensee applying for the changes addressed by TSTF-409, Revision 2, use the CLIIP to submit a LAR that adheres to the following model. Any deviations from the model LAR should be explained in the licensee's submittal. When applying, licensees should ensure they address the eight conditions and one regulatory commitment listed in the model LAR and model SE. The CLIIP does not prevent licensees from requesting an alternative approach, proposing changes without providing the information described in the eight model LAR conditions, or making the requested commitment. Variations from the approach recommended in this notice may, however, require additional review by the NRC staff and may increase the time and resources needed for the review. Significant variations from the approach, or inclusion of additional changes in the LAR, will result in staff rejection of the submittal under the CLIIP. Instead, licensees desiring significant variations and/or additional changes should either submit a LAR that does not claim to adopt TSTF-409, or specifically state in their LAR that they are adopting TSTF-409 without using the CLIIP. Public Notices In a notice in the Federal Register dated April 11, 2006 (71 FR 18380), the staff requested comment on the use of the CLIIP to process requests to revise the CE PWR TS regarding Containment Spray System completion time extensions as discussed in TSTF-409. In response to this notice, the staff received one set of comments (developed by the PWR Owners Group, and submitted by the Nuclear Energy Institute in a letter dating May 10, 2006 (ADAMs Accession No. ML061570029)). Specific comments on the model LAR and model SE were offered. These comments, along with the NRC staff's responses, are summarized and discussed below. 1. Comment: Based on discussions with the author regarding the intent of the ``Model SE,'' [i.e., to allow acceptance review without RAIs while satisfying the CLIIP] it is recommended that additional explanatory information be included. * * * At the very minimum, a clear preamble to the FRN should be provided that places the scope of the FRN in perspective. Response: The following preamble has been inserted after the first sentence of the second paragraph of the FRN. ``Since TSTF-409 involves a risk-informed approach to extending the CT for one CSS inoperable, the NRC staff must verify that licensees who apply for this TS change have a valid, up to date probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) model that employs PRA principles to ensure that public health and safety are maintained when the CSS CT of 7 days is implemented. Therefore, the model LAR contains several conditions requiring licensees to make specific validations of their plant PRA quality and methods. The intent of using the CLIIP to adopt TSTF-409 is to eliminate the need for additional technical review and requests for additional information (RAIs) on plant-specific amendments.'' 2. Comment: [The FRN] should equally note that existing strategies for [[Page 65150]] approval are valid and may also be used. Response: The second to last paragraph of the FRN discusses how a licensee should proceed if it desires to deviate from the approach outlined in the CLIIP. The NRC's position is that, if a licensee is going to submit a LAR that adopts TSTF-409 using the CLIIP, then the plant-specific LAR should provide all the information requested in the model LAR. Any variations/deviations should be explained, and may require additional review by the staff (including issuance of RAIs). Significant variations from the CLIIP methodology should be submitted as normal license amendment requests. The staff has changed the last sentence of second to last paragraph of the FRN to read: ``Instead, licensees desiring significant variations and/or additional changes should either submit a LAR that does not claim to adopt TSTF-409, or specifically state in their LAR that they are adopting TSTF-409 without using the CLIIP.'' This will correctly define the scope of the review for the staff when processing an incoming LAR that does not conform to the CLIIP. 3. Comment: The essence of the proposed CSS TS change focuses on a single CSS train. Thus, the mention of ACTION G (regarding two CSS trains out-of-service) seems unnecessary. Response: The staff agrees with this comment. Mention of ACTION G has been removed from Section 4.1 of the model LAR, and Section 3.1 of the model SE. 4. Comment: The last paragraph of section 4.2.1 item 1 notes that ``If a zero maintenance PRA model is used * * * in performing these calculations, then the licensee must commit to performing no other maintenance during the extended CSS CT * * *''. This restriction has no technical merit. The risk of maintenance is generated as incremental risks from the baseline. The initial submittal noted that for plants with emergency grade fan coolers (most of the applicants), the actual risk increases as a result of removing a CSS out of service is very low. Furthermore, CSS have very little (if any) overlap with other systems. Because the risk important function of CSSs is to maintain the containment pressure within acceptable limits (and control sump temperature to ensure adequate NPSH for ECCS equipment--a function left out of FRN Section 3), those functions can be accommodated by the redundant CS train or the fan coolers. Furthermore, by using RG 1.177 to support low risk, the risk impact of removal of the CSS for the duration of the 7 day AOT is small. Because plants perform maintenance on a frequent basis, not allowing repair or maintenance on another system (which is likely to be of greater risk importance than the CSS) is unnecessary and likely to have worse risk. Another unusual aspect of the restriction implies that the incremental risk calculated using zero maintenance conditions is significantly different from that calculated using annualized plant- wide system out-of-service values. While the baseline PRA for zero maintenance is less than the baseline PRA value for nominal maintenance, its impact on incremental risk will be small. Response: The staff accepts NEI's comment in that it creates a regulatory condition that is overly restrictive to plants using a zero maintenance PRA model. The staff has inserted alternate wording (from RG 1.177 Section 2.3.4. 2) to the last sentence of condition 1 in Section 4.2.1 of the model LAR as follows: If the licensee utilizes a ``zero maintenance'' PRA model for the assessment, they should state they are using a ``zero maintenance'' model in the evaluation, and provide a discussion as to the ability of that model to produce comparable results to the ``average maintenance'' assessment. 5. Comment: It is understood that documented quantitative external event information for the plants may be limited. However, reference to plant individual plant examination (IPE) and individual plant examination for external events (IPEEE) and the requirements to explain the evolution of the PRA since 1988 as identified in Section in item 4.2.1 part 2.b is unnecessary. Item 2.c requires that the peer review results be discussed along with the overall disposition of relevant facts and observations (F) and item e (which includes an overall determination of the adequacy of the plant specific PRA with respect to this application). These assessment[s] are current and of more importance to the application. Where external events rely on IPEEE vintage information, a discussion/statement of the risk significance of the spray system in mitigating external events should be performed. Response: The staff agrees that peer reviews of plant-specific PRA are important. However, it is equally important to have an understanding of PRA updates and upgrades since the IPE, IPEEE, and peer reviews were conducted, especially if plant improvements and/or commitments are cited and credited in the analyses as being implemented. Licensees who have given this information in prior submittals may incorporate the information by reference. 6. Comment: Section 4.2.1 item 3 requirements on consideration of fire and external events and the associated EXPECTATIONS are too restrictive and do not correspond to safety benefits. The CSS has limited risk overlap with fires or external initiating events. Challenges to power induced by tornadoes, high winds or seismic events have limited importance to the spray system and [are] more appropriate with AOTs associated with AC-power related components. It was our understanding that the intent of this restriction was to assure the regulator that the overall combined plant risk remains below a CDF of 10 -4 per year (per requirements of RG 1.174). The intent of this section should be clarified. This requirement should be reduced to providing information regarding the reasons underlying low risk associated with this system. Response: The staff acknowledges that, for many plants, the impact of the CT extension on external event risk will be minimal. If this is the case, the licensee needs to confirm this in its submittal and explain why there is limited overlap. 7. Comment: Section 4.2.1 item 3 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA requires ``combining internal events, internal flooding, external events and shutdown PRA results.'' The requirements for the combination of events should be modified to have the utility provide a technical basis for demonstrating the plant CDF to be less than 10 -4 per year or has no plant specific vulnerabilities (per SECY-88-20). Requirements for a fully quantified external events (including fire) PRA and shutdown PRA [are] beyond the state of the art. Few plants have all the above. The Fire PRA standard is just undergoing peer review and no shutdown PRA standard has been written. Methods for combining these PRA results [are] also not defined (particularly merging shutdown and ``at power'' PRA results). Instead, it should be noted that the utility may use existing external event evaluations including IPEEE results and qualitative external event assessments, where appropriate, to provide confidence that the overall plant CDF is not within RG 1.174 risk region 1. Response: The staff is requesting that licensees provide [Delta]CDF and [Delta]LERF calculations for those external events for which the licensee has a PRA. For external events for which the licensee does not have a PRA, the licensee will need to confirm there are no vulnerabilities that would indicate that [[Page 65151]] the total CDF is >10-4 or the total LERF is >10-\5\ yr. this stipulation allows the staff to ensure that plans whose [Delta]CDF or [Delta]LERF calculation puts them in Region II of either Figure 3 or Figure 4 of RG 1.174 are still within the RG 1.174 Section 2.2.4 acceptance guidelines for total plant risk (CDF and LERF). With regard to NEI's comments on a fully-quantified external events (including fire) PRA and shutdown PRA being beyond state-of-the-art, the staff believes the wording in the EXPECTATIONS for Section 4.2.1 condition 3 was misinterpreted. The wording has been revised to read ``(quantitatively and/or qualitatively, as appropriate).'' However, the staff notes that while fire and shutdown PRA standards have not yet been endorsed, there are available methods to quantify fire and shutdown PRA. Therefore, the staff does not believe such evaluations are beyond the state of the art. Rather, they are areas where some evaluation is still ongoing. 8. Comment: EXPECTATIONS supporting 4.2.1 item 4. The TS is structured to have a revised CT. Once the new CT is adopted the old CT will disappear as a regulatory item. Thus, there is no entry into an extended CSS CT. It is simply an entry into the CT. There are no significant external event interactions and the outage is limited to a single spray train. Therefore, The Tier 2 requirement should be limited to one CSS out of service, which is already governed in the TS with a cautionary note that Maintenance rule or tier 3 guidance to not simultaneously disable both the emergency grade fan coolers and the sprays. Response: The staff agrees that ``extended CT'' should not be used in the model LAR. Appropriate changes will be made here and in other sections of the FRN where appropriate. The staff believes that a tier 2 justification by the licensee is warranted with regard to removing one CSS train from service due to scheduled ``preventive'' maintenance for the 7-day period. If there are no risk-significant configurations or risk-significant external event conditions identified in the tier 2 evaluation, then the licensee should include a statement that there are no risk-significant configurations or external event conditions that would preclude them from using the 7-day CT. 9. Comment: End of [Section 4.2.1 item 7]. Note that the RGs provide guidelines. Risk values are not rigid thresholds. Thus small deviations to the guidance can be and are somewhat fuzzy to allow for the mathematical uncertainties inherent in these studies. Response: The staff agrees that RG 1.174 and 1.177 guidelines are not rigid standards, and has revised condition 7 to delete the second paragraph of the EXPECTATIONS section. Note that Condition 5 of the model LAR requires licensees to confirm that their CRMP or associated (a)(4) program meets all aspects of Section 2.3.7.2 or RG 1.177. Dated at Rockville, Maryland; this 19th day of October 2006. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Timothy J. Kobetz, Branch Chief, Technical Specifications Branch, Division of Inspection and Regional Support, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. FOR INCLUSION ON THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION WEB PAGE THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLE OF A LICENSE AMENDMENT REQUEST (LAR) WAS PREPARED BY THE NRC STAFF TO FACILITATE THE ADOPTION OF TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS TASK FORCE (TSTF) TRAVELER TSTF-409, REVISION 2 ``CONTAINMENT SPRAY SYSTEM COMPLETION TIME EXTENSION (CE NPSD-1045-A).'' THE MODEL PROVIDES THE EXPECTED LEVEL OF DETAIL AND CONTENT FOR A LAR TO ADOPT TSTF-409, REVISION 2. LICENSEES REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THEIR PLANT- SPECIFIC LAR FULFILLS THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS NRC REGULATIONS. [fxsp0]---------------------------------------------------------- ------ U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Document Control Desk Washington, DC 20555 SUBJECT: [PLANT NAME] APPLICATION FOR TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION IMPROVEMENT TO EXTEND THE COMPLETION TIME FOR CONTAINMENT SPRAY SYSTEM INOPERABILITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH TSTF-409, REVISION 2 Dear Sir or Madam: In accordance with the provisions of Section 50.90 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR 50.90), [LICENSEE] is submitting a request for an amendment to the technical specifications (TS) for [PLANT NAME, UNIT NOS.]