***************************************************************** 04/11/07 **** RADIATION BULLETIN(RADBULL) **** VOL 15.85 ***************************************************************** RADBULL IS PRODUCED BY THE ABALONE ALLIANCE CLEARINGHOUSE ***************************************************************** Send News Stories to news@energy-net.org with title on subject line and first line of body NUCLEAR POLICY 1 UPI: U.S. envoy: Russia helpful on Iran 2 AFP: Israel says Russia against a nuclear-armed Iran 3 AFP: US expects NKorea to abide by nuclear deal as deadline looms - 4 YONHAP NEWS: N. Korea to start closing nuclear reactor within day af 5 BBC NEWS: N Korea 'ready to shut reactor' 6 washingtonpost.com: To Prod N. Korea, U.S. Relents in Counterfeiting 7 AFP: NKorea to start shutting reactor within month: report - 8 Guardian Unlimited: US missile system poses no threat to Russia, say 9 Russia Threatening New Cold War Over Missile Defence 10 [southnews] UN: Danger of nuclear arms use as high today as in cold 11 Guardian Unlimited: War on terror 'raising attack risk' NUCLEAR REACTORS 12 US: SLOTRIB: Court denies group's request to halt Diablo steam gener 13 US: NRC: NRC to Discuss Process for Review of License Renewal Applic 14 Daily Yomiuri: Risky energy surge possibly occurred during '99 N-pla 15 BBC NEWS: Nuclear goals spark uranium deals 16 US: NRC: NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Hatch Nuclear Plant 17 Platts: NDA opens competition to manage five UK magnox sites 18 Platts: France publishes decree to build EPR nuke pilot project 19 US: JOURNAL NEWS: Indian Point's new sirens earn passing grade in te 20 US: Chattanoogan.com: Wamp: Leading The Way To Energy Independence - 21 US: NRC: NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Crystal River Nuclear Pl 22 US: JOURNAL NEWS: Indian Point 3 not back to full power for at least 23 Budapest Sun: Paks nuclear reactor closed 24 US: Business Week: Mich. nuclear power plant sale completed 25 thewest.com.au: Interest rates may still have to rise - IMF 26 US: FR NRC: INEL meeting 27 US: FR NRC: In the Matter of Indiana Michigan Power Company D.C. Coo 28 US: NRC: NRC to Discuss 2006 Assessment for Limerick Nuclear Plant A 29 US: UPI: Pa. nuclear plant on 48-hour waiver 30 US: NRC: NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Turkey Point Nuclear Pla 31 JTW News: Data shows increased radioactive leakage from Metsamor 32 US: Patriot-News: NRC urged to move host schools farther from N-plan 33 US: PRN: Entergy and Consumers Energy Announce Closing of Palisades 34 US: NRC: NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Summer Nuclear Plant 35 SE: Bulgaria: Bulgaria Drums Support for Nuke Units Revival in Bruss 36 US: NRC: NRC Issues Clarifications to New Reactor Licensing Process NUCLEAR SECURITY 37 UPI: U.S., Russia agree to boost nuke security 38 AFP: US-British war on terror backfires - think tank - NUCLEAR SAFETY 39 US: Star Tribune: Uranium tests for veterans proposed 40 ENS: Simple Rules to Follow in Case of Nuclear Attack 41 US: Buffalo News: Linda Marshall, of Amherst, believes that steelwor 42 US: NAS: Project: Beryllium Alloy Exposures in Military Aerospace Ap 43 US: Rocky Mountain News: Nuke workers file class-action lawsuit NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE 44 Las Vegas SUN: Nevada says Yucca Mountain computer requirements thwa 45 US: Sydney Morning Herald: NT govt urged to explain strandings - 46 Pahrump Valley Times: Nuke waste panel to review Yucca 47 Pahrump Valley Times: Official wants probe into DOE program 48 US: Brampton Guardian: Nuclear waste slowly being removed from stora 49 US: Calgary Sun: Sky-high uranium gets market sizzling 50 US: islandpacket.com: Will South Carolina become a nuclear dumping g 51 ReviewJournal.com: YUCCA MOUNTAIN: Computer model criticized 52 US: Chillicothe Gazette: Audience told GNEP plan will be 'good for t 53 US: The Coloradoan: Uranium mine's impact worries property owners 54 US: Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Dominion shares nuclear fuel st 55 US: Star Phoenix: Energy builds for uranium 56 Salt Lake Tribune: EnergySolutions backs out of $10 billion U.K. con 57 US: Salt Lake Tribune: Army could be off the hook for cleanup of lan 58 US: AU ABC: Summit signs deal with French nuclear group. PEACE 59 VietNamNet Bridge: Vietnam calls for end to world's nuclear threat 60 ITAR-TASS: Russia disappointed by US refusal to ratify CNTBT-ambassa US DEPT. OF ENERGY 61 KnoxNews: Wheel of fortune keeps spinning on Y-12 projects 62 DOE: Bush Administration Establishes Program to Reduce Foreign 63 Hanford News: PNNL team to study uranium contamination in 300 Area 64 Tracy Press: Uranium dust 65 NAS: Project: Development and Implementation of a Cleanup Technology ***************************************************************** ***************************************************************** FULL NEWS STORIES ***************************************************************** ***************************************************************** 1 UPI: U.S. envoy: Russia helpful on Iran United Press International - Security & Terrorism - Briefing Published: April 10, 2007 at 4:34 PM MOSCOW, April 11 (UPI) -- The U.S. ambassador to Moscow has praised Russian diplomatic support in the Iranian nuclear crisis. U.S. Ambassador William Burns' comments reflected the continuing desire of the U.S. government to maintain good relations with Russia despite growing disagreements over Washington's support for Ukraine and Georgia, two former Soviet republics, to join the U.S.-led NATO alliance. Burns said Russia and the United States had maintained a high level of bilateral cooperation that had been expressed in the unanimous approval of the recent U.N. Security Council resolution that beefed up international economic sanctions on Tehran when it refused to halt its uranium-enrichment program, the RIA Novosti news agency reported. The Security Council approved that resolution on March 24 following Iran's defiance of an earlier resolution on the issue passed on Dec. 23, 2006. Russia continues to have significant leverage in Tehran, and U.S. policymakers want Moscow to use it to try and persuade the Iranian government to halt or negotiate a solution about its determination to push ahead with its uranium-enrichment program. Russia has also withdrawn hundreds of its nationals who were working on the Bushehr project from the country. The move has raised widespread speculation that the Russians might be expecting a U.S. airstrike on Bushehr and wanted to avoid the crisis that would be caused if Russian citizens were killed in such an attack. The crisis heated up again this week when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed that his country had initiated nuclear fuel production on an industrial scale. © Copyright 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ***************************************************************** 2 AFP: Israel says Russia against a nuclear-armed Iran Wed Apr 11, 4:11 PM ET JERUSALEM (AFP) - Russian security council secretary Igor Ivanov held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday, with Israel saying Moscow also did not want an Iran armed with nuclear weapons. "Mr. Olmert and Mr. Ivanov reaffirmed that Israel and Russia are opposed to Iran being able to provide itself with nuclear weapons," Olmert's spokeswoman Miri Eisin told AFP. Iran has repeatedly stressed that it is not seeking nuclear weapons and that its enrichment programme is purely for peaceful use. Israel is believed to be the only nuclear-armed power in the Middle East with some 200 nuclear warheads. "Mr. Ivanov's visit is taking place within the framework of reinforcing relations between the Russian and Israeli security councils," Eisin added. Moscow has close relations with Tehran and is building Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, but it joined in backing UN Security Council sanctions on Iran over its refusal to halt its enrichment programme. Israel sees Iran as its main enemy, especially in the face of calls by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for the Jewish state to be "wiped off the map". Earlier, Ivanov discussed with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni the fate of an Israeli soldier captured last June 25 by a Palestinian commando, and two other seized on July 12 by Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah movement. The June seizure led to a massive Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip and the deaths of some 400 Palestinians, while the July capture provoked a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in which more than 1,200 Lebanese -- mostly civilians and one-third of them children -- were killed. Negotiations are currently being held to try to arrange a swap involving some 450 Palestinians for the Israeli corporal Gilid Shalit. Copyright © 2007 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 3 AFP: US expects NKorea to abide by nuclear deal as deadline looms - Thursday April 12, 02:44 AM WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States expects North Korea to fulfill the terms of a landmark nuclear deal as a key deadline looms, the State Department said Wednesday. "We would expect North Korea to act in such a way that they would meet their obligations under the February 13 agreement," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. Under the six-nation deal hammered out in Beijing, Pyongyang should disable its nuclear program in exchange for one million tons of fuel oil or equivalent aid and diplomatic benefits. As a first step, it was supposed to shut and seal the Yongbyon nuclear reactor within 60 days, with the deadline standing at Saturday, April 14, and invite back IAEA inspectors expelled from the country in 2002. "We'll see where we are on Saturday," McCormack said. "Of course if North Korea does not fulfill its obligations in a way that us acceptable to the other members of the six-party talks, then the other members ... will have to examine the process and see where we are." New Mexico state governor Bill Richardson, who led a team to Pyongyang this week, said Wednesday he believed the isolated country would act to shut down the nuclear reactor within a day of receiving millions of dollars which have been frozen overseas. The North has so far refused to move awaiting 25 million dollars which was frozen in Macau's Banco Delta Asia (BDA) until Tuesday, when the United States said Macau authorities agreed to release the funds. "The North Korean government told us that with that issue resolved, (it) would move promptly, within a day after receiving the funds," Richardson told a press conference in Seoul. But McCormack said Washington was waiting to see what happens and then the six nations, comprising the two Koreas, the United States, host China, Russia and Japan, would have to make decisions based on the facts. "The facts that we have right now is we are coming up on the 60 day deadline, we expect North Korea to abide by its obligations," he said. Richardson said the next step would be the Macau bank notifying the North that the money was available for collection. "That should happen late this afternoon (Wednesday), or tomorrow morning." The chief US nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill said earlier there was no reason for North Korea to delay further. "The DPRK (North Korea) has access to their accounts now," he added. McCormack added that it was clear North Korea "wants a different kind of relationship with the rest of the world. And in order to realize that different kind of relationship, they are going to have to follow through and act in such a way that everybody meets their objectives. "I think they understand that this is a process in which their actions matter and have an effect on how the process proceeds." Save to MyWebEmail storyPrintable view Next article: World economy in robust health despite US slowdown: IMF Previous article: US delays sanctions against Darfur at UN request: official Copyright © 2007 Yahoo! Australia & NZ Pty Limited. All rights ***************************************************************** 4 YONHAP NEWS: N. Korea to start closing nuclear reactor within day after receiving funds 2007/04/11 18:01 KST SEOUL, April 11 (Yonhap) -- North Korea will take steps to shut down its only operational nuclear reactor and invite international nuclear monitors to verify the process within 24 hours after receiving its funds which are currently frozen at a Macau bank, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico said Wednesday. His remarks came after Washington announced Tuesday that the Macau authorities would soon unblock the North's US$25 million held at the Banco Delta Asia (BDA), finalizing, according to U.S. officials, the issue that has caused North Korea to delay taking its promised disarmament steps. "I think we have come to a very important juncture, which is we consider this BDA matter to be really resolved," Christopher Hill, the top U.S. nuclear negotiator, said earlier Wednesday in Seoul. Richardson, who came to Seoul earlier in the day after a four-day trip to North Korea to discuss the return of the remains of six U.S. servicemen killed in the Korean War, failed to mention whether North Korea sees the Macau authorities' decision as a final resolution of the banking issue. But he said the communist nation has promised to begin the denuclearization process as soon as it gets its money back. "The North Korean government told us with that (BDA) issue resolved, (it) would move promptly within a day after receiving the funds," the governor told a press conference here. bdk@yna.co.kr (END) ***************************************************************** 5 BBC NEWS: N Korea 'ready to shut reactor' Last Updated: Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 12:39 GMT 13:39 UK N Korea has pledged to shut down its main reactor North Korea will take steps to shut down its main nuclear reactor "within a day" of a freeze on its funds being lifted, a US delegation chief has said. Bill Richardson said North officials had assured him they would invite back UN nuclear inspectors as soon as they had access to their money. The funds, which have been frozen in a Macau bank, are expected to be released later Wednesday or Thursday, he added. North Korea had asked for a further 30 days, beyond Saturday, to close its only operational reactor, Yongbyon, Mr Richardson said. He had told the North Korean officials the US thought that was too long, he added. "We let them know that this was not acceptable and the issue was dropped," Mr Richardson told a news conference in South Korea. "Now the ball is in North Korea's court to take the next important steps." 'Resolved' Mr Richardson, New Mexico state governor and a US presidential candidate, was speaking after a four-day visit to the Communist state. I'm optimistic about North Korea's willingness to return to the six-party talks and shut down the Yongbyon reactor Bill Richardson US recovers bodies from N Korea He was leading a delegation to retrieve the bodies of US soldiers killed during the Korean War. He said officials in Pyongyang had assured him that once the funds were made accessible, the North would act swiftly to enact its pledge to shut down Yongbyon. "The North Korean government told us that with that issue resolved, [it] would move promptly, within a day after receiving the funds," he said. "And therefore, within that day, [it would] invite the [UN nuclear inspectors] to Pyongyang to draft the terms for shutting down the Yongbyon reactor," he added. Mr Richardson said he was "optimistic" about the North's willingness to shut the reactor, which was part of a deal agreed in February. Under that landmark agreement, North Korea said it would "shut down and seal" Yongbyon in return for energy aid and other incentives from its dialogue partners - the US, China, Russia, South Korea and Japan. But the deal has been delayed because of the financial dispute involving $25m (Ł12.7m) of North Korean funds, which was frozen in Macau-based Banco Delta Asia (BDA). The deadlock looked to have been resolved on Tuesday when the US Treasury Department said the Macau authorities would lift the freeze, allowing North Korea to obtain the money. Senior US envoy to North Korea Christopher Hill said the issue should no longer block progress on the nuclear deal. "I think we have come to a very important juncture which is that we consider this BDA matter to be really resolved," he said. "The DPRK [North Korea] has access to their accounts now... We think it is a really important time to get on with the ever urgent task of denuclearisation, in particular to get on with the implementation of this February agreement." * BBC Copyright Notice ***************************************************************** 6 washingtonpost.com: To Prod N. Korea, U.S. Relents in Counterfeiting Case - By Glenn Kessler Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, April 11, 2007; Page A01 Two months before North Korea tested its first nuclear weapon, President Bush was asked about a Treasury Department investigation of North Korean counterfeiting of $100 bills, which had ruptured talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear programs. "Counterfeiting U.S. dollars is an issue that every president ought to be concerned about," he replied bluntly during an August news conference. "And when you catch people counterfeiting your money, you need to do something about it." Yesterday, the Bush administration agreed to allow those suspected counterfeiters, along with other North Koreans suspected of money laundering and other fraud, to get their money back -- with no strings attached -- in the hopes it will ensure that North Korea shuts down its nuclear reactor by the end of the week. About $25 million had been frozen by Macau authorities, with about half clearly derived from criminal enterprises, U.S. officials said. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill told reporters in Seoul yesterday that North Korea's desire was simple: "They wanted to see the money." (By Seokyong Lee -- Bloomberg News) The outcome is the kind of messy, unsatisfactory dealmaking that Bush disdains. Even as U.S. officials were publicly portraying the final arrangement as necessary to salvage a nuclear deal reached two months ago, it sparked controversy within the administration and led some to question whether the result sets a bad precedent. The story of how a tiny bank in Macau named Banco Delta Asia became the center of a diplomatic battle over nuclear weapons is in many ways a tale of unintended consequences -- and of how Bush, so focused on the idea of combating North Korean fraud, allowed a dispute over a relative pittance to thwart progress on an issue central to U.S. national security. "The United States started on this path not understanding what the impact would be," said Alan D. Romberg, senior associate at the Henry L. Stimson Center and an expert on Asia. "This should be an object lesson: Be careful what you do, and play through how you would undo it." The counterfeiting investigation started during Bush's first term. By coincidence, it came to fruition just as diplomats were set to strike a deal on ending North Korea's nuclear programs. At the time, U.S. officials said, Bush decided not to let diplomacy derail a criminal investigation. But the effect of the resulting crackdown was much greater than administration officials expected, painfully damaging North Korean international business ties. When Bush earlier this year reversed himself, agreeing to end the investigation to strike an accord with North Korea, unraveling the probe became much more difficult than expected. North Korean officials dug in their heels, insisting that no progress would be made on the nuclear accord until the money was in their hands. Ultimately, the administration blinked. John R. Bolton, the former U.N. ambassador who has emerged as a critic of the nuclear deal, said the retreat is "an image of surrender that is going to be hard to erase." Returning the money to entities that committed fraud "will have a dilapidating effect on bringing sanctions against Iran and other rogue states," he said. "It is a terrible symbol." The investigation started in 2003, when Colin L. Powell's State Department was under attack from conservatives for not being tough enough on North Korea. Officials there latched on to the idea of targeting North Korea's illicit activities, and an interagency group was formed to track the country's counterfeiting operations and then figure out ways to cut it off, officials said. In July 2005, Treasury informed the task force that it was ready to target Banco Delta Asia, which it had identified as the main conduit for bringing North Korean counterfeit currency into the international system. The U.S. government had seized more than $45 million in highly deceptive counterfeit $100 bills, known as super notes, that were produced in North Korea with the approval of top officials. But officials delayed taking action in July, fearing it might conflict with a separate Justice Department sting against North Korean counterfeiters that was planned for August. The Macau announcement was set for September -- just when negotiators were set to reach a landmark accord on ending Pyongyang's nuclear programs. Virtually unnoticed at first, Treasury's designation that Banco Delta Asia was a potential money-laundering concern appeared in the Federal Register on Sept. 15, 2005, four days before the nuclear negotiators from six nations announced they had struck a deal. The Treasury announcement nearly toppled Banco Delta Asia, as banks around the world cut their ties for fear of being tainted by the North Korean connection. To the delight of Treasury officials, many banks stopped handling North Korean transactions for fear of Washington's wrath. Citing reports that two dozen financial institutions in Asia had voluntarily cut back or terminated their business with North Korea, Treasury Undersecretary Stuart Levey declared last September: "The result of these voluntary actions is that it is becoming very difficult for the Kim Jong Il regime to benefit from its criminal conduct." But another result was that North Korean officials refused for months to return to the nuclear negotiations, citing the investigation. Finally, after the country's nuclear test in October, North Korea agreed to renew talks but would not discuss substantive issues until the banking case was resolved. In January, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher R. Hill met privately in Berlin with his North Korean counterpart to work out an agreement that the banking investigation would end before North Korea froze its nuclear reactor. Treasury announced March 14 that the probe was finished, with Levey citing a "gamut of illicit activities." But that was not enough for North Korea. Speaking yesterday to reporters in Seoul, Hill said that the United States thought it had fulfilled its pledge, but North Korea "had a concept that was far more literal, which was they wanted to see the money." A high-level Treasury team was dispatched to Beijing, including Chief of Staff Jim Wilkinson, Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel Glaser and James Fries, deputy assistant general counsel. Wilkinson had been a former senior adviser to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and his presence was intended to signal that Treasury and State were united on the issue. Yet the Treasury team encountered a series of roadblocks on a nearly two-week trip, as they searched unsuccessfully for a way to ensure the money was used for humanitarian purposes. Glaser at one point had issued a statement saying that the Bank of China would be a repository for $25 million in North Korean funds, but when the team arrived, Chinese authorities made it clear that no mainland bank would be involved in holding the money. The North Korean diplomats, meanwhile, resisted the U.S. proposal of setting up a humanitarian fund with the money. They would not fill out forms, provide bank account numbers, or sign waivers that would allow the money to be released to a humanitarian fund. They stuck to a simple message: "We want our money." The Treasury officials left China thinking no deal was possible, but over the weekend the administration agreed to let the Macau Monetary Authority, which had frozen the money because of the U.S. investigation, to simply release it to account holders. There were 52 Banco Delta Asia account holders whose money had been frozen; $12 million, belonging to 17 account holders, is considered tainted. Some of the $25 million, however, is held by third parties, such as $7 million associated with Daedong Credit Bank, which is being bought by a British investor. Thus not all of the money will go to the North Korean government, leaving some U.S. officials wondering whether the deal yesterday will still keep the nuclear agreement on track. Correspondent Edward Cody in Beijing contributed to this report. © 2007 The Washington Post Company ***************************************************************** 7 AFP: NKorea to start shutting reactor within month: report - by Jun Kwanwoo Wed Apr 11, 5:41 AM ET SEOUL (AFP) - North Korea has told a US delegation it will miss Saturday's deadline to shut down its main nuclear reactor but could start the process within 30 days, a report said Wednesday. In response, US chief negotiator Christopher Hill said there was no reason for the communist state to delay after a banking dispute that has held up the implementation of an aid-for-disarmament deal was apparently resolved. NBC News said the North's chief nuclear negotiator Kim Kye-Gwan made the promise on beginning the shutdown during a meeting with a visiting US team led by New Mexico governor Bill Richardson. Kim said the North could also re-admit UN atomic inspectors within 30 days, the US television network reported from Pyongyang. South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator Chun Young-Woo said he had not heard of the reported offer, which "makes no sense." "How can we wait for one month?" he told reporters. "It is a thing that can be done right away." North Korea had refused to shut down Yongbyon, as required under the first stage of a February multinational pact, until it gets back 25 million dollars frozen in a Macau bank on suspicion of money-laundering and counterfeiting. Kim's remarks would indicate that Pyongyang has apparently accepted it will soon receive that money. "I think we have come to a very important juncture which is that we consider this BDA matter to be really resolved," Hill told reporters, referring to the Macau-based Banco Delta Asia. "The DPRK (North Korea) has access to their accounts now," he added. "We think it is a really important time to get on with the ever urgent task of denuclearisation, in particular to get on with the implementation of this February agreement." Hill said he would get a better understanding of North Korea's response when he meets Victor Cha, a US national security adviser on Korea and Japan and who accompanied Richardson's delegation. Chun advised reporters to wait until Thursday. "It takes time for North Korea to check if it can get its money back." Richardson's delegation was