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                         NUCLEAR POLICY
 
1 TheStar.com: Missed energy opportunities
2 Le Figaro: France tries to play a role in Middle East
 
                         NUCLEAR REACTORS
 
3 US: Los Angeles Times: The renewable energy future - 
4 Platts: Major Chernobyl contracts to be signed September 17
5 US: NRC: NRC Sets Public Meeting with Farley on Sept. 20 in Dothan t
6 RM: Get a Complete Analysis of the Belgian Nuclear Power Industry
7 US: Detroit Free Press: Cook Nuclear Plant shuts 1 reactor for upgra
8 Energy Tribune: Europe's New Nuclear Age?
9 SPIEGEL ONLINE: Thanks but No Thanks: Sarko's Nuke Offer Bombs with 
10 US: SFBG Politics Blog: A nuclear lottery - 
11 Xinhua: China willing to strengthen co-op on civilian nuclear energy
12 US: Philadelphia Inquirer: No need to go back to nuclear | 
13 US: PBP: FPL seeks to add more nuke power at St. Lucie, Turkey Point
14 Guardian Unlimited: $505 Million Deal for Chernobyl Shelter 
15 BBC NEWS: Chernobyl to be covered in steel
16 Prague Daily Monitor: Temelin opponents want Melk to be binding - 
17 UPI: French nukes for Germany?
18 US: Platts: NRC issues annual security inspection report
19 US: AU ABC: Cook Islanders seek damages for nuclear testing
20 US: Platts: Vermont Yankee repairs complete, to reach 100% Saturday 
21 US: NRC: NRC Proposes $3,250 Civil Penalty for Tampa, Fla. Company O
22 US: FresnoBee.com: Local: Want a water study? Dig deep
23 RIA Novosti: Ukraine signs international deals to secure Chernobyl N
24 Platts: Tepco to restart mothballed gas-fired unit at Goi plant in H
25 Platts: Congress could "deny, delay or condition" US-India cooperati
26 Platts: Paris "will do everything" to keep Germany generating nuke p
 
                          NUCLEAR SECURITY
 
27 Reuters: Vietnam returns bomb-grade uranium to Russia 
28 US: Reuters: U.S. to remove plutonium from 1,000 old atom bombs 
29 US: UPI: U.S. says it will discard some plutonium
30 US: UPI: Nuclear detection grants awarded
31 US: Guardian Unlimited: Report Faults Managers at Detection Site 
32 US: NewsBlaze: U.S. Removes Nine Metric Tons of Plutonium From Nucle
33 US: AFP: US pledges to reduce plutonium weapons stockpiles - 
 
                          NUCLEAR SAFETY
 
34 IAEA: Statement to the Fifty-First Regular Session of the IAEA Gener
35 NAS: Project: Gulf War and Health: Updated Literature Review of Depl
 
                         NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE
 
36 REGNUM: Construction of spent fuel nuclear storage facility to be st
37 Polish Radio – External Sernice: Poland joins Global Nuclear Energ
38 IAEA: IAEA Chief Addresses GNEP Meeting in Vienna
39 ITAR-TASS: Kazakhstan joins initiative of Global Nuclear Energy Part
40 DOE: Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Triples in Size to 16 Members
41 AU ABC: Govt signs on to support nuclear partnership - 
 
                           PEACE
 
42 [southnews] IAEA Chief Warns Against Striking Iran
43 US: Minot AFB Clandestine Nukes 'Oddities' 
44 More Action Needed To Curb Threat Of Nuclear Terrorism, UN Watchdog 
45 Nuclear Test Ban Pact's Anniversary Should Spark Push For Ratificati
46 US: The Barksdale Nukes, B-52s and Bush's War Plans
47 UPI: Russia resumes bomber testing
48 Korea Herald: N.K.-Syria nuke links aggravate relations
 
                        US DEPT. OF ENERGY
 
49 Tri-City Herald: PBS to air look at Hanford's role, veterans in WWII
50 SF New Mexican: Future Water, part 2: Cold War cleanup
51 DOE: Biological and Environmental Research (BER); Federal Interagenc
52 Knoxville News Sentinel: Group says 7 historic buildings need help 
53 Knoxville News Sentinel: Y-12 invention could provide big benefits t
54 Arbiter Online: Nuclear delegates attend Global 2007 on the Grove - 
55 DOE: DOE Names Director for Office of Indian Energy Policy and 
56 DOE: U.S. and China Sign Agreement to Increase Industrial Energy Eff
57 DOE: U.S. Removes Nine Metric Tons of Plutonium From Nuclear Weapons
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                         FULL NEWS STORIES
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 1 TheStar.com: Missed energy opportunities

columnists | Toronto Star | Star P.M.

MICHAEL KOOREN/REUTERS FILE PHOTO

Wind turbines off the coast of Ijmuiden.

Graph: Clean alternatives

Ontario says it is committed to clean alternatives, so why are they
not part of our long-term plans?

Sep 17, 2007 04:30 AM
Tyler Hamilton
Energy Reporter

The province is looking for new "transformative energy innovations"
that carry a "wow factor" and can make Ontario shine on the world
stage.

So says a memo hastily distributed last month by the
government-created Ontario Centres of Excellence, which recently
received $15 million in public funds earmarked for "low-carbon
technologies."

It must be election time.

There's a certain irony to this, because as hungry start-ups across
the province were busy putting together a five-page project proposal
in hopes of getting a slice of that funding, the Ontario Power
Authority was putting out a 20-year electricity plan for the
province that decided to exclude how alternative approaches to power
generation – such as fuel cells, gasification and pumped storage
– could make meaningful contributions to the grid over the next
two decades.

It's fair to ask why the government, so willing to throw $15 million
at "transformative" energy technologies, is being guided by a
planning authority that's giving short shrift to innovations, many
of them Canadian, that can transform our electricity system today.

Yes, the power authority has implemented a standard offer program
meant to encourage development of small-scale renewables such as
solar, wind, and biomass. Yes, it has awarded long-term contracts to
purchase wind power and plans to significantly expand that
investment. All very good.

But as Energy Minister Dwight Duncan said last month, "We have to
look at every available opportunity." This simply isn't happening.

In the final plan submitted on Aug. 29 to the Ontario Energy Board,
the power authority reduced its earlier projection for wind
development by 800 megawatts and shifted it over to hydroelectric
dams in the north.

It also made clear that it has no plans to go beyond the minimum
requirements laid out in a directive from the energy minister, who
wants at least 15,700 megawatts of renewable energy supply in place
by 2025.

The plan, according to the power authority, "does not seek to exceed
the directive's goals for renewable resources. This is because the
incremental renewable resource would be large wind projects. These
projects would not be cost-effective when compared to the supply
resources included in the plan that would be displaced."

This is troubling.

First, the large-scale deployment of clean power isn't the exclusive
domain of wind, which is but one of many options available.

Second, the power authority ignores that the cost of renewable
technologies is expected to drop considerably over 20 years, and
likely much sooner. Much can happen over two decades, if you
consider that most of us never heard of the Internet back in 1987.

Third, the plan makes clear that cost (i.e. investment in nuclear
power) trumps the environment after the minister's directive has
been met, though it doesn't factor in the true environmental costs
in its assessment of nuclear.

The power authority says it will review its 20-year plan in three
years and is open to considering new approaches at that time. And in
talking with officials there, a sincere attempt is being made to be
flexible. But is this realistic?

We all know that the further you go down a path of big-build
nuclear, the harder it is to change course. And once you've accepted
your course, the search for alternatives, more often than not, loses
momentum.

For this reason, it's prudent to factor in the alternatives today
and plan accordingly.

Feasible power-generation options do exist, and all of them could
have been given more weight in the power authority's current plan:

Pumped storage: The power authority in the past has recognized the
potential of pumped storage as a way to store wind power so we can
dispatch it as needed. It allows us to get higher value out of
otherwise undependable renewables, and can replace the use of coal
and natural gas on the grid.

The power authority's preliminary 20-year plan cites 1,500 megawatts
of pumped storage that could be developed at three sites – one
located near Peterborough, another in northern Ottawa Valley and
another near Atikokan. Sources tell me another massive site north of
Thunder Bay could alone economically provide more than 1,000
megawatts of power storage over a period of more than 24 hours.

Again, this isn't electricity generation per se, but we don't really
need new generation in this province as much as ways to better use
the electricity we can produce.



Energy-from-waste: Most environmentalists don't like this
technology, largely because they don't believe the claims. But a
pilot project that's about to enter full operation in the Ottawa
area is poised to prove that energy-from-waste can be done in an
environmentally responsible way.

Rod Bryden, chief executive of Plasco Energy and overseer of the
Ottawa project, is prepared to let his company's facility speak for
itself. He says preliminary results have attracted the attention of
several municipalities, and he figures it's a matter of time before
Toronto – highly reluctant under Mayor David Miller's watch –
gives the technology serious consideration.

"If Ontario was to process the 10 million tonnes of waste, which it
currently puts into landfill, through a system with the kind of
efficiency that Plasco's technology offers, it would produce nearly
half of the output of Ontario's largest coal plant," says Bryden.
"You'd get about 1,600 megawatts out of the waste you're putting
into the ground right now."

The technology gets 2.5 times more energy out of a tonne of garbage
than traditional incineration technology and emissions are well
below regulatory limits – certainly outperforming Ontario's
cleanest coal plants. Bryden envisions dozens of these facilities
scattered in Ontario communities that process local waste with local
facilities.


Solar power: The problem with solar photovoltaic technology is that
it's expensive, and there are certain folks who are understandably
outraged that the province is willing to pay a 600-per-cent premium
for solar power projects being developed in Ontario. Under the power
authority's plan, solar capacity in the province will not exceed 88
megawatts over the next two decades – about the same amount that's
already been contracted out to companies such as Skypower and
OptiSolar, who are planning massive multi-megawatts solar farms in
various locations throughout Ontario.

The power authority's reasoning for sticking with this number is
simple: while there may be more projects announced, it doesn't
expect all of them will get built. A prudent assumption, maybe, but
many believe the 20-year plan seriously low-balls the potential of
solar, which can supply power when we need it most – during the
afternoon when the sun is at its hottest and air conditioners are
blasting.

Paul Gipe from the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association believes
it's easily possible within 10 years to have 1,000 megawatts of
solar deployed across the province – and that's just for rooftop
systems, not the massive farms that have been proposed. He estimates
it would cost $7 billion to $10 billion, about double the cost of
building a new nuclear reactor of similar capacity, and would only
add half a cent to the per-kilowatt cost of electricity on
consumers' bills.



Offshore wind: We typically associate offshore wind with massive
turbines located in turbulent ocean waters, but there's great
potential to install turbines in the Great Lakes where waters are
more shallow, manageable and accessible, and wind is more constant
compared to land-based wind farms.

Toronto Hydro Corp. has seriously considered an offshore wind
project in Lake Ontario near the Scarborough Bluffs that would have
a capacity of up to 200 megawatts. Trillium Power Energy Corp.,
wants to build a 710-megawatt offshore farm east of Toronto. It
would consist of 140 turbines about 15 kilometres offshore of Prince
Edward County, hardly detectable from land and outside all migratory
routes for birds and butterflies.

The financial backers are there, says Trillium chief executive John
Kourtoff. But offshore projects were put on hold last November after
the Ministry of Natural Resources issued a moratorium on development
until more studies could be done. In the meantime, while Canadian
developers twiddle their thumbs, U.S. states such as Ohio are
positioning themselves to develop offshore projects in Lake Erie.

Offshore wind is considered the next major growth area in the
wind-power sector, and experts say it would be easier and less
expensive to do projects in a lake than in the ocean. The ministry
is expected to lift the moratorium, likely by year's end, but the
power authority excluded such projects from its roadmap without
explanation.


Co-generation: Also referred to as "combined heat and power." Algoma
Steel Inc. in Sault Ste. Marie plans to use waste gases from its
blast furnaces to generate about 70 megawatts worth of power.
Northland Power Inc. is building a 236-watt natural gas plant that
will sell both steam and electricity to Abitibi-Consolidated Inc.'s
newsprint-recycling mill in Thorold. The leftover electricity not
used by Abitibi will be sold into the grid.

If you think of all the buildings and facilities out there where
excess heat and flu gases can be captured and put to good use, the
enormous potential becomes obvious. Groups like WWF-Canada and the
Pembina Institute argue that 3,000 megawatts of cost-competitive
co-generation could be put in place by 2012, and a total of 5,000
megawatts by 2017. They consider these numbers a conservative
estimate.

Thomas Casten of Recycled Energy Development LLC, who is chair of a
new Ontario group called the Alliance for Clean Technology,
estimates that waste heat and gases from the province's 77 biggest
industrial exhaust stacks could alone produce about 600 megawatts
– enough to replace two coal stations up north. Casten considers
this low-hanging fruit that could be implemented quickly. "It would
not require any additional fossil fuel and would produce no
incremental CO{-2} emissions," says Casten.

The power authority has only accounted for 584 megawatts of
co-generation between now and 2027, though a new standard offer
program for small-scale co-generation could add a bit to that
figure. It's just a slice of what's doable, says Keith Stewart of
WWF-Canada.

The problem, as folks like Casten and Stewart see it, is that the
standard offer only accommodates deployments under 10 megawatts,
meaning the lion's share of projects out there can't participate.


Forest and agricultural bioenergy: This type of bioenergy would also
achieve two other public policy objectives: helping farmers and
boosting northern economies.

The power authority estimates in its plan that 300 megawatts of
power could be produced from animal manure, 450 megawatts from crop
waste and 300 megawatts from forest biofibre – the bark, branches
and tops of trees removed and unused after harvesting.

Those numbers are a heavy discount on the potential of what's out
there. For example, it's assumed that 90 per cent of forest biofibre
can't be retrieved economically. "10 per cent is really low," says
Melissa Felder, an environmental consultant in Toronto and bioenergy
expert. For manure it's 75 per cent and for crop residue it's 80 per
cent. "The lack of serious consideration to bioenergy potential is
disturbing and short-sighted," she adds.

But the power authority trims those targets even further under
second analysis. Under its final plan, it brings the 750 megawatts
it identified for manure and crop residue down to 150 megawatts and
the 300 megawatts it calculated for forest biofibre down to 150
megawatts.

"The planning assumptions ... are less than the total theoretical
potential identified because there is significant uncertainty with
respect to the amount of biomass resource that will be developed to
produce electricity," the power authority explains.

There's uncertainty because there's no plan from which supportive
policy can sprout. Certainly, without a commitment to build nuclear
from the government, there would be uncertainty around new nuclear
plants as well. The same goes with the ethanol market in Ontario
without a government mandate. Seems in this instance the power
authority is part of the problem.


The final tally: A feasible target of at least 10,100 megawatts
versus the OPA's commitment to 1,488 megawatts in its 20-year plan.

If just a third of this potential was adopted it would eliminate the
need for 1,000 megawatts of new nuclear capacity. What can be done,
with some hard work and political will, would give the government
more flexibility as it phases out the use of coal, and might even
reduce our need to refurbish old nukes.

The question is whether the next premier of Ontario, whoever he may
be, has the will to go that extra low-carbon mile, and whether the
bureaucratic engine he commands agrees to get behind the cause.

So far, and I'd be happy to be proven wrong, the answer is "no" –
on both accounts.


� Copyright Toronto Star 1996-2007     |  
*****************************************************************
 2 Le Figaro: France tries to play a role in Middle East

Actualis� le 13 septembre 2007 : 12h17


Report by Renaud Girard

Jerusalem: Seeing, hearing, understanding, proposing. That is the
approach adopted for the first visit to Israel and the occupied
territories by Bernard Kouchner since he was appointed foreign
minister. This is modest, as the minister knows that France is not
the United States and that he is not the first European minister to
embark on the traditional political circuit, taking in Tel Aviv
(Defence Ministry), Jerusalem (seat of Israeli Government), and
Ramallah (seat of Palestinian [National] Authority presidency). It
is also ambitious as Bernard Kouchner thinks that France has a
specific role to play in relaunching the Israeli-Palestinian peace
process. He believes that the French approach has a dual legitimacy.
In the case of the Israelis, as nobody can accuse President Sarkozy
of being the least anti-American or anti-Zionist, and in the case of
the Palestinians and the Arab League nations, because France has
always campaigned for the creation of a viable Palestinian sta! te
and did not get involved in the disastrous US escapade in Iraq.


Seeing. During a brief and rapid official visit, one sees very
little. But when you travel to Ramallah you pass through the
depressing secured Israeli checkpoint of Beitounin that separates
the occupied zone from the autonomous zone on the West Bank, only
the confined latter area being under full Palestinian
administration. One physically grasps that there has been zero
progress since the 1993 Oslo agreements. On the Israeli side, when
going for his morning jog along Tel Aviv beach, Kouchner passed by
the former Delphinarium nightclub. Still in evidence there are the
traces of a terrorist attack that, at the start of the second
Intifadah, killed about 40 Israeli adolescents, making one all too
aware of Israel's "security obsession."


"There Was a Frisson"


Listening. Monday evening [10 September], the minister publicly
welcomed having heard from the mouth of Palestinian President Mahmud
Abbas a "very positive account" of the three-hour lunch he had had
with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Clearly these two leaders
are hitting it off. They have set about preparing together the peace
meeting due to be held in the United States in November. Yesterday
Kouchner was pleased to hear from Defence Minister Ehud Baraq that
Israel would respond appropriately to the rocket attack from Gaza
during the night: No air strikes or mechanized incursion to carry
out reprisals but, for each rocket that lands on its soil, Israel
will cut off electricity supplies to Gaza, controlled by the Hamas
Islamist movement, for one hour.


Understanding. "There is an undeniable frisson, a kind of wind of
peace that is beginning to blow here. It is the right time to act,
to try to be useful," Kouchner told Le Figaro. "But, of course, it
is still fragile, one must move forward step by step." For example,
the minister rules out for the time being talking with Hamas, a
movement that does not recognize Israel's right to exist and that
the Palestinian president accuses of perpetrating a permanent coup
d'etat in Gaza.


Proposing. This is the most difficult. France dreams of being
invited to the peace meeting. Israel is not against this but its
government politely pointed out to Kouchner that preparation for it
were a matter for the Israelis and Palestinians alone. On the other
hand, they all asked France to use its influence to persuade the
Arab states that are still reluctant (such as Saudi Arabia) to
participate. The minister publicly championed the principle of
Syrian participation, on the condition that the Damascus regime
stops meddling in Lebanese politics.

R&eacute;agir dans le forum Haut de page ^

*****************************************************************
 3 Los Angeles Times: The renewable energy future - 

Wind farms and solar energy have great potential -- but there are

still clouds on the horizon.

September 17, 2007

Remember rain?

As Los Angeles creaks through its driest year on record and
nervously awaits its next explosive wildfire, many wonder if global
warming is already taking a toll. Nobody really knows; California
has always had intermittent droughts, after all. But climate models
predicted this situation. Changes in ocean temperatures and currents
driven by things such as the melting of the Greenland ice shelf --
which is happening a lot faster than scientists expected -- will
probably produce an even more desert-like climate in L.A.

Efforts to slow or halt that process have to include a switch to
cleaner energy. Coal-burning power plants account for more than 40%
of the nation's carbon dioxide emissions (the key culprit in global
warming) while supplying half our electricity. California is already
on the case. Last year, it passed a law that says 20% of the state's
electricity must come from renewable sources by 2010, and 33% by
2020. Even the sluggish federal government is considering a
crackdown, with the House energy bill requiring that 15% of U.S.
power come from renewable sources by 2020.

Renewable power is fueled by clean sources such as wind, sunshine,
geothermal currents and ocean tides or waves. Though its potential
is vast, serious technological and policy problems must be overcome
before it will play much of a part in our energy mix. Here's a look
at the hopes and hurdles for the two renewable sources likely to
have the biggest effect on California.

The answer is blowin' in the windBeside the 580 Freeway east of the
San Francisco Bay, the hills are alive with the sound of . . .
whooshing. Wind turbines cover the hills for miles around, some like
giant eggbeaters but most looking like big airplane propellers on
poles, spinning in the near-constant breeze through Altamont Pass.
When it was built starting in 1981, this was the largest wind farm
in the world, and it cemented California's place as a pioneer in
alternative energy. Now it's an outdated relic, relying on
old-fashioned technology that produces less power and kills more
birds than modern equipment.

Altamont Pass was intended to spark a wind-power revolution in
California, but it fizzled, largely because of low natural-gas
prices that made renewable energy sources noncompetitive. The state
has other small wind farms in Tehachapi, Solano County and San
Gorgonio Pass near Palm Springs, but they're operating well below
their potential. Although the state gets 11% of its electricity from
all renewable sources -- among the best records in the country --
that percentage hasn't risen in the last four years.

Meanwhile, Texas has leapfrogged past California in wind-power
generation. Texas has a number of natural advantages, such as plenty
of wide-open, windy spaces, as well as some policy advantages.
Ironically, the state's traditional hostility to environmental and
other regulation is in this case a plus, making it easier to get
government approval for wind farms. Elsewhere, they often run into
flak from NIMBYs, bird lovers and environmentalists who worry about
power lines cutting through environmentally sensitive areas to reach
remote, windy spots. In California, proposed transmission lines from
coming wind farms in Tehachapi are under fire, as are lines that
would carry electricity from planned solar power plants in the
Mojave Desert. To the east, wealthy homeowners in Cape Cod may
succeed in blocking the Cape Wind offshore wind farm in the
Nantucket Sound, a project that threatens to spoil their ocean views.

Wind turbines, especially the older devices in California, can be
buzz saws for birds and bats, though newer, taller turbines seem
less deadly. In any case, a study by the National Academy of
Sciences found no evidence that wind farms are decreasing bird
populations; global warming is a much bigger threat to birds and
bats than wind blades. Renewable power is too important to allow
such projects to be derailed by narrow interest groups, which is why
California and other states should take steps to streamline the
approval process.

The United States gets less than 1% of its power from wind, but the
industry is growing at about 25% a year worldwide and, thanks mainly
toTexas, the U.S. is building wind farms faster than any other
country. The potential is almost limitless. A 2005 study by
researchers at Stanford University found that there is enough wind
worldwide to satisfy global electricity demand seven times over,
even if only 20% of the power could be captured. Such theoretical
figures, of course, don't address the practicalities of cost, access
and variability (the wind doesn't blow all the time, so wind power
has to be supplemented by other sources) that make harvesting so
much wind power nearly impossible.

