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NUCLEAR POLICY
1 BBC: Top Iraqi condemns US over Iran
2 Guardian Unlimited: We are not leaving, Gates warns Iran as troop su
3 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: MP sends letter over 1737 resolution
4 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: Majlis to pass nuclear law soon - MP
5 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: IAEA members to visit IRI N-sites
6 AFP: Iran ready but says strike on nuclear sites unlikely -
7 AFP: Iran offered to cut off Hezbollah in overture to US in 2003 - B
8 Guardian Unlimited: U.N. Nuclear Agency Stops Some Iran Aid
9 AFP: NKorea defends nuke test as negotiators talk
10 AFP: Top US envoy holds 'useful' N Korea talks in Berlin
11 AFP: With NKorea in mind, China upgrades radioactivity monitoring -
12 UPI: Russia urges U.S.: Ease N. Korea sanctions
13 US: ACA: New Nuclear Designs, New Questions
14 Guardian Unlimited: Trident move 'will increase nuclear threat'
15 Guardian Unlimited: Doomsday clock ticks closer to Armageddon
NUCLEAR REACTORS
16 US: San Luis Obispo Tribune: Order for Diablo review stands up
17 US: Scripps News: Fight against warming needs nuclear, PG&E chief sa
18 US: Deseret News: Ex-objector now extols benefits of N-energy
19 MDN: TEPCO shuts down nuclear reactor over electricity leak -
20 US: Tucson Citizen: Regulators skeptical of nuke plant arguments |
21 US: Arizona Republic: Palo Verde promises more rigor in its probes
22 US: La Crosse Tribune: Monticello nuclear plant shut down indefinite
23 US: Las Vegas SUN: Editorial: Energy plan long overdue
24 RIA Novosti: Russian lawmakers pass bill on nuclear reform in second
25 Russian MP: Russian nuclear industry has brilliant prospects in worl
26 US: Sf Chron: SAN LUIS OBISPO / Order for terror study at Diablo sta
27 US: NRC: NRC, FERC Commissioners to Discuss Grid Reliability January
28 ACA: Congress Exempts India From Nuclear Trade Rules
29 US: NRC: Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.; Vogtle Electric
30 US: NRC: Issuance of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
31 US: NRC: NRC Renews Operating License for Palisades Nuclear Power Pl
32 Budapest Sun: Plans for 2nd nuclear plant
33 Kommersant Moscow: Ukraine Forced Russia to Give Nuclear Discount -
34 US: EastValleyTribune.com: Feds, APS at odds on Palo Verde fixes
35 US: Monticello Times: Nuclear plant has shutdown
36 globeandmail.com: Dion cool to nuclear power
37 Spiegel Online: EU Energy Policy: Can Germany Really Shut Down its N
38 RICS: Regulators assess UK nuclear plant designs
39 US: PRN: Exelon Nuclear Sets All-Time Generation Record in 2006
40 US: Canada Press: Tories want to go nuclear with new green clean ene
41 US: The Huffington Post: 'Un-Inventing' Nukes |
42 US: Guardian Unlimited: Nuclear Chief Pushes for Safer Plants
NUCLEAR SECURITY
43 "Doomsday Clock" Moves Two Minutes Closer To Midnight
44 AU ABC: Nuclear canister found near highway.
45 US: Threats to U.S. security growing - claim
NUCLEAR SAFETY
46 US: [NukeNet] Account for children and fetuses in radiation
47 US: Deseret News: Utahns don't want this bomb
48 US: Spectrum: Idaho included in Divine Strake meetings
49 US: Spectrum: Public gets chance to speak
50 Spectrum: Attend meeting on test
51 US: The Spectrum: Hold the government accountable
52 US: TribStar.com: A healthy skepticism for federal activities
53 US: KTRV: Informational Meeting Planned on Divine Strake
54 times and star: Five contaminated at nuke plant
NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE
55 US: [NukeNet] FLASH ACTION! ANTI-MOX LETTER group sign-ons
56 US: Las Vegas SUN: AP Ahead: EPA orders ARCO to begin to clean up to
57 US: SignOnSanDiego.com: Fixing landfill to cost millions
58 US: Salt Lake Tribune: EnergySolutions likely to see bill action aga
59 US: Newswise: Nuclear Waste Land
60 US: Albuquerque Tribune: Sandia Labs covering toxic waste causes sti
61 US: Monticello Times: MPUC denies requests to reconsider site storag
62 CBC: Nuclear waste disposal plan could come within months
63 US: KFDA: Hot waste one step closer to WIPP
64 US: NewsBlaze : Secretary Bodman to Celebrate Closure of Three Ohio
65 Whitehaven News: Six BNFL workers in radiation incidents
PEACE
US DEPT. OF ENERGY
66 Inside Bay Area: Protest lodged over lab contract
67 Daily News: Radioactive animal carcasses reburied at Hanford
68 Knox News: Last call for comments on future nuke complex
69 lamonitor.com: Fake nuke reported stolen
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FULL NEWS STORIES
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1 BBC: Top Iraqi condemns US over Iran
Last Updated: Wednesday, 17 January 2007
[Exterior of the building raided by the US forces in Irbil]
The outside of the Iranian liaison office raided by US forces
One of Iraq's most powerful Shia politicians has condemned the
arrest of Iranians by US forces in Iraq as an attack on the
country's sovereignty.
The comments by Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, made in a BBC interview, are
seen as the strongest expression yet of Iraq's concern about the
US approach to Iran.
They follow two recent US raids in which Iranians were arrested.
The remarks are interesting as Mr Hakim is seen as close to
President Bush, says the BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad.
Mr Hakim also has close links to Iran, after many years in exile
there.
Late last year, US troops descended on Mr Hakim's residential
compound in Baghdad and detained two Iranian officials.
They were later released, but last week, five more were detained
at the Iranian liaison office in Irbil. They are still being
held.
US officials say they are linked to the Iranian Revolutionary
Guard which they allege trains and arms Iraqi insurgents.
Delicate balance
Iran, which has demanded their immediate release, says they are
diplomats engaged in legitimate work.
Iraq has sought to bring about a dialogue between the US, Iran
and Syria, Mr Hakim, leader of the Supreme Council for the
Islamic Revolution in Iraq, told the BBC.
Any tension between Washington and Tehran might have adverse
consequences for Iraq, he said.
We fully respect the views, policies and strategy of the United
States, which is the strongest ally to Iraq, but the Iraqi
government has national interests of its own [
border=] Hoshyar Zebari Iraqi Foreign Minister
"Regardless of the Iranian position we consider these actions as
incorrect," Mr Hakim said.
"They represent a kind of attack on Iraq's sovereignty and we
hope such things are not repeated."
On Sunday, Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said that Iraq
needed a constructive relationship with Iran.
"We can't change the geographical reality that Iran is our
neighbour. This is a delicate balance and we are treading a very
thin line.
"We fully respect the views, policies and strategy of the United
States, which is the strongest ally to Iraq, but the Iraqi
government has national interests of its own," Mr Zebari said. Mr
Hakim is said to be close to President George W Bush and has
backed his new plan for Iraq.
Speaking after a lengthy meeting with Prime Minister Nouri
Maliki, Mr Hakim said that, under the plan, Iraqi security forces
would be in charge for the first time in four years, while the
multinational troops provide support.
"This came about at the request of the Iraqis. They met and
decided to carry out these operations and be fully responsible
while the multinational forces support them," said Mr Hakim.
*****************************************************************
2 Guardian Unlimited: We are not leaving, Gates warns Iran as troop surge begins |
Tehran sends out diplomatic feelers amid row over arrests
Julian Borger, Ian Traynor in Brussels and Ewen MacAskill in
Washington
Tuesday January 16, 2007
The Guardian
The US defence secretary, Robert Gates. Photograph: Steve
Parsons/PA
The US defence secretary, Robert Gates, said yesterday that
Iran believed it had gained the upper hand over Washington in
the Middle East, but he declared the US military buildup was
intended to signal American determination to remain a dominant
player in the region.
Mr Gates, making his first visit as defence secretary to Nato
headquarters in Brussels, delivered a defiant message at a time
of rising tensions between the US and Iran, with the US arrest
last week of five Iranians accused of fomenting the Iraqi
insurgency and President George Bush's vow to "seek out and
destroy" Iranian and Syrian "networks" in Iraq.
Iran yesterday appeared to offer an olive branch to Washington. A
senior Iranian official, Ali Larijani, delivered a joint letter
to King Abdullah from the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asking the Saudi
monarch to act as an intermediary with the US. The letter was
delivered on the eve of a visit to Riyadh by the US secretary of
state, Condoleezza Rice. Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed
Saudi official as saying Iran wanted the Saudi king to relay a
goodwill message to Washington to "help bring opinions together"
between Iran and the US.
The Bush administration has made any resumption in bilateral
diplomatic relations conditional on Tehran giving up its
ambitions to enrich uranium as part of its nuclear programme, a
condition the Iranian leadership has so far rejected.
"The Iranians clearly believe we are tied down in Iraq, that
they have the initiative, that they are in a position to press
us in many ways," Mr Gates told journalists in Brussels. "They
are doing nothing to be constructive in Iraq at this point." He
added that Tehran was seeking to foment conflict in Lebanon
through Hizbullah.
Mr Gates said the buildup of US forces in the Gulf region,
involving the dispatch of an aircraft carrier and Patriot
missile defence batteries as well as the deployment of more than
20,000 US reinforcements to Iraq, was intended as a signal that
Washington would not be intimidated.
"We are simply reaffirming that statement of the importance of
the Gulf region to the United States and our determination to be
an ongoing strong presence in that area for a long time into the
future," he said on a day the first reinforcements arrived in
Baghdad as part of President Bush's "surge" strategy.
Mr Gates did not rule out the possibility of talks in the future
if Iran changed its behaviour. "When the Iranians are prepared
to play a constructive role in dealing with some of these
problems there might be opportunities for engagement," he said.
Iran is demanding the release of five Iranians arrested by US
forces in Irbil. Tehran insists they are diplomats, but the US
military says they are members of the elite Qods force of the
revolutionary guards helping to orchestrate attacks on US and
allied forces. The allegations were echoed by the Iraqi
vice-president, Tareq al-Hashemi, who warned that Iran was
becoming a "major player" with "deep influence" in Iraq.
"Wherever you go in Iraq you see their fingerprints," Mr
Hashemi, a Sunni leader, told journalists in London. "Our
neighbours in the east are unfortunately playing a disastrous
role."
He called for "a tough international stance" against the
interference of Iraq's neighbours in its internal politics.
Mr Bush was asked in a television interview on Sunday night
whether the alleged killing of Americans by Iranian agents in
Iraq constituted an act of war. Mr Bush said he was not a lawyer
so could not define what constituted an act of war but "let me
just say it's unacceptable".
He warned that if the US failed in Iraq it would lead to a wider
regional crisis: "If the [Iraq] government falls apart and there
is sectarian enclaves and violence it'll invite Iran into the
Shia neighbourhoods."
The Bush administration rejected calls last month by the
bipartisan Iraq Study Group led by James Baker, the former
secretary of state, to open dialogue with Iran and has opted
instead for a new confrontational approach. The administration
insists the aim is not invasion of Iran but containment.
Bruce Laingen, the former US charge d'affaires to Iran who was
held hostage in Tehran from 1979 to 1981, said he did not like
the Iranian regime but urged the US to start talks with Tehran.
Mr Laingen told the Guardian yesterday the Irbil arrests were a
small incident. "The large picture is to find a mechanism to
begin talks. Baker has spoken to the American ambassador in New
York. The United Nations is always a place where you can begin
some contact...There is always an opportunity if we want to
exploit it. At present we are only interested in frustration."
[UP]
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007
*****************************************************************
3 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: MP sends letter over 1737 resolution
2007/01/17
Head of Iran-Czech-Algeria parliamentary friendship group
Hamid-Reza Babaei in two separate letters to his Czech and
Algerian counterparts, Stanislav Fischer and Bashir Boyhareh
Mohammad respectively, on Tuesday underlined that resolution
1737 set a precedent in the performance of UN Security Council.
According to a report released by Majlis public relations
department, in his letters, he expounded on the Islamic Republic
of Iran's stance vis-a-vis the anti-IRI resolution.
"Iran considers approval of this new resolution on Iran's
nuclear program for peaceful purposes as a measure beyond the
law and framework of UNSC duties as well as contrary to the
articles of the UN charter."
"Given that this resolution is contrary to NPT article 4
concerning supervision of the world nations' right to access
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, shows its dual standard
and discriminatory approach to the country's nuclear issue."
"Besides, it undermines both the nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," he
added.
The letters pointed out that the need for holding talks to solve
the issue peacefully, which has been always urged by IRI, was
ignored by the parties which drew up the anti-IRI resolution.
"The unjust resolution, contradicting NPT was issued after a
relatively long time without any negotiation, aiming to suspend
IRI's access to nuclear fuel cycle and self-sufficiency in
development of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes," he
added.
The MP said that resolution 1737 was just approved under the
influence of certain countries merely based on the assumption
that IRI may some day access nuclear weapons.
"Lack of slightest sign of non-peaceful nuclear activity by
Iranin the reports released by IAEA and all-out support of 118
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Organization of the Islamic
Conference (OIC) member states for Iran's nuclear activities for
peaceful purpose prove that such illusions are false."
"This is despite the Zionist regime's admittance that 'Israel'
owns nuclear arsenal, posing a serious threat to world peace and
security, which was met with complete silence of the UNSC," he
added.
He noted that while the Zionist regime refrains from joining NPT
and be subject to IAEA safeguard supervision, the UNSC took up a
dual standard not acceptable to Iranian nation.
"Though America and Britain used their entire political and
legal potentials to issue the new UNSC resolution to disrupt
access of Iranian nation to their full nuclear right, these
powers should know that they can hardly prevent the Iranians
from progressing by holding out threats and creating panic."
He said that such measures by the UNSC are in line with nuclear
apartheid and division of the world along the north-south lines.
He added that in response to the nation's call, IRI's government
will continue development of nuclear technology for peaceful
purpose based on its commitments within the framework of NPT and
safeguard agreement, under full supervision of the agency.
"If UNSC measures are not based on the principles of
international laws and justice, they will only harm the
reputation of this body and lead to lack of confidence of world
nations," added the letter.
At the end of the two letters, the lawmaker called on Fischer
and Boyhareh Mohammad to do their best to assist IRI in
expressing the realities and facts about the country's peaceful
nuclear activities, strengthening NPT and restoring world
nations rights to access modern sciences and technologies in the
nuclear sector for peaceful purposes.
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
*****************************************************************
4 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: Majlis to pass nuclear law soon - MP
2007/01/17
A parliamentarian said on Wednesday that Majlis would pass a law
on the nuclear issue in the near future so the world would know
that the Islamic Republic of Iran has finally gained complete
access to nuclear technology.
An MP from the central Iranian city of Isfahan, Hassan Kamran,
made the disclosure during his pre-agenda speech in Majlis.
"The world should know that we will not give up even one iota of
our nuclear right," he said.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday gave notification of a
law that mandates the government to revise its cooperation with
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and called for its
implementation.
The Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) on December 27, 2006
passed a double-urgency bill urging the government to accelerate
IRI's peaceful nuclear activities and to revise the country's
cooperation with the IAEA to meet the interests of the nation.
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
*****************************************************************
5 IRIB PERSIAN NEWS: IAEA members to visit IRI N-sites
2007/01/17
The Islamic Republic of Iran has invited certain representatives
of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) member states to
visit its nuclear sites, Austrian domestic news sources reported
Wednesday.
Ambassador to the IAEA Ali-Asghar Soltaniyeh had earlier told
reporters that Tehran had made the decision and that their visit
would be officially announced after plans are finalized.
The sources quoted an Iranian diplomat in Vienna on Wednesday as
saying the IAEA member states would inspect Iran's nuclear sites
on February 2-6.
Representatives of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), group 77 and
Arab league have been invited to come to Islamic Republic of
Iran.
M.H.Z
Copyright 2004, All Rights Reserved By Islamic Republic of Iran
Broadcasting News Network Sponsored By IRIB News Computer Center.
E-Mail: Info@IRIBNEWS.ir
*****************************************************************
6 AFP: Iran ready but says strike on nuclear sites unlikely -
>Wednesday January 17, 06:27 PM
By Siavosh Ghjazi
TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran believes a military strike against its
nuclear installations is highly improbable but has nonetheless
taken the necessary precautions in case it is attacked, top
officials said.
"We think that it is highly improbable that our nuclear sites
would be bombed but we have taken the necessary precautions even
for this," said Mohammad Saeedi, vice president of Iran's atomic
energy organisation, according to the ISNA agency.
The United States and Israel, Iran's two arch-enemies,
(Advertisement)
[Click Here] [ src=] have never ruled out military action
against the Islamic republic to thwart its nuclear programme,
which they allege is aimed at making an atomic weapon.
Saeedi did not specify what the precautions have involved.
Defence Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najar also said Iran was
prepared for any potential move against it.
"Iran's armed forces are closely watching all movements in the
region and will not allow any aggression from enemies," he said
according to the IRNA news agency.
A report in the Sunday Times newspaper in Britain earlier this
month said that Israel was already planning a small-scale
nuclear strike on Iranian nuclear sites, although this was
strongly denied by the Jewish state.
Iran has already been hit by UN Security Council sanctions over
its nuclear programme, which it insists is peaceful and aimed at
meeting the energy needs of a growing population.
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's supreme national security
council, echoed Saeedi's comments, saying that "all the options
have been taken into account".
"But this talk (of an attack) should not be taken too seriously.
We think they have the minimum of intelligence not to do a thing
like this," he told reporters, according to IRNA.
Saeedi also said Iran would press on with its nuclear programme,
even if the UN Security Council agreed even tougher resolutions
against Tehran in the future.
"Even if worse resolutions are adopted, we have started our work
and we will continue with it. The secret of our success is
unity," he said.
"UN Security Council resolutions will not prevent the Iranian
people from achieving their objectives," he added.
Iran's parliament reacted to the UN Security Council resolution
by passing a law that obliges the government to "revise" its
cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
But almost a month after the adoption of the UN resolution, the
government has yet to indicate how it intends to interpret the
law and Larijani said that there were no need for over-hasty
action.
"Why do you want us to react in a hurry? We have to react in a
measured way. We want to act in a way that takes into account
the country's national interests," he said.
Iran has nonetheless made clear it has no intention of
surrendering its nuclear ambitions.
The government spokesman said Monday Tehran wanted to install
"even more" than 3,000 centrifuges to enrich uranium at a key
nuclear plant in defiance of the UN Security Council demand to
freeze the sensitive activity.
Officials have also predicted Iran would make a major
announcement on the "completion" of Iran's nuclear programme
during the 10-day anniversary celebrations for the Islamic
revolution in February.
*****************************************************************
7 AFP: Iran offered to cut off Hezbollah in overture to US in 2003 - BBC
Wed Jan 17, 6:52 PM ET
LONDON (AFP) - Iran" /> Iranoffered to cut off aid and support
for the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah and the Palestinian
group Hamas, and promised full transparency on its nuclear
program in a secret letter to the United States soon after the
2003 invasion of Iraq" /> Iraq, the British media reported.
According to the BBC, the letter, which it obtained, was
unsigned, but the US State Department understood that it came
with the approval of the highest Iranian authorities.
The Islamic republic also offered to use its influence to
support stabilisation in Iraq, and in return asked for a halt in
hostile American behaviour, an abolition of all sanctions, and
the pursuit and repatriation of members of the Mujahedeen Khalq
(People's Mujahedeen MKO).
The MKO is an exiled Iranian opposition group which fought
alongside former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein" /> Saddam
Hussein's army in the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, and is currently
based in Iraq.
Initially, the State Department was positive on the offer,
according to Lawrence Wilkerson, former US secretary of state
Colin Powell" /> Colin Powell's chief of staff, who spoke to the
BBC.
"As soon as it got to the White House, and as soon as it got to
the Vice-President's ( Dick Cheney" /> Dick Cheney) office, the
old mantra of 'we don't talk to evil' ... reasserted itself,"
Wilkerson told the broadcaster.
"To our embarrassment at State ... the cable that I saw go back
to the Swiss actually upbraided the Swiss for being so bold and
audacious as to present such a proposal to us on behalf of the
Iranians."
According to Wilkerson, the State Department was also offered a
deal by the Iranians after it led the invasion of Afghanistan"
/> Afghanistanin 2001 which involved Iran giving up senior
Al-Qaeda terror network figures in return for help pursuing the
MKO.
Powell and Wilkerson were unsure how high in the Iranian
government the approach came from, however, and did not pursue
the offer, the BBC said.
Copyright © 2007 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved.
*****************************************************************
8 Guardian Unlimited: U.N. Nuclear Agency Stops Some Iran Aid
From the Associated Press
[UP]
Wednesday January 17, 2007 7:01 PM
By GEORGE JAHN
Associated Press Writer
VIENNA, Austria (AP) - The U.N. nuclear agency has suspended
some aid to Iran in line with Security Council sanctions calling
for an end to assistance for programs that could be misused to
make an atomic weapon, diplomats said Wednesday.
The diplomats emphasized that the freeze was temporary for now
and subject to review and approval by the 35-nation board of the
International Atomic Energy Agency. Agency officials now are
looking at the full list of technical aid programs to Iran and
will propose culling those that could serve non-peaceful nuclear
aims when the board next meets in March. It is up to board
members to make the final decision.
A U.N. official and a diplomat accredited to the IAEA said the
suspension was imposed in recent days. Both spoke to The
Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not
authorized to comment on the issue to the media.
Another diplomat said the aid was suspended for programs ``where
there is a clear prohibition by the Security Council,
specifically applying to enrichment, reprocessing and heavy
water (production).'' He said the agency planned to separate the
projects into those where Security Council bans applied, those
deemed uncontroversial and a ``gray list'' of projects that need
closer examination as to whether they could be used in weapons
production.
``Whatever is absolutely clearly banned by the resolution is now
on hold,'' he added.
The agency's decision to temporarily shelve some projects even
before a final decision by the board was interpreted by some
diplomats who deal with the Vienna-based IAEA as a victory for
the United States.
Washington is the key critic of Tehran's refusal to suspend
uranium enrichment. While Tehran says it wants to develop an
enrichment program to generate energy, the Americans say the
Islamic republic is more interested in the program's other
application - creating the fissile core of nuclear warheads.
Still, a U.S. push to halve IAEA aid to Iran as part of Security
Council sanctions is facing opposition from traditional U.S.
allies in the European Union as well as from developing nations,
diplomats said. Such European opposition is worrisome from
Washington's point of view because it could dilute attempts to
present a unified Western front against Iran's nuclear defiance.
Iran gets IAEA technical aid for more than 15 projects and
dozens more that also involve other countries. Diplomats
familiar with American strategy for the next IAEA board meeting
March 5 say Washington wants at least half of the aid projects
permanently eliminated.
But that is opposed by Germany, which holds the rotating
European Union presidency, and many other EU nations. The
diplomats said that - unless Washington moderates its stance -
confrontation is inevitable at the March meeting.
The United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany
all want Iran to mothball its enrichment program and have acted
as a group in trying to engage Tehran on the issue. But their
approaches and priorities have differed over the past year -
resulting in often visible strains in what is meant to be a
joint initiative.
Russian and Chinese reluctance to slap harsh sanctions on Tehran
- as initially demanded by Washington - have created the
greatest pressures. Both nations share economic and strategic
interests with Iran
But problems also have surfaced in the ranks of European allies,
with Germany traditionally the least hawkish and the French
recently nudging the British aside to become the most loyal
European backers of the Americans.
Differences over how severely to punish Tehran for its refusal
to suspend enrichment led to months of disputes before agreement
was reached last month on a Security Council resolution imposing
limited sanctions that fell short of the harsher measures the
Americans had pushed for.
The sanctions include a review of technical aid to Iran -
programs meant to bolster the peaceful use of nuclear energy in
medicine, agriculture or power generation.
In November, the board of the agency indefinitely suspended an
IAEA project that would have helped Iran put safety measures in
place for a heavy water reactor that, once completed, will
produce plutonium - like enriched uranium, a potential pathway
to nuclear arms. That decision, however, was relatively
straightforward, considering the Security Council had already
indirectly called for an end to construction of the reactor.
In contrast, most of the projects up for review at the March
meeting are for programs that have less obvious potential
weapons applications.
They include cancer therapy programs, nuclear safety projects
and requests for help in international nuclear licensing
procedures.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007
*****************************************************************
9 AFP: NKorea defends nuke test as negotiators talk
Wed Jan 17, 3:30 AM ET
SEOUL (AFP) - North Korea" /> North Koreahas defended its shock
nuclear weapons test as the only way to avert a war as its chief
negotiator met with his US counterpart to discuss resuming
multi-party disarmament talks.
US envoy Christopher Hill held a rare meeting Tuesday with the
North's Kim Kye-gwan at the US embassy in Berlin and, although
there was no breakthrough, officials said it set the pace for a
resumption of full six-party talks.
"The Berlin meeting should lay a good groundwork for an
agreement on what initial steps to take to implement the
September 19 statement," South Korea" /> South Korea's foreign
minister Song Min-Soon said, referring to a 2005 accord offering
the North security and economic aid guarantees in return for
disarmament.
Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's ruling party paper, said the
October 9 test, the regime's first atomic weapons detonation
ever, was in self-defence.
"There is no doubt that a war would have broken out... if (North
Korea) had failed last year to shatter the moves of the US
imperialists to provoke a war against it with its strong
self-defensive deterrent," it said.
It accused the United States of "still whetting the sword of
aggression" against North Korea under the disguise of seeking
peaceful dialogue.
The test triggered global outrage and UN sanctions, and in
December senior negotiators from the six nations in the talks --
the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States --
met for five days in Beijing.
No progress was reported as North Korea refused substantiative
discussions about nuclear disarmament in protest at separate US
financial sanctions.
Bilateral US-North Korean talks on the financial sanctions,
notably on a Macau bank accused of illicit dealings on behalf of
Pyongyang, are to resume next week.
No date has been fixed for the next round of full six-party
negotiations, however.
Song urged Pyongyang to "initiate the process of dismantling its
nuclear programmes" to enable others to "take corresponding
steps" in return.