officially tasked with securing the remains of US troops killed in the Korean War, but also discussed the nuclear dispute. He and his party Wednesday crossed the inter-Korean border with the remains believed to be those of six US soldiers. Richardson, a US presidential contender, was to hold a press conference in Seoul later Wednesday and declined to speak to reporters until then. Under the six-nation February agreement, energy-starved North Korea agreed to disable its nuclear facilities in return for one million tons of fuel oil or equivalent aid. As a first step it was to shut down Yongbyon and invite in UN inspectors by April 14, receiving an initial 50,000 tons of oil from South Korea in return. US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Tuesday the deadline for the shutdown may be flexible given there were only four days to go. "You're bumping up against the technical ability to do that safely," he said. "We'll see where we are at on Saturday." The talks, which group the two Koreas, the United States, China, Russia and Japan, have dragged on since 2003 but assumed added urgency after Pyongyang tested an atomic weapon for the first time last October. Visiting Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, whose country hosts the forum, threw his weight behind an early solution. "China's stance on the issues on the Korean peninsula has been consistent," he told South Korean parliament speaker Lim Chae-Jung. "The denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula must be realised soon." South Korea has bought 50,000 tons of fuel worth 20 billion won (21 million dollars) and hired three ships to carry it to the North. The delay is costing it 15 million won a day to store the oil at a refinery and 60 million won a day to maintain the ship rental contract, the unification ministry said. Copyright © 2007 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 8 Guardian Unlimited: US missile system poses no threat to Russia, say analysts Peter Walker Wednesday April 11, 2007 Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Photograph: Viktor Korotayev/AP Russia and the US could be edging towards a modern, limited version of the cold war - but this time it is being driven purely by politics, with military considerations a near irrelevance, according to analysts. As today's Guardian reports, Kremlin officials say Russia is considering a military response to the planned US missile defence system, which will see sites based in eastern Europe - territory Russia still considers its backyard. This is likely to involve Moscow improving its own missile technology, making the weapons more advanced, more mobile and thus less vulnerable to the US shield. However, any talk of a new arms race ignores one key fact, analysts say - the missile defence system poses no real threat to Russia's missile arsenal. The US plans call for only 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar site in the Czech Republic, Colonel Christopher Langton, a former UK defence attaché in Russia and now an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies thinktank, said. "The technical experts would tell you that neither of these components constitutes a threat to Russia's strategic nuclear deterrent," he said, noting that up to four interceptor devices would be needed to eliminate just one Russian intercontinental missile. "There's also a very potent argument that it isn't a threat because it's that close to Russia, and is actually very vulnerable, not just to missiles but aircraft and even tactical weapons. "If the US wanted to make it invulnerable, it would move it to Scotland or somewhere like that." The missile defence system does, however, represent "a stick with which Russia can beat the United States", Colonel Langton said, and this was being used by the country's generals to make a bellicose point. "Some people in the upper echelons of the Ministry of Defence, who have come out of the cold war and the collapse of the Soviet Union, felt very keenly that their pride had been damaged," he said. "Now they have an opportunity - possibly the last opportunity - to say: 'We told you, we were right, Nato was never going to be a friend.'" Yury Fedorov, an expert on Russian foreign and security policy at Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) thinktank, agreed that describing the US missile defence system as a military threat to Russia was "simply senseless". "So the question is, why are Russia's political and military elites using this issue to initiate if not a new round of the cold war then something like it?" he said. "The answer is simple - Russia's military needs to have some pretext to increase its funding under the budget. Russia's defence industry also wants to build new missiles. It's a normal way of thinking for the military and defence industry." Politics was very much driving the Russians, added Tim Williams, head of the European security programme at the Royal United Services Institute. "The Russians know full well - and the Americans have underlined to them - that this system is useless against them; it's in the wrong place, it doesn't have enough interceptors," he said. "If the Russians wanted to overwhelm it, they could do so very easily." "What Russia is really concerned about, as well as lingering concerns about US missile defence, which they have always opposed, is their loss of influence. They work very much in terms of spheres of influence and this is another erosion of this." Britain also officially stresses that Russia has nothing to worry about militarily from the US system, which it supports. The US had made it clear to Moscow that its plans "are not aimed at countering the Russian strategic nuclear forces", a ministry of defence spokeswoman said, but are "designed to tackle limited threats from states of concern which seek to acquire and threaten to use ballistic missiles". Guardian Unlimited © Guardian News and Media Limited 2007 ***************************************************************** 9 Russia Threatening New Cold War Over Missile Defence Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 05:58:41 -0500 (CDT) The Guardian (London) April 11, 2007 RUSSIA THREATENING NEW COLD WAR OVER MISSILE DEFENCE Kremlin accuses US of deception on east European interceptor bases Luke Harding in Moscow Russia is preparing its own military response to the US's controversial plans to build a new missile defence system in eastern Europe, according to Kremlin officials, in a move likely to increase fears of a cold war-style arms race. The Kremlin is considering active counter-measures in response to Washington's decision to base interceptor missiles and radar installations in Poland and the Czech Republic, a move Russia says will change "the world's strategic stability". The Kremlin has not publicly spelt out its plans. But defence experts said its response is likely to include upgrading its nuclear missile arsenal so that it is harder to shoot down, putting more missiles on mobile launchers, and moving its fleet of nuclear submarines to the north pole, where they are virtually undetectable. Russia could also bring the new US silos within the range of its Iskander missiles launched potentially from the nearby Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, they add. In an interview with the Guardian, the Kremlin's chief spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Moscow felt betrayed by the Pentagon's move. "We were extremely concerned and disappointed. We were never informed in advance about these plans. It brings tremendous change to the strategic balance in Europe, and to the world's strategic stability." He added: "We feel ourselves deceived. Potentially we will have to create alternatives to this but with low cost and higher efficiency." Any response would be within "existing technologies", he said. As well as military counter-measures, Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, also wanted "dialogue" and "negotiations", he added. The Bush administration says the bases are designed to shoot down rogue missiles fired by Iran or North Korea. Its proposed system would be helpless against Russia's vast nuclear arsenal, it says. But this claim has been greeted with widespread incredulity, not just in Russia but also among some of the US's nervous Nato allies. They include Germany, where the Social Democrat leader, Kurt Beck, warned last month that the US and Russia were on the brink of another arms race "on European soil". Defence experts say there is little doubt that the real target of the shield is Russia. "The geography of the deployment doesn't give any doubt the main targets are Russian and Chinese nuclear forces," General Vladimir Belous, Russia's leading expert on anti-ballistic weaponry, told the Guardian. "The US bases represent a real threat to our strategic nuclear forces." The threat of a new arms race comes at a time when relations between Russia and the US are at their worst for a decade. In February Mr Putin accused the Bush administration during a speech in Munich of seeking a "world of one master, one sovereign". On Friday Russia's duma, or lower house or parliament, warned that the US's plans could ignite a second cold war. "Such decisions, which are useless in terms of preventing potential or imaginary threats from countries of the middle and far-east, are already bringing about a new split in Europe and unleashing another arms race," the declaration - passed unanimously by Russian MPs - said. The same day Russia ruled out cooperating with the US over the shield. "Despite certain signals received in recent days from the US side ... I see no political foundation for it," said Sergei Ryabkov, a foreign ministry spokesman. Moscow now had little choice but to take the bases "into account in our strategic planning", he said. Analysts said there was a common feeling in Russia that the US had reneged on an agreement after the collapse of the Soviet Union to abandon cold war politics. "Cold war thinking has prevailed, especially on the western side," Yevgeny Myasnikov, a senior research scientist at Moscow's Centre for Arms Control, told the Guardian. "Russia has been deeply disappointed by what has happened after 1991. Nato started to expand, and the US started to think it had won the cold war. We had hoped for a partnership. But it didn't happen." ***************************************************************** 10 [southnews] UN: Danger of nuclear arms use as high today as in cold war Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:18:24 -0500 (CDT) UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has warned that the danger of the use of nuclear weapons today was as high as during the cold war due to the lack of political will to advance the disarmament and non-proliferation agenda. Speaking in the U.N. Disarmament Commission, Pakistan's U.N. Ambassador Munir Akram said the consensus on disarmament and non-proliferation had broken down, and he called for evolving a "new security consensus" to address those objectives in a balanced manner. __________________________________________- 10 April 2007 UN General Assembly DC/3064 Disarmament Commission 2007 Substantive Session 279th & 280th Meetings (AM & PM) DANGER OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS USE AS HIGH TODAY AS DURING COLD WAR, DISARMAMENT COMMISSION TOLD, AS GENERAL DISCUSSION CONCLUDES Negative Developments Cited Include Lack of Inclination by Major Countries To Foreswear Nuclear Weapons, Development of New Weapons, Danger of Terrorism "The danger of the use of nuclear weapons today is as high as at any time during the cold war" due to "a failure of political will to advance on the disarmament and non-proliferation agenda", Pakistan's representative warned the Disarmament Commission today. As the general exchange of views of the Commission's 2007 substantive session concluded today, he said the consensus on disarmament and non-proliferation had broken down due to several negative developments, including the fact that none of the five original nuclear-weapons States appeared ready to foreswear nuclear weapons, and some of them were seeking to develop new nuclear weapons. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) had no realistic prospect of coming into force any time soon. There was growing fear that non-State actors and terrorist organizations might develop the skills to steal material for use in a "dirty bomb". In order to reach a new consensus on disarmament and non-proliferation, he said there should be a basic premise, namely recognition of the right to equal security of all States, which could only be promoted collectively and multilaterally. Also, the motives and compulsion that drove States to acquire weapons of mass destruction must be addressed, among them perceived threats from superior forces, disputes and conflicts with more powerful States, and discrimination in the application of international norms and laws. The Commission's annual substantive session, expected to conclude on 27 April, is the second in a three-year cycle focusing on two agreed agenda items, namely, nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation, and confidence-building in the conventional weapons sphere. The representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea said the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsula was a direct product of the "hostile policy" of the United States towards his country, as the Bush administration had designated the country as part of the "axis of evil" and an "outpost of tyranny" and had threatened it with a pre-emptive nuclear strike. In those circumstances, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had had no choice but to make nuclear weapons, and it had successfully carried out a nuclear test. "This is a reasonable exercise of the sovereign right to defend the territory and population and social system from foreign attack and invasion," he stated, and announced that his country would return to the six-party talks when the question of financial sanctions was fully settled. Japan's representative, however, said that, as the only country to suffer atomic bombing, his country had made nuclear disarmament its top priority. From the perspective of promoting disarmament efforts, he reiterated Japan's condemnation of the nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. A nuclear armed Democratic People's Republic of Korea could not be tolerated. Iran's representative stressed the necessity of a critical balance between non-proliferation obligations and the right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) should be able to fully exercise their rights for developing and producing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes under appropriate international monitoring and supervision. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was the sole competent international body to deal with the verification of compliance of States with their safeguard obligations; and United Nations bodies, including the Security Council, should not be abused as instruments of pressure to deprive States of exercising their inalienable rights. Noting that the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START) would expire in 2009, meaning that all control over strategic nuclear forces would be terminated, the representative of the Russian Federation proposed to the United States to conclude a new agreement that would replace the START Treaty. Mere political declarations on confidence-building and transparency measures would not suffice. The risk of an arms race in outer space was another growing concern, and his delegation had prepared a draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space, which it was planning to submit shortly for consideration. He believed that enhancing the NPT should focus on three areas. The first was to reduce the attractiveness of creating a complete nuclear fuel cycle by implementing multilateral approaches to the cycle. The second was to enhance the IAEA safeguards system and universalize the Additional Protocol to the Safeguards Agreement. The third area included measures in the field of nuclear disarmament and security assurances to non-nuclear States. In that context, he supported the re-establishment at the Conference on Disarmament of an ad hoc committee with the mandate to negotiate with regard to security assurances to non-nuclear States. Addressing the issue of conventional arms, Nigeria's representative said confidence-building measures in that field would provide a conducive atmosphere for arms control and disarmament negotiations. The global arms trade had defied all efforts towards addressing the negative consequences of conventional arms proliferation in crises-ridden developing countries. The representative of the United Republic of Tanzania, echoing concerns of other speakers, said greater emphasis should be put on the illicit arms trade and its devastating human security consequences, especially in Africa, where small arms and light weapons were in effect weapons of mass destruction. The ease of use, and the ease with which such arms could be spread, exacerbated insurgencies as well as civil, ethnic and regional conflicts. The adoption in 2001 of the United Nations Programme of Action to combat small arms and light weapons proliferation was therefore very welcome, as was the United Nations Firearms Protocol of 2005. Underscoring the inextricable linkage of security, development and human rights, the representative of Kenya asked, "How can we eradicate poverty when over $1 trillion is still spent on military expenditure? How can we hope to achieve the Millennium Development Goals when over 70 per cent of the United Nations meagre $10 billion budget goes towards peacekeeping and other field operations?" He emphasized that the only guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons was through their total elimination. Also speaking today were the representatives of Canada, Switzerland, Bangladesh, Belarus, Sudan (on behalf of the African Group), India, Yemen, Andorra, Australia, Morocco, Nepal, Malaysia and Libya. The Permanent Observer of the African Union also made a statement, and the representatives of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Japan and United States exercised their right of reply. The Disarmament Commission will meet again in an open format at a date to be announced. Background The 2007 session of the Disarmament Commission met today to continue its general exchange of views. Statements CHRIS GROUT ( Canada) said that, on the subject of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, his delegation had reviewed the Chair's non-paper and had provided comments. It was his view that the Working Group should strive to produce a substantive document that was both comprehensive as well as focused. "Our efforts would be best placed on developing principles and recommendations for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament as opposed to other related issues, which may also be important but need not be specifically addressed in this document." He recommended that the paper draw from the Thirteen Practical Steps towards nuclear disarmament as agreed by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) States parties at the 2000 Review Conference. The majority of the steps remained relevant today and had yet to be fully implemented. Particular attention should be given to achieving the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), universal acceptance and full implementation of comprehensive safeguards agreements and the Additional Protocol, and the successful negotiation of a fissile material cut-off treaty. Canada, he said, supported full implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms, and welcomed the adoption by the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) last fall of the omnibus resolution on small arms and light weapons which, among other things, had scheduled a Biennial Meeting of States to be held no later than 2008. The humanitarian impact of the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons required concerted attention at the global level. To that end, Canada was working with other countries to host an informal meeting which would take place from 27 to 31 August in Geneva. The informal meeting would complement the United Nations process on small arms by strengthening implementation of the Programme of Action and serving to increase the effectiveness of the next Biennial Meeting of States. One recent measure that could build a considerable amount of confidence in the field of conventional arms, he noted, was the important and historic step taken by Member States in voting to begin a process which would lead to the negotiation of a legally binding arms trade treaty covering the international trade of all conventional weapons. Canada fully supported that initiative and called on States to work together creatively and cooperatively to establish common parameters for the trade in conventional arms. MUNIR AKRAM (Pakistan), associating himself with yesterday's Non-Aligned Movement statement, said that some might say that the Commission had not lived up to its potential role, "but then this is so for the rest of the United Nations disarmament machinery. B It is a failure of political will to advance on the disarmament and non-proliferation agenda". The consensus on disarmament and non-proliferation had broken down due to several negative developments, including the fact that none of the five nuclear-weapons States appeared ready to foreswear nuclear weapons, and some of them were seeking to develop new nuclear weapons. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty had no realistic prospect of coming into force any time soon. One State having left the NPT had demonstrated its nuclear explosives capability. There was growing fear that non-State actors and terrorist organizations might develop the skills to steal material for use in a "dirty bomb". He said that, with the growth in number of States possessing nuclear weapons, rising regional tension and reliance on doctrines justifying "battlefield" use of nuclear weapons, "the danger of the use of nuclear weapons today is as high as at any time during the cold war". The Disarmament Commission should therefore seek to reverse, if not halt, some of the negative trends. He then went on to identify some of the issues which might be considered to reach a new consensus on disarmament and non-proliferation. First, there should be a basic premise, namely recognition of the right to equal security of all States, which could only be promoted collectively and multilaterally. Also, the motives and compulsion that drove States to acquire weapons of mass destruction must be addressed, among them perceived threats from superior forces, disputes and conflicts with more powerful States, and discrimination in the application of international norms and laws. It was in the long-term interest of the nuclear-weapons States to demonstrate a renewed commitment to achieve nuclear disarmament within a reasonable time frame, he said. There was also a need to evolve an agreed approach for the promotion of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in accordance with the international obligations of States and on a non-discriminatory basis. Until disarmament was achieved, non-nuclear-weapons States should have the assurances that they would not be threatened with the use of nuclear or even conventional weapons, in the format of a universal, unconditional and legally binding treaty. Nuclear-weapons States needed to commit that they would not develop and deploy "new" and "useable" nuclear weapons. He said steps were needed to establish a stable and balanced security environment in sensitive regions such as South Asia, the Middle East and North-East Asia, involving nuclear restraints and non-proliferation measures, a stable conventional balance, and the resolution of underlying security problems and threats. It was also important to normalize the relationship of the three non-NPT States with the non-proliferation regime and secure their support for a revitalized regime. "Reality and legality should be reconciled." Such normalization could not be achieved by multiplying discrimination and double standards. KENTARO MINAMI ( Japan) said that, as the only country to suffer atomic bombing, his country had made nuclear disarmament its top priority. From the perspective of promoting disarmament efforts, he reiterated Japan's condemnation of the nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and emphasized that a nuclear armed Democratic People's Republic of Korea could not be tolerated. Although the agreement at the six-party talks in February constituted progress towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea abandoning its nuclear weapons programme, efforts for the full implementation of the Joint Statement in September should be continued. The necessity of confidence-building among States must be emphasized as an effective approach to tackling conventional weapons, which were actually causing much of the day-to-day destruction around the world, he stated. Japan was pleased that the United Nations Conventional Arms Register had become well-established as one of the vital international instruments for promoting confidence among States. In the first part of this year's Conference on Disarmament session, vigorous discussions were carried out on transparency in armaments. During those deliberations, his delegation had pointed out the relationship between the Arms Register and current efforts to create an arms trade treaty. Ensuring the responsible transfer of weapons through an arms trade treaty, and duly registering those transfers through the Arms Register, would further improve the reliability of the Register itself. In that light, he continued, such a treaty and the Register were closely connected as practical measures for enhancing international confidence-building. While continuing to work towards ensuring the responsible transfer of conventional weapons through an arms trade treaty, Japan was committed to cooperating with each country to build greater confidence among States. He added that effective disarmament and non-proliferation would be secured through a multilateral approach that reached agreement among Member States, including those that produced and possessed weapons, particularly in the discussions on conventional weapons, which were closely connected to national security. ROMAN HUNGER ( Switzerland), recalling some of the growing challenges associated with nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, said the adoption of Security Council resolution 1747 against Iran constituted a new phase in the escalation of tensions concerning the Iranian nuclear programme. At the same time, the situation on the Korean peninsula has shown signs of moving in a positive direction over the past few weeks. He remained convinced that only diplomatic action -- multilateral efforts headed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) -- could resolve those issues in a manner that was acceptable to all parties and was in the interest of preserving world peace. He said the decisions by some States that possessed nuclear weapons to amend their nuclear doctrine and allocate funds for developing or replacing