Besides community opposition, a key roadblock is the lack of
transmission lines. Wind power has a classic chicken-and-egg
problem: Investors don't want to build wind farms unless lines
already exist to connect them to urban centers, and utilities don't
want to add lines until the turbines are spinning. California, Texas
and two other states have come up with a solution. In April, the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission signed off on a plan to shift
part of the cost of power lines to California consumers. Utilities
can charge higher rates to pay for building lines to high-wind
areas; once generators connect to the lines, the cost will be
recovered via access charges paid by the wind farms. This should
become a national model.

The first to benefit from the new regulation will probably be a
transmission project from Southern California Edison that is
eventually expected to carry 4,500 megawatts from wind farms planned
in Tehachapi -- that's the equivalent of two nuclear power plants
the size of San Onofre, or enough to power 2.9 million homes.

The sun also risesRep. Dennis Cardoza's bad experience with solar
power might make things a little better for the rest of us, further
proof that all politics are personal.

Cardoza (D-Atwater) wanted to install solar panels on his home. He
discovered that even in California, the center of the nation's
solar-power industry, that's an expensive and impractical
proposition. He ended up spending $80,000 on the system, including
$2,500 on permits alone -- enough to render meaningless the $2,000
tax credit given by the federal government to encourage solar power.
Cardoza responded by teaming up with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.)
onbillsthat would put a $500 cap on permit and licensing fees for
residential solar installation and require utilities to buy back
excess solar power from home generators.

Such efforts are long overdue at the federal level. California,
meanwhile, is making greater progress, though Cardoza's experience
shows that it still hasn't gone far enough. Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger's Million Solar Roofs initiative helps subsidize
solar panels and will eventually make solar homes an option in new
housing developments. Last week, the Legislature passed a bill that
will extend subsidies to solar water heating systems. Yet the
subsidies still aren't high enough to make solar a very attractive
option for most homeowners or businesses.

By far the biggest hurdle to expansion of solar power is cost. Solar
panels are usually made of silicon, and the world is running out of
it. Yet the economics of solar may be about to change. Aided by
hefty infusions of venture capital in recent years, solar companies
are on the cusp of developing new technologies that generate more
power using less silicon, prompting predictions that costs for solar
systems could be cut in half within the next three years.

That process might be accelerated with a little more nurturing from
the federal government. This year, the Energy Department will spend
$303 million on research and development for nuclear power and $427
million on coal, while forking out a paltry $159 million on solar.
That may be because the country gets less than 0.01% of its
electricity from the sun, but it doesn't reflect solar power's
potential.

Enough solar energy hits the Earth in an hour to supply all the
world's electricity needs for a year. A 100-square-mile area of
Nevada, if equipped with solar devices, could supply the U.S. with
all the power it needs, according to the Energy Department. Again,
such pronouncements don't address the real-world practicalities. But
given that neither coal nor nuclear power is a practical solution to
global warming, U.S. research priorities are badly skewed.

If roof-mounted solar panels aren't quite ready for prime time,
concentrated solar power systems might soon become a hit. These are
usually arrays of reflectors installed in sunny areas like the
Mojave Desert, where they concentrate sunlight to heat a liquid that
turns to steam and powers a turbine. The Solar Energy Generating
Systems, an installation of nine solar arrays in the Mojave that
puts out 354 megawatts, has been considered the biggest such plant
in the world, but it won't be for long. Five more Mojave plants are
scheduled to come on line in the next few years; together they will
generate more than 1,000 megawatts. These projects have to jump many
of the same transmission hurdles as wind farms.

The government can do many other small things to encourage renewable
power, like raising subsidies and extending production tax credits,
but they would have only an incremental effect. There is one genuine
solution to climate change: Users of fossil fuels must pay the full
cost of their environmental damage. A carbon tax would instantly
create a thriving market for clean, alternative power sources such
as wind and solar. The tax is almost an inevitability; the only
question is, how much damage does global warming have to wreak
before it becomes politically acceptable?

Copyright 2007 Los Angeles Times      Privacy Policy | Terms of
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 4 Platts: Major Chernobyl contracts to be signed September 17

2007-09-17

London (Platts)--17Sep2007

Major Chernobyl contracts will be signed September 17 at the 
Ukranian president's office, not at the plant site as had been 
planned, the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development said 
September 14. The contracts are with the Novarka consortium 
(Vinci, Bouygues and associated companies) to build a "New Safe 
Confinement" over Chernobyl-4's existing "shelter," and with 
Holtec International to supply an interim spent fuel storage 
facility. 

The Ukrainian ministry responsible for Chernobyl had invited 
journalists to the Chernobyl site to witness the signing 
ceremony, but at the last minute President Viktor Yushchenko 
"changed the venue" to his office, according to a knowledgeable 
source. Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich, who has 
authority over the ministry, will square off in national 
elections scheduled in two weeks, and the source said Yushchenko 
wanted to "be in the limelight" for the signature of the two 
major, long-awaited contracts for the Chernobyl work. The 
contracts are financed by international donors and managed by the 
EBRD's Nuclear Safety Department.

For more news, request a free trial to Platts Nucleonics Week at 
http://www.platts.com/Request%20More%20Information/index.xml?story 
or subscribe now at 
http://www.platts.com/infostore/product_info.php?cPath=22_41&amp;products_id=67

Copyright � 2007 - Platts, All Rights Reserved
*****************************************************************
 5 NRC: NRC Sets Public Meeting with Farley on Sept. 20 in Dothan to 
discuss Inspection of Cooling Water System Breaker Failures

News Release - Region II - 2007-045 - 

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 has scheduled a meeting with
Farley nuclear power plant officials on Sept. 20 in Dothan, Ala., to
discuss preliminary results of a five-member inspection team&rsquo;s
review of Component Cooling Water System breaker failures.

The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. (CDT) in the County
Commissioners Chambers on the Third Floor of the Houston County
Administration Building, located at 462 North Oats Street.

The NRC dispatched what the agency calls an Augmented Inspection
Team  (AIT) to Farley on Sept. 10 to review the failures of
electrical breakers for component cooling water pumps.  The
component cooling water system does not provide cooling water for
the reactor.  It circulates water through a closed system to cool
other plant systems and components.

On Sept. 4 and 5, two different electrical breakers associated with
component cooling water pumps on Unit 1 failed to close during
testing.  The breakers were replaced, and the company is trouble
shooting the failures.  NRC officials said that, because Farley has
experienced previous breaker issues, and this condition has the
potential to be applicable to similar breakers in safety-related
systems on both Unit 1 and Unit 2, the agency determined that an
AIT, formed to review circumstances surrounding more significant
issues at NRC-licensed facilities, was appropriate.

The meeting is open to the public, and interested observers will
have an opportunity to communicate with the NRC after the business
portion, but before the meeting is adjourned.


NRC news releases are available through a free listserv 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.

Monday, September 17, 2007
*****************************************************************
 6 RM: Get a Complete Analysis of the Belgian Nuclear Power Industry

DUBLIN, Ireland--Research and Markets
(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c68561) has announced the
addition of "Analyzing Nuclear Power in Belgium" to their offering.

Electricity consumption in Belgium has grown only slowly since 1990.
Per capita consumption is 8186 kWh/yr. Nuclear energy provides 55%
of the country's domestically-generated electricity - about 45
billion kWh per year. In 1962 the country's first small nuclear
power reactor was commissioned at Mol - the 11 MWe prototype BR-3
PWR, which was imported from the US. This was the first pressurized
water reactor built in Europe.

Belgium is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
since 1975 as a non-nuclear weapons state. It is member of the
Nuclear Suppliers' Group. The Additional Protocol in relation to its
safeguards agreements with the IAEA was signed in 1998 and came into
force in 2004.

The report - Analyzing Nuclear Power in Belgium, explores the
importance of nuclear power in today's world, with Section One being
dedicated to Understanding the Basics of Nuclear Power. The report
looks at the basics of the nuclear industry that is, how a plant
works, analyzing and understanding the fuel cycle, the various
components which are involved in the working of a nuclear power
plant, and much more. Economics, issues and barriers, and other such
factors are also explored in-depth in this report.

This offering includes a complete analysis of the Belgian Nuclear
Power Industry, including an analysis of the nuclear power stations
in Belgium, the major Belgian players in nuclear power, and much
more. Industry profile, industry developments, technological
developments, non-proliferation issues, Uranium fuel cycle
developments, and lots more information is included in this research
report. This research offering is a comprehensive A to Z guide on
the nuclear power industry in Belgium.

Companies Mentioned:

* Electrabel
* SPE
* Tractebel Engineering
* Belgonucleaire
* Belgatom
* ONDRAF/NIRAS
* Belgoprocess
* SCK.CEN
* Laborelec

* Association Vincotte Nuclear

For more information, visit
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c68561

Contacts

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, press@researchandmarkets.com
fax: +353 1 4100 980

   � 1996-2007 Internet Product Development Group Inc. All rights
*****************************************************************
 7 Detroit Free Press: Cook Nuclear Plant shuts 1 reactor for upgrade

FREEP.COM

September 17, 2007

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAKE TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Southwestern Michigan�s Cook Nuclear 
Plant says it shut down one of its two units for refueling and a 
$70 million upgrade.

Operators say will it make it easier to operate and reduce worker 
radiation exposure.

Unit 2 was shut down Saturday. Columbus, Ohio-based American
Electric Power says Cook�s 1,400 permanent and 1,500 temporary
workers will spend 265,000 hours on the project.

They�ll install a new 100-ton reactor vessel head that was cast in
Japan and manufactured in France.

Unit 1 was upgraded in 2006.

Cook is near Lake Michigan in Berrien County�s Lake Township, 180
miles west of Detroit.

Copyright �2007 the Detroit Free Press. All rights reserved. Users
*****************************************************************
 8 Energy Tribune: Europe's New Nuclear Age?

Posted on Sep. 17, 2007

By Peter Glover


It’s not only the prospect of death that “concentrates the mind
wonderfully.” So too, it seems, does the prospect of lights going
out. Faced with a looming energy crisis, anti-nuclear Europe is fast
abandoning its post-Chernobyl policies and appears ready to embrace
a new nuclear age.

France, of course, is already there. Second only to the U.S. in
terms of nuclear generation, France gets 80 percent of its energy
from nuclear sources. Nor is France keeping its atomic knowledge to
itself. Nicolas Sarkozy’s government recently announced that it
will “share nuclear technology” with Algeria. An altruistic
move, entirely uninfluenced by the fact that Algeria holds the
second-largest gas and third-largest oil reserves in Africa?

While E.U. nations like Austria remain determined to retain their
staunch anti-nuclear credentials, at least for the moment, others
are embracing nuclear. Finland is building the first nuclear
generating plant in western Europe since 1991. Sweden and the
Netherlands are re-thinking their plans to abandon or phase out old
nuclear plants. Lithuania, already more dependent on nuclear energy
than France (via its single reactor), has agreed on a deal with
Poland to construct a new plant. The reactor will provide
electricity for Latvia and Estonia as well as Poland and Lithuania.

Belarus, which back in January 2007 felt the paw of the Russian bear
on its oil pipeline, will start construction in 2008 on a plant that
will begin generating in 2014. A list of 20 countries published in
July 2007 by the World Nuclear Association identifies Italy (the
only G8 country without its own nuclear power plant), Portugal,
Norway, Ireland, and a group of eastern European countries, as
“actively considering nuclear power programs.”

And just in case anyone should doubt that going nuclear had become
the unofficial policy of the E.U., the European Commission has
called for a “new industrial revolution” – through increased
investment in renewable energy and nuclear power. It is easy to see
why. E.U. forecasts reveal that the region’s energy imports will
jump to 65 percent of consumption by 2030, with a massive 84 percent
of its gas and 93 percent of its oil coming from overseas. Renewable
energy was never going to plug the yawning energy gap. And
confidence in current key supplier Russia further nose-dived in the
wake of the Druzhba oil pipeline spat with Belarus at the turn of
the year. Russia’s failure to warn Belarus of the intended
shutdown was one thing, but playing Russian roulette with a pipeline
that also serves other European countries was too much to take.

The E.U. now sees nuclear power as providing as much as 30 percent
of Europe’s energy needs by 2050. In June 2007 the E.U. Nuclear
Energy Forum (ENEF), founded by the Czech Republic and Slovakia –
both highly reliant on nuclear sources – was re-launched as the
E.U.’s official forum for renewed debate on the future of nuclear
energy in Europe. The ENEF’s first meeting is scheduled for this
fall in Bratislava. E.U. energy commissioner Andris Piebaigs has
said that ENEF “will be fundamental to structure an open debate
without any taboo on this source of energy.”

It would seem that what was taboo in post-Chernobyl Europe has been
thoroughly rehabilitated – and the fallout is being felt around
the globe. India and Russia have announced plans to double their
nuclear capacities. Israel is looking to expand its nuclear program,
and Australia is considering its nuclear future. With the
“greening” of nuclear power, Europe is now aligning with the
rest of the world when it comes to nuclear fission. This can be seen
by looking at the U.K.

In 1956, Britain became the first country to use nuclear energy to
produce electricity for large-scale consumer use. Today, the U.K.
relies on nuclear power for about 20 percent of its electricity. The
last new reactor opened in 1995, and since then the country’s
nuclear development has been stalled. But a looming electricity
shortage is nudging the U.K. back toward nuclear power.


©2006 Energy Tribune - All Rights Reserved - Web Design 4guys
*****************************************************************
 9 SPIEGEL ONLINE: Thanks but No Thanks: Sarko's Nuke Offer Bombs with Berlin -

September 17, 2007

By Ralf Beste and Stefan Simons

Ever since Nicolas Sarkozy became French president, he has been
bewildering the German government with one controversial idea after
another. The latest shocker? The new man in Paris has offered German
Chancellor Angela Merkel French nuclear weapons.


REUTERS

Sarkozy suggested to Merkel that maybe Germany would like a stake in
France's nuclear arsenal, such as this nuclear submarine.


French President Nicolas Sarkozy didn't mention the bomb right away.
Instead, he took a little detour by way of atomic energy: Whoever is
serious about averting global warming should build more nuclear
power plants, he told Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier during (more...), the German government's
guest residence north of Berlin. Then came the surprise offer.

Seeing as they were discussing the benefits of all things atomic,
the French president continued, he had another suggestion as well:
Because the French nuclear umbrella protected France's neighbors as
well as La Grande Nation itself, perhaps the Germans would consider
taking a political stake in the French atomic arsenal?

Both the chancellor and her foreign minister were speechless. The
idea of possessing nuclear weapons is taboo in Germany. Sarzoky's
predecessor Jacques Chirac cautiously brought up the issue 12 years
ago, but he quickly realized it was pointless to pursue it.

Steinmeier was the first to regain his composure, explaining that
Germany did not seek to become a nuclear power, which is why the
country had signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1975.
Merkel offered a friendly smile and backed up her foreign minister.

A Series of Surprises

Ever since Sarkozy took office four months ago, he's been constantly
surprising Berlin with one initiative after the next. Some might be
useful, but the hyperactive president also has the tendency to
approach sensitive diplomatic issues with all the finesse of an
Energizer bunny. He's so frantic that French newspapers have
received pleas to introduce at least one Sarkozy-free day a week --
something which would no doubt go down well in Berlin.


The days where Sarkozy's political hyperactivity was dismissed as
simply exuberance from being fresh in office are long gone. Merkel,
Steinmeier and German Finance Minister Peer Steinbr�ck have all been
surprised, stymied, annoyed and flabbergasted time and time again by
his proposals. But even worse is when Sarkozy appears to
deliberately pick fights with Berlin simply because he doesn't like
the way the Germans deal with him.

It's no surprise, then, that Steinmeier was careful to decline the
offer of French nuclear weapons as politely as possible. He wanted
to avoid provoking Sarkozy at all costs, since the French leader has
made it extremely clear that he doesn't care much for uppity German
ministers.

The foreign minister's cabinet colleague Steinbr�ck learned that
lesson the hard way a few weeks ago, after he dared contradict
Sarkozy during a discussion about the independence of the European
Central Bank at an EU meeting. While Steinbr�ck was speaking,
Sarkozy waved over the German finance minister's deputy, Thomas
Mirow, and railed at him in French that he should stop his boss,
saying, "That's not how one speaks to a president." Bemused, Mirow
sat back down and kept quiet.

Sarkozy then proceeded to telephone Merkel to demand that Steinbr�ck
be publicly reprimanded. But she pointed out that she could hardly
criticize one of her ministers simply because he was defending the
German government's official position on the matter.


DDP

Sarkozy and Merkel looked the best of chums at Meseberg last week.
But behind the scenes, Merkel is apparently getting on Sarko's
nerves and the hyperactive French president is bewildering the
Germans.


The Frenchman angrily related the story to the outgoing governor of
Bavaria, Edmund Stoiber, who recently visited Sarkozy at the �lys�e
Palace in Paris. Shortly thereafter, it was leaked to German
newspapers that Merkel was "increasingly getting on Sarkozy's
nerves."

But the Germans and French are not just clashing over questions of
style -- issues of substance are also leading to cracks in the
European Union's most important partnership. The German Foreign
Ministry was completely surprised by French Foreign Minister Bernard
Kouchner's recent visit to Baghdad to express France's new
willingness to support the Americans there. Sarkozy was also keen to
be the hero in the release of five Bulgarian nurses held for years
by Libya, even though the German government played a key role in
brokering a deal. He then proceeded to use the occasion to announce
(more...) -- naturally without informing his EU partners in advance.

It's possible that Europe's legendary Franco-German motor might
shift into neutral for a while. Sarkozy has replaced consultations
with a tendency to dictate. The implied threat for Berlin is clear:
Either you go along with French plans, or Paris will go it alone.

And that could lead to the next showdown. Sarkzoy wants to force the
EU to impose extra sanctions on Iran. But instead of working with
Germany on a plan of action as a preferred partner, Paris simply
informed Berlin of its intentions via a diplomatic note, as if it
were any other EU member.

During the meeting at Meseberg, Steinmeier pointed out that the
Germans had already drastically reduced their business interests in
Iran. Instead of demanding more sanctions, Paris should call on
French banks, energy firms and carmakers to scale back to German
levels first. Since then, the tone has become somewhat harsher
between the two European heavyweights.


Diplomats in Paris are spreading the story that Merkel, a
conservative, supports the Sarkozy initiative, but she's being held
back by her center-left Social Democratic ministers Steinmeier and
Steinbr�ck -- something which Berlin denies.

Now both governments are trying to avoid a further escalation of the
Franco-German spat. "Relations between the two are really good,"
claims a Merkel confidant.

But Sarkozy will need some practice at sounding conciliatory. He
told his cabinet last Wednesday that Merkel was "a woman from the
east," in reference to her East German roots.

The �lys�e Palace quickly tried to smooth over the gaffe: Apparently
Sarkozy was merely trying to point out that growing up in East
Germany meant Merkel did not have the "same affection for France as
people from the neighboring Rhineland."


*****************************************************************
 10 SFBG Politics Blog: A nuclear lottery - 

In today's New York Times Magazine, two smart writers, Stephen J.
Dubner and Steven D. Levitt, make a really stupid mistake when they
talk about nuclear power. The piece is called "the Jane Fonda
Effect," and it argues that the reason the United States doesn't
have more "clean and cheap nuclear energy" is that the 1979 movie
"The China Syndrome" , combined with the accident at Three Mile
Island, , irrationally scared the public away from this otherwise
wonderful source of energy that doesn't contribute to global warming.

"The big news is that nuclear power may be making a comeback in the
United States," the authors, who write the popular column
"Freakonomics," note. "Has fear of a meltdown subsided, or has it
merely been replaced by the fear of global warming?"

To find that answer, they cite the work of Frank Knight, a legendary
U.S. economist who first defined the different in the behavior of
people faced with risk (which is quantifiable) and uncertainty,
which is, well, uncertain. Here's the drill: You have two boxes
filled with red balls and white balls. Box one has exactly half of
each; box two has an unknown mix. You want to draw a red ball; which
box do you pick?


Most people, of course, pick the first one -- they know the exact
risk. That, the authors say, is nuclear power. Then there's the
uncertain risk -- global warming. So maybe it makes sense to choose
the nukes, knowing that there's a small, but somewhat quantifiable,
risk.

But in citing one of the nation's pre-eminent economic thinkers, the
two economists miss the point that ought to be part of every
economics lecture that discusses choice theory. Choice isn’t just
about uncertainty and risk – it’s about possible outcomes. If I
told you today that for $1, you could buy a ticket that might get
you a free ham sandwich tomorrow – and the odds were about 17
million to one against you winning -- no sane person would take the
bet. But what if I told you that the odds were the same, but the
reward was a check for $100 million? A lot of people would cough up
the buck; if they didn’t, the entire lottery industry wouldn’t
exist.

So flip that around: If I told you that the odds of a nuclear
accident were very low (they are) and that if you take the gamble on
nuclear, you get the reward of emission-free power, you might jump
at it. But if you knew – as you should – that the outcome of the
accident that probably won’t happen could be the deaths of several
million people (as it could be if the Indian Point plant just
upriver of New York city melted down or were blown up by terrorists)
you might say: Never mind.

Sure, we take risks every day -- getting in a car and driving on a
highway is a pretty big one -- and as a society, we're willing to
allow individuals to make that choice. But the worst possible
outcome of you drivng badly is the death of you and a few others; if
a single car crash could wipe out an entire city and render tens of
thousands of acres of land uninhabitable for centuries, cars would
have been banned long ago.

If I were crazy enough to try to write this out as an equation this
late at night, it might look something like this:

V(c)=R*O, or


The value of a risk equals the chance of success (or failure) times
the projected outcome.

A tiny chance at winning $100 million in the lottery is still a
decent-sized number. A small chance at a disaster of epic
proportions is a decent-sized number, too.

The lottery is a sucker’s game, but it keeps right on going,
because so many of us are willing to risk a buck on a very, very
slim chance at life-transforming riches. But you don’t put pension
funds into lottery tickets, and you don’t bet your kid’s future
on them. Nuclear power only makes sense from the standpoint of an
economist if we’re willing to accept what is an admittedly slim
chance at a disaster of cataclysmic proportions. Sorry, Messrs.
Dubner and Levitt, but I’m not buying.


Posted by Tim Redmond on September 16, 2007 10:22 PM | Permalink

*****************************************************************
 11 Xinhua: China willing to strengthen co-op on civilian nuclear energy

www.chinaview.cn 2007-09-17 11:15:31   Print

    VIENNA, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to strengthen
bilateral and multilateral cooperation on civilian nuclear energy
with other nations, a senior Chinese official attending a meeting on
nuclear energy here said on Sunday.