In December's talks in Beijing, the United States reportedly
demanded that North Korea report all of its nuclear facilities
and programme and accept UN atomic agency inspectors.
The United States was also said to have demanded the closure of
the North's plutonium-producing reactor in Yongbyon and its
nuclear test site.
Copyright © 2007 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved.
*****************************************************************
10 AFP: Top US envoy holds 'useful' N Korea talks in Berlin
by Deborah Cole Wed Jan 17, 4:18 PM ET
BERLIN (AFP) - The top US envoy to six-way talks on North Korea"
/> 's nuclear arms said he was having "useful discussions" with
his Pyongyang counterpart here and hoped negotiations would
resume this month.
"When you have six hours of conversations and you're going to
have some more... certainly you can characterize them as useful
discussions," Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill
said, referring to an initial meeting Tuesday with the North's
negotiator Kim Kye-gwan.
State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said that discussion
was followed up with one or two hours of talks Wednesday at the
North Korean embassy in Berlin before Hill travels to Asia
Thursday.
Hill, speaking at an American Academy event in Berlin, declined
to answer questions on the substance of the meeting but said he
hoped the six-party talks, which collapsed in December in
Beijing with no discernible progress, would start again "in
January."
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice" /> said on a visit to
the German capital Wednesday that she hoped Hill's talks would
set the tone for a positive start to new six-party negotiations
soon.
"These discussions that Chris is having... should help prepare
the way for a more favorable atmosphere at the time of the
resumption of the six-party talks, which we would hope would be
soon," she said.
She stressed that Washington would not consider normalizing
relations with Pyongyang until it implemented "a complete,
verifiable nuclearization -- and I should say irreversible
denuclearization."
The Berlin meetings came ahead of Hill's visits beginning Friday
to South Korea" /> , China and Japan to continue consultations
with key partners in the six-party talks on how to make progress
in the next round of negotiations.
Hill noted that the Berlin talks were the first bilateral
discussions he had held with Kim outside Beijing.
The two powers held landmark talks in Berlin in 1999 that
ultimately led to the lifting of a half-century of restrictions
on trade, travel and banking against North Korea after it agreed
to a moratorium on missile tests.
But the crisis erupted again in 2002.
Six-party negotiations involving the United States, the two
Koreas, Japan, Russia and China were suspended in late 2005
after North Korea walked out in protest at US financial
sanctions imposed on a Macau bank accused of illicit dealings on
behalf of Pyongyang.
The talks resumed in December last year -- following the North's
October 9 nuclear weapons test -- and ended in deadlock as
Pyongyang insisted the financial sanctions be lifted before it
would discuss nuclear disarmament.
Russia on Wednesday called the US sanctions an obstacle to the
resumption of talks and urged flexibility on both sides.
"The United States should have taken some steps toward the
Koreans on lifting financial sanctions and discussing this
question with them," Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov,
the head Russian negotiator on North Korea, was quoted as saying
by state-run news agency RIA Novosti.
Losyukov also called on North Korea to reconsider its refusal to
rejoin the negotiations on account of the US sanctions. "The
link is not 100 percent justified," he was quoted as saying.
In a concession to North Korea, the United States agreed to hold
parallel discussions on the financial sanctions issue.
A first round of those talks took place on the sidelines of the
last six-party negotiations in Beijing in late December.
Neither Hill nor Casey said when the financial discussions might
resume.
Japan and South Korea welcomed the Berlin talks and voiced hope
for an early resumption of multilateral discussions on
Pyongyang's nuclear arms program.
"Dialogue is a good thing," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary
Yasuhisa Shiozaki, the top government spokesman, told reporters.
"The Berlin meeting should lay a good groundwork for an
agreement on what initial steps to take to implement the
September 19 statement," South Korea's foreign minister Song
Min-Soon said, referring to a 2005 accord offering the North
security and economic aid guarantees in return for disarmament.
Hill described that agreement as "a sort of bible for us" and
said he hoped it would be the basis for a new agreement.
Copyright © 2007 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved.
*****************************************************************
11 AFP: With NKorea in mind, China upgrades radioactivity monitoring -
Wednesday January 17, 06:14 AM
[Top North Korea envoy Kim Kye-Gwan (L) listens to Chinese
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing (R)]
BEIJING (AFP) - North Korea's atom bomb test last year has
emphasised the need for China to step up its nuclear and
radioactive security regime, according to state press reports,
citing the nation's environmental watchdog.
The Chinese government has allocated 40 million yuan (5.12
million dollars) to better monitor nuclear and radioactive
pollution, the China Daily said, citing State Environmental
Protection Administration Minister Zhou Shengxian.
Zhou said China's increasing use of nuclear power was one reason
for upgrading its monitoring system, but North Korea's October 9
test, carried out around 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the
Chinese border, also highlighted the need for a better regime.
"The significance of nuclear and radioactive security was
underscored... following the nuclear test last October in
neighbouring Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North
Korea)," the paper said, summarising Zhou.
Nuclear and radioactive security is defined as regular
inspection of nuclear use and operations and an effective
response to emergencies, the paper said.
North Korea's nuclear test prompted widespread international
condemnation and resulted in UN sanctions, backed by Beijing,
Pyongyang's longtime ally.
There have been no reports of any radiation leaks after the test.
China last year set up six nuclear and radioactivity monitoring
centres, as China's nuclear power use is expected to soar in the
coming decades, the paper said.
China currently generates 8,000 megawatts of nuclear power,
about two percent of its total energy output, but that is
expected to grow to 12,000 megawatts in 2010 and 40,000
megawatts by 2020.
AFP
*****************************************************************
12 UPI: Russia urges U.S.: Ease N. Korea sanctions
United Press International - NewsTrack -
1/17/2007 7:22:00 PM -0500
PYONGYANG, North Korea, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The chief Russian
delegate to talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program said
the United States should lift financial sanctions on Pyongyang.
"The United States should have taken steps toward lifting
financial restrictions and discussed the issue with the
Koreans," said chief delegate Alexander Losyukov in an interview
with the Russian news service Novosti.
The six-party talks involve North and South Korea, Russia,
China, Japan, and the United States. They were started in 2003
to try to persuade Pyongyang to stop researching nuclear
weapons, RIA Novosti reported Wednesday.
North Korea had signed a "joint statement" in September 2005,
claiming it would abandon its nuclear program in exchange for
security guarantees. However, North Korea boycotted the talks
two months later after the United States demanded that it freeze
certain bank accounts due to alleged money laundering.
Pyongyang has since conducted nuclear tests and has tested
ballistic missiles.
Talks resumed, but showed no results, and Pyongyang said future
talks depend on whether or not the United States is willing to
lift the financial sanctions.
© Copyright 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights
Reserved.
*****************************************************************
13 ACA: New Nuclear Designs, New Questions
Arms Control Association: Arms Control Today:
Wade Boese
Recent scientific studies have concluded that a core element of
most U.S. nuclear warheads will last decades longer than
previously predicted. Still, government officials and a recent
Pentagon task force say the U.S. nuclear stockpile and
production complex are outdated and must be revamped.
At the core of every U.S. nuclear weapon is a plutonium pit that
initiates the nuclear explosion process. Weapons engineers have
worried that, as plutonium ages, it might degrade a warheads
performance. But scientists at the Los Alamos and Lawrence
Livermore national nuclear laboratories recently determined that
most plutonium primaries have minimum life spans of at least 85
years, compared with earlier estimates of up to 60 years.
After reviewing these studies, the independent JASON group
reported in late November 2006 that no evidence suggests that
plutonium aging might be detrimental to the U.S. nuclear arsenal
on timescales of a century or less. Initially formed in 1960 by
Manhattan Project participants, JASON is comprised of scientists
who advise the government.
Some have seized on the plutonium-aging findings as a reason to
slow or halt a Bush administration plan to build a new type of
warhead, the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW). One
congressional staffer familiar with the initiative told Arms
Control Today that the studies take the urgency out of rushing
forward with [the] RRW [program].
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which
manages the nuclear weapons enterprise, and other supporters of
the RRW program say such reactions are misguided. They contend
the new concept was not predicated on concerns about plutonium
aging but on enhancing safety, security, maintenance, and ease
of production of U.S. nuclear arms.
RRW proponents argue that existing warhead designs are
unnecessarily risky in seeking to maximize explosive power in
the smallest package possible. In addition, current warheads
contain components and materials that are difficult to replace
or dangerous, such as beryllium. By contrast, RRW supporters say
that the new warhead could be made larger to diminish risks. It
could also be made more simply and without some hazardous
elements, making warheads easier to manufacture and refurbish.
But an exact RRW configuration has yet to be identified. Two
teams from the Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore laboratories
have competing designs that are being reviewed by the Nuclear
Weapons Council, which is made up of officials from NNSA and the
Pentagon.
RRW critics worry that once a design is chosen, there will be
pressure to eventually test it before incorporating it into the
military arsenal. The United States enacted a nuclear testing
moratorium in 1992 and has since verified that its existing
weapons remain safe and reliable through an intensive
surveillance and maintenance program known as Stockpile
Stewardship. The United States is also a signatory to the 1996
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty outlawing nuclear tests, although
the Senate rejected ratification of the measure in 1999 and the
Bush administration opposes the accord.
NNSA contends the RRW program will rely on past testing
knowledge and design work so RRW testing will not be necessary.
Congress has made avoiding a resumption of nuclear testing a
high priority.
Lawmakers also have mandated that the RRW program should only
replicate existing capabilities and not result in warheads with
new capabilities or optimized for new missions. Nonetheless,
NNSA readily admits that if the first RRW design proves
feasible, the general approach could facilitate new types of
warheads.
In a long-range plan, referred to as Complex 2030, NNSA
envisions the RRW program as leading to an overhaul of the
nuclear complex into a consolidated and more responsive
enterprise. If realized, this revamped complex is supposed to
improve the ability to produce new or adapted warheads in the
event of new military requirements, according to an October 2006
NNSA report.
The thinking is that, because an RRW model will be much simpler
to produce, the complex can make warheads faster. Hence, if a
technical problem arises in an existing design or a new threat
emerges, the complex can quickly crank out new arms to address
either scenario. RRW proponents maintain this enhanced
production capability will shrink the overall arsenal by
diminishing the requirement to store thousands of reserve
warheads.
An essential component of this projected complex is a new
plutonium pit production center to make up to 125 pits annually.
NNSA Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs Thomas DAgostino
told reporters Oct. 19 that the center would enable NNSA to
essentially turn over [the] Cold War stockpile. Congress has
denied funding to a previous administration proposal to
construct a plant with a top annual throughput of 450 pits.
The congressional staffer said that both the RRW program and
Complex 2030 are akin to a cart before the horse situation
because they are being pushed without rationales to support
them. He contended that no reason exists for creating an
aggressive weapons production complex and the current stockpile
is sufficient for deterring threats to U.S. security.
A task force of the Defense Science Board, however, argued
differently in an unclassified December 2006 report on U.S.
nuclear capabilities. The board is an advisory group to the
secretary of defense, and this particular task force was
co-chaired by John Foster, a former director of Lawrence
Livermore, and retired General Larry Welch, a former Air Force
chief of staff.
The task force warned that the existing arsenal and complex are
not appropriate for current and future threats. It also
cautioned that reductions beyond current plans to lower deployed
strategic forces to between 1,700 and 2,200 warheads and nearly
halve the entire arsenal of approximately 10,000 warheads by
2012 should be reversible in case relations sour with China or
Russia. All told, the current organization, management, and
programs do not provide for a nuclear weapons enterprise capable
of meeting the nations future needs, the report states.
As part of the remedy, the task force endorsed the RRW program
as a catalyst for transforming the complex. The group urged
current government officials to show more leadership in making a
public case for weapons with greater margins of performance,
safety, and security.
Despite its high-profile nature and the ambitious plans pegged
to it, the RRW program has been a relatively small budget item.
In the programs first two years of funding, lawmakers provided
it with $9 million and $25 million.
Although both chambers of Congress last year separately approved
at least a doubling of RRW funds for the current fiscal year, a
consolidated appropriations bill for the nuclear weapons
complex, including the RRW program, was never passed. The new
Congress, staffers say, will likely pass a continuing resolution
that will provide the RRW program with $25 million, the same
amount the program received in fiscal year 2006, to cover
activities through Sept. 30.
Many expect President George W. Bush to request a funding boost
from Congress for the RRW program in February when he unveils
his proposed budget for fiscal year 2008. But a congressional
staffer inclined to support the new warhead warned in an Arms
Control Today interview that lawmakers certainly reserve the
right to end the program if it goes in the wrong direction.
The Arms Control Association is a non-profit, membership-based
organization. If you find our resources useful, please consider
joining or making a contribution. Arms Control Today encourages
reprint of its articles with permission of the Editor.
© 1997-2006 Arms Control Association, 1150 Connecticut Avenue,
NW, Suite 620 Washington, DC 20036 Tel: (202) 463-8270 | Fax:
(202) 463-8273
*****************************************************************
14 Guardian Unlimited: Trident move 'will increase nuclear threat'
Richard Norton-Taylor
Wednesday January 17, 2007
The Guardian
The government's decision to replace the Trident missile system
will encourage nuclear proliferation and deepen Britain's
dependency on the US, a parliamentary inquiry into the future of
the deterrent was told yesterday. Anti-nuclear campaigners told
the Commons defence committee that last month's white paper on
the deterrent avoided the issue of what kind of warheads would
go on the missiles.
Bruce Kent, vice-president of CND, the Campaign for Nuclear
Disarmament, told the MPs that the white paper did not say "who
would be deterred, how, and with what". It was a "green light"
to other countries, he added. In written evidence, Scottish CND
questioned the government promise to cut operational warheads
from fewer than 200 to fewer than 160. The white paper did not
propose any reduction in warheads - up to 48 per submarine - it
said, adding that the the proposed lower-yield warhead
heightened the risk of Britain using a nuclear weapon.
John Ainslie, of Scottish CND, questioned the government's
insistence that Britain's Trident guidance system and software
were "wholly British". A document declassified under the US
freedom of information act suggests Britain relies on the US for
nuclear warheads more than the government has admitted. The white
paper says Britain's warheads are designed and manufactured in
the UK. But the US document reveals that tests on British Trident
and US warheads were identical.
The white paper says Trident's current nuclear warhead design is
"likely to last into the 2020s," but adds: "We do not yet have
sufficient information to judge precisely how long we can retain
it in service". Decisions on a new warhead would probably have
to be taken in the next parliament. Disarmament campaigners told
the MPs that the decision to replace Trident submarines was
premature and could be delayed for up to 10 years - the view of
the Liberal Democrats and independent analysts.
Email your comments for publication to:
politics.editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk
[UP]
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007
*****************************************************************
15 Guardian Unlimited: Doomsday clock ticks closer to Armageddon
Hilary Osborne and agencies
Wednesday January 17, 2007
The Nobel laureate scientist Stephen Hawking today warned that
the world is on the brink of a second nuclear age and a period of
unprecedented climate change.
The University of Cambridge mathematician's comments came as the
time on the doomsday clock, which counts down to nuclear
Armageddon, was moved two minutes closer to midnight, reflecting
concerns among scientists over the rise of new nuclear powers.
Climate change was also increasing the threat of catastrophic
damage to the planet, academics at the Bulletin Of The Atomic
Scientists (BAS) said.
"Since Hiroshima and Nagasaki, no nuclear weapons have been used
in war, though the world has come uncomfortably close to disaster
on more than one occasion," Prof Hawking said. "But for good
luck, we would all be dead.
"As we stand at the brink of a second nuclear age and a period
of unprecedented climate change, scientists have a special
responsibility once again to inform the public and advise
leaders about the perils that humanity faces.
"We foresee great perils if governments and society do not take
action now to render nuclear weapons obsolete and prevent
further climate change."
Since 1947, the clock - with midnight representing nuclear
apocalypse - has appeared on the cover of the BAS with its
minute hand moved to reflect the perceived nuclear threat.
The hand's position has been altered 18 times including today's
change, which takes the time shown to five to midnight.
Scientists at the magazine, which was founded by University of
Chicago physicists alarmed about the dangers of the nuclear age,
said people were living in the "most perilous period" since
Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
They said the "major step" of moving the hand reflected growing
concerns marked by grave threats including the nuclear ambitions
of Iran and North Korea and unsecured nuclear materials in
Russia and elsewhere.
The move towards increased used of nuclear power to replace
fossil fuels, and reduce carbon emissions would increase the
risk of nuclear proliferation, they added.
The decision to move the clock forward was reached after
discussions with the bulletin's board of sponsors, which
includes 18 Nobel laureates.
"North Korea's recent test of a nuclear weapon, Iran's nuclear
ambitions, a renewed emphasis on the military utility of nuclear
weapons, the failure to adequately secure nuclear materials and
the continued presence of some 26,000 nuclear weapons in the
United States and Russia are symptomatic of a failure to solve
the problems posed by the most destructive technology on Earth,"
a statement from the board said.
The statement added that the dangers posed by climate change
were almost as dire as those posed by nuclear weapons.
"The effects may be less dramatic in the short term than the
destruction that could be wrought by nuclear explosions, but
over the next three to four decades, climate change could cause
irremediable harm to the habitats upon which human societies
depend for survival," it added.
Sir Martin Rees, the president of the Royal Society and a
professor of cosmology and astrophysics, added: "Nuclear weapons
still pose the most catastrophic and immediate threat to
humanity, but climate change and emerging technologies in the
life sciences also have the potential to end civilisation as we
know it."
The closest the clock has come to midnight was at two minutes
away in 1953, when the US and Soviet Union tested thermonuclear
devices within nine months of each other.
In 1991, in a wave of optimism at the end of the cold war, it
was set at its furthest away - 17 minutes to midnight.
It was last moved in February 2002, when, following the terror
attacks of events of September 11 2001 and growing concerns over
global terrorism, it was pushed forward by two minutes, moving
to seven minutes to midnight.
BAS said steps could be taken to reduce the current danger
level. These included reducing the launch readiness of US and
Russian nuclear forces, dismantling, storing, and destroying
more than 20,000 warheads over the next 10 years and stopping
the production of nuclear weapons material.
Investments in biofuel and other alternative energies could also
reduce the need for new nuclear plants.
[UP]
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007
*****************************************************************
16 San Luis Obispo Tribune: Order for Diablo review stands up
01/17/2007 |
By David Sneed dsneed@thetribunenews.com
The U.S. Supreme Court will not review a lower court decision
requiring an examination of how a terrorist attack on Diablo
Canyon nuclear power plant's aboveground waste storage could
harm the environment.
The court announced Tuesday it will not hear the case. Doing so
exhausted all review of the lawsuit, forcing the federal Nuclear
Regulatory Commission and plant owner Pacific Gas and Electric
Co. to comply with a ruling of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
That ruling will likely force the agency and PG to redo the
environmental analysis of the dry-cask storage facility,
complete with more public hearings to specifically address how
the environment could be harmed if terrorists attack the
facility. NRC officials do not yet have a timeline for
fulfilling the court ruling, said Dave McIntyre, NRC spokesman.
"It's early in the process, but the word we are getting from
upstairs is that they will act soon," he said.
PG officials are encouraging the agency to act quickly to avoid
any delays in the project. Construction is continuing on the
storage facility, which consists of a thick concrete slab behind
the plant upon which large casks containing highly radioactive
spent fuel rods will eventually be stored.
"It's up to the NRC to define whatever steps we need to take to
resolve this issue," PG spokesman Jeff Lewis said. "The ball is
in their court."
An attorney for the plaintiffs in the case, the San Luis Obispo
Mothers for Peace, said the utility cannot load any casks with
spent fuel until it complies with the court ruling.
The question of whether PG can load the casks is a moot point,
McIntyre said; the utility will not start loading until early
2008, and the NRC plans to have the case resolved by then.
Mothers for Peace spokeswoman Jane Swanson said the group is
elated by the Supreme Court's decision. It will force the NRC
and the nuclear industry to more openly consider health and
environmental risks associated with terrorist attacks when
designing and building nuclear facilities, she said.
"Now, after years of resistance, the NRC and PG are forced to
address these concerns," she said.
The NRC and PG argued that additional reviews under the National
Environmental Policy Act are unnecessary, because protecting
nuclear facilities is already covered by the Atomic Energy Act.
While the PG case is lost, the NRC has other cases before it
that deal with the NEPA and terrorism issue.
"There may be opportunities for the NRC to raise the issue again
in future court cases," McIntyre said.
Diablo Canyon's used but still highly radioactive nuclear waste
is now stored in two pools at the plant. These pools are nearly
full, and PG needs to transfer some of the older spent fuel to
dry casks to make way for newer spent fuel.
PG applied to build the dry-cask facility in 2001. The Sept. 11
terrorist attacks of that year prompted the Mothers for Peace
and other groups to ask the NRC for hearings into the adequacy
of the storage facility.
The agency denied the request, prompting a federal lawsuit. On
June 2, the federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled in
favor of the Mothers for Peace.
The ruling caused utilities and infrastructure managers across
the country to re-evaluate how they protect their facilities
from terrorist attacks and, specifically, how much public
involvement in the process is appropriate. PG, with the backing
of the NRC, appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court and lost.
Reach David Sneed at 781-7930.
*****************************************************************
17 Scripps News: Fight against warming needs nuclear, PG&E chief says |
western news
By DAVID WHITNEY
Thursday, January 18, 2007
PG&E Corp. chairman Peter Darbee said Wednesday it may not be
possible to bring global warming under control without building
more nuclear power plants.
PG&E and its utility, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., serve
customers through Northern California and as far south as
Bakersfield. The company owns and operates the twin-reactor
Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant near San Luis Obispo.
Darbee's comments came in an interview after he accepted an
award from one of the country's leading environmental groups,
the Natural Resources Defense Council. The citation applauded
PG&E's work to reduce global warming, calling it "the most
effective supporter of energy efficiency in the utility
industry."
Darbee also appeared at a news conference with other power
company executives as Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Cailif.,
announced introduction of legislation intended to steadily lower
greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming. The Feinstein
bill, introduced with Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., would reduce
emissions from the power plants by 25 percent in 12 years.
"This is the most aggressive global warming bill the industry
has agreed to," said Feinstein, who had turned to Darbee for
help in organizing the industry behind it.
Power plant emissions contribute a third of the greenhouse gases
emitted annually in the United States. Much of the emissions,
mainly carbon dioxide, are from coal-burning plants, none of
which are located n California.
In a speech after receiving the award, Darbee said the country
needs to transform the way it produces power if it is to stem
"the potential environmental disasters associated with global
warming."
He urged Congress to set targets and timetables for lowering
emissions and write standards for energy-efficient buildings and
appliances. He stressed the need for more research into
renewable energy sources such as solar power, adding that PG&E
is looking at tidal and wave power off the coast of San
Francisco.
"We are also hearing the beginnings of a national conversation
about the future of nuclear power in our country," Darbee said.
"For now, we believe it is an option that should be on the table
with all others."
In an interview, however, Darbee said emissions from coal-fired
power plants must be sharply reduced to beat global warming, and
"it's not clear the technology is there and at a certain cost"
to do that.
Without clean-burning coal plants, Darbee said, nuclear power is
about the only remaining option for cleaning the air. Nuclear
plants release no greenhouse emissions but produce radioactive
waste. Under California law, no new nuclear plants can be built
in the state until there is a permanent waste repository.
"Nuclear is there, it is well tested and it's well known," he
said. "We've moved from earlier generations to new generations
that are much safer."
Darbee said he thinks Congress should reconsider its policy on
nuclear waste and allow used fuels to be reprocessed into new
fuels. Reprocessing was stopped during the Carter administration
because of concerns it would lead to a proliferation of nuclear
weapons.
"The reality is that the world situation has changed
dramatically," Darbee said, adding that terrorists and others
can find other sources for the material at less risk.
Meanwhile, Darbee said he has no concerns about keeping the used
fuels in dry storage at the power plants while the debate over
what to do with it continues.
On Tuesday the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review a 9th U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission must examine the risk of terrorists attack on stored
waste casks at Diablo Canyon before licensing the site.
Darbee said he doesn't think that decision will have any lasting
consequence, and that the commission ultimately will conclude
that dry-cask storage is a "manageable risk."
"Nuclear plants generally are not high opportunity targets for
terrorists," Darbee said.
Ralph Cavanah, a senior NRDC attorney who presented the award to
Darbee, said he agrees with the PG&E chief that nuclear power
should be considered in the debate over global warming. But he
said he thinks the resurgent interest in it will fade because of
the high costs.
copyright 2006
Scripps Media Center and Scripps Howard News Service except
*****************************************************************
18 Deseret News: Ex-objector now extols benefits of N-energy
[deseretnews.com]
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
By Stephen Speckman
Deseret Morning News
Thirty years ago, Patrick Moore would have probably preferred
protesting outside of an EnergySolutions Customer Conference,
which is taking place this week in Salt Lake City.
[Patrick Moore] Patrick Moore
EnergySolutions, which now owns naming rights to the arena where
the Utah Jazz play, runs the nation's largest disposal facility
for low-level radioactive waste in Clive, Tooele County.
On Wednesday night, Moore, a Greenpeace founding member
known for his confrontational approach to environmental issues,
will be the annual conference's keynote speaker, bringing a
consensus-building attitude that he has parlayed into a career
as a consultant for the Vancouver-based Greenspirit.
"I was against nuclear energy for many years," he told
the Deseret Morning News editorial board Tuesday.
Now, as co-chairman of the Clean and Safe Air Coalition,
he's a walking, talking database of information he says shows
nuclear energy is safe and secure and an environmentally sound
source of power.
For example, Moore said that if the 103 nuclear power
plants operating in this country today were replaced by
coal-fired plants, it would be the emissions equivalent of
putting 100 million cars on the road.
"Another thing most Americans don't know is that right
now, at this time, 50 percent of all the nuclear energy being
produced in the U.S., in other words, 10 percent of all the
electricity being consumed by all of us today is recycled Soviet
warheads," Moore said. "You can get a lot of fuel from a
warhead. ... That's what's going on right now."
The reason Moore used to oppose nuclear energy was
because of its relationship, in terms of resources used, to
nuclear weapons.