nuclear weapons were contrary to the spirit of article VI of the NPT. On the one hand, those decisions could neutralize efforts implemented within the scope of article VI, and weaken the chances of achieving substantial nuclear disarmament. On the other hand, they placed a greater degree of importance on nuclear armament, and that did not make it any easier to reduce the degree of attractiveness of nuclear weapons for countries that dreamed of possessing them. The production of energy from nuclear power plants, he noted, would increase in the future, especially in emerging and developing countries in which there was already a substantial demand for energy. Switzerland was aware that that development could increase the risk of proliferation, and would call for the creation of new mechanisms that could simultaneously meet the requirements of non-proliferation and the inalienable right to peaceful use of nuclear energy as laid down in article VI. He was sure that such challenges could be overcome, and that the international community had the necessary tools at its disposal for that purpose. With respect to Working Group II and the question of confidence-building measures in the area of conventional weapons, he fully supported the idea of focusing on the last document submitted by the Chair within the scope of the Commission's 2006 activities. Switzerland attached particular importance to the United Nations Conventional Arms Register, and was especially pleased about the creation of a new standardized form concerning the transfer of small arms and light weapons, which could prove to be one of the most useful tools. Since the exchange of data concerning confidence-building measures relating to conventional weapons was crucial, he welcomed the creation of a database containing information on that matter communicated by Member States and encouraged them to make the best possible use of that instrument. TAREQ ARIFUL ISLAM ( Bangladesh), aligning himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said that, despite multiple setbacks crippling the disarmament and non-proliferation machinery, not everything had been disappointing. Modest progress had been made regarding the application of IAEA safeguards. In 2006, the Commission had overcome impediments that had prevented substantive discussions in the two previous years. "What we need is to look forward and build on these positive developments" in a multilateral framework. The Conference on Disarmament should resume negotiations on a programme for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons and on a verifiable treaty banning fissile material within a specified time frame. He said the NPT and the CTBT remained the cornerstones of the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime, and there was a need for full universality of those and other international instruments. Regrettably, however, there was not sufficient ratification of the CTBT for its entry into force and the remaining annex-2 States should ratify it at the soonest opportunity. "It is dismaying how lack of political will of some is eroding the entire NPT regime." Despite having nuclear neighbours, Bangladesh had "consciously and unconditionally" opted to remain non-nuclear and was party to almost all disarmament-related treaties. It had concluded safeguards agreements with IAEA, including the Additional Protocols. Bangladesh remained deeply concerned at the "snail's pace of progress" by the nuclear-weapons States in accomplishing the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals, he said. While some old warheads had been destroyed, it was alarming that the nuclear-weapons States were adding more precision capabilities to existing stockpiles and developing new weaponry in contravention of their own security assurances. Possession of nuclear weapons could never enhance safety and security because a nuclear war could not be won. He said that, in the fragile disarmament and non-proliferation regime, there was a real probability of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, falling into the hands of terrorist and non-State actors. Moreover, precision capabilities made the acquisition and use of those weapons more lucrative to the terrorists. "The only fool-proof measure to prevent terrorists from laying hands on weapons of mass destruction lies in the total elimination of such weapons." Appreciating existing nuclear-weapon-free zones and calling for establishment of more of them, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia, Bangladesh reaffirmed the inviolability of peaceful nuclear activities. It was also disconcerting to note the use of extraneous reasons and the imposition of undue restrictions by some nuclear-weapons States to deny non-nuclear-weapons States their rights to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The proliferation of conventional weapons, which fuelled conflicts and claimed colossal death tolls each year, was no less a threat than that posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, he said, reaffirming the importance of practical confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms. Such measures could contribute significantly to the advancement of the disarmament and non-proliferation agenda. SERGEI RACHKOV (Belarus), aligning himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said that, notwithstanding the difficulties the Commission faced in discussing all the items on its agenda, further deliberations in an open and transparent manner at the current stage were a necessary prerequisite for success in the future. Efforts for nuclear non-proliferation should be made in parallel with simultaneous efforts for nuclear disarmament and should not conflict with the inalienable right of States to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It was important to maintain the integrity of the NPT, both in terms of promoting a balance between the obligations and responsibilities of Member States and in terms of attaching equal importance to all its key elements. It was necessary not only to implement the Treaty itself, but also agreements reached at the NPT Review Conferences of 1995 and 2000. Calling attention to last year's signing of the Treaty on the Establishment of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia, he said it was necessary to provide legally binding assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States. However, Belarus welcomed unilateral declarations by the nuclear-weapon States rejecting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States. A gradual movement from simple to more complex bilateral and multilateral measures and agreements would provide a good basis for preventing armed conflicts and strengthening national, regional and international security. Confidence-building measures should, by definition, be based on openness and true cooperation, but they were neither a substitute nor a precondition for disarmament measures. He said his country had been pursuing responsible and consistent policies in the field of conventional arms controls. Under the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, Belarus had destroyed nearly 10 per cent of all its heavy military equipment, and had been the first member State of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to have ratified that Treaty's Adaptation Agreement in 2000. Belarus attached great importance to the elaboration of additional bilateral confidence-building measures on the basis of the 1999 Vienna Document. It shared the international community's humanitarian concerns relating to the illegal trafficking of small arms and light weapons as well as landmine problems. With the cooperation of the European Union and other donors, Belarus had continued to eliminate around 3.7 million of its PFM-1 anti-personnel mines. ABDALMAHMOOD ABDALHALEEM MOHAMMAD (Sudan), speaking on behalf of the African Group, said the most effective means of achieving nuclear disarmament would be the commencement of multilateral negotiations leading to an early conclusion of a convention prohibiting the development, production, testing, deployment, stockpiling, transfer, threat of use or use of nuclear weapons, their means of delivery and related materials. Among the first steps towards the realization of that objective would be a commitment by nuclear-weapon States to immediately stop the qualitative improvement, development, production and stockpiling of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems. Pending the total elimination of nuclear weapons, he believed a legally binding international instrument should be established under which the nuclear-weapon States would undertake not to be the first to use such weapons and provide security guarantees to non-nuclear-weapon States. He stressed that any meaningful disarmament process should be irreversible, transparent and verifiable. Concerning the item on confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms, he remained convinced that the ultimate goal of such measures was to strengthen international peace and security and to contribute to the prevention of war. Such measures should not be a substitute or a precondition for disarmament efforts, and should not divert attention from those efforts. They should be developed and applied on a voluntary and reciprocal basis, and should have as an objective the principle of undiminished security for all. He emphasized the importance of confidence-building measures at the regional level as crucial for enhancing regional peace and security. Noting with deep concern the recent trend of rising global military expenditures, which were likely to exceed $1 trillion this year, he called for the reduction of military expenditures in order to release funds needed for development, especially the development of the African continent. The reduction of military budgets was an important confidence-building measure that could contribute to global peace and security. Another important confidence-building measure was the implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons. PAK GIL YON (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) said that, today, the world was witnessing a yearly increase of military expenditure. More than ever, the world felt insecure and uneasy as it watched "a powerful country threatening others with nuclear weapons and occupying weak and small countries by force". The reality showed that the responsibility for disarmament lay mainly with world Powers, as they were increasing military spending and profiting from arms trade. They were inciting the arms race. The United States was developing new types of nuclear weapons on the premise of obtaining a pre-emptive nuclear strike capability and expanding the arms race into space. As long as there was the doctrine of use of nuclear weapons and monopolization of the weapons market, the United Nations debate on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation would be empty talk. He said the nuclear issue of the Korean peninsula was a direct product of the "hostile policy" of the United States towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Bush administration had designated the People's Republic of Korea as part of the "axis of evil" and an "outpost of tyranny" and had threatened it with a pre-emptive nuclear strike. In those circumstances, the People's Republic of Korea had had no choice but to make nuclear weapons. Last October, it had successfully carried out a nuclear test. "This is a reasonable exercise of the sovereign right to defend the territory and population and social system from foreign attack and invasion," he stated. The denuclearization of the Korean peninsula was one of the lifetime teachings of President Kim Il Sung and the consistent position of his Government. His country remained firm in its will to implement the Joint Statement of 19 September 2005 and Agreement of 13 February 2007. The resolution of the nuclear issue depended entirely on the attitude of the United States. The 13 February Agreement had only been possible because the United States had promised to lift financial sanctions on his country within 30 days, he said. However, that money had not reached the country. "It is not simply a question of money, it is rather the question of credibility." The United States was now staging war exercises in " South Korea" against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "How can we trust the United States talking of 'no intention to attack'?" If the United States would implement faithfully its commitments on the principle of "action for action" as agreed by the six parties, the process of denuclearization of the Korean peninsula would be smoothly pushed forward. Above all, it should dismantle financial sanctions, the intensive embodiment of the hostile policy towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He announced that his country would return to the six-party talks when the question of financial sanctions was fully settled. JAYANT PRASAD ( India) said his country remained fully committed to the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world, to be realized through global, verifiable and non-discriminatory disarmament. During the course of the discussions last year, his delegation had spelt out India's specific proposals to build a consensus that could strengthen the ability of the international community to move towards the goal of nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. In order to facilitate consideration of practical steps and recommendations for that purpose, his delegation had requested the Commission's Secretariat to circulate the text of India's Working Paper on Nuclear Disarmament as a working paper of Working Group I. In Working Group II on confidence-building measures in the field of conventional weapons, he said it was necessary to be mindful of the need to reach consensus after four years of discussions on the issue. Every effort should be made to build on the large measure of convergence achieved already. India fully supported the adoption of bilateral, regional and global confidence-building measures, freely arrived at by the participating States. The core objectives of such measures were risk reduction, prevention of accidental war, prevention of crises and management of dialogue in times of crises, mitigating misunderstanding and misinterpretation of military activities, thereby promoting a stable environment of peace and security between and among States. India, he added, had initiated and concluded a number of unilateral and bilateral confidence-building measures in Asia to build trust and confidence and ensure greater transparency. AKRAM AL QASSEMY (Yemen), aligning himself with the Non-Aligned Movement statement, stressed the importance of turning the Middle East region into a nuclear-weapons-free zone and a zone free of weapons of mass destruction. That goal could not be achieved without the support of all countries party to the NPT, as well as Israel. It could also not be achieved without controls through a non-proliferation system and the signing by all States in the region of the Treaty's Optional Protocols and the IAEA Safeguards. Double standards should be avoided. He underlined the fact that all countries had the right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology. He said his country had implemented measures aimed at the prevention of the introduction of fissile material in an illegal fashion and to prevent the illegal trafficking of conventional weapons. His Government had implemented measures to control the illegal trafficking of small arms and light weapons. In light of international realities, the international community must choose international peace and security. He stressed the importance of transparency in that regard, as well as the importance of Article V in the Charter of the United Nations concerning the right of legitimate self-defence and non-interference in the matters of States. PHILIP RICHARD OWADE (Kenya), associating himself with the statements on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and the African Group, said that, in both his reports "On Larger Freedom" and the "2006 Report on the Work of the Organization", former Secretary-General Kofi Annan had underscored the inextricable linkage of security, development and human rights. That vision could not be achieved without tangible progress in the field of disarmament. "How can we eradicate poverty when over $1 trillion is still spent on military expenditure? How can we hope to achieve the Millennium Development Goals when over 70 per cent of the United Nations meagre $10 billion budget goes towards peacekeeping and other field operationsB ?" he asked. Instead, he said, there had been an escalation in military expenditure, and efforts were being made to modernize nuclear arsenals and their systems of delivery. He emphasized that the only guarantee against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons was through their total elimination. The status quo was certainly not an option, and a selective approach in addressing only one aspect -- non-proliferation -- would not work. Disarmament and non-proliferation were two sides of the same coin and must be tackled simultaneously. As a matter of priority, the nuclear-weapons States should unequivocally undertake to totally eliminate nuclear weapons. Negotiations on a legally binding treaty should begin without delay. He expressed hope that the forthcoming Non-Proliferation Treaty Review in Vienna would agree on a programme of work that would constructively tackle its three components: disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The tendency by nuclear-weapons States to denigrate that third component must be resisted. In its Plan of Action, the African Union had underscored the inalienable right of African countries to the free access to nuclear energy and technology for peaceful purposes. As part of confidence-building measures, the international community must agree on practical ways to control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which continued to cause havoc to thousands of civilians, especially in Africa. He said Kenya had joined six countries across the continents to co-author the resolution on an arms trade treaty during the last session of the Assembly. It was important that the international community put in place a mechanism for responsible trade in those weapons through a legally binding instrument that would establish international standards on the import, export and transfer of conventional arms. MEHDI DANESH-YAZDI ( Iran) said the current session of the Commission should intensify efforts to adopt concrete recommendations in achieving the objectives of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Its endeavours should be guided by the following principles: to maintain and strengthen the integrity of the existing non-proliferation instruments; to reject attempts to undermine the inalienable rights of the States parties; to preserve fully the achievements reached at the 1995 and 2000 NPT Review Conferences; and to emphasize the authority and credibility of relevant international organizations such as IAEA regarding the verification of compliance. For many years, he noted, the Conference on Disarmament had failed to adopt a programme of work due to the lack of political will for negotiations on nuclear disarmament. To overcome that problem, the Commission should recommend the early establishment of an ad hoc committee on nuclear disarmament. The threat of use of nuclear weapons by some States possessing such weapons was increasingly alarming. The Commission should not turn a blind eye to such dangerous threats and should send a strong message to those States by rejecting such illegal and inhumane policies. The negation of nuclear disarmament obligations was not the only challenge facing the NPT, he said. Certain nuclear-weapon States, under the pretext of non-proliferation, had attempted to establish new mechanisms and precedents to restrict and deny the inalienable rights of States parties under article IV of the NPT to develop and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Such attempts would only exacerbate the existing inequalities that were inherent in the NPT, and consequently would lead to the erosion of the integrity of the Treaty and the benefits of its membership. Ironically, the same States were proliferating nuclear weapons horizontally and vertically by either transferring the nuclear weapons technology and materials to non-parties to the NPT or by developing new types of nuclear weapons or modernizing them. Thus, he stated, the Commission should reflect on non-proliferation in all its aspects and recommend certain measures to ensure the critical balance between non-proliferation obligations and the right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Among other things, the Commission should reflect on the following: enabling the NPT States parties to exercise their full rights for developing and producing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes under appropriate international monitoring and supervision; the authority of IAEA as the sole competent international body to deal with the verification of compliance of States with their safeguard obligations; and avoiding abusing United Nations bodies, including the Security Council, as instruments of pressure to deprive States of exercising their inalienable rights. Turning to confidence-building measures, he said such measures should not be seen in isolation from the international security environment. As long as some nuclear-weapon States persistently sought absolute security by relying on their nuclear arsenals, it was unrealistic to believe that the common goal towards general and complete disarmament could be realized in the foreseeable future. Therefore, confidence-building measures should be coupled with simultaneous concrete steps towards elimination of nuclear weapons. To attain such a noble goal, the international community must pursue and advance disarmament in practice rather than in words. VITALY CHURKIN ( Russian Federation) noted that the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START) would expire in 2009. At the same time, article II of the Moscow Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions, which provided for using the START Treaty to ensure control in the field of strategic nuclear forces, would cease to be effective. That meant that all control over strategic nuclear forces would be terminated. For that reason, he proposed to the United States to conclude a new agreement that would replace the START Treaty. Mere political declarations on confidence-building and transparency measures would not suffice. Special emphasis should be placed on the relationship between offensive and defensive strategic weapons, he said. An apt observation to that effect was made in the preamble to the now defunct Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. The logic behind that was quite clear: any increase of missile defence capability by one side would impel the other side to respond by building up its strategic offensive weapons. "Because of this vital element, we cannot view the United States global missile defence system out of context, as a purely defensive measure: it upsets the strategic balance and leads to the development of a first strike capability." The United States missile defence system was being extended beyond its national territory, involving some Eastern European countries and, according to United States military officials, Transcaucasia. "Deployment of strategic components of the United States military infrastructure in countries adjacent to Russian borders raises legitimate concerns and requires that we take adequate measures." The risk of an arms race in outer space was another growing concern, he said. His delegation had prepared a draft treaty on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space, which it was planning to submit shortly for consideration. He called on nations that possessed outer space weaponization potential to follow suit with his country and other members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization by pledging not to be the first to place weapons of any kind in outer space. The Russian Federation, he said, strictly observed the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which provided for the elimination of two types of land-based missiles with ranges between 500 and 1,000 kilometres and between 1,000 and 5,500 kilometres. He was concerned that, despite the provisions of that Treaty, intermediate range missiles were being manufactured by the United States as target missiles. Furthermore, such missiles were being developed and adopted for service in some other countries. In that connection, he proposed considering the elaboration of a universal international legal instrument on that matter to reflect the current realities. Another priority was enhancing the non-proliferation regimes for weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related materials. He believed that enhancing the NPT should focus on three areas. The first was to reduce the attractiveness of creating a complete nuclear fuel cycle by implementing multilateral approaches to the cycle. The second was to enhance the IAEA safeguards system and universalize the Additional Protocol to the Safeguards Agreement. The third area included measures in the field of nuclear disarmament and security assurances to non-nuclear States. In that context, he supported the re-establishment at the Conference on Disarmament of an ad hoc committee with the mandate to negotiate with regard to security assurances to non-nuclear States. LILA HANITRA RATSIFANDRIHAMANANA, Permanent Observer of the African Union, aligning herself with the statement made on behalf of the African Group, said that, against the background of the continuation of internal wars, inter-State conflicts, increased terrorist acts, mercenaries and crime on the continent, the African Union stressed the linkage between disarmament, peace and security, development, democracy and good governance. The African Union had been continuing the actions of its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity, regarding a denuclearization of Africa, the elimination of anti-personnel mines and the proliferatio0n and trafficking of illegal small arms and light weapons. She said that, since its inception in 2002, the African Union had stressed the strengthening of institutions and policies in the areas of peace and disarmament, as well as coordination with subregional organizations. She mentioned in that regard the establishment in Algiers of an African study centre for terrorism. In January, the African Union Summit had decided to endorse a common African position regarding the review process of the United Nations Programme of Action for the Prevention and Elimination of the Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. The African Union said no to nuclear weapons and appealed to all producers of nuclear-related materials to fulfil their commitments, she continued. The African Union also said no to the alarming proliferation of conventional weapons, in particular of small arms and light weapons. Despite African vigilance, the continent remained a favoured destination of