    The peaceful use of nuclear energy was important to the Chinese
government, Chen Deming, deputy head of the National Development and
Reform Commission of China, told the second ministerial conference
of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) here.

    Chen, head of the Chinese delegation, said China has fixed on
its policies on route and closed nuclear fuel cycle for the
development of nuclear electricity.

    He said that as long as nuclear security and non-proliferation
were assured, the peaceful use of the nuclear energy could be
extended around the world in a safe, economic and reliable way.

    With an open and constructive attitude, China is ready to
strengthen cooperation on global nuclear energy with other nations.

    On the sidelines of the conference, Chen Deming also met Samuel
Bodman, the minister of energy department of the United States, and
exchanged opinion on issues of mutual concern.

    The delegates from 16 states, including China, also signed a
document on the principles of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership
(GNEP) at the conference.

    The GNEP, which is sponsored by the United States, is aimed at
guaranteeing broad access to nuclear technologies and preventing
proliferation.

    The second ministerial conference of the GNEP was held at the
headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on
Sunday and was attended by 38 ministers and senior officials from
different countries as well as key intergovernmental organizations
such as the IAEA and Eurotom.

Editor: Sun Yunlong

*****************************************************************
 12 Philadelphia Inquirer: No need to go back to nuclear | 

Inquirer | 09/17/2007

Solar and wind power hold the keys to New Jersey's energy future.

Associated Press file photograph

A view of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station showing the
spent-fuel storage area (lower right), surrounded by a square
security area.


By Matt Elliott

Recently, Exelon Corp. funded the creation of a group with the
misleading name of Affordable, Clean, Reliable Energy (ACRE)
Coalition. The group is little more than a front for the nuclear
industry.

The timing of the group's launch is no accident. In the fall, Gov.
Corzine will unveil an energy master plan that will detail New
Jersey's energy future for the next 15 years. Exelon and PSE&G are
working to ensure that the governor writes nuclear into the plan
instead of taking the state toward a visionary new energy future.

A lot is on the line. Imagine for a moment that Corzine rejects the
utility lobby and uses his energy master plan to implement and build
upon New Jersey's recent renewable energy and global warming
legislation.

Imagine tens of thousands of homes and businesses saving money and
generating their own clean energy with solar panels on their
rooftops. Imagine turbines that harness the state's vast wind
potential and produce no waste or harmful emissions.

Imagine high-performance homes, businesses and appliances that make
use of new innovation, reduce consumption, and clear the air.

The governor could bring this vision to light and live up to his
promise to make New Jersey a leader in clean energy. Exelon and
PSE&G, however, hope he will uphold the status quo and continue to
power the state with dangerous, expensive and outdated energy
sources, such as nuclear.

The Oyster Creek and Salem nuclear power plants are scheduled to be
retired between 2009 and 2020.

These plants pose tremendous environmental, health and safety
concerns, and account for roughly 17 percent of New Jersey's
electric generating capacity. Yet Exelon and PSE&G are lobbying to
extend the plants' licenses and build a new nuclear power plant 48
miles south of Philadelphia in South Jersey.

Oyster Creek is the nation's oldest nuclear power plant, and stores
its radioactive waste right on site in Ocean County - one of the
fastest-growing counties in America. Evacuation in the event of an
accident would be difficult if not impossible. Salem also stores its
waste on site.

Oyster Creek and Salem both cause significant damage to New Jersey's
marine resources, with Salem alone killing three billion fish in the
Delaware River each year.

Given these and other problems, it's clear why Exelon needs to spend
money to mislead the public about a dangerous, outdated technology.
In reality, new nuclear plants take at least 10 years to build and
cost taxpayers, on average, $4 billion per plant.

Leading scientists, including NASA's James Hansen, have warned that
we have less than a decade to develop and execute a plan to curb our
global warming emissions. Nuclear can't be the solution: Despite
decades of government subsidies, it is still more expensive than
emerging wind technologies.

We can't allow Exelon, PSE&G, or nuclear front groups to continue to
distract us from solving this problem in the cleanest and most
visionary way possible.

Luckily, we have the technology at hand to power our state with
clean, renewable energy sources, and permanently retire the Oyster
Creek and Salem nuclear power plants by 2020.

In the spring, Environment New Jersey released a peer-reviewed
report that demonstrates that by crafting a visionary energy master
plan that favors efficiency, supports the development of solar and
wind technologies, and provides incentives for business to conserve
power during peak demand periods, we can account for over 8,200
megawatts of capacity and fill the gap that would be left by Oyster
Creek and Salem.

We can do so in a way that supports the state's economy and
innovation instead of supporting the nuclear industry.


Matt Elliott is Environment New Jersey's clean energy and global
warming advocate. Environment New Jersey is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
advocacy group.

*****************************************************************
 13 PBP: FPL seeks to add more nuke power at St. Lucie, Turkey Point

By KRISTI E. SWARTZ

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, September 17, 2007

Florida Power & Light Co. asked state utility regulators today if it
can add another 414 megawatts of power to its nuclear reactors at
St. Lucie and Turkey Point.

The move, which would upgrade each of the four reactors &mdash; two
at the St. Lucie plant on Hutchinson Island and two at Turkey Point
in southern Miami-Dade County &mdash; would be complete by 2012, the
company said. The project must be approved by state and federal
regulators, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.


"Additional nuclear generation will help us meet our customers
growing demand for electric power while ensuring that we preserve
and improve our environment," FPL President Armando Olivera said in
a statement this afternoon.

Steve Scroggs, FPL's senior director for nuclear project
development, told the Florida Public Service Commission last month
that the upgrades &mdash; known as "uprate" in utility terms &mdash;
is part of FPL's plan to get 30 percent of its fuel from nuclear
power by 2020.

A power uprate lets the utility get more electricity out of its
nuclear reactors, typically by using highly enriched uranium fuel
that eventually produces higher steam. To do this, utilities usually
have to switch out pipes, valves, electrical transformers and
generators to accommodate the increased steam and water that will
flow through the reactor, according to the NRC.

"Think of an engine and how it revs &mdash; this will allow it to
rev at a higher rate and put out more electricity at that higher
rate," said Mitch Singer, spokesman for the Washington, D.C.- based
industry group, the Nuclear Energy Institute.

Nuclear reactor upgrades have become common as utilities increase
their knowledge about using that power source more efficiently,
Singer said.

Miami-based FPL, which provides electricity to 4.4 million
residential and business customers, also wants to build two more
nuclear reactors at Turkey Point by 2018 and 2020 but has yet to
file the necessary documents to start that process.

The utility, owned by FPL Group Inc. (NYSE: FPL, $60.69) of Juno
Beach, currently gets about 20 percent of its power from nuclear
fuel, though Olivera has said he would like that amount to be
significantly higher.

FPL gets more than half of its electricity from natural gas and
recently was turned down from building a "clean" coal-fired plant in
Glades County, which was an attempt to diversify the utility's fuel
mix.

Besides trying to figure out where to get more electricity for the
future, FPL and the state's other utilities also must meet Gov.
Charlie Crist's requirement that 20 percent of their fuel come from
renewable sources. FPL has said it wants nuclear power to be
included in that mandate.

Copyright 2007 The Palm Beach Post. All rights reserved.
*****************************************************************
 14 Guardian Unlimited: $505 Million Deal for Chernobyl Shelter 

Monday September 17, 2007 7:01 PM

By MARIA DANILOVA

Associated Press Writer

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - Ukrainian officials signed a $505 million
contract with a French-led consortium Monday for construction of a
new shelter for the Chernobyl reactor, the site of the word's worst
nuclear accident.

The project, financed by an international fund managed by the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will be designed
and built by the French-led consortium Novarka, which includes the
companies Bouygues SA and Vinci SA.

The new shelter - an arch-shaped steel structure 345 feet tall and
490 feet long - will enclose the concrete sarcophagus erected
hastily after the 1986 accident. That structure has been crumbling
and leaking radiation for more than a decade.

``I am convinced that today, possibly for the first time, we can
frankly tell the national and international community that the
answer to the problem of sheltering the Chernobyl nuclear plant was
found today,'' President Viktor Yushchenko said at the signing
ceremony, according to the presidential Web site.

The plan is to eventually dismantle the sarcophagus and the exploded
reactor inside the new shelter. Chernobyl's reactor No. 4 exploded
on April 26, 1986, spewing radiation over a large swath of the
former Soviet Union and much of northern Europe. An area roughly
half the size of Italy was contaminated, forcing the resettlement of
hundreds of thousands of people.

Ukraine has repeatedly asked for money from the European Union and
other Western sources to fund a new shelter.

Anton Usov, a spokesman for the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development, said it will take about 1 years to design the shelter
and another four to build it.

The entire project of sheltering the reactor, which began in 1997
and also includes strengthening the existing sarcophagus, monitoring
radiation and training experts, is estimated at $1.39 billion, Usov
said.

Officials also signed a $200 million contract with New Jersey-based
Holtec International for decommissioning the power plant. The
project includes building a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel
from the plant's three other reactors, which kept operating until
the station was shut down in 2000.

That undertaking is also financed by international donors in a fund
managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

``The successful implementation of the project depends not only on
the progress of the construction work, but also on the continued
commitment of both the Ukrainian authorities and the international
community,'' European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
President Jean Lemierre said in a statement.

In the first two months after the disaster, 31 people died from
illnesses caused by radioactivity, but there is heated debate over
the subsequent toll.

A 2005 report from the U.N. health agency estimated that about 9,300
people will die from cancers caused by Chernobyl's radiation. Some
groups, such as Greenpeace, insist the toll could be 10 times higher.

Guardian Unlimited � Guardian News and Media Limited 2007
*****************************************************************
 15 BBC NEWS: Chernobyl to be covered in steel

Last Updated: Monday, 17 September 2007, 16:31 GMT 17:31 UK

The existing shelter was hastily constructed after the accident


The authorities in Ukraine have approved a giant steel cover for the
radioactive site of the world's worst nuclear disaster - Chernobyl.

Ukraine has hired a French firm to build the structure to replace
the crumbling concrete casing put over the reactor after the 1986
accident.

The casing project is expected to cost $1.4bn (�700m).

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko hailed the project:

"Today is probably the first time that we can openly look into the
eyes of the national and international community and say that a
solution to the problem that has long been called the Chernobyl
problem was formally found," he said.

Weather exposure

The French construction company Novarka will build a giant
arch-shaped structure out of steel, 190 metres (623 feet) wide and
200m long.

It will cover the existing containment structure which stands over
the reactor and radioactive fuel that caused the accident in 1986.

The reactor still contains 95% of its original nuclear material, and
exposure to weather and poor construction has left the existing
casing weak.

A separate deal has also been signed with the US firm Holtec to
build a storage facility within the exclusion zone for nuclear waste
which has been produced by Chernobyl.

The money for the schemes has come from international donors.

The fund is administered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development.

* BBC Copyright Notice
*****************************************************************
 16 Prague Daily Monitor: Temelin opponents want Melk to be binding - 

By ČTK / Published 17 September 2007

Vienna, Sept 16 (CTK) - The protests by Austrian opponents of the
nuclear power plant in Temelin, south Bohemia, outside various Czech
diplomatic missions in Austria Sunday were prompted by the
forthcoming second meeting of the Czech-Austrian parliamentary
commission, protesters told CTK Sunday.

The meeting will be held in Vienna on Monday and Tuesday.

Roland Egger, spokesman for the Atomstopp Upper Austrian
organisation, told CTK that the protest organisers mainly want the
Czechs to unconditionally recognise the binding character of the
Melk agreement under international law.

They also want the Czechs to promise they will remove all alleged
safety shortcomings in Temelin to which the Austrians point.

Temelin, situated some 60km away from the Austrian border, has been
criticised by some Austrian as well as Czech environmentalists and
some Austrian officials as dangerous.

Egger said the activists had been annoyed by the statement by Jan
Kasal, chairman of the Czech part of the commission, on August 30
for CTK that deputies would deal not only with disputes concerning
the technical state of Temelin.

Kasal said the commission would also discuss the legal status of the
Melk agreement which he considers to be a kind of a report on the
meeting rather than an interstate treaty.

The Czech and Austrian prime ministers reached agreement in Melk,
Austria, in 2000 in which the Czechs pledged to raise Temelin's
safety and to inform Austria about all breakdowns in the plant.

The activists criticise the Czech Republic for having given an
approval for Temelin's commercial operation last year without
allegedly having removed all shortcomings.

The protest actions today were calm and they did not attract the
local inhabitants' attention.

They were staged outside the Czech embassy in Vienna and outside the
honorary consulates in Innsbruck, Salzburg, Linz and Graz.

In Vienna, members of the Czech extremist National Party (NS) staged
a counter-demonstration. Six NS members unfolded their own poster in
support of Temelin.

They left when the police advised them that their action has not
been authorised.

Leos Vacek, an NS land council member, told CTK that NS members did
not arrive in Vienna to provoke clashes and conflicts.

"We, however, follow the protests of Temelin opponents and we will
react to them similarly in the future as well. We are opposed to
foreign interference in the internal affairs of the Czech Republic,
we want to defend the interests of the Czech Republic, and we will
demand peacefully, but resolutely that the power plant be
completed," Vacek said.


This story is from the Czech News Agency (CTK).
The Prague Daily Monitor and Monitor CE are not responsible for its
content.

Copyright 2007 by the Czech News Agency (CTK). All rights reserved.
*****************************************************************
 17 UPI: French nukes for Germany?

United Press International - International Security - Emerging

Published: Sept. 17, 2007 at 3:06 PM

BERLIN, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- France's President Nicholas Sarkozy has
offered Germany to join the French nuclear weapons program,
according to a media report.

At a bilateral meeting in Meseberg, Germany, last Monday, Sarkozy
suggested that Germany built more nuclear power plants to ensure a
carbon dioxide-low energy mix; he then said he had "another idea,"
German news magazine Der Spiegel writes in its latest issue, which
hit stands Monday.

Sarkozy, noting that the French nuclear weapons shield also
protected Germany, proposed that Berlin cooperate with France in its
nuclear weapons program.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter
Steinmeier were "speechless," Der Spiegel writes. Steinmeier then
politely refused, saying that Germany had no ambitions to acquire
nuclear weapons.

The article also notes a general unease in Berlin with Sarkozy's
unorthodox diplomatic initiatives and a gradual worsening of the
traditionally strong French-German relations.

"Sarkozy bewilders Berlin every week anew," the magazine writes.
"The plan to sit out the newcomer's initial rage has not come
together."


� Copyright United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
*****************************************************************
 18 Platts: NRC issues annual security inspection report

2007-09-14

Washington (Platts)--14Sep2007

NRC conducted 298 security inspections at power reactors in 2006, 
the agency said September 14. Twenty-one of these were 
force-on-force inspections, pitting plant security against mock 
adversary forces, NRC said in its annual report to congress on 
security inspections. These reviews resulted in 73 inspection 
findings, details of which are "considered sensitive and not 
released to the public," NRC said. Sixty-seven findings were of 
"very low security significance" and six were of "low to moderate 
security significance," NRC said. "Any potentially significant 
deficiencies in the protective strategy of a plant are promptly 
fixed or compensatory measures put in place," the agency said. 
The report is online 
(http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1885).


Copyright � 2007 - Platts, All Rights Reserved

 
*****************************************************************
 19 AU ABC: Cook Islanders seek damages for nuclear testing


A Cook Islands couple battling for compensation from British nuclear
testing in the Pacific is bringing their fight to New Zealand.

Last Updated 17/09/2007, 19:59:38

A Cook Islands couple battling for compensation from British nuclear
testing in the Pacific is bringing their fight to New Zealand.

Pacnews reports they have won backing for a legal case from a New
Zealand constitutional expert Bill Hodge, but he says there are
concerns their time is running out.

The couple, the Meyers, believe Tauariki Meyer's neurological
disease was caused by radioactive fallout from British nuclear
testing on Christmas and Malden Islands 50 years ago.

New Zealand sailors who were close to the nuclear explosion are
taking class action against Britain as many of them were not wearing
protective clothing despite only being 30 kilometres from the blast.



*****************************************************************
 20 Platts: Vermont Yankee repairs complete, to reach 100% Saturday - Entergy

2007-09-14

Washington (Platts)--14Sep2007


Repairs to a cooling tower at the 632-MW Vermont Yankee nuclear 
power plant have been completed and Entergy will begin increasing 
its power output late Friday, company spokesman Larry Smith said.

     The company expects the unit to return to 100% power 
sometime on Saturday, he said.

     Since the August 21 structural failure of one of 11 cells in 
the cooling tower, plant operators have had to continually adjust 
the power output of the plant, operating it at about 45% to 60% 
of capacity.

     Smith said the section of the tower that failed was caused 
by damaged timbers, which provide support for the structure. He 
said the problem is not safety-related, but that the company has 
been keeping the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission informed of its 
investigation and repairs.


Copyright � 2007 - Platts, All Rights Reserved

*****************************************************************
 21 NRC: NRC Proposes $3,250 Civil Penalty for Tampa, Fla. Company Over 
Apparent Violations Involving Nuclear Gauge Use, Security

News Release - Region I - 2007-047 - 

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 staff is proposing a $3,250 fine
for a Tampa, Fla.-based firm for two apparent violations of agency
requirements involving a portable nuclear gauge.  Such gauges
contain radioactive material and are used for measuring the moisture
density of soil at construction sites and other purposes.

On March 7, 2007, the NRC was notified that a portable nuclear gauge
owned by MC Squared, Inc., of Tampa had been stolen from a temporary
job site on a Seminole Indian Reservation in Clewiston, Fla.  At the
time, the gauge was stored in a trailer.  The theft is believed to
have occurred between March 2 and 7, 2007.

MC Squared informed the NRC on May 17, 2007 that the gauge had been
recovered.  A member of the public had found the device on a public
highway in Florida and kept it until it was retrieved by the company
on May 11, 2007.  The company determined there was no damage to
either the gauge or its container.

Florida is an &ldquo;Agreement State,&rdquo; which means the state
has responsibility for regulating nuclear materials within its
borders that would otherwise be regulated by the NRC.  However,
Federal Reservations located within Agreement States are under the
NRC&rsquo;s jurisdiction.

In response to the theft of the gauge, the NRC sent an inspector to
the Clewiston job site on March 15, 2007 to review the circumstances
surrounding the event.  The inspector determined that MC Squared,
which is licensed by the State of Florida, had been using the gauge
at two reservations in Florida since Jan. 1, 2006 without NRC
approval.  The inspector also learned that the gauge had not been
secured as required under NRC regulations at the time it was stolen.

The inspection has led to the NRC citing the company for two
apparent violations.  One of the violations stems from a failure by
MC Squared to notify the NRC prior to using a gauge at sites that
are within NRC jurisdiction.  The other violation involves a failure
to use at least two physical controls to secure the gauge from
unauthorized removal during periods when such a device is not under
the direct control and surveillance of company personnel.

In a letter to MC Squared regarding the enforcement action, NRC
Region I Administrator Samuel J. Collins wrote that the violations
are of concern to the agency because, among other things,
&ldquo;unintended radiation doses to members of the public could
occur if sources in the gauge are removed from their shielded
position&rdquo; and &ldquo;the NRC had no knowledge that radioactive
material that required an NRC license or approval under reciprocity
was being used at the two Indian Reservations, which are under
NRC&rsquo;s jurisdiction.&rdquo;                       

MC Squared declined the opportunity to take part in an NRC
Predecisional Enforcement Conference, which allows companies to
provide the agency with additional information prior to reaching a
decision on potential enforcement actions.  However, the company has
notified the NRC of actions it has taken to prevent a recurrence,
including obtaining a license for work to be performed in areas of
NRC jurisdiction, adding physical controls for gauges, instituting
random checks of such controls and providing additional training for
staff on storage and handling requirements for gauges.

The company is required to provide the NRC with a response to the
civil penalty within 30 days.  The agency will conduct additional
inspection to verify the firm&rsquo;s implementation of its
corrective actions.

NRC news releases are available through a free listserv 
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.

Friday, September 14, 2007
*****************************************************************
 22 FresnoBee.com: Local: Want a water study? Dig deep

Want a water study? Dig deep

For funds, that is. Cache below Fresno Co. foothills can be probed
with radar.

By Marc Benjamin / The Fresno Bee

09/17/07 04:09:29


How much water is there below Fresno County's Sierra foothills? How
much development can that water support?

Those questions have nagged Fresno County officials for years.

Now, scientists hope to find answers by creating a three-dimensional
computer map of the water trapped in rock fissures and underground
pools. All they need is money.

The project could cost $5 million and take as long as five years to
complete, because it will need to examine how water flows
underground and account for rainfall fluctuations, said John Suen of
California State University, Fresno's California Water Institute.

So far no money has been raised. Many people agree, however, the
study is crucial. When the complex computerized modeling is
complete, it should detail how much water is available to support
existing homes -- and if enough water remains for growth.

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors, Millerton Area Watershed
Coalition, the Sierra Foothill Conservancy and the Sierra and
Foothill Citizens Alliance all have endorsed the effort. The water
institute will work with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and
the University of California at Merced on the study.

"There is not a lot of water up there in those hills," said Fresno
County Supervisor Phil Larson, who is on a countywide water advisory
committee. "I think we will have better knowledge of what the water
supply really is when the study is done."

The project's findings will allow county officials to guide growth
to areas that have sustainable water supplies, said Auberry resident
Gary Temple, president of the Sierra and Foothill Citizens Alliance.

"This will allow us to map rock fractures, their direction, depths
and sizes, and accurately know the holding capacity in any given
area," he said. "If some areas have less storage capacity, it would
not be a smart place to add growth. ... This would provide good,
hard data to develop some prudent policies, and if it works here, it
could be used other places."

Water has been a concern in the county's foothill communities for
years.

A 2005 consultant's study for Fresno County concluded there was not
enough information available to know if existing and projected water
demands could be met with available foothill ground water.

Faced with development requests and no clear answers, Fresno County
supervisors required developers to conduct longer pumping tests to
confirm that enough water exists to serve new subdivisions.

A California Water Institute study completed last year provided some
assurance that foothill residents weren't draining irreplaceable
ground water. The study found the water being pumped from wells came
from recent rainfall, not ancient glacial runoff.