But people shouldn't ban nuclear technology because of
its "evil" uses, he said. That would be like banning oil,
fertilizer and cars just because they are components in car
bombs or akin to banning fire because it can burn down a house,
according to Moore.
His confidence in nuclear energy is such that he
testified in 2005 before a congressional subcommittee that
nuclear energy "is the only non-greenhouse-gas-emitting power
source that can effectively replace fossil fuels and satisfy
global demand."
But Moore has had a hard sell for skeptics in key
leadership roles in the United States and Canada who are flatly
against the use of nuclear power or recycling the byproducts of
producing nuclear energy to create more power.
Even storing the so-called waste is not a "bad thing,"
Moore said Tuesday. Sitting across the table from Moore at the
time were two representatives from EnergySolutions.
Ironically, the very organization Moore helped found in
1971 is one of the most recognizable opponents of everything
about nuclear energy he supports today.
"Trying to solve global warming with more nuclear
reactors will not address catastrophic climate change and will
only further spread the knowledge and materials to make nuclear
weapons," Greenpeace nuclear policy analyst Jim Riccio said on
the group's Web site. "We're smart enough to address
catastrophic climate change without increasing the risks of
nuclear proliferation."
E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com
© 2007 Deseret News Publishing Company
*****************************************************************
19 MDN: TEPCO shuts down nuclear reactor over electricity leak -
MSN-Mainichi Daily News
January 18, 2007 National
OKUMA, Fukushima -- Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) shut down a
nuclear reactor at its Fukushima No. 1 plant Wednesday after
detecting a power leak in emergency equipment, company officials
said.
Officials said electricity was found to have leaked from an
emergency decompression device in the core of one of the
reactors at the plant.
The decompression device makes it easier to lower pressure
inside the reactor and pump in water coolants in the event of an
accident. TEPCO officials said an alarm showing that electricity
was leaking went off shortly before 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
The amount of electrical current the leaked was minimal, and the
device was still able to function. However, if the electrical
current failed completely then the device would stop working.
Because of this, and the fact that the leak was believed to have
occurred inside the reactor containment vessel, which workers
cannot enter when the reactor is in operation, the company
decided to shut down the reactor and investigate the cause of
the leakage. (Mainichi)
Click here for the original Japanese
story
January 17, 2007
Copyright 2005-2006 THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS. All rights reserved.
*****************************************************************
20 Tucson Citizen: Regulators skeptical of nuke plant arguments |
www.tucsoncitizen.com ®
Published: 01.17.2007
The Associated Press
MESA - A Nuclear Regulatory Commission panel appeared
skeptical of arguments presented by the operator of the Palo
Verde nuclear plant that a failed backup generator did not pose
a serious safety issue. Officials with Arizona Public Service,
the operator of the plant outside Phoenix, presented technical
arguments Tuesday to the panel at a hearing it hoped would
convince the NRC not to issue a finding that the safety issue
was anything but minor. A safety finding above minor would bump
the triple-reactor plant into the commission's most stringent
oversight category. But several NRC officials disagreed, saying
they believe the diesel generator problem at Palo Verde was
serious. "Diesel generators are critical features of defense in
depth," said Art Howell, director of the division of reactor
projects in the NRC's region 4, which includes Arizona.
Emergency generators at nuclear reactors are critically
important because they provide electricity to pumps, valves and
control rooms if the main electrical supply fails. "There have
been untimely failures in the past at Palo Verde," Howell said.
"Unfortunately, this is another example, suggesting that the
efforts to date (to correct the operating problems) have not
been effective."
The generator failure was the latest in a series of problems at
the plant since 2004 that have worried regulators. Last month,
the NRC backed away from a safety downgrade after a hearing with
APS officials. That review was prompted by inspectors' discovery
in September that heat exchangers that cool emergency equipment
and spent fuel storage areas had been fouled by years of plant
technicians using an improper chemical mix.
APS officials said Tuesday they are strengthening troubleshooting
procedures to improve the plant's reliability. "We continue to
implement, reinforce, monitor and adjust our performance
improvement plan to provide greater confidence that similar
events will not recur," said David Mauldin, APS vice president of
nuclear engineering and support.
If the regulators determine the latest violations were a
significant safety issue, APS faces increased inspections, more
public meetings on the plant's operating condition and more
meetings with the board of directors of Pinnacle West Capital
Corp., the utility's parent company, NRC spokesman Victor Dricks
said.
A decision is expected in several weeks. Palo Verde, the nation's
largest nuclear power plant complex, can provide enough
electricity for nearly 4 million homes and is located 50 miles
west of Phoenix in Wintersburg. APS operates the plant and owns
it with a consortium of power companies in California, Arizona,
New Mexico and Texas.
Copyright © 2006 Tucson Citizen
*****************************************************************
21 Arizona Republic: Palo Verde promises more rigor in its probes
January 17, 2007 Jobs |
Mark Shaffer
Officials from Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station promised on
Tuesday a better troubleshooting effort to identify and correct
problems at the plant as federal regulators considered whether to
drop the nation's largest nuclear plant into the category of the
worst performing.
That decision by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is expected
by the end of the month.
If the plant's rating is downgraded, it could mean that Arizona
Public Service Co. would have to spend millions of more dollars
on the plant as federal oversight could become the most stringent
in the country.
Palo Verde supervisors acknowledged to NRC officials that their
attempts to solve problems involving an emergency diesel
generator last summer lacked proper questioning and review.
They vowed that wouldn't happen again.
But Bruce Mallett, the NRC's regional administrator, said he
had heard that refrain before.
"Each time we talk, you have a plan and lay it out and it
sounds real good," Mallett said. "Then something else happens,
and it looks again like you don't have technical rigor."
If the NRC issues a violation more serious than that of
low-safety, or green, significance, Palo Verde will sink to the
level of the most heavily monitored nuclear plant in the
country, along with Perry in Ohio.
Federal regulators found failures involving interrupted
electrical transfers in the generator, located at Unit 3, during
inspections on July 25 and Sept. 22. An earlier NRC report noted
that the generator was inoperable from Sept. 4 to 22 because of
incorrect maintenance on an electrical relay in the unit.
Each of the three units at Palo Verde has two of the
5,500-kilowatt generators to provide standby power if the normal
power supply is lost.
APS officials noted in a letter last week to the NRC that it had
never had an emergency diesel generator fail to produce output
voltage in more than 3,000 starts since a database began
tracking the starts in 1990.
But APS also noted in its letter that its analysis of the
problem was "narrowly focused," which led to an incorrect
conclusion that the electrical problem was caused by a chemical
buildup on contact points.
"Our performance did not meet our expectations," said Cliff
Eubanks, vice president of operations at Palo Verde, said during
Tuesday's hearing. "We ultimately missed a root cause for
product reliability, which is completely unacceptable."
Meanwhile, Standard & Poors issued a largely negative report on
Palo Verde on Tuesday.
Noting that Palo Verde already had been dropped to Category 3,
or "degraded cornerstone," because of a dry-pipe issue in the
emergency cooling core in 2004, the report also said that it was
expecting the plant to be downgraded to Category 4. That was
based on a letter from the NRC sent to Palo Verde last month in
which degradation in key safety systems was described as
"egregious."
Reach the reporter at mark.shaffer@arizonarepublic.com.
Copyright © 2007, azcentral.com. All rights reserved.
*****************************************************************
22 La Crosse Tribune: Monticello nuclear plant shut down indefinitely
>Published - Wednesday, January 17, 2007
By The Associated Press .
MONTICELLO, Minn. — Xcel Energy Inc.s nuclear plant at
Monticello has been shut down indefinitely while experts
investigate why a large component broke loose and triggered the
plants automatic safety systems.
Federal officials said on Tuesday that a 35,000-pound control
box fell off a steel beam inside the plant, but outside the
reactor, last Wednesday. That caused the automatic shutdown, and
no radiation was released, federal and company officials said.
Were working as quickly and safely as possible to get the
plant back online, said Arline Datu, spokeswoman for the
Nuclear Management Co., which operates the plant for Xcel
Energy. I cant speculate one way or another how long or how
short that will take.
Jan Strasma, spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
said the control box is about 20 feet long, 6 feet wide and 6
feet high, and had been welded in place.
The initial assessment is that the welds broke due to vibration
over the years, he said. One side of the box dropped about a
foot onto a large steam pipe, and probably damaged the pipe and
perhaps insulation on other steam lines, he said.
There was no release of radioactivity, no threat to public
health and safety, and all of the reactors safety systems
functioned normally, Strasma said.
Monticello began operating in 1970. Last November, regulators
renewed Xcels license to operate it for 20 years beyond 2010,
when its original 40-year license will expire. The plant is
about 45 miles northwest of the Twin Cities.
Xcel spokeswoman Mary Sandok said the temporary loss of
Monticellos power will not significantly affect the regional
supply or price of electricity.
A side-effect of the shutdown was that it killed over 3,000 fish
in the Mississippi River near the plant.
Nonradioactive water used to cool the plant is normally
discharged into the river, Datu said, creating warm spots. When
the discharge stopped, she said, the river water quickly cooled,
and the fish died of thermal shock. A planned shutdown typically
kills around 100 fish, she said.
About 2,400 of the fish were smallmouth bass, while many of the
rest were rough fish, said Paul Diedrich, area fisheries
supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Most were 6 inches or smaller, and the loss probably wont be
noticeable to anglers, he said. .
As Homer say's wrote on January 17, 2007 1:36 PM:"Where's the
safety engineer around here? It's Me? Duh."
perfectly safe wrote on January 17, 2007 8:13 AM:"Nothing to
worry about here. Disregard those wires and controls dangling
from the ceiling. Everything's just fine. Pay no attention to
the man behind the curtain. Consume, consume consume!"
PLEASE NOTE: Comments on stories that frequently update through
the day disappear with each update.
Copyright © 1997 - 2006 The La Crosse Tribune. All rights
reserved.
*****************************************************************
23 Las Vegas SUN: Editorial: Energy plan long overdue
Today: January 17, 2007 at 7:1:32 PST
Comprehensive approach could help Nevada reach its potential for
solar and other renewables
Over the past three decades this country has become fully aware
of the serious problems with fossil fuels, namely, that they are
dirty and are being consumed at a rate that is not sustainable.
During the same period the dangers of nuclear power became
obvious - there is no safe way to dispose of its deadly waste
and the plants pose radiation risks to communities.
Given the immensity of the problems posed by traditional energy
- negative environmental effects, increasing costs, dependence
upon unfriendly countries - it is clear that the federal
government should have long ago led a national push to develop
nonnuclear renewable sources of energy.
National leaders, however, never rose to the occasion and are
still taking little action in comparison to the scope of the
problem.
So it is up to the states to show initiative, and hopefully they
will do so before our economies are devastated by rising energy
prices and before the quality of our waters, soil and air drops
any further.
We would like to see Gov. Jim Gibbons announce a bold plan to
establish Nevada as the nation's leader in the production of
solar energy. Experts in this field have long identified the
state, because of its land mass and abundant sun, as one of the
most ideal places in the world for this purpose.
And there would be no reason to stop with solar energy. For
example, Northern Nevada is known for its vast potential for
geothermal - energy produced from underground water heated well
past the boiling point by natural energy emanating from the
Earth's core. This clean, renewable source of energy could
account for a much greater percentage of our power.
With studies under way in other parts of the country to track
the migratory routes of birds, to protect them from the blades
of modern windmills, environmentally friendly wind energy should
also be part of a long-range state plan.
Lacking such a plan from the governor, the 2007 Legislature
should fill the void and pass a comprehensive energy bill, one
that would not only provide more incentives for private
companies to take advantage of the state's potential, but also
one that would include a strategy for widely publicizing Nevada
as an ideal state for renewable-energy entrepreneurs.
A model for private companies has already been established in
Boulder City. Construction of Nevada Solar One, a plant owned by
Solargenix Energy of North Carolina, is nearing completion.
Helped along by $15 million worth of incentives provided by the
Nevada Commission on Economic Development, the $100 million
plant is expected to start producing enough energy this year to
power 48,000 homes.
This plant is an example of how state policy can help bring
about major change. In 1997 the Nevada Legislature passed a law
requiring the state's big utility companies to provide 1 percent
of their power from renewable sources by 2010. In 2001 the state
upped the ante, requiring 15 percent of the power sold in the
state to come from renewables by 2013. In 2005 the state raised
the bar again, requiring that 20 percent of power sold to
Nevadans come from renewables by 2015.
State and federal tax incentives inspired Solargenix to build
here, and the legislative mandate on renewable sources inspired
Nevada Power to contract with the company to buy its power.
What the state has done so far is to prove the relationship
between public policy and the emergence of a renewables industry
here. A new, comprehensive state plan could again increase the
percentage of total power from renewables by 2020, and it could
also address the infrastructure aspects of developing a
renewable-energy industry worthy of capturing the world's
attention.
For example, the sources of renewable energy are often in remote
areas, where the wind is most consistent or the underground
waters are the hottest. Roads are needed for these areas and
transmission lines need to be built.
An aggressive renewable-energy plan would also outline ways for
schools to develop their own power sources, and for individual
homes to be affordably outfitted with rooftop solar panels. A
year ago California announced a new surcharge on gas and
electric bills, to create a fund that would provide rebates for
homeowners who installed solar panels. Nevada could have success
with a similar initiative.
Additionally, a state plan could provide rewards for drivers who
switch to hybrid vehicles or vehicles that run on cleaner fuels,
such as biodiesel or ethanol. This would help clean our air, so
that people here could lead healthier lives and once again enjoy
a clear view of our scenery. As part of a comprehensive energy
plan, a long-term view of mass transit should also be committed
to paper.
A major side benefit would also result from a new plan - jobs.
Speaking to the Nevada Development Authority in November 2005,
former President Bill Clinton said, "If I were the economic
development czar for America today, or if I were in charge of
economic planning for Las Vegas and Nevada today, I would start
by making a complete and total commitment to a clean energy
future because I think you can create more jobs there than
anywhere else."
In truth, Nevada has taken only baby steps in developing
renewable energy. We believe the governor and the 2007
Legislature should put this state on a path toward achieving its
true potential, which is literally nothing less than being a
global powerhouse.
All contents copyright 2005 Las Vegas SUN, Inc.
*****************************************************************
24 RIA Novosti: Russian lawmakers pass bill on nuclear reform in second reading
17/ 01/ 2007
MOSCOW, January 17 (RIA Novosti) - The State Duma, the lower
house of Russia's parliament, passed in the second reading
Wednesday a presidential bill to reform the country's nuclear
power sector and facilitate its development.
The document, which lawmakers adopted in the first reading last
December, aims to establish a state-controlled holding company,
Atomenergoprom, using the sector's civilian assets, and to
subsequently allow other Russian corporate entities to possess
non-weapons-grade nuclear materials, nuclear installations and
nuclear storage facilities.
Exclusive federal ownership of nuclear materials, nuclear
installations and nuclear storage facilities is currently a
major impediment to the development of the nuclear power sector.
The revised bill, containing a few clarifying amendments, was
supported Wednesday by 372 deputies, with 226 votes required for
passage. Forty-three MPs voted against the draft.
The new amendments include the right of federal nuclear agencies
and bodies to exercise full operational control over their
assets.
They also stipulate that all transactions involving shares of
the newly formed holding [Atomenergoprom] and its subsidiaries
should be conducted only with the approval of the Russian
president.
Atomenergoprom, which will be wholly controlled by the
government, is expected to be a large full-cycle corporation
engaged in activities ranging from uranium extraction, fuel
fabrication and electric power generation, to the construction
of nuclear power plants, both domestically and abroad. The new
corporation will also include nuclear engineering units, as well
as design and research institutes.
The new state-run holding will be established in two stages.
During the initial stage, Russia's nuclear fuel producer and
supplier TVEL will become a subsidiary of Atomenergoprom, with
100% of its shares to be assigned to the charter capital of the
new corporation, while nuclear enriching entities will join the
parent company of the new nuclear holding, as requested by the
defense ministry.
© 2005 RIA Novosti
*****************************************************************
25 Russian MP: Russian nuclear industry has brilliant prospects in world market -
09:03:46 ¤ January 18, 2007 Subscribe
Russian MP: Russian nuclear
Member of the Russian State Duma Igor Igoshin believes that
since 2007 the Russian nuclear industry enters a new stage of
long-term rise with brilliant perspectives. Igor Igoshin told in
an interview to a REGNUMcorrespondent what we should expect in
the new year.
REGNUM: Mr. Igoshin, 2006 was quite eventful for the Russian
energy sector. What are its key results for the nuclear power
industry?
The key result is certainly the nuclear power engineering
development program, which got necessary political support and,
most importantly, financing. In fact, the sector is entering a
new phase of long-term growth with brilliant prospects.
Structural reforms are inevitable. One can’t use the same
structure for solving elementary survival problems (something we
have been doing in the last 15 years) and for ensuring
large-scale development. However, the reforms should be accurate
and well-thought-out lest we might break the potential we have
managed to preserve with so much pain.
REGNUM: Last year the Government adopted a whole number of
normative acts aimed at drastically reforming the work of the
sector, particularly, the federal program of reforms. Why has
the Government changed its attitude towards the nuclear power
sector exactly now?
It’s time for strategic planning, for solving strategic tasks.
Today, Russia has necessary financial resources and
institutional basis and, most importantly, primary social
consensus on where and how to move. The nuclear power sector is
just one example of reviving strategic approach. There are many
other projects: restoration and consolidation of aviation,
formation of investment fund, etc.
It is absolutely logical that nuclear power engineering is among
the strategic directions. First, it has excellent prospects in
the world. Second, there are few really serious nuclear energy
producers in the world, and Russia is one of them. Third, if we
really want to become a leading player on the world energy
market, we must play in all of its segments. If we do it, we
will always be at advantage irrespective of the situation in the
world. The demand for one or another type of energy may
fluctuate but the general demand for energy will certainly grow.
REGNUM: Which directions of the reforms are the most important?
I would like to point out two components. First, we should build
new capacities both in Russia and abroad. To build NPPs at home
and to lose the world market means to lose high-tech export
worth tens of billions of USD. To work only abroad means to let
down own economy, which is in growing need of energy. Besides,
we can’t guarantee that we will get the same volume of foreign
orders if we fail to arrange serial production at home.
Second, uranium enrichment services are a very promising and
interesting sphere. We have excellent technologies and we could
earn big money on them. Of course, here we should solve many
legal and political problems but, if the project works out, it
will be a real success. Permanent news address:
www.regnum.ru/english/767902.html
14:39 01/17/2007
*****************************************************************
26 Sf Chron: SAN LUIS OBISPO / Order for terror study at Diablo stands /
Supreme Court refuses to hear case brought by PG, Nuclear
Regulatory Commission
[San Francisco Chronicle]
Supreme Court refuses to hear case brought by PG, Nuclear
Regulatory Commission
Keay Davidson, Chronicle Science Writer
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and PG were issued a
major legal setback Tuesday when the Supreme Court declined to
consider a lower court decision requiring that a nuclear power
plant near San Luis Obispo be analyzed for terrorist risk.
The high court's refusal to take up the case means the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, which monitors the nation's operational
commercial nuclear power reactors, must now formally study the
environmental impacts of potential attacks on the Diablo Canyon
plant, said an attorney for San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace,
an anti-nuclear group that brought the lawsuit.
But officials with the regulatory commission and PG, which
operates the plant, said they were looking at what legal options
might remain open to them.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said in June
that the terrorist assessments must be conducted. The Nuclear
Regulatory Commission and PG appealed, hoping to get the ruling
overturned out of concern that any such study could force them
to take costly security measures at the plant.
Dave McIntyre, NRC spokesman, told The Chronicle that the agency
has acted "aggressively since Sept. 11, 2001, to enhance
security at nuclear facilities."
"It would be dishonest and inappropriate for me to speculate on
what the commission will decide as the best way forward," he
said.
PG spokesman Jeff Lewis said utility officials were
"disappointed that the court will not consider this important
issue."
Diane Curran, an attorney for San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace,
said the court's refusal to take up their case opens the way for
legal action against nuclear reactors across the nation.
"It's going to be difficult for NRC to say this only applies in
the Ninth Circuit," she said. "The court basically said the
emperor has no clothes."
Paul Gunter, director of the Reactor Watchdog Project at the
Nuclear Information and Resource Service in Washington, agreed.
Gunter, who has no part in the Mothers for Peace lawsuit, said
"the court's decision opens a legal can of worms for the
industry and the NRC" across the nation, especially at reactor
sites that are exceptionally vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
Marylia Kelley, a veteran Bay Area activist with Tri-Valley
Communities Against a Radioactive Environment in Livermore, said
Tuesday's decision by the court could enhance other activist
fights around the nation, including her group's fight to stop
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's development of an
upgraded bio-warfare defense lab in Livermore.
"Community groups all across the nation will be citing this case
and asking for similar (environmental) reviews before dangerous,
new nuclear, chemical and/or biological facilities are sited and
operate," Kelley said.
E-mail Keay Davidson at kdavidson@sfchronicle.com.
Page B - 2
The San Francisco Chronicle]
*****************************************************************
27 NRC: NRC, FERC Commissioners to Discuss Grid Reliability January 23 in Rockville, Maryland
News Release - 2007-00 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office
of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, DC
20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov No. 07-006 January 17,
2007
Commissioners and staff from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will meet January
23rd in Rockville, Md., to discuss electric grid issues,
including an update on the impact of grid reliability on the
operation of U.S. commercial nuclear power plants.
The two agencies have been meeting regularly since the blackout
of Aug. 14, 2003, which caused nine U.S. nuclear power plants to
shut down. Both the NRC and FERC participated in a joint
U.S.-Canada task force that reviewed the blackout, and the
agencies signed a Memorandum of Agreement in 2004 to collaborate
on electric grid reliability issues and address the task forces
recommendations.
Also participating in the meeting will be staff members from the
Department of Energy and the North American Electric Reliability
Corporation.
The meeting will run from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the NRC
Commissioners Conference Room, in the One White Flint North
Building, at 11555 Rockville Pike. The public is invited to
attend the meeting, which will also be available via Web cast at
www.nrc.gov.
NRC news releases are available through a free list server
subscription at the following Web address:
http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC Home
Page at www.nrc.gov also offers a Subscribe to News link in the
News & Information menu. E-mail notifications are sent to
subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web Site.
Last revised Wednesday, January 17, 2007
*****************************************************************
28 ACA: Congress Exempts India From Nuclear Trade Rules
Arms Control Association: Arms Control Today:
President George W. Bush Dec. 18 signed into law legislation
making India eligible for broad U.S. civil nuclear exports for
the first time in roughly three decades. But commencement of
such trade still hinges on a series of negotiations that Indias
leader warned would be difficult.
At a White House signing ceremony, Bush hailed the act as one of
the most important steps toward reviving U.S.-Indian nuclear
cooperation. U.S. nuclear trade with India essentially ceased
after New Delhis 1974 test of a nuclear device derived partially
from Canadian and U.S. technologies transferred for peaceful
purposes.
The measure signed by Bush was a merger and revision of two
separate bills passed earlier in 2006 by lawmakers. (See ACT,
September 2006 and December 2006.) Senators unanimously approved
the compromise legislation a day after the House adopted it Dec.
8 by a 330-59 vote.
The act sets conditions for U.S. nuclear exports to
nuclear-armed India. It also includes implementing legislation
that clears the way for the United States to complete
ratification and bring into force an additional protocol to its
safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA). Such measures grant the agency greater authority to
gather information inside a country on possible illicit nuclear
weapons activities. In the case of the nuclear-armed United
States, however, the instrument is mostly symbolic.
A concerted Bush administration campaign to persuade lawmakers
to eliminate or dilute provisions from the House- or
Senate-passed bills that upset the Indian government had mixed
results.
Legislators maintained provisions that limit exports of
enrichment, reprocessing, and heavy-water technologies to India
to special cases. Such exports can be used to make bombs as well
as energy, and U.S. policy is to deny their transfer. New Delhi
had complained that this restriction singles out and slights
India.
U.S. lawmakers also retained provisions for verifying that U.S.
exports to India are not diverted to unintended destinations or
purposes. India previously criticized the measures as
distrustful. In a report accompanying the act, lawmakers argued
the requirements do not intend to impose a more intrusive regime
than arrangements for other U.S. nuclear pacts with foreign
countries.
But Congress bowed to some pressure. A clause in the House bill
that would have terminated trade if an Indian entity exported
items contravening the export control guidelines of the Nuclear
Suppliers Group (NSG) or the Missile Technology Control Regime
was modified to enable cooperation to continue if the president
determines the Indian government was not involved or took
corrective action. India is not a member of the two voluntary
regimes, but New Delhi pledged to adhere to their export
guidelines as part of the July 2005 U.S.-Indian cooperation
framework agreed to by Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh. (See ACT, September 2005.)
In addition, Congress softened a provision requiring that the
U.S. government seek to block nuclear trade by other foreign
suppliers to India if Washington ceases cooperation. Instead of
explicitly mandating such an action, lawmakers made it a
statement of policy.
Congress similarly relaxed a requirement that India actively
support U.S. and international efforts to contain Irans nuclear
program. Senators had made such collaboration a condition for
U.S.-Indian nuclear trade, but the final legislation does not.
The administration, however, is supposed to report annually to
Congress on Indias cooperation. The annual reports also are to
include information on Indian nuclear weapons developments.
The act maintains that winning Indias help in keeping Irans
nuclear program in check is a U.S. policy goal. But Bush noted
after signing the act that all of its policy statements would be
treated as advisory.
The original sponsor of the Iran-related condition, Sen. Tom
Harkin (D-Iowa), blasted Bushs statement as a sign of the
presidents view of Congress as a nuisance rather than an equal
branch of government. Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), who opposed
the deal, described Dec. 18 as a sad day in the history of
efforts to halt the spread of nuclear weapons and materials
around the world.
Bush administration officials, however, lauded the final
product. Both Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and
Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns
hailed the act as historic. Burns told White House reporters the
day of the signing that the legislation represents the symbolic
centerpiece of a new U.S. strategic relationship with India.
Indian reactions were less enthusiastic. The opposition
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reacted harshly, claiming in a Dec.
10 statement that the act aims at capping, rolling back and
eventually eliminating Indias nuclear weapons capability. It
urged Singh to reject the acts humiliating conditions.