. The proposed changes would revise TS 3.6.6A, ``Containment Spray and Cooling Systems,'' by extending from 72 hours to seven days the completion time (CT) to restore an inoperable containment spray system (CSS) train. In addition, a Condition would be added to the TS to allow one CSS train and one containment cooling system (CCS) train to be inoperable for a period of 72 hours. The changes are consistent with NRC-approved Industry Technical Specification Task Force (TSTF) Standard Technical Specification Change Traveler, TSTF-409, Revision 2, ``Containment Spray System Completion Time Extension (CE NPSD-1045-A).'' Enclosure 1 provides a description and assessment of the proposed changes and confirmation of applicability. Enclosure 2 provides the existing TS pages marked-up to show the proposed changes. Enclosure 3 provides the existing TS Bases marked-up to reflect the proposed changes (for information only). Final TS Bases will be provided in a future update to the Updated Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR) in accordance with the Bases Control Program. Attachments 1 through 8 provide the discussions of [LICENSEE'S] evaluations and supporting information with regard to the conditions stipulated in Section 4.2.1 of Enclosure 1. [LICENSEE] requests approval of the proposed license amendment by [DATE], with the amendment being implemented [BY DATE OR WITHIN X DAYS]. in accordance with 10 CFR 50.91, a copy of this application, with enclosures, is being provided to the designated [STATE] Official. I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that I am authorized by [LICENSEE] to make this request and that the foregoing is true and correct. [Note that request may be notarized in lieu of using this oath or affirmation statement]. If you should have any questions regarding this submittal, please contact [ ]. Sincerely, Name, Title Enclosures: 1. Description and Assessment of Proposed Changes 2. Proposed Technical Specification Changes 3. Proposed Technical Specification Bases Changes (if applicable) Attachments: 1. Licensee's supporting information for condition 1 2. Licensee's supporting information for condition 2 3. Licensee's supporting information for condition 3 4. Licensee's supporting information for condition 4 5. Licensee's supporting information for condition 5 6. Licensee's supporting information [[Page 65152]] for condition 6 7. Licensee's supporting information for condition 7 8. Licensee's supporting information for condition 8 cc: NRR Project Manager Regional Office Resident Inspector State Contact ITSB Branch Chief 1.0 Description The letter is a request to amend Operating License(s) [LICENSE NUMBER(S)] for [PLANT/UNIT NAME(S)]. The proposed changes would revise Technical Specification (TS) 3.6.6A, ``Containment Spray and Cooling Systems,'' by extending from 72 hours to seven days the completion time (CT) to restore an inoperable containment spray system (CSS) train to operable status, and would add a Condition describing the required action and CT when one CSS train and one containment cooling system (CCS) train are inoperable. The changes are consistent with NRC approved Industry Owner's Group Technical Specification Task Force (TSTF) Standard Technical Specification Change Traveler TSTF-409, Revision 2 (Rev. 2), ``Containment Spray System Completion Time Extension (CE NPSD-1045- A).'' TSTF-409, Rev. 2 was approved by the NRC on [DATE]. 2.0 Proposed Change Specifically, the proposed revision extends the CT (or allowed outage time) that one CSS train is permitted to remain inoperable from 72 hours to seven days based on Reference 1, as accepted by, and subject to the limitations specified in, Reference 2. TSTF-409, Rev. 2 states that the longer CT will enhance overall plant safety by avoiding potential unscheduled plant shutdowns and allowing greater availability of safety significant components during shutdown. In addition, TSTF- 409, Rev. 2 states that this extension provides for increased flexibility in scheduling and performing maintenance and surveillance activities in order to enhance plant safety and operational flexibility during lower modes of operation. The revision also adds a Condition to allow one CSS train and one CCS train to be inoperable for up to 72 hours. Since Reference 1 did not evaluate the concurrent inoperabilities of one CSS train and one CCS train, the CT for this Condition was limited to 72 hours. [LICENSEE] also proposes to make changes to the supporting TS Bases in accordance with TSTF-409, Rev. 2. Changes to the Bases include supporting information justifying the addition of the Condition for one CSS train and one CCS train inoperable. The Bases changes also include a reviewer's note that requires [LICENSEE] to adopt Reference 1 and meet the requirements of References 1 and 2 prior to utilizing the 7- day CT for one inoperable CSS. Finally, a reference to Reference 1 is added to the Bases. Markups of the TS Bases are provided in enclosure 3. Changes to the Bases will be implemented in accordance with [LICENSEE's] bases control program. In summary, [LICENSEE] proposes to extend the CT for one inoperable CSS train from 72 hours to 7 days based on Reference 1, and add a Condition to allow one CSS train and one CCS train to be inoperable for up to 72 hours. 3.0 Background The function of the containment heat removal systems under accident conditions is to remove heat from the containment atmosphere, thus maintaining the containment pressure and temperature at acceptably low levels. The systems also serve to limit offsite radiation levels by reducing the pressure differential between the containment atmosphere and the external environment, thereby decreasing the driving force for fission product leakage across the containment. The two containment heat removal systems are the CCS and the CSS. The CCS fan coolers are designed to operate during both normal plant operations and under loss- of-coolant accident [LOCA] or main steam line break (MSLB) conditions. The CSS is designed to operate during accident conditions only. The heat removal capacity of the CCS and CSS is sufficient to keep the containment temperature and pressure below design conditions for any size break, up to and including a double-ended break of the largest reactor coolant pipe. The systems are also designed to mitigate the consequences of any size break, up to and including a double-ended break of a main stream line. The CCS and CSS continue to reduce containment pressure and temperature and maintain them at acceptable levels post-accident. The CCS and CSS at [PLANT NAME] each consist of [Substitute plant- specific configuration if it differs from the following description] two redundant loops and are designed such that a single failure does not degrade their ability to provide the required heat removal capability. Two of four containment fan coolers and one CSS loop are powered from one safety-related bus. The other two containment fan coolers and CSS loop are powered from another independent safety- related bus. The loss of one bus does not affect the ability of the containment heat removal systems to maintain containment temperature and pressure below the design values in a post-accident mode. The [PLANT NAME] CSS consists of [Substitute plant-specific configuration if it differs from the following description] two independent and redundant loops each containing a spray pump, shutdown heat exchanger, piping, valves, spray headers, and spray nozzles. It has two modes of operation, which are: 1. The injection mode, during which the system sprays borated water from the refueling water tank (RWT) into the containment, and 2. The recirculation mode, which is automatically initiated by the recirculation actuation signal (RAS) after low level is reached in the RWT. During this mode of operation, the safety injection system (SIS) sump provides suction for the spray pumps. Containment spray is automatically initiated by the containment spray actuation signal coincident with the safety injection actuation signal and high containment pressure signal. If required, the operator can manually activate the system from the main control room. Each CSS pump, together with a CCS loop, provides the flow necessary to remove the heat generated inside the containment following a LOCA or MSLB. Upon system activation, the pumps are started and the borated water flows into the containment spray headers. When low level is reached in the RWT, sufficient water has been transferred to the containment to allow for the recirculation mode of operation. Spray pump suction is automatically realigned to the SIS sump upon a RAS. During the recirculation mode, the spray water is cooled by the shutdown heat exchangers prior to discharge into the containment. The shutdown heat exchangers are cooled by the component cooling water system. Post-LOCA pH control is provided by [Substitute plant-specific configuration if it differs from the following description] trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate, which is stored in stainless steel baskets located in the containment near the SIS sump intake. The longer CT for an inoperable CSS train will enhance overall plant safety by avoiding potential unscheduled plant [[Page 65153]] shutdowns and allowing greater availability of safety significant components during shutdown. In addition, this extension provides for increased flexibility in scheduling and performing maintenance and surveillance activities in order to enhance plant safety and operational flexibility during lower modes of operation. 4.0 Technical analysis [LICENSEE] has reviewed References 1 and 2, as well as TSTF-409, Rev. 2, and the model SE published on [DATE] ([] FR []) as part of the CLIIP Notice of Availability. [LICENSEE] has applied the methodology in Reference 1 to develop the proposed TS changes. [LICENSEE] has also concluded that the justifications presented in TSTF-409, Rev. 2 and the model SE prepared by the NRC staff are applicable to [PLANT NAME], and justify this amendment for the incorporation of changes to the [PLANT NAME] TS. In determining the suitability and safety impact of its adoption of TSTF-409, Rev. 2, [LICENSEE] analyzed the effect of increasing the CT for one CSS train to remain out of service using both traditional engineering considerations and probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) methods. 4.1 Traditional (Deterministic) Engineering Analysis The functions and operation of the CSS and CCS were described in Section 3.0 of this application. Based on a review of the design-basis requirements for the CSS, [LICENSEE] concluded that the loss of one CSS train is well within the design-basis analyses. This conclusion is based on the fact that each CSS pump, together with a CCS loop, provides the flow necessary to remove the heat generated inside the containment following a LOCA or MSLB. Therefore, the combination of one CSS pump and one CCS loop can carry out the design functions of maintaining the containment pressure and temperature at acceptably low levels following a design-basis accident (DBA), and limiting offsite radiation levels by reducing the pressure differential between the containment atmosphere and the external environment, thereby decreasing the driving force for fission product leakage across the containment. The plant status with one CSS train and one CCS train inoperable is covered by TS 3.6.6A, ACTION [D], which states: ``[With] one containment spray and one containment cooling train inoperable, restore containment spray train to OPERABLE status within 72 hours, or restore containment cooling train to OPERABLE status within 72 hours.'' ACTION [D] ensures that the iodine removal capabilities of the CSS are available, along with 100 percent of the heat removal needs after an accident. The supporting analyses performed in Reference 1 did not evaluate the concurrent inoperabilities of one CSS train and one CCS train, therefore, the current CT of 72 hours is retained in Condition [D]. The 72 hour Completion Time was developed taking into account the redundant heat removal capabilities afforded by combinations of the CSS and CCS, the iodine removal function of the CSS, and the low probability of a DBA occurring during this period. 