The new study would apply technology more commonly used by oil
companies searching for underground oil deposits. The same
technology was employed at the Yucca Mountain radioactive waste
storage project in Nevada. There, scientists from Lawrence Berkeley
were trying to determine whether aquifers could be harmed by nuclear
waste stored in underground vaults.

The technology never has been used to determine whether water is
available for development, Suen said.

"It will be a wonderful project using technology that has been
developed, tested and funded by the federal government," Suen said.
"It's a great chance to make use of this technology that you and I
have paid for with our tax dollars."

Since last year, scientists from Lawrence Berkeley have been in the
Auberry area three or four times to evaluate potential project sites
for the foothill water study, said Hu-Shu Wu, a Lawrence Berkeley
staff scientist involved in the effort. Most recently, they were in
the foothills this summer.

The project will require long-term monitoring of wells, laboratory
studies, computer modeling, computer logging and pumping tests, he
said.

"We hope we can do something to solve the local problem," Wu said.

A key tool in creating the map is ground-penetrating radar that will
probe underground fissures, determining how much water they can hold
and maybe even predicting how water travels through rock.

Armed with the radar and other data, scientists could then construct
a three-dimensional computer model. Further analysis would include
looking at how much water is used and how much is returned to the
ground, Wu said.

The biggest challenge, though, is money. Wu said he does not know
how the project will be financed.

"Everybody we talk to is really positive, but how we translate that
into concrete funding still needs some work," Wu said.

He said that he hopes Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory can scrape
together some funding to get the project started and prove its
value. He said both the state and federal governments may be
approached for money.

"We need to do some kind of work," Wu said. "We would like to start
something."

In addition, he said, the results of the study could help address
water supply issues in granite fractures all along the western slope
of the Sierra.

John Kirk, a hydrogeologist with Provost & Pritchard, a Fresno
engineering firm that studies fractured rock aquifers, agreed that
the study could have broader benefits.

"We face the same questions whether we're in Fresno County,
Sacramento County, Tulare County or Madera County," he said.

The reporter can be reached at mbenjamin@fresnobee.com or(559)
441-6166.

*****************************************************************
 23 RIA Novosti: Ukraine signs international deals to secure Chernobyl NPP

17:42 | 17/ 09/ 2007
 
KIEV, September 17 (RIA Novosti) - Kiev has signed contracts with
French and U.S. companies on building a giant protective shield and
a spent fuel storage facility in Chernobyl, the Ukrainian
presidential office announced Monday.

A contract to build the shelter over the damaged Chernobyl reactor,
which exploded in 1986 in the world's worst nuclear disaster, has
been signed with France's Novarka. A contract to build a "dry
storage" facility for spent nuclear fuel on the site of the plant
has been signed with U.S. company Holtec International.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said during the signing
ceremony: "Ukraine has completed the conservation of the facility
and has ensured for 15 years its safe existence and normal
conditions for the work of international and national specialists."

The plant's reactor No. 4 has been protected by a concrete
Soviet-designed "sarcophagus" since the disaster occurred 21 years
ago. The replacement of the crumbling structure, now long overdue,
has been repeatedly put off over funding difficulties.

On July 17 the Assembly of Chernobyl Shelter Fund Donors decided to
give its approval to the contract with Novarka to build the shelter,
at a preliminary cost of 490 million euros (about $680 million).

The decision came after numerous delays since the fund, which
comprises 28 countries including the G8 nations and is run by the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), pledged in
2005 to allocate only $200 million for a new vault to contain
radioactive material still inside reactor No. 4.

In August EBRD signed a contract with the Ukrainian Ministry for
Emergency Situations and the state company overseeing the plant,
granting Ukraine 330 million euros (about $460 mln) to secure the
exploded reactor.

The project is fraught with engineering difficulties, due to the
high radiation threat. A huge steel vault, which will be made away
from the reactor site and will then be slid into place on rails,
will seal the plant for 100 years, and further measures are expected
to reduce the radiation threat or remove radioactive material from
the plant.

According to estimates by international bodies, the Chernobyl
disaster directly killed 56 people, caused another 4,000 to die of
thyroid cancer, and exposed several million more to radiation.

Vast areas, above all in present-day Ukraine, Belarus and Russia,
were contaminated by the fallout of the explosion. An 18-mile zone,
from which about 135,000 people were evacuated after the disaster,
remains largely deserted to this day.

     RIA Novosti
*****************************************************************
 24 Platts: Tepco to restart mothballed gas-fired unit at Goi plant in H2 Dec

2007-09-14

Tokyo (Platts)--14Sep2007

Tokyo Electric Power Co plans to restart a mothballed 265 
megawatt No.4 gas-fired generation unit at its Goi thermal power 
plant in eastern Japan in the second half of December, in order 
to meet winter power demand, Tepco's president Tsunehisa 
Katsumata said Friday.

     The restart of the mothballed unit is part of Tepco's plan 
to make up for the shortfall in its nuclear power generation, 
Katsumata told reporters. Japan's winter power demand season 
typically runs from December through March.

     Japan's largest power utility was forced to review its 
thermal power generation plans after an earthquake on July 16 
shut the 8.21 GW Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in 
northwestern Japan.

     Tepco's nuclear power generation capacity has been more than 
halved from its normal 17.31 GW from 17 units across the country.

     Tepco's six mothballed oil and gas thermal power generation 
units have a combined capacity of 1.84 GW. Five of the six are at 
the Yokosuka and Goi thermal plants.

     The Yokosuka plant has four mothballed oil-fired thermal 
power generation units with a capacity of 350 MW each, while the 
Goi plant has the 265 MW gas-fired generation unit, which was 
last started up in December 2006.

     Tepco can also produce 175 MW of power from the mothballed 
350 MW oil-fired unit at the Kashima Kyodo thermal power plant, 
which is equally owned by Tepco and Sumitomo Metal Industries.

     It remained unclear which other mothballed units would be 
restarted and when.

For more news, request a free trial to Platts Power in Asia at 
http://www.platts.com/Request%20More%20Information/index.xml?story 
or subscribe now at 
http://www.platts.com/infostore/product_info.php?cPath=2_31&amp;products_id=54

Copyright � 2007 - Platts, All Rights Reserved
*****************************************************************
 25 Platts: Congress could "deny, delay or condition" US-India cooperation

2007-09-14

London (Platts)--14Sep2007

Congress could "deny, delay or condition" the US-India nuclear 
cooperation agreement if President George W. Bush's 
administration does not give lawmakers good answers to 
outstanding questions on the pact, Representative Edward Markey 
said September 13. 

As a precedent, the Massachusetts Democrat cited the US-China 
nuclear agreement, which Congress modified by adding 
nonproliferation conditions. Congress could use "similar 
mechanisms" for the India agreement, Markey said in remarks at a 
luncheon hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations in 
Washington. 

The China agreement was negotiated by Ronald Reagan's 
administration and reviewed by Congress in the mid-1980s, but, 
because of the congressional conditions, the pact was not fully 
implemented until years later. 

Markey also appealed to members of the 45-nation Nuclear 
Suppliers Group to press for stronger nonproliferation 
provisions. NSG export guidelines currently prohibit major 
nuclear trade with countries such as India that do not accept 
IAEA safeguards on all their nuclear facilities. The NSG is to 
meet to consider making an exception to those guidelines for 
India, before Congress votes on the bilateral agreement. Markey 
told the audience, which was largely made up of diplomats from 
NSG countries, that the NSG has an "enormous opportunity and 
responsibility" to ask questions about the deal and seek changes 
in it. 

For more news, request a free trial to Platts Nucleonics Week at 
http://www.platts.com/Request%20More%20Information/index.xml?story 
or subscribe now at 
http://www.platts.com/infostore/product_info.php?cPath=22_41&amp;products_id=67

Copyright � 2007 - Platts, All Rights Reserved
*****************************************************************
 26 Platts: Paris "will do everything" to keep Germany generating nuke power

2007-09-14

London (Platts)--14Sep2007

Paris "will do everything" to keep Germany generating nuclear 
power and Siemens as an Areva shareholder, a French financial 
analyst concluded in a study released September 13. 

Patrice Lambert de Diesbach, of CM-CIC Securities, argued that 
the French government needs Germany to keep operating nuclear 
power plants, and not phase them out, because France wants lower 
electricity prices on the main European deregulated market. He 
said Paris wants to preserve a place for Siemens in the "new" 
Areva, now being studied by a government-appointed committee, in 
order to support German nuclear power. 

Siemens and Alstom could co-exist within Areva if they concluded 
a "non-aggression pact" to share world markets for their 
competing products in rail transport and power engineering, he 
said. A partial privatization of Areva involving Alstom, Bouygues 
and Electricite de France would be favorable to the stock prices 
of all but Areva, whose stock price would likely lose value, he 
added. 

German nuclear utilities like E.On, RWE and EnBW would also gain 
value, Lambert predicted, since extension of reactor lifetimes 
would delay the need to dip into their large decommissioning 
funds. He changed his rating of Areva from "accumulate" to 
"keep," reflecting lower anticipated gains, but still predicted 
Areva's share price would rise from Eur 702.01 (US$974.69) 
(September 12 close) to Eur 796.10.

For more news, request a free trial to Platts Nucleonics Week at 
http://www.platts.com/Request%20More%20Information/index.xml?story 
or subscribe now at 
http://www.platts.com/infostore/product_info.php?cPath=22_41&amp;products_id=67

Copyright � 2007 - Platts, All Rights Reserved
*****************************************************************
 27 Reuters: Vietnam returns bomb-grade uranium to Russia 

Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:53am EDT

HANOI (Reuters) - Weapons-grade uranium was removed from Vietnam's
sole nuclear reactor at the weekend under anti-terrorism agreements
with the United States and Russia, a Vietnamese government agency
said.

The report seen on Monday said that the reactor in the southern
resort of Dalat would use less than 20 percent of low enriched
uranium (LEU) from about 36 percent of highly-enriched uranium (HEU)
in a conversion that prevents the uranium from being used to make a
nuclear bomb.

The Vietnam Agency for Radiation and Nuclear Safety & Control
described the change as a "successful tri-party cooperation between
Vietnam, Russia and the United States".

Hanoi and Washington signed a nuclear conversion agreement in March
"to protect materials that could be used for harmful purposes".

The same month, Vietnam's Atomic Energy Commission agreed with the
United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy
Agency, to send any highly-enriched uranium back to Russia, where it
was originally imported from.

The Vietnamese safety agency report said the 34 fuel rod bundles of
HEU returned to Russia would be replaced by 36 LEU fuel rod bundles
by the end of this year.

The conversion contract stemmed from last November's visit to
Vietnam by George W. Bush, the second by a U.S. President to Hanoi
since the former enemies established diplomatic relations in 1995.

The Dalat reactor was developed by the United States in 1963 and
later upgraded by the former Soviet Union. It has a capacity of 500
kw and is used for training and research purposes.

Vietnam, which signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in 1982,
plans to start building a nuclear power plant in 2015 to help drive
the energy-hungry economy.

� Reuters2007All rights reserved
*****************************************************************
 28 Reuters: U.S. to remove plutonium from 1,000 old atom bombs 

Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:18pm EDT

VIENNA (Reuters) - The United States will remove from military
stockpiles nine tonnes of plutonium, enough for more than 1,000 atom
bombs, to demonstrate its commitment to non-proliferation, the U.S.
energy secretary said on Monday.

The excess plutonium will be taken out of retired nuclear weapons in
coming decades and turned into mixed-oxide fuel burnable in
commercial nuclear reactors providing electricity, Samuel Bodman
said during a U.N. nuclear watchdog meeting.

"As the United States continues to reduce the size of its nuclear
weapons stockpile, we will be able to dispose of even more nuclear
material while increasing energy and national security," he told a
press briefing.

The step reflected an accord between the United States and Russia in
2000 under which each was to make 34 tonnes of excess plutonium
unusable for nuclear weapons, with the possibility of converting it
into a proliferation-proof civilian energy source.

Peace activists say Washington, Moscow and the other early nuclear
weapons powers -- Britain, France and China -- have fallen far short
of disarmament targets foreseen in a 1990s extension of the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Some 27,000 nuclear weapons remain in big-power arsenals.

On Sunday, 16 nations signed a U.S.-initiated pact to help meet
soaring world energy demand over the coming decades by developing
nuclear technology less prone to diversion into atomic bomb-making.


� Reuters2007All rights reserved
*****************************************************************
 29 UPI: U.S. says it will discard some plutonium

United Press International - NewsTrack - Science - 

Published: 17, 2007 at 2:24 PM

VIENNA, 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Energy announced it will
remove 9 metric tons of plutonium from further use as fissile
material in nuclear weapons.

The announcement was made Monday in Vienna by Energy Department
Secretary Samuel Bodman, speaking during the International Atomic
Energy Agency's annual general conference.

Bodeman said 9 metric tons of plutonium is enough material to make
more than 1,000 nuclear weapons.

"The United States is leading by example and furthering our
commitment to non-proliferation and the Nuclear Nonproliferation
Treaty by safely reducing the amount of weapons-usable nuclear
material in the world," said Bodman said. "As the United States
continues to reduce the size of its nuclear weapons stockpile, we
will be able to dispose of even more nuclear material while
increasing energy and national security."

He said the excess plutonium will be removed during the coming
decades from retired, dismantled nuclear weapons. It will be
eliminated by fabrication into mixed-oxide fuel that can be burned
in commercial nuclear reactors to produce electricity.

� Copyright United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
*****************************************************************
 30 UPI: Nuclear detection grants awarded

United Press International - International Security - Emerging

Published: Sept. 17, 2007 at 2:33 PM

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland
Security announced it has made more grant money available for
radiological and nuclear detection.

The DHS awarded $3.7 million in funds to Alabama, Florida,
Mississippi, North Carolina and the District of Columbia. The
Southeast transportation Corridor Pilot program is an effort to
deploy radiation detection systems at interstate weigh stations
throughout the Southeast Corridor.

�The Southeast Corridor carries some of the largest concentrations
of truck traffic throughout the United States,� said Vayl S. Oxford,
director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, in a statement.
�Through the deployment of new technology and integrated training,
we are able to enhance our overall capabilities in a collaborative
effort with our partners at the state and local level.�

The Southeast transportation Corridor Pilot program is an effort to
bring a regional concept of operations together to detect nuclear
and radiological materials on the nation�s interstate highways. The
program is being implemented by the DHS' department�s Domestic
Nuclear Detection Office. Department officials say the pilot

The $3.2 million initial phase cooperative agreements were awarded
in September 2006. The recently announced grants are the final phase
of the SETCP program.


� Copyright United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
*****************************************************************
 31 Guardian Unlimited: Report Faults Managers at Detection Site 

From the Associated Press

Monday September 17, 2007 11:01 PM

By ERICA WERNER Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - After $30 million in taxpayer spending, work on a
government project developing high-tech sensors to detect radiation
at ports or border crossings is mired in mismanagement with no clear
way forward, a federal audit said Monday.

The project, slated for completion last February, is being built at
the Energy Department's Nevada Test Site, a huge outdoor testing
facility in the Nevada desert. It is 68 percent done. No work has
been done on it since August 2006, after the money ran out.

The Homeland Security Department's original price tag for the
project was $33 million. As much as $10.5 million more is needed to
finish the job, said the audit by the Energy Department's inspector
general.

``Even if an effective fix is implemented, completion of the project
will have been significantly delayed and the cost will have
substantially exceeded original estimates,'' said the audit.

``More importantly, the delay may impact the nation's testing
capability to detect nuclear and radioactive materials in a variety
of circumstances,'' it said.

At issue is a project called the Radiological/Nuclear
Countermeasures Test and Evaluation Complex, which is supposed to
develop next-generation sensors to detect radioactive or nuclear
materials. The devices would one day be used for purposes such as
keeping weapons from entering the country at airports or seaports.

Under an interagency agreement, the Homeland Security Department is
handling the project with the Nevada Site Office of the Energy
Department's National Nuclear Security Administration.

Auditors found poor coordination between NNSA's Nevada Site Office
and Homeland Security. The agencies did not formally define their
respective responsibilities until May 2006, more than two years
after the original contractor, Bechtel Nevada, started work on the
project.

The degree of miscommunication was so great that Nevada Site Office
officials told auditors that Homeland Security was managing the
project - while Homeland Security officials claimed Nevada Site
Office personnel wouldn't let them talk to Bechtel.

The report also criticized oversight of Bechtel. The company didn't
stay on schedule, but the Nevada Site Office accepted Bechtel's
assurances despite signs of problems.

In July of last year Bechtel was replaced as the contractor by
National Security Technologies LLC, and since then project managers
have performed several reviews and identified weaknesses, the audit
said in its one note of praise.

In a written response, Michael C. Kane, the NNSA's associate
administrator for management and administration, said NNSA agreed
with the report and would work to improve matters.

A spokesman for the Homeland Security Department didn't immediately
return a call for comment, and Bechtel spokeswoman Brenda Thompson
said the company was reviewing the audit.

Guardian Unlimited � Guardian News and Media Limited 2007
*****************************************************************
 32 NewsBlaze: U.S. Removes Nine Metric Tons of Plutonium From Nuclear Weapons Stockpile

Declaration Reinforces U.S. Commitment to Nonproliferation

Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman today announced that the
Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration
(NNSA) will remove nine metric tons of plutonium from further use as
fissile material in U.S. nuclear weapons, signifying the Bush
Administration's ongoing commitment to nonproliferation. Nine metric
tons of plutonium is enough material to make over 1,000 nuclear
weapons. The Secretary made today's announcement while speaking
before the International Atomic Energy Agency's annual general
conference.

"The United States is leading by example and furthering our
commitment to nonproliferation and the Nuclear Nonproliferation
Treaty by safely reducing the amount of weapons-usable nuclear
material in the world," Secretary Bodman said. "As the United States
continues to reduce the size of its nuclear weapons stockpile, we
will be able to dispose of even more nuclear material while
increasing energy and national security."

The excess plutonium will be removed in the coming decades from
retired, dismantled nuclear weapons. It will be eliminated by
fabrication into mixed-oxide fuel that can be burned in commercial
nuclear reactors to produce electricity.

In 2004, President Bush directed that the size of the U.S. nuclear
weapons stockpile be reduced by almost half from its size in 2001
when he entered office. This direction is consistent with the
President's commitment to maintaining the lowest number of nuclear
weapons while providing for national security. By 2012, the U.S.
nuclear arsenal will be at its lowest level since the Eisenhower
administration in the 1950s.

Today's plutonium announcement follows Secretary Bodman's 2005
announcement to remove from further use as fissile material in U.S.
nuclear weapons up to 200 metric tons of highly enriched uranium
from retired nuclear warheads.

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a separately organized
agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for
enhancing national security through the military application of
nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security,
reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile
without nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons
of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective
nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological
emergencies in the United States and abroad. Visit www.nnsa.doe.gov
for more information.


Source: U.S. Department of Energy

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com

Copyright � 2007, NewsBlaze, Daily News
*****************************************************************
 33 AFP: US pledges to reduce plutonium weapons stockpiles - 

Mon Sep 17, 2:10 PM ET

VIENNA (AFP) - The United States is removing nine tonnes of
plutonium, enough to make over 1,000 nuclear weapons, from its
weapons stockpiles in a nonproliferation effort, US Energy Secretary
Samuel Bodman said Monday.

But the plutonium, which is currently a bomb component, will sit for
a while before being converted into nuclear reactor fuel, as it
"will be removed in the coming decades from retired, dismantled
weapons," a statement said.

In 2004, US President George W. Bush had "directed that the size of
the US nuclear weapons stockpile be reduced by almost half from its
size in 2001 when he entered office," according to the statement.

The retiring of the plutonium is part of that effort.

Bodman had already announced in 2005 that the United States was
removing from use as fissile material up to 200 tonnes of highly
enriched uranium from retired nuclear warheads, adding to 170 tonnes
declared surplus during the Clinton administration.

Russia has promised to eliminate 500 tonnes of highly enriched
uranium from its nuclear weapons stockpiles.

Highly enriched uranium and plutonium are the two main materials for
making the explosive core of atom bombs.

They can be converted into reactor fuel or disposed of as long-term
waste.

"The United States is leading by example and furthering our
commitment to nonproliferation and the Nuclear Nonproliferation
Treaty by safely reducing the amount of weapons-usable nuclear
material in the world," Bodman told a meeting of the UN watchdog
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"As the United States continues to reduce the size of its nuclear
weapons stockpile, we will be able to dispose of even more nuclear
material while increasing energy and national security," Bodman said.

Copyright � 2007 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved.
*****************************************************************
 34 IAEA: Statement to the Fifty-First Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference 2007

Statements of the Director General

17 September 2007 | Vienna, Austria

Statement to the Fifty-First Regular Session of the IAEA General
Conference 2007

by IAEA Director General Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei

� Abridged Version

Fifty years ago, the International Atomic Energy Agency was
entrusted with the mission of ensuring that nuclear energy would not
become a cause for the destruction of humanity, but rather an engine
for peace and prosperity. Security and development were brought
together as two aspects of the same ideal: "Atoms for Peace".

If one were to recall our history since that time, a number of
milestones would stand out. The rapid expansion of nuclear power in
the 1960s and 1970s. The landmark Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
of 1970 - and the development of the Agency�s comprehensive
verification regime. The evolution of the technical assistance
programme as a key vehicle for the transfer of nuclear science and
technology to developing countries. The development of international
nuclear safety and security regimes.

Throughout its history, the Agency has also faced a number of
challenges and painful experiences, necessitating change, adjustment
and innovation. The 1986 accident at Chernobyl. The discovery of
Iraq�s clandestine nuclear weapons programme in the early 1990s. Or
the nuclear security challenge revealed in the aftermath of 11
September 2001.

Today, I would like to discuss some recent developments and current
challenges. But in doing this, we should not lose sight of the goals
and ideals that have guided the Agency since its inception. They
remain as relevant and meaningful today as they were to the founders
of the IAEA.

Nuclear Power Technology

Changes in Nuclear Power
I have spoken in recent years of rising expectations for nuclear
power. But forecasting is always difficult. Lord Rutherford said in
1933, "The energy produced by breaking down the atom is a very poor
kind of thing. Anyone who expects a source of power from the
transformations of these atoms is talking moonshine." By 1954 the
mistake was overestimation, when the Chairman of the US Atomic
Energy Commission predicted that nuclear generated electricity would
become "too cheap to meter".