Singh took a more positive line Dec. 18, but vaguely stated that
there were extraneous issues and areas which continue to be a
cause for concern. The prime minister contended these would need
to be discussed before finalization of a 123 agreement, which is
the instrument that the U.S. government uses to codify foreign
nuclear trade under the 1954 Atomic Energy Act. Clearly,
difficult negotiations lie ahead, Singh said.
U.S. and Indian negotiators have met twice concerning the 123
agreement, which must be approved by Congress. Although Burns
claimed that there arent any major issues left to decide,
negotiators have a half-dozen unresolved matters. Indias
vehement opposition to a U.S. termination clause for an Indian
nuclear test is the most well-known dispute, but New Delhi is
also apparently seeking a blanket right to reprocess U.S.-origin
spent nuclear fuel.
Still, Burns downplayed the differences. Although acknowledging
in New Delhi Dec. 8 that there is a long process toward the
finish line, Burns also stated that it is not going to beas
difficult as the last 18 months. He further said the United
States wanted to accelerate negotiations in January.
The two sides also will be busy trying to complete other steps
to allow for U.S. nuclear exports to begin flowing to India.
Indian negotiators must conclude a safeguards agreement with the
IAEA, including approval by the IAEA Board of Governors, to take
advantage of enhanced nuclear trade under the deal. Safeguards
are measures to ensure that civilian nuclear technologies and
materials are not diverted to building bombs. The new U.S. law
conditions congressional consideration of the future 123
agreement on India and the agency having a safeguards agreement
ready for signature. The safeguards would apply to at least
eight additional reactors that India has told the United States
it would declare as civilian.
The act further conditions future U.S.-Indian trade on a
consensus decision by the 45-member NSG to exempt New Delhi from
a 1992 group rule that currently bars most nuclear trade with
India because it has never joined the 1968 nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty and does not permit safeguards over its
entire nuclear enterprise. Some key members, such as Russia,
France, and the United Kingdom, support the U.S. initiative, but
many others are undecided or opposed. The regimes next
decision-making meeting will be in April in South Africa. Ever
the optimist, Burns told reporters at the White House that he
was confident the NSG would act favorably. All told, Burns
predicted everything could be finished in as little as six
months.
The Arms Control Association is a non-profit, membership-based
organization. If you find our resources useful, please consider
joining or making a contribution. Arms Control Today encourages
reprint of its articles with permission of the Editor.
© 1997-2006 Arms Control Association, 1150 Connecticut Avenue,
NW, Suite 620 Washington, DC 20036 Tel: (202) 463-8270 | Fax:
(202) 463-8273
*****************************************************************
29 NRC: Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.; Vogtle Electric
FR Doc E7-501
[Federal Register: January 17, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 10)]
[Notices] [Page 2019-2021] From the Federal Register Online via
GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr17ja07-75]
Generating Plant, Unit 2; Exemption 1.0 Background The Southern
Nuclear Operating Company, Inc. (SNC/licensee), is the holder of
Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-68 and NPF-81, which
authorize operation of the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant,
Units 1 and 2 (VEGP Unit 1 and VEGP Unit 2), respectively. The
licenses provide, 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 two pressurized-water reactors (PWRs)
supplied by Westinghouse Electric Corporation, each rated at 3565
megawatts (thermal). The facility is located in Burke County,
Georgia. This exemption addresses VEGP Unit 2.
2.0 Request/Action Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(10 CFR), Part 54.17(c) stipulates that an application for a
renewed license may not be submitted to the Commission earlier
than 20 years before the expiration of the operating license
currently in effect.
By letter dated May 22, 2006, the licensee requested a schedular
exemption from the 20-year restriction specified in 10 CFR
54.17(c) for VEGP Unit 2 so that the license renewal application
(LRA) for both Vogtle Electric Generating Plant units can be
prepared and submitted concurrently, with the goal of attaining
efficiencies for preparation and review of the application. The
current operating license for VEGP Unit 1 expires on January 16,
2027, whereas the current operating license for VEGP Unit 2
expires on February 9, 2029. At the time the exemption request
was filed, VEGP Unit 1 had over 19 years of operating experience
and VEGP Unit 2 had over 17 years of operating experience.
This exemption is required in order to allow an application for
renewal of the VEGP Unit 2 license to be prepared and submitted
concurrently with the LRA for VEGP Unit 1. Based on an
anticipated submittal of a renewal application on June 28, 2007,
VEGP Unit 1 will meet the requirements of 10 CFR 54.17(c) and the
license renewal request for VEGP Unit 2 would occur approximately
2 years earlier than the earliest date allowed by 10 CFR
54.17(c). 3.0 Discussion Pursuant to 10 CFR 54.15, the Commission
may, upon application by any interested person or upon its own
initiative, grant exemptions from the requirements of 10 CFR Part
54, in accordance with the provisions of 10 CFR 50.12, (1) when
the exemptions are authorized by law, will not present an undue
risk to public health or safety, and are consistent with the
common defense and security; and (2) when special circumstances
are present.
Authorized by Law The Commission's basis for establishing the
20-year limit contained in Section 54.17(c) is discussed in the
1991 Statements of Consideration for Part 54 of 10 CFR (56 FR
64963). The limit was established to ensure that substantial
operating experience was accumulated by a licensee before a
renewal application is submitted such that any plant-specific
concerns regarding aging would be disclosed. In amending the rule
in 1995, the Commission sought public comment on whether the
20-year limit should be reduced. The Commission determined that
sufficient basis did not exist to generically reduce the 20-year
limit. However, the Commission did indicate in the Statements of
Consideration for the amended rule (60 FR 22488), that it was
willing to consider plant-specific exemption requests by
applicants who believe that sufficient information is available
to justify applying for license renewal prior to 20 years from
expiration of the current license. SNC's exemption request is
consistent with the Commission's intent to consider
plant-specific requests and is permitted by 10 CFR 54.15.
Therefore, the exemption is authorized by law.
[[Page 2020]] The current operating licenses for VEGP Unit 1 and
Unit 2, were issued in accordance with the Atomic Energy Act of
1954, as amended (AEA), and 10 CFR 50.51, which limit the
duration of an operating license to a maximum of 40 years. In
accordance with 10 CFR 54.31, the renewed license will be of the
same class as the operating license currently in effect and
cannot exceed a term of 40 years.
Therefore, the terms of the renewal licenses for VEGP Unit 1 and
Unit 2, are limited both by law and the Commission's regulations
to 40 years. Additionally, 10 CFR 54.31(b) states that ``A
renewed license will be issued for a fixed period of time, which
is the sum of the additional amount of time beyond the expiration
of the operating license (not to exceed 20 years) that is
requested in a renewal application plus the remaining number of
years on the operating license currently in effect. The term of
any renewed license may not exceed 40 years.'' The potential
exists that, because SNC's decision to apply early for license
renewal for VEGP Unit 2, SNC may not obtain the maximum 20- year
extended operation permitted by 10 CFR 54.31(b). Any actual
reduction will depend on the date the renewed licenses are
issued. If a reduction in the 20-year extension is required, and
SNC desires further extension of VEGP Units 2's operating
licenses in the future, an additional renewal application can be
submitted in accordance with 10 CFR Part 54.
Therefore, should the Commission determine to renew the VEGP Unit
2 operating license, the term of the license will not exceed 40
years, and granting of VEGP Unit 2's exemption request will not
result in violation of the AEA or the Commission's regulations.
No Undue Risk to Public Health and Safety This exemption will not
result in changes to the operation of the plant. SNC's exemption
request seeks only schedular relief regarding the date of
submittal, and not substantive relief from the requirements of
Parts 51 or Part 54. SNC must still conduct all environmental
reviews required by Part 51 and all safety reviews and
evaluations required by Part 54 when preparing the applications
for VEGP Units 1 and 2. The NRC staff's review will verify that
all applicable Commission regulations have been met before
issuing the renewed licenses. Therefore, the NRC staff finds that
granting this schedular exemption will not represent an undue
risk to public health and safety.
Consistent With the Common Defense and Security As discussed
previously, the exemption requested is only a schedular
exemption. The NRC staff will review the LRA SNC submits pursuant
to the requested exemption, to assure all applicable requirements
are fully met. This change has no relation to security issues.
Therefore, the common defense and security is not impacted by
this exemption.
Special Circumstances An exemption will not be granted unless
special circumstances are present as defined in 10 CFR
50.12(a)(2). Specifically, Section 50.12(a)(2)(ii) states that a
special circumstance exists when ``application of the regulation
in the particular circumstances * * * is not necessary to achieve
the underlying purpose of the rule.'' In initially promulgating
Section 54.17(c) in 1991, the Commission stated that the purpose
of the time limit was ``to ensure that substantial operating
experience is accumulated by a licensee before it submits a
renewal application'' (56 FR 64963). At that time, the Commission
found that 20 years of operating experience provided a sufficient
basis for renewal applications. However, in issuing the amended
Part 54 in 1995, the Commission indicated it would consider an
exemption to this requirement if sufficient information was
available on a plant-specific basis to justify submission of an
application to renew a license before completion of 20 years of
operation (60 FR 22488). The 20-year limit was imposed by the
Commission to ensure that sufficient operating experience was
accumulated to identify any plant-specific aging concerns. As set
forth below, VEGP Unit 1 is sufficiently similar to Unit 2, such
that the operating experience for VEGP Unit 1 is applicable to
VEGP Unit 2. In addition, VEGP Unit 2 has accumulated significant
operating experience. Accordingly, under the requested exemption,
sufficient operating experience will have been accumulated to
identify any plant-specific aging concerns for both units.
SNC stated that special effort was made during construction of
VEGP to keep the designs of the two units the same. Both units
are PWRs supplied by Westinghouse Electric Corporation with a
design net core output of 3565 megawatts (thermal). The
containment for each of the VEGP units is a steel-lined,
prestressed, post-tensioned concrete cylinder with a
hemispherical dome. SNC states that the two units have similar
materials of construction of the systems, structures, and
components and are typically identical.
These statements are supported by a review of the VEGP Updated
Final Safety Analysis Report (UFSAR for Units 1 and 2). In
particular, Section 1.3 of the UFSAR describes the similarities
in design between VEGP Unit 1, VEGP Unit 2, and similar licensed
reactor facilities. Table 1-3-1 of the UFSAR lists significant
similarities between systems, structures and components installed
at VEGP, including elements of the reactor system, the reactor
coolant system, the engineered safety features, and auxiliary
systems.
SNC also states that the Operating Experience Program ensures
that operating experience originating from all sources is
appropriately utilized at VEGP. Specifically, any operating
experience originating with VEGP Unit 1 is systematically applied
to Unit 2. Moreover, SNC states that since the two VEGP units are
essentially the same in design, operation, maintenance, materials
and environments, there will be little difference in the aging
management analyses for the two units.
Based on the above discussion, the NRC staff concludes that, with
respect to VEGP Unit 1 and VEGP Unit 2 containment design,
structural configuration, and management of structural-related
aging effects, the applicant has provided adequate justifications
for the NRC consideration of granting the VEGP Unit 2 request for
exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR 54.17(c). Therefore,
sufficient combined operating experience from VEGP Unit 1 and
industry exists to satisfy the intent of 10 CFR 54.17(c), and the
application of the regulation in this case is not necessary to
achieve the underlying purpose of the rule. The NRC staff
concludes that SNC's request meets the requirement, in Section
50.12(a)(2) of 10 CFR, that special circumstances exist to grant
the exemption.
4.0 Conclusion Accordingly, the Commission has determined that,
pursuant to 10 CFR 50.12(a), 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 SNC an exemption from the requirements of 10 CFR
54.17(c). Specifically, this schedular exemption allows SNC to
apply for a renewed license for VEGP Unit 2 earlier than 20 years
before the expiration of the license currently in effect.
[[Page 2021]] Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.32, the Commission has
determined that the granting of this exemption will not have a
significant effect on the quality of the human environment (71 FR
58014).
This exemption is effective upon issuance.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of January 2007.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
John W. Lubinski, Acting Director, Division of Operating Reactor
Licensing, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. E7-501 Filed 1-16-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
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30 NRC: Issuance of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
FR Doc E7-507
[Federal Register: January 17, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 10)]
[Notices] [Page 2021-2022] From the Federal Register Online via
GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr17ja07-76]
Significant Impact for Amendment to Byproduct Materials License
53- 00017-23 for the University of Hawaii in Honolulu, HI AGENCY:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Issuance of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for License Amendment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: D. Blair Spitzberg, PhD., Chief,
Fuel Cycle and Decommissioning Branch, Division of Nuclear
Materials Safety, Region IV, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
Arlington, Texas 76011. Telephone: (817) 860-8191; fax number:
(817) 860-8188; or by e-mail: .
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Introduction The U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering the issuance of an
amendment to Material License No. 53-00017-23. This license is
held by the University of Hawaii (the Licensee), School of
Medicine, located at Queen's Medical Center, University Towers in
Honolulu, Hawaii (the Facility). Issuance of the amendment would
authorize release of the Facility's 7th floor for unrestricted
use. The Licensee requested this action in a letter dated January
19, 2006. The NRC has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA)
in support of this proposed action in accordance with the
requirements of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part
51 (10 CFR Part 51). Based on the EA, the NRC has concluded that
a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is appropriate with
respect to the proposed action. The amendment will be issued to
the Licensee following the publication of this FONSI and EA in
the Federal Register.
II. Environmental Assessment (EA) Identification of Proposed
Action: The proposed action is to approve the Licensee's January
19, 2006, license amendment request, resulting in release of the
Facility's 7th floor, for unrestricted use. License No.
53-00017-23 was issued on July 29, 1991, pursuant to 10 CFR Part
30, and has been amended periodically since that time. This
license authorized the Licensee to use byproduct material for
purposes of research and development, calibration of instruments,
instructional purposes, and for use in portable gauges.
The Facility is situated in three laboratory rooms (717, 720, and
722) of the University Towers. The Facility is located in a
commercial area of Honolulu. Within the Facility, use of licensed
material was confined to these three rooms.
During December 2002, the Licensee ceased licensed activities.
The Licensee initiated a survey of the Facility during June-July
2004. Based on the Licensee's historical knowledge of the site
and the conditions of the Facility, the Licensee determined that
only routine decontamination activities, in accordance with their
NRC-approved, operating radiation safety procedures, were
required. The Licensee was not required to submit a
decommissioning plan to the NRC because worker cleanup activities
and procedures are consistent with those approved for routine
operations. The Licensee conducted surveys of the Facility and
provided information to the NRC to demonstrate that it meets the
criteria in Subpart E of 10 CFR Part 20 for unrestricted release.
The Need for the Proposed Action: The Licensee has ceased
conducting licensed activities at this Facility and seeks its
unrestricted use.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action: The historical
review of licensed activities conducted at the Facility shows
that such activities involved use of the following radionuclides
with half-lives greater than 120 days: hydrogen-3 and carbon-14.
Prior to performing the final status survey, the Licensee
conducted decontamination activities, as necessary, in the areas
of the Facility affected by these radionuclides.
The Licensee conducted a final status survey during June-July
2004. This survey covered Rooms 717, 720, and 722 in the
University Towers. The final status survey report was attached to
the Licensee's amendment request dated January 19, 2006. The
Licensee elected to demonstrate compliance with the radiological
criteria for unrestricted release as specified in 10 CFR 20.1402
by using the screening approach described in NUREG-1757,
``Consolidated NMSS Decommissioning Guidance,'' Volume 2. The
Licensee used the radionuclide-specific derived concentration
guideline levels (DCGLs), developed by the NRC, which comply with
the dose criterion in 10 CFR 20.1402. These DCGLs define the
maximum amount of residual radioactivity on building surfaces,
equipment, and materials, and in soils, that will satisfy the NRC
requirements in Subpart E of 10 CFR Part 20 for unrestricted
release. The Licensee's final status survey results were below
these DCGLs and are in compliance with the As Low As Reasonably
Achievable (ALARA) requirement of 10 CFR 20.1402. The NRC thus
finds that the Licensee's final status survey results are
acceptable.
Based on its review, the staff has determined that the affected
environment and any environmental impacts associated with the
proposed action are bounded by the impacts evaluated by the
``Generic Environmental Impact Statement in Support of Rulemaking
on Radiological Criteria for License Termination of NRC-Licensed
Nuclear Facilities'' (NUREG-1496) Volumes 1-3 (ML042310492,
ML042320379, and ML042330385). The staff finds there were no
significant environmental impacts from the use of radioactive
material at the Facility. The NRC staff reviewed the docket file
records and the final status survey report to identify any
non-radiological hazards that may have impacted the environment
surrounding the Facility. No such hazards or impacts to the
environment were identified. The NRC has identified no other
radiological or non- radiological activities in the area that
could result in cumulative environmental impacts.
The NRC staff finds that the proposed release of the Facility for
unrestricted use and the termination of the NRC materials license
is in compliance with 10 CFR 20.1402. Although the Licensee will
continue to perform licensed activities at other locations
specified in the license, the Licensee must ensure that the
Facility does not become recontaminated. Before the license can
be terminated, the Licensee will be required to show that all
areas in which licensed activities took place, including
previously-released areas, comply with the radiological criteria
in 10 CFR 20.1402. Based on its review, the staff
[[Page 2022]] considered the impact of the residual radioactivity
at the Facility and concluded that the proposed action will not
have a significant effect on the quality of the human
environment.
Environmental Impacts of the Alternatives to the Proposed Action:
Due to the largely administrative nature of the proposed action,
its environmental impacts are small. Therefore, the only
alternative the staff considered is the no-action alternative,
under which the staff would leave things as they are by simply
denying the amendment request. This no-action alternative is not
feasible because it conflicts with 10 CFR 30.36(d), requiring
that decommissioning of byproduct material facilities be
completed and approved by the NRC after licensed activities
cease. The NRC's analysis of the Licensee's final status survey
data confirmed that the Facility meets the requirements of 10 CFR
20.1402 for unrestricted release. Additionally, denying the
amendment request would result in no change in current
environmental impacts. The environmental impacts of the proposed
action and the no- action alternative are therefore similar, and
the no-action alternative is accordingly not further considered.
Conclusion: The NRC staff has concluded that the proposed action
is consistent with the NRC's unrestricted release criteria
specified in 10 CFR 20.1402. Because the proposed action will not
significantly impact the quality of the human environment, the
NRC staff concludes that the proposed action is the preferred
alternative.
Agencies and Persons Contacted: NRC provided a draft of this EA
to the State of Hawaii for review on October 23, 2006. On
November 6, 2006, the State of Hawaii responded by letter. The
State had no additional comments.
The NRC staff has determined that the proposed action is of a
procedural nature, and will not affect listed species or critical
habitat. Therefore, no further consultation is required under
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. The NRC staff has also
determined that the proposed action is not the type of activity
that has the potential to cause effects on historic properties.
Therefore, no further consultation is required under Section 106
of the National Historic Preservation Act.
III. Finding of No Significant Impact The NRC staff has prepared
this EA in support of the proposed action. On the basis of this
EA, the NRC finds that there are no significant environmental
impacts from the proposed action, and that preparation of an
environmental impact statement is not warranted. Accordingly, the
NRC has determined that a Finding of No Significant Impact is
appropriate.
IV. Further Information Documents related to this action,
including the application for amendment and supporting
documentation, are available electronically at the NRC's
Electronic Reading Room at .
From this site, you can access the NRC's Agencywide Document
Access and Management System (ADAMS), which provides text and
image files of NRC's public documents. The documents related to
this action are listed below, along with their ADAMS accession
numbers.
1. NRC, ``Generic Environmental Impact Statement in Support of
Rulemaking on Radiological Criteria for License Termination of
NRC- Licensed Nuclear Facilities,'' NUREG-1496, July 1997
(ML042310492, ML042320379, and ML042330385).
2. NRC, ``Consolidated NMSS Decommissioning Guidance,''
NUREG-1757, Volume 1, Revision 1, September 2003 (ML053260027).
3. Title 10 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20, Subpart E,
``Radiological Criteria for License Termination.'' 4. Title 10,
Code of Federal Regulations, Part 51, ``Environmental Protection
Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory
Functions.'' 5. Miyake, Nancy, University of Hawaii, Queen's
Tower Decommissioning Report, January 19, 2006 (ML0604106581).
6. Whitten, Jack E., Acknowledgment of Receipt of Final Status
Survey, June 21, 2006 (ML061740111).
7. Whitten, Jack E., Request for Comments on Draft Environmental
Assessment for Decommissioning of the University of Hawaii,
School of Medicine, Queen's Medical Center, University Towers,
October 23, 2006 (ML0629803480).
8. Takata, Russell S., Concerning the Request for Comments on
Draft Environmental Assessment, November 6, 2006 (ML063340094).
If you do not have access to ADAMS or if there are problems in
accessing the documents located in ADAMS, contact the NRC Public
Document Room (PDR) Reference staff at 1-800-397-4209,
301-415-4737, or by e-mail to . These documents may also be
viewed electronically on public computers located at the NRC's
PDR, O 1 F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, MD 20852. The PDR reproduction contractor will copy
documents for a fee.
Dated at Arlington, Texas, this 8th day of January, 2007.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
D. Blair Spitzberg, Chief, Fuel Cycle & Decommissioning Branch,
Division of Nuclear Materials Safety, Region IV.
[FR Doc. E7-507 Filed 1-16-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
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31 NRC: NRC Renews Operating License for Palisades Nuclear Power Plant for an Additional 20 Years
News Release - 2007-00 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office
of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, DC
20555-0001 E-mail: No. 07-007 January 17, 2007
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has renewed the operating
license of the Palisades Nuclear Plant for an additional 20
years.
The Palisades plant is located 5 miles south of South Haven,
Mich. The licensee, Nuclear Management Co., submitted its
license renewal application March 22, 2005. With the renewal,
the license is extended until March 24, 2031.
The NRCs environmental review for this license renewal is
described in a site-specific supplement to the NRCs Generic
Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear
Power Plants (NUREG-1437, Supplement 27), issued last October.
The review concluded there were no environmental impacts that
would preclude renewal of the license for environmental reasons.
Public meetings to discuss the environmental review were held
near the plant July 28, 2005, and April 5, 2006.
After carefully reviewing the plants safety systems and
specifications, the staff concluded that there were no safety
concerns that would preclude license renewal, because the
licensee had demonstrated the capability to manage the effects
of plant aging. The Safety Evaluation Report Related to the
License Renewal of the Palisades Nuclear Plant was published
last September. In addition, NRC conducted inspections of the
plant to verify information submitted by the licensee. The
reports relating to the Palisades renewal are available on the
NRC Web site at
http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applicati
ons/palisades.html.
On Nov. 17, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards - an
independent body of technical experts which advises the
Commission - issued its recommendation that the operating
license for Palisades be renewed. That recommendation is
contained in Report on the Safety Aspects of the License Renewal
Application for the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant. This document
is available on the NRC Web site at
http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/acrs/letters/2006/.
The Palisades renewal brings the total number of operating
license renewals to 48 reactor units. A complete listing of
renewal applications can be found on the NRC Web site at
http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal.html.
NRC news releases are available through a free list server
subscription at the following Web address:
http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC Home
Page at www.nrc.gov also offers a Subscribe to News link in the
News & Information menu. E-mail notifications are sent to
subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web Site.
Last revised Wednesday, January 17, 2007
*****************************************************************
32 Budapest Sun: Plans for 2nd nuclear plant
Volume XV, Issue 3
January 18, 2007
THE government has plans to build either a second nuclear
power station or to expand the existing Paks plant “with the aim
of cutting carbon emissions,” national daily Magyar Hírlap
reported on Tuesday, Jan 16.
Experts are said to discussing whether the current use of the
Paks nuclear power plant should be extended beyond its current
lifecycle, or whether to build a new nuclear plant, the paper
said, quoting unnamed sources. To build a new plant would cost
the government an estimated e3 billion.
Last year the existing Paks plant worked on expanding the
capacity at the second of its four blocks by 8% from the current
467 megawatts (MW) – the target figures to be reached by
February or March of this year. The plant is already under going
a Ft5bn ($23.2m) capacity expansion, due to be completed by
2009.
The Economy ministry is said to have drawn up a medium-term
energy policy based on energy needs and investment potential.
Green organization have already protested the plans for a second
nuclear power plant, citing the dangers seen in 2003 when Paks’
fuel rods were damaged. The rods over-heated in a cleaning tank
located close to the plant’s second reactor.
Copyright 2001 * The Budapest Sun * All Rights Reserved
*****************************************************************
33 Kommersant Moscow: Ukraine Forced Russia to Give Nuclear Discount -
Jan. 17, 2007
Russia’s TVELand Ukrainian Energoatom sealed a contract for fuel
rod supplies to the nuclear plants of Ukraine in 2007, which
terms are very beneficial for Kiev. Despite the annual surge of
120 percent in uranium prices, the nuclear plants of Ukraine will
face the price increase of just 30 percent to 40 percent.
TVEL and Energoatom signed the contract in Kiev late Monday.
The negotiations, the sources said, were expected to surge
prices for deliveries on the rise in global prices for uranium.
Neither TVEL nor Energoatom have commented on the contract
prices, referring to the commercial secret. But according to the
sources, the price for Russia’s fuel rod arrays will go up by 30
percent to 40 percent for the nuclear plants of Ukraine. The
increase will be less than the price growth for Russia’s gas
supplied to Ukraine (42 percent to 45 percent), a source with
Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Ministry confirmed yesterday.
Nuclear plants accounted for 46.7 percent of all energy produced
in Ukraine past year.
TVEL won the tender for fuel rod supplies to Energoatom in 1996.
The contract will remain in force till 2010, but its prices are
revised once a year.
Of interest is that it was Ukraine that had to make concessions
January 2006. Then, Energoatom yielded to revision despite that
the prices were deemed fixed till 2010. This year, however, TVEL
has agreed to compromise - Ukraine covers over 30 percent of the
foreign contract portfolio of this company.
www.kommersant.com
© 1991-2007 ZAO "Kommersant. Publishing House". All rights
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34 EastValleyTribune.com: Feds, APS at odds on Palo Verde fixes
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
By Ed Taylor, Tribune
January 17, 2007
Seeking to avoid costly increased scrutiny from the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Arizona Public Service officials said
Tuesday they are improving the performance of the Palo Verde
Nuclear Generating Station west of Phoenix.