those arms, which were often used for the destabilization of regimes, usurpation of power and repression. She supported proposals for confidence-building measures as well as the ongoing search for transparency and a code of conduct for armed forces, and underlined the importance of multilateralism in the area of disarmament. She said that efforts against the proliferation of nuclear weapons and conventional arms required the full awareness and commitment of the international community. With strong controls on arms production, trade and transfer, as well as a rapid detection of violations of those controls, the goal of general and complete disarmament could be reached. She underscored the importance of lasting cooperation between regional organizations and the United Nations regarding arms transfer and control. She further stressed the need for rapid implementation of all international instruments and mechanisms, in particular the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and underscored the need for entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The African Union also encouraged the establishment of a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices and a treaty on arms trade and transfer. Statements in Right of Reply SIN SONG CHOL (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) said he wanted to respond to some points made earlier by Japan. Due to the hostile policy and nuclear threats of the United States and Japan towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, his country had been compelled to build its own nuclear deterrent and conduct nuclear tests. Japan sought to give the Commission the falsified impression that Japan was serious about the ongoing six-party talks. In actuality, Japan persisted on issues irrelevant to the subject of the talks and sought to obstruct the implementation of recent agreements. Japan kicked up a ruckus by politicizing a minor issue in order to scuttle the six-party talks. Participants in the talks should honour their commitment to serve the purpose of the talks, namely the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. The talks could not be successful if any one party insisted on focusing on irrelevant issues. Japan's intention was to scuttle the talks, as it was feared by the circle around the Japanese Prime Minister that denuclearization of the peninsula might deprive them of their justification for going nuclear. Japan was not interested at all in the talks. Rather, it sought to revive its blood-stained past. Mr. MINAMI ( Japan), responding to those comments, underlined Japan's determination regarding the six-party talks. The points raised by the representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea were groundless. Japan had been and would continue to make every effort with other relevant parties for the success of the talks, in order to re-establish peace and stability in the region. Statements JULIAN VILA-COMA ( Andorra) said his country had no army and had lived in peace for seven centuries. It neither produced, nor exported arms. Its devotion to peace was a source of pride. That was why his country, supporting disarmament, was very concerned at the lack of political will in the implementation of agreements regarding disarmament and non-proliferation. The Commission's current session would allow for the consideration of several points of view regarding nuclear disarmament and confidence-building measures in all areas. He hoped the session would yield concrete results and precise recommendations. His country welcomed the adoption of Assembly resolution 61/257 that established the post of a High Representative for disarmament affairs, thereby giving priority to that issue. "Let's not spare any efforts as we negotiate a consensus leading towards effectiveness," he said. ROBERT HILL ( Australia) said his country had readily embraced the Proliferation Security Initiative as an important means to strengthen international cooperation on combating the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and was pleased that support for that Initiative continued to grow. He encouraged those States that had not expressed support for the Initiative to look again at the practical ways it could contribute to everyone's security. Like others, Australia considered that balanced and progressive steps towards nuclear disarmament were vital to the continued political strength and vitality of the NPT. But it should be clear that the burden of responsibility was not the nuclear-weapon States' alone. All States must contribute by ensuring an environment conducive to nuclear disarmament. A world free of nuclear weapons would not be achieved without complete and permanent assurances of non-proliferation. Of serious concern in that context were the cases of Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, he said. Iran had committed serious violations of its NPT nuclear safeguards obligations and was continuing development of its uranium enrichment programme in defiance of the IAEA Board of Governors and the United Nations Security Council. Iran must comply with the IAEA Board and the Security Council's resolutions, including by suspending all uranium enrichment-related activities. Australia, he said, strongly condemned the nuclear weapon test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in October 2006. However, he joined many others in welcoming the statement released on 13 February following the six party talks in Beijing, which committed the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to move quickly to begin resolving the serious international concerns over its nuclear programme. He looked forward to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea matching its commitments with practical action. The cases of Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea were not just a challenge for the nuclear non-proliferation regime. They also detracted from the environment of confidence essential for progress on nuclear disarmament. The irresponsible or illicit transfer of conventional arms and their components was of such grave and pressing concern that it could only be adequately addressed through the establishment of a legally binding treaty, he stated. Australia was proud to be one of the co-authors of the General Assembly resolution on an arms trade treaty, and welcomed the overwhelming majority which supported the resolution. He encouraged all States to respond to the Secretary-General by 30 April with views on the scope, feasibility and parameters of an arms trade treaty. HAMID CHABAR (Morocco), aligning himself with the statements on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and the African Group, said his country welcomed the fact that, in 2006, the deliberations of the Commission had been put back on track, and he hoped that the current session would also result in progress. Working Group I had undertaken a great deal, and its efforts pointed to the need to reiterate the importance of multilateralism, and to reinvigorate the Conference on Disarmament and existing major international instruments such as the NPT. The balancing of rights and obligations of all in the NPT must be maintained, including the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes; the obligations of non-nuclear States to respect non-proliferation; and the obligation of nuclear Powers to engage in negotiations to achieve complete disarmament. He said that, in 1996, the international community had taken an important step through the creation of the CTBT. A complete ban of nuclear tests was fundamentally important, as they promoted proliferation of nuclear weapons, and he called for the entry into force of the Treaty. Establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones must be promoted, and the Pelindaba Treaty that made Africa such a zone could serve as an example for other regions where there were tensions, in particular in the Middle East. There was also need for a treaty banning the production of fissile materials. The risk of terrorist groups using nuclear equipment in an urban environment was frightening. In 2006 and on the initiative of the Group of Eight, his country had hosted an international meeting as part of the global initiative to combat nuclear terrorism. He added that the problem of proliferation of delivery systems must be given greater attention. Morocco, as part of the group of States that had subscribed to the Code of The Hague, underlined once more the need to promote achievement of all objectives in that Code and to combat the proliferation of delivery systems, which were a threat to international peace. Addressing the issue of confidence-building measures, as considered by Working Group II, he underlined a few cardinal principles, including those contained in the United Nations Charter: the non-use of force in international relations, peaceful settlement of disputes and respect for the sovereignty and integrity of States. Regional disputes must be resolved through dialogue and negotiations. Conventional weapons had had a disastrous impact on civilian populations, especially in developing countries, he said. Sustained international efforts were therefore necessary to combat the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. There was a need for follow-up to the 2001 Programme of Action after the disastrous 2006 Review Conference, but, on the positive side, an international instrument on the marking and tracing of small arms and light weapons had been concluded. NARAYAN DEV PANT ( Nepal) said the fact that the world had a stockpile of thousands of tons of highly enriched uranium and separated plutonium, which was enough to produce more than 100,000 nuclear weapons, was a stark reminder that international peace and security was in absolute crisis. Only the total elimination of nuclear weapons would provide the absolute guarantee against the use or threat of use of those weapons. As an interim measure, initiatives must be taken for the conclusion of a universal, unconditional and legally binding instrument on security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon States. He also believed the proposed fissile material cut-off treaty had to be concluded in earnest, while strengthening the IAEA's safeguards system so as to reinforce the existing verification mechanism for the non-proliferation regime. The trend of global trade in conventional weapons, he said, was equally alarming. One modest way to mitigate the negative effects of conventional weapons was through the development of practical confidence-building measures. Such measures created a congenial atmosphere among the stakeholders to enter into meaningful cooperation in carrying forward the objectives of disarmament at all levels. He shared the view that dialogue, transparency and voluntary sharing of information contributed to lessen threats. Likewise, increased interactions as part of confidence-building measures promoted a sense of ownership which enhanced the chances of success for common initiatives. Lasting success, however, required that the special needs of the participating countries were given due considerations. In that context, he also emphasized the importance of regional initiatives as effective ways to achieve the goals of disarmament by way of consolidating the confidence-building measures at the regional level. He hoped that the Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament for the Asia and Pacific would become fully operational from Kathmandu after its proposed relocation from New York, as mandated by General Assembly resolutions. FELIX ANI ANIOKOYE (Nigeria), aligning himself with the statements made on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and the African Group, said he attached great importance to the current session of the Commission, not only because it was the second year of the three-year cycle, when substantive discussions were expected to commence, but also since the session interfaced with the first meeting of the Preparatory Committee of the 2010 Review Conference of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. As nuclear weapons posed the greatest danger to humanity, he supported the effective elimination of those weapons through multilateral negotiation that would lead to the conclusion of a convention prohibiting the development, production, testing, stockpiling, transfer, threat or use of nuclear weapons. He further supported the establishment of a legally binding international instrument on security assurances. He said confidence-building measures in the field of conventional arms created a conducive atmosphere for negotiations of arms control and disarmament. The implementation of the guidelines for appropriate types of confidence-building measures was therefore important, taking into account prevailing political military and other conditions. The global arms trade had defied all efforts towards addressing the negative consequences of conventional arms proliferation in crises-ridden developing countries. It was of serious concern that developing countries accounted for 63.2 per cent of the value of international arms delivery, estimated at over $1.1 trillion in 2006. He called therefore for a drastic reduction of military expenditure so that resources saved could be channelled towards fighting poverty and improving other conditions. He was also concerned that illegal trade in small arms and light weapons and their easy accessibility to non-State actors continued to threaten peace, stability, security and the economies of development countries. His country had consistently advocated international measures to check the proliferation of those weapons at national, regional and international levels. The Moratorium by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the importation and exportation of those arms, adopted as a Convention last June, could serve as a useful instrument in that regard. RIEDZAL ABDUL MALEK ( Malaysia) said the selective implementation of the NPT was appalling. The lack of commitment on the part of nuclear-weapon States to fulfil their obligation to pursue and bring to conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international verification was woeful, and hardly consistent with the decision of non-nuclear-weapon States which had voluntarily foresworn the nuclear weapon option. In that regard, the non-nuclear-weapon States should be accorded multilateral, legally binding and unconditional assurances against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons by nuclear-weapon States. Another issue, he noted, was the growing emphasis on strengthening non-proliferation regimes, particularly through the Security Council, while progress in achieving nuclear disarmament remained elusive, which was disheartening. The only way to ensure the maintenance of international peace and security, including ensuring that nuclear weapons did not fall into terrorist hands, was through the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. In that regard, he underlined the need for the Conference on Disarmament to commence in the near future multilateral negotiations on a nuclear weapons convention. He strongly agreed with the report of the Blix Commission on Weapons of Mass Destruction that it was time to move from the current stalemate and revive discussions and the work on disarmament. He said the danger posed by conventional weapons, particularly in conflict situations, was also of concern. The number of deaths and injuries inflicted by conventional weapons was staggering, qualifying it as "de-facto" weapons of mass destruction. In that regard, confidence-building measures in the field of conventional weapons which were voluntarily implemented could contribute to strengthening international as well as regional peace and security. Malaysia had completed its stockpile destruction of anti-personnel landmines on 23 January 2001 and accordingly fulfilled its obligations under article 4 of the Ottawa Convention. He considered the working paper circulated by the Chairman of Working Group 2 as a good basis for the Commission's discussion. SALIM IBWE (United Republic of Tanzania), associating himself with the statements on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and the African Group, said a candid assessment of the root causes of the setbacks encountered in the Commission pointed to the political and security sensitivity and complexity of the subject on the one hand, and to the inherent weaknesses deeply embedded in the multilateral arms control process on the other. Attaining full and complete disarmament should remain the goal. He said the primary responsibility for putting in place an effective, non-discriminatory control regime that went hand in hand with other universally agreed global values lay, in the final analysis, with the nuclear-weapons States and those aspiring to join the nuclear arms club. Unless nuclear States demonstrated their readiness to allow transparent verification, compliance and enforcement measures, the effectiveness of the NPT would remain doubtful. The increasing demand for more rigorous regimes was dictated by changing security circumstances. The work of the Commission was therefore more necessary today than ever before, given the increasing terrorist threats emanating from some radical non-State actors. As for the conventional aspect of the problem, he said the Great Lakes region, of which his country was a part, had concluded a regional Pact on Peace, Security, Democracy and Development in December. The non-proliferation of small arms and light weapons was a major component of that Pact. Addressing the CTBT, he appealed to those who had not yet signed or ratified the Treaty to do so, as the Treaty still lacked enough ratifications to become fully operational. Differences amongst Member States were not beyond compromise, and a consensus could be reached. He urged nuclear Powers to exercise leadership. Regional nuclear-free zone agreements, such as the Pelindaba Treaty, could be important measures towards the strengthening of global non-proliferation efforts. He said greater emphasis should be put on the illicit arms trade and its devastating human security consequences, especially in Africa, where small arms and light weapons were in effect weapons of mass destruction. The ease of use, and the ease with which such arms could be spread, exacerbated insurgencies as well as civil, ethnic and regional conflicts. The adoption in 2001 of the United Nations Programme of Action to combat small arms and light weapons proliferation was therefore very welcome, as was the United Nations Firearms Protocol of 2005. ATIA MUBARAK ( Libya) said there was still an urgent need to ensure balance and avoid selectivity in the implementation of the NPT, so as to break the impasse in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The current impasse in disarmament efforts was due to a lack of political will. In December 2003, Libya had decided to eliminate all equipment and programmes that could result in the production of internationally prohibited weapons. That decision had been praised by the international community, and was based on the country's conviction that the arms race could not serve its security or that of the region. While Libya believed its initiative could be a catalyst to other countries that would follow its example, it was also of the view that the decision would only serve Libya's national security if a number of major concerns were addressed. Among those concerns was the non-selective implementation of the NPT's provisions, particularly what was mentioned in article VI having to do with nuclear disarmament, as well as article IV having to do with facilitating and not restricting the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Also, it was necessary to respect the principles mentioned in the outcome documents from the tenth special session of the General Assembly and the 1995 and 2000 NPT Review Conferences, especially regarding the Thirteen Practical Steps towards nuclear disarmament. He emphasized the fact that any progress made in nuclear disarmament would help improve international security. Establishing nuclear-weapon-free zones in all regions would facilitate that goal. Despite the efforts of the international community to transform the Middle East into such a zone, Israel's possession of nuclear reactors and other equipment was a dangerous threat not only to the peace and security of the region but also of the entire world. Israel was the only country in the Middle East region that still refused to join the NPT. In addition, he said it was important to implement guarantees for non-nuclear-weapon States through an international legally binding instrument. Furthermore, efforts were needed for the implementation of the CTBT as quickly as possible, through the signing and ratification by countries that had not yet done so, especially by countries listed in annex II of the Treaty. On confidence-building measures, he insisted on the importance of adopting effective measures that would strengthen international peace and security, while respecting the right of countries to have the necessary weapons for their self-defence, as well as take into account the specificities of any region and its security needs. Statements in Right of Reply Exercising the right of reply, JOHN A. BRAVACO ( United States ) addressed the "misleading and false statements" regarding the United States' strong record of compliance with its non-proliferation obligations under the NPT. Although the steps taken were a matter of public record, he highlighted some of them, saying the United States had made extraordinary progress in reducing the size of its nuclear weapons stockpile. It had dismantled more than 13,000 nuclear weapons since 1988, dismantled more than 3,000 non-strategic nuclear weapons, reduced non-strategic weapons deployed in support of NATO in Europe by 90 per cent, removed all non-strategic nuclear weapons from surface ships and naval aircraft, and withdrawn from Europe and retired all nuclear artillery shells, Lance missile warheads and naval nuclear depth bombs. His country was now in the process of drawing down its operationally deployed strategic nuclear warheads to between 1,700 and 2,200 by the year 2012. It had dismantled more that 13,000 strategic and 3,000 non-strategic weapons. It had reduced nuclear weapons by 90 per cent in Europe. In parallel, his country had also been reducing its nuclear delivery systems. It had cancelled the Midgetman missile and had halted the production of the B-2 Stealth bomber. He said the reductions in the nuclear arsenal had been a continuing priority of the Bush administration, which had recently announced the elimination of 400 advanced cruise missiles. His country had not enriched uranium for nuclear weapons purposes since 1964 and had not produced plutonium for the same purpose since 1988. It had also observed a moratorium on nuclear testing and advocated a treaty to ban further production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons. In May 2006, the United States had been the first, and only, nation to introduce a treaty to that effect. The United States was also moving to reduce reliance on nuclear weapons. Strategic deterrence no longer relied exclusively on nuclear weapons but on a combination of nuclear and non-nuclear strike capabilities and a robust defence infrastructure. The United States and the Russian Federation had also taken bilateral steps by which his country was helping the Russian Federation move away from its nuclear posture, including an agreement to facilitate the shut-down of the last three plutonium-producing reactors, he said. The two States were engaged in broad ranging strategic dialogues designed to work out the nature of their strategic relationship after expiration of the START I in 2009. In conclusion, he said the United States was proud of its record of compliance and engaged in an honest dialogue. For that dialogue to remain honest, however, Member States must not engage in efforts to distort the facts. He rejected the comments of Iran. SIN SONG CHOL (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) said he wanted to comment on the remarks made by the representative of Australia. The nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula was the direct result of the hostile policies of the United States towards the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea had no choice but to develop nuclear capability to counter the threats against it from the United States. The resolution of the nuclear issue depended entirely on the attitude of the United States. His delegation believed that, if Australia sincerely desired the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, it should exercise its influence on the United States -- which was its ally -- to fully implement its commitments under the principle of reciprocity. * *** * For information media * not an official record The archives of South News can be found at http://southmovement.alphalink.com.au/southnews/ ***************************************************************** 11 Guardian Unlimited: War on terror 'raising attack risk' From Press Association Wednesday April 11, 2007 6:48 AM Countries such as Iran, Syria and North Korea have been "emboldened" by failures in the British and US-led War on Terror, a report warns. A study by think-tank the Oxford Research Group also raises fears that the UK's decision to replace Trident could "substantially encourage" other states to develop nuclear weapons. The damning critique of Western foreign policy comes amid growing concern over Iran's apparent willingness to confront the international community. The authors say support for political Islam is increasing worldwide, and action such as the war in Iraq has actually boosted the risk of further terrorist atrocities on the scale of 9/11. The UK and US have been trying to "keep the lid on" problems through military might, rather than addressing the root causes. "Treating Iraq as part of the War on Terror only spawned new terror in the region and created a combat training zone for jihadists," they write. The study insists that the consequences of military intervention in Iran would be "disastrous". But it also warns against allowing Tehran to pursue its public aim of developing civil nuclear power. "This would involve the development of facilities that are potential terrorist targets, as well as encourage the spread of technology and materials that could be used in the development of nuclear weapons." According to the study - titled Beyond Terror: The Truth About the Real Threats to Our World - the UK Government's plans for replacing Trident could destabilise the international situation further. "Nuclear weapon modernisation is likely to serve as a substantial encouragement to nuclear proliferation as countries with perceptions of vulnerability deem it necessary to develop their own deterrent capabilities," it says. © Copyright Press Association Ltd 2007, All Rights Reserved. ***************************************************************** 12 SLOTRIB: Court denies group's request to halt Diablo steam generator replacement San Luis Obispo Tribune | 04/11/2007 | By David Sneed dsneed@thetribunenews.com A San Francisco Superior Court Wednesday denied a petition to suspend Pacific