In my view, the role of the Agency is not so much to predict the
future as to do its utmost to plan and prepare for it. What seems
clear today is that there are three strong factors driving a renewed
global interest in nuclear power: the steady growth in energy
demand; the increasing concerns about energy security; and the
challenge of climate change.

There are currently 439 nuclear power reactors in operation in 30
countries. These reactors supply about 15.2% of the world�s
electricity. To date, the use of nuclear power has been concentrated
in industrialized countries. But in terms of new construction, the
pattern is different: 15 of the 30 reactors now being built are in
developing countries.

Most of the recent expansion has been centred in Asia. Countries
such as Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam have concrete plans or have
expressed their intent to introduce nuclear power - and plans for
expanding existing nuclear power programmes are being implemented in
China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Pakistan.

And of course, this renewed interest is not limited to Asia. Other
countries, such as Algeria, Belarus, Egypt, the Islamic Republic of
Iran, Jordan, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Nigeria, Turkey and Yemen
are among those considering or moving forward with the
infrastructure needed to introduce nuclear power programmes. And
many others, such as Argentina, Bulgaria, Finland, France, South
Africa, the Russian Federation and the United States of America, are
working to add new reactors to their existing programmes.

Support for Energy Studies and Nuclear Infrastructure
The Agency has seen a substantial increase in requests for
assistance with national energy studies. We are currently supporting
studies in 77 Member States - and 29 of these studies are exploring
nuclear energy as a potential option.

To assist Member States, the Secretariat this year published a
booklet entitled, "Considerations to launch a nuclear power
programme". We have also published a series of detailed technical
guidance documents: for example, on how to manage a country�s first
nuclear power plant project.

Innovation in Nuclear Power Technology
Technological and institutional innovation is a key factor in
ensuring the long term sustainability of nuclear power. By
institutional innovation, I refer to creative policy and
infrastructure approaches. In some cases, a shared regional approach
to nuclear power infrastructure, construction and operation may be
feasible. A good example is the ongoing cooperation among the Baltic
States on energy strategies, which now includes collaboration with
Poland on plans to construct a nuclear power plant to help meet
regional electricity demands.

On the technology innovation front, I should note that the Agency�s
International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles
(INPRO) has grown to 28 members. Phase 1 of INPRO, focused on
developing a methodology for evaluation of innovative nuclear
systems, has been completed. Key considerations for these innovative
designs are improvements to safety, security, proliferation
resistance and economics, as well as meeting the requirements of
potential nuclear power users. The methodology is currently being
used in assessment studies by Argentina, Armenia, Brazil, China,
France, India, Ukraine and the EC and in a joint study by Canada,
China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation
and Ukraine.

INPRO has now moved to Phase 2, which includes collaborative
projects on technological issues that need to be addressed for
improved economics, safety, proliferation-resistance and other
issues. Fourteen collaborative projects have been proposed, and
studies on selected topical areas will commence soon. INPRO is also
continuing to work closely with the Generation IV International
Forum - a cooperative international initiative working on innovative
reactor technologies.

Given the fundamental importance of energy for development, it is
important that we actively pursue the design and production of small
and intermediate sized reactors. Successful production of safe and
affordable reactors in this size range will be essential if nuclear
power is to be a feasible option for countries and regions with
small electrical grids.

Roughly a dozen innovative designs for small and intermediate sized
reactors are currently under development in various countries,
including some at stages that would suggest possible deployment in
the next decade.

In Russia, construction began in April on a 70 megawatt floating
nuclear plant using two water cooled reactors. Deployment is
scheduled for 2010. The 165 megawatt Pebble Bed Modular Reactor,
developed in South Africa with international participation, is
scheduled for demonstration at full size by 2012. A licensing
application is to be submitted next year.

Plant Life Extension
For some countries, greater focus has been given to power upgrades,
restarts of previously shutdown reactors, and licence extensions. In
the USA, nine more nuclear plants have had their 40-year licences
extended for an additional 20 years, bringing the total number of
licence renewals to 48. The French Nuclear Safety Authority has put
in place a safety review system under which 20 pressurized water
reactors would operate for an additional ten years. Finland, The
Netherlands and Russia have also moved forward with licence
extensions.

The Agency has been working with other international organizations
on plant life management for long term operation. Two coordinated
research projects (CRPs) are focused on detailed engineering
analysis of aspects of reactor vessel structural integrity over
longer term operation. Together with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency,
we also recently published a guidance document entitled, "Nuclear
Power Plant Life Management for Long Term Operation".

Uranium Exploration and Production
An area of increased recent activity involves uranium exploration,
mining and production. Interest among Member States has been driven
partly by uranium price increases and the projection of continued
growth in demand. The Agency has organized meetings on this topic in
Argentina, China, India and Kazakhstan, and the 2008-2009 biennium
will include an international symposium on uranium exploration,
mining and production and the longer term availability of uranium.

Assurance of Supply and Multinational Control of Fuel Cycle
Operations
The expected expansion in nuclear power will drive a commensurate
increase in demand for nuclear fuel cycle services and the need for
an assurance of supply mechanism. This could also increase the
potential proliferation risks created by the spread of sensitive
nuclear technology, particularly if more countries decide to create
independent uranium enrichment and plutonium separation facilities.
These trends point clearly to the urgent need for the development of
a new, multilateral framework for the nuclear fuel cycle, both the
front and the back end.

Over the past two years, a number of proposals and ideas have been
put forward. With respect to the front end, some parties have
proposed the creation of an actual or virtual reserve fuel bank of
last resort, under IAEA auspices, for the assurance of supply of
nuclear fuel. This bank would operate on the basis of apolitical and
non-discriminatory non-proliferation criteria. Others are proposing
to convert a national facility into an international enrichment
centre. Still others are proposing the construction of a new,
multinational enrichment facility under IAEA control. The
Secretariat has examined these proposals and their associated legal,
technical, financial and institutional aspects. In June, I made a
report to the Board on "options" for assurances of supply of nuclear
fuel, which I trust will be of help to you in considering this
important issue.

Controlling nuclear material is a complex process; yet if we fail to
act, it could be the Achilles� heel of the nuclear non-proliferation
regime. In my view, an incremental approach is the way to move
forward, beginning with the establishment of an equitable system for
assurance of supply. The next step would seek to bring any new
operations for uranium enrichment and plutonium separation under
multinational control. Over time, these multinational controls would
also be extended to facilities that already exist - to ensure that
all countries are treated equally in terms of their nuclear
capabilities.

Management of Spent Fuel and High Level Waste
The management of spent fuel and disposal of high level radioactive
waste remain a key challenge for the nuclear power industry. Experts
agree that the geological disposal of high level radioactive waste
is safe and technologically feasible. The most advanced projects on
deep geological disposal are in Finland and the USA, where disposal
sites have been chosen and pre-construction work is under way. But
waste disposal may remain a matter of public skepticism until the
first such facility is operational, which will still be more than a
decade. In the meantime, the trend has been to construct and use
above-ground interim storage facilities, and many countries are
exploring the feasibility of interim storage for 100 years or more.

The Agency�s Network of Centres of Excellence on Training and
Demonstration in Underground Research Facilities, supported by six
countries, will conduct training courses during 2007 on methods for
geological disposal of spent fuel and high level waste, and on the
use of computer modelling to assess the performance of such disposal
facilities.

The global volume of stored spent fuel continues to increase, and
expected storage periods continue to lengthen. A number of recent
Agency studies and guidance documents have been focused on the
technology for spent fuel storage and the long term behaviour of
spent fuel and storage components.

Disposal of Radioactive Sources
Some progress has been made in areas related to the disposal of
particular types of low and intermediate level waste. Many countries
have been interested in finding better methods for safely disposing
of spent high activity radioactive sources (or "SHARS"). Working
with the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa, the Agency has
developed and pilot tested the "SHARS Installation", a mobile hot
cell used to condition these sources for disposal. Conditioning
operations are planned in several African countries. Depending on
progress there, this initiative will be expanded to Latin America
and Asia.

The Agency is assessing the potential of borehole disposal of
disused sealed sources for countries that generate small volumes of
radioactive waste and have no other disposal options. In some
countries, these boreholes might be co-located with near surface
repositories for low level waste. With Agency support, this
technology is being assessed in Member States in different regions,
including Africa, Asia and Latin America. We are also preparing a
detailed technical manual on this subject.

Research Reactors
Worldwide, 245 research reactors are in operation. Recent reviews
have shown that many of these reactors are under-utilized. The
Agency has begun a programme to encourage cooperation among
operators to improve research reactor utilization and broaden the
scope of services they provide. This will be a principal focus in
November in Sydney, where we are organizing a conference on the
"safe management and effective utilization" of research reactors.

The Agency is continuing to assist Member States in converting
research reactors from the use of high enriched uranium (HEU) to low
enriched uranium (LEU) fuel and in shipping HEU fuel back to its
country of origin. We are also supporting efforts to resolve
remaining technical issues related to the conversion of some
research reactors to LEU.

Knowledge Management
The Agency promotes the management of nuclear knowledge in three
ways: by helping Member States with strategies to ensure the
preservation of knowledge essential to safe nuclear operation and
optimal performance; by putting systems in place to make existing
nuclear information - scientific studies, data, lessons learned,
etc. - available to those who need it; and by supporting efforts to
educate the nuclear workforce of the next generation.

In June, the Agency worked with other organizations, including the
OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the World Nuclear University, to
organize an international conference on knowledge management in
nuclear facilities, focused on topics such as preserving core
knowledge for safe operation, optimizing performance and training
the next generation of operators. A guidance document on nuclear
knowledge management was published last November, and three missions
on this topic were conducted this year, to share with nuclear
operators good practices in this field: two to Canadian nuclear
power plants, and one to the nuclear power plant in Lithuania.

Nuclear Applications

The Agency directs much of its scientific activity to peaceful
nuclear applications related to health, agriculture, industry, water
management and preservation of the environment. We work to build up
Member State scientific and technical capacities in a manner that
supports their national development priorities. We build
partnerships with other organizations to improve the effectiveness
and reach of nuclear technology. We conduct comparative assessments
to ensure that the nuclear applications being offered are cost
effective.

I will offer a few examples.

PACT
Since last September, the fundraising efforts of our Programme of
Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) have secured pledges, grants and
donations amounting to over $3 million. The US-based National
Foundation for Cancer Research has also recently established a PACT
Endowment Fund, to facilitate charitable contributions to PACT by
individuals and organizations in the USA. We have engaged the
services of a professional fundraising firm. And offers to
collaborate with PACT have been received from over 20 Member States,
with cancer treatment institutions making their hospitals and
educational centres available for PACT support.

Working with our international partners, we have continued to
implement PACT Model Demonstration Sites to develop
multidisciplinary cancer control capacity in Albania, Nicaragua, Sri
Lanka, the United Republic of Tanzania, Vietnam and Yemen. As these
projects mature, they will demonstrate the value of comprehensive
cancer control planning and the advantages of systematic,
cross-sector collaboration on cancer care and public health. They
will serve as platforms for larger scale regional fundraising. As
with many other PACT activities, IAEA collaboration with the World
Health Organization (WHO) has been steadily expanded through the
development of these sites.

The IAEA Nobel Fund was used to support special events this past
year on cancer control, in Argentina, Thailand and South Africa.
Each event included modules on comprehensive cancer control,
radiation oncology, research, education and training, and emerging
techniques in radiotherapy planning and delivery.

With these activities generating a broader awareness of cancer
needs, the Agency is seeing a sharp upturn in the number of Member
State requests for help with evaluating and addressing their cancer
control needs.

Nutrition and HIV/AIDS: Working with WHO
During the past year, the IAEA has further strengthened its
collaboration with WHO and other UN agencies on human nutrition. The
IAEA Nobel Fund events on nutrition - held in Guatemala, Uganda and
Bangladesh - were aimed at building capacity in the use of stable
isotope techniques for dietary interventions to improve and monitor
the health of infants and children. Fellowship awards were also
granted to young professionals, targeting in particular women from
developing countries.

A particular focus is the importance of dietary interventions for
people living with HIV/AIDS. A plan is under way with WHO for a
regional consultation in Southeast Asia to ensure that nutrition is
part of the essential package of care, treatment and support for
people living with HIV/AIDS in this region.

Water Resources
The lack of availability of sufficient freshwater constrains the
development efforts of many Member States. Environmental scientists
predict further impacts due to climate-induced changes in
precipitation and river flows. It is in this context that a large
and increasing number of Member States are turning to the Agency for
assistance in the management of their water resources by using
isotope techniques. In the past year, we have completed a number of
projects to help Member States to become more self-reliant in
isotope hydrology. For example, we have published an Atlas of
Isotope Hydrology for Africa that provides an overview of the nature
of aquifers and river hydrology in 26 countries.

Food and Agriculture
For more than 40 years, the Agency has benefited from an active
partnership with FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations, through the Joint Division established in 1967. With
more than 820 million hungry people in the world, efforts to enhance
food security and safety and increase crop productivity have never
been more relevant.

With thousands of new varieties of food crops released in dozens of
countries over the past half century, plant breeding has been one of
the real success stories of Atoms for Peace. A recent regional
project in Asia used plant breeding to develop more than 20 new food
crop varieties. For example, farmers in areas of Sri Lanka affected
by the December 2004 tsunami are now growing a high yielding,
salinity tolerant variety of mung bean, a nutritious type of green
bean.

The early, rapid and sensitive diagnosis of bird flu - avian
influenza - has received special attention in recent years because
of the potential for widespread devastation if an uncontrolled
outbreak were to occur. At the IAEA, this has resulted in a CRP on
the topic, along with training courses for relevant laboratories.
Nuclear related technologies have been shown to permit diagnosis of
the disease in one or two days, as compared to over a week with
conventional methods. These techniques also limit handling and
direct exposure to the live virus. In addition, methods involving
stable isotopes have been used to help Member States trace infected
migratory birds to their place of origin.

Pest Control
Slow but steady progress is being made under the IAEA supported
Southern Rift Valley Tsetse Eradication Project in Ethiopia, which
would use the sterile insect technique (SIT) in conjunction with
other pest control methods. Funds from Ethiopia as well as
extrabudgetary funding from China, Japan and the USA were used to
complete two modules of the tsetse rearing facility in Addis Ababa.
The facility was officially inaugurated this year and the first test
releases of sterile males have been carried out in the project area.
This represents a major milestone; however, this progress will need
to be sustained in the coming years in order to achieve the desired
results.

The Agency has also been working to determine the feasibility of
using SIT against mosquitoes as a tool for combating malaria.
Research efforts at the Agency�s Laboratories at Seibersdorf have
been building up a colony of mosquitoes and evaluating the effects
of radiation doses on the males at various stages of maturity.

Soil Conservation
IAEA projects using nuclear techniques have been successful in
testing and targeting soil conservation measures to improve farming
practices and save millions of tonnes of productive topsoil. For
example, IAEA training in the use of radionuclides was employed in
China in support of a World Bank project for controlling soil
erosion. Annual soil erosion from one area was reduced from over 8
million tonnes to about 1 million tonnes, saving productive topsoil
from farmlands that would otherwise have been lost for food
production and caused environmental degradation. At the same time
grain production in the area has been raised by more than 50%,
largely benefiting small scale farmers.

Marine Environment
The Agency has been seeing increased Member State interest in using
nuclear techniques to monitor and preserve the marine environment,
including aspects related to seafood safety. For example, IAEA
studies at our Marine Environment Laboratories in Monaco have
improved knowledge of how cadmium, a toxic metal, accumulates in
shellfish. Through collaboration with WHO and FAO this new knowledge
is supporting international harmonization of standards for
acceptable levels of cadmium in seafood, in order to enhance food
safety and facilitate international trade.

The Agency�s Laboratories at Seibersdorf
From humble beginnings in September 1961, when the IAEA began
leasing land from the Austrian Research Centre, the Agency�s
Laboratories at Seibersdorf have grown to become a mainstay of the
Agency�s scientific work. Roughly 170 staff members perform
functions ranging from the coordination of analytical networks to
the production of reference materials for science and trade, as well
as nuclear material analyses in support of Agency verification.
Around 100 fellows per year are trained in fields such as food and
agriculture, environmental science and nuclear instrumentation.

Nuclear Safety and Security

The safety and security of nuclear activities around the globe
remain key elements of the Agency�s mandate. With the renewed
interest in nuclear power generation, comparable attention and
commitment must be given to ensuring the nuclear safety and security
infrastructure that must go with it.

Safety Culture and the Nuclear Safety Regime
The primary responsibility for safety rests with the operator of a
nuclear facility or the user of a nuclear technique, as well as with
the national government overseeing that operation or use. Technology
can be transferred, but safety culture cannot; it must be learned
and embedded. For those countries embarking on nuclear power
programmes, it is essential that they become part of the global
nuclear safety regime and share responsibility for its
sustainability.

The strong, steady safety performance of recent years is reassuring.
But as I have said repeatedly, nuclear safety is not an issue that
can ever be regarded as "fixed". Nor can safety management be
"outsourced". Members States must realize clearly that an adherence
to safety principles - including transparency and open communication
- is in their best interest and vital to a successful nuclear
programme. Complacency, an overemphasis on cost savings, the impulse
to cover up problems, or even falsification are hazards against
which both operators and regulators must constantly guard. The
recurrence of events with these characteristics makes clear that the
promotion of a strong safety culture should always be viewed as a
"work in progress".

Status of International Safety Instruments
The safety conventions and codes of conduct provide a legal and
institutional framework for the global nuclear safety regime.

Under the Early Notification and Assistance Conventions, the IAEA�s
Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) serves as the global focal point
for international preparedness, communication and response to
nuclear and radiological incidents or emergencies. In March 2007,
the IEC was activated to basic response mode in reaction to a bomb
threat against the Forsmark nuclear power plant in Sweden,
facilitating information exchange during the event.

The Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) now has 60 Contracting
Parties, including all countries with operating nuclear power
plants. The CNS sets international benchmarks for all phases of
nuclear safety; the Parties subscribe to these benchmarks and report
on their performance. As requested at the Third Review Meeting in
2005, the Agency has prepared and made available to the Contracting
Parties a report summarizing significant nuclear safety issues,
developments and trends. This summary draws on Agency safety review
services performed during 2004, 2005 and 2006. The next CNS review
meeting will take place next April.

Membership in the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel
Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management has
increased from 41 to 45 Contracting Parties, which together cover
more than 95% of the world�s radioactive waste inventory. Given the
relevance of this convention to all countries with nuclear
activities, I would urge all of them to ratify this convention at an
early date.

Safety Standards
The quality and relevance of the IAEA safety standards reflects an
international consensus on what constitutes a high level of safety.
The standards are increasingly recognized, adopted and implemented
by Member States. Feedback from this broader application will be
incorporated into the evolutionary improvement of the standards. The
Commission on Safety Standards is continuing to work on the long
term vision for the body of safety standards.

Revision began early this year on the International Basic Safety
Standards for Protection against Ionizing Radiation and for the
Safety of Radiation Sources, known as the BSS. As cautioned by the
General Conference last year, the revision process is avoiding
changes to the BSS that are not clearly warranted and necessary. A
first draft of the revised BSS was reviewed by a technical meeting
in Vienna in July.

Safety Review Services
The Agency�s safety review services use the IAEA safety standards as
a reference point, and play an important part in evaluating their
effectiveness. Last year we began offering, for the first time, an
Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS), which combined previous
services ranging from nuclear safety and radiation safety to
emergency preparedness and nuclear security.

The Agency conducted the first full scope IRRS in France in November
2006, covering all regulated nuclear and radiation facilities,
activities and practices, including nuclear power plants, research
reactors, fuel cycle facilities, medical practices, industrial and
research activities, waste facilities, decommissioning, remediation
and transport. The French Nuclear Safety Authority requested that
the mission also cover public information practices. In March, the
French Government hosted a workshop, attended by representatives
from over 30 countries, so that regulators of other Member States
could learn more about the IRRS and experience gained during the
mission. The Agency also conducted IRRS missions to Australia and
Japan in June 2007. The Spanish Nuclear Safety Council has offered
to organize the next workshop, in late 2008 or early 2009, to
disseminate information on the results of IRRS missions conducted in
2007 and 2008.

With its modular approach, the IRRS is contributing towards a more
active exchange of knowledge among senior regulators and harmonized
regulatory approaches worldwide. Future missions are also scheduled
for Canada, Germany, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Spain, Ukraine and
the USA. I would request all countries to take advantage of this
service.

I should also mention that, following the recent earthquake that
affected the Kashiwazaki Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, the
Agency dispatched a team of international experts at the request of
the Japanese Government. The mission�s findings and the Japanese
analyses of the event include important lessons learned - both
positive and negative - that will be relevant to other nuclear
plants worldwide.

Regional Safety Networks
Regional safety networks can assist in sharing knowledge and
experience in nuclear and radiation safety. The Asian Nuclear Safety
Network has continued to expand its range of activities and
geographical coverage. The Ibero-American Radiation Safety Network
held its 2007 Plenary Meeting in Mexico in July, with the
participation of Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, Spain and Uruguay.
Our long term vision is to connect existing and new networks in a
sustainable global nuclear safety network.

International Nuclear Safety Group
The International Nuclear Safety Group continues to provide
authoritative advice and guidance on current and emerging issues in
nuclear safety. In his recent letter to me, the INSAG Chairman, Dr.
Richard Meserve, gave particular emphasis to safety considerations
relevant to the expectations of growth in nuclear power. These
include: ensuring the existence of a strong infrastructure in
countries entering the nuclear power arena; strengthening
international mechanisms for feedback of operational experience; and
the need for more effort to build up a cadre of skilled nuclear
professionals to meet workforce requirements. He also highlighted
the benefit of moving forward with a multinational design evaluation
programme, to harmonize international safety approaches and
regulatory requirements. As the supply of nuclear components,
designs and expertise becomes increasingly globalized, this
harmonization is essential to ensuring continuing high standards of
safety in construction and operation.

Radiological Protection of Patients
Fifteen additional Member States have begun participating in
projects on the radiological protection of patients for the
2007-2008 cycle. In many Member States, surveys of patient radiation
doses have begun, to compare doses with established international
standards. Some Member States have reported considerable dose
reductions without affecting diagnostic and treatment quality. The
Agency�s web site for radiological protection of patients, which is
updated monthly, is receiving consistent attention and use by health
professionals and the public.

The programme for training interventional cardiologists in radiation
protection has gained new momentum with the establishment of an
Asian network of cardiologists. The network has begun arranging
training activities in national and regional cardiology conferences.