They admitted violations of NRC regulations when a backup
emergency diesel generator failed at Unit 3 in September, the
latest in a series of problems at the plant.
But they said the violations were not serious enough to warrant
increased oversight.
At a conference between NRC and APS officials Tuesday, several
NRC officials disagreed, saying said they believe the backup
diesel generator problem at Palo Verde raises serious safety
issues.
“Diesel generators are critical features of defense in depth,”
said Art Howell, director of the division of reactor projects in
the NRC’s region 4, which includes Arizona.
“There have been untimely failures in the past at Palo Verde.
Unfortunately, this is another example, suggesting that the
efforts to date (to correct the operating problems) have not
been effective.”
In other recent problems, Unit 1 had an unscheduled outage in
October, and a scheduled refueling outage at Unit 2 lasted
longer than expected last fall. In December, the NRC complained
of “egregious” errors for more than a decade in mixing chemicals
at Palo Verde spray ponds, which were intended to control
corrosion of safety components but led to deposits on tubes that
caused insulation and heat-transfer problems.
Last week, the company announced the appointment of a new chief
nuclear officer to try to turn the plant around.
In the latest issue, the NRC said the Unit 3 emergency generator
operated in an unreliable condition for 40 days last summer and
was inoperable for 18 days in September.
The backup generator provides electricity to keep critical
equipment running if the unit loses its connection to the
outside power grid. Each of the units has two backup diesel
generators and banks of batteries to provide power in an
emergency, according to APS.
An investigation found the cause of the problem was the failure
of an electrical relay. An initial fix in July failed to correct
the root cause of the problem, leading to the failure during a
test in September.
APS officials said they are strengthening troubleshooting
procedures to improve the plant’s reliability.
“We continue to implement, reinforce, monitor and adjust our
performance improvement plan to provide greater confidence that
similar events will not recur,” said David Mauldin, APS vice
president of nuclear engineering and support.
If the regulators determine the latest violations were a
significant safety issue, APS faces increased inspections, more
public meetings on the plant’s operating condition and more
meetings with the board of directors of Pinnacle West Capital
Corp., the utility’s parent company, NRC spokesman Victor Dricks
said.
Only one other nuclear plant in the U.S. is operating under
those conditions, he said,
“It would probably take several years to deal with the
requirements that would be imposed,” Dricks said, adding that
the costs to APS would be substantial.
But he added that APS would not be required to shut down the
plant, which supplies to electricity to utilities in Arizona,
New Mexico, California and Texas.
The NRC technical staff probably will make its decision in about
30 days, Dricks said.
Heather Murphy, spokeswoman for the Arizona Corporation
Commission, which regulates APS rates, said the commissioners
probably would not allow APS to pass on additional regulatory
costs to customers if the NRC determines the problems were the
fault of APS.
APS has a 20 percent, $434 million rate increase pending before
the commission to recover past cost increases, primarily the
higher price of natural gas fuel.
Contact Ed Taylor by email, or phone (480) 898-6537
Rights Reserved. Freedom Communications, Inc.
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35 Monticello Times: Nuclear plant has shutdown
1/17/2007 3:01:00 PM Email this article • Print this
Quick cooling kills thousands of fish
By Kathleen Ostroot News Editor
According to Kelli Huxford, communications manager at Xcel's
Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, the plant went into what
they call a scram or trip Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 3:30 p.m., when
the plant was shut down. Workers at the plant determined that
the problem involved a low main steam pressure caused by an
issue with the turbine control valve that regulates the amount
of steam that goes to the turbine, she said.
According to federal officials, a 35,000-pound control box fell
off a steel beam, possibly from vibrations and normal wear and
tear, inside the plant and triggered the safety system to shut
down the nuclear reactor automatically.
The plant has not had an automatic shutdown since 2002, and at
that time, only about 200 fish were killed.
"Monticello has the best record and our plant safety features
functioned as they were designed to do and the personnel
followed everything by protocol," Huxford said.
The plant's non-nuclear discharge keeps the water in the
Mississippi River warmer than normal, and when the plant had an
automatic shutdown, Huxford said, there wasn't enough time for a
gradual change in the temperature of the river.
"The fast cooling and freezing winter temperatures didn't give
the fish time to acclimate to the water temperature changes, and
there were about 3,000 fish that died," Huxford said.
Xcel Energy has an environmental department that counts and
types the fish, reporting its finding to the state of Minnesota.
"The permit that we have in order to use the river does address
what we expect to happen with the river conditions," she said.
The Nuclear Management Co., which regulates the plant for Xcel,
and has a fleet of experts that are working around the clock to
fix the problem, Huxford said.
Copyright 2006, Monticello Times
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36 globeandmail.com: Dion cool to nuclear power
POSTED ON 17/01/07
Liberal Leader's remarks put him at odds with Ontario energy
policy
KAREN HOWLETT
TORONTO -- Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion said yesterday he is no
fan of nuclear power as he outlined a plan that would see Ottawa
play a more active role in developing alternative power sources,
including an east-west electricity grid.
In his first major speech in Toronto since winning the
leadership, Mr. Dion said he cannot support having nuclear power
play a role in Canada's future unless Ottawa comes up with a
plan for dealing with waste from reactors.
"As long as I have not received a convincing strategy for the
waste, I am not able to look Canadians in the eye and say, 'I'm
comfortable with the waste,' I will not recommend it," he said
in response to an audience question.
The Liberal Leader's comments were music to the ears of
environmentalists, who have long opposed nuclear power. But they
could put him on a collision course with Ontario Premier Dalton
McGuinty, who plans to have nuclear power play a key role in
meeting the province's electricity needs.
Nuclear energy currently provides half of Ontario's electricity
needs. Mr. McGuinty plans to spend $46-billion over the next two
decades addressing the province's looming electricity shortage,
including building two new reactors and refurbishing existing
ones.
"I think [Mr. Dion] may be pushing back on to the political
stage the debate that the McGuinty government would rather not
have," said Mark Winfield of the Pembina Institute, an
environmental think tank. "Given the risks involved, it is
absolutely essential that we have this debate."
After his remarks to the Economic Club and the Toronto Board of
Trade, Mr. Dion softened his stand against nuclear power to
reporters. "I did not rule out nuclear power," he said. "I just
said we need to have a strategy for the waste."
Mr. Dion, who pledged to make environmental issues an election
battle cry, said there are alternatives to nuclear energy,
including developing an east-west grid that would deliver
electricity from Manitoba or Quebec to power-hungry Ontario,
building more wind turbines and introducing more conservation
measures.
Ontario Energy Minister Dwight Duncan said Mr. Dion's views on
nuclear energy are at odds with his provincial cousins.
"We've always said that nuclear waste management is an important
and challenging issue," Mr. Duncan said in an interview. "The
issue of waste management is an unavoidable debate."
Murray Elston, president of the Canadian Nuclear Association,
said the industry is working on the thorny question of what to
do with nuclear waste piling up at electricity-generation and
research reactors in six provinces. "We would have preferred
that [Mr. Dion] endorsed us without condition."
The industry-run Nuclear Waste Management Organization said in a
2005 report that Ottawa should spend $24-billion to permanently
bury the waste 1,000 metres underground. But the group said
final disposal should not start for about 60 years and that only
"willing" communities should be considered. The federal
government has not acted on its recommendations.
Mr. Duncan, meanwhile, said he was delighted Mr. Dion spoke out
in favour of an east-west power grid, especially one that would
include federal funding and deliver clean, hydroelectric power
from other provinces to Ontario. "It's an important national
policy that could benefit all Canadians and our fight on climate
change."
An industry executive who asked not to be named was less
impressed. He said the Liberal Leader's alternatives to nuclear
would do little to address the province's energy needs. Creating
an east-west electricity grid is fraught with obstacles because
of the difficulties associated with moving power over long
distances, he said.
Copyright 2007 CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc. All Rights
Reserved. globeandmail.com and The Globe and Mail are divisions
of CTVglobemedia Publishing Inc., 444 Front St. W., Toronto, ON
Canada M5V 2S9 Phillip Crawley, Publisher
--> -->
close
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37 Spiegel Online: EU Energy Policy: Can Germany Really Shut Down its Nuclear Reactors? -
+ | Feedback January 17, 2007
By Matthias Schepp, Christian Reiermann, Roland Nelles and Frank
Dohmen
With Moscow's three-day interruption of oil shipments and EU
plans for a transformed energy market, Germany's government is
being forced to act on its energy policies. The country is set
on moving away from nuclear power. But is that realistic?
Alexander Potapov's moment in the spotlight came at 9:07 a.m. on
Thursday of last week, during a gray and rainy morning. The
chief engineer at the oil pumping facility in the Russian
backwater town of Novosybkov pushed a button, and sighs of
relief were heard in half of Europe. Oil was once more flowing
through the 8,000 kilometer-long (4,970 mile) Russian
mega-pipeline called "Druzhba" ("Friendship").
[Europe is looking for a comprehensive new energy policy.] AFP
Europe is looking for a comprehensive new energy policy.
Potapov's pumping station in the marshy landscape along the
state border between Russia and Belarus had been out of
operation for three days. A number of Central European
countries, including Germany, were cut off from Russian oil.
Moscow chose to risk upsetting its European customers to force
through more lucrative contracts with its stubborn neighbor
Belarus.
Just a few hours before the oil was turned back on, 2,000
kilometers (1,243 miles) further west, José Manuel Barroso, the
president of the European Commission, strode onto the Brussels
stage. He then proceeded to announce nothing less than a
revolution in European energy policy.
Barroso called for the investment of billions of euros into
climate protection measures and the expansion of renewable
energy use. He talked about promoting competition between the
various energy providers and about reducing dependence on
natural gas and oil exports -- including those from Russia.
"Europe must lead the world into a new, post-industrial
revolution," Barroso said. "We need new policies to face a new
reality."
It was a coincidence that Potapov's moment in the spotlight
coincided with Barroso's -- but one that amounts to a kind of
reality check for Germany's governing coalition of conservatives
and Social Democrats. Just as German Chancellor Angela Merkel
takes over the rotating European Union presidency for the first
six months of 2007, she is being reminded of her promise to
develop a strong and sustainable German energy policy in the near
future.
Crucial questions about that future are at stake. How can
dependence on Russian shipments of oil and natural gas be
reduced? What would a climate-friendly energy mix look like if
Germany's nuclear reactors were really shut down, as is
currently planned? And how can electricity and gas prices be
kept low by means of increased competition?
Feeling the pressure
The coalition is feeling the pressure to act and a policy
outline should be finished by summer. Already, though, it is
clear that the views of Merkel's Christian Democrats differ from
those of the Social Democrats on virtually every important
issue. Any agreement, it seems, would be a far cry from
far-reaching.
Just how strongly the coalition partners' views diverge became
clear from the reactions to Russia's interruption of oil
shipments. Edmund Stoiber, the leader of the Christian
Democrats' Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union
(CSU), said Germany has to rethink its plan to phase out nuclear
energy -- a policy introduced by the previous German
administration under Gerhard Schröder.
NEWSLETTER
Sign up for Spiegel Online's daily newsletter and get the best
of Der Spiegel's and Spiegel Online's international coverage in
your In- Box everyday.
Speaking for the
SPD, Environmental Minister Sigmar Gabriel was quick to remind
the conservatives of the coalition contract, which clearly
stipulates that the nuclear phase-out would not be touched.
Chancellor Merkel was able to curb the debate, but it wasn't
easy. "I'm faithful to the contract," she assured the Social
Democrats.
Economics Minister Michael Glos (CSU) and Environmental Minister
Gabriel (SPD) are the two politicians in the governing coalition
responsible for energy policy. And the two are already fighting
an embittered small-scale war. Barroso's proposals for reforming
the EU's energy policy are stoking the fires of the conflict.
The plan is for Barroso's ideas to be implemented in Germany too
-- but that would require Glos and Gabriel to agree with one
another.
Specifically, the European Commission wants to:
+ Drastically change the energy mix in the EU member states.
Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and water power are
to make up 20 percent of this energy mix by the year 2020. But
nuclear energy with its practically emission-free power plants
could play an important role too, if the European Commission has
its way. Glos is clearly in favor of nuclear energy, while
Gabriel is no less clearly opposed;
+ Implement a process of decartelization that would force
major energy providers to sell their distribution networks. This
measure is intended to accelerate competition on the energy
market, which is currently limited. Small providers are to be
given a fair chance to establish themselves on the market. Glos
is no longer opposed to the measure in principle, but he also
wants stricter legislation on competition and closer observation
of the prices charged by corporations. Gabriel is opposed to
such observation;
+ Reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. To achieve this,
billions are to be invested in energy-saving and energy
efficiency programs. The European Commission's goal is to lower
greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 30 percent (in comparison
to 1990 levels) by 2020. Gabriel expressly welcomes this
project; Glos is merely prepared to "discuss" it.
Hot air
The two opponents are swamping each other with statements of
protest, debate papers and spite. "Glos's job isn't easy. The
system he works with has been degenerating for 20 years," says
the Environmental Ministry. And the Economics Ministry is no
less acerbic: "What Gabriel says is just hot air."
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso announced his
vision for an EU energy policy last week.
The field of climate policy is especially contested. A discussion
paper circulated within Glos's ministry describes the
consequences of an "especially ambitious climate policy." The
paper says such a policy is "not compatible with the continued
phasing out of nuclear energy, given current energy predictions,
which are seen as realistic." The progressive shutting down of
Germany's 19 nuclear power plants and their replacement with
power plants fueled by natural gas or goal would have dramatic
consequences for future carbon dioxide levels, the paper says.
The paper also projects an annual "surplus emission of about 40
million tons" for 2010, and one of 130 million tons for 2020.
But Glos's opponent Gabriel has quite different figures to
present. In a new "Guiding Scenario" developed for his ministry
by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), experts assume that
renewable energy sources will provide 15.7 percent of Germany's
energy needs by 2020, a marked increase over today's figure of
4.5 percent. If power plant technology becomes more efficient,
the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent
(vis-ŕ-vis 1990 levels) "could be achieved" even without nuclear
energy, according to the scenario.
Another controversial question is that of how Germany will deal
with the EU's so-called emissions trading system. Last year Glos
and Gabriel engaged in a cumbersome search for a compromise and
decided that in the future Germany will issue so-called emission
rights worth 482 million tons of carbon dioxide to industry free
of charge. Should a corporation spew out more CO2 than allowed,
they would have to purchase emissions certificates from other
companies.
The European Commission rejected this plan and demanded that
Germany restrict its issuing of emission rights to 453 million
tons. Gabriel wasn't opposed to the request in principle. But
Glos refuses to accept a further reduction, arguing it would be
detrimental to German industry.
Should push comes to shove, Glos is prepared to take the
European Commission to court over the issue. Glos's assistant
Joachim Wuermeling announced that Berlin is preparing its legal
complaint. The announcement provoked an unenthusiastic response
from the Environmental Ministry, which characterized it as
"presumptuous."
Tough decisions
But the hardest test for the ability of the two ministries to
cooperate is yet to come. The decision must be taken this year
as to whether or not to extend the running times of the two
nuclear power plants Biblis A and Neckarwestheim I. Shortly
before the end of last year, the two energy providers RWE and
EnBW requested such an extension from the Environmental
Ministry. Now Gabriel has to decide whether or not he wants to
approve the requests. Glos insists he has a say in the matter,
but Gabriel disagrees.
Glos and the Christian Democrats aren't giving up. Some
strategists in the SPD are afraid popular opinion in Germany
could shift in favor of nuclear energy. Many new nuclear
reactors are being built in other countries.
The major energy providers are following the political debates
over nuclear energy, greenhouse gas emissions and supply
security with remarkable nonchalance. The top managers are sure
Barroso's plan will be significantly changed before being
approved at the EU summit of state and government leaders in
March.
"Germany's left is hoping to shut down the country's nuclear
power plants. But would that mean a greater realiance on
coal-fired power plants like this one?" title="Germany's left is
hoping to shut down the country's nuclear power plants. But would
that mean a greater realiance on coal-fired power plants like
this one?"
Germany's left is hoping to shut down the country's nuclear
power plants. But would that mean a greater realiance on
coal-fired power plants like this one?
Energy provider RWE claims that Chancellor Merkel and France will
prevent the separation of networks and production. Such an
encroachment on property rights involves many "legal
insecurities," managers believe.
The optimism in Essen is well founded. Just like Foreign
Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Merkel is opposed to the
complete separation of energy networks and energy production.
But the chancellor and her staff are hoping they won't even have
to address the matter in Brussels. The French, who want to
protect their major energy provider EDF, will take care of that,
sources say.
But Merkel remains dependent on German energy providers if she
wants to work out a comprehensive energy policy this year. And
they never seem to tire of pointing that out.
For her part, Chancellor Merkel has repeatedly stated she would
like to place an emphasis on cooperation. She's already invited
the electricity CEOs and other representatives of the industry,
as well as politicians and experts, to "energy summits" twice.
The next meeting is scheduled for March. "We want to arrive at a
successful conclusion," sources from within the chancellery say.
Germany's environmental minister takes the same view. "We need a
basic consensus on climate and energy policy," Gabriel says.
That's why he's calling for a "consensus dialogue" on energy
policy, to be held even before the next official meeting. "I'm
in favor of the federal government sitting down at a table with
the main energy providers as quickly as possible. The era of
energy oligopolies has to be overcome."
There's just one issue Gabriel is not willing to negotiate:
"When it comes to nuclear energy, the chancellor's word stands,"
he says, adding "Pacta sunt servanda" -- pacts are to be
observed.
© SPIEGEL ONLINE 2007
*****************************************************************
38 RICS: Regulators assess UK nuclear plant designs
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors RICS.org
16 January 2007
Top nuclear regulators have published an assessment of plans
made for nuclear power stations in the UK.
The Generic Assessment of Candidate Nuclear Power Plant Design,
produced jointly by the Health and Safety Executive, the
Environment Agency (EA), the Scottish Environment Protection
Agency and the Office for Civil Nuclear Security, aims to ensure
that regulatory resources are applied when stations are built.
In July, the government indicated that nuclear power could play
a role in the UK's energy future.
The uncertainty is irrelevant, as the EA will continue to ensure
'high standards of safety', according to Joe McHugh, head of
radioactive substances regulation for the agency.
'Assessing designs at an early stage is good for the
environment and safety because we can influence the design so as
to ensure people and the environment are properly protected,' he
said.
Meanwhile, north-east health service's former radiation
protection advisor Professor John Haywood recently claimed that
the government's lack of preparations for a terrorist nuclear
attack pose a far greater risk than a 'one in a million' nuclear
accident, the Sunday Herald reported.
© 2006, Adfero Ltd
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39 PRN: Exelon Nuclear Sets All-Time Generation Record in 2006
PR Newswire
WARRENVILLE, Ill., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Exelon Nuclear
produced 131.4 billion kilowatt hours in 2006, the most
electricity ever produced by the nation's largest fleet of
nuclear energy plants.
The total power produced is enough electricity to
continuously power more than 16 million typical American
households.
It was the fourth consecutive year that Exelon has set a new
generation record for a U.S. fleet. The previous record was 130.4
billion kilowatt-hours, established in 2005.
Also in 2006, Exelon Nuclear: -- Finished the year with a
93.9 percent average fleet capacity factor -- despite 10
refueling outages -- the second highest capacity factor ever
recorded by the fleet. The record was set in 2001 at 94.4 percent
(the national average in 2005 was 89.1 percent, based on the most
recent data available). Capacity factor refers to the ratio of
electricity actually produced by a generating facility compared
to the amount it could theoretically produce running at full
power with no interruptions. -- Refueled 10 of its 17 reactors in
an average of 23.7 days, compared to a 2005 national average of
39 days. -- Set a fleet capacity factor record during critical
summer months, when demand for power is highest, at 98.1 percent.
The previous record was 97.3 percent, set a year earlier. The
reliability of Exelon's nuclear plants was especially important
in 2006 as both of Exelon's energy delivery systems set all-time
records for peak electricity usage (ComEd in Illinois -- 23,605
megawatts on Aug. 1; PECO in Pennsylvania -- 8,932 megawatts on
Aug. 3). The summer measuring period is June 1 to Aug. 31. --
Recorded the best worker safety record in the company's history:
14 workplace injuries among 6,800 full-time employees in
2006.
"It's easy to get lost in statistics, but these numbers mean
simply that good nuclear operations and safety go hand in hand,"
Exelon Nuclear President and Chief Nuclear Officer Chris Crane
said. "These results also demonstrate one of the most important
truths of nuclear energy today: it can be relied upon to safely
deliver large amounts of electricity all the time, including
during those periods when reliable power supply is critical."
Exelon Nuclear operates 17 nuclear generating units at 10
locations in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and is the
nation's largest operator of commercial nuclear energy plants.
Exelon Nuclear accounts for about 17 percent of America's nuclear
generation and 2 percent of all electricity produced in the
United States.
Exelon Corporation is one of the nation's largest electric
utilities with approximately 5.2 million customers and more than
$15 billion in annual revenues. The company has one of the
industry's largest portfolios of electricity generation capacity,
with a nationwide reach and strong positions in the Midwest and
Mid-Atlantic. Exelon distributes electricity to approximately 5.2
million customers in northern Illinois and Pennsylvania and
natural gas to more than 470,000 customers in southeastern
Pennsylvania. Exelon is headquartered in Chicago and trades on
the NYSE under the ticker EXC.
SOURCE Exelon Nuclear
Related links:
+ http://www.exeloncorp.com
Copyright © 1996- PR Newswire Association LLC. All Rights
Reserved. A United Business Mediacompany.
*****************************************************************
40 Canada Press: Tories want to go nuclear with new green clean energy plan
National Post
Baird and Natural Resources minister Gary Lunn (right) arrive on
a hybrid powered bus. (CP PHOTO/Tom Hanson)]
Dennis Bueckert, Canadian Press
Published: Wednesday, January 17, 2007
OTTAWA (CP) - The Conservative government launched its green
rebranding effort Wednesday with a controversial boost for
nuclear power.
In the first big announcement since Rona Ambrose was shuffled
from the environment portfolio two weeks ago, Natural Resources
Minister Gary Lunn promised $230 million over four years for
research into clean energy.
But he gave no specifics on how the money will be spent - it
hasn't been allocated yet - leading to criticism that the
government is making more vague promises like those that
scuppered Ambrose.
"Until we have real regulations to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, none of the things they announced today will set
Canada on the path to Kyoto," said John Bennett of the Climate
Action Network.
The new research program, dubbed the ecoEnergy Technology
Initiative, is similar to a Liberal research program now
terminated, although annual funding will rise somewhat.
The government is trying to restore credibility on the
environment which has emerged as a top issue for voters, and an
election could come soon.
Lunn said one target area for the research money is "next
generation nuclear."
"Nuclear energy is emission-free, there's no greenhouse gases,
there's no pollutants going out (with) the energy," he told a
news conference.
"There's a great opportunity to pursue nuclear energy, something
I am very keen on."
Although it is often touted as an alternative to fossil fuels
because it doesn't directly produce greenhouse emissions,
nuclear power is still anathema to most environmentalists.
"There is nothing clean about radioactive waste," said Emilie
Moorhouse of the Sierra Club of Canada. "There is no storage
system that can keep this waste isolated for the millions of
years it remains active."
Lunn suggested nuclear energy could be an ideal source of power
for the massive oil sands project in Alberta. But Moorhouse said
that would be problematic because nuclear plants need water for
cooling, and high demand for water is already one of the biggest
problems in Alberta.
Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has said he will not support the
expansion of nuclear energy until the problem of waste is
resolved.
Dion's position seems to put him at odds not just with the
Tories but also with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, a fellow
Liberal who sees nuclear as a solution to the province's energy
woes.
Lunn promised that the government will soon announce short-term
emissions-cutting targets for industry, but did not say whether
those will include a firm cap on total emissions.
Nor would he give his view on whether the government should stop
generous tax breaks for the petroleum industry, saying that's a
matter for Finance Minister John Flaherty.
Environment Minister John Baird, who also attended Wednesday's
news conference, offered no defence for the tax breaks for the
oil sands, saying he did not know why they were introduced.
He gave no indication of how he plans to proceed in the
environment portfolio. Lunn is expected to make news with further
clean energy announcements this week in Victoria and Toronto.
Keith Stewart of the World Wildlife Fund said new technology
alone is not the answer, there must also be incentives for its
adoption.
"This announcement would be much more impressive if they had a
mandatory greenhouse gas cap on large polluters that would really
drive the technology," he said.
"It worked for the acid rain program and getting lead out of
gasoline, it can work here as well."
Lunn got a cautious thumbs up from Pierre Alvarez, president of
the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, who said
improved technology is the only way to improve the situation. But
Alvarez warned that change will take time and a lot more money
than Ottawa is willing to allocate.
"There are no silver bullet solutions right now. We're going to
need more. But what's encouraging to us is that we're now having
the debate on energy technologies that for the last 20 years
nobody has wanted to talk about.
"We need new partnerships: federal government, provincial
government, industry to look at these things. We need to look at
it is. We need to look at teaming up with the U.S. on some of the
things they're doing on emissions management."
c The Canadian Press 2007
© 2007 CanWest Interactive, a division of CanWest
*****************************************************************
41 The Huffington Post: 'Un-Inventing' Nukes |
Robert Koehler
January 17, 2007
Ever notice how we're always getting the "done deal" treatment
from the powers that be? We blunder into Iraq on lies and
inanities and suddenly, you know, the proprietors of the Pottery
Barn step out from behind the counter and inform us: "You break
it, you bought it."
And so we have no choice, apparently, but to keep on stomping
our unintended purchase with a mad frenzy -- that is to say,
allowing the same swaggering blunderers who precipitated the
disaster to do more of the same, except at greater cost and with
more collateral damage. The only logic here is the
self-perpetuating logic of incompetence. This becomes our
foreign policy: a fait accompli sinkhole.