Gas and Electric?s permits to replace Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant?s steam generators. The request to stay the permits was filed as part of a lawsuit by a Southern California environmental group against the California Coastal Commission, which issued the final permits for the replacement project in December. The court?s refusal to issue the stay allows PG&E to proceed with the replacement project as planned. Work to replace the plant?s eight steam generators is scheduled to begin next year. ***************************************************************** 13 NRC: NRC to Discuss Process for Review of License Renewal Application for Harris Nuclear Plant, Seeks Environmental Input News Release - Region II - 2007-013 - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region II 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 www.nrc.gov CONTACT: Ken Clark (404) 562-4416 Roger D. Hannah (404) 562-4417 E-mail: opa2@nrc.gov Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will conduct two public meetings on Wednesday, April 18, to discuss the agency’s review process for the license renewal application for the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant, located southwest of Raleigh, N.C. The sessions will also provide an opportunity for members of the public to comment on environmental issues they believe the NRC should consider during its review of the application, which requests an additional 20 years of operation. The meetings will be held at the New Horizons Fellowship, 820 E. Williams Street in Apex. The first session will begin at 1:30 p.m. and continue until 4:30 p.m. if necessary. The second session, which will offer the same presentation as the earlier one, will get under way at 7:00 p.m. and continue until 10:00 p.m. if needed. Both meetings will begin with NRC staff presentations on how the overall license renewal review process, which includes safety and environmental assessments, will work. Following the presentations, attendees will be able to offer their comments. “These meetings give interested people in the area a chance to learn what it is we consider during these reviews,” NRC License Renewal Project Manager Maurice Heath said. “They will also be able to suggest any environmental issues they think our review should include.” The NRC will host an open house beginning one hour before the start of each meeting to give members of the public an opportunity to talk informally with agency staff. However, formal comments must be expressed during the transcribed meetings. Under NRC regulations, the original operating license for a nuclear power plant expires at the end of 40 years. The license may be renewed for an additional 20 years if NRC requirements are met. The current operating license for the Shearon Harris Unit 1 reactor is due to expire on October 24, 2026. Progress Energy submitted its license renewal application for the plant on Nov. 16, 2006. As part of its application, the company submitted an environmental report. A copy of the application and other information is available via the NRC’s web site at: www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/applications/harris.h tml. In addition, the Eva H. Perry Library, located at 2100 Shepherd’s Vineyard Drive in Apex, has agreed to make the license renewal application available for public inspection. An existing NRC document, “Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants” (NUREG-1437), assesses the scope of environmental impacts that would be associated with license renewal at any nuclear power plant site. The document for which the NRC will gather environmental comments at the April 18th meetings will be a supplement to that report that is specific to the Harris plant. It will contain a recommendation regarding the environmental acceptability of the license renewal action. At the conclusion of the information-gathering process, the NRC staff will prepare a summary of the conclusions reached and significant issues identified. A copy will be sent to each person who participated in the scoping process. The summary will also be available on the NRC’s web site. The NRC staff will subsequently prepare a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) supplement for public comment and will hold a public meeting to solicit comments. After consideration of comments on the draft report, the NRC will prepare a final EIS supplement. Interested individuals may register to attend or present oral arguments at the April 18th meetings by contacting Samuel Hernandez of the NRC at 1-800-368-5642, ext. 4049. Those who wish to offer comments may also register at the meetings within 15 minutes of the start of each session. Individual oral comments may be limited by the time available, depending on the number of persons who register. In addition, members of the public may send written comments on the environmental scoping process for the supplement to the GEIS to: Chief, Rules and Directive Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Office of Administration, Mailstop T-6D59, Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Md., from 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. during Federal workdays. To be considered, written comments should be postmarked or dropped off by May 19, 2007. Electronic comments can also be sent via e-mail to ShearonHarrisEIS@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. April 11, 2007 ***************************************************************** 14 Daily Yomiuri: Risky energy surge possibly occurred during '99 N-plant glitch A criticality accident at the Shika nuclear power plant's No. 1 reactor in 1999 might have involved a prompt criticality, in which a spike in fission reactions in nuclear fuel occurs and causes a sudden surge in energy output. According to an analysis of the accident by Hokuriku Electric Power Co., which runs the power station in Shikamachi, Ishikawa Prefecture, the reactor's output power rose momentarily to 15 percent of its operational capacity after three control rods came loose. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry is consulting experts to in its analysis of the incident. At the Shika plant, three of the reactor's 89 control rods were dislodged due to the erroneous operation of water pressure valves that drive the rods. Since the emergency stop system for the rods did not respond, expelled neutrons from the uranium continued to increase even after criticality--in which the number of expelled neutrons is controlled to keep the fission reaction stable--was reached. This caused power output to continue to rise, the company said. There are no data that directly show to what levels the output rose. But the company conducted an analysis based on two assumptions. An analysis based on the amount of neutron fragments shows the output increased to 2 percent of the operational capacity six seconds after an emergency stop was engaged. An analysis based on the data of the past criticality test at the No. 1 reactor, however, shows the output rose to 15 percent of operational capacity two seconds after the stoppage, a situation tantamount to prompt criticality. Under prompt critical conditions, nuclear fuel is at risk of breaking up from the acute rise in output, resulting in the flow of radioactive material into cooling water. But the state safety screening has confirmed the reactor's safety by requiring measures for far more dangerous criticality accidents than one that happened at the Shika plant. Results of analyses based on the two assumptions show that output momentarily spiked, but then went down as the amount of neutrons absorbed by the hard-to-fissile uranium increased. The amount of energy generated by the nuclear fuel never surpassed the standard set in the state safety screening, indicating there was no possibility of the fuel breaking up. Meanwhile, the possibility of prompt criticality has been ruled out for the 1978 criticality accident at the No. 3 reactor of Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power station. ) The Daily Yomiuri, The Yomiuri Shimbun ***************************************************************** 15 BBC NEWS: Nuclear goals spark uranium deals Last Updated: Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 12:34 GMT 13:34 UK Nuclear power has gained in appeal as an alternative energy source A scramble by nuclear power firms for the world's scarce uranium resources has sparked a string of corporate deals and takeover bids. With uranium prices at their highest since the 1970s, France's Areva is to buy up to 18% of uranium firm Summit Resources. The move follows a 1bn Australian dollar (US$825m; Ł417m) hostile bid for Summit from Paladin Resources. As firms are vying to take advantage of the growth in nuclear energy, there have been fears over uranium shortages. "We should produce as much uranium as possible to stop a growing deficit that may hamper the nuclear power development," said Mukhtar Dzhkishev, the head of Kazakhstan's atomic firm Kazatomprom, according to Russian news agency Tass. This renewed interest in nuclear energy comes after years of underinvestment in the sector, due to safety concerns. 'Long term' Nuclear energy is gaining in appeal as an alternative to fossil fuels. Uranium prices have climbed by some 20% this week to $113 a pound. Summit Resources said French firm Areva - the largest maker of nuclear reactors - would initially buy a 9% stake, with the option of buying a further 9% later. Alan Eggers, managing director of Summit, said Areva's purchase was part of a "long-term relationship with Areva". It remains to be seen how Paladin Resources - which has interests in Namibian mines - will respond to Areva's latest move. Wider trend In other uranium deals, Mitsubishi Development is to invest 11m Canadian dollars (Ł4.8m) into the West McArthur block, a uranium mining area in Canada. The investment by Mitsubishi Development, the wholly-owned Australian mining arm of Japanese group Mitsubishi, will give it access to half of the CanAlaska project. The move comes after a wave of nuclear deals last year. * BBC Copyright Notice ***************************************************************** 16 NRC: NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Hatch Nuclear Plant News Release - Region II - 2007-014 - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region II 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 www.nrc.gov CONTACT: Ken Clark (404) 562-4416 Roger D. Hannah (404) 562-4417 E-mail: opa2@nrc.gov The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is scheduled to meet with Southern Nuclear Operating Company officials on Tuesday, April 17, to discuss the NRC’s annual assessment of safety performance for 2006 at the Hatch nuclear power plant, located near Baxley, Ga. The meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Southeastern Technical College, 3001 East First Street in Vidalia, Ga. The NRC staff will present the results of the assessment and be available to respond to questions or comments from the public before the close of the meeting. “The NRC continually reviews the performance of the Hatch plant and the nation’s other commercial nuclear power facilities,” NRC Region II Administrator William Travers said. “This meeting is a chance for us to discuss that safety performance with the company, with local officials and with people living near the plant.” A letter sent from the NRC Region II Office to plant officials addresses the performance of the Hatch plant during the period and will serve as the basis for that meeting’s discussion. It is available on the NRC web site at www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/hat_2006q4.pdf. The NRC uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear plant performance. The colors start with “green” and then increase to “white,” “yellow” or “red,” depending on the safety significance of the issues involved. The NRC said the Hatch plant operated safely during 2006 with all inspection findings being “green,” or very low safety significance, and all performance indicators also indicating performance at levels requiring no additional NRC oversight. As a result, the NRC plans to conduct only routine baseline inspections at the Hatch plant for the rest of 2007. The NRC staff will also conduct inspections of the independent spent fuel storage installation and conduct initial reactor operator examinations. Current information for both units at Hatch is available on the NRC web site at: www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/HAT1/hat1_chart.html and www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/HAT2/hat2_chart.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. April 11, 2007 ***************************************************************** 17 Platts: NDA opens competition to manage five UK magnox sites London (Platts)--10Apr2007 The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has launched a competition to manage five UK magnox sites, the third such site management competition to be offered to the international contractor community in just over a year, state cleanup body NDA said April 10. The initial two competitions are still underway and involve the Drigg low-level waste repository and the Sellafield reprocessing complex. Winners of the competition will manage Berkeley, Bradwell and Hinkley Point A, all magnox sites undergoing decommissioning, and the Dungeness A and Sizewell A magnox stations which ceased generating electricity at the end of December 2006. The NDA said it will hold a seminar June 14 to provide potential bidders with more details about the overall aim and scope of the management contract as well as the competition timetable. The competition winner, which will be announced in first-quarter 2009, will become a "parent body organization" and will own the shares in the magnox site license company employing the workforces at the five sites, for the duration of the contract. NDA said the anticipated spending by the five sites this fiscal year is expected to be around 230 million pounds (US$454 million). Copyright © 2007 - Platts, All Rights Reserved ***************************************************************** 18 Platts: France publishes decree to build EPR nuke pilot project Paris (Platts)--11Apr2007 France Wednesday published a decree authorizing state-run Electricite de France to build a Eur3 billion ($4 billion) pilot European Pressurized Reactor at Flamanville in Normandy, northern France. The move was immediately condemned by French anti-nuclear campaigners as an "anti-democratic act designed to short-cut debate by a government at the end of its reign." The decree, signed by prime minister Dominique de Villepin and economy minister Thierry Breton, fixes the technical framework for the construction of the 4,500 MW capacity reactor that the government hopes will be up and running by 2012. Economy minister Breton told French daily Les Echos Wednesday that EPR's could start replacing France's oldest nuclear power reactors by 2015. Meanwhile, campaign group "Sortir du nucleaire" said it was urging the two leading opposition candidates in France's forthcoming presidential elections to declare they would scrap the decree if they won power. Socialist candidate Segolene Royal has said she would suspend the project in order to extend the debate in France over nuclear power. For simliar news, request a free trial to Power in Europe at http://www.platts.com/Request%20More%20Information/index.xml?src=story Copyright © 2007 - Platts, All Rights Reserved ***************************************************************** 19 JOURNAL NEWS: Indian Point's new sirens earn passing grade in tests today Wednesday, April 11, 2007 By GREG CLARY AND NICOLE NEROULIAS BUCHANAN - Indian Point's new emergency siren system earned a passing grade in three tests today. Just one of the 150 sirens in four counties failed in the first test sounding, and just two in the second. In the third and most difficult test, 13 sirens failed, but officials consider the test a success because more than 90 percent of sirens sounded. In the first two tests, the sirens were activated via computer over the Internet. In the third test, a radio signal activated the sirens. That's more difficult because of the topography of the Lower Hudson Valley. "This is one of the most successful tests so far," said Dan Greeley, Rockland County assistant director of fire and emergency services. "However, there are still some things that have to be worked out." Officials at Entergy, which owns the nuclear power plants, said they were happy with ther results and would work to figure out any problems left before another set of three sounding tests tomorrow. Those tests will take place at the same times as today's, 10:30, 11 and 11:30 a.m. The sirens are supposed to sound for four minutes at full volume during the testing. The nuclear power plant's new 150-siren system must be operational by Sunday, according to federal legislation. On April 2, 123 of the sirens did not perform up to federal standards. An April 4 test drew better results, though still not a success according to some federal criteria. The system must work at 94 percent - 141 out of 150 of the sirens work properly to pass muster - said Michael Slobedien, Indian Point's top emergency official. In radio testing, officials consider a 90 percent rate - 135 of 150 - satisfactory. The system alerts residents in four counties within the 10-mile evacuation zone around the plant to check the media for information if an emergency occurs at the plant. The public does not have to take any action in response to the testing. The existing siren system is operating until the replacement system is ready. The nuclear power plant officials are also working on replacing the large electrical transformer that exploded and caught fire at Indian Point 3 on Friday, causing an unplanned shutdown for the second time in a week and dropping the plant's safety rating. The plant is not expected to return to full power for at least two more weeks. Copyright © 2006 The Journal News, a Gannett Co. Inc. newspaper serving Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties in New York. ***************************************************************** 20 Chattanoogan.com: Wamp: Leading The Way To Energy Independence - 4/11/2007 - Opinion - by Rep. Zach Wamp As our country continues to consume large amounts of energy, it is more important than ever that we rapidly move towards energy independence. Our region is helping lead the way by making important developments in energy independence in two areas that make up our largest areas of consumption: transportation and the electricity power sector. We recently launched a new program at UTC which moved the Advanced Transportation Technology Institute into the engineering school at UTC. With a $1 million federal grant, we set up a permanent research arm at UTC around advanced transportation called the Advanced Technologies for Transportation Research Program. This grant is another step in pursuing enterprising research and development and will lead to a lot of technological breakthroughs. From mass transit to individual automobiles, we are working diligently in research areas with a vehicle test track off Amnicola Highway that was transferred from the Tennessee Valley Authority to UTC to test vehicles using new technology and alternative energy. We believe we'll make the automobiles of the future in this region, and we want to be involved in the research that demonstrates the new technologies from electric cars and buses to hydrogen fuel cell driven systems and flex-fuel vehicles. It really ties UTC and the University of Tennessee to a national position in energy and transportation research. I believe it will create investments in this region from the private sector on advanced transportation. It's one of the key priorities of the enterprise center which we set up to promote technology and economic development in southeast Tennessee. They are very involved in alternative fuels, advanced transportation and technology transfer, which will create the jobs in the private sector or whether it's to manufacture hydrogen fuel cell or to demonstrate next generation vehicles. There's another piece to energy independence and that is nuclear energy. We have tremendous resources and skill sets in our Tennessee Valley region to help bring about a nuclear renaissance. TVA could demonstrate proliferation-resistant technology to recycle spent nuclear fuel and reduce waste. We have five nuclear units online today, and could have eight to nine nuclear units in the TVA system within the next seven years if we can show that a large part of the spent fuel can be converted back into energy. France and Great Britain already do this and there's no reason why we can't lead these efforts from our region. If we're going to clean up the air and become energy independent, we have to take bold steps. In transportation, that means research, development and deployment of advanced technologies into the marketplace and providing reliable efficient power through a resurgence in nuclear energy by demonstrating a safe closed-fuel cycle. We have the capability of demonstrating all of this in a partnership with TVA in this region. The Tennessee Valley Corridor can bring about change by leading in energy technology, or "Entech," to benefit our future and make our country more energy independent. news@chattanoogan.com (423) 266-2325 © 2004 Site designed and copyrighted by HD ***************************************************************** 21 NRC: NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Crystal River Nuclear Plant News Release - 2007-II-015 - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov www.nrc.gov The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is scheduled to meet with Progress Energy officials on Wednesday, April 18, to discuss the NRC's annual assessment of safety performance for 2006 at the Crystal River nuclear power plant, located on the west coast of Florida near Crystal River. The meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. in the Crystal River Nuclear Operations Training Facility, 8200 West Venable Street in Crystal River. The NRC staff will present the results of the assessment and be available to respond to questions or comments from the public before the close of the meeting. "The NRC continually reviews the performance of the Crystal River plant and the nation's other commercial nuclear power facilities," NRC Region II Administrator William Travers said. "This meeting is a chance for us to discuss that safety performance with the company, with local officials and with people living near the plant." A letter sent from the NRC Region II Office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during the period and will serve as the basis for the meeting discussion. It is available on the NRC web site at www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/cr_2006q4.pdf . The NRC uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear plant performance. The colors start with "green" and then increase to "white," "yellow" or "red," depending on the safety significance of the issues involved. The NRC said the Crystal River plant operated safely during 2006. Plant performance for the first two quarters of the assessment period required increased NRC inspection effort due to a White finding of low to moderate safety significance involving unprotected safe shutdown cables intended for use after a fire and related manual operator actions during such a circumstance found not to be feasible. The company took corrective action, and a subsequent NRC inspection identified no findings of significance. Plant performance for the fourth quarter of 2006 was classified as Green (of very low safety significance) and, as a result, the NRC plans to conduct only routine baseline inspections at the plant during 2007 and will perform a non-routine inspection of a generic concern at pressurized water reactors related to possible blockage of containment building sumps. Routine inspections are performed by NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by specialists from the Region II Office in Atlanta, and the agency's headquarters in Rockville, Md. Current information for the Crystal River plant is available on the NRC web site at: www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/CR3/cr3_chart.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. April 11, 2007 ***************************************************************** 22 JOURNAL NEWS: Indian Point 3 not back to full power for at least two weeks; siren tests today Wednesday, April 11, 2007 By GREG CLARY BUCHANAN - Indian Point 3 will not return to full power for two to three weeks, possibly not before the end of the month, officials from the nuclear plant said yesterday. At issue is replacing the huge transformer that caught fire on Good Friday after an electrical connection exploded in the morning and the entire plant had to be shut down. A second transformer at the nuclear plant sustained some damage during the explosion, and officials from Entergy Nuclear Northeast, the plant's owner and operator, said it would take a week before they could try that one out, with an eye toward operating the plant at 50 percent power. "We want to exchange the bushings on the second transformer," Entergy spokesman Jim Steets said of the ceramic-covered electrical connections. "You could operate with them, but it makes more sense to replace them." The company has a spare transformer on site, Steets said, and will use a huge crane to lower the 900,000-pound machine into place in the next few weeks. He estimated the cost of the new transformer to be as high as $3 million. Installation would not be included in that cost, he said. "Had we not had a spare, a new one could have cost as much as $10 million," Steets said. Company officials said they would not run at even half power unless workers could be protected while installing the new transformer. "There can't be any threat to workers," Steets said. "It has to be a safe environment." That means the plant might stay offline until both transformers are completely ready, he said. Six Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors are at the site this week, twice the number that would be there under normal operations, the agency said. The extra inspectors are in Buchanan partly to monitor installation of a new 150-siren system, which according to federal legislation must be operational by Sunday. Earlier testing of the new emergency notification network produced mixed results. On April 2, 123 of the sirens did not perform up to federal standards, though company officials said that was mostly a diagnostic test and not a cause for concern. A follow-up test April 4 drew better results, though according to some federal criteria still did not constitute a successful effort. Fine-tuning tests are set for today and tomorrow, with the latter to include monitors at every siren to give firsthand reports of whether each mechanism sounded. One hitch being worked out is how many sirens must function properly for the test to be considered a success. Michael Slobedien, Indian Point's top emergency official, said the criteria was completed yesterday with the NRC and that the system would need to have 94 percent - 141 out of 150 - of the sirens work properly to pass muster. "I'm confident we'll hit that (today)," he said. "I'll be pretty surprised if we have more than one or two problems." Slobedien said the additional test tomorrow would provide more information the company could use as it assessed the new system. The siren tests today and tomorrow will occur between 10 a.m. and noon. There will be three separate soundings each day. Reach Greg Clary at gclary@lohud.com or 914-696-8566. Copyright © 2006 The Journal News, a Gannett Co. Inc. newspaper ***************************************************************** 23 Budapest Sun: Paks nuclear reactor closed April 11, 2007 08:00 am | Hungary's nuclear power plant at Paks closed down its number 2 reactor block last week, due to a "non-hazardous fault in the system," István Mittler, spokesman for the plant, told media. The shut-down was revealed through an article in Hungarian daily Magyar Nemzet, though authorities said that, as the fault was below the Atomic Energy Agency's "reporting threshold," there had been no requirement to make a public announcement. Mittler told press that the plant had reported the problem to the agency, but stressed that there was no nuclear hazard resulting from the technical fault. He added that the Paks plant's business and operational plan allows for 10 days of stoppage per year for such faults, and that "last week's halt was part of this." Paksi Atomerômu Rt, the operator of the nuclear power plant, said it had profits of Ft2.8bn ($15.2m) in 2006, and expects to double this in 2007, now that one of its generation blocks is again fully operational. CEO József Kovács said that "2006 was a very successful for Paks, and based on our plans and our results thus far, we stand to surpass these results in 2007." ©2006, The Budapest Sun - a member of LAPCOM Kft. Online Media Kit ***************************************************************** 24 Business Week: Mich. nuclear power plant sale completed The Associated Press April 11, 2007, 6:55PM EST COVERT TOWNSHIP, Mich. The Palisades Nuclear Plant officially has a new owner. Entergy Corp., a New Orleans-based utility holding company, has completed its $380 million purchase of the plant from Consumers Energy Co., a subsidiary of Jackson-based CMS Energy Corp., the two companies announced Wednesday. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Friday it had approved the transfer to Entergy of the plant's operating license, clearing the way for the sale. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission previously approved the transfer of the plant itself to Entergy. Under the terms of the sales agreement, Entergy will sell 100 percent of the 798-megawatt plant's output to Consumers for 15 years. State Attorney General Mike Cox and several consumer groups had argued that the deal could be a bad one for customers. The Michigan Public Service Commission, however, agreed with Consumers that ratepayers would benefit by the arrangement and gave its approval last month. Customers will save up to $700 million in energy costs during the next 15 years, the MPSC said. Palisades sits near Lake Michigan in Van Buren County's Covert Township, about 55 miles southwest of Grand Rapids, and has been producing power commercially since December 1971. Consumers turned over operation of the plant in November 2000 to Nuclear Management Co. of Hudson, Wis., which also runs nuclear plants in nearby states. On Jan. 8, the NRC granted Palisades a 20-year renewal of its operating license, which now expires in 2031. Consumers Energy provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Copyright 2000-2007 by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 25 thewest.com.au: Interest rates may still have to rise - IMF 12th April 2007, 10:00 WST The International Monetary Fund has warned Australia may need even higher interest rates if the central bank fails to get inflation under control. The IMF's remarks come in its latest global economic outlook, even though it expects world economic output to slow in 2007 to 4.9 per cent from 5.1 per cent in 2006. It says Australian gross domestic product growth weakened slightly in 2006, reflecting slower domestic demand and the impact of a severe drought. "Growth is expected to pick up during 2007-08," it says. But, referring to Australia and New Zealand, it added: "If inflation does not decline as expected, central banks may need to tighten monetary policy further". It forecasts the economy will grow by 2.6 per cent in 2007 and 3.3 per cent in 2008, compared with 2.7 per cent in 2006 and 2.8 per cent in 2005. On consumer prices it says the rate of inflation peaked at 3.5 per cent in 2006 and forecasts it easing to 2.8 per cent in 2007 and 2.9 per cent in 2008, albeit towards the top end of the Reserve Bank of Australia's two to three per cent inflation target. It also expects Australia's labour force market to remain tight with the unemployment rate to remain at 4.6 per cent in both 2007 and 2008. The Australian Bureau of Statistics today announced unemployment had returned to January's three-decade low of 4.5 per cent, from the 4.6 per cent recorded in February this year. The rate keeps pressure on the central bank to raise interest rates again with the labour market remaining extremely tight and risking a blow-out in wages growth. Globally, the IMF says inflationary concerns and further jumps in oil prices provide downside risks to the world economy as it enters the fourth year of its current expansion. "Other notable sources of uncertainty include the threat of an abrupt slowdown in the US housing market, lingering doubts about prospects for growth in the other advanced economies and questions about the resilience of emerging market countries in a more challenging global environment," it says. On the US housing market it says it is now easing quite rapidly having risen by 10 to 15 per cent in 2005, and above levels consistent with fundamentals. "Recent data indicate that the market is now softening quite rapidly, with homes sales and mortgage applications weakening, housing starts falling, and house price increases dropping." It expects the housing slowdown will cut about 0.5 percentage points from US GDP in 2006 and 2007. However, if the market were to cool more abruptly it could subtract an additional one per cent point from growth. It is currently forecasting GDP growth at 2.2 per cent in 2007 and 2.8 per cent and 2008, compared with 3.3 per cent in 2006. "House price softening in other countries like Australia and the United Kingdom, coming off larger upward spikes in house prices than experienced in the United States, has been absorbed thus far with relatively mild and brief economic slowdowns," the IMF said. "Nevertheless, the concern remains that a sharp adjustment in the housing sector would generate strong headwinds for the US economy." However, the good news for Australia is that demand for the country's resources from China and India is likely to continue, with their respective economies expected to continue to expand at a relatively brisk pace. The IMF forecasts China GDP at 10 per cent in 2007 and 9.5 per cent in 2008, compared with 10.7 per cent in 2006. Indian GDP is forecast at 8.4 and 8.7 per cent for 2007 and 2008 respectively after 9.2 per cent in 2006. AAP West Australian Newspapers Limited 2007. All Rights Reserved ***************************************************************** 26 FR NRC: INEL meeting Doc E7-6836 [Federal Register: April 11, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 69)] [Notices] [Page 18283] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr11ap07-127] NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. PROJ0735] Public Meeting To Discuss Nuclear Regulatory Commission Roles and Responsibilities for Department of Energy Waste Determination Activities at the Idaho National Laboratory; Notice of Public Meeting in Idaho Falls, ID AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. DATES: April 25, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Xiaosong Yin, Project Manager, Environmental Protection and Performance Assessment Directorate, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection, Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Telephone: (301) 415-7640; fax number: (301) 415-5397; e-mail: XXY@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Introduction The Ronald Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (NDAA) authorizes the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in consultation with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), to determine whether certain radioactive waste related to the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel is not high-level waste, provided certain criteria are met. The NDAA also requires NRC to monitor DOE disposal actions to assess compliance with 10 CFR Part 61, Subpart C, performance objectives for low-level waste. On September 7, 2005, DOE submitted a draft waste determination for residual waste incidental to reprocessing, including sodium bearing waste, stored in the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC) Tank Farm Facility (TFF) to demonstrate compliance with the NDAA criteria including demonstration of compliance with the performance objectives in 10 CFR Part 61, Subpart C. In its consultation role, the NRC staff reviewed the draft waste determination and concluded that the NDAA criteria could be met for residual waste stored in the INTEC TFF. NRC documented the results of its review in a technical evaluation report (TER) issued in October 2006. DOE issued a final waste determination in November 2006 taking into consideration the assumptions, conclusions, and recommendations documented in NRC's TER (ML062490142). To better inform the public on the NRC's activities under the NDAA, NRC is holding this public meeting in Idaho Falls, Idaho to provide the public with a clear understanding of NRC's activities on the implementation of the NDAA and the review of DOE's waste determination for the INTEC TFF. The NRC staff will also provide an overview of its planned monitoring activities. 2. Meeting Time and Location The NRC will hold this public meeting on April 25, 2007, at Red Lion Hotels, 475 River Parkway, Idaho Falls, Idaho. 3. Meeting Agenda 6:30 p.m.-7 p.m.: Meeting participants registration. 7 p.m.-7:10 p.m.: The NRC staff will make opening remarks regarding the conduct of today's sessions. 7:10 p.m.-7:30 p.m.: The NRC staff will provide an overview of NRC's implementation of the Ronald Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2005, Section 3116. 7:30 p.m.-7:45 p.m.: Open questions and answers from all participants. 7:45 p.m.-8 p.m.: The NRC staff will provide an overview on NRC's technical review of DOE's Draft Determination for the Tank Farm Facility at the Idaho National Laboratory. 8 p.m.-8:15 p.m.: The NRC staff will provide an overview of NRC planned monitoring activities for the Tank Farm Facility at the Idaho National Laboratory. 8:15 p.m.-9 p.m.: Open questions and answers from all participants. 9 p.m.: Adjourn. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day of April, 2007. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Scott Flanders, Deputy Director, Environmental Protection and Performance Assessment Directorate, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection. Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs. [FR Doc. E7-6836 Filed 4-10-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 27 FR NRC: In the Matter of Indiana Michigan Power Company D.C. Cook Nuclear Power Plant; Confirmatory Order Modifying License (Effective Immediately) Doc E7-6843 [Federal Register: April 11, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 69)] [Notices] [Page 18280-18282] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr11ap07-125] NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket Nos. 050-00315, 050-00316; License Nos. DPR-58 & DPR-74 EA-06- 295] I Indiana Michigan Power Company (I&M or Licensee) is the holder of Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-58 and DPR-74 issued by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) pursuant to 10 CFR Part 50 on October 25, 1974 and December 23, 1977, respectively. The licenses authorize the operation of the D.C. Cook nuclear power plant units 1 & 2 in [[Page 18281]] accordance with conditions specified therein. The facility is located on the Licensee's site near Bridgeman, Michigan. This Confirmatory Order is the result of an agreement reached during an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mediation session conducted on March 8, 2007, in Washington, DC. II By letter dated December 13, 2006, the NRC identified to the Licensee an apparent violation of 10 CFR 50.7, ``Employee Protection.'' The apparent violation was issued based on the United States Department of Labor (DOL) Administrative Review Board's (ARB's) September 29, 2006, Final Decision and Order (ARB Case No. 04-147) affirming a DOL Administrative Law Judge's (ALJ) findings of fact and conclusions. On June 29, 2004, the ALJ had issued a Proposed Decision and Order (ALJ Case No. 02-ERA-30), concluding that I&M had retaliated against an I&M former test engineer in violation of Section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended (the ERA). I&M has denied that it violated the ERA and has appealed the ARB decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Although at this time there is no indication that the impact of the apparent violation is not isolated, the NRC is concerned that, in the absence of appropriate management actions, the ARB decision may ultimately have a broader impact on the D.C. Cook plant's safety-conscious work environment (SCWE). In its December 13, 2006, letter to I&M, the NRC offered I&M the opportunity to provide a written response, attend a predecisional enforcement conference, or request ADR in which a neutral mediator with no decision-making authority would facilitate discussions between the NRC and I&M and, if possible, assist the NRC and I&M in reaching an agreement. I&M chose to participate in ADR with the NRC. On March 8, 2007, the NRC and I&M met in Washington, DC., in an ADR session mediated by a professional mediator, arranged through Cornell University's Institute on Conflict Resolution. III This Confirmatory Order is issued pursuant to the agreement reached during the March 8, 2007, mediation meeting. Specifically, I&M agreed to the following actions: 1. By no later than one-hundred eighty (180) calendar days after the issuance of this Confirmatory Order, I&M agrees to complete an assessment of the D.C. Cook plant's Nuclear Safety Culture including its SCWE. 2. Within sixty (60) calendar days after the completion of the assessment as referenced in paragraph 1 above, I&M shall make available to the NRC: A. A description of the tools/methods used to conduct that assessment including the survey questions; B. The results of the assessment and I&M's analysis of the results; and C. The proposed actions, if any, I&M would plan to take to address the results of the assessment in order to ensure that a thriving SCWE exists at the D.C. Cook plant. 3. As expeditiously as possible but by no later than December 31, 2008, I&M agrees to complete the training of all D.C. Cook plant's non- supervisory employees and long-term contractors on the topic of SCWE. 4. By no later than sixty (60) calendar days after the issuance of this Confirmatory Order, a member of I&M management at a level at least equal to the D.C. Cook plant Site Vice President will communicate with D.C. Cook plant's workforce about the company's policy and his/her expectations of management regarding the maintenance and enhancement of a SCWE. 5. By no later than ninety (90) calendar days after the issuance of this Confirmatory Order, I&M agrees to implement a periodic assessment of its compliance with its work hour limitations program and evaluate the results of the assessment for trends. In exchange for I&M's actions set forth hereunder, the NRC agreed not to pursue any further enforcement action in connection with the NRC's December 13, 2006, letter to I&M and will not count this matter as previous enforcement for the purposes of assessing potential future enforcement action civil penalty assessments in accordance with Section VI.C of the NRC Enforcement Policy, NUREG-1600. This Confirmatory Order will, however, be considered by the NRC for any assessment of the D.C. Cook plant's performance under the NRC's Reactor Oversight Process, as appropriate. On March 30, 2007, I&M consented to the NRC issuing this Confirmatory Order. I&M further agreed that this Confirmatory Order is to be effective upon issuance and that it has waived its right to a hearing. The NRC has concluded that its concern can be resolved through issuance of this Confirmatory Order. IV Since the licensee has taken several actions and implemented a number of programs relating to communications, training and human relation initiatives addressing the D.C. Cook plant's safety culture and SCWE and has agreed to commit to the actions to address NRC's concern, as set forth in Section III above, the NRC has concluded that its concern can be resolved through issuance of this Confirmatory Order. I find that the Licensee's actions described in Section III are acceptable and necessary and conclude that with those actions the public health and safety are reasonably assured. In view of the foregoing, I have determined that the public health and safety require that the Licensee's actions be confirmed by this Confirmatory Order. Based on the above and the Licensee's consent, this Confirmatory Order is immediately effective upon issuance. V Accordingly, pursuant to Sections 103, 161b, 161i, 161o, 182, and 186 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and the Commission's regulations in 10 CFR 2.202 and 10 CFR Part 50, It is hereby ordered, effective immediately, that license Nos. Dpr-58 And Dpr-74 Are Modified As Follows: 1. By no later than one-hundred eighty (180) calendar days after the issuance of this Confirmatory Order, I&M agrees to complete an assessment of the D.C. Cook plant's nuclear Safety Culture including its SCWE. 2. Within sixty (60) calendar days after the completion of the assessment as referenced in paragraph I above, I&M shall make available to the NRC: A. A description of the tools/methods used to conduct that assessment including the survey questions; B. The results of the assessment and I&M's analysis of the results; and C. The proposed actions, if any, I&M would plan to take to address the results of the assessment in order to ensure that a thriving SCWE exists at the D.C. Cook plant. 3. As expeditiously as possible but by no later than December 31, 2008, I&M agrees to complete the training of all D.C. Cook plant's non- supervisory employees and long-term contractors on the topic of a SCWE. 4. By no later than sixty (60) calendar days after the issuance of this Confirmatory Order, a member of I&M management at a level at least equal to the D.C. Cook plant Site Vice President will communicate with D.C. Cook plant workforce about the company's policy and his/her expectations of management regarding the maintenance and enhancement of a SCWE. 5. By no later than ninety (90) calendar days after the issuance of this [[Page 18282]] Confirmatory Order, I&M agrees to implement a periodic assessment of its compliance with its work hour limitations program and evaluate the results of the assessment for trends. 6. In the event of the transfer of the operating license of D.C. Cook plant to another entity, the actions as required by this Confirmatory Order shall continue to apply to the D.C. Cook plant and accordingly survive any transfer of ownership or license. 7. The NRC understands that I&M has appealed the ARB decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. The outcome of that appeal will not alter I&M's actions set forth herein or the provisions of this Confirmatory Order. The Director, Office of Enforcement, may, in writing, relax or rescind any of the above conditions upon demonstration by the Licensee of good cause. VI Any person adversely affected by this Confirmatory Order, other than the Licensee, may request a hearing within 20 days of its issuance. Where good cause is shown, consideration will be given to extending the time to request a hearing. A request for extension of time must be made in writing to the Director, Office of Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC. 20555, and include a statement of good cause for the extension. Any request for a hearing shall be submitted to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, ATTN: Chief, Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, Washington, DC. 20555-0001. Copies of the hearing request shall also be sent to the Director, Office of Enforcement, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC. 20555-0001, to the Assistant General Counsel for Materials Litigation and Enforcement at the same address, to the Regional Administrator, NRC Region III, 2443 Warrenville Road, Suite 210, Lisle, IL 60532-4352, and to the Licensee. Because of potential disruptions in delivery of mail to United States Government offices, it is requested that requests for hearing be transmitted to the Secretary of the Commission either by means of facsimile transmission to 301-415-1101 or by e-mail to hearingdocket@nrc.gov and also to the Office of the General Counsel either by means of facsimile transmission to 301-415-3725 or by e-mail to OGCMailCenter@nrc.gov. If a person other than the licensee requests a hearing, that person shall set forth with particularity the manner in which his interest is adversely affected by this Confirmatory Order and shall address the criteria set forth in 10 CFR 2.309(d) and (f). If the hearing is requested by a person whose interest is adversely affected, the Commission will issue an order designating the time and place of any hearing. If a hearing is held, the issue to be considered at such hearing shall be whether this Confirmatory Order should be sustained. In the absence of any request for hearing, or written approval of an extension of time in which to request a hearing, the provisions specified in Section V shall be final 20 days from the date of this Confirmatory Order without further order or proceedings. If an extension of times for requesting a hearing has been approved, the provisions specified in Section V shall be final when the extension expires if a hearing request has not been received. A request for hearing shall not stay the immediate effectiveness of this order. Dated this 4th day of April, 2007. For The Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Cynthia A. Carpenter, Director, Office of Enforcement. [FR Doc. E7-6843 Filed 4-10-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 28 NRC: NRC to Discuss 2006 Assessment for Limerick Nuclear Plant At Public Meeting Scheduled for April 18 News Release - Region I - 2007-016 - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region I 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406 www.nrc.gov CONTACT: Diane Screnci (610) 337-5330 Neil A. Sheehan (610) 337-5331 E-mail: opa1@nrc.gov The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s annual assessment of safety performance at the Limerick nuclear power plant, in Limerick (Montgomery County), Pa., will be the subject of a public meeting on Wednesday, April 18. NRC staff will meet with representatives of plant owner Exelon Generating Co., LLC, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the assessment, which covers the period from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2006, and was documented in a March 2nd letter to the company. The session will take place at the Limerick Energy Information Center, at 298 Longview Road in Royersford, Pa. Before the meeting is adjourned, NRC staff will be available to answer questions from the public on the performance of the twin-reactor Limerick plant, as well as the role of the NRC in providing oversight of plant safety. "Each year we take a step back to size up plant performance during the previous calendar year, with the overarching goal of ensuring that facilities are achieving the levels of safety that are essential to protecting the public and the environment," said NRC Region I Administrator Samuel J. Collins, who noted the agency also conducts mid-year assessments of performance. "At the meeting on April 18th, members of the public will receive information about how we go about that review process for Limerick and other nuclear power plants across the nation. The NRC staff will also be prepared to answer questions from attendees." The annual assessment letter for Limerick is available on the NRC web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/lim_2006q4.pdf . The notice for the meeting, with agenda attached, is available in the NRC’s Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) under accession number ML070880459. ADAMS is accessible at: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html . Help in using ADAMS is available via the NRC’s Public Document Room at 1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, or by e-mail at PDR@NRC.GOV . Overall, the Limerick plant operated safely during 2006. The NRC utilizes color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear power plant performance. The colors start with "green" and then increase to "white," "yellow" or "red," commensurate with the safety significance of the issues involved. Because all of the performance indicators for the Limerick plant were determined to be "green" and there were no inspection findings greater than "green” at the end of 2006, the plant will receive the baseline, or routine, level of inspections in 2007. Routine inspections are performed by two NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by inspection specialists from the Region I Office in King of Prussia, Pa. Among the areas of plant performance to be inspected this year by NRC specialists are activities associated with the construction of a dry cask storage facility for spent nuclear fuel at the site, fire protection, component design bases and emergency preparedness. Current performance information for Limerick Unit 1 is available on the NRC web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LIM1/lim1_chart.html . Current performance information for Limerick Unit 2 is available on the NRC web site at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LIM2/lim2_chart.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. April 11, 2007 ***************************************************************** 29 UPI: Pa. nuclear plant on 48-hour waiver United Press International - NewsTrack - Top News - Published: April 12, 2006 at 9:34 PM SHIPPINGPORT, Pa., April 12 (UPI) -- A nuclear plant near Pittsburgh has 48 hours to replace an air filtration system or shut down after a sprinkler system malfunction rendered it useless. FirstEnergy Corp.'s Beaver Valley Unit Two reactor in Shippingport, Pa., was given the 48-hour waiver by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission after the sprinkler system began spraying equipment Tuesday. The charcoal air filtration system is used during a nuclear accident to filter contaminated air before it is released into the environment. The plant began an automatic shutdown, down to about 19 percent of power, before the NRC approved the 48-hour time frame to replace the filters. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports it was operating at 65 percent power Wednesday afternoon and power continued to increase. Plant officials said no fire could be found to have triggered the sprinklers. Last week the plant shut down because of a faulty electrical coil. © Copyright 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ***************************************************************** 30 NRC: NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Turkey Point Nuclear Plant News Release - Region II - 2007-016 - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region II 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 www.nrc.gov CONTACT: Ken Clark (404) 562-4416 Roger D. Hannah (404) 562-4417 E-mail: opa2@nrc.gov The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is scheduled to meet with Florida Power and Light officials on Tuesday, April 17, to discuss the NRC’s annual assessment of safety performance for 2006 at the Turkey Point nuclear power plant, located south of Miami near Homestead, Fla. The meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers Room of the Homestead City Hall, 790 Homestead Boulevard. The NRC staff will present the results of the assessment and be available to respond to questions or comments from the public before the close of the meeting. “The NRC continually reviews the performance of the Turkey Point plant and the nation’s other commercial nuclear power facilities,” NRC Region II Administrator William Travers said. “This meeting is a chance for us to discuss that safety performance with the company, with local officials and with people living near the plant.” A letter sent from the NRC Region II Office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during the period and will serve as the basis for the meeting discussion. It is available on the NRC web site at www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/tp_2006q4.pdf. The NRC uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear plant performance. The colors start with “green” and then increase to “white,” “yellow” or “red,” depending on the safety significance of the issues involved. The NRC said the Turkey Point plant operated safely during 2006, but Unit 3 performance during the third and fourth quarters was in the NRC’s regulatory response column based on a “white” inspection finding related to decay heat removal. The NRC is conducting a followup inspection of that issue. Performance for Unit 4 was in the licensee response column during the fourth quarter, but plant performance for both units was in the regulatory response column for the first three quarters due to a “white” finding associated with a feedwater pump. An inspection in May 2006 assessed the company’s corrective actions and resulted in no additional significant findings. The NRC is also looking at the cross-cutting area of problem identification and resolution at the Turkey Point plant with one inspection conducted in the fall of 2006 and another planned for May. FPL has taken corrective actions but because some have only recently been implemented, the NRC staff considers this issue still open. In addition to those inspections and the NRC’s routine baseline inspections, NRC inspectors will also be looking at containment sump blockage at the plant. Routine inspections are performed by NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by specialists from the Region II Office in Atlanta, and the agency’s headquarters in Rockville, Md. Current information for the Turkey Point plant is available on the NRC web site at: www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/TP3/tp3_chart.html and www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/TP4/tp4_chart.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. April 11, 2007 ***************************************************************** 31 JTW News: Data shows increased radioactive leakage from Metsamor WWW Turkishweekly Wednesday , 11 April 2007 Turkey has turned to the international community once again to pressure neighboring Armenia to close down a decrepit nuclear power plant after data collected in border areas revealed increased radioactive spillage from the plant. In a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ankara demanded action and stronger international pressure on Armenia to shut the old-fashioned Metsamor nuclear power plant. The plant was built in the 1970s, but the technology installed at that time is no longer acceptable by modern safety standards. It was closed due to a 1988 earthquake in Armenia, but the Armenian government decided to reopen the damaged plant in 1993, citing an energy shortage in the country. According to the data which the Turkish Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK) gathered from 13 early warning stations established in Igdir and nearby Kars province, there is an increase in radioactive leakage in the region, which the TAEK attributes to the Metsamor plant. The plant does not have an external dome to contain radioactive leakage and its cooling water is insufficient, and as its technology is outdated and it is located in an earthquake zone, all these factors makes it a perfect candidate for a second Chernobyl-type incident. Moreover, the plant is located just 19 kilometers from Igdir and 40 from Yerevan, in clear violation of internationally accepted standards that require nuclear power plants to be at least 90 kilometers away from human settlements. Another concern which Turkey has with respect to the plant is that the nuclear fuel which Armenia buys from Russia is transported by air. Russian-made Antonov and Tapolov airplanes, both of which have a record of frequent crashes, are used to transport nuclear fuel to Armenia. Noting the dangers the plant poses, Turkey requested that the EU urge Armenia to close the plant in 2005. Following investigations conducted by an EU delegation, the EU requested Armenia shut down the plant. In 1999, the EU sent a delegation to Yerevan to conduct on-the-spot examinations in the plant. Simultaneous probes by the IAEA concluded that the plant should immediately be shut down. Before becoming a member of the European Council on Jan. 25, 2001, Arme-nia pledged to close the plant by 2004. In return the EU would reimburse Armenia's losses up to 100 million euros. Armenia found the EU's proposal insufficient and requested 1 billion euros instead. Later the EU increased its pressure and Armenia declared that it would not close the plant. In the face of escalating international pressure Armenia has transferred part of the plant's shares to Russia. Russian Industry, Science and Technology Minister Ilia Klebanov had declared that the transfer did not include property rights, but rather that the financial responsibility of Metsamor was given to Russia. Some claimed that Russian Electric Systems seized Metsamor's shares due to Armenia's default with respect to the overdue payments for $40 million worth of enriched uranium purchased from Russia. Analysts say that Armenia's move served to relieve international pressure on it. 11.04.2007 ERCAN YAVUZ ANKARA Today's Zaman Radioactive leakage from Metsamor "Statements of facts or opinions appearing in the pages of Journal of Turkish Weekly (JTW) are not necessarily by the editors of JTW nor do they necessarily reflect the opinions of JTW or ISRO. The opinions published here are held by the authors themselves and not necessarily those of JTW or ISRO. Materials may not be copied, reproduced, republished, posted without mentioning the mark of JTW or ISRO in any way except for your own personal non-commercial home use. For the news and other materials republished by the JTW you must apply the original publishers. JTW cannot give permission to republish this kind of materials." ***************************************************************** 32 Patriot-News: NRC urged to move host schools farther from N-plants Posted by Garry Lenton/The Patriot-News April 11, 2007 14:00PM The watchdog group Three Mile Island Alert is asking the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to move the location of pickup centers where parents would be reunited with their children during a nuclear emergency farther away from the nuclear plants. Current regulations allow the centers to be anywhere beyond 10 miles. Garry Lenton: 717-255-8264 or glenton@patriot-news.com In a petition to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, TMIA said current regulations "fail to meet the safety needs of school children.'' During an emergency at a nuclear plant requiring an evacuation, school children would be moved to host schools located outside a 10-mile radius of the plant. Some, including Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed, have in the past questioned the safety value of the 10-mile limit, suggesting that it should be made larger. Most of Harrisburg is outside the 10-mile radius. "These outdated and inadequate requirements also do not take into account a possible 9/11-style attack, which due to lack of advance warning, would severely truncate the time frames evacuation plans utilize making the host school ... distance from the [radiation] plume exposure boundary line an extremely important health factor,'' said Eric Epstein, chairman of TMIA. ©2007 pennlive.com. All Rights Reserved. RSS Feeds | Complete Index ***************************************************************** 33 PRN: Entergy and Consumers Energy Announce Closing of Palisades Nuclear Energy Plant Transaction NEW YORK, April 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) and Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), announced today the completion of the previously announced purchase by Entergy of the 798-megawatt Palisades Nuclear Plant, near South Haven, Michigan for $380 million. As part of the purchase, Entergy will sell 100 percent of the plant's output, up to its current 798 megawatts, back to Consumers Energy for 15 years at a price that retains the benefits of the low-cost nuclear generation for Consumers Energy's 1.8 million electric customers. Said Entergy Nuclear President and Chief Nuclear Officer Michael R. Kansler, "Entergy Nuclear has a strong track record of generating safe, clean, reliable, and low-cost energy across the Southern and Northeastern United States. Now that Palisades is part of Entergy's nuclear fleet, we look forward to bringing our track record to Michigan and continuing Entergy's strong tradition as a good employer and community partner that our customers, local communities and employees expect and deserve." The transfer in ownership was reviewed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). David Joos, CMS Energy's president and chief executive officer, said Consumers Energy's 1.8 million customers will benefit from the sale and the 15-year contract for the plant's electrical output. "Palisades will continue to provide the benefits of low-cost nuclear generation to Consumers Energy's customers. Plus, net proceeds from the sale will be used to provide $255 million in bill credits to customers over the next 18 months, as ordered by the Michigan Public Service Commission. Together, this sale and power contract provide significant benefits to customers. Entergy is one of the premier operators of nuclear energy plants in the country and able to continue the long tradition of safe, reliable and economic production from the Palisades plant," said Joos. The transaction includes the transfer of the Big Rock Point Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation to Entergy. With the addition of Palisades, Entergy -- the nation's second largest nuclear power company -- owns and manages 11 nuclear generating power plants and manages a 12th for the State of Nebraska. On January 18, Palisades was granted a 20-year renewal of its operating license by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Its current operating license now expires in 2031. About Entergy Corporation Entergy Corporation, headquartered in New Orleans, La., is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity. Entergy Nuclear, its nuclear businesses headquartered in Jackson, Miss., is the second-largest nuclear power operator in the United States and the largest in the Northeast. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.6 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $10 billion and approximately 14,000 employees. Additional information regarding the transaction is available in Entergy's investor release dated July 12, 2006, on Entergy's investor relations website at http://www.shareholder.com/entergy/publications.cfm. For more information, please visit http://www.entergy-nuclear.com. About CMS Energy CMS Energy is a Michigan-based company that has as its primary business operations an electric and natural gas utility, natural gas pipeline systems, and independent power generation. For more information, please visit http://www.consumersenergy.com SOURCE Entergy Corporation; CMS Energy ====================================================================== Related links: http://www.entergy-nuclear.com http://www.consumersenergy.com ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Terms and conditions, including restrictions on redistribution, apply. Copyright © 1996- PR Newswire Association LLC. All Rights Reserved. A United Business Media company. ***************************************************************** 34 NRC: NRC to Discuss 2006 Performance at Summer Nuclear Plant News Release - Region II - 2007-017 - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs, Region II 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303 www.nrc.gov CONTACT: Ken Clark (404) 562-4416 Roger D. Hannah (404) 562-4417 E-mail: opa2@nrc.gov The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is scheduled to meet with South Carolina Electric & Gas officials on Thursday, April 19, to discuss the NRC’s annual assessment of safety performance for 2006 at the Summer nuclear power plant, located near Jenkinsville, S.C., northwest of Columbia. The meeting, which is open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. in Room B1 of the Summer plant’s Nuclear Learning Center building near the plant site. The NRC staff will present the results of the assessment and be available to respond to questions or comments from the public before the close of the meeting. "The NRC continually reviews the performance of the Summer plant and other commercial nuclear power facilities," NRC Region II Administrator William Travers said. "This meeting gives us a chance to discuss that performance with the company, local officials and people near the plant." A letter sent from the NRC Region II Office to plant officials addresses the performance of the plant during the period and will serve as the basis for the meeting discussion. It is available on the NRC web site at www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/sum_2006q4.pdf . The NRC uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess nuclear plant performance. The colors start with "green" and then increase to "white," "yellow" or "red," depending on the safety significance of the issues involved. The NRC said the Summer plant operated safely during 2006, but performance during all four quarters of 2006 was in the NRC’s regulatory response column based on a "white" inspection finding related to the company’s failure to properly prepare a radioactive material for shipment. An NRC inspection in September 2006 identified no significant additional findings and the issue was closed. Based on that performance, the NRC plans to conduct routine baseline inspections at the Summer plant during 2007 as well as initial reactor operator licensing examinations. Routine inspections are performed by NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by specialists from the Region II Office in Atlanta, and the agency’s headquarters in Rockville, Md. Current information for the Summer plant is available on the NRC web site at: www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/SUM/sum_chart.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. April 11, 2007 ***************************************************************** 35 SE: Bulgaria: Bulgaria Drums Support for Nuke Units Revival in Brussels 11 April 2007, Wednesday Bulgaria's Economy and Energy Minister Rumen Ovcharov is expected to put the issue of the closed units at the country's sole nuclear power plant on the table of discussions in the European Parliament. Photo by Kameliya Atanasova (Sofia Photo Agency) | buy photo | Bulgaria's economy and energy minister is expected to put the issue of the closed units at the country's sole nuclear power plant on the table of discussions in the European Parliament. Minister Rumen Ovcharov will join a debate on the increasing demand for energy and prices hikes in South-eastern Europe. A debate on a possible revival of the closed nuke units 3 and 4 re-emerged in Europe's youngest member just days after their decommissioning. The country has also vowed to request an increase in EU compensations, adding up to EUR 1 B. All Rights Reserved © Novinite Ltd., 2001-2007 - Copyright & Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria ***************************************************************** 36 NRC: NRC Issues Clarifications to New Reactor Licensing Process News Release - 2007-046 - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov www.nrc.gov The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the issuance of revisions to its regulations dealing with licensing new nuclear power plants. The revisions are contained in a final rule that applies to licensing processes such as Early Site Permits (ESP), Standard Design Certifications and Combined Licenses (COL). A proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on March 13, 2006. The final rule will supersede revisions proposed in July 2003, and incorporates lessons learned during review of the first three ESP applications. The final rule will be published in the Federal Register later this year. The NRC’s changes to the proposed rule came in response to stakeholder comments or from further consideration by the staff. The final rule now clarifies how much additional review of environmental information is needed at the COL stage if an ESP is referenced. The final rule also includes additional criteria for allowing amendments to certified designs, as well as the addition of requirements for COL holders to provide information about how they will complete inspections, tests, analyses and other acceptance criteria if items are not done by the time a notice of intended operation is filed. For more information on the rule, contact NRC staff members Nanette Gilles (telephone 301-415-1180, e-mail nvg@nrc.gov ) or Jerry Wilson (telephone 301-415-3145, e-mail jnw@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. April 11, 2007 ***************************************************************** 37 UPI: U.S., Russia agree to boost nuke security United Press International - Security & Terrorism - Briefing Published: April 11, 2007 at 1:47 PM WASHINGTON, April 11 (UPI) -- The United States and Russia are boosting nuclear security cooperation despite other tensions. The two main nuclear-armed powers appear headed on a confrontation course over U.S. plans to deploy ballistic missile defense systems in Central Europe, defying Russian objections. But the row doesn't appear to be damaging nuclear cooperation in other areas. The National Nuclear Security Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Energy, announced Wednesday that Washington and Moscow had agreed to cooperate on a new plan to upgrade nuclear security at Russian atomic installations. "Security enhancements that the United States installed over the last 14 years at Russian nuclear sites will be preserved by Russia under the new plan," the NNSA said in a statement. "This agreement will help to protect the security investments that we have made in Russia and, most importantly, it should ensure that the nuclear material is secure and protected over the long term," said William Tobey, head of the NNSA's nuclear non-proliferation programs. "The plan by NNSA and Russia's Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) outlines specific details for how the upgrades will be sustained so that they can be transitioned to sole Russian support for the future, as mandated by U.S. law," the NNSA said. "It covers sustainability at nuclear material sites. Separate discussions are currently underway to sustain the work performed at sites with nuclear weapons." The security of Russia's nuclear weapons arsenal and its nuclear waste and raw materials remains a prime U.S. concern. Despite Kremlin anger at other U.S. policies, the NNSA statement indicates a continued Russian willingness to cooperate in this field. © Copyright 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. ***************************************************************** 38 AFP: US-British war on terror backfires - think tank - Wed Apr 11, 3:50 AM ET LONDON (AFP) - The US-led and British-backed war on terror is only fuelling more violence by focusing on military solutions rather than on root causes, a think tank warned Wednesday. "The 'war on terror' is failing and actually increasing the likelihood of more terrorist attacks," the Oxford Research Group said in its study, titled "Beyond Terror: The Truth About The Real Threats To Our World." It said Britain and the United States have used military might to try to "keep the lid on" problems rather than trying to uproot the causes of terrorism. It said such an approach, particularly the 2003 invasion of Iraq, had actually heightened the risk of further terrorist atrocities on the scale of September 11, 2001. "Treating Iraq as part of the war on terror only spawned new terror in the region and created a combat training zone for jihadists," the report's authors argued. It pointed out that the Islamist Taliban movement is now resurgent, six years after it was overthrown in 2001 by the US-led invasion in the wake of the September 11 attacks. "Sustainable approaches" to fighting terrorism would involve the withdrawal of US-led forces from Iraq and their replacement with a United Nations stabilisation force, it said. It also recommended the provision of sustained aid for rebuilding and developing Iraq and Afghanistan as well as closing the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where most suspects are held without charge or trial. And it called for a "genuine commitment to a viable two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict." The study warned that military intervention in Iran over its nuclear ambitions would be "disastrous," calling instead for a firm and public commitment to a diplomatic solution. Iran insists the programme is peaceful, despite claims from Washington that it masks a drive for nuclear weapons. The study also said the British government's plans to upgrade the submarine-based Trident nuclear deterrent could produce international instability. "Nuclear weapon modernisation is likely to serve as a substantial encouragement to nuclear proliferation as countries with perceptions of vulnerability deem it necessary to develop their own deterrent capabilities," it said. Copyright © 2007 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. The ***************************************************************** 39 Star Tribune: Uranium tests for veterans proposed URANIUM041107 A Senate committee OK'd a bill providing for testing veterans to see if dust from spent-uranium munitions has harmed them. By Pat Doyle, Last update: April 10, 2007 – 11:06 PM County DFL fined over Hatch lawn signs The shells vaporize on impact and spread a uranium dust that some veterans of recent wars suspect has left them with cancers, respiratory disease or kidney problems. Though studies have not clearly established a risk of battlefield contamination, the Legislature is advancing bills that would provide sophisticated testing of veterans for exposure to the powder in the 1991 Gulf War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A Senate panel on Tuesday approved a proposal to spend $1 million to test more than 800 veterans for exposure to depleted uranium, which the U.S. military has used to harden shells and other munitions for piercing armor. The legislation puts Minnesota at the forefront of a gradual movement by states -- whose National Guard members and reservists have contributed heavily to the wars -- to improve testing for uranium and determine its long-term consequences. While critics say proponents have failed to make a convincing case for more testing, advocates liken their campaign to early efforts to learn about the effects of defoliants on soldiers in Vietnam. "Exposure to depleted uranium may well be the Agent Orange of the Iraqi wars," David Francis, a retired Navy officer who served on nuclear submarines, told the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Veterans. "When we send our men and women into war ... we have a sacred obligation to provide the best possible health care for them when they come home." The state House is advancing a similar proposal to fund sophisticated testing of veterans who feel they are suffering health problems resulting from exposure to depleted uranium. National study in 2000 The substance is a byproduct of the processing of uranium for nuclear power and weapons, and the military has used the leftover uranium to strengthen munitions. While it is far less radioactive than uranium in its natural state, there have been persistent fears that inhaled or otherwise ingested, depleted uranium dust can cause serious health problems. The National Academies in 2000 studied depleted uranium and Gulf War veterans and said there was insufficient evidence to link it to lymphatic or bone cancer, noncancerous respiratory disease, and illnesses of the nervous system and liver. But the academies recommended more study and is conducting one now that is expected to be finished in September. Proponents of sophisticated testing say an existing test used by the federal government is inadequate for detecting toxic levels of depleted uranium and not always readily available to veterans. They argue that states need to take the initiative in behalf of returning National Guard members and reservists. Connecticut and Louisiana have already passed such legislation. Some want medical testimony But Michael Pugliese, deputy commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, told the Senate committee that supporters failed to provide rigorous medical testimony for why better testing is needed. "We don't have any experts here," Pugliese said, adding that the Veterans Affairs Department assured him that it relied on experts to develop the test it uses. He added in an interview that the Pawlenty administration probably wouldn't support the legislation unless there was strong evidence the new testing is better than the existing federal testing and treatment. It was a concern shared by Sen. Steve Dille, R-Dassel, who wanted to hear from health experts on the necessity for Minnesota to spend money for testing. An earlier version of the proposal called for spending $3 million. "I need more information," Dille said. "It would be helpful to me, if we're going to do this, if there was a health-care professional ... who could advocate for this." The proposal's author, Sharon Erickson Ropes, DFL-Winona, replied: "We're never going to know what problems we have unless we can test." But she said adequate testing will be resisted without proof that depleted uranium has adverse health effects. "Don't wait for scientific certainty," added Francis, who ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate last year as a DFLer. "The health risk of Agent Orange and second-hand smoke were ignored far too long, and people died. Do not rely on the federal government or the Department of Defense." The Senate Agriculture and Veterans Committee sent the proposal to the Senate Finance Committee. Pat Doyle ? 