Safety of Transport of Radioactive Material
As recommended by the General Conference, the Secretariat initiated
a dialogue with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
with a view to harmonizing the Transport Regulations with the UN�s
Model Regulations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. We also
continue to consult closely with the International Maritime
Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization to
ensure a harmonized approach. Based on the results of this latest
dialogue, the Commission on Safety Standards has approved a roadmap
for publishing a new edition of the Transport Regulations in 2009.

In recent years, the safety record for the transport of radioactive
material has been strong. However, denials of shipments of
radioactive material continue to occur. The International Steering
Committee constituted to help address this issue held its first
meeting last November. A regional workshop was also held in
Montevideo, Uruguay, in July, and others are being planned for the
Africa and Asia-Pacific regions. These workshops are aimed at
sensitizing persons involved in transport operations - from both
industry and regulatory bodies - about the need to resolve local
problems such as overlapping regulations, perception issues and
training needs, and to facilitate the interaction among
organizations. In addition, we have established new communication
channels to ensure the involvement of the IMO and ICAO in solving
particular cases.

Nuclear Liability Regime
The work of the International Expert Group on Nuclear Liability
(INLEX) continued during 2007. At its meeting in June, the Group
identified further specific actions to address possible gaps in the
scope and coverage of relevant liability instruments.

I should emphasize that the nuclear liability regime is far from
universal. Out of 439 nuclear power plants, 229 are not covered by
any nuclear liability instrument - and some of the countries in
which nuclear power is projected to expand the most are the same
countries that remain outside the liability regime. I would urge all
Member States to work together to address this issue.

Decommissioning
The number of nuclear power plants and fuel cycle facilities
reaching the end of their lifetimes is continuously increasing - as
well as the number of research reactors, medical, industrial and
other small nuclear facilities to be decommissioned. As such,
decommissioning is evolving from a small scale activity to a large
scale industry. Last December, a conference was held in Athens to
provide a forum to exchange knowledge and good practices on all
aspects of decommissioning. The forum highlighted the importance of
sharing the experience of ongoing decommissioning work, including to
countries with small programmes.

To support this effort the Agency is launching an International
Decommissioning Network to improve the flow of information from
recognized "centres of excellence" in decommissioning to those who
can benefit from its application. This Network will increase the
opportunities for hands-on experience in demonstration projects.

A coherent set of decommissioning safety standards has also been
developed. Experience in the application of these standards will be
shared with new programmes, and review services will be made
available to Member States on their decommissioning strategies.

In February 2006, the Agency began a project to assist the
Government of Iraq in the evaluation and decommissioning of the
former facilities that used radioactive materials. With the
assistance of Germany, Italy, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the
USA, the project has moved forward with drafting a nuclear law and
regulations, assembling available radiological data, and preparing
for further work that will be necessary to develop a decommissioning
plan.

Emergency Response
In 2006, the third edition of the IAEA Response Assistance Network
(RANET) was published, reflecting a new and broader operational
concept for the network. RANET supports the provision of
international assistance in the case of a radiological event, and
the harmonization of assistance from Member States. To support an
effective international response, Member States are encouraged to
register under RANET.

In 2006, the Agency published the Manual for First Responders to a
Radiological Emergency under its Emergency Preparedness and Response
Series. A unified system for incident and emergency communication
was also developed, and was endorsed by the competent authorities in
July of this year.

Nuclear Security and the Prevention of Nuclear Terrorism
The international community has taken on board a variety of
international instruments relevant to nuclear security. The rapid
entry into force of the International Convention on the Suppression
of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism is a welcome step forward. However,
progress on ratifying the Amendment to the Convention on the
Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, remains slow. Out of 128
States Parties, only 11 so far have accepted the amendment. I would
urge all States Parties to do so.

The Agency�s nuclear security programme has maintained its rapid
pace of programme delivery. Implementation activities in 2006
increased considerably over the previous year and the indications
are that implementation will again be high in 2007.

The Agency is foreseen as playing an important role in the
implementation of these instruments. To that end, we have started an
effort to provide nuclear security guidance that would facilitate
implementation. This and other programme changes entail
transitioning from a situation in which strengthening nuclear
security has been addressed as an ad hoc reaction to the prevailing
threat of nuclear terrorism to a situation in which nuclear security
will be addressed in a normative, sustainable manner.

Over the past 12 months, we have continued to expand participation
in the Illicit Trafficking Database programme. We can now count 95
States as voluntary participants in the programme. We have enhanced
our information bank on illicit nuclear trafficking and we are
increasingly using the results of analysis of this information as
feedback to better target assistance to States to improve their
nuclear security. We continue to register a high number of
trafficking cases - 171 new confirmed cases during the previous
year, almost 30% having a criminal context. We have enhanced our
cooperation with Interpol, both on information and on use of
detection equipment, and to cooperate with other international
organizations such as the World Customs Organization and the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. I would urge
all Member States to participate in the Illicit Trafficking Database
programme.

The Agency assisted in improving physical protection at facilities
in nine States over the past year, helping to fix weaknesses in
security systems at those facilities. We have also begun a project
to help improve the security of research reactors that were supplied
through IAEA assistance, and we have started to address the security
of transports of radioactive materials. Abandoned and disused
radioactive sources have been brought to secure storage, and
protection has been strengthened at storage locations.

We have been able to assist 29 countries to improve their border
detection capability with handheld and fixed radiation detection
instruments. At the same time we have trained all related staff in
how to detect smuggling and how to use the instruments.

Major public events present a vulnerability from a nuclear security
viewpoint. The Agency has provided expert support to organize the
security of major public events, including preparations this past
July in Brazil for the Pan American Games, and ongoing preparations
for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Training is an important part
of this support.

In fact, education and training is becoming an increasingly
important part of the programme. During the past year, training has
been given to roughly 1650 individuals from 90 countries. We are
streamlining this effort and taking steps to facilitate delivery of
regional training, in part by establishing Nuclear Security Support
Centres.

Planning, coordination and cooperation for an individual country
merge in the development of Integrated Nuclear Security Support
Plans. These plans, which have been completed for 38 countries,
serve as a major tool for effective coordination with other support
programmes.

The Agency�s nuclear security work has clearly improved overall
nuclear security. But much remains to be done in shaping the nuclear
security framework, in building up-to-date security systems and in
dealing with the legacy of past lax security. This is not a problem
that can be solved overnight; it takes time and resources to achieve
a sustainable, internationally acceptable level of nuclear security.

To enhance programme effectiveness and ensure the efficient use of
resources, the Secretariat is devoting increasing effort to the
coordination of our activities with those of other organizations. We
have developed a methodology to prioritize further nuclear security
activities and to improve programme management. And we have embarked
on a more systematic approach to programme evaluation, the results
of which will ensure in particular that the nuclear security
training programme is tailored to the needs of recipients.

Nuclear Verification

The nuclear non-proliferation and arms control regime continues to
face a broad set of challenges. Recent years have underscored the
importance of the Agency�s role in preventing the proliferation of
nuclear weapons. Effective verification must be supported by four
essential elements: adequate legal authority; state-of-the-art
technology; access to all relevant information; and sufficient human
and financial resources.

Status of Safeguards Agreements and Additional Protocols
The number of States with safeguards agreements and additional
protocols continues to increase. Since last year�s General
Conference, additional protocols have entered into force for
Kazakhstan, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria and The former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia.

It is now more than ten years since the Model Additional Protocol
was approved by the Board of Governors. Just over half of the 162
States with safeguards agreements now have additional protocols in
force. This includes more than two thirds of the countries with
nuclear material under safeguards. But I would not call this
satisfactory progress. More than 100 States have yet to conclude
additional protocols, and 31 States party to the NPT have not even
brought into force their required comprehensive safeguards
agreements with the Agency.

I repeat that without safeguards agreements, the Agency cannot
provide any assurance about a State�s nuclear activities, and
without the additional protocol, the Agency cannot provide credible
assurance regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear material or
activity. I would therefore urge all States who have not done so to
bring into force a comprehensive safeguards agreement and an
additional protocol.

Since the last General Conference, five more States have amended
their small quantities protocols (SQPs) to reflect the revised
standardized text, and another country has rescinded its SQP. This
means that out of the 90 States to which the IAEA has proposed the
amendment to their SQPs, a total of only 11 have agreed to the
amendments. I would hope that the remaining SQP States would do so
as soon as possible.

The Safeguards Implementation Report and Safeguards Statement for
2006
In 2006, the Agency implemented safeguards agreements in 162 States,
75 of which also had additional protocols in force or otherwise
applied. For 32 of these 75 States, the Agency was able to conclude
that all nuclear material remained in peaceful activitie.

The Agency is working towards drawing the same conclusion with
respect to all other States with comprehensive safeguards agreements
and additional protocols in force. At this stage, however, for those
States as well as for States without additional protocols in force,
the Secretariat could only conclude that declared nuclear material
remained in peaceful activities.

Implementation of Safeguards
The Secretariat has continued to make it a priority to implement
integrated safeguards - which involves integrating traditional
nuclear material verification activities with new strengthening
measures, particularly those of the additional protocol. As of July
2007, integrated safeguards were being implemented in 17 States.

We are continuing to implement integrated safeguards in Japan, the
country with the largest nuclear programme under safeguards. For
Canada - the country in which the Agency�s verification effort is
the second largest - integrated safeguards have been implemented for
spent fuel transfers at multi-unit nuclear power stations, bringing
substantial savings in inspection effort. Emphasis is now being
place on the other stages of the fuel cycle.

Verification Activities in Iraq
On 29 June, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution
1762, which inter alia, terminated the mandates of UNMOVIC and the
IAEA in Iraq under relevant resolutions. Safeguards in Iraq will
therefore continue to be implemented in Iraq under its NPT
obligations. As the security situation permits, the Agency will work
with Iraq to provide assurance that all nuclear material has been
accounted for and that all nuclear activity is for peaceful purposes.

Application of Safeguards in the Democratic People�s Republic of
Korea
At the March Board meeting, I reported that I had received an
invitation from the Democratic People�s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to
visit the DPRK to "develop the relations between the DPRK and the
Agency, as well as to discuss problems of mutual concerns". I also
reported at the time that China, in its capacity as Chairman of the
Six-Party Talks, had notified the Secretariat of the "initial
actions for the implementation of the joint statement" adopted in
Beijing on 13 February. These actions provided for, inter alia, the
DPRK shutting down and sealing, for the purposes of eventual
abandonment, its Yongbyon nuclear facility, including the
reprocessing facility - as well as the return of IAEA personnel to
conduct the necessary monitoring and verification as agreed by the
IAEA and the DPRK.

At the invitation of the DPRK, an Agency team visited in June to
work out agreed modalities for verification and monitoring by the
IAEA of the shutdown and sealing of the Yongbyon nuclear facility.
These modalities were implemented in subsequent visits. As of 17
July, we have been able to verify the DPRK�s shutdown of the
Yongbyon nuclear facility, including the nuclear fuel fabrication
plant, the radiochemical laboratory, the 5 megawatt experimental
nuclear power plant, and the 50 megawatt nuclear power plant - as
well as the 200 megawatt nuclear power plant in Taechon.

I welcome the return of the DPRK to the verification process. I also
welcome the active cooperation the IAEA team has received from the
DPRK. The Agency looks forward to continuing to work with the DPRK
as the verification process evolves.

Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic
Republic of Iran
Regarding the implementation of Agency safeguards in the Islamic
Republic of Iran, I would make four brief points.

First, the Agency has been able to verify the non-diversion of
declared nuclear material in Iran. Iran has continued to provide the
access and reporting needed to enable Agency verification in this
regard.

Second, Iran has provided the Agency with additional information and
access needed to resolve a number of long outstanding issues, such
as the scope and nature of past plutonium experiments.

Third, contrary to the decisions of the Security Council, calling on
Iran to take certain confidence building measures, Iran has not
suspended its enrichment related activities, and is continuing with
its construction of the heavy water reactor at Arak. This is
regrettable.

Fourth, while the Agency so far has been unable to verify certain
important aspects relevant to the scope and nature of Iran�s nuclear
programme, Iran and the Secretariat agreed last month on a work plan
for resolving all outstanding verification issues. These
verification issues are at the core of the lack of confidence about
the nature of Iran�s programme, and are what prompted actions by the
Security Council. Iran�s agreement on such a work plan, with a
defined timeline, is therefore an important step in the right
direction. Naturally, Iran�s active cooperation and transparency is
the key to full and timely implementation of the work plan. If the
Agency were able to provide credible assurance about the peaceful
nature of Iran�s past and current nuclear programme, this would go a
long way towards building confidence about Iran�s nuclear programme,
and could create the conditions for a comprehensive and durable
solution.

Application of Agency Safeguards in the Middle East
Pursuant to the mandate given to me by the General Conference, I
have continued my consultations with the States of the Middle East
region on the application of full scope safeguards to all nuclear
activities in the Middle East, and on the development of model
agreements as a necessary step towards the establishment of a Middle
East Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. The absence of such a zone reflects a
major gap in the nuclear non-proliferation regime. However, I regret
to say that, as in the past, I have no progress to report on either
front.

The General Conference has also asked me to organize a forum on the
relevance of the experience of other regions with existing
nuclear-weapon-free zones - including confidence building and
verification measures - for establishing such a zone in the region
of the Middle East. Consultations with concerned States of the
region did not produce an agreement on the agenda for such a forum,
a forum that in my view would be a positive step forward towards the
initiation of dialogue among the concerned parties on this major
issue. I naturally remain ready to convene this forum, if and when
the concerned States are able to reach agreement on how to move
forward, and I will continue to encourage them to do so.

Member State Support Programmes
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Member State Support
Programmes to the Department of Safeguards. I am pleased to report
that China is the newest country to have established such a
programme, raising the total number of support programmes to 21.

Safeguards Technology Needs
For the Agency to be prepared to address ongoing verification
challenges and continuous evolution in technology, we must be able
to make use of advanced information sources, improved analytical
tools and processes, and staff with specialized analysis skills. The
IAEA Safeguards Information System (ISIS) re-engineering project,
which began in July 2005, is aimed at producing by 2009 a fully
integrated safeguards information system, which will significantly
upgrade our current capabilities. Bringing this ambitious project to
completion will require continued Member State support.

In addition, we must have the safeguards analytical equipment in our
laboratories necessary for independent analysis, and we must have
ongoing support from Member States in order to "stay ahead of the
technology game". This means supporting continual R&D on equipment
and techniques that will enable us both to improve our analysis of
declared nuclear material and to better detect undeclared nuclear
material and activities.

Technical Cooperation Programme

Fifty years ago, the Agency�s technical cooperation programme - or
the technical assistance programme, as it was then known - looked
very different. The scale of the programme was small, and projects
generally had a duration of less than a year. Member States lacked
basic nuclear capacities, and the programme focused on building up
nuclear expertise and helping give birth to the institutions and
facilities that would support the safe introduction of nuclear
technology. Most project activities centred on the provision of
expert advisory services and specialized equipment.

Today the picture has changed, due to the evolution of skills,
infrastructure and needs in the Member States themselves. Member
State priorities are now focused on the use of nuclear techniques
for sustainable social and economic development, including
addressing the lack of medical care for the poor, food scarcity and
malnutrition, access to energy, water and other resources, and
environmental degradation.

Several Member States are leaving behind their developing country
status. The development of nuclear capacities and infrastructure in
some regions has paved the way for South-South cooperation,
stimulating an increase in regional self-sufficiency and an
expansion in collective, specialized expertise. Opportunities for
cooperative ventures - such as shared multinational management of
common underground water aquifers, transborder programmes for the
elimination of disease vectors such as insect pests, and jointly
owned and managed nuclear power plants - are coming to the drawing
board, adding new significance to technical cooperation. These are
positive trends.

Better Planning, Better Delivery
The development and management of TC activities are supported by the
web-based Programme Cycle Management Framework, or PCMF. At the
national level, Country Programme Frameworks (CPFs) are the roadmaps
for achievement: they set out national priority areas, agreed upon
between the Agency and Member States, and have become a primary
planning mechanism for ensuring sustained impact. Given their
benefits, CPFs should be viewed as a standard feature of national TC
programmes. Currently, 82 Member States have signed CPFs, while
another 20 are at the draft stage.

The role of National Liaison Officers (NLOs) has been receiving
greater emphasis. When most effective, an NLO acts as a
communications hub for Agency activities in a country, networking
with the development community, leading IAEA-associated strategic
planning and facilitating solutions to programme and project
challenges. We are currently working with Member States to develop
more precise descriptions of NLO roles and responsibilities.

TC Financial Issues
TC programme resources and delivery both showed robust growth in
2006. Contributions to the Technical Cooperation Fund (TCF) reached
a record level. The rate of attainment reached its highest level
ever, exceeding 93% by the end of the year. This demonstrates
increased commitment by a growing number of Member States to pay
their full share of the TCF target. I would urge all Member States
to continue to pay their target share in full and on time.

The Secretariat is continuing to monitor the payment of National
Participation Costs (NPCs). A number of projects were slowed in
their initial implementation due to the non-payment of NPCs. So far
this year, seven countries have not yet paid the minimum NPCs
required to allow the initiation of important new projects. I would
urge those countries to pay these small amounts, to enable the
Agency to provide them with the full benefits of their national TC
programmes.

Management of the Agency

Budgetary Matters
After prolonged discussions, the Board of Governors recommended in
July a budget for 2008-2009. The Secretariat�s initial budgetary
proposals had included a category of "essential investments" - large
one-off infrastructure projects and expensive equipment, including
for its laboratories - which had been deferred for years as a result
of budgetary constraints. The budget now recommended to this
Conference is significantly less than the Secretariat�s original
proposal.

This process has once again highlighted the urgent need for adequate
resources to ensure effective delivery of the Agency�s programme as
mandated by the Statute and as requested by its Member States. The
Agency remains under-funded in many critical areas, a situation
which, if it remains unaddressed, will lead to a steady erosion of
our ability to perform key functions.

Our laboratory systems are ageing, including key support systems and
equipment used to support safeguards functions. We are currently
working to reestablish our particle analysis capability, keeping in
mind that having the in-house capability for independent analysis in
this area is crucial to our credibility in verification.

There are many other such areas. The adequacy and reliability of
resources for the nuclear security programme remains a concern, with
over 90% of its funding still provided through extrabudgetary
contributions - in many cases with restrictions attached - and
adequate funding for the 2006-2009 Nuclear Security Plan not yet
assured. Nuclear safety currently operates with roughly 40% of its
staff provided through cost-free experts, making it heavily
dependent on the support, expertise and perspectives of a few
States. We still do not have sufficient funds to complete the ISIS
re-engineering project so essential to safeguards information
analysis. An evaluation of the long term sustainability of the
Incident and Emergency Centre has made clear that additional staff
and additional extrabudgetary funding will be required. Experiences
such as the re-introduction of verification activity in the DPRK or
the safety assistance mission following the recent earthquake in
Japan make clear that we should have funds set aside for emergency
and unforeseen situations. And the introduction of an Agency-wide
Information System for Programme Support, an investment that is
essential if we are to meet International Public Sector Accounting
Standards and if we are to realize further significant efficiency
gains, has been dropped entirely from the budget. On this last
point, the Agency must replace obsolete stand-alone systems and
implement modern integrated business processes if it is to be able
to find further savings, adapt quickly to new demands, and harmonize
its management reform efforts with the rest of the UN system. Nearly
all leading private sector companies as well as two-thirds of our
sister UN organizations have already done so, and without funding
for this effort, the Agency risks falling "behind the curve".

This is not a sustainable approach to meeting the Agency�s financial
needs.

To remedy this untenable situation, I have tasked the Secretariat
with conducting a detailed review of the nature and scope of our
programme in the next decade - in light of our statutory
obligations, decisions of the Policy-making Organs and foreseen high
priority activities - and what resources would be needed to fund
these activities. We have given a name to this study - "20/20" -
reflecting our effort to look ahead to the year 2020 with the
clearest possible vision. I intend to set up a high level panel of
experts to review the report, including providing guidance on
appropriate funding levels and mechanisms. The report and the
recommendations of the panel of experts will be presented to the
Board of Governors for its consideration.

I believe that this study, and the panel�s work, will help to
clarify expectations about the Agency�s mission in the coming years
and how these expectations can be matched by the necessary financial
and human resources in a predictable and assured manner. The
Agency�s critical missions in the fields of development, safety and
security, and verification deserve no less.

Human Resource Issues
Over the past two years, we have given special attention to
applicants from developing, unrepresented and under-represented
Member States. We have expanded our outreach efforts by providing
regular forecasts of upcoming vacancies, conducting recruitment
missions and establishing recruitment booths at major Agency and
other meetings.

The second issue concerns the representation of women in the
Professional and higher categories of the staff. The difficulty we
face at the Agency in recruiting suitably qualified women in
scientific and engineering fields reflects the low percentage of
women in such fields in many Member States. We have developed a
comprehensive gender policy, expanded the internal system of Focal
Points for Gender Concerns and put in place policies related to
work-life balance. We have also asked each Member State to
designate, within its mission or relevant ministry, a Point of
Contact to actively support the Agency�s efforts to recruit women.

This work has yielded results. In four years, we have been able to
increase the representation of women in the Professional and higher
categories from about 18% to 22.5%. But we are still far from where
we would like to be. I encourage all Member States that have not yet
done so to join this effort.

New Framework for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

As I stated last year: fifty years after the Atoms for Peace
initiative, the time has come to think of a new framework for the
use of nuclear energy - a framework that accounts both for the
lessons we have learned and the current reality. This new framework
should in my view include swift and concrete action to achieve:

1. robust technological development and innovation in nuclear
   power and nuclear applications;


2. a new multinational framework for the fuel cycle, both the
   front and the back end, to assure supply and curb proliferation
   risk;


3. universal application of comprehensive safeguards and the
   additional protocol as the standard for nuclear verification, to
   enable the Agency to provide assurance about declared activities
   as well as the absence of undeclared activities;


4. recognition of the linkage between non-proliferation and
   disarmament and therefore the need for concrete and rapid
   progress towards nuclear disarmament - through deep cuts in
   existing arsenals, downgrading of alert levels for deployed
   nuclear weapons, and the resuscitation of multilateral
   disarmament efforts;


5. a robust international security regime, in light of the
   diverse threats we face;


6. an effective and universal nuclear safety regime, a
   cornerstone for any expansion in the use of nuclear power; and


7. sufficient funding for the Agency to meet its increasing
   responsibilities in an effective and efficient manner.