Thus temporary necessity is the fallback justification for every
initiative that pushes against conscience and sanity, however
permanent the ramifications. Nowhere is this more evident than
in the nuclear weapons industry, which has managed to remain
viable and prosperous a generation after the Cold War ended. Its
latest ploy is to develop something called the Reliable
Replacement Warhead, a $100 billion program to modernize the
U.S. nuclear arsenal.
"While the program has gotten very little attention here, it is
a public-relations disaster in the making overseas," the New
York Times editorialized this week. "Suspicions that the United
States is actually trying to build up its nuclear capabilities
are undercutting Washington's arguments for restraining the
nuclear appetites of Iran and North Korea."
Against such basic arguments, defenders invoke the done deal.
Gen. James E. Cartwright, head of U.S. Strategic Command, put it
as simply as possible: "We will not 'un-invent' nuclear
weapons," he recently told the Times. In other words, sorry,
peaceniks, you're too late. From this observation everything
flows, including a multibillion-dollar "make-work program
championed by the weapons laboratories," as the paper of record
called the Reliable Replacement Warhead Program.
Meanwhile, the editorial board of the Bulletin of the Atomic
Scientists just moved its Doomsday Clock, which has been
graphically representing humanity's state of danger from
self-annihilation since 1947, forward by two minutes, to five
minutes till midnight.
"We stand at the brink of a second nuclear age," the board
members' statement reads. "Not since the first atomic bombs were
dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki has the world faced such
perilous choices. North Korea's recent test of a nuclear weapon,
Iran's nuclear ambitions, a renewed U.S. emphasis on the
military utility of nuclear weapons, the failure to adequately
secure nuclear materials, and the continued presence of some
26,000 nuclear weapons in the United States and Russia are
symptomatic of a larger failure to solve the problems posed by
the most destructive technology on Earth."
As Gen. Cartwright says, we can't "un-invent" nuclear weapons,
but by no means does carte blanche, unimpeded weapons
development follow as the only possible option. Our only hope as
a species is to rise above this invention and redefine ourselves
as less fearfully impulsive and short-sighted than has
heretofore been the case.
This is a tall order when so many powerful people have a stake
in our fearful short-sightedness. A massive reinvestment in our
nuclear arsenal is more than just "hypocritical," as the Times
put it.
"It's insanity."
This was the assessment last week of Iris Mortensen, as reported
in the Salt Lake Tribune. Mortensen, widow of a veterinarian and
one of the "downwinders" -- folks living downwind of the Nevada
Test Site who were exposed to cancer-causing radiation during
the glory days of nuclear testing there in the 1950s and '60s --
was among those who voiced never-again anger when the Defense
Threat Reduction Agency came to St. George, Utah, to sell the
locals on an above-ground test, known as Divine Strake, the Bush
administration wants to conduct at the site.
This 700-ton "sub-nuclear" blast, which would raise a
10,000-foot mushroom cloud over Las Vegas and quite likely stir
up contaminated ground, has generated fierce opposition in one
of the most conservative corners of the country for more than a
year, from people who know the true cost -- their own health,
and that of their loved ones -- of our WMD program.
Last summer, the agency, in the face of opposition from across
the political spectrum, postponed the test. Now they're back
with a slicker power-point program, but the firestorm of
opposition is not going to abate, Preston Truman, director of
Downwinders United, told me.
At five minutes to midnight, people are taking a stand. Maybe we
can't "un-invent" nuclear weapons, but we can reinvent
citizenship and insist on a sane self-defense policy.
- - -
Robert Koehler, an award-winning, Chicago-based journalist, is
an editor at Tribune Media Services and nationally syndicated
writer. You can respond to this column at bkoehler@tribune.com
or visit his Web site at commonwonders.com.
© 2007 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC. Send to a friend
Copyright 2007 © HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.
*****************************************************************
42 Guardian Unlimited: Nuclear Chief Pushes for Safer Plants
From the Associated Press
[UP]
Wednesday January 17, 2007 7:31 AM
By H. JOSEF HEBERT
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Future nuclear power plants should include
design improvements to better protect against a terrorist attack
by large aircraft, the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission said Tuesday.
The chairman, Dale Klein, said the commission soon will give
guidance to reactor manufacturers on ``what we believe the
reactors should be designed to withstand,'' including the
possibility of a terrorist crashing a plane into the reactor.
``It is likely that we will ask the vendors to consider that in
a different way than we did in the previous plants,'' said Klein
in an Associated Press interview in his office at NRC
headquarters in suburban Rockville, Md.
Klein, who became the commission's chairman last June, said it
was incorrect to suggest that the NRC will not require design
improvements to guard against an airborne terrorist attack.
The 103 reactors now in use were designed under regulations that
did not require consideration of a direct hit by an aircraft.
The nuclear industry maintains that protection against such an
attack is a government matter and not one reactor operators
should be responsible for as part of their security. While the
industry says tests show current reactors can withstand such a
direct hit, others have raised doubts.
Klein said the NRC will likely want future reactor designs to
take such a possibility into account.
``These new plants have the opportunity to reduce the
(deterrent) actions'' that will be required as part of plant
operations ``by increased design requirements,'' Klein said.
``The new reactors in all likelihood will be more robust than
the existing fleet.''
The NRC is gearing up for a rush of applications for new power
reactors, the first such applications since the 1970s before the
Three Mile Island nuclear accident.
Klein said four or five firm applications for new reactors are
expected to be received this year with another eight likely in
2008. Most, if not all, of the new reactors are expected to be
built on the sites of existing nuclear power plants.
In the interview, Klein expressed concern that the NRC won't be
able to handle the license requests promptly unless Congress
increases funding. The NRC, like other agencies, has not
received a new budget and will run $95 million, or 12 percent,
short. ``It will slow (the licensing) down,'' said Klein,
because there won't be money to train licensing specialists.
On other matters, Klein:
-Said the NRC is ready and in ``a watch-and-see mode'' when it
comes to the proposed nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain in
Nevada. He noted there have been several ``false starts'' in the
Energy Department's push to complete a license application.
-Expressed confidence that reactor waste can continue to be
stored at nuclear plant sites in water pools and dry-cask
storage, which are both regulated by the NRC.
-Said that the new, streamlined licensing process for new power
reactors - now about 42 months - should be shortened even more,
at least after the initial group of licenses. It can be done
``with no compromise on safety,'' he said.
-Expects that Congress will require NRC approval for licenses
for proposed reprocessing facilities under the Bush
administration's Global Nuclear Energy Program. ``In today's
world, it's not likely the DOE will self-regulate like it has in
the past,'' Klein said.
He said the NRC is on the fence when it comes to reprocessing
nuclear fuel, the centerpiece of the Bush administration's
vision of an expanded nuclear industry.
``As a regulator, we will evaluate whatever proposal comes at
us, but we are not promoting recycling nor are we discouraging
it,'' Klein said.
---
On the Web:
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: www.nrc.gov
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007
*****************************************************************
43 "Doomsday Clock" Moves Two Minutes Closer To Midnight
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 02:29:51 -0600 (CST)
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17 January 2007
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS)
www.thebulletin.org
"Doomsday Clock" Moves Two Minutes Closer To Midnight
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Adjusts Clock From 7 to 5 Minutes Before
Midnight; " Deteriorating" Global Situation Cited on Nuclear Weapons and New
Factor: Climate Change.
WASHINGTON, D.C. and LONDON, ENGLAND /// January 17, 2007 ///
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) is moving the minute hand of the
Doomsday Clock two minutes closer to midnight. It is now 5 minutes to
midnight. Reflecting global failures to solve the problems posed by nuclear
weapons and the climate crisis, the decision by the BAS Board of Directors
was made in consultation with the Bulletin's Board of Sponsors, which
includes 18 Nobel Laureates.
BAS announced the Clock change today at an unprecedented joint news
conference held at the American Association for the Advancement of Science
in Washington, DC, and the Royal Society in London. In a statement
supporting the decision to move the hand of the Doomsday Clock, the BAS
Board focused on two major sources of catastrophe: the perils of 27,000
nuclear weapons, 2000 of them ready to launch within minutes; and the
destruction of human habitats from climate change. In articles by 14 leading
scientists and security experts writing in the January-February issue of
theBulletin of the Atomic Scientists (http://www.thebulletin.org), the
potential for catastrophic damage from human-made technologies is explored
further.
Created in 1947 by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the Doomsday Clock
has been adjusted only 17 times prior to today, most recently in February
2002 after the events of 9/11.
By moving the hand of the Clock closer to midnight - the figurative end of
civilization - the BAS Board of Directors is drawing attention to the
increasing dangers from the spread of nuclear weapons in a world of violent
conflict, and to the catastrophic harm from climate change that is
unfolding. The BAS statement explains: "We stand at the brink of a Second
Nuclear Age. Not since the first atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki has the world faced such perilous choices. North Korea's recent
test of a nuclear weapon, Iran's nuclear ambitions, a renewed emphasis on
the military utility of nuclear weapons, the failure to adequately secure
nuclear materials, and the continued presence of some 26,000 nuclear weapons
in the United States and Russia are symptomatic of a failure to solve the
problems posed by the most destructive technology on Earth."
The BAS statement continues: "The dangers posed by climate change are nearly
as dire as those posed by nuclear weapons. The effects may be less dramatic
in the short term than the destruction that could be wrought by nuclear
explosions, but over the next three to four decades climate change could
cause irremediable harm to the habitats upon which human societies depend
for survival."
Stephen Hawking, a BAS sponsor, professor of mathematics at the University
of Cambridge, and a fellow of The Royal Society, said: "As scientists, we
understand the dangers of nuclear weapons and their devastating effects, and
we are learning how human activities and technologies are affecting climate
systems in ways that may forever change life on Earth. As citizens of the
world, we have a duty to alert the public to the unnecessary risks that we
live with every day, and to the perils we foresee if governments and
societies do not take action now to render nuclear weapons obsolete and to
prevent further climate change."
Kennette Benedict, executive director, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists,
said: "As we stand at the brink of a Second Nuclear Age and at the onset of
unprecedented climate change, our way of thinking about the uses and control
of technologies must change to prevent unspeakable destruction and future
human suffering."
Sir Martin Rees, president of The Royal Society, professor of cosmology and
astrophysics , master of Trinity College at the University of Cambridge, and
a BAS sponsor, said: "Nuclear weapons still pose the most catastrophic and
immediate threat to humanity, but climate change and emerging technologies
in the life sciences also have the potential to end civilization as we know
it."
Lawrence M. Krauss, professor of physics and astronomy at Case Western
Reserve University, an a BAS sponsor, said: "In these dangerous times,
scientists have a responsibility to speak truth to power especially if it
might provoke actions to reduce threats from the preventable technological
dangers currently facing humanity. To do anything else would be negligent."
Ambassador Thomas Pickering, a BAS director and co-chair of the
International Crisis Group, said: "Although our current situation is dire,
we have the means today to successfully address these global problems. For
example, through vigorous diplomacy and international agencies like the
International Atomic Energy Agency, we can negotiate and implement
agreements that could protect us all from the most destructive technology on
Earth-nuclear weapons."
Highlights of the new statement from the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists
include the following:
"The second nuclear era, unlike the dawn of the first nuclear age in 1945,
is characterized by a world of porous national borders, rapid communications
that facilitate the spread of technical knowledge, and expanded commerce in
potentially dangerous dual-use technologies and materials. The
Pakistan-based network that provided nuclear technologies to Libya, North
Korea, and Iran, is an example of the new challenges confronting the
international community."
"Sixteen years after the end of the Cold War, following substantial
reductions in nuclear weapons by the United States and Russia, the two major
powers have now stalled in their progress toward deeper reductions in their
arsenals."
"More than 1400 metric tons of highly enriched uranium and approximately 500
tons of plutonium are distributed worldwide at some 140 sites, in unguarded
civilian power plants and university research reactors, as well as in
military facilities."
"Global warming poses a dire threat to human civilization that is second
only to nuclear weapons. Through flooding and desertification, climate
change threatens the habitats and agricultural resources that societies
depend upon for survival. As such, climate change is also likely to
contribute to mass migrations and even to wars over arable land, water, and
other natural resources."
"The prospect of civilian nuclear power development in countries around the
world raises further concerns about the availability of nuclear materials.
Growth in nuclear power is anticipated to be especially high in Asia, where
Japan is planning to bring on line five new plants by 2010, and China
intends to build 30 nuclear reactors by 2020."
"Several factors are driving the turn to nuclear power- aging nuclear
reactors, rising energy demands, a desire to diversify energy portfolios and
reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and the need to reduce carbon emissions
that cause climate change. Yet expansion of nuclear power increases the
risks of nuclear proliferation."
The BAS statement also outlines a number of steps that, if taken
immediately, could help to prevent disaster, including the following:
Reduce the launch readiness of U.S. and Russian nuclear forces and
completely remove nuclear weapons from the day-to-day operations of their
militaries.
Reduce the number of nuclear weapons by dismantling, storing, and destroying
more than 20,000 warheads over the next 10 years, as well as greatly
increasing efforts to locate, store, and secure nuclear materials in Russia
and elsewhere.
Stop production of nuclear weapons material, including highly enriched
uranium and plutonium-whether in military or civilian facilities.
Engage in serious and candid discussion about the potential expansion of
nuclear power worldwide. While nuclear energy production does not produce
carbon dioxide, it does raise other significant concerns, such as the health
and environmental hazards of nuclear waste, the production of nuclear
materials that can be diverted to the production of weapons, and the safety
and security of the plants themselves.
===
ABOUT The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) AND THE CLOCK
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was founded in 1945 by University of
Chicago scientists who had worked on the Manhattan Project and were deeply
concerned about the use of nuclear weapons and nuclear war. In 1947 the
Bulletin introduced its clock to convey the perils posed by nuclear weapons
through a simple design. The Doomsday Clock evoked both the imagery of
apocalypse (midnight) and the contemporary idiom of nuclear explosion
(countdown to zero). In 1949 Bulletin leaders realized that movement of the
minute hand would signal the organization's assessment of world events. The
decision to move the minute hand is made by the Bulletin's Board of
Directors in consultation with its Board of Sponsors, which includes 18
Nobel Laureates. The Bulletin's Doomsday Clock has become a universally
recognized indicator of the world's vulnerability to nuclear weapons and
other threats. Additional information is available on the Web at
http://www.thebulletin.org.
CONTACT: Patrick Mitchell, (703) 276-3266 or pmitchell@hastingsgroup.com.
EDITORS NOTE: A streaming audio replay of the news event will be available
on the Web at http://www.thebulletin.org as of 6 p.m. ET and 11 p.m. in
London/2300 GMT on January 17, 2007.
=========
http://www.thebulletin.org/weekly-highlight/20070117.html
=========
*****************************************************************
44 AU ABC: Nuclear canister found near highway.
17/01/2007. ABC News Online
Western Australia's Health Department has secured a canister of
radioactive material that was missing in the state for almost
two months.
The canister was found by a Main Roads crew just off the Brand
Highway, about 240 kilometres north of Perth.
Mining company Schlumberger imported it from the US in
mid-November. The canister was due to be transported to Dampier
by road but never arrived.
The Health Department issued a public plea for assistance in
locating the item, which looks like a household gas cylinder.
It warned anyone who found the canister to remain at least five
metres away to minimise exposure.
The department says the canister was found intact and confirmed
there has been no leakage of radioactive material.
It has been placed in secure storage in Perth.
*****************************************************************
45 Threats to U.S. security growing - claim
United Press International - Security &Terrorism -
1/17/2007 2:30:00 PM -0500
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Threats to U.S. national security
around the world got worse last year, a Washington think tank
said Wednesday.
"By President Bush's own admission, over the last year, 'the
violence in Iraq -- particularly in Baghdad -- overwhelmed the
political gains the Iraqis had made' and the administration's
policy unraveled as a 'slow failure,'" the Center for American
Progress, a think tank headed by Democratic President Bill
Clinton's former chief of staff John Podesta, said in a new
report Thursday.
"The chief beneficiary of the war on terror -- Iran -- grew more
belligerent, while administration allies continued to make the
case for ignoring diplomacy and embracing military confrontation
with Iraq's powerful neighbor. Sensing an opportunity in the
midst of growing instability in the region, Hezbollah provoked
Israel into a month-long bloody struggle," the report said.
Also in 2006, "North Korea accelerated its build-up of nuclear
weapons. The Taliban continued its resurgence in Afghanistan.
America's capacity to respond to these threats -- militarily,
financially, and diplomatically -- were further strained due to
the mounting costs of the U.S. occupation of Iraq," the CAP
said.
Domestically, "the United States still has not adequately
adapted to the new post-9/11 security environment, aggressively
mobilized its defenses at home, or closed known
vulnerabilities," the report said. "The recent midterm elections
have brought hopes for change, instilling a Congress that has
pledged to challenge Bush's policies on Iraq, conduct more
oversight of his national security strategy, and take action
where the Do-Nothing 109th Congress failed," the CAP said.
However, "Rather than embrace the need for a phased redeployment
from Iraq, Bush will use the State of the Union to dig in his
heels and sell an escalation plan that elicits fears that 2007
could simply be more of the same," it said.
© Copyright 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights
Reserved.
*****************************************************************
46 [NukeNet] Account for children and fetuses in radiation
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2007 15:29:18 -0800
X-Nohoney: yes white-hard - relay H=adsl-63-203-231-61.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net (192.energy-net.org) [63.203.231.61]
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X-Sender-Host-Name: adsl-63-203-231-61.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net
X-Spam-Class: HAM-VERY-WHITELIST
From Marvin I Lewis
3133 Fairfield St.
Phila., Pa 19136
215 676 1291
To Secretary
USNRC
Washington, D. C. 20555
Re PRM-51-11
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPACT/2006/November/Day-
20/i19568.htm
Dear Commissioners,
Sally Shaw filed a request for an hearing which was followed by a
Federal Register Notice. I am sending in my comments that a hearing
is necessary and why.
I also suggest that the basis which Ms Shaw presents are not
inclusive and that the hearing should allow all appropriate issues to
be heard which are not sufficiently covered in the GEIS and the
specific EISs for all older reactors. The White House has stated on
many occasions to the media that the attack upon World Trade Center
could not be predicted, and I believe that the same standard should
apply to nuclear power plants. Nuclear power plants should also
be 'hardened' against terrorist attack, aging in inadequately
engineered ways, and many other issues which have been raised in the
decades since nuclear power has issued upon the commercial scene.
For example, Commissioner Jaczko stated on 3-8-06, It is twenty yrs
later and we are still dealing with the same issue, now further
complicated by recently discovered chemical interactions with the
reactor coolant and other substances in containment,"
Com. Jaczko comments refer to nuclear power plants cooling system,
but they do relate to the fact that our knowledge increases as far as
nuclear effects are concerned.
Com Jaczko continues in the same speech," Instead we have had to do
a lot to deal with this issue (containment) and this has taken
resources away from more safety significant challenges."
The commissioner fails to specify what are the "more significant
safety issues." I believe that the public should know what
these 'more significant safety issues' are, and said issues be added
to the contentions in this hearing. I have operating nuclear power
plants near me. I have a right to know if I am safe , and if
dangerous conditions are being adequately addressed in nuclear power
plants near me. When a Commissioner on the NRC states that resources
are being taken away from 'more significant safety issues' , I want are
to see how these issues are being addressed.. To clarify my position
completely, I quote from an old movie, "IS IT SAFE?" (The Marathon
Man.)
Exploring the present knowledge vs older knowledge issue, I suggest
that the hearing explore the issues raised in several recent reports
by the BIER Committee and ICRP on the issue of radiation damage and
radiation protection.
The BEIR Report refers to the report of the Biological Effects of
Ionizing Radiation VII. This is an extensive report in which many of
the bases used in the NRC calculations for health effects are
contradicted. One item is that the NRC uses a 'standard man' as its con
basis for calculating health effects. The so-called standard man is
fully matured and healthy. BEIR VII states that risks for females and
children is much larger than for a 'standard man.' That would cause chi
the calculations for risks using the NRC's 'standard man' to be much
lower than actually experienced by a population at risk unless the
population at risk is composed totally of 'standard men.' The
population of the US has 51% women and many children who are
inaccurately considered in the risk calculations.(US Census data)
The ICRP report is a much more extensive. It also comes to the
conclusions that the risk is greater than used by the NRC. I suggest
that the latest addendums and updates to the ICRP report be used in
the proposed hearings as there are many surprises which recent
analysis have unearthed. These reports are available on the internet
at ICRP.org and ICRP refers to the International Committee on
Radiation Protection.
Another problem with the risk calculations is that only the
particular nuclear power plant in question is considered as the total
source of radiation exposure. Radiation exposure comes from many
sources and the NRC and DOE have attempted and continue to attempt to
add radiation exposures from many sources to the risk which the
public faces. This means that a resident near an atomic power plant
might be exposed to the maximum allowed from the power plant, the
maximum allowed from many separate sources such as low level
radioactive waste in sewage and low lever radioactive waste from lost
gages, and what ever and where ever.
The NRC's calculation of radiation exposures and risks reminds me of
this Administration's Iraqi war philosophy: slash and burn. Slash and thi
burn did not make us safe in the Middle East. There is no reason to
believe that the NRC's radiation risk calculations will make the
general public safe.
I wish that I could say,
Respectfully submitted,
Marvin I. Lewis, R. P. E. (Retired.)
1-17-2007
_______________________________________________________________________
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*****************************************************************
47 Deseret News: Utahns don't want this bomb
[deseretnews.com]
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Deseret Morning News editorial
Even if the bomb known as Divine Strake were completely safe, it
should not be exploded in Nevada.
That's because, in Utah, nearby bombs cannot be set off
in a vacuum. Every blast carries with it echoes from the past,
and those echoes remind too many people of loved ones who died
of strange and rare cancers after living too close to nuclear
bomb tests in the mid-20th century.
Frankly, to come back here talking about setting off a
big bomb — 700 tons of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil — even if
it isn't nuclear, is an insult to those tender memories. And the
so-called hearing the federal government held in Salt Lake City
last week — designed more to explain what is going to happen
than to hear anyone's concerns — also was an insult.
We agree with Rep. Jim Matheson and Sen. Orrin Hatch, who
reached across their own political differences and co-authored a
letter saying they are disappointed and want some real hearings,
instead. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency needs to listen to
what Utahns have to say. They need to understand the level of
frustration and distrust that exists here because promises made
years ago turned out to be false.
Divine Strake is being billed as a way to test how well
conventional weapons can penetrate underground bunkers. The
government plans to set up elaborate bunkers beneath the test
site in areas near those that once were used for underground
nuclear blasts, then set off the bomb.
It's hard to argue with the need to destroy bunkers.
Every recent bad guy from Saddam Hussein to Slobodan Milosovic
used them to escape military attacks. For that matter, Hitler
had a bunker. But in a world of computer simulations, there has
got to be a better way to do this than to once again send
mushroom clouds into the air over Utah.
Critics worry that the bomb would displace dirt that
remains contaminated from all those previous explosions. The
government says those fears are unfounded. One official went so
far as to say he would have no worries standing downwind from
the explosion with his own children.
He may be right. But Utahns have heard those kinds of
assurances before, and now they're reading about studies that
show virtually everyone in the lower 48 was affected by the
tests in the '50s and '60s.
And in the meantime, they're being treated to confusing
public meetings in which residents who get vocal are being
physically removed. At the least, Utahns deserve to be heard
respectfully. A better solution, however, would be to take the
bomb somewhere else.
© 2007 Deseret News Publishing Company
*****************************************************************
48 Spectrum: Idaho included in Divine Strake meetings
www.thespectrum.com - The Spectrum, St. George, UT
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
By SCOTT David Johnson
ST. GEORGE — The ring of public involvement in the run-up to the
proposed Divine Strake weapons test may soon widen to include
states beyond Nevada and Utah.
The Pentagon and the Department of Energy appear to have yielded
to requests from the Idaho congressional delegation to hold
public information sessions in their state on the non-nuclear
experiment slated for the Nevada Test Site. Early reports
suggest the meeting would take place somewhere in Idaho on Jan.
28.
Federal agencies have not confirmed the news. The Defense Threat
Reduction Agency and the National Nuclear Security
Administration held open houses in Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and
St. George last week but did not accept public comment in the
question-and-answer sessions.
DTRA and the NNSA will take public comment until Feb. 7 on an
environmental assessment released in December. The study
suggests the mushroom cloud produced by Divine Strake would
spread radiation to populated areas in the Southwest but not at
a level that would pose significant risk.
A group of Idaho downwinders, who are seeking compensation for
radiation exposure from previous nuclear tests, staunchly
opposes Divine Strake.
For more, please see tomorrow's edition of The Spectrum &Daily
News.
Originally published January 17, 2007 Print this article
Copyright ©2007 The Spectrum.
*****************************************************************
49 Spectrum: Public gets chance to speak
www.thespectrum.com - Spectrum, St. George, UT
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
+ St. George one of two sites for Divine Strake hearings
By PATRICE ST. GERMAIN patrices@thespectrum.com
ST. GEORGE - Responding to angry Utahns who want to make their
opinions known regarding the proposed Divine Strake test at the
Nevada Test Site, St. George will play host Thursday night to one
of two public hearings arranged by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.
The hearings will be conducted by the Utah Department of
Environmental Quality and allow residents to make public comments
about the detonation of 700 tons of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil
at the NTS.
"The reason we are holding the meetings is that the governor
feels that there needed to be more of a public process,"
communications coordinator Lisa Roskelly said. "The public will
be able to provide comment for this important issue." Comments
will be recorded by a court recorder and a transcript of the
hearings will be included with the governor's letter to the
National Nuclear Security Administration/Nevada Site Office
opposing the test.
Last week, the NNSA and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency held
public forums on the Draft December 2006 revised Environmental
Assessment for the Large-Scale Open-Air Explosive Detonation
Divine Strake at the Nevada Test Site.
Referred to by some individuals and environmental groups such as
HEAL Utah as a "dog and pony show," the open house forum did not
allow public comment, accepting only written comment about the
environmental assessment.
The Divine Strake test, while non-nuclear, is expected to create
a large cloud of dust, possibly rising 10,000 feet into the air.
The site of the proposed test at the Nevada Test Site is only a
mile from where nuclear testing was conducted beginning in the
1950s.
Residents downwind from the test site, exposed to radioactive
fallout during the nuclear testing years, are not only concerned
about new fallout from radioactive dust that may be raised by
the test, but also what the test may lead up to.