4.2 Probabilistic Risk Assessment Evaluation [LICENSEE] evaluated the proposed CT extension for the CSS using Reference 3 and Reference 4. This is the same methodology that the NRC staff used in Reference 2. The Key Principles of A Risk-Informed Integrated Decisionmaking Process listed in Reference 3 are as follows: Principle I: The proposed change meets the current regulations. Principle II: The proposed change is consistent with the defense-in- depth philosophy. Principle III: The proposed change maintains sufficient safety margin. Principle IV: When the proposed change results in an increase in core damage frequency or risk, the increase should be small and consistent with the Commission's Safety Goal Policy Statement. Principle V: The impact of the proposed change should be monitored using performance measurement strategies. In Reference 2, the NRC staff found, and [LICENSEE] agrees, that in risk-informed TS CT applications, Principle I is met, since regulations do not require specific CTs, but, rather, require ``remedial actions'' when an LCO cannot be met. Additionally, in its analysis of Principle III, the NRC staff found, and [LICENSEE] agrees, that the proposed CT extension maintains sufficient safety margins, For [PLANT NAME], the loss of one CSS train is well within the plant's design basis. In Reference 2, the NRC staff determined that the intent of Principles II, IV, and V would be met by a three-tiered approach to evaluate the plant-specific risk impact associated with the proposed TS changes, consistent with the requirements of Reference 4. The first tier evaluates the plant-specific PRA model and the impact of the proposed CT extension on plant operational risk. The second tier addresses the need to preclude potentially high risk configurations by identifying the need for any additional constraints or compensatory actions that, if implemented, would avoid or reduce the probability of a risk-significant configuration during the time when one CSS train is out of service. The third tier evaluates [LICENSEE'S] proposed Configuration Risk Management Program (CRMP) to ensure that the applicable plant configuration will be appropriately assessed from a risk perspective before entering into or during the proposed CT. In addition, the NRC staff determined in Reference 2, that the risk analysis methodology and approach used by the CEOG to estimate the risk impact of increasing the CT were reasonable. For most plants that participated in the joint application report, the NRC staff found that the risk impact was shown to be consistent with the acceptance guidelines for change in core damage frequency ([Delta]CDF), change in large early release frequency ([Delta]LERF), incremental conditional core damage probability (ICCDP), and incremental conditional large early release probability (ICLERP) specified in References 3 and 4 and Chapters 19.0 and 16.1 of Reference 5. However, not all Combustion Engineering (CE) plants participated in the joint application report, and the estimated risk impacts for some plans exceeded the Reference 3 and/or Reference 4 acceptance guidelines, which would require additional justifications and/or compensatory measures to be provided for these plants to be determined to have acceptable risk impacts. In addition, the NRC staff found that the Tier 2 and Tier 3 evaluations, as described in Reference 4, could not be approved generically since they were not complete, which would require that each individual plant-specific license amendment seeking adoption of TSTF- 409, Rev. 2 would need to include an assessment with respect to the Tier 2 and Tier 3 principles of Reference 4. 4.2.1 Conditions and Supporting Information The following conditions are provided to support adoption of TSTF- 409, Rev. 2 by [PLANT NAME]. Responses to the conditions are contained in Attachments 1 through 8 to this application: [NOTE: Licensees who cannot meet the Expectation and Acceptance Criteria listed in these conditions, or choose not to submit the associated information, should not [[Page 65154]] submit an application to adopt TSTF-409, Rev. 2 under the CLIIP.] 1. As shown in Attachment 1, the plant-specific Tier 1 information associated with extending the CSS CT meets the acceptance guidelines of References 3 and 4 associated with [Delta]CDF, [Delta]LERF, ICCDP, and ICLERP. [EXPECTATIONS/ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: the licensee's submittal must provide the [Delta]CDF, [Delta]LERF, ICCDP, and ICLERP values related to the CSS 7-day CT and confirm that these values meet the associated acceptance guidelines of References 3 and 4 as no more than a small risk increase (i.e., are in Region II or III of the acceptance guidelines figures). The licensee should utilize an ``average maintenance'' PRA model for this assessment. If the licensee utilizes a ``zero maintenance'' PRA model for the assessment, they should state they are using a ``zero maintenance'' model in the evaluation, and provide a discussion as to the ability of that model to produce comparable results to the ``average maintenance'' assessment.] 2. As shown in Attachment 2, the technical adequacy (quality) of [PLANT NAME'S] plant-specific PRA is acceptable for this application in accordance with the guidance provided in Reference 3. Specifically, the supporting information addresses the following areas: a. Justification that the plant-specific PRA reflects the as-built, as-operated plant. b. Discussion of plant-specific PRA updates and upgrades since the individual plant examination (IPE), individual plant examination of external events (IPEEE), and subsequent peer reviews and self- assessment. Reference to past submittals discussing this information is acceptable. c. Discussion of plant-specific PRA peer reviews and/or self- assessments performed, their overall conclusions, any facts and observations (F) applicable to this application, and the licensee evaluation and resolution (e.g., by implementing model changes and/or sensitivity studies) of these F to demonstrate the conclusions of the plant-specific analyses for this application are not adversely impacted (i.e., continued acceptability of the proposed extension of the CSS CT). d. Description of the licensee's plant-specific PRA configuration control (quality assurance) program and associated procedures. e. Overall determination of the adequacy of the plant-specific PRA with respect to this application. [EXPECTATION: The licensee's submittal must describe the scope of the plant-specific PRA and must justify its technical adequacy (quality) for this application in accordance with the guidance provided in Reference 3. Specifically, the supporting information must address each area in sufficient detail as shown in the following ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: a. The licensee must provide a justification that confirms that the plant-specific PRA reflects the as-built, as-operated plant. This should include a description of the licensee's data and model update process, and the frequency of these activities. The licensee should also describe how the plant/corporate PRA staff are involved in (and/or made aware of) plant and operational/procedural modifications. b. The licensee must provide a summary description of the plant- specific PRA updates and upgrades since the IPE and peer review of their plant and confirm that the changes identified during the IPEEE have been implemented or otherwise dispositioned. c. The licensee must discuss their plant-specific PRA peer reviews and/or any self-assessments performed (especially noting those conducted per the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) industry peer review guidelines and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) PRA Standard), their overall conclusions, any A level F applicable to this application, and the licensee's evaluation and resolution (e.g., by implementing model changes and/or sensitivity studies) of these A level F to demonstrate the conclusions of the plant-specific analyses for this application are not adversely impacted (i.e., continued acceptability of the proposed extension of the CSS CT). d. The licensee must describe their plant-specific PRA configuration control (quality assurance) program and associated procedures. e. The licensee must make an overall determination of the adequacy of their plant-specific PRA, confirming it is adequate with respect to this application.] 3. Attachment 3 provides supporting information verifying that the plant risk impact associated with external events (e.g., fires, seismic, tornados, high winds, etc.) does not adversely impact or has no impact on the conclusions of the plant-specific analyses for this application and that the overall combined plant CDF and LERF are expected to be within the acceptance guidelines as identified in References 3 and Reference 4 (i.e., total CDF ***************************************************************** 33 NRC: Nebraska Public Power District, Cooper Nuclear Station; Exemption FR Doc E6-18711 [Federal Register: November 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 215)] [Notices] [Page 65137-65138] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr07no06-76] 1.0 Background Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD or the licensee) are the holders of Facility Operating License No. DPR-46 which authorizes operation of the Cooper Nuclear Station (CNS). The license provides, among other things, that the facility is subject to all rules, regulations, and orders of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the Commission) now or hereafter in effect. The facility consists of a boiling-water reactor located in Nemaha County, Nebraska. 2.0 Request/Action Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), section 50.54(o), requires primary reactor containments for water-cooled power reactors to be subject to the requirements of Appendix J to 10 CFR part 50. Appendix J specifies the leakage test requirements, schedules, and acceptance criteria for tests of the leak-tight integrity of the primary reactor containment, and systems and components that penetrate the containment. Option B of Appendix J is titled, ``Performance-Based Requirements.'' Option B, Section III.A., ``Type A Test,'' requires, among other things, that the overall integrated leakage rate must not exceed the allowable leakage rate (La) with margin, as specified in the Technical Specifications (TSs). The overall integrated leak rate, is defined in 10 CFR part 50, Appendix J as ``the total leakage rate through all tested leakage paths, including containment welds, valves, fittings, and components that penetrate the containment system.'' This includes the contribution from MSIV leakage. The licensee has requested exemption from Option B, Section III.A requirements to permit exclusion of MSIV leakage from the overall integrated leak rate test measurement. Main steam leakage includes leakage through all four main steam lines and the main steam drain line. Option B, Section III.B of 10 CFR part 50, Appendix J, ``Type B and C Tests,'' requires, among other things, that the sum of the leakage rates at accident pressure of Type B tests and pathway leakage rates from Type C tests be less than the performance criterion (La) with margin, as specified in the TSs. The licensee also requests exemption from this requirement, to permit exclusion of the main steam pathway leakage contributions from the sum of the leakage rates from Type B and Type C tests. The main steam leakage effluent has a different pathway to the environment, when compared to a typical containment penetration. It is not directed into the secondary containment and filtered through the standby gas treatment system as is other containment leakage. Instead, the main steam isolation valve (MSIV) leakage is directed through the main steam drain piping into the condenser and is released into the environment as an unfiltered ground level effluent. In summary, the licensee analyzed the MSIV leakage pathway and the containment leakage pathways separately in a dose consequences analysis. The calculated radiological consequences of the combined leakage were found to be within the criteria of 10 CFR part 100 and General Design Criterion (GDC) 19. The NRC staff reviewed the licensee's analyses and found them acceptable as described in a safety evaluation dated September 1, 2004. By separating the MSIV leakage acceptance criteria from the overall integrated leak rate test criterion, and from the Type B and C leakage sum limitation, the CNS containment leakage testing will be made more consistent with the limiting assumptions used in the associated accident consequences analyses. 3.0 Discussion Pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, the Commission may, upon application by any interested person or upon its own initiative, grant exemptions from the requirements of 10 CFR part 50 when (1) the exemptions are authorized by law, will not present an undue risk to public health and safety, and are consistent with the common defense and security, and (2) when special circumstances are present. Special circumstances are present whenever, according to 10 CFR 50.12(a)(2): (i) Application of the regulation in the particular circumstances conflicts with other rules or requirements of the Commission; or (ii) Application of the regulation in the particular circumstances would not serve the underlying purpose of the rule or is not necessary to achieve the underlying purpose of the rule; or (iii) Compliance would result in undue hardship or other costs that are significantly in excess of those contemplated when the regulation was adopted, or that are significantly in excess of those incurred by others similarly situated; or [[Page 65138]] (iv) The exemption would result in benefit to the public health and safety that compensates for any decrease in safety that may result from the grant of the exemption; or (v) The exemption would provide only temporary relief from the applicable regulation and the licensee or applicant has made good faith efforts to comply with the regulation; or (vi) There is present any other material circumstance not considered when the regulation was adopted for which it would be in the public interest to grant an exemption. If such condition is relied on exclusively for satisfying paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the exemption may not be granted until the Executive Director for Operations has consulted with the Commission. The licensee's exemption request was submitted in conjunction with a TS amendment application to increase the allowable leak rate for the MSIVs. The proposed amendment will be issued concurrently with this exemption. The exemption and amendment together would implement the recommendations of Topical Report NEDC-31858, ``BWR Report for Increasing MSIV Leakage Rate Limits and Elimination of Leakage Control Systems.'' The topical report was evaluated by the NRC staff and accepted in a safety evaluation dated March 3, 1999. The special circumstances associated with MSIV leakage testing are fully described in the topical report. These circumstances relate to the monetary costs and personnel radiation exposure involved with maintaining MSIV leakage limits more restrictive than necessary to meet offsite dose criteria and control room habitability criteria. The underlying purpose of the rule which implements Appendix J (i.e., 10 CFR 50.54(o)) is to assure that containment leak tight integrity is maintained (a) as tight as reasonably achievable and (b) sufficiently tight so as to limit effluent release to values bounded by the analyses of radiological consequences of design-basis accidents. Based on the above, no new accident precursors are created by the exemption, thus, the probability of postulated accidents is not increased. Also, based on the above, the consequences of postulated accidents are not increased. As such, the NRC staff has determined that the intent of the rule is not compromised by the proposed exemption. The proposed exemption would permit exclusion of the main steam pathway leakage contributions from the overall integrated leakage rate Type A test measurement. This change has no relation to security issues. Therefore, the common defense and security is not impacted by this exemption. Based on the foregoing, the separation of the main steam pathways from the other containment leakage pathways is warranted because a separate radiological consequence term has been provided for these pathways. The revised design-basis radiological consequences analyses address these pathways as individual factors, exclusive of the primary containment leakage. Therefore, the NRC staff finds the proposed exemption from Appendix J to be acceptable. 