Tribute to Austria

Before concluding, I would emphasize that with regard to all three
pillars of Agency activity - technology, safety and security, and
verification, international cooperation is key. We have been
fortunate to be based in a country that places a high value on
multilateralism and dialogue. It is no small compliment that this
has become known as the Spirit of Vienna. Throughout our 50 years,
Austria has been an exceptionally gracious host. Today I would like
to pay tribute, on behalf of the Agency and its Member States, to
the fifty years of generous support of the Republic of Austria.

Conclusion

At the beginning of this statement, I highlighted some of the
challenges and achievements that stand out from a review of the
Agency�s history.

If one were to step closer, and review that history in greater
detail, there would be many other challenges and achievements, less
dramatic perhaps, but equally reflective of our commitment to the
Atoms for Peace ideal. We might notice the progress and setbacks in
achieving our verification mission, and the development of the
additional protocol. We would see the eradication of the tsetse fly
in Zanzibar, using the sterile insect technique. We would note the
assistance of international experts in helping country after country
improve their radiotherapy and nuclear medicine programmes. The
effort to aid Bangladesh in dealing with arsenic poisoned
groundwater. The development of enhanced wheat of various types
across North Africa, or barley in the Andes mountains of Peru. The
exponential growth of missions to help countries assess their energy
needs and find energy solutions. The development of nuclear safety
networks and a host of safety conventions. The sharp increase in
assistance to IAEA Member States in tightening border controls,
enhancing the safety and security of radioactive sources, or
improving the radiation protection of patients.

And yet if one were to step even closer, one would see the
day-to-day efforts of the IAEA staff: scientists, engineers, support
staff, lawyers, managers, technicians - specialists and generalists
of every description. We would also see the day-to-day efforts of
Member State representatives - those of you here today and in
capitals, policy makers, scientists, diplomats and civil servants -
working in support of Agency goals.

Those efforts may be less dramatic. The successes are often much
smaller, and there are also setbacks from which we recover and
persevere. But in my view, it is when we view the picture of our
history in its totality that we really understand Atoms for Peace.
Our mission is a continuous mission, in good times and bad, and our
professionalism, impartiality and independence are crucial both
publicly and behind the scenes.

As I said in Oslo, when we were honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize
- another landmark in our history - "a durable peace is not a single
achievement, but an environment, a process and a commitment." It is
with this understanding that we look to the future.

More DG Statements &raquo;


Copyright �, International Atomic Energy Agency, P.O. Box 100,
Wagramer Strasse 5, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Telephone (+431) 2600-0; Facsimilie (+431) 2600-7; E-mail:
*****************************************************************
 35 NAS: Project: Gulf War and Health: Updated Literature Review of Depleted Uranium

Project Title:

PIN: PHPH-H-06-01-A        

Major Unit:

 Institute of Medicine

Sub Unit: Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice

RSO: Mitchell, Abigail

Subject/Focus Area: 

Project Scope

A committee of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) will review,
evaluate, and summarize scientific and medical literature regarding
the association between exposure to depleted uranium and chronic
human health effects. The study committee will focus on literature
published since the IOM's 2000 report, Gulf War and Health, Volume
1: Depleted Uranium, Pyridostigmine Bromide, Sarin, and Vaccines was
written.

The committee will make determinations on the strength of the
evidence for associations between exposure to depleted uranium and
human health effects. The report might include recommendations for
additional scientific studies to resolve areas of continued
scientific uncertainty.

The findings will not be limited to veterans of the 1991 Gulf War.
They also will be applicable to veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation Enduring Freedom.

This project is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The start date for the project is September 18, 2006.
A report will be issued at the end of the project in approximately
15 months.
 
Project Duration: 15 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 - 03/22/2007
 Meeting 2 - 06/28/2007
 Meeting 3 - 09/27/2007


Reports
Reports having no URL can be seen
at the Public Access Records Office

 Email: info@nas.edu
*****************************************************************
 36 REGNUM: Construction of spent fuel nuclear storage facility to be started in
Ukraine without permission of Supreme Rada - Russian News - 

Construction of spent fuel nuclear storage facility to be started in
Ukraine without permission of Supreme Rada

Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Minister Yuri Boyko and US Secretary of
Energy Samuel Bodman discussed the Ukraine-US cooperation in the
energy sphere during their meeting in Vienna on September 16, a
REGNUM correspondent is told at the Ukrainian Fuel and Energy
ministry press office.

The Ukrainian minister is quoted as saying during the meeting that,
in terms of energy safety, the project of construction of a central
spent fuel nuclear storage facility, a tender for which was won by
Holtec Company (USA), is strategically important for Ukraine. He
noted that implementation of the project will allow Ukraine save
$10bn within ten years. According to him, to speed up the works on
the project, a supplementary agreement was signed this year on
possibility of carrying out limited amount of works before the
Ukrainian parliament passes a bill about construction of the storage
facility.

US energy secretary appreciated combined effort of the two countries
in giving qualification to nuclear fuel. He also stressed necessity
of securing transparent procedures and interaction in implementing a
project of joint research and bidding by Naftogaz Ukraine and
��rathon International Petroleum Ltd (USA) for a license for
exploring developing in the north-western part of the
Dnepropetrovsk-Donetsk Hollow.


Permanent news address: www.regnum.ru/english/885752.html
13:24 09/17/2007

* info@regnum.ru

� 1999-2007 REGNUM News Agency
*****************************************************************
 37 Polish Radio – External Sernice: Poland joins Global Nuclear Energy Partnership

* 17.09.2007

Poland joined the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership at a joint
session of this organization with the International Atomic Energy
Agency in Vienna, Austria.

Global Nuclear Energy Partnership was founded in 2005 by the USA,
France, Japan, China and Russia. It cooperates closely with the
International Atomic Energy Agency on increasing global energy
security and building a stronge control system of nuclear materials.

Poland's Membership in the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership gives
the country a possibility to cooperate with world's best science and
research centers, as well as assistance with building the
infrastructure of nuclear power industry.


Polskie Radio SA: wiadomo&#347;ci, informacje &bull; reklama &bull;





*****************************************************************
 38 IAEA: IAEA Chief Addresses GNEP Meeting in Vienna

Staff Report

16 September 2007

Delegates at the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) meeting.
(Photo: G. Verlini/IAEA)


* Story Resources
* GNEP
* Multilateral Fuel Cycle in Focus
* IAEA Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology


IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei today welcomed delegates at
the opening of a one-day Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP)
meeting in Vienna being hosted by the Government of the United
States.

As part of US President George Bush�s Advanced Energy Initiative,
GNEP is a global collaboration among those States that share the
common vision of the need for expanding nuclear energy for peaceful
purposes worldwide in a safe and secure manner. It aims to
accelerate development and deployment of advanced fuel cycle
technologies to encourage clean development and prosperity
worldwide, improve the environment, and reduce the risk of nuclear
proliferation. States participating in this cooperation would not
give up any rights, and voluntarily engage to share the effort and
gain the benefits of economical, peaceful nuclear energy.

In his remarks, Dr. ElBaradei welcomed GNEP as �a major initiative
that is badly needed, therefore very timely�.

He also spoke of the importance of multinational fuel cycle
initiatives currently being formulated by several parties from
around the world, including the IAEA, describing them as all good
initiatives going in the right direction. "GNEP, however, is a much
more ambitious and comprehensive proposal because it deals with all
aspects of the fuel cycle, both the front end and the back end," he
remarked.

Dr. ElBaradei also highlighted the importance of energy for a
country�s economic development, linking this issue to that of the
need of a more effective system of international security, and of
energy security for all. "At the St. Petersburg G8 Summit last year
the focus was energy security, and I made it clear that for me
energy security is energy security for all, for developed and
developing countries alike," he said.

Representatives from 38 countries and three key intergovernmental
organisations are attending the GNEP meeting. Some countries have
already subscribed to GNEP, while others are considering doing so.
Several States that have expressed an interest in GNEP are attending
the event as observers.

Background:

GNEP will be pursued, among other things, with the objective of
expanding the use of nuclear power to help meet growing energy
demand in a sustainable and safe and secure manner. To this end, it
also aims at deploying advanced fast reactors that consume
transuranic elements from recycled spent fuel, promoting the
development of advanced, more proliferation resistant nuclear power
reactors for developing countries, and developing advanced
technologies for recycling spent nuclear fuel for deployment in
facilities that do not separate pure plutonium.

GNEP also aims at establishing international supply frameworks to
enhance reliable, cost-effective fuel services and supplies to the
world market, providing options for generating nuclear energy and
fostering development while reducing the risk of nuclear
proliferation by creating a viable alternative to acquisition of
sensitive fuel cycle technologies.

In June 2007, Dr. ElBaradei presented a report on a multilateral
framework for nuclear energy to the Agency�s Board of Governors. The
report, entitled Possible New Framework for the Utilization of
Nuclear Energy: Options for Assurance of Supply of Nuclear Fuel,
addressed proposals put forward over the past two years by various
States and institutions. Some proposals call for the creation of an
actual or virtual reserve fuel bank of last resort, under IAEA
auspices, for the assurance of supply of nuclear fuel. This bank
would operate on the basis of apolitical and non-discriminatory
non-proliferation criteria. Others call for conversion of a national
facility into an international enrichment centre. Still others call
for the construction of a new, multinational enrichment facility
under IAEA control.

See Story resources for more information.


Copyright �, International Atomic Energy Agency, P.O. Box 100,
Wagramer Strasse 5, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Telephone (+431) 2600-0; Facsimilie (+431) 2600-7; E-mail:
*****************************************************************
 39 ITAR-TASS: Kazakhstan joins initiative of Global Nuclear Energy Partnership

17.09.2007, 12.39

ASTANA, September 17 (Itar-Tass) -- Kazakhstan has joined the
initiative of Global Nuclear Energy Parptnership (GNEP), the press
service of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported on Monday. According
to the Foreign Ministry, Kazakhstan signed a protocol of principles
of Global partnership and became a full participant in this process.

�Kazakhstan considers the development of nuclear energy to be
inevitable as a branch that will ensure national energy security in
the near future,� a report of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry says. �Our
country completely shares the main principles of Global partnership
in the field of nuclear energy and points to the necessity of
providing a guaranteed and just access to nuclear fuel to those
countries that developing their own nuclear energy branch, pledged
themselves not to developing sensitive technologies.�

According to the Foreign Ministry�s information, at present, 16
states, including China, Russia, the United States, France, Japan,
which are notable for their achievements and possess advanced
technologies in the sphere of nuclear energy, joint the GNEP.

Kazakhstan ranks second in the world in uranium reserves. By 2010,
the country plans to bring the production of uranium to 18,000
tonnes a year. It will make up 30 percent of the general world
production. At present, Russia and Kazakhstan discuss the
possibility of building a nuclear power plant in the Kazakh
territory. Besides, Kazakhstan becomes the biggest partner of Russia
in the nuclear sphere. On July 25, 2006, Russia and Kazakhstan
signed three protocols on the creation of three joint ventures: on
development of the Budyonnovsky uranium field in Kazakhstan; on the
enrichment of uranium in the Russian territory with the obligatory
participation of Kazakh specialists in this project; on designing
and development of nuclear reactors of little and medium capacity
with a perspective of building a nuclear power plant with these
reactors in Kazakhstan and jointly entering the world market with
these reactors.


� ITAR-TASS. All rights reserved. You undertake not to copy, store
*****************************************************************
 40 DOE: Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Triples in Size to 16 Members

September 16, 2007

Nations Sign On to International Cooperation for Safe Expansion of
Nuclear Energy Worldwide

VIENNA, AUSTRIA � U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman and
senior international officials from 16 nations today agreed to
increase international nuclear energy cooperation through the Global
Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP).  China, France, Japan, Russia and
the United States, who are original GNEP partners, as well as
Australia, Bulgaria, Ghana, Hungary, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania,
Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Ukraine signed a �Statement of
Principles�, which addresses the prospects of expanding the peaceful
uses of nuclear energy, including enhanced safeguards, international
fuel service frameworks, and advanced technologies.

�Through GNEP, we are joining governments of the east and west,
north and south in pursuit of a common goal: the safe, global
expansion of nuclear power,� Secretary Bodman said.  �Today�s
Ministerial sets our nations on a path to address issues of nuclear
fuel services and infrastructure development and work to share the
benefits of nuclear power worldwide.�

The second GNEP Ministerial was held in Vienna, Austria ahead of the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference this
week and was attended by 38 nations and three international
organizations.  Senior international energy officials participated
in sessions focused on reliable fuel services and infrastructure,
which are considered integral to GNEP�s development.  In order to
address all aspects of fuel services, officials agreed to form a
Nuclear Fuel Services Working Group under GNEP, which will focus on
practical measures and benefits for comprehensive fuel services,
such as fuel leasing and other arrangements for spent fuel
management.  Officials also discussed steps to provide guidance or
technical assistance for assessing countries� infrastructure needs,
while consulting with the IAEA.  Officials agreed to form a Nuclear
Infrastructure Development Working Group under GNEP to address the
challenges that nuclear power poses in the financial, technical and
human resources of many countries.

The Executive Session led by U.S. Secretary Bodman focused on the
development of the partnership.  Member countries discussed the
structure of the GNEP partnership and plans for future membership
expansion.

Today�s ministerial follows a GNEP Ministerial meeting earlier this
year in Washington, DC where Chairman Ma Kai of the People�s
Republic of China (National Development and Reform Commission);
Chairman Alain Bugat of France (Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique);
Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan (Minister of State for Okinawa and
Northern Territories Affairs, Science and Technology Policy,
Innovation, Gender Equality, Social Affairs and Food Safety); Deputy
Director Nikolay Spasskiy of the Russian Federation (Federal Atomic
Energy Agency); and Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman agreed on a
joint statement for a path forward toward increasing the use of
safe, reliable and affordable nuclear power worldwide.

GNEP, first announced by President Bush in 2006, is part of his
Advanced Energy Initiative, which aims to change the way we power
our lives by utilizing alternative and renewable fuels to increase
energy, economic and international security.  GNEP seeks to develop
worldwide consensus on enabling expanded use of clean, safe, and
affordable nuclear energy to meet growing electricity demand. GNEP
proposes a nuclear fuel cycle that enhances energy security, while
promoting non-proliferation.   Read additional information on the
Statement of Principles and the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership.

GNEP List of Countries 9-16-2007
GNEP Operating Documents
Signed SOP

Media contact(s): Megan Barnett, (202) 586-4940 

 U.S. Department of Energy | 1000 Independence Ave., SW | 
Washington, DC 20585 1-800-dial-DOE | f/202-586-4403
*****************************************************************
 41 AU ABC: Govt signs on to support nuclear partnership - 

ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Posted September 17, 2007 21:27:00

The Federal Government has signed a statement of principles,
supporting the US administration's Global Nuclear Energy Partnership.

Prime Minister John Howard announced support for the plan during the
APEC summit earlier this month, saying it would provide great
benefits in terms of access to nuclear technology and
non-proliferation.

A spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Minister says the acceptance of
the agreement's principles does not change the Australian
government's refusal to take nuclear waste back from other countries.

Tags: alternative-energy, government-and-politics,
federal-government, foreign-affairs, nuclear-energy, australia,
united-states




*****************************************************************
 42 [southnews] IAEA Chief Warns Against Striking Iran
 
Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 00:15:24 -0500 (CDT)

The chief U.N. nuclear inspector urged Iran's harshest critics Monday to 
learn from the Iraq invasion and refrain from ``hype'' about a possible 
military attack, saying force was an option of last resort.

Mohamed ElBaradei, speaking outside a 144-nation meeting of his 
International Atomic Energy Agency, invoked the example of Iraq in 
urging an end to the threats of force against Iran - most recently over 
the weekend by France.

IAEA Chief Warns Against Striking Iran

Monday September 17, 2007 11:16 PM

By GEORGE JAHN

Associated Press Writer

VIENNA, Austria (AP) - The chief U.N. nuclear inspector urged Iran's 
harshest critics Monday to learn from the Iraq invasion and refrain from 
``hype'' about a possible military attack, saying force was an option of 
last resort.

Mohamed ElBaradei, speaking outside a 144-nation meeting of his 
International Atomic Energy Agency, invoked the example of Iraq in 
urging an end to the threats of force against Iran - most recently over 
the weekend by France.

``I would not talk about any use of force,'' said ElBaradei, noting that 
only the Security Council can authorize such action. ``There are rules 
on how to use force, and I would hope that everybody would have gotten 
the lesson after the Iraq situation, where 700,000 innocent civilians 
have lost their lives on the suspicion that a country has nuclear weapons.''

He was alluding to a key U.S. argument for invading Iraq in 2003 without 
Security Council approval - that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass 
destruction, including nuclear arms. Four years later, no such weapons 
have been found.

``I do not believe at this stage that we are facing a clear and present 
danger that require we go beyond diplomacy,'' ElBaradei said, adding 
that his agency had no information ``the Iran program is being weaponized.''

``We need not to hype the issue,'' he told reporters.

On Sunday, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned the world 
should prepare for war if Iran obtains nuclear weapons and said European 
leaders were considering their own economic sanctions against the 
Islamic country.

Speaking on RTL radio, Kouchner said that if ``such a bomb is made ... 
we must prepare ourselves for the worst,'' specifying that could mean a war.

Iranian state media lashed out at France on Monday, saying its officials 
have ``become translators of the White House policies in Europe and have 
adopted a tone that is even harder, even more inflammatory and more 
illogical than that of Washington

The U.S. has refused to rule out the possibility of force against Iran 
if it continues to enrich. Still, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said 
Sunday the U.S. administration is committed, for now, to using 
diplomatic and economic means to counter the potential nuclear threat 
from Iran.

On Monday, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon sought to play down 
Kouchner's comments, saying ``everything must be done to avoid war.''

``France's role is to lead the way to a peaceful solution,'' Fillon 
said, while at the same time calling for the ``the most severe sanctions 
possible against the Iranian government if it continues'' with its 
disputed nuclear program.

Negotiations and two sets of U.N. Security Council sanctions have failed 
to persuade Iran to stop enriching uranium. Iran insists its atomic 
activities are aimed only at producing energy, but the U.S., its 
European allies and other world powers suspect the country is seeking 
nuclear weapons.

Alluding to the U.S. and its Western allies, Iranian Vice President Reza 
Aghazadeh accused unnamed countries of forcing the international 
community onto the ``unjustified, illegal, deceptive and misleading path 
.. by imposing restrictions and sanctions.''

And he again ruled out scrapping Iran's uranium enrichment program, 
telling delegates Iran would ``never give up its inalienable and legal 
right in benefiting from peaceful nuclear technology.''

ElBaradei called on nations critical of his last-ditch effort to entice 
Iran into revealing past nuclear activities that could be linked to a 
weapons program to wait until the end of the year - when the deadline 
for Iran to provide answers runs out.

``By November or December we will be able to know if Iran is acting in 
good faith or not,'' he said, suggesting that was the time to think of 
tougher diplomacy if needed - but not military action.

He also urged the declared nuclear weapons states - the U.S., Russia, 
China, Britain and France - to set the example and reduce the incentive 
to proliferate by initiating ``deep cuts in their nuclear arsenal.''
*****************************************************************
 43 Minot AFB Clandestine Nukes 'Oddities' 
 
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2007 05:34:51 -0500 (CDT)

Minot AFB Clandestine Nukes 'Oddities' --By Lori Price, www.legitgov.org

Since the Minot story broke a week ago about the clandestine 6 missing nuke
operation from Minot, we have the following (for those who are paying
attention):

1. All six people listed below are from Minot Airforce base
2. All were directly involved as loaders or as pilots
3. All are now dead
4. All within the last 7 days in 'accidents' [Not all of them --LRP]
http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=10465

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070915/BREAKINGNE
WS/\
70915012

http://www.kxmc.com/News/161562.asp

http://www.kxmc.com/getArticle.asp?ArticleId=140988

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/07/20/news/state/136489.txt

http://www.komotv.com/news/local/9679367.html

Minot Base Officials Say Airman Dies While On Leave 12 Sep 2007 The Minot Air
Force Base said an airman has died while on leave in Virginia. Airman First
Class Todd Blue, who was 20 years old, died Monday while visiting with family
members. The statement did not say how he died.
*****************************************************************
 44 More Action Needed To Curb Threat Of Nuclear Terrorism, UN Watchdog Warns
 
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:00:24 -0400

MORE ACTION NEEDED TO CURB THREAT OF NUCLEAR TERRORISM, UN WATCHDOG WARNS
 
New York, Sep 17 2007 11:00AM
Stepping up his fight to reinforce nuclear security and prevent nuclear 
terrorism, the head of the United Nations atomic watchdog 
agency today called on all countries to ratify an international agreement 

�Out of 128 States Parties, only 11 so far have accepted the amendment,� 
UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General 
Mohamed ElBaradei <"http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Statements/2007/ebsp2007n014.html">told 
the Agency�s annual General Conference 
in Vienna. 

�I would urge all States Parties to do so,� he said referring to 
an amendment to the <" http://untreaty.un.org/English/Terrorism/English_18_15.pdf">International 
Convention on the Suppression of 
Acts of Nuclear Terrorism, aimed at preventing nuclear and radioactive 
materials from falling into the hands of terrorists. The Amendment 
on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material seeks to strenghtent 
hese safeguards. 

�With the renewed interest in nuclear power generation, comparable 
attention and commitment must be given to ensuring the nuclear 
safety and security infrastructure that must go with it,� Mr. ElBaradei 
added, noting that three strong factors are driving a renewed 
global interest in nuclear power � steady growth in energy demand, 
increasing concerns about energy security, and the challenge 
of climate change. 

�In my view, the role of the Agency is not so much to predict the 
future as to do its utmost to plan and prepare for it,� he stressed 
in a wide-ranging review of the Agency�s work. 

Although the IAEA�s nuclear security work has clearly improved overall 
nuclear security, �much remains to be done in shaping the nuclear 
security framework, in building up-to-date security systems 
and in dealing with the legacy of past lax security,� he said. 
�This is not a problem that can be solved overnight; it takes time 
and resources to achieve a sustainable, internationally acceptable 
level of nuclear security.� 

Mr. ElBaradei reiterated many of the points he made to the Agency�s 
Board of Governors last week on Iran�s nuclear programmes, noting 
that the IAEA has been able to verify the non-diversion of declared 
nuclear materials and has been given additional information 
and access needed to resolve a number of long outstanding issues, 
such as the scope and nature of past plutonium experiments. Many 
countries see the programme as a means to obtain nuclear weapons 
but Iran�s says it is solely for nuclear power generation. 