The possibility of more testing and the potential for testing to
go nuclear has many people in the state up in arms.
St. George resident Lois Iverson said she plans to attend the
public hearing Thursday.
Iverson, a lifelong resident of Southern Utah, lost two sons and
her husband to downwind-related illnesses. Her daughter has
thyroid problems.
Born and raised in Toquerville, Iverson lived in Cedar City
during the testing years.
"My daughter and I both wrote to the Department of Energy,"
Iverson said. "I also plan on being at the meeting Thursday to
say my piece if I get a chance."
Iverson's son Paul died on May 8, 2003. Three weeks later,
Iverson lost her husband Rudy.
While Iverson has a distrust of the government, which she said
continuously told residents of Southern Utah that the nuclear
testing was safe, her son Paul worked in several capacities for
the state of Nevada. He was the administrator of the Division of
Conservation and Planning for the Nevada Department of Energy,
then appointed Deputy Directory of the Department of Minerals.
Iverson was the Director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture
when he passed away.
Patricia Lee, a resident of St. George, believes the Divine
Strake issue is the first step to nuclear escalation and has
talked to many people in the area who are upset and concerned
about the proposed test.
Lee grew up in the Salt Lake area and although she has not
experienced any health problems from being a Downwinder, she has
friends who have health problems or lost family members to
Downwinder illnesses.
Lee said she has great concerns about the test - partly for what
it may lead to - and says the loss of a human life is not
acceptable.
"I am hoping that at least as many people who went to the
meeting last week will attend the meeting Thursday," Lee said.
"I have a lot of hope that we can make a difference if we stand
together strongly as a community and it's time to do that."
Originally published January 17, 2007 Print this article
+ A public hearing is from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday at Dixie State
College, Dunford Auditorium, Browning Building, 225 South 700
East, St. George. For a draft of the revised environmental
asses- sment of the Divine Strake, visit the Department of
Energy - Nevada Site Office at:
http://www.nv.doe.gov/default.htm
+ The NNSA/NSO will accept public comment on the document until
Feb. 7. Send mail to: NNSA/NSO, Divine Strake EA Comments, P.O.
Box 98518, Las Vegas, NV 89193-8518; e-mail divinestrake@
nv.doe.govor send a fax to (702) 295-0625.
Copyright ©2007 The Spectrum.
*****************************************************************
50 Spectrum: Attend meeting on test
www.thespectrum.com - The Spectrum, St. George, UT
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
The proposed Divine Strake non-nuclear weapons test conjures up
bad memories for the longtime residents of Southern Utah who
believe their government lied to them about the safety of nuclear
tests in the 1950s and '60s.
The group, known as Downwinders, has found it difficult to
believe anything the government has had to say since those tests.
They argue that their various cancers and other physical ailments
are linked to radioactive fallout created by the blasts. They -
and many others - fear that even a non-nuclear test like Divine
Strake will result in radioactive dust being recirculated in the
atmosphere, only to fall, once again, on the residents of
Southern Utah.
Even worse, they fear that Divine Strake could be a precursor to
renewed nuclear tests upwind in the Nevada desert. Critics
counter that data collected since the 1950s and '60s show that
there is no significant cause for concern. They say that
residents and others who have voiced concerns are blowing things
out of proportion because the statistics and science simply
don't point to any cause for concern.
In short, they say any tests like Divine Strake will be safe.
Whether you think the tests should be prevented, or whether you
think this talk about danger is all a bunch of bunk, it's
important that you let your voice be heard.
When a public hearing by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency was
altered into an open house format last week, Gov. Jon Huntsman
Jr.'s office intervened and set up a public hearing by the Utah
Department of Environmental Quality.
Basically, the governor's office is giving residents an
opportunity to do what the federal government failed to do: Give
people a chance to speak on the record.
Huntsman deserves kudos for the tactic, but it will do no good
if people assume someone else will do the talking for them.
The meeting will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Dunford
Auditorium on the Dixie State College campus. That's the
building behind the science building and across from the
library, both of which are accessible from 100 South.
Take the time to attend. Voice your opinion.
Regardless of your position on Divine Strake, make sure the
government hears your thoughts.
Originally published January 17, 2007 Print this article
Copyright ©2007 The Spectrum.
*****************************************************************
51 The Spectrum: Hold the government accountable
www.thespectrum.com - The Spectrum, St. George, UT
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
By REP. JIM MATHESON Guest Editorial
Confronting the government's efforts to design, develop, and-I
believe-ultimately test new nuclear weapons, has been my primary
mission as Utah's representative. I voted against funding for the
nuclear Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator or "bunker-buster" as
well as for test site readiness.
I opposed rescinding the ban on research and development of new
nuclear weapons. I introduced legislation requiring the
government to prove it is safe prior to resuming underground
nuclear tests. Now, I question the latest proposal by the Defense
Threat Reduction Agency to detonate a mammoth pile of chemical
explosives at the Nevada Test Site, 65 miles outside of Las
Vegas.
The test, dubbed Divine Strake, was approved in 2002. It is
described in a budget document as a "full-scale tunnel defeat
demonstration using high explosives to simulate a low yield
nuclear weapon ground shock environment at Department of
Energy's Nevada Test Site." Last April, I wrote to James
Tegnelia, Director of DTRA, voicing my concerns - chief among
them, that Divine Strake was being conducted in order to further
attempts to build new low-yield nuclear devices. I wrote that at
700 tons, the Divine Strake demonstration won't simulate a
conventional bomb - no bomber in the U.S. fleet can carry a
weapon that size.
In subsequent briefings, DTRA officials confirmed that this
would be a dual-purpose test - supporting research efforts to
predict damage to deep underground facilities from both
conventional and nuclear devices.
In my April 2006 letter, I asked what precautions would take
place to ensure that radioactive debris from the test site, home
to hundreds of past open-air and underground nuclear tests,
wouldn't be hurled into the atmosphere, exposing those downwind
from the blast. The government's initial environmental
assessment - issued in May prior to its original June 2006 test
date -declared that no radiation would become airborne, or
escape the Nevada Test Site. I asked to see the supporting data,
but none was produced.
At the same time, Nevada air quality officials refused to issue
state environmental permits for the test, due to insufficient
data. I shared Utahns' relief when the test was postponed
indefinitely. It seemed to me a tacit acknowledgement that
uncertainty about the health and safety risks remained.
Utahns are understandably leery when Department of Energy
officials say, in essence, "trust us, there is no danger."
During the years of above-ground testing, Southern Utah
residents were repeatedly told not to worry about ash falling
thick as snow, and strangers about town, carrying Geiger
counters. Congressional hearings and declassified documents
later showed that the testing only took place when the
prevailing winds blew the fallout towards the least-populated
areas. Subsequent health studies calculated that thousands of
deaths resulted from exposure to the radioactive fallout. The
more we look, the more damage we uncover from this era.
When in November DTRA announced moving ahead with Divine Strake
in Nevada, I again objected. I warned of unanswered questions
about the purpose of the test and the fears for health and
safety. The public open houses held in St. George and Salt Lake
City were inadequate. Last week, Sen. Orrin Hatch and I again
wrote to DTRA, requesting meetings where Utahns' questions can
be asked and answered in open session for all present to hear.
The government's latest environmental study contradicts the
first. It says radioactive particles will become airborne and
may contribute a "radiological dose" to the public, but in too
small an amount to pose a health risk. Why such a different
conclusion? What more will we find out as we continue to
question and dig?
In 1980, the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce
concluded that the Atomic Energy Commission had engaged in a
sophisticated scientific cover-up aimed at protecting the
testing program in Nevada at any cost. As a Utah Congressman, my
priority is to hold our government accountable for the health
and safety of our citizens prior to any proposed nuclear weapons
testing. We never want to go down that path of lies and betrayal
again.
Rep. Jim Matheson represents Utah's 2nd District in the House.
Originally published January 17, 2007 Print this article
Copyright ©2007 The Spectrum.
*****************************************************************
52 TribStar.com: A healthy skepticism for federal activities
News Terre Haute, Indiana-
Stephanie Salter:
Published: January 16, 2007 09:50 pm
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE
The good news is, it isnt an atomic bomb and it wont be
detonated between our own southern Indiana towns of Bedford and
Mitchell.
The bad news is, the U.S. government is champing at the bit to
explode 700 tons of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil, and the most
desirable spot is about 85 miles northwest of Las Vegas on
desert land still rich in radioactive sand and soil from nearly
five decades of nuclear tests.
Similar but smaller explosions meant to mimic so-called
bunker-buster bombs were set off in a limestone quarry between
Bedford and Mitchell in 2004 and 2005 by the Defense Threat
Reduction Agency (DTRA). DTRA is part of the U.S. Department of
Defense.
For a few months last year, the Indiana quarry was rumored to be
a possible site for the pending $23-million mega-blast, dubbed
by the feds, Divine Strake.
After concerned Hoosiers raised questions and turned to their
U.S. representative, Steve Buyer, DTRAs acting director said
the agency had no plans to conduct its Tunnel Target Defeat
experiment in the quarry.
Nevadans and folks in Utah could do the worrying instead. And
they have.
As DTRA and National Nuclear Security Administration officials
freely admit, the blast will create a 10,000-foot-tall mushroom
cloud aswirl in dust and debris. Originally scheduled for June
2006, it has twice been postponed, thanks to lawsuits by a tribe
of Western Shoshone Indians, environmentalists and a lot of
just-folks who live downwind from the proposed site.
Rather than public hearings, which are what opponents of the
test have requested, the two federal agencies recently decided
to conduct informational open houses in various Utah and
Nevada cities. Less-than satisfied with that prospect, Utah Gov.
John Huntsman Jr. instructed his states Department of
Environmental Quality to conduct its own public hearings on
Divine Strake.
(The name combines the notion of divinity with the nautical and
aeronautical term strake, a part of a ship or plane that helps
control water or air flow.)
The primary concern of people in Utah and Nevada and nuclear
test watchers around the globe is radioactive debris that will
be stirred up and released to the winds by such a huge explosion.
How big is 700 tons? In comparison, the ammonium nitrate and oil
bomb Timothy McVeigh used to destroy the Murrah federal office
building in Oklahoma City was 2.5 tons.
Opponents fears were intensified in Las Vegas last week by an
eight-page report from a data analyst with the Clark County
(Nevada) Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management.
Algirdas Leskys, the analyst, said government predictions of the
post-blast situation failed to consider microscopic airborne
particles that could travel long distances, carrying their
radioactivity with them.
Assurances to the contrary by DTRA and the National Nuclear
Security Administration have done little to assuage suspicion.
To generations of Nevada and Utah residents, the government has
a long history of misinformation and disinformation where
nuclear testing is concerned.
The National Nuclear Security Administrations official
environmental assessment of Divine Strake may predict a harmless
mushroom cloud that will dissipate within 13 miles of the blast,
but folks arent buying it.
Shelley Berkley, a state representative from Las Vegas, told her
local newspaper, The Sun, As a Nevadan who lived through the
nuclear testing era, I have a healthy skepticism for federal
officials who say there is nothing to worry about when it comes
to protecting public safety or the environment.
Norma Matheson, the widow of former Utah governor Scott
Matheson, echoed similar feelings to an NBC radio news reporter
last week. Convinced with other family members that her
husbands fatal cancer was caused by his long exposure to atomic
fallout in the Iron County area, Matheson said government
officials insist that Divine Strake is going to be perfectly
safe, and I keep thinking, Where have we heard this before?
A story earlier this month in a Utah daily newspaper, the
Spectrum of St. George, offered an example of why, even now, the
government is so mistrusted.
While the nuclear security administration has withdrawn its
finding of no significant impact from its original
environmental assessment of Divine Strake, the Spectrum said,
it wasnt done until members of Congress got involved and a
lawsuit was filed against the former Secretary of Defense Donald
Rumsfeld; Linton Brooks, director of the National Nuclear
Security Administration, and James Tegnelia, DTRA director, by
the Western Shoshone Tribe.
Another fear of the tests opponents is that Divine Strake is
the first domino in a long line that leads to resumed nuclear
explosions in and around the Nevada Test Site. The United States
stopped atomic tests in 1992, and in 2005 Congress banned any
testing at all that is meant to advance nuclear weapons.
DTRA and Defense Department officials maintain they are
adhering to the law and that Divine Strake is about conventional
weapons that could penetrate deeply into the earth and destroy
nuclear arsenals in ultra-protected storage areas. Skeptics of
the government counter that the only way to deliver a 700-ton
conventional bomb would be by truck, an unlikely transport
system to be used against an enemy.
Last spring, Doug Bruder, a DTRA official, fanned the flames of
that skepticism while touring the Nevada Test Site with
reporters. According to Launce Rake of the Las Vegas Sun, Bruder
said that Divine Strake could simulate a number of weapons
concepts.
It could be nuclear or advanced conventional, the Sun quoted
Bruder, who added, A charge of this size would be more related
to a nuclear weapon.
Stephanie Salter can be reached at (812) 231-4229 or
stephanie.salter@tribstar.com.
© 1995-2007, The Tribune Star, 222 South 7th Street, Terre
Haute, Indiana 47807 " Phone: (812) 231-4200 Advertising "
• •
Associated Press content © 2007. All rights reserved.
*****************************************************************
53 KTRV: Informational Meeting Planned on Divine Strake
Boise, Idaho News, FOX 12 -
Boise, Idaho -- Idahoans concerned about potential radioactive
fallout from an experiment in Nevada will get a chance to hear
more about the plans firsthand.
A public information session is scheduled for Sunday, January 28
in Boise. The time and location are still being worked out.
Officials from the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the
National Security Agency will be there to talk about the
experiment, which is proposed for later this year.
.gif"> All content © Copyright 2000 - 2007 WorldNow and KTRV.
All Rights Reserved.
*****************************************************************
54 times and star: Five contaminated at nuke plant
workington lake district
Published on 17/01/2007
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after five Sellafield workers
were contaminated at the plant.
BNFL said today that an incident had occurred in a rod
fabrication room within the Sellafield MOX Plant during night
shift on Wednesday, January 10.
It resulted in contamination to five British Nuclear Group
employees and some residual contamination within the room.
The employees involved received successful decontamination
treatment on site and were allowed to return home.
Reassurance sampling has also been undertaken to ensure that no
contamination has been ingested into the employees’ bodies.
Operations within the rod fabrication room were suspended and
the affected area was secured.
A BNFL spokeswoman said: “We have and will continue to
concentrate on the well being and reassurance of the individuals
affected.”
The level of contamination is not yet known.
www.timesandstar.co.uk/digitalcopy
*****************************************************************
55 [NukeNet] FLASH ACTION! ANTI-MOX LETTER group sign-ons
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2007 15:29:38 -0800
X-Nohoney: yes white-hard - relay H=adsl-63-203-231-61.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net (192.energy-net.org) [63.203.231.61]
X-Sender-Host-Address: 63.203.231.61
X-Sender-Host-Name: adsl-63-203-231-61.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net
X-Spam-Class: HAM-VERY-WHITELIST
NukeNet Anti-Nuclear Network (nukenet@energyjustice.net)
FYI - I hope you all will sign on to this letter. Remember reply to
atom.girl@mindspring.com not to me!!! Molly
Hey Molly,
Tom Clements and Ed Lyman have drafted this great letter to press The Hill
to cancel the MOX program and support plutonium immobilization in the
upcoming continuing resolution meetings for Fiscal Year 2007.
DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY 10 a.m. for sign-ons. We will fax the letter Friday
morning and put out a press advisory. The letter we sent to Hobson
thanking
him for cancelling MOX and funding immobilization had 80 sign-ons! You
signed that one and we hope you can rally quickly to sign this one, too.
Please send your sign up information directly to me at
atom.girl@mindspring.com
Thanks,
Glenn
*
Attention: Appropriations Staffer
January XX, 2007
Senator Robert Byrd
Representative David Obey
Chairmen, Appropriations Committees
U.S. Congress
Washington, DC
IN BOLD & UNDERLINED & CENTERED: Elimination of DOEąs Plutonium Fuel
(MOX)
Program & Support for Plutonium Vitrification
Dear Chairmen Byrd and Obey,
As you assume the chairs of your respective Appropriations Committees and
address budget issues under the continuing resolution (CR) for Fiscal Year
2007, we are are writing to express our strong support for the elimination
of the Department of Energy´s (DOE) costly plutonium fuel (also called
mixed
oxide or MOX) program now being considered for the Savannah River Site
(SRS). In addition, we want to affirm support for a significant increase
in funding for the program to immobilize the U.S. ex-weapons plutonium
stockpile with high-level radioactive waste.
Given the extreme constraints imposed on the FY 2007 budget by the CR,
major
savings can be made by eliminating the MOX program, which may be the most
expensive single project now being managed by DOE. The proposed MOX plant
alone is estimated to cost around $4 billion, and given DOE's poor track
record, the costs are sure to rapidly escalate over the coming years. By
eliminating the long-troubled MOX program, efforts can now be focused on
the
immobilization of plutonium at SRS, which according to DOE's own estimates
would be cheaper than MOX for handling all excess plutonium.
The nation cannot afford to pursue both immobilization and MOX. Since
immobilization is capable of disposing of both pure and impure plutonium,
while the MOX option is not, the choice of immobilization as the right
path
forward is clear. Moreover, immobilization also poses fewer environmental
and proliferation risks than the MOX option.
As you know, the Republican-controlled House voted last year to eliminate
the MOX program, but the Senate failed to act on this matter. We
recognize
the wisdom of this bi-partisan decision by the House and suggest that you
take it into full consideration during your decision-making process. The
budget for MOX should be zeroed out for FY 2007 and a shut-down of the MOX
program should be funded from unspent prior-year balances. In the final FY
2007 Appropriations language, we urge you to state that DOE should
immediately begin to terminate the MOX program, halt efforts to begin
construction of the MOX plant at SRS, and choose immobilization as the
preferred option for plutonium disposition. This decision should also
prevail in your deliberations on the FY 2008 DOE budget which is soon to
be
presented to Congress.
Pursuit of a U.S. MOX program for the last ten years has failed to have
the
intended impact of leading to the development of a parallel program in
Russia. The G-8 has refused to fully fund the Russian MOX plant, the
Russian Duma has failed to ratify the liability agreement, and the
Russians
have affirmed that they have no interest in a parallel program using MOX
in
their light-water reactors, instead are pushing for construction of a
costly
new plutonium breeder reactor, the BN-800, which they hope the U.S. will
build for them under the auspices of the misguided and stumbling Global
Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP).
As a coalition of national and regional groups concerned about the
environment, the economy and the proliferation of nuclear weapons, we have
been deeply troubled by DOE's blind pursuit of the problem-plagued MOX
program despite clear warning signs of its impending failure. We hope that
you will now take the opportunity to restore close oversight over this
expensive program and take action to guarantee that DOE quickly gets on
with
immobilization of surplus plutonium at SRS.
We thank you for taking our views into consideration and look forward to
your making the sound fiscal decision to eliminate the MOX program once
and
for all.
Sincerely,
cc:
Senator Thad Cochran, Ranking Member, Senate Appropriations
Rep. Jerry Lewis, Ranking Member, House Appropriations
Rep. Peter Visclosky, Chair, Energy & Water Subcommittee
Rep. David Hobson, E & W Subcommittee
Signed,
Tom Clements
Nuclear Watch South
Dr. Edwin S. Lyman
Senior Staff Scientist
Union of Concerned Scientists
Posted:
--
Glenn Carroll
Coordinator
NUCLEAR WATCH SOUTH
(formerly GANE - Georgians Against Nuclear Energy)
P.O. Box 8574
Atlanta, GA 31106
PHONE/FAX: 404-378-4263
atom.girl@mindspring.com
http://www.nonukesyall.org/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Each of the Iraqi children killed by the United States was our child. Each
of the prisoners tortured in Abu Ghraib was our comrade. Each of their
screams was ours. When they were humiliated, we were humiliated. The U.S.
soldiers fighting in Iraq - mostly volunteers in a poverty draft from small
towns and poor urban neighborhoods - are victims just as much as the Iraqis
of the same horrendous process, which asks them to die for a victory that
will never be theirs": Source: Arundhati Roy, "Tide? Or Ivory Snow? Public
Power in the Age of Empire,"
Molly Johnson
6290 Hawk Ridge Place
San Miguel, CA 93451
Cell: 805 296-0524
Food
fight? Enjoy some healthy debate
in the
Yahoo!
Answers Food & Drink Q&A.
_______________________________________________________________________
Subscribe/Unsubscribe Here: http://www.energyjustice.net/nukenet/
Change your settings or access the archives at:
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*****************************************************************
56 Las Vegas SUN: AP Ahead: EPA orders ARCO to begin to clean up toxic Nevada mine
Today: January 17, 2007 at 16:35:13 PST
By SCOTT SONNER ASSOCIATED PRESS
RENO, Nev. (AP) - After years of delay, federal regulators have
ordered Atlantic Richfield Co. to take the first major step
toward cleaning up contamination at a huge abandoned copper mine
in northern Nevada that they say poses an "imminent and
substantial" threat.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's order to determine
the extent of the contamination replaces voluntary cleanup
efforts and is the most significant to date at the half-century
old Anaconda Co. mine, EPA officials told The Associated Press
on Wednesday.
The order stems primarily from studies in 2003 that found the
soil and groundwater had been contaminated with uranium,
apparently a radioactive byproduct of decades of chemical
processing of copper at the mine site that covers six square
miles, the agency said. The mine also is polluted with arsenic,
beryllium, lead, mercury and selenium.
The potential Superfund site borders the town of Yerington and
is near the Yerington Paiute Tribe Reservation, about 60 miles
southeast of Reno.
Cleanup plans have been the source of contentious negotiations
between EPA, the Bureau of Land Management, the state of Nevada,
Atlantic Richfield, neighboring residents and tribes, as well as
a BLM whistleblower who claims he was fired after he complained
about an alleged cover-up of the health and safety risks at the
toxic mine.
Atlantic Richfield officials said they were caught by surprise
by the order, which was signed on Friday but not made public
until late Tuesday.
The company has been "negotiating with EPA for months" on a
voluntary agreement to do the "same scope of work," said Cindy
Wymore, a spokeswoman for its parent, BP.
"We were ready to sign off on an agreement to do that work. EPA
had the paperwork," she said by telephone from Yerington. "We
don't know if it is posturing or what."
Wymore said EPA wants to add the site to the U.S. Superfund list
over the objections of Atlantic Richfield and the state of
Nevada.
"Maybe this is part of their P-R effort," she said.
Officials for the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
had not seen the order and had no immediate comment, spokesman
Dante Pistoni said.
EPA officials said the new action does not put the site on the
Superfund list nor is the agency seeking such status, though it
remains an option.
"This lays out the road map for how to investigate the entire
site, look at what kind of contamination is out there - what
kind of risk we have out there and what to do to clean it up,"
said Jim Sickles, EPA's remedial project manager at the site.
Kathleen Johnson, chief of EPA's Superfund branch managing the
site, said the study the agency ordered "is a necessary step in
addressing imminent and substantial threats from hazardous
substances."
Local residents and environmentalists primarily blame Atlantic
Richfield for the slow pace of cleanup efforts at the mine,
which closed for good in January 2000.
Vince Conway, chairman of the Yerington Paiute Tribe, and others
said they've been concerned about the quality of the company's
proposed plans and are glad to see EPA taking action.
"We think that ARCO has failed to move ahead on the site with
enough urgency and are supportive of the EPA's efforts to speed
up the remediation," added Dan Randolph, executive director of
the Great Basin Mine Watch, a nonprofit watchdog group based in
Reno.
A group of concerned citizens organized by a woman who lives
across the street from the mine site, Peggy Pauly, also
applauded the move.
"We feel EPA has been too patient," the Yerington Community
Action Group said in a statement.
Sickles confirmed EPA has been discussing a voluntary agreement
with Atlantic Richfield since June and "we actually have been
getting some forward motion from those folks."
"But the agreement is set to start the first of February and the
idea was to go ahead and ensure we could get a workable deadline
for all parties involved so this moves ahead," he told AP.
Sickles said if a voluntary agreement is reached by the end of
the month, it would replace the formal order.
"That is better for all parties. If not, this is another way to
make it happen," he said.
Actual cleanup of the site is expected to take several years and
cost tens of millions of dollars.
"The investigation alone we are estimating will take three to
five years and that doesn't get you to the remedy. That just
gets you to where you know what the remedy is," Sickles said.
Work at some similar sites goes on for decades, he said. The
Yerington site is especially complicated because it's so big and
has radiological contamination in addition to the usual heavy
metals and acid drainage.
"It's definitely what they call a `megasite,' which means
cleanup will probably be more than $50 million," Sickles said.
An administrative law judge for the U.S. Labor Department ruled
in September that a former BLM manager at the site, Earle Dixon,
was illegally fired for speaking out about dangers at the mine,
including unsafe levels of uranium he claims state regulators
knew about but covered up since 1984.
The BLM is appealing the law judge's ruling. BLM spokesman
Richard Brown said the agency had no comment on the new order.
All contents copyright 2005 Las Vegas SUN, Inc.
*****************************************************************
57 SignOnSanDiego.com: Fixing landfill to cost millions
Base closed dump over seepage fears
By Rick Rogers
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
January 17, 2007
Camp Pendleton faces a multimillion-dollar bill to fix a dump
that threatens water supplies and has been called the greatest
engineering failure of its kind in San Diego County history.
The Las Pulgas Landfill, situated near the base's central area,
was expanded in 1999 to hold decades' worth of trash. But shoddy
construction has turned the dump into a money pit.
Marine officials had to close the site in 2003. It will now cost
$5.5 million to $29.4 million to address problems such as the
landfill's ruptured liner, according to a new study commissioned
by Camp Pendleton and obtained by The San Diego Union-Tribune.
That's on top of the $2.3 million already spent to enlarge the
landfill and the $400,000 for emergency measures to trap
hundreds of thousands of gallons of hazardous waste including
radioactive material and heavy metals that have gushed from
the site.
Government regulators fear such runoff could foul drinking-water
wells and aquifers located just a few miles from the dump.