651-222-1210 ? pdoyle@startribune.com Copyright 2007 Star Tribune. All rights reserved. Feedback|Terms of ***************************************************************** 40 ENS: Simple Rules to Follow in Case of Nuclear Attack AmeriScan: April 10, 2007 Simple Rules to Follow in Case of Nuclear Attack PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania In the current television adventure series, "24," a terrorist explodes a small nuclear bomb in Los Angeles. Today, Carnegie Mellon researchers Keith Florig and Baruch Fischhoff offered simple, practical advice that people everywhere can use if faced by such a threat. The two scientists consider whether it is worth citizens' time to stock supplies needed for a home shelter, how urgently should one seek shelter following a nearby nuclear detonation, and how long should survivors remain in a shelter after the radioactive dust settles. "Our research illustrates how relatively simple analyses that consider citizens' circumstances can help make the best of a bad situation," said Fischhoff, a professor in Carnegie Mellon's social and decision sciences and the engineering and public policy department. Fischhoff and Florig, a senior research engineer, say many families simply cannot afford the government guidelines for stocking in supplies. "A number of emergency management organizations recommend that people stock their homes with a couple dozen categories of emergency supplies," said Florig. "We calculated that it would cost about $240 per year for a typical family to maintain such a stock, including the value of storage space and the time needed to tend to it." The researchers say there is a "low probability" that stocked supplies would actually be used in a nuclear emergency. "Government websites such as Ready.gov recommend that people take shelter or evacuate following a nuclear blast, but provide no information that might help people determine how much time they have to react before a fallout cloud arrives," said Florig. The two scientists offer simple rules for minimizing risk based on how far people are from the blast. If you are within several miles of the blast, there will be no time to flee and you will have only minutes to seek shelter, they say. If you are 10 miles from the blast, you will have 15 to 60 minutes to find shelter, but not enough time to reliably flee the area before the fallout arrives," said Florig. As to long people should remain sheltered in a contaminated area before it is riskier to stay than to evacuate, the researchers say the answer depends on how good their shelters are and how long it would take to evacuate. "Those who have poor shelters, limited stores and no access to a vehicle will need the most help to escape," they said. Their findings are published in the May 2007 issue of the journal "Health Physics." Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2006. All Rights Reserved. The ENS website is maintained by HKCR LLC ***************************************************************** 41 Buffalo News: Linda Marshall, of Amherst, believes that steelworkers exposed to radioactive uranium deserve compensation. Opinion Thursday, April 12, 2007 MY VIEW Timing is crucial for those in crucible Updated: 04/11/07 6:31 AM On March 8, I attended a meeting at the Senior Citizen Center in Lackawanna, for families who were unknowingly exposed to toxic radiation at Bethlehem Steel in the 1950s. Ed Walker, a cancer survivor and former Bethlehem employee, told the group that many workers’ claims for compensation have been denied by the U.S. Department of Labor. Walker exposed the flaws in the government’s Dose Reconstruction Report. From 1949 to 1952, Bethlehem Steel had a contract with the federal government to roll uranium rods for nuclear reactors. Most of the men who worked in that capacity contracted cancer and have died. A few survivors are living in a skeleton of a body ravaged by the deadly disease. I looked into the eyes of the survivors and found it miraculous that they were still alive since they were inflicted with scars, missing organs and deformities. They attended this meeting because their claims were denied. Their deaths may be imminent, and government leaders are stalling. My father, Russell Cordova, suffered with spindle cell carcinoma for a year before he died at age 69. I vividly remember his excruciating suffering and his words during the time he worked at Bethlehem Steel. He said, “I am inhaling poisonous fumes and I feel like I’m sweating drops of blood.” As a child, I felt perplexed that my father had to work in a place like that just to make a living for his wife and five children. When Walker described the working conditions in the Bar Mill, my father’s words echoed in my ears. I finally found out why the fumes were so bad. He was inhaling toxic dust from radioactive uranium while he was burning red hot steel rods. The government and Bethlehem Steel did not provide any protection to innocent workers; while the Simonds Saw facility in Lockport did provide ventilation hoods for workers who were similarly exposed to radiation under the same government project. I helped my mother write a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor to oppose its denial of my mother’s claim for compensation. She had to relive those painful moments of my father’s suffering. My mother sent copies of her letter to President Bush and Reps. Tom Reynolds and Louise Slaughter. I wonder if any of them will take time out of their busy schedules and personally write a letter to my mother? Do they know what it feels like to be victimized and betrayed by their government in the 1950s and again now when their claims are denied based on erroneous computer-generated lies? There are many victims of the incompetence of the government and a multimillion dollar steel company. Financial gain was their goal, which was paid for by the sacrificial suffering of their loyal employees. The government is offering $150,000 as compensation for only a privileged few, which is hardly adequate atonement for the painful losses it created. Do these people have a conscience? Can they sleep at night knowing their mistakes are perpetuating eternal suffering? Copyright 1999 - 2007 - The Buffalo News copyright-protected material. ***************************************************************** 42 NAS: Project: Beryllium Alloy Exposures in Military Aerospace Applications PIN: BEST-K-05-03-A Major Unit: Division on Earth and Life Studies Sub Unit: Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology RSO: Martel, Susan Subject/Focus Area: Project Scope An ad hoc committee under the oversight of the standing Committee on Toxicology (COT) will conduct this study. In its first report, the committee will provide an independent review of the toxicologic, epidemiologic, and other relevant data on beryllium. The committee will also review carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects. In its second report, the committee will estimate chronic inhalation exposure levels for military personnel and civilian contractor workers that are unlikely to produce adverse health effects. The committee will provide carcinogenic risk estimates for various inhalation exposure levels. The committee will consider genetic susceptibility among worker subpopulations. If sufficient data are available, the committee will evaluate whether beryllium-alloy exposure levels should be different than those of other forms of beryllium because of differences in particle size. The committee will identify specific tests for workers surveillance and biomonitoring. The committee will also comment on the utility of the beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT). Specifically the committee will determine (1) the value of the borderline or a true positive test in predicting CBD, (2) its utility in worker's surveillance, (3) further follow up tests for workers with positive BeLPT (thin slice CT bronchoscopy, biopsy, etc.), (4) the likelihood of developing CBD after a true positive test, and (5) a standardized methodology to achieve consistent test results from different laboratories. The committee will evaluate whether there are more suitable tests that would have more accuracy as screening or surveillance tools. The committee will also identify data gaps relevant to risk assessment of beryllium alloys and make recommendations for further research. The project is sponsored by the U.S. Air Force. Start date: September 29, 2006. The first report will be issued in 12 months, and the final report in approximately 24 months. Project duration: 24 months Project Duration: 24 months Provide FEEDBACK on this project. Contact the Public Access Records Office to make an inquiry or to schedule an appointment to view project materials available to the public. Committee Membership Meetings Meeting 1 - 02/05/2007 Meeting 2 - 04/05/2007 Reports Reports having no URL can be seen at the Public Access Records Office Email: info@nas.edu ***************************************************************** 43 Rocky Mountain News: Nuke workers file class-action lawsuit By Rocky Mountain News April 11, 2007 Six former nuclear weapons workers filed a class-action lawsuit in Denver Wednesday, saying their lives are at risk because the government is withholding payment of medical costs the government promised to cover. The plaintiffs are Cold War veterans who became ill while making bombs for the country's nuclear arsenal. Most of them are dying. The attorney who filed the suit on their behalf says the government?s efforts seem to be part of a pattern federal officials have followed to contain costs at the expense of the ill workers. Labor Department officials have come under fire in the past few months from the ill, their advocates and some federal lawmakers who say recently released internal communications show those officials and the White House discussing ways to limit compensation to ill workers. "You have the same effect and the same players," said Greg Piche, the attorney with Holland & Hart, the Denver law firm that filed the suit. He was referring to Labor Department officials in charge of both the compensation and the medical coverage programs. "It?s not too hard to draw the dots." The lawsuit contends that Labor Department officials are denying, delaying and limiting doctors? orders to provide high levels of home nursing care for severely ill and dying weapons workers. Some workers have had to wait seven months or more for their care to be approved, and then at a level less than their doctors? ordered. "That's saving the government a great deal of money," Piche said. "But it's also putting these people in harm's way." The workers are eligible for the home health care as part of a compensation program created by federal law in 2001, when the government acknowledged after decades of denials that nuclear weapons workers had faced health risks that were sometime hidden from them. Historical records revealed the government often downplayed the risks to avoid bad publicity and liability. In an interview last week, Assistant Deputy Labor Secretary Shelby Hallmark, who oversees the program and is named a defendant in the suit, said the Labor Department is not trying to deny care to ill weapons workers, but to make sure the level of care was appropriate. Hallmark could not be reached Wednesday. The suit says the workers "for the most part (are) isolated, frail and suffering severe and/or terminal disease." Delaying medical care or restricting the kind of care they can have is "life threatening" to the workers, the lawsuit says. ***************************************************************** 44 Las Vegas SUN: Nevada says Yucca Mountain computer requirements thwart review Today: April 11, 2007 at 9:15:19 PDT LAS VEGAS (AP) - The computer requirements to run the Energy Department's performance program for a national nuclear waste repository are so complex that they may thwart state review of the government's work, a Nevada official said. A simulation that aims to forecast whether Yucca Mountain can safely hold thousands of tons of nuclear waste needs a network of 30 master servers and 298 process servers - or a total of 752 processors operating in tandem, said Bob Loux, chief of the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects. "No participant can reasonably expect to duplicate" the computer cluster, Loux said in a letter sent Tuesday to Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Dale Klein. "The model is so complicated and so large, and takes so many computers to run it," Loux said, "that it is fundamentally not checkable by any third party, including the NRC staff." The allegation represents the newest challenge in Nevada's fight against accepting 77,000 tons or more of the nation's most radioactive waste for burial at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Loux, who heads the state's official opposition to the project, cited a presentation last fall in which Energy Department officials outlined details of the performance plan including the computing power needed to run it. Loux suggested the computer model known as the Total System Performance Assessment will not meet requirements for the Energy Department to obtain a repository operating license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The Yucca Mountain computer model is complex because it needs to calculate repository safety over thousands of years, Energy Department and Yucca Mountain spokesman Allen Benson said. "The computer system in place allows for thousands of calculations to be made in a reasonable time at minimal cost," Benson said. "These calculations allow the evaluation of repository safety - our primary concern - in the manner required by the NRC." The Energy Department will provide the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with tools to evaluate the model, Benson said. "This is being done for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and they are the ones who have to be able to operate it," he said. The performance assessment is the centerpiece of the Energy Department's bid for an NRC repository license. By lodging its complaint, the state is laying the groundwork for another possible lawsuit alleging that it is being denied the ability to properly review the license application that Energy Department officials say they will file in June 2008. Congress and the Bush administration picked the site in 2002 - expecting it would open by 2010 to serve as the nation's nuclear waste dump. The project has been stalled by congressional funding shortfalls and questions about quality control work during site selection. The program chief recently said the opening date could be several years after the current 2017 target. --- Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com All contents © 1996 - 2007 Las Vegas Sun, Inc. ***************************************************************** 45 Sydney Morning Herald: NT govt urged to explain strandings - www.smh.com.au April 11, 2007 - 6:44PM The Northern Territory opposition is calling for an investigation into claims the territory government left sick and elderly Aborigines at a remote outstation without food or water. The Northern Land Council (NLC) lambasted the government over the alleged incident in a letter, sent to the chief minister over a month ago and obtained by the ABC. It claimed an electorate officer for the Minister Assisting the Chief Minister on Indigenous Affairs, Elliot McAdam, transported the traditional owners to Muckaty Station for a meeting with commonwealth representatives over plans for a nuclear waste dump. But the letter said they were left at the remote location on March 7, about 120km north of Tennant Creek, without food, shelter, medication or a return trip home. Mr McAdam denied Wednesday the group was left stranded, saying his office was approached by the traditional owners for help getting there and the NLC - which represents Aboriginal people - was informed they were coming. "There were some concerns about the fact that the meeting was not well-publicised and of course TO's (traditional owners) came to my office and requested that we assist them," he told the ABC. "Food was provided out there at Muckaty (and) ... transportation was arranged in respect to the return of those people at the conclusion of the meeting." But the NT opposition is calling on Chief Minister Clare Martin to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations. "The minister's office was guilty of the reprehensible action of leaving elderly and infirm Aboriginal women - some being diabetic and insulin dependent, or having heart conditions - on a remote station during hot and wet weather without food, water, shelter, transport or medication," Deputy Opposition Leader Terry Mills said. "Such disturbing allegations of misconduct made against the office of a minister of the territory government demand an independent investigation." Mr McAdam said the locals did not want a nuclear waste dump and deserved to be at the meeting. "I just want to make it very clear that traditional owners, and indeed very large numbers of people throughout the Barkly region, are totally opposed to a nuclear waste site at Muckaty and I will do, without fear or favour, everything I can to ensure that constituents in my electorate are catered for," he said. In a letter sent to the federal government earlier this year, a group of 16 traditional owners representing five family groups from the Muckaty region, called on the Commonwealth to stop negotiating with the NLC because it was leaving them out of the consultation process. Their land is one of three sites being considered by the federal government for a repository to store low and medium-level radioactive waste. Other options include Harts Range and Mt Everard, near Alice Springs, and Fishers Ridge near Katherine, all of which are opposed by the NT government. © 2007 AAP Brought to you by Copyright © 2007. The Sydney Morning Herald. ***************************************************************** 46 Pahrump Valley Times: Nuke waste panel to review Yucca Apr. 11, 2007 ARLINGTON, Va. -- The U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board will meet here Tuesday, May 15. The board will discuss several topics, including the use of depleted uranium oxide, a drilling program carried out by Inyo County in California, waste package designs and other matters. A final meeting agenda will be available on the board's Web site (www.nwtrl.gov) approximately one week before the meeting date. The agenda also may be obtained by telephone request at that time. The meeting will be open to the public and opportunities for public comment will be provided. The meeting will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1480 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202. Call 703-416-1600 or fax 703-416-1651. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. with an overview of the Yucca Mountain Program. Presentations on the use of depleted uranium oxide as a chemical barrier, Inyo County's drilling program and the second-generation waste package design will follow. After lunch, the board will be briefed on waste streams and disposition options related to DOE's Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, Sandia National Laboratory's saturated zone model for Yucca Mountain, the potential near-field chemistry in repository tunnels, and waste package design and prototype development. An update on probabilistic volcanic hazards analysis will complete the day's agenda. Time will be set aside at the end of the day for public comments. Those wanting to speak are encouraged to sign the "public comment register" at the check-in table. A time limit may have to be set on individual remarks, but written comments of any length may be submitted for the record. Copyright © Pahrump Valley Times, 1997 - ***************************************************************** 47 Pahrump Valley Times: Official wants probe into DOE program Apr. 11, 2007 COMPUTER MODEL MAY LIE BEYOND ANYONE'S EFFECTIVE OVERSIGHT PVT CARSON CITY -- The complex computer program being used by the U.S. Department of Energy to provide information about its application for a license to build a proposed nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain is so rife with problems that some Nevada leaders say no one outside DOE can use it. Bob Loux, executive director of Nevada's Agency for Nuclear Projects, said as much in a letter this week to Dale Klein, chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). To acquire access to the DOE information, Loux said it would take an "unbelievable" collection of 752 computer processors and 30 master computer servers running in parallel on a Windows 2000 file server system that is virtually obsolete. Loux said the Energy Department's so-called Total System Performance Assessment program "does not meet the basic requirements ... to form the basis for a government license." He said the model is so complex that no one, not even the NRC staff, can properly check it. "We doubt there is even anyone in DOE who has a comprehensive command of the entire model." Nevada has been following the development of the new TSPA simulation program and reviewing documents to try to "decipher" the process. DOE's presentations on this program "raise grave concerns that the hardware configuration adopted by DOE ... is wholly inappropriate for a major safety-related license application that should be accessible for scrutiny by interested third parties." Loux said DOE is modeling its computer cluster configuration after the "Beowulf Project," which "requires use of an immense cluster of computers and processors that no participant can reasonably expect to duplicate. In other words, simply running, or likely even inspecting, the structure of the ... TSPA for Yucca requires the coordinated use of literally hundreds of computers and processors and software, some of which is already obsolete." Nevada officials and others charged with reviewing DOE's application may have to buy costly computer equipment or try to access DOE's own computer cluster just to access the information. Even then, Loux expressed concern that no other participant in the licensing process will be able to reproduce, store and properly evaluate DOE's information. He said there's no guarantee that DOE will preserve the original Beowulf Computer Cluster architecture, or maintain it for a certain period of time. Copyright © Pahrump Valley Times, 1997 - ***************************************************************** 48 Brampton Guardian: Nuclear waste slowly being removed from storage at MM&A Providing Local Community News for Brampton, Ontario 24/7 PAM DOUGLAS, Staff Writer Progress has been slower than planned in reducing the amount of nuclear-contaminated waste stored on site at Mississauga Metals & Alloys on Sun Pac Boulevard. Complicated negotiations with international companies involved in the shipping and disposal of the material has slowed the process, but the inventory is being reduced, according to officials with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). Meanwhile, MM&A is expected to re-apply for a licence to resume processing scrap metal contaminated with low levels of radioactivity once the trailers are gone. All such processing had come to a halt more than one year ago when the company voluntarily agreed with the CNSC to stop the process. The CNSC inspected the site in January, and again on March 20. They report the nuclear substances still in storage on site are being managed safely and there is no danger to the public or the environment, according to CNSC spokesperson Aurele Gervais. The waste is stored in tractor-trailer units on the lot next to 75 Sun Pac Blvd. and it is hoped all the trailers will be gone by the end of this month. At its peak there were 25 trailers on the empty lot, which has since been sold. The company made headlines last year after a spate of fires. Since then, renovations have been done and the building has passed fire code inspections. It was after the fires that the company also withdrew an application to the CNSC to operate an incinerator for low-level radioactive waste and had applied to expand the amount of radioactive metal it was recycling. Add Brampton Guardian RSS Feeds © Copyright 1996 - 2007 Metroland Media Group Ltd. All rights ***************************************************************** 49 Calgary Sun: Sky-high uranium gets market sizzling Wed, April 11, 2007 By CP TORONTO -- Record high uranium prices have set off a chain reaction of heated market activity, as companies and investors engage in a race to profit from the tight global supply and rising demand for the mineral. Junior exploration companies were recently boosted by the hike in prices for uranium, used as fuel in nuclear power plants, to US$113 a pound, the highest since the 1970s. Neal Froneman, president and CEO of SXR Uranium One, said yesterday he anticipates global demand for uranium to increase by 2.5% annually over the next decade. He predicts prices will rise to US$150 per pound by the end of 2007. Copyright © 2006, Canoe Inc. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 50 islandpacket.com: Will South Carolina become a nuclear dumping ground? It's up for discussion tonight in Bluffton Hilton Head Island - Bluffton, SC Wednesday, April 11, 2007 By JIM FABER 843-706-8137 Two South Carolina sites are among 11 finalists for a U.S. Department of Energy nuclear fuel recycling center, an advanced recycling reactor and an advanced fuel cycle research facility. Local residents will have their first chance to ask questions about one of the sites tonight in Bluffton and a chance to learn about the other next week. A consortium of representatives of the Savannah River Site -- a 310-square-mile Department of Energy nuclear site on the Savannah River about 15 miles south of Aiken -- will host a meeting at the Holiday Inn Express at 35 Bluffton Road in Bluffton from 5:30 until 8:30 tonight. The Savannah River Site is the proper location for the new facilities, which would recycle spent nuclear fuel, because the infrastructure and security are already in place, said Fred Humes, director of the Aiken & Edgefield Counties Economic Development Partnership, one of the members of the consortium. The high-tech facility would also have a great economic impact on the area, Humes said. The high-tech facility would also have a great economic impact on the area, Humes said.

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