4.0 Conclusion Accordingly, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12, the exemption is authorized by law, will not present an undue risk to the public health and safety, and is consistent with the common defense and security. Also, special circumstances are present. Therefore, the Commission hereby grants NPPD an exemption from the requirements of Sections III.A and III.B of Option B of Appendix J to 10 CFR part 50 for CNS. Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has determined that the granting of this exemption will have no significant impact on the quality of the human environment (71 FR 61074). This exemption is effective upon issuance. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day of October 2006. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Catherine Haney, Director, Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. [FR Doc. E6-18711 Filed 11-6-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 34 NRC: Notice of Appointment of Adjudicatory Employees FR Doc E6-18715 [Federal Register: November 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 215)] [Notices] [Page 65137] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr07no06-75] [[Page 65137]] Commissioners: Dale E. Klein, Chairman; Edward McGaffigan, Jr.; Jeffrey S. Merrifield; Gregory B. Jaczko; Peter B. Lyons. In the Matter of Hydro Resources, Inc. (P.O. Box 777, Crownpoint, NM 87313) Pursuant to 10 CFR 2.4, notice is hereby given that Mr. Jon Peckinpaugh, Commission employee of the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection, and Mr. Bruce Watson, Commission employee of the Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs, Decommissioning and Uranium Recovery Licensing Directorate, have been appointed as Commission adjudicatory employees within the meaning of Section 2.4, to advise the Commission regarding issues related to the pending Commission review of LBP-06-19. Messrs. Peckinpaugh and Watson have not previously performed any investigative or litigating function in connection with this or any related proceeding. Until such time as a final decision is issued in this matter, interested persons outside the agency and agency employees performing investigative or litigating functions in this proceeding are required to observe the restrictions of 10 CFR 2.780 and 2.781 \1\ in their communications with Messrs. Peckinpaugh and Watson. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- \1\ These rule designations are from our former Part 2, which has been revised and renumbered. See ``Changes to Adjudicatory Process,'' 69 FR 2182 (Jan. 14, 2004). For cases such as this one, docketed prior to February 13, 2004, the previous procedural rules, including 10 CFR 2.780 and 2.781, continue to apply. Substantially equivalent rules now appear at 10 CFR 2.347 and 2.348. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- It is so ordered. Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 1st day of November 2006. For the Commission. Annette L. Vietti-Cook, Secretary of the Commission. [FR Doc. E6-18715 Filed 11-6-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 35 globeandmail.com: Ontario secrecy on nuclear costs raises spectre of rate shocks Posted AT 4:50 AM EST ON 07/11/06 Documents show province at odds with Bruce Power on reactor project From Tuesday's Globe and Mail TORONTO — The Ontario government has not disclosed crucial costs associated with refurbishing nuclear reactors on Lake Huron, raising the spectre that the multibillion-dollar project will saddle unwitting electricity consumers with higher hydro bills, documents show. The documents also reveal a major dispute between the government and Bruce Power, the private consortium that operates the nuclear station, over what the public should be told about the cost of the project. The government said in the documents that it pegged the cost of having the province buy electricity from Bruce Power at $63 a megawatt hour, based on its best guess of the future price of nuclear fuel. However, Bruce Power countered that the figure should be $57 a megawatt hour, plus an unknown amount for fuel costs, which have been rising steadily. The government is responsible for the fuel costs. Staff in the Ministry of Energy were clearly concerned that the public was given two different prices, according to copies of e-mail correspondence obtained by World Wildlife Fund-Canada through a freedom-of-information request. Until now, the discrepancy went unnoticed. "This will leave us exposed on any questions about the rising cost of fuel," a ministry staff member wrote in an internal e-mail on Oct. 12, 2005, just days before the Bruce deal was announced. "I agree that it will look shady," James Gillis, deputy energy minister, responded the same day in an e-mail to this staff. Mr. Gillis said in an interview yesterday that he recommended that the government go public with the $63 figure. He said he failed to persuade Bruce Power to use the same figure. "I didn't want there to be two competing numbers in the public domain," he said. "I thought that our number was better than theirs." The $4.25-billion plan to upgrade four nuclear reactors at the generating station near Tiverton, Ont., marks the government's most ambitious project yet to address the province's looming electricity shortage. The project has been controversial from Day 1. Keith Stewart, manager of WWF-Canada's climate-change campaign and a nuclear opponent, said the documents raise questions about "hidden costs in a multibillion-dollar contract to buy future power from the privately operated Bruce nuclear power station." Uranium prices reached a record high last week after the flooding of an unfinished Cameco Corp. mine in northern Saskatchewan threatened to postpone production until 2009 or later. The price surged to $60 (U.S.) a pound in the spot market, up $4 from the previous week. Cameco, a Bruce Power shareholder, will be supplying fuel for the refurbished reactors. However, Duncan Hawthorne, chief executive officer of Bruce Power, said fuel accounts for only 10 per cent of overall costs. He also said Bruce Power has hedging strategies in place to help insulate it from rising fuel costs. At the time the Bruce deal was announced, Premier Dalton McGuinty asked the provincial auditor to review it in an effort to alleviate concerns by the opposition and nuclear opponents that the government was omitting key details about the project. However, the documents obtained by the WWF-Canada reveal that the Ontario Power Authority, a government agency, rejected a request by the auditor to review a copy of the fuel-supply agreement between the OPA and Bruce Power. "I can say that, yes, that certainly was an issue that did come up in the audit," Auditor-General Jim McCarter said in an interview. He has not yet submitted his final report to the government. Tim Taylor, a spokesman for the OPA, said the agency does not provide commercially sensitive information to anyone. The government also submitted to Mr. McCarter a copy of an opinion from CIBC World Market Inc., its financial adviser, concluding that the financial terms of the deal are fair. However, CIBC notes in its 13-page letter that its staff are not experts in the electricity market. Under the deal, Bruce Power has agreed to refurbish two reactors that have been shut down since the mid-1990s. It has also agreed to refurbish a third reactor and replace the steam generation equipment in a fourth. The Bruce generating station has eight reactors, including six that are in operation. It is owned by Ontario Power Generation, the government's electricity utility, and operated by Bruce Power under a long-term lease. © Copyright 2006 Bell Globemedia Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved. globeandmail.com and The Globe and Mail are divisions of Bell Globemedia Publishing Inc., 444 Front St. W., Toronto, Canada M5V 2S9 Phillip Crawley, Publisher --> ***************************************************************** 36 AFP: IEA warns current energy system 'doomed to failure' - [Smoking chimneys belonging to a power plant near Datteln, Germany] PARIS (AFP) - The world is facing a crisis-ridden future reliant on dirty and expensive energy, putting an onus on new technology and nuclear power to save the planet from environmental disaster, the International Energy Agency has warned. In a stark report assessing global energy needs to 2030, the IEA highlighted the seemingly irreconciliable forces of rising demand and growing carbon dioxide emissions at a time when urgent action was needed to tackle global warming. The conclusions, (Advertisement) [Click Here!] [ src=] which echo repeated warnings from environmental groups, carry weight among policymakers given the role of the IEA as an energy think-tank and advisor to the governments of the world's most developed countries. "The key word is urgency," IEA director Claude Mandil told a press conference in London following release of the study Tuesday. "Urgency for immediate policies and measures to promote energy efficiency and facilitate technology development ... "On current trends, we are on course for an expensive and dirty energy system that will go from crisis to crisis. It can mean more supply disruptions, meteorological disasters or both. This energy future is not only unsustainable, but it is doomed to failure. "Governments can either accept such a future, or they can decide to come together to change course." The report, entitled World Energy Outlook 2006, warned that global energy demand was projected to increase by 53 percent between now and 2030 on current trends, with 70 percent of the new demand from developing countries. It drove home the point that demand of this scale would mean consumer countries would face uncertain supplies of energy in the future and the planet would face possibly irreversible environmental damage. The IEA research was a response to G8 leaders who had asked the energy watchdog at a summit in Gleneagles, Scotland last year to advise them on their sustainable energy policies. Delivering its verdict, the IEA said that current policy proposals could succeed in slowing growth in carbon emissons and energy demand. But it added that "formidable hurdles" existed for policymakers and the world would probably still need a technological solution. "Even if governments actually implement all the policies they are considering to curb energy imports and emissions, both would still rise through to 2030," the IEA said. "Keeping global carbon dioxide emissions at current levels would require much stronger policies. "In practice, technological breakthroughs that change profoundly the way we produce and consume energy will almost certainly be required as well." Current policy proposals range from promoting greater efficiency in industry, making greater use of renewables and biofuels, and reducing the fuel consumption and emissions of cars and trucks. The IEA urged that nuclear power should be part of the solution, despite opposition to the technology from environmental groups and scepticism among the public. The report underlined that nuclear power had key advantages for consumer countries, namely that it produced no greenhouse gas emissions and only required uranium as a resource, which can be sourced from reliable suppliers. "These two advantages make nuclear power a potentially attractive option for enhancing the security of electricity supply -- if concerns about plant safety, nuclear waste disposal and the risk of proliferation can be solved to the satisfaction of the public," the IEA said. On current trends, carbon dioxide emissons are set to rise by 55 percent by 2030 compared with 2004 levels, the IEA said, owing to higher consumption of fossil fuels and reliance on coal in developing countries. In a 596-page report, the IEA also predicted that the share of developing countries in world emissions would rise from 39 percent in 2004 to more than half by 2030 on current trends. China was forecast to overtake the United States as the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world before 2010. All changes to energy policy were "bound to encounter resistance from some industry and consumer interests", the energy watchdog said, urging policymakers to take bold action to sway public opinion. The report from the IEA is bound to add to momentum for action on climate change and also reinforced arguments that a solution must include developing countries, which were excluded from the Kyoto agreement on emissions reductions. The IEA was set up during the 1973-74 oil crisis with a mandate to issue research and suggestions on energy policy to the governments of the 26 founding countries, which includes the United States, western European states and Japan. AFP ***************************************************************** 37 NRC: Notice of Sunshine Act Meeting FR Doc 06-9110 [Federal Register: November 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 215)] [Notices] [Page 65138-65139] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr07no06-77] DATES: Weeks of November 6, 13, 20, 27, December 4, 11, 2006. Place: Commissioners' Conference Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. Status: Public and closed. Matters to Be Considered: Week of November 6, 2006 Wednesday, November 8, 2006 9:30 a.m. Briefing on Digital Instrumentation and Control (Public Meeting) (Contact: Paul Rebstock, 301-415-3295). This meeting will be Webcast live at the Web address--http://www.nrc.gov . Thursday, November 9, 2006 9:25 a.m. Affirmation Session (Public Meeting) (Tentative). a. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (Diablo Canyon ISFSI), Docket No. 72-26-ISFSI, ``Motion by San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace, Sierra Club, and Peg Pinard for Partial Reconsideration of CLI-06-23'' (Tentative). b. System Energy Resources, Inc. (Early Site Permit for Grand Gulf ESP) (Tentative). 9:30 a.m. Briefing on Draft Final Rule--Part 52 (Early Site permits/ Standard Design Certification/Combined Licenses) (Public Meeting) (Contact: Dave Matthews, 301-415-1199). This meeting will be Webcast live at the Web address--http://www.nrc.gov . 1:30 p.m. Continuation of 10/24/06 Briefing on Transshipment and Domestic Shipment Security of Radioactive Material Quantities of Concern (RAMQC) (Closed--Ex. 3 & 9). Week of November 13, 2006--Tentative There are no meetings scheduled for the Week of November 13, 2006. Week of November 20, 2006--Tentative There are no meetings scheduled for the Week of November 20, 2006. Week of November 27, 2006--Tentative There are no meetings scheduled for the Week of November 27, 2006. Week of December 4, 2006--Tentative Thursday, December 7, 2006 9:30 a.m. Discussion of Security Issues (Closed--Ex. 2 & 3). Week of December 11, 2006--Tentative Monday, December 11, 2006 1:30 p.m. Briefing on Status of Decommissioning Activities (Public Meeting) (Contact: Keith McConnell, 301-415-7295). This meeting will be Webcast live at the Web address--http://www.nrc.gov . Tuesday, December 12, 2006 9:30 a.m. Briefing on Threat Environment Assessment (Closed--Ex. 1). 1:30 p.m. Discussion of Security Issues (Closed--Ex. 1 & 3). Wednesday, December 13, 2006 9:30 a.m. Briefing on Status of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Programs (Public Meeting) (Contact: Barbara Williams, 301-415-7388). This meeting will be Webcast live at the Web address--http://www.nrc.gov . [[Page 65139]] Thursday, December 14, 2006 9:30 a.m. Meeting with Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW) (Public Meeting) (Contact: John Larkins, 301-415-7360). This meeting will be Webcast live at the Web address--http://www.nrc.gov . * * * * * *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: http://www.nrc.gov/what-we-do/policy-making/schedule.html. * * * * * The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in these public meetings, or need this meeting notice or the transcript or other information from the public meetings in another format (e.g. braille, large print), please notify the NRC's Disability Program Coordinator, Deborah Chan, at 301-415-7041, TDD: 301-415-2100, or by e-mail at DLC@nrc.gov. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. * * * * * This notice is distributed by mail to several hundred subscribers; if you no longer wish to receive it, or would like to be added to the distribution, please contact the Office of the Secretary, Washington, DC 20555 (301-415-1969). In addition, distribution of this meeting notice over the Internet system is available. If you are interested in receiving this Commission meeting schedule electronically, please send an electronic message to dkw@nrc.gov. Dated: November 2, 2006. R. Michelle Schroll, Office of the Secretary. [FR Doc. 06-9110 Filed 11-3-06; 9:57 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-M ***************************************************************** 38 Pakistan News Service: Pak, Hungary agree to hold talks on peaceful use of nuclear technology - PakTribune Shawwal 15, 1427 Hijri November 08, 2006 Back Channels contacts wtih govt exist: Benazir ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Hungary Tuesday decided to start talks on peaceful use of nuclear technology and to understand each other position on nuclear energy. The decision was taken during meeting between Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri and his Hungarian counterpart Kinga Goncz at the Foreign Office here on Tuesday. The two leaders discussed relations between Pakistan and Hungary, regional and international issues, war against terrorism and Pakistan access to European markets. Later talking at a joint press conference, Khursheed Kasuri said that Pakistan had discussed with Hungary cooperation in civil nuclear technology and the two countries had agreed to understand each other position on the issue. He said the talks would be held at ambassadors level in Vienna. Kasuri said we discussed the need for enhanced market access for Pakistan to Europe and operationalization of the Third Generation Agreement (TGA). The Hungarian FM said that her country would hold talks on cooperation in nuclear sector based on principles. "We support use of nuclear technology to meet energy requirements," she added. She, however, said that members states should sign NPT and give their nuclear plants in IAEA control. She said Hungary would support Pakistan access to European markets and implementation of TGA. paktribune.com Pakistan News Service © PakTribune.com Pvt Ltd 2003-2004 ***************************************************************** 39 Hemscott: IEA sees nuclear power as part of future energy solution PARIS AFX - Nuclear power can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and provide reliable electricity in the future, but the technology must first win a battle for public opinion, the International Energy Agency said. Nuclear power has two main advantages over rival energy sources, the IEA said, namely that it produces no greenhouse gas emissions and only requires uranium as a resource, which is found in abundance in stable, democratic countries. 'These two advantages make nuclear power a potentially attractive option for enhancing the security of electricity supply -- if concerns about plant safety, nuclear waste disposal and the risk of proliferation can be solved to the satisfaction of the public,' the IEA said. Interest in nuclear energy has spiked owing to sharp rises in gas and oil prices in the last three years, with China, the US, India, Russia, Britain, France and Finland all looking at it with renewed interest. 'Concerns over energy security, surging fossil fuel prices and rising carbon dioxide emissions have revived discussion about the role of nuclear power,' the IEA said. Under IEA forecasts based on current trends, the proportion of energy generated from nuclear power is set to fall in the period to 2030, assuming few new reactors are built and several existing ones are retired. Overall nuclear power generation capacity is set to increase to 368 gigawatts in 2005 to 416 gigawatts in 2030, butthis is below growth in demand. Under a different scenario mapped out by the IEA, which assumes more favourable policies from national governments, nuclear power could rise to 519 gigawatts by 2030, resulting in an increase in its share in the energy mix and significant fall in emissions. 'Nuclear power could help address concerns about over-reliance on fossil-fuelled electricity generation, especially worries about climate change and increasing dependence on gas imports', the IEA said. newsdesk@afxnews.com afp/ma COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2006. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 40 ITAR-TASS: Liquidators of Chernobyl aftermath demand compensations 07.11.2006, 12.00 STARY OSKOL, November 7 (Itar-Tass) - A group of seven liquidators of the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe in Stary Oskol have resumed a hunger strike on Tuesday, demanding overdue compensations, one of the strikers, Alexander Trusov told. The liquidators resumed the strike after they were told that the compensation would be paid to only one of the strikers from the ten million-rouble tranche allocated to the Belgorod region. On Tuesday, one of the participants of the previous strike, Igor Malinovsky, was hospitalised after his condition sharply worsened. A group of protesters whose health failed after Chernobyl clean-up, called a warning strike on October 30, demanding compensations to which they are entitled by law. More than a year ago courts of different levels confirmed their right to the compensations, but court resolutions were never fulfilled. The strikers suspended the strike after being promised that the compensations would be paid in the near future, The Chernobyl liquidators even visited Moscow to meet head of the Russian Committee for Labour Maksim Topilin who assured them that their problem would be solved in the near future. Similar protests were staged in the Belgorod region more than a year ago, when another group of Chernobyl liquidators claimed apartments they were entitled to by law. Their demands were met a month after the protesters called a hunger strike. © ITAR-TASS. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 41 Hampton Union Local News: Nuke watchdogs want change November 07, 2006 By Susan Morse smorse@seacoastonline.com SEABROOK -- C-10 Foundation hopes to turn a standard administrative meeting by the Nuclear Decommissioning Finance Committee into a discussion on dry fuel storage. C-10, a nuclear watchdog group in Newburyport, Mass., is pushing for dry fuel storage containment that costs millions more than what is being built at the Seabrook Station nuclear power plant. The Nuclear Decommissioning Finance Committee will meet Thursday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m., at the Seabrook Community Center on Route 1. The meeting is required to be open to the public, said Al Griffith, a spokesman for FPL Energy Seabrook Station. It is not a meeting on dry fuel storage, Griffith said. "It's a regular meeting," he said. "The Nuclear Decommissioning Finance Committee is responsible for administering funds to go towards decommissioning." Nothing has changed with decommissioning, said Griffith. The nuclear power plant has yet to file for license renewal to extend operations. As part of the agenda, said Griffith, the commission has asked for a brief overview of the plant's dry storage plan. Jim Peschel, director of Regulatory Affairs, will provide the information. Chris Nord, who sits on C-10's board of directors, is expected to attend, as is Mary Metcalf, who is on the board of directors for the Seacoast Anti-Pollution League in Portsmouth. SAPL has been an intervener since the commission was established. Nord is the author of a CD on spent fuel pools in Seabrook, which was presented to U.S. congressmen and senators in September. C-10 promotes Hardened On Site Storage (HOSS), which proponents say is a more secure method, and costs millions more, than what is being built at Seabrook Station and other power plants. "The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's answer says HOSS is too expensive," said Sandra Gavutis, who heads C-10. "I think what is disturbing, in light of the catastrophic risk and catastrophic cost," said Debbie Grinnell, a researcher at C-10, "the choice is not to address this. It's a national security issue." SAPL has taken no position on the issue, said Metcalf. "What the general public is not aware of is the cooling pool will soon be filled and they will go immediately to dry cask storage," said Metcalf. Preliminary construction of dry storage has begun on site, within the secure area of the nuclear power plant, said Griffith. Construction will take at least a year, with the spent fuel rods going into the dry containment in 2008. Currently, the spent fuel is kept in pools on site, awaiting transfer to a national waste facility in Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Lawsuits have held up the opening of the Yucca Mountain facility, with most nuclear power plants at or near capacity for storage in their spent fuel pools. Seabrook Station, as one of the newer power plants, is not at capacity, according to Griffith. For an estimated month, Seabrook Station has been off-line for a scheduled refueling, in which the fuel rods are replaced. The power plant is expected to be back online at any time, said Griffith. The plant does not give exact dates when it will be closed for production, since the deregulation of the nuclear power plant industry made Seabrook Station competitive. Copyright © 2006 Seacoast Online. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 42 The Day: Whistleblower Glad To Be Back At Work Millstone worker still awaiting ruling involving his complaint theday.com By Patricia Daddona Day Staff Writer\, Millstone\/business trends E-mail: p.daddona@theday.com Phone No.: (860) 701 - 4324 Published on 11/7/2006 by Kate Gardiner Sham Mehta a Millstone Power Station employee who reported employee concerns with Millstone's security listens to the public forum with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Dominion Nuclear Connecticut Wednesday Mar. 29, 2006 at the Millstone visitor's center in Waterford. Waterford  A whistleblower eagerly returned to work Monday at Millstone Power Station as a state agency pursues a probe into his claims of retaliation. People in the training building were very helpful, Sham Mehta of East Lyme said Monday night. Everyone I saw there I hadn't seen in over a year. They were all very nice. Last week, Mehta accepted the position of shift technical advisor, which Dominion, owner of the nuclear complex, offered when ordered by the state Department of Public Utility Control in September to provide an equivalent position to one Mehta lost a year ago. The state utility regulator has decided to investigate whether Dominion retaliated against Mehta, whose job it had been since 1997 to look into other Millstone employees' concerns. The company reorganized his department and eliminated his job after Mehta reported the disabling of a security fence alarm system because of repeated false alarms. Dominion maintains the company acted properly and that the decision to eliminate Mehta's post had no connection to his reporting of a security issue. So far, the DPUC is not convinced. During state investigations, workers can be returned to an old job, but in Mehta's case, that job no longer exists. The shift technical advisor is a position for which Mehta must first train and pass tests. If, several months from now, he successfully completes a course that begins Dec. 4, and if the DPUC and other agencies hearing his complaints move to reinstate him at Millstone, he could be employed in the new job, which is essentially that of a backup engineer in the control room at the Unit 2 reactor. In that post, he'd also work with peers to correct malfunctions at the plant, said Mehta and Dominion spokesman Pete Hyde. Mehta said he spent his first day taking a battery of tests covering everything from site access and radiation training to fitness for duty drug and alcohol tests. If he passes the latter, he said, he will be allowed today into Building 475, which houses offices within the protected area of the site, where reactors are located. It was very positive, Mehta said. My manager came to see me at the training building and showed me where my temporary desk was, and said she has a place for me in Building 475. She gave me a list of courses and said if there were any problems, to call her. Dominion also provided e-mail access, which had been denied him when he was placed on paid leave. Mehta's wife, Nancy, and Eric, 17, one of two sons, said Monday it was good to see Mehta return to work instead of being sidelined at home. He's been antsy, wanting to get back into work, and looked forward to it when he finally knew the day was coming, said his wife. Now he can get back and socialize, and be with his peers. Mehta had worked in the Employee Concerns Program under Northeast Utilities, when it owned Millstone. Before that, he made heating and ventilation equipment, much of which was used at nuclear power plants, and made pumps for nuclear submarines. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan Technological University and a master's in business administration from Eastern Michigan University. The new post is more challenging and closer to the operation of the plant than his position in the Employee Concerns Program, he said. Mehta has also filed complaints against Dominion with the U.S. Department of Labor and the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The labor board found Dominion acted properly but an appeal will be heard in that case next month. The NRC complaint is still pending. New London, CT | © 1998-2006 The Day Publishing Co. [Beacon Locator] ~ ***************************************************************** 43 AU ABC: Govt backs nuclear energy report. 08/11/2006. ABC News Online First Posted: Wednesday, November 8, 2006 . 11:00am --> The Federal Government says it supports an international report that recommends the use of nuclear power to reduce the effects of climate change. The OECD's energy arm, the International Energy Agency, says countries are increasingly vulnerable to "severe" oil supply disruptions and face a "dirty, insecure and expensive" future without nuclear energy. Environment Minister Ian Campbell says nuclear energy is one of several solutions the world must embrace to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. "In terms of safe energy supplies and reduced risk of climate change, it will need more renewables, more energy efficiency, transportation reform, reform to land use, cutting out deforestation and planting more trees," he said. "It will also need to capture carbon from burning fossil fuels. "If you are to address climate change, you'll need to stop carbon going into the atmosphere off coal and other fossil fuels but you'll need to look at every other technological alternative as well. "Nuclear happens to be a proven technology that can produce energy with much lower emissions." But Greenpeace spokeswoman Katherine Fitzpatrick says nuclear power poses unnecessary risks to the environment and communities, and is more expensive than other renewable sources. "It's far too slow to make the impact on global emission reductions that we need to avoid climate change," she said. "The report emphasises energy efficiency and renewables but at the same time it continues with business as usual with nuclear power and coal. "What needs to happen is a massive shift to efficiency and renewable energy. "Nuclear power costs 10 times as much as energy efficiency to get the same carbon pollution savings and it creates huge security and environmental threats at the same time." ***************************************************************** 44 WCAX: NRC finds low to moderate safety risk from VY shipment MONTPELIER, Vt. -- A shipment from the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant that was giving off more than four times the allowable level of radioactivity posed a "low to moderate" safety risk to the public, federal regulators said Tuesday. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a preliminary "white" finding about the August shipment of a device designed to crush and cut reactor control rods from the plant site in Vernon to Salem Township, Pa. The NRC uses a color-coded system to denote safety risks, with "green" indicating a very low risk, "white" low to moderate, "yellow" substantial and "red" high, said agency spokeswoman Diane Screnci. In a letter dated Tuesday to Vermont Yankee, the NRC said its finding was preliminary and that it had not yet made a final determination of what enforcement action might be taken. Screnci said she doubted the plant would be fined, but said it would get some stepped-up scrutiny. Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. .gif"> All content © Copyright 2001 - 2006 WorldNow and WCAX. All Rights Reserved. ***************************************************************** 45 Times Union: Kesselring reactors shut down until next year Albany NY Water valves discovered to be improperly installed at Saratoga County site By DAN HIGGINS, Staff writer November 7, 2006 MILTON -- Both nuclear reactors at the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory Kesselring Site in Saratoga County will remain shut down until early next year. The reactors were shut down several weeks ago for regular maintenance, said spokesman Gene Terwilliger. But six large water valves were discovered to be improperly installed. Removing and reinstalling them will mean a much longer shutdown than inspection crews had at first anticipated. ``Normally, we would have been back up by now,'' Terwilliger said. He said the valves would have operated normally but may have malfunctioned over the long term had the problem not been discovered and fixed. He said the issue did not pose any safety risk, to workers at the site or to the public. But it does pose an inconvenience for 80 Navy personnel who had been training at Kesselring. Kesselring is operated by Lockheed Martin on a contract with the Navy to train sailors how to operate nuclear reactors that power submarines and aircraft carriers. Eighty personnel training in Milton were transferred to another training site in South Carolina, Terwilliger said. Dan Higgins can be reached at 454-5523 or by e-mail at dhiggins@timesunion.com. All Times Union materials copyright 1996-2006, Capital Newspapers Division of The Hearst Corporation, Albany, N.Y. ***************************************************************** 46 Business Day: Koeberg shutdown no threat to Cape 07 November 2006 Khulu Phasiwe Public Policy Correspondent ONE of Eskoms nuclear power plant units shut down yet again yesterday, raising fears that Cape Town could once again experience costly blackouts. The minerals and energy department said last week that power cuts, caused mainly by lack of infrastructure maintenance, cost SA R2,6bn to R8bn a year. Eskom said the unit had automatically shut down on Sunday night but the incident had not threatened power supply to the city. Company spokesman Tony Stott said: We can meet the demand for Western Cape  the risk of having power outages is very small. The reactor, Koeberg unit two, was in a safe condition and the fault, which appeared to be on the turbine control system, was under investigation, he said. The stations other reactor, unit one, was running at full power and supply of electricity to the Cape was being augmented by Eskoms stations. Stott hoped the cause of the fault would be found soon to enable the unit to get back to operation. The unit is being held at 6% of operating capacity while being investigated. Stott said the incident was unusual in that it had shut the whole system down. The two units supply most of Western Capes electricity needs and together produce about 1800MW at full power. Eskoms MD of transmission, Jacob Maroga, said the situation was being given top priority and that Cape residents would be kept informed of the progress. In August this year, the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) blamed Eskom for the crippling electricity interruptions that hit Cape Town late last year. Nersas scathing report into the six major power cuts in Cape Town between last November and March this year found that ill-discipline and noncompliance with procedures had contributed to power interruptions. While Eskom accepted there were oversights regarding certain procedures, it said these did not mean the parastatal was negligent. Eskom CEO Thulani Gcabashe disagreed with Nersas conclusions, saying the report relied on isolated facts. With Sapa Copyright © 2005 BDFM Publishers (Pty) Ltd. All Rights ***************************************************************** 47 The Australian: PM shrugs off anti-nuclear poll This story is from our news.com.aunetwork Source: AAP November 07, 2006 PRIME Minister John Howard has dismissed a poll which shows only 17 per cent of Australians back nuclear power while almost half think solar power is the best way to tackle climate change. Mr Howard, who has been promoting a nuclear energy industry for Australia, derided solar power as a soft answer which would never be able to replace coal-fired electricity. He said he would not back away from his support for nuclear power because of one opinion poll. "This is going to be a long debate, but I am going to continue to argue reason. I can't have a policy on something like this dictated by an opinion poll," Mr Howard said. "In the end I've got to call it as it is and in the end I have to say that solar and wind will not replace conventional power stations." The ACNielsen poll in Fairfax newspapers today found that nine out of 10 people believe global warming is a problem and 62 per cent are unhappy with the Howard Government's response. Almost half of those questioned cited solar power as the best weapon against climate change, while 19 per cent supported a carbon tax on fossil fuels and 17 per cent backed nuclear power. Mr Howard said the results were unsurprising given the publicity surrounding last week's Stern report on climate change, which warned of dire consequences if the problem was not immediately tackled. "It's a natural response to that sort of question," Mr Howard said. "I didn't find that surprising. I didn't find the 50 per cent who thought solar was the answer surprising either, because solar is a nice, easy, soft answer." Mr Howard said solar and wind power could make a contribution, but would never be enough to replace baseload power generation by coal-fired power stations. The only way wind power could create enough energy was to have a windmill "every few hundred feet starting at South Head and going down to Malabar", he said. "You can imagine the residents of Sydney wanting that," he said. "You simply won't be able to generate enough power from something like wind in order to take the load off the power that is generated by the use of coal and gas and in time I believe nuclear." Privacy Terms © The Australian ***************************************************************** 48 Independent: Phosphorus shells used in Lebanon invasion, UN says By Steve Connor, Science Editor Published: 08 November 2006 Israel fired artillery shells containing white phosphorus in its recent conflict with Hizbollah militants in the Lebanon, according to an official investigation by the United Nations. White phosphorus is banned under the Geneva Convention when used against civilians or in civilian areas, although Israel insists that the shells were directed against solely military targets. However, the UN team failed to find any evidence that Israel used depleted uranium, enriched uranium or any other radioactive material in bombs dropped on Lebanon during the month-long war, which ended on 14 August. Achim Steiner, under-secretary general and executive director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), said that samples taken by scientists had confirmed the use of white phosphorus in artillery and mortar ammunition. Mr Steiner also said that the scientific analysis found no evidence of penetrators or other metallic bomb components made of depleted or enriched uranium, as claimed by two British activists in a report last month. The samples taken by the UN for analysis were collected between 30 September and 21 October. Three independent laboratories in Europe undertook the tests on behalf of the UN. The findings conflict with a report by Chris Busby, a Green Party activist, and his colleague Dai Williams, an occupational psychologist, who claimed to have found evidence of enriched uranium in a sample collected from a bomb site in southern Lebanon. The sample was sent for analysis at the Harwell Laboratory in Oxfordshire, which is used by the Ministry of Defence. "We are concerned that UNEP don't know what they are doing. Earlier [in 2001] they were useless at finding depleted uranium in Kosovo due to wrong choice of instrumentation," Dr Busby said. * The UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, has called for a freeze on the use of cluster bombs, saying they had "atrocious, inhumane effects" on civilians. © 2006 Independent News and Media Limited ***************************************************************** 49 Naharnet: U.N.: No Evidence of Uranium-based Munitions Used in Lebanon U.N. experts have found no evidence to support a press report that Israel used depleted uranium (DU) munitions during its July-August offensive on Lebanon, the U.N. Environment Programme has said. "The samples taken by the UNEP scientists show no evidence of penetrators or metal made of DU or other radioactive material," UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said in a statement in Nairobi Monday. "In addition, no DU shrapnel, or other radioactive residue was found. The analysis of all smear samples taken shows no DU, nor enriched uranium nor higher than natural uranium content in the samples." In October, the British daily The Independent said samples of soil taken from two bomb craters in Lebanon showed high radiation levels, suggesting that uranium-based munitions had been used. The craters, at Khiam and At-Tiri, were caused by Israeli heavy or guided bombs and showed "elevated radiation signatures," the Independent quoted Chris Busby, the British scientific secretary of the European Committee on Radiation Risk, as saying. Britain's ministry of defense had confirmed the level of uranium isotopes in the samples, which were also being tested by mass spectrometry at a laboratory in Oxfordshire, the report had said. The UNEP statement said a sub-team of inspectors looking specifically at the DU issue had visited 32 sites south and north of the Litani river. "Following strict field procedures, a range of smear, dust and soil samples were taken. The samples were analyzed in October-November at an internationally-recognized laboratory in Switzerland," it said. UNEP had sent the team as part of an assessment into environmental damage caused by the war. The investigation confirmed that Israel had used artillery and mortar ammunition containing white phosphorus, the statement said. Israel says that none of its weapons are illegal and acknowledged on October 22 that it used the phosphorus. Human rights groups have long argued that phosphorus weapons, which cause agonizing injuries, should be banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention.(AFP) Beirut, 07 Nov 06, 15:48 © 2006 Naharnet. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 50 AFP: UN says it found no evidence of uranium-based munitions in Lebanon Tue Nov 7, 7:51 AM ET NAIROBI (AFP) - UN experts have found no evidence to support a press report that Israel" /> Israelused depleted uranium (DU) munitions during the July-August conflict in Lebanon, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has said. "The samples taken by the UNEP scientists show no evidence of penetrators or metal made of DU or other radioactive material," UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said in a statement Tuesday. "In addition, no DU shrapnel, or other radioactive residue was found. The analysis of all smear samples taken shows no DU, nor enriched uranium nor higher than natural uranium content in the samples." In October, the British daily The Independent said samples of soil taken from two bomb craters in Lebanon showed high radiation levels, suggesting that uranium-based munitions had been used. The craters, at Khiam and At-Tiri, were caused by Israeli heavy or guided bombs and showed "elevated radiation signatures," the Independent quoted Chris Busby, the British scientific secretary of the European Committee on Radiation Risk, as saying. Britain's ministry of defence had confirmed the level of uranium isotopes in the samples, which were also being tested by mass spectrometry at a laboratory in Oxfordshire, the report had said. The UNEP statement said a sub-team of inspectors looking specifically at the DU issue had visited 32 sites south and north of the Litani river. "Following strict field procedures, a range of smear, dust and soil samples were taken. The samples were analysed in October-November at an internationally-recognised laboratory in Switzerland," it said. UNEP had sent the team as part of an assessment into environmental damage caused by the conflict. The investigation confirmed that Israel had used artillery and mortar ammunition containing white phosphorus, the statement said. Israel says that none of its weapons are illegal and acknowledged on October 22 that it used the phosphorus. Human rights groups have long argued that phosphorus weapons, which cause agonising injuries, should be banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention. Copyright © 2006 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 51 RIA Novosti: Russia to raise nuclear fuel prices for Ukraine in 2007 07/ 11/ 2006 MOSCOW, November 7 (RIA Novosti) - Russia plans to increase the price for enriched uranium it supplies for Ukraine's nuclear power plants in 2007, the Federal Nuclear Power Agency (Rosatom) said Tuesday. "We have agreed [with Ukraine] to revise prices annually," a spokesman said. "Since spot prices on uranium have increased several times, the price for uranium fuel for Ukrainian NPPs will be revised correspondingly." Russia is supplying uranium fuel for 15 nuclear power generating units of Ukraine's NPPs in 2006 under a contract signed in January by Russia's TVEL, one of the world's largest nuclear fuel producers and suppliers, and Ukraine's national nuclear energy generating company Energoatom. © 2005 RIA Novosti ***************************************************************** 52 Port Huron Times-Herald: Nuclear dump triggers protest www.thetimesherald.com - Port Huron, MI Ontario planning storage site near Lake Huron shore By NICOLE GERRING Times Herald Local officials have joined a bi-national effort to stop a proposal to build an underground nuclear-waste storage facility less than a mile from Lake Huron's shore. Activists, politicians, and citizens groups from the United States and Canada voiced their opposition Oct. 23 to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission regarding a proposal to create a nuclear-waste storage site under Kincardine, Ontario. Kincardine is on Lake Huron, about three hours northeast of Port Huron. Local officials fear the repository could contaminate the lake and other local waterways. "This repository presents an unacceptable risk to our community and our future generations," Fred Fuller, St. Clair County drain commissioner and vice-chairman of the Bi-National Public Advisory Council for the St. Clair River Area of Concern, wrote in a recent letter to the Canadian environment ministry. "The nuclear wastes will remain hazardous for thousands of years. This could cause significant detrimental environmental effects in St. Clair County." Ontario Power Generation has applied for regulatory approval to build a storage facility deep underground for low- and intermediate-level radioactive wastes generated at the Bruce nuclear plant site in Tiverton, Ontario. The facility also would take wastes from other nuclear facilities in Ontario. Before the project moves forward, it must pass an environmental-impact study. The nuclear-safety commission is expected to outline requirements of the study within the next six weeks. The environmental as-sessment, usually done by environmental experts hired by the nuclear industry, could take until 2011. If satisfied with the assessment results, the commission would grant a construction license. John Earl, spokesman for Ontario Power Generation, said the storage facility could be operational in 2017. The Kincardine community, not industry, suggested the underground repository, Earl said. Bruce nuclear plant officials acknowledged in 2002 that ground water near homes in Kincardine, Ont., tested positive for radioactive waste. "The material is already (stored above ground) right on that site. It has been for 40 years," Earl said. "The community said we believe there is a safer method." Fuller and others are asking the Canadian Ministry of the Environment refer the project to a mediator or review panel. The nuclear-safety commission, opponents say, is not an objective body, because it reports to the Ministry of Natural Resources, which promotes the use of nuclear energy, and is comprised of former nuclear-industry employees. "It's not exactly within my jurisdiction or job description, but I know it represents a certain threat to St. Clair County and the water here," Fuller said. "Can we really predict how safe this will be in the next centuries? We need to find a very secure and closely considered way to store this waste." Kay Cumbow of St. Clair County's Lynn Township is president of the Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination, a Michigan group opposed to the proposal. "We get our drinking water out of Port Huron, as does Flint and a chunk of the city of Detroit. Beyond that, the responsibility for the water quality - and the health of the water - is a responsibility that is incumbent on the First Nations, Native Americans, and the U.S., the citizens as well as all the governments. We need to take care of that, we need to respect that because the water is life and as the water goes, so do we." m Contact Nicole Gerring at (810) 989-6270 or ngerring@gannett.com. Copyright ©2006 The Times Herald. ***************************************************************** 53 Ventura County Star: Boeing letter refutes 'flawed' conclusions of report DOCUMENTS: The report of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory Advisory Panel DOCUMENTS: Boeing's comments on the Advisory Panel reports Owner of Santa Susana Field Lab questions validity of cancer study By Teresa Rochester, trochester@VenturaCountyStar.com November 7, 2006 Boeing Co. has officially refuted the conclusions of a study released last month that found a partial meltdown of a sodium-cooled nuclear reactor at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in 1959 caused hundreds of cases of cancer, according to a letter dated Nov. 3 from the company to the group that conducted the study. The letter and accompanying comments were released Monday afternoon. "Taken as a whole, these comments seriously question the validity of claims the AP (advisory panel) has made, claims that are flawed, without scientific merit, and a great disservice to our employees and the community," the letter states. It is a stance that Boeing officials have maintained since the study by the Santa Susana Field Laboratory Advisory Panel was released Oct. 5. "Basically, many of the conclusions are contrary to the vast amount of evidence collected for many years," Boeing spokeswoman Blythe Jameson said. The five-year study was conducted by 17 researchers from around the country. The study found that the meltdown and subsequent contamination in nearby wells caused about 260 cancers within 60 square miles of the reactor. There was also a chance that the number of cancer cases could be as high as 1,800. The state-funded study was commissioned to address the community's reaction to an earlier report that linked a number of cancers in workers at the site, formerly owned by Rocketdyne. Pollutants, including perchlorate, a toxic rocket fuel component, have been migrating off the site, owned by Boeing since 1996, and contaminating wells in Simi Valley in high amounts, the report states. In its official response, Boeing flatly rejected those findings. Post-accident measurements of sodium and cover gas showed that radiation was not released into the environment, according to Boeing's letter. In its critique, Boeing called the researchers' use of estimates in determining the amount of radiation released as "little more than guesses." But a 1962 report by Atomics International, which operated the reactor, stated that readings taken July 18 "gave an indication of unusually high radioactivity." Dan Hirsch, an advisory panel member and founder of Committee to Bridge the Gap, called Boeing's comments misleading. "It appears this meltdown, which began with a lack of candor, continues to this day to be subject to distortion and misrepresentation," he said. In its letter, Boeing cites a 1992 study by the Department of Health Services, whose analyses suggested "that people living near the SSFL are not at increased risk for developing cancers associated with radiation exposure." The same study, however, also found that from 1983-88 the rate of bladder cancer was higher among men who lived in Los Angeles County near the Field Laboratory than in the county as a whole. The level was not higher between 1978 and 1982. Boeing officials also stated that sampling studies over the past 14 years have "unequivocally demonstrated" that cesium-137 is not in the soil in communities surrounding the laboratory. The Nov. 3 letter, written by Thomas Gallacher, director of Santa Susana Field Laboratory Safety, Health and Environmental Affairs, also called the report "purely speculative" in its attempts to link perchlorate in Simi Valley groundwater to the Field Lab. For years, people living in the shadow of the lab have said that perchlorate in Simi Valley's groundwater came from the former rocket engine test site. The company also stated that storm-water runoff that does leave the site has shown that pollutant levels are typical or even cleaner than concentrations in storm flows off-site. The company reiterated its stance that groundwater polluted with trichloroethylene has not moved off the site and is within a few thousand feet of where the contaminants entered the ground. "The author(s) opine(s) on contaminant migration at SSFL by focusing only on one aspect of the site, the geology," the letter states. "By ignoring the vast majority of the scientific data that has been collected for the site from multiple scientific perspectives, the report arrives at the conclusions that are contrary to the vast quantity of evidence that has been collected over the past 20 years." 