Camp Pendleton has a vital interest in operating the landfill
safely . . . and that includes the long-term interest of using
the water in the Las Pulgas Basin, said John H. Robertus,
executive officer of the San Diego Regional Water Quality
Control Board.
Agency and Camp Pendleton officials will meet today to discuss
land-use issues on the base. They plan to briefly mention the
landfill report, which was compiled by the Pasadena-based
consulting firm Tetra Tech Inc. More in-depth meetings about Las
Pulgas are expected to follow.
We share a common interest in the beneficial uses of
groundwater in that area, said Robertus, a retired Marine
colonel from Camp Pendleton. I don't think we are going to have
a hard time resolving this.
Once the water board and Camp Pendleton agree on a landfill fix,
Marine officials will hire a contractor to do the work.
LAURA EMBRY / Union-Tribune file photo Some of the liquid
contained at the Las Pulgas Landfill has levels of zinc and
nickel high enough to qualify as hazardous waste.
Proposed repairs include placing a liner system on top of the
existing garbage. This would be the cheapest option, at an
estimated $5.5 million to $7.3 million, Tetra Tech said.
The remedy here appears to be limiting leaching by blocking the
infiltration of liquid from the top. That's a fairly standard
approach, said Lenny Siegel, director of the Center for Public
Environmental Oversight in Mountain View. At some point,
however, it may fail. That's why it's important that the
monitoring plan barely mentioned (by Tetra Tech) be robust,
and that there be a contingency plan to address major failures.
The most expensive strategy, pegged at $14 million to $29.4
million, would entail removing the roughly 250,000 cubic yards
of garbage already in the landfill and then permanently closing
the dump.
We are concerned with the deficiencies identified (at Las
Pulgas) . . . and are eager to find a solution that prevents any
potential impacts to the environment, Camp Pendleton officials
said in a recent statement.
During the late 1990s, the Marines decided to add a 17-acre
section to the 39-acre landfill and relied on contractors to do
the project and monitor the work.
The contractors, whom the Marine Corps hasn't publicly
identified, installed a liner in May 1999 to prevent the dump's
contaminants from seeping into the ground, according to records
from the water board.
The first hint of problems with the liner came when the Marines
failed to submit an inspection report that summer. When base
officials did turn in a report in December, it was incomplete,
the water board said.
Then in April 2003, the agency cited Camp Pendleton for erosion
and runoff from the dump. The landfill closed that year after
leachate and tritium, a radioactive isotope, gushed from it
during heavy rains.
The Marines have stored about 300,000 gallons of leachate in
large bladders and a metal tank at the site. Some of the liquid
contained levels of zinc and nickel high enough to qualify as
hazardous waste.
Over the years, water board officials have cited engineering
gaffes that likely caused the landfill's problems. For example,
the builders created a liner system with rocks larger than those
specified in the blueprint. These bigger rocks may have caused
holes and rips in the liner, the water board said.
There has never been a cleanup order in this county that has
dealt with construction deficiencies like what we've seen at Las
Pulgas, John Odermatt, a senior engineering geologist for the
agency, has said. I have never seen an engineering-related
problem this large at another landfill.
Rick Rogers: (760) 476-8212; rick.rogers@uniontrib.com
Copyright 2007 Union-Tribune Publishing Co. • A Copley Newspaper
*****************************************************************
58 Salt Lake Tribune: EnergySolutions likely to see bill action again
Radioactive waste
By Judy Fahys
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 01/17/2007 12:26:47 AM MST
State law has complicated EnergySolutions' plans to grow up and
out.
The company is fighting at the Utah Supreme Court to
increase the boundary at its Utah hazardous and radioactive
waste site, and its bid to pile waste higher has stirred
opposition, too.
Sen. Darrin Peterson, a Republican whose district includes
the disposal site, has a bill, requested by the company, to make
growing easier, with less legal tussling and paperwork, as long
as the radioactivity of the waste goes no higher than levels
currently permitted.
"I don't think they should have to go and get a new permit
in their existing facility," says the Nephi lawmaker.
Although Peterson's bill is still being drafted, he said the
legislation won't affect the two pending expansion requests.
EnergySolutions said the bill only restores old wording that
will simplify changes at the mile-square site.
Meanwhile, Sen. Howard Stephenson is thinking about
reprising his 2006 bill to eliminate the governor's ability to
veto expansion of a waste site.
Stephenson said he is not sure whether to go forward with a
bill or to attach his measure to another, like Peterson's. Last
year's version, SB70, died in the final hours of the session
when the House failed to vote on overriding Gov. Jon Huntsman
Jr.'s veto.
"All I'm interested in is the constitutional
question," said the Draper Republican, who says current law
gives the governor too much authority on creating new waste
sites and expanding existing ones.
EnergySolutions operates two of the nation's three
commercial low-level radioactive waste sites. Its Utah landfill,
80 miles west of Salt Lake City, has accepted more than 6
million cubic yards of low-level waste, enough to fill the
EnergySolutions Arena, the home of the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake
City, at least 10 times.
fahys@sltrib.com
SB70Last year, the governor vetoed it. But the bill making it
easier for Utah's radioactive waste disposal site to grow may be
back this year in a couple of different measures that have yet
to be introduced. Next step: bills may be drafted.
"All I'm interested in is the constitutional question."
SEN. HOWARD STEPHENSON
Draper Republican, who says current law gives the governor
too much authority on creation of new waste sites
© Copyright 2006, The Salt Lake Tribune.
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59 Newswise: Nuclear Waste Land
Source: IEEE Spectrum Magazine
Released: Wed 17-Jan-2007, 17:00 ET
DescriptionPermanent burial of nuclear wastes is a cumbersome
process, but nuclear advocates in the United States say there's
a better solution--based on recycling of spent nuclear fuels.
Newswise As it happens, there is now an ideal test case to
evaluate that enticing proposition. France, which has never
backed away from nuclear energy, has long relied on reprocessing
as the linchpin of its nuclear electricity system. France's
chemical processing of nuclear waste takes place at La Hague, on
the country's west coast, where a sprawling facility was
upgraded in the 1970s and 1980s. At that time, France cut a deal
with five countries--Belgium, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands,
and Switzerland--to finance its modernization. In exchange,
France agreed to reprocess those countries' spent fuel and
return their separated plutonium, so as to reduce high-level
waste volumes and provide additional fresh nuclear fuel.
Even some of the nuclear industry's most tenacious opponents
acknowledge that the result is a technical marvel. The leader of
Greenpeace France's antinuclear program, Yannick Rousselet, says
he no longer cites technical challenges in his criticism of La
Hague.
But despite that record of technical success, the La Hague
business has lost much of its shine during the past decade.
France's European partners rethought the wisdom of their
investment in La Hague and, one by one, stopped shipping their
spent fuel. From its 1997 to 1998 peak of 1700 metric tons per
year, La Hague's throughput sharply decreased by 2003 to an
average of 1100 metric tons per year. The ultimate cause for the
slump traces back to the demise of the next-generation reactors
designed to consume La Hague's plutonium, the so-called fast
breeders.
France made the most serious effort of any country to build such
reactors, but its full-scale commercial prototype ended in
failure. The net result: reprocessing as practiced in France
does not achieve the dramatic reductions in nuclear waste
volumes originally advertised.
© 2007 Newswise. All Rights Reserved.
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60 Albuquerque Tribune: Sandia Labs covering toxic waste causes stir
Associated Press
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
An environmental group is complaining about work Sandia National
Laboratories is doing to cover a toxic waste dump, but state
Environment Department officials say the work is allowed.
Citizen Action - which filed a court challenge seeking the
waste's removal - contended Sandia has begun constructing a dirt
and vegetation cover for the dump at Kirtland Air Force Base
although the New Mexico Environment Department did not approve
it.
James Bearzi, chief of the department's hazardous waste bureau,
said Tuesday the work at Sandia was approved last September.
"It's a narrow aspect of the preparation for building the cover"
that involves laying dirt to smooth over the landfill's surface
to prevent water runoff, he said.
"We didn't get any public comments on this aspect of the plan,
one way or the other," Bearzi said. "We also didn't have any
concerns."
Sandia officials have said the landfill doesn't contain enough
waste to warrant a cleanup.
The state rejected Sandia's overall plan last November because
some parts needed clarification and others needed changing,
Bearzi said. State officials currently are evaluating Sandia's
responses, he said.
Environmental covers have proved to be effective, particularly
in climates like New Mexico's, Bearzi said.
Sandia's current work does not impede its ability to monitor and
do sampling at the site, said lab spokesman Will Keener.
Environment Secretary Ron Curry said the monitoring system is
working.
"If groundwater or air were in danger of being contaminated by
waste from the landfill, we would know about it," he said.
Citizen Action has had a challenge before the state Court of
Appeals since 2005 against Curry's decision to leave toxic and
radioactive waste in the landfill. The group contends the waste
poses a danger to Albuquerque's water and air, and wants it
removed. HAVE YOUR SAY
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© 2007 The Albuquerque Tribune
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61 Monticello Times: MPUC denies requests to reconsider site storage
1/17/2007 2:22:00 PM
Environmental groups present concerns about long-term risks
By Kathleen Ostroot News Editor
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission decided Thursday, Dec.
14, not to reconsider the approval for Xcel Energy to store
spent fuel at the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant made by two
petitions.
One, from the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA)
and Fresh Energy, made Tuesday, Nov. 14, and the other by North
American Water Office (NAWO), made Thursday, Nov. 16, asked the
commission to reconsider a September decision to permit Xcel
Energy to store 30 radioactive nuclear waste concrete casks at
the nuclear power plant in Monticello. The $55 million proposal
is to build a storage building that would hold the casks.
The environmental groups presented concerns that the storage
will be permanent, not temporary, and pose a substantial risk
from either leaks or as a target for terrorists.
Monticello's 40-year operating license expires in 2010, at which
time the plant will need to store the spent rods in casks. For
that reason, Xcel sought permission from the federal government
to extend the operating license of the power plant another 20
years, which would not be possible unless the storage plan is in
place.
Nevertheless, the environmentalists argue that these casks could
become permanent, since no federal site for nuclear waste
disposal has been established, and that even if the Yucca
Mountain storage site eventually is permitted, it may be full
before it could accept Monticello's nuclear waste. The state of
Nevada is protesting further development of the storage facility.
The groups asked that the permit for the casks be denied and
that Xcel work on shutting down the plant in 2010 and replacing
its power. Their request asked Xcel to consider alternatives for
power, primarily increased energy efficiency and using more wind
power, stating that those alternatives are cheaper than the
long-term storage and maintenance of the casks. The request
concluded with MCEA/Fresh Air stating that the commission should
determine that Xcel Energy has not met the criteria for the
issuance of a certificate of need, or, in the alternative, grant
the conditions as set out by the groups.
According to Xcel Energy, the arguments in the petitions are
essentially the same as those made previously before the
administrative law judge and the commission. The company
requested that the commission deny the request for
reconsideration, indicating that the decisions by the law judge
and commission met the state requirements, determining that the
facility is temporary and would meet the storage needs of the
Monticello plant until a federal repository is available. In
addition, Xcel stated that the requests were unnecessary and
went beyond the scope of the certificate of need processing.
The Legislature can opt to review the decisions during the 2007
session. No building can take place until after that.
Copyright 2006, Monticello Times Software ©
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62 CBC: Nuclear waste disposal plan could come within months
Canada
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 | 9:53 AM ET
CBC News
A decision on how to store Canada's nuclear waste could come as
early as this summer, said a spokesperson for the federal
minister of natural resources.
Canada is running out of storage room at its nuclear power
stations, but the controversial issue hasn't been in the
political spotlight since a 2005 report suggested waste be buried
deep in the ground. [A plan to deal with waste from nuclear power
plants like the one in Pickering, east of Toronto, could be a
political hot potato this year.] A plan to deal with waste from
nuclear power plants like the one in Pickering, east of Toronto,
could be a political hot potato this year. (Kevin Frayer/
Canadian Press)
It received some high-profile attention Tuesday, however, when
Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion was asked whether he supports
increased use of nuclear power during a speech to Toronto's
business community.
"As long as I'm not able to look Canadians in the eyes and say
I'm comfortable with the waste, I will not recommend it," he
said.
Canada's nuclear industry says there's already a safe plan to
deal with radioactive waste.
In a report handed to the federal government in November 2005,
the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) recommended
spent fuel rods be buried for a million years. The plan said the
material could be retrieved at any time in case new technology
provided a better way to dispose of it.
Kathleen Olson, the director of communications for Natural
Resources Minister Gary Lunn says he has been reviewing the plan
and will soon take it to cabinet.
Nuclear energy is one of Lunn's priorities for the new year,
said Olson, who said she expects a decision on the waste
recommendations will be made within six months.
"I think there's considerable potential for it to be a hot
potato," she said.
Mark Winfield, with the Alberta-based environmental research
group the Pembina Institute, said the timing could conflict with
an expected spring election.
"One could imagine that the government would be sensitive to the
notion of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization attempting
to initiate conversations with host communities all over
Northern Ontario, Quebec [or] Manitoba in the middle of an
election campaign," said Winfield.
Moving the waste to its new home would affect communities around
the storage facility, he said.
"It's estimated that there would be two to three truckloads a
day, every working day for 30 years, to move material to a
central storage facility."
The president of the Canadian Nuclear Association downplays the
concerns, saying other countries bury radioactive waste in
geological repositories.
"That is, in fact, what has been done in Sweden and Finland [and
is] being planned in France," said Murray Elston.
The report recommended the eventual storage site come from one
of the four provinces involved in nuclear fuel production —
New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan. The NWMO is
made up of energy executives from those four provinces.
Saskatchewan is the world's biggest producer of uranium used in
nuclear power plants. The other three provinces have nuclear
plants.
Copyright © CBC 2007
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63 KFDA: Hot waste one step closer to WIPP
NewsChannel 10 / Amarillo, TX: newschannel10.com -
CARLSBAD, N.M. The U-S Environmental Protection Agency has
removed one of the final roadblocks to shipping radioactive waste
that's handled by robotic machines to the federal government's
nuclear waste dump near Carlsbad.The E-P-A has approved
preparations by Idaho National Laboratory, which wants to ship
the high-level nuclear waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant,
called WIPP.A spokesman for WIPP says the federal agency still
must certify a computer system that keeps track of shipments.Last
year, state Environment Secretary Ron Curry and Governor
Richardson approved the U-S Energy Department's application for a
permit modification to allow shipments of the waste.WIPP
currently stores low-level waste.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
.gif"> All content © Copyright 2000 - 2007 WorldNow and KFDA.
All Rights Reserved.
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64 NewsBlaze : Secretary Bodman to Celebrate Closure of Three Ohio Cleanup Sites
Ashtabula, Columbus and Fernald Sites Set to Close
On Friday, January 19, 2007, U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel W.
Bodman will deliver remarks at a ceremony to mark the completion
of environmental cleanup at three former nuclear research and
materials production sites in Ohio.
The Department of Energy's "Ohio Environmental Remediation and
Safe Closure Sites Celebration" will be held at the former
Fernald site to commemorate the safe completion of the Fernald
Closure Project, Battelle Memorial Institute's Columbus Closure
Project and the RMI Titanium Company's Ashtabula Closure
Project.
NOTE: Media should confirm attendance to William Taylor no later
than 5pm January 18, 2007. Media should plan to arrive at the
event site no later than 10:30am to allow time for check in.
Media should proceed to the Preserve entrance (off Route 128) at
7400 Willey Road and will be directed to the reserved parking.
WHO: U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen L. Johnson
U.S. Senator George Voinovich (R-OH)
Office of Management and Budget Director Rob Portman
WHAT: Ohio Environmental Remediation and Safe Closure Sites
Celebration
WHEN: Friday, January 19, 2007
11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Fernald Silos Warehouse
7400 Willey Road
Crosby Township, Ohio
Source: U.S. Department of Energy
judythpiazza@gmail.com
Copyright © 2006, NewsBlaze, Daily News
Secretary Bodman to Celebrate Closure of Three Ohio Cleanup
Sites'> _ _
Copyright © 2004-2006 NewsBlaze LLC
*****************************************************************
65 Whitehaven News: Six BNFL workers in radiation incidents
Published on 17/01/2007
SIX men have been exposed to radioactive contamination
in two separate incidents at Sellafield in the space of 48 hours.
Five of the British Nuclear Group workers were contaminated in
the Sellafield SMP plant, which recycles plutonium. It is
believed the contamination arose from a fractured package last
Wednesday in the plant’s rod fabrication room. Contamination
was also found in the room, which was sealed off.
BNG said yesterday: “The employees involved all returned home
following successful decontamination treatment on site.
Reassurance sampling has been undertaken and will be assessed in
due course. Operations in the rod fabrication room were
suspended right away and a dedicated recovery team is being put
in place to execute a safe recovery plan.”
BNG is still investigating the cause of the incident but
stressed: “We will continue to concentrate on the well-being
and reassurance of the individuals affected.”
The other worker was contaminated the previous day after
carrying out decommissioning in a redundant plant for
fabricating fast-breeder reactor fuel. His exposure to radiation
was discovered after he took a shower at the end of his shift.
British Nuclear Group said he was fully protected against
radiation but after his shower a hole was found in the hood of
his “Windscale suit” and this allowed radiation to
contaminate his skin.
Although all six have returned to the site they have been taken
off work in the “active” area pending test results.
View this story and the latest newspaper in full digital
reproduction, just like the printed copy at
www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/digitalcopy
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66 Inside Bay Area: Protest lodged over lab contract
Rejected applicants claim 'improper and biased handling' of bid
By Sam Richards, MEDIANEWS STAFF
Last Updated: 01/17/2007 02:37:20 AM PST
LIVERMORE — A team of organizations that includes a
Livermore-based watchdog group filed a formal protest Tuesday
with the U.S. Department of Energy, claiming "improper and biased
handling" of their bid to manage Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.
The proposal was submitted by GREEN LLC, led by the weapons-lab
watchdog groups Livermore-based Tri-Valley Citizens Against a
Radioactive Environment and Nuclear Watch of New Mexico. They
claim their bid, was rejected without proper consideration by
DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration on grounds that
were "factually incorrect, unsubstantiated, biased and
prejudicial, contrary to regulations and/or easily corrected."
Also submitting bids to operate the Livermore lab were teams led
by the University of California and Bechtel National, and
another led by defense contractor Northrop Grumman.
The GREEN LLC group asserts its operations bid was not treated
the same as the other two bids, and that instead NNSA officials
"acted in a biased and prejudicial manner" in dismissing its
proposal.
The GREEN LLC group seeks reinstatement as an active competitor
for the lab's management contract, as well as suspension of the
NNSA's procurement process until the GREEN LLC group is restored
as an equal bidder.
Marylia Kelley, executive director of Tri-Valley CAREs, said in
October that her group never expected the Energy Department to
choose GREEN LLC's bid, but she said the bid was strong.
"It's not that our bid isn't taken seriously, but there's a
philosophical and political difference of opinion with the (NNSA)
as to the mission of the lab," Kelley said.
NNSA spokespeople in Livermore could not be reached for comment
late Tuesday afternoon about the protest.
A new operating contract for Lawrence Livermore is expected to
be awarded this year.
Notice: InsideBayArea.com reserves the right to delete
© 2000-2006 ANG Newspapers
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67 Daily News: Radioactive animal carcasses reburied at Hanford
Wednesday January 17, 2007
RICHLAND, Wash. - Carcasses of animals used in radiological
experiments at Hanford are among more than 40,000 tons of waste
workers dug up and reburied on the nuclear reservation.
Closure Hanford remediation manager Mark Buckmaster told the
Hanford Advisory Board last week that up to 1,000 animals at a
time were kept at a farm near F Reactor along the banks of the
Columbia River.
They included rodents, cats, dogs, cows, sheep, goats, pigs and
alligators. No alligator carcasses were found, however. The
remains and wastes were buried in large trenches.
The waste was reburied at the Environmental Restoration Disposal
Facility, a lined landfill for low-level radioactive waste on
the nuclear reservation.
The animal experiments started during World War II to learn the
effect of radiation on people. Some were planned to learn about
the health effects of radiation on workers, while others were
for military purposes, Hanford records indicate.
The farm continued to operate during the Cold War into the 1970s.
Buckmaster said about 95 percent of the waste dug up from
trenches was manure, much of which was contaminated with
radioactive strontium 90. Animal carcasses and sawdust also were
recovered from the trenches. Only minimal radioactive
contamination was found in the carcasses, he said.
Richland historian Michele Gerber has said the experiments
initially were done on fish, but other species were included
after the animal testing program expanded in the 1950s.
The largest testing program used sheep to determine the possible
health effects of radioactive iodine released from Hanford
stacks as irradiated fuel was processed to remove plutonium.
Different concentrations of radioactive iodine were included in
the sheep's feed during the program that lasted a decade, Gerber
said.
Dogs were used for a time to test the health effects of
breathing radioactive particles. Another program used hairless
pigs to determine what might happen to soldiers if they entered
a nuclear battlefield, she said.
Workers are doing the final cleanup of the animal farm trenches,
which should be ready to backfill this summer, Buckmaster said.
Information from: Tri-City Herald, http://www.tri-cityherald.com
A service of the Associated Press(AP)
© 2007 The Daily News Lee Publications, Inc. Contact
Us | Employment Opportunities 770 11th Avenue • P.O. Box
189 • Longview, WA 98632 • 360-577-2500
• webmaster@tdn.com
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68 Knox News: Last call for comments on future nuke complex
By FRANK MUNGER, munger@knews.com
January 17, 2007
Today is the deadline for formal comments on Complex 2030, the
government's plan for reshaping the nuclear weapons complex.
The National Nuclear Security Administration wants to consolidate
activities at fewer sites, establishing long-term capabilities
for producing warheads - including the proposed Reliable
Replacement Warhead - dismantling old systems and recycling
weapons materials.
Modernizing the Y-12 plant in Oak Ridge is a key part of the
preferred plan, and Oak Ridge would continue to produce warhead
parts - notably the second-stage assemblies and warhead casings -
and maintain the nation's stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Public "scoping" meetings held in Oak Ridge last year drew
mostly negative comments about the plans from citizens and
groups opposed to continued production of weapons. Since then,
I've received copies of letters expressing outrage at the plans.
Among those strongly supporting the modernization effort is the
Energy, Technology and Environmental Business Association, a
trade association of about 150 companies - many of which do work
for the Department of Energy. "The future of East Tennessee and
ETEBA businesses is directly linked to the future of the Y-12
National Security Complex," Alice Murphy, ETEBA's executive
director, wrote in the group's submitted comments.
Glenn Bell, a longtime worker at Y-12, offered some compelling
comments to the NNSA planners.
The 58-year-old machinist said it was very difficult for him to
choose among the alternatives for the future weapons complex.
Bell suffers from chronic beryllium disease, an incurable
respiratory illness that resulted from his workplace exposures
at Y-12.
"The illness has devastated my quality of life and gives me a
somewhat different outlook on what could have been a quite
satisfying career," he wrote.
"A limited few will reap profits from an expanded program in
whatever community is chosen, and there will indeed be jobs,"
Bell said. "However, I believe that any decision for expansion
or consolidation of the nuclear weapons complex should be
approached with the realization that some of the workers are
going to die for their country, as surely as any soldier on the
front lines. Their deaths will not be dramatic, or make the
headlines, but will devastate their families just the same."
For more information on Complex 2030 or to submit comments, go
to this Web site: www.complex2030peis.com.
How safe and secure is the stockpile of uranium at Y-12?
Glenn Podonsky probably knows the answer to that question better
than anyone.
Podonsky heads the Department of Energy's newly created Office
of Health, Safety and Security, and for years he directed the
Office of Independent Oversight and Performance Assessment.
His group evaluated security at the government's nuclear weapons
facilities, and Podonsky prided himself on the independence of
those reviews.
Therefore, when Podonsky was in Knoxville last fall to speak to
a conference hosted by the ETEBA, I approached him after the
lunchtime address.
I noted that individuals and groups, notably the Project On
Government Oversight, had been critical of security at Y-12.
POGO had issued a report earlier in 2006 that suggested Y-12 was
highly vulnerable to terrorism.
"I would tell you that what we have seen, we are protecting all
of our nuclear material, protecting it against just about any
threat that is imaginable," Podonsky said.
He said he respected POGO and was interested in hearing more
details of their concerns but added, "The criticisms that POGO
or other people make are not always based on full information."
Podonsky declined further comment, saying on seven occasions
that he would love to talk more if I arranged it through DOE's
public affairs. Repeated attempts over four months failed to get
such an interview.
Senior writer Frank Munger covers the Department of Energy for
the News Sentinel. He may be reached at 865-342-6329 or at
munger@knews.com. This column is also available in the opinion
section of knoxnews.com.
"DOE is about as open as the Kremlin- worst Dept.…"
© 2007 - Knoxville News Sentinel
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69 lamonitor.com: Fake nuke reported stolen
The Online News Source for Los Alamos
ROGER SNODGRASS Monitor Assistant Editor
Ed Grothus, a Los Alamos peace activist, said a mock nuclear
weapon weighing 500 pounds was stolen from his salvage store on
Monday.
The owner of the Black Hole said he purchased a number of
"practice bombs" in Oklahoma about three years ago. He had
joined several of them together in a hub to create a sunflower.
The missing fake weapon was lying near the others to give an
idea of how the sunflower was constructed.
Grothus said it weighed about 500 pounds. He said he generally
sold the "bombs" for about $300 each.
He last saw the replica when he started work on Monday, the
Martin Luther King holiday.
"I didn't miss it until I went home at night at 5:30 p.m.," he
said.
He recalled that most of the visitors on Monday were from
foreign countries, like Canada and England.
"But it would have had to have been a local person," he
concluded.
The Black Hole is one of Los Alamos County's most eccentric and
popular tourist destinations and is visited by people from all
over the country and the world because of its unique collection
of vintage high-tech components and salvage from Los Alamos
National Laboratory.
Grothus was honored last month at the "World Uranium Summit and
Nuclear Free Future Awards" in Window Rock, Ariz. He was given
an international "lifetime achievement" award, "for his unique
brand of gadfly peace activism in the community of Los Alamos,
the birthplace of the bomb."
© 2003 Los Alamos Monitor All Rights Reserved.
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