2006 © The E.W. Scripps Co. Ventura County Star ***************************************************************** 54 Hanford News: Hanford board questions tanks' capability This story was published Monday, November 6th, 2006 By Annette Cary, Herald staff writer HOOD RIVER, Ore. - The Hanford Advisory Board is looking for scientific evidence that the nuclear reservation's newest underground tanks for radioactive waste will last long enough to see the waste turned into a stable glass form. The Department of Energy continues to work to move 53 million gallons of radioactive and hazardous chemical waste from leak-prone single-shell tanks to newer double-shell tanks. The waste will be held there until it can be treated. But given delays in building Hanford's vitrification plant, that could be a long time. The plant is not expected to start turning the first of the tank waste into a stable glass form until 2018 or 2019. Plans still being developed will indicate how many years the plant will need to operate to treat much or all of the waste left from the production of plutonium for the nation's nuclear weapons program. "There is not a scientifically credible basis to say the tanks will last," Todd Martin, chairman of the Hanford Advisory Board, said Friday after the board's Oregon meeting. The board is asking the Washington State Department of Ecology to require DOE to produce data to show whether the tanks will continue to be a safe storage system, Martin said. The double-shell tanks are expected to be needed to hold waste well beyond the design life established when they were built. DOE has completed the Double Shell Tank Integrity Assessment Report to meet a requirement of the Tri-Party Agreement, which sets legal requirements for cleanup of Hanford. While it addresses the current condition of the tanks, it did not include all the information the board expected. "The board believes the report does not show the regulators and the public the condition and integrity of each of the 28 tanks," said advice sent from the Hanford Advisory Board to DOE and the Washington Department of Ecology, a Hanford regulator. The board also is concerned that the state plans to consider a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act permit application from DOE for the double-shell tank system. "The board is seriously concerned that a permit will erroneously signal that long-term 'storage' in the (double-shell tanks) is appropriate," the letter of advice said. "This could undermine the state's efforts to ensure it is understood that these tanks may not safely store waste until 2030 or beyond." As a condition of the permit, the state should require DOE to develop an integrity plan that requires annual inspections, tests, trending and repairs, the board said. It also made other technical recommendations about how inspections should be done. Several of the recommendations already are being followed by DOE, said Shirley Olinger, deputy manager of DOE's Hanford Office of River Protection. The double-shell tanks are not leaking and DOE has an inspection program for them, she said. © 2006 Tri-City Herald. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 55 Hanford News: Hanford subcontractor gets safety, performance bonuses This story was published Tuesday, November 7th, 2006 By the Herald staff DelHur Industries is the first Washington Closure Hanford subcontractor to receive safety and performance bonuses for work completed on Hanford's River Corridor Closure Project. Washington Closure gave DelHur a total of $54,000 in bonuses for exceeding safety goals and finishing backfilling a major trench and crib waste site associated with N Reactor ahead of schedule and under budget. The contractor, working out of its Hermiston office, brought the project in $176,000 under budget at $1.88 million and finished work at the end of June, three months ahead of schedule. Washington Closure has been offering safety and performance incentives as option contract benefits to subcontractors since it took over cleanup work along the Columbia River in August 2005. DelHur also is cleaning up a large radioactive waste burial ground at Hanford's 100 K Area and in the 1990s constructed the first four disposal cells at Hanford's Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility. © 2006 Tri-City Herald. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 56 Hanford News: Hearing to discuss proposed changes to vitrification plant This story was published Tuesday, November 7th, 2006 By Annette Cary, Herald staff writer Washington state will hold a public hearing Thursday to take comments on changes to Hanford's vitrification plant that have been proposed by the Department of Energy. DOE is proposing having two melters for low-activity waste and two melters for high-level waste. It also has asked for a change in the Pretreatment Facility that might allow radioactive technetium to be treated as part of the low-activity waste. The proposed changes have been under discussion for several years. The $12.2 billion vitrification plant is planned to turn much of the radioactive and hazardous chemical wastes in Hanford's underground tanks into a stable glass form for disposal. The waste is left from the past production of plutonium for the nation's nuclear weapons program. DOE originally planned to build a vitrification plant with three low-activity waste melters and one high-level waste melter to melt the waste with glass-forming ingredients to turn it into glass. Each of the low-activity waste melters was expected to make 10 metric tons of glass per day for a total of 30 metric tons. But pilot testing on the project has shown that two low-activity waste melters should be able to make at least 30 metric tons of glass per day. Adding the second high-level waste melter would allow the worst waste to be treated more quickly. The Washington State Department of Ecology has not agreed to the other major design change proposed by DOE - not including a technetium exchange column in the Pretreatment Facility. The Pretreatment Facility will separate waste in the tanks into streams to go to the High Level Waste Facility or the Low Activity Waste Facility. Technetium 99, which has a half-life of 210,000 years, accounts for less than 0.02 percent of the total radioactivity in the tank waste. But it would require a specific process to separate it from low-activity waste for treatment with the high-level waste. The equipment could cost $30 million to install and many times that to operate. For now, the state wants DOE to maintain the space in the Pretreatment Facility for the equipment to separate technetium so it can be vitrified as high-level waste. The hearing will be at 7 p.m. at the state's Nuclear Waste Program office, 3100 Port of Benton Blvd., Richland. The state plans to give a presentation, answer questions, then take public comments. Written public comments also will be accepted until Nov. 27. Send them to Brenda Becker-Khaleel, 3100 Port of Benton Blvd., Richland, WA, 99354, or e-mail them to Bbec461@ecy.wa.gov. © 2006 Tri-City Herald. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 57 DOE: International Energy Agency Meeting FR Doc E6-18751 [Federal Register: November 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 215)] [Notices] [Page 65092-65093] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr07no06-39] AGENCY: Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of meetings. SUMMARY: The Industry Advisory Board (IAB) to the International Energy Agency (IEA) will meet on November 14-16, 2006, at the headquarters of the IEA in Paris, France, including in connection with a joint meeting of the IEA's Standing Group on Emergency Questions (SEQ) and the IEA's Standing Group on the Oil Market on November 14 and 15, and a meeting of the SEQ on November 16. DATES: November 14-16, 2006. ADDRESSES: 9, rue de la Federation, Paris, France. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samuel M. Bradley, Assistant General for International and National Security Programs, Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, 202-586-6738. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with section 252(c)(1)(A)(i) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6272(c)(1)(A)(i)) (EPCA), the following notice of meeting is provided: Meetings of the Industry Advisory Board (IAB) to the International Energy Agency (IEA) will be held at the headquarters of the IEA, 9, rue de la Federation, Paris, France, on November 14, 2006, beginning at 10:45 a.m. and continuing on November 15, 2006 at 9 a.m.; at 3 p.m. on November 15, and on November 16, 2006, commencing at 9 a.m. The purpose of this notice is to permit attendance by representatives of U.S. company members of the IAB at a joint meeting of the IEA's Standing Group on Emergency Questions (SEQ) and the IEA's Standing Group on the Oil Market (SOM) on November 14 and 15, at a meeting of the IAB on November 15, and at a meeting of the SEQ on November 16. The agenda of the joint SEQ/SOM meeting on November 14 and 15 is under the control of the SEQ and the SOM. It is expected that the SEQ and the SOM will adopt the following agenda: 1. Review provisional agenda of the joint SEQ/SOM session. [[Page 65093]] Part I: Speculation 2. Speculators, index funds and their recent impact on the market: what we know, what we don't know. 3. Index funds: could they influence future supply? A. Demand 4. The outlook to 2011--which countries, which fuels, how much uncertainty. 5. Economic forecasts--understanding the risks. B. Supply Outlook 6. World oil supply outlook, supply risks, changes to crude quality? 7. Historical relationship between oil prices and exploration and production investment. C. Biofuels 8. Biofuels--the outlook to 2011: the value to energy security. D. Refining 9. Product supply risks--refinery outlook, product balances, potential bottlenecks. Part II: Energy Security: The Impact of Short- and Medium-Term Issues 10. Setting the scene: current oil and gas market updates. 11. The near-term risks in oil supply disruptions. 12. Completing the picture: oil market balances, risks, and outlook. 13. Medium-term oil market report--closing comments. The expected agenda of the IAB meeting on November 15, 2006, is as follows: 1. 2006 IEA World Energy Outlook (presentations by IEA). 2. Program of Work of the SEQ for 2007-8 (presentations by IEA). 3. Data collection during emergencies (presentations by IEA and discussion). 4. Potential improvements in emergency stock release procedures (Comments from IAB members and discussion with IEA). 5. Review of agenda for November 16, 2006, SEQ meeting. The agenda of the SEQ meeting on November 16, 2006 is under the control of the SEQ. It is expected that the SEQ will adopt the following agenda: 1. Adoption of the Agenda. 2. Approval of the Summary Record of the 117th Meeting. Approval of the Summary Record of the Joint Session of the SEQ/SOM. 3. Status of Compliance with IEP Stockholding Commitments. -- Reports by non-complying Member countries. 4. Program of Work. --The SEQ Program of Work for 2007-2008. --SEQ Follow-up Work on Katrina. --Update on IEA Outreach Strategy. 5. Emergency Response Review Program. --Emergency response review of Turkey. --Emergency response review of the Czech Republic. --Emergency response review of Norway. --Emergency response review of Japan. --Emergency response review of France. --Emergency response review of Korea. 6. Report on Current Activities of the IAB. 7. Policy and Other Developments in Member Countries. --United States. --Germany. 8. Other Emergency Response Activities. --Progress report on study: ``A comparative analysis of the IEA emergency oil stockholding systems''. 9. Activities with Non-Member Countries and International Organizations. --Update on situation of applicant countries. --Report on IEA/China Workshop on Oil Security, October 30-31, Beijing. --Reports on upcoming 6th JODI conference in Riyadh, November 25-26 and Training Session on Emergency Preparedness and Statistics for Chinese, October 9-13. 10. Documents for Information. --Emergency Reserve Situation of IEA Member Countries on July 1, 2006. --Emergency Reserve Situation of IEA Candidate Countries on July 1, 2006. --Base Period Final Consumption: 3Q 2005-2Q 2006. --Monthly Oil Statistics: August 2006. --Update of Emergency Contacts List. 11. Other Business. --Dates of Next SEQ Meetings (tentative): --February 21-22, 2007. --June 18-19, 2007. --November 13-15, 2007. As provided in section 252(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6272(c)(1)(A)(ii)), the meetings of the IAB are open to representatives of members of the IAB and their counsel; representatives of members of the IEA's Standing Group on Emergency Questions and the IEA's Standing Group on the Oil Markets; representatives of the Departments of Energy, Justice, and State, the Federal Trade Commission, the General Accounting Office, Committees of Congress, the IEA, and the European Commission; and invitees of the IAB, the SEQ, the SOM, or the IEA. Issued in Washington, DC, November 1, 2006. Samuel M. Bradley, Assistant General Counsel for International and National Security Programs. [FR Doc. E6-18751 Filed 11-6-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P ***************************************************************** 58 KnoxNews: Firm signs on to build on Y-12 idea By BOB FOWLER, fowlerb@knews.com November 7, 2006 OAK RIDGE - A unique "hospital-in-a-box'' created at the Y-12 National Security Complex will be manufactured by a company based in Richmond, Va., officials announced Monday. Mega-Tech Services Inc. signed the licensing pact with Y-12 officials Monday. The company will pay the nuclear weapons plant an undisclosed annual licensing fee for the exclusive rights to build the Rapid Deployment Shelter System. The 20-foot-by-20-foot enclosure can be set up in 90 seconds by one person and be ready to use for emergency surgery under wartime conditions. "This product will have many uses, especially as a tool to save lives,'' said Marilyn Giles, manager of Y-12's office of technology transfer. While developed with the Army in mind, the portable unit may also be of interest to the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said John Bowen, company vice president. It could become a command center for use in natural disasters, officials said. The 15,700-pound system can be transported by truck, rail, ship or helicopter. It's designed to provide protection against small arms fire and temporary shelter from various chemical, biological or nuclear contaminants. U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., secured a $7.3 million federal appropriation in 2000 for Y-12 to design the system, officials said. Knoxville resident Lee Bzorgi was the lead engineer on the project, and he received two patents for the unique system that unfolds the hospital-in-a-box in a single movement. It took some time to find a company to build it because there were no guaranteed buyers for a prototype, Giles said. "The Army can't procure something that's not available,'' she said. "This company was willing to take the risk,'' Giles said. "It's kind of a leap of faith.'' Company President Deanna Bowen said the system would be manufactured in a secure area of the Indianapolis International Airport. Bowen's husband and company vice president John Bowen said "extremely aggressive'' long-term plans call for Mega-Tech Services to build up to 150 systems a year. 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: *****************************************************************