But Iran has not suspended enrichment related activities as called 
for by the Security Council, although it has agreed on a work plan 
with the Agency for resolving all outstanding verification issues. 
�Naturally, Iran�s active cooperation and transparency is the 
key to full and timely implementation of the work plan,� he stressed. 


�If the Agency were able to provide credible assurance about the 
peaceful nature of Iran�s past and current nuclear programme, this 
would go a long way towards building confidence about Iran�s nuclear 
programme, and could create the conditions for a comprehensive 
and durable solution.� 

Laying out a seven-point framework for the use of nuclear energy 
based on lessons learned and current reality, he called for:<ul>

<li>robust technological development and innovation in nuclear power 
and nuclear applications;</li>

<li>a new multinational framework for the fuel cycle to assure supply 
and curb proliferation risk; </li>

<li>universal application of comprehensive safeguards allowing for 
unannounced on site inspections; </li>

<li>recognition of the linkage between non-proliferation and disarmament 
with deep cuts in existing arsenals; </li>

<li>a robust international security regime; </li>

<li>an effective and universal nuclear safety regime, a cornerstone 
for any expansion in the use of nuclear power; </li>

<li>and sufficient funding for the Agency to meet its increasing 
responsibilities. </li></ul>

Mr. ElBaradei also dwelt on the Agency�s other multi-faceted tasks, 
from helping to  eradicate the disease-bearing tsetse fly in Zanzibar 
by using the sterile insect techniques and helping countries 
improve radiotherapy and nuclear medicine programmes to aiding 
Bangladesh in dealing with arsenic poisoned groundwater and enhancing 
various types of grain from North Africa to the Andes mountains 
of Peru.
 2007-09-17 00:00:00.000 


___________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news
To listen to news and in-depth programmes from UN Radio go to: http://radio.un.org/ 
_______________________________

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*****************************************************************
 45 Nuclear Test Ban Pact's Anniversary Should Spark Push For Ratification - Ban Ki-moon
 
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:00:24 -0400

NUCLEAR TEST BAN PACT�S ANNIVERSARY SHOULD SPARK PUSH FOR RATIFICATION � BAN KI-MOON
 
New York, Sep 17 2007  1:00PM
As the eleventh anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban 
Treaty (<"http://disarmament.un.org/wmd/ctbt/index.html">CTBT) approaches, 
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on participants 
at a meeting in Vienna designed to foster its entry into force 
to intensify efforts toward this goal.

Next week�s milestone �will not be a time for celebration, but for 
re-dedication to the noble work that lies ahead in achieving the 
Treaty�s entry into force,� Mr. Ban said. 

�Persistent efforts on the part of States and civil society will 
be required in order to achieve that historic goal,� he added in 
a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11157.doc.htm">message 
to the Fifth Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force 
of the CTBT, which was delivered by Sergio Duarte, the High Representative 
for Disarmament Affairs.

The Treaty, which would outlaw all nuclear tests, moves the international 
community �towards the larger goals of ridding the world 
of nuclear weapons and preventing their proliferation,� he said.

Mr. Ban said the Treaty�s Preparatory Commission has made �significant 
advances� in preparing for the establishment of the future 
CTBT Organization and the Treaty�s verification regime. The pact 
has been signed by 177 States, with 140 ratifications, including 
34 of the 44 States listed in Annex 2 to the Treaty, whose ratification 
is essential for its entry into force.

�I call upon those States that have not signed or ratified the CTBT 
to do so as soon as possible, especially States whose ratification 
is needed for the Treaty�s entry into force.  I also urge States 
to maintain their moratoria on all types of nuclear explosions 
and to refrain from acts that would defeat the object and purpose 
of the Treaty,� the Secretary-General said.

The 44 States listed in Annex 2 to the Treaty and required for its 
entry into force all have nuclear power or research reactors. Of 
those, the 10 that have not ratified the CTBT are China, the United 
States, the Democratic People�s Republic of Korea (DPRK), India, 
Pakistan, Egypt, Israel, Indonesia, Iran and Colombia.

The 34 key States which have already ratified CTBT are: Algeria, 
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, 
Canada, Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Finland, 
France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, 
Norway, Peru, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Romania, the 
Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, 
Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Viet Nam.
 2007-09-17 00:00:00.000 


___________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news
To listen to news and in-depth programmes from UN Radio go to: http://radio.un.org/ 
_______________________________

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*****************************************************************
 46 The Barksdale Nukes, B-52s and Bush's War Plans
 
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:17:08 -0500 (CDT)

The Barksdale Nukes, B-52s and Bush's War Plans
SCOTT VEST, former Air Force Captain at Minot AFB - CounterPunch

September 13, 2007

There has been a great deal of speculation in recent days about the
Air Force incident on August 30 in which six cruise missiles were
transported from Minot AFB in North Dakota to Barksdale AFB in
Louisiana with nuclear warheads still attached.  There are those
who believe that the shipment, revealed to the Military Times by
two unnamed Air Force officers, represents part of some nefarious
plot by the Bush Administration to stage weapons for a nuclear
attack on Iran.

Another article goes so far as to extend the scope of the plot to
postulate stock market manipulation by rich administration insiders
who are predicting huge near term stock market upheavals in the
expected wake of such an attack and are poised to cash in.  In
several articles, the authors state that there is no way that the
shipment could have been an accident.

However, as much as I can relate to the mind set that the Bush
Administration is up to no good, I have to say that it almost
certainly had to be an accident, or if not an accident it was not
a prelude to nuclear war with Iran or anyone else. The fact is that
if a nuclear strike was planned out of Barksdale AFB using the B-52H
aircraft stationed there, it could be accomplished without needing
to ferry live weapons from North Dakota against long-standing policy
on a combat aircraft.

I'm a former Air Force Captain and I was a munitions specialist in
the very unit that erroneously shipped the weapons out of Minot AFB
from '87 to '90.  I am no Republican mouthpiece trying to cover for
the administration.  I'm a social liberal and fiscal conservative
(basically the opposite philosophy of the administration), and I
think Bush and especially Cheney are war criminals along with being
the normal variety of criminals on a grand scale.  I believed in
our mission during the Cold War to make the cost of a Soviet nuclear
strike too high to consider.  After I left the service in 1992, I
saw the military increasingly used for actions that had less and
less to do with the defense of our nation When we invaded Kosovo
in 1999, I resigned my commission in the reserves.  Now that I see
the horrible misuse of military power that this administration has
perpetrated I am so glad that I can no longer get called up to serve
in a war of aggression, yet so angry that so many people of honor
are being misused.

The key to the matter here is that Barksdale AFB and Minot AFB are
both hosts to strategic bomb wings flying B-52H aircraft.  The B-52H
is designed as a primarily nuclear bomber yet still capable of
delivering conventional explosives as has been seen in our imperial
adventures in recent years.  The two former Strategic Air Command
bases both support the same mission when it comes to their nuclear
capabilities. Although I can neither confirm nor deny the definite
presence of nuclear weapons at any given location (I do value what
freedom I still retain under this government), doesn't it stand to
reason that if Minot has nukes, as they allegedly do to be able to
fly them to Louisiana, then Barksdale is likely to have an inventory
of its own?

The fact that warheads were flown between Air Force locations is
not unusual.  Only the fact that they were flown on a B-52 is.
Warheads are routinely transported by air as it's much more secure
than traveling over the roads or rail.  They are typically flown
on transport aircraft inside of drums that are designed to survive
a crash.  Obviously, the security and secrecy of these missions is
higher than what occurred on the B-52 flight in question and this
is what caused the unnamed officers to speak out.  Breaches of
safety, security, or reliability on nuclear weapons is a big deal
to anyone who works with them, and this was a major screw-up.

The six advanced cruise missiles (ACMs) were being sent to Barksdale
to get decommissioned (destroyed).  The fact is that the 5th Munitions
Squadron at Minot AFB (my old unit) in North Dakota should have
scheduled the six warheads to get 'demated'  from the missiles prior
to loading them on the jet. They failed to do this, and it was
inexcusable.  The squadron commander (generally a Lt Col) was fired.
There are three levels of nuclear incident reporting that you may
have heard of.  The most severe is a 'Broken Arrow' where a weapon
is lost, stolen, or detonated.  The next level is 'Bent Spear' and
covers serious breaches of nuclear surety (safety, security,
reliability). The last is 'Dull Sword' which covers minor issues
or infractions.  This incident most likely would have fallen into
the 'Bent Spear' category. These are very rare.  For 10 hours, Minot
didn't know where six of their warheads were.  This is shocking to
the Air Force, and they've been on it like white on rice.

It's not terribly obvious when looking at a cruise missile whether
it carries a warhead or not because these missiles are like small
unmanned aircraft and the warhead is enclosed within.  However,
there are supposed to be red indicators on live missiles that
apparently went unnoticed by the transportation and load crews.
They have been decertified.  There are several steps in the normal
processes where this infraction should have been caught, but it
wasn't.  This indicates poor training and attention to detail, and
this was never tolerated when I worked with these weapons, and has
not been tolerated now.  There may be some contributing factors
pertaining to personnel turnover, short handedness, or fatigue
related to the ongoing war effort, but I have no such knowledge.
Regardless of any of that the incident was still absolutely
inexcusable.

Do I think that the administration is drawing up serious plans to
attack Iran?  I do.  Do I think that neocon whack jobs and particularly
Dick Cheney are considering the use of nuclear weapons?  I do.  But
the facts are scarier than the conspiracy theories swirling around
this B-52 incident.  If a decision is made to launch nuclear strikes
from US bases using B-52s, it can be done without any telltale
unusual movements of assets.  A single B-52H can put over 6 megatons
of nuclear power on target anywhere on the planet within 30 hours
from the time the order is received.

Scott Vest can be reached at vestsa@comcast.net

www.uruknet.info?p=36242

Link: www.counterpunch.org/vest09132007.html
*****************************************************************
 47 UPI: Russia resumes bomber testing

United Press International - NewsTrack - Top News - 

Published: 17, 2007 at 4:36 PM

MOSCOW, 17 (UPI) -- A military spokesman said Russian air force
strategic bombers would conduct a series of long-range training
flights through Friday.

The pilots are to go through aerial refueling exercises during the
flights as well, RIA Novosti reported Monday.

"During the exercise on Sept. 18-21, Russian strategic bombers
Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, and Il-78 aerial tankers will conduct
long-duration daytime and night flights with mid-air refueling,"
said Col. Alexander Drobyshevsky.

Maj. Gen. Pavel Androsov, the commander of the Russian air force�s
strategic aviation, is to oversee the exercise.

It was announced in August that Moscow was resuming routine flights
by strategic bombers, and would continue on a permanent basis, RIA
Novosti reported.


� Copyright United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
*****************************************************************
 48 Korea Herald: N.K.-Syria nuke links aggravate relations

 News reports are streaming out of Washington about suspected North
Korean collaboration with Syria on nuclear technology.

While the U.S. government has refrained from issuing an official
confirmation, the reports are creating tension ahead of further
six-party talks.

Some worry that the North may return to previous hardline tactics
and refuse to cooperate in the negotiations, doubting Washington's
"true intentions."

Questions were raised whether the allegations are strong enough to
influence nuclear negotiations that have entered a "right path"
after long periods of little or no progress.

Observers say the allegations are not likely to influence the
six-party talks, at least for the time being.

"It appears that the information (of a possible Syria-N.K. link) is
being leaked to the press in order to show North Korea that they
(the U.S.) also have a card they can use to pressure them," Kim
Tae-woo, senior researcher of the Korea Institute for Defense
Analyses, told The Korea Herald.

"Should North Korea really be proven to have participated in
proliferating nuclear programs, the repercussions will be more than
what the U.S. government could handle," Kim Tae-woo said.

His concerns echoed U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates who said
Sunday, the United States would have a "real problem" if Syria and
North Korea are collaborating on a nuclear program.

It is a self-imposed responsibility of the United States to be
intolerant of any attempt to proliferate weapons of mass destruction.

Worries over North Korea were a major reason the United States
established the Proliferation Security Initiative, a global effort
to eliminate the spread of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons
and materials.

"The United States approaches the nuclear issue in two steps, first
to disable North Korea's nuclear programs and second to denuclearize
it," Kim explained.

Washington will have several points of contention that it could use
to pressure Pyongyang in the negotiations, one of them being the
Syrian connection, he said.

The George W. Bush administration, which has taken a softer approach
in dealing with the North the past year, has been criticized by
hardliners for being manipulated by the communist regime.

Conservatives in Washington are suggesting that the United States
halt negotiations with North Korea because of the suspicions of
proliferation.

The United States has promised North Korea to remove the country
from its list of states sponsoring terrorism and that it would not
apply the Trading with the Enemy Act in return for denuclearization.

Washington hawks considered such politically significant moves "out
of the question."

Syria is among the countries which the Bush administration has
suspected of running clandestine nuclear weapons development
programs.

The Reform Party of Syria reported in May 2004 that concerns are
growing within the Bush administration of a possible clandestine
program and that it may already have centrifuges, equipment needed
to produce material for bombs. Questions of a possible link between
North Korea and Syria were also raised.

The Reform Party of Syria is a democratic political party that
supports the separation of mosque and state in Syria. Although the
party is comprised of Syrians, it is based in the United States
because the government bans opposition political parties which are
not approved.

Syria, as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has
been operating nuclear programs "for peaceful use" under the
assistance of Belgium, China, Germany, and the former Soviet Union.

John Bolton, then-undersecretary for Arms Control and International
Security, said on Sept. 16, 2005, "On the nuclear side we are
concerned about Syria's nuclear R&D program and continue to watch
for any sign of nuclear weapons activity or foreign assistance that
could facilitate Syrian nuclear weapons capability. We are aware of
Syrian efforts to acquire dual-use technologies that could be
applied to a nuclear weapons program."

It was also suspected that Syria purchased equipment and expertise
from other "rogue" nations or individuals.

The RPS stated that Dr. Ibrahim Othman who heads the Atomic Energy
Commission of Syria (AECS) was the contact man with Pakistani
nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan. Khan is known to have delivered
important secrets to "rogue" states - including North Korea.

Andrew Semmel, acting deputy assistant secretary of state for
nuclear nonproliferation policy, was quoted as saying by the
Washington Post last week that he "wouldn't exclude" the possibility
the so-called Khan network could have been involved. The network
supplied nuclear technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea

Most recently, news reports said that North Koreans were in Syria,
and that Damascus may have had contacts with "secret suppliers" to
obtain nuclear equipment.

North Korea denied the reports.

South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon also said yesterday the
suspicions were unsubstantiated.

Controversial information based on intelligence has often bogged
down nuclear talks with North Korea in the past.

In 2002, the North was suspected of running a clandestine
highly-enriched uranium program. This followed a trip by James
Kelly, who visited Pyongyang as a presidential envoy.

Although never confirmed by the North publicly, such suspicions
remain a key sticking point in the nuclear negotiations, and
influenced the breakdown of the 1994 Agreed Framework between the
United States and North Korea.

By Lee Joo-hee

2007.09.18

*****************************************************************
 49 Tri-City Herald: PBS to air look at Hanford's role, veterans in WWII

Published Monday, September 17th, 2007

ANNETTE CARY HERALD STAFF WRITER

Ken Burns' upcoming documentary series on World War II will bring a
public television spotlight to Hanford and Mid-Columbia veterans in
related programming.

An hourlong documentary on Hanford's race to produce plutonium for
the bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, and a series of 23 short
segments featuring Mid-Columbia veterans or residents on the
homefront will air on KTNW public television.

World War II -- Our Neighbors' Stories includes more than 100 short
segments reliving the daily events, moments of pride and acts of
bravery by Eastern Washington veterans and their families.

It includes 23 stories from people in the Tri-Cities, Basin City,
Prosser, Sunnyside and Grandview, including a segment about work at
Hanford.

They will air between programming, excluding children's shows, seven
days a week through the end of the year.

Once stories have been broadcast, they will be posted at
www.kwsu.org with additional memoirs, personal photos and other
information. Families also will be invited to post their own stories.

In addition, Mary Gustavson DeCesare, who grew up in Tri-Cities, has
produced a one-hour documentary called Secret Mission: Hanford for
KSPS public television in Spokane.

It will air on KTNW at 10 p.m. Sept. 24 and at 2 p.m. Sept. 30.

The scientific and engineering achievement of producing plutonium
during the war was "comparable to going to the moon," DeCesare said.
"The technology was only tested in the lab."

Growing up during the Cold War when much of the work at Hanford was
still classified, DeCesare knew little about Hanford even though her
father was a nuclear engineer.

The documentary, which she made with KSPS executive producer Jim
Zimmer over the last two years, is a chance to tell the Northwest
about the important role Hanford played in World War II and the
beginning of the atomic age, she said.

The documentary relies on Mid-Columbia residents, such as historian
Michele Gerber, and many historic photographs to tell the story of
Hanford.

"What really comes through is the voices of the people and the feel
of the era," DeCesare said. "People really felt it was a battlefield
at home."

The story begins with the selection of the Hanford site and the
condemnation of property in the farming communities of White Bluffs
and Hanford.

Among those interviewed is Walt Grisham, whose parents lost their
White Bluffs farm and its vineyards, peach and apricot orchards to a
war effort so secret they didn't know why their land was taken.

A construction camp with barracks, tents and trailers quickly sprang
up in the desert to house 50,000 workers who labored long hours far
from home to build the world's first production-scale reactor, B
Reactor, and other production facilities.

The film follows work at the nuclear reservation through start up of
plutonium production and the bombed dropped on Nagasaki.

Both Secret Mission: Hanford and World War II -- Our Neighbors'
Stories will complement Ken Burns' 16-hour documentary series, The
War.

It will be shown on KTNW beginning at 8 p.m. Sept. 23 with more
segments aired through Oct. 3. It will be shown on KWSU beginning
Oct. 14.

*****************************************************************
 50 SF New Mexican: Future Water, part 2: Cold War cleanup

(Karl Stolleis/The New Mexican)Ralph Ford-Schmid, a scientist 
with the state Environment Department, checks a water and 
sediment sampler near the site of the planned Buckman Direct 
Diversion Project. Samples can be analyzed to see if pollution 
from Los Alamos has washed into the river.

By ANDY LENDERMAN | The New Mexican
September 16, 2007

LOS ALAMOS &mdash; Uphill, there&rsquo;s 1.38 million cubic yards of
nuclear and chemical waste. Downhill, there&rsquo;s the Rio Grande,
one of the state&rsquo;s main water supplies.

Waste from Los Alamos National Laboratory has yet to seriously
impact New Mexico&rsquo;s drinking-water wells, with the exception
of one Los Alamos County well that&rsquo;s been shut down over
production and pollution concerns.

But as Santa Fe prepares to start diverting water supplies directly
from the river, environmental activists are focusing attention on
what they see as warning signs.

Tests found five contaminants in parts of the regional aquifer,
including one that would exceed safe drinking-water standards:
hexavalent chromium, which was found in a monitoring well, not a
drinking-water well.

And there is uncertainty whether very low levels of plutonium, a
dangerous substance created for use in nuclear weapons, were found
in one of Santa Fe&rsquo;s community wells.



&ldquo;There are definitely too many questions that are unanswered
at this point,&rdquo; said Joni Arends, spokeswoman for Concerned
Citizens for Nuclear Safety, a Santa Fe group that contends the lab
needs new monitoring wells and more sampling.

Based on interviews with state, federal and city officials as well
as members of environmental groups, it&rsquo;s clear there is a lot
of work to do, both in monitoring for possible water pollution and
cleaning up old dumps from the Cold War. But no one can say with
certainty whether lab contaminants will ever seriously show up in
local water resources.

Even if that happens, however, water experts say the pollution could
be avoided by shutting down a well or removing contaminants before
the water reaches your faucet.

&ldquo;If or when contaminants from LANL begin to arrive at the
water supply well, there will be time to take actions to protect the
water supply,&rdquo; said Mat Johansen, an environmental manager
with the U.S. Department of Energy.

The nuclear weapons scientists at Los Alamos helped win World War II
and the Cold War. Today, they maintain the country&rsquo;s nuclear
weapons stockpile.

One side effect of this work is that the lab, in the near future,
needs to spend $1 billion on environmental cleanup of roughly 700
places on its 43-acre site in the Jemez Mountains northwest of Santa
Fe.

The water that must be scrutinized falls into three categories:

* First, the deep aquifer, which feeds today&rsquo;s
  drinking-water wells for places such as Los Alamos County and the
  city of Santa Fe.
* Second, Rio Grande surface water, which soon will be tapped for
  Santa Fe-area drinking supplies when the Buckman Direct Diversion
  Project comes online.
* Third, storm runoff from canyons on lab property, which releases
  pollution trapped in sediments and sends it downhill toward the
  Rio Grande. Some of those canyons were used as Cold War dumps.

Measurable amounts of chemical or nuclear pollution already have
been found in parts of each of these three sources. But that
doesn&rsquo;t mean it is in the drinking water that comes to your
house or exceeds health standards.

State Environment Secretary Ron Curry says it&rsquo;s inevitable
that some pollution from Los Alamos will reach drinking-water
sources. But the lab spends millions of dollars each year to clean
up its waste and track where it goes, and environmental managers say
they&rsquo;re doing all they can to stop problems before they happen.

&ldquo;The potential for impacts on the water supply is a serious
concern that our program is designed to help define and
prevent,&rdquo; Johansen said.

Danny Katzman of the Los Alamos lab said: &ldquo;That&rsquo;s
everything our program and the consent order are about ... ensuring
that that doesn&rsquo;t happen.&rdquo; The consent order is a legal
agreement between the lab and the state that governs cleanup of
hazardous waste.

Five contaminants in deep aquifers

The five contaminants from lab operations that have shown up in deep
groundwater aquifers, 600 to 1,200 feet below the lab, include: high
explosives, hexavalent chromium, perchlorate, nitrate and tritium.
Only chromium has been found in some places at levels exceeding
state and federal drinking-water standards. Nine pollutants are in
intermediate aquifers from 120 to 500 feet below the lab. These
include high explosives, 1,4 dioxane, tritium, chlorinated solvents,
hexavalent chromium, barium, boron, perchlorate and nitrate.

These chemicals and a radioactive material stem from weapons
production, conventional explosives testing, research and a power
plant.

These contaminants are not found throughout the aquifer but have
been located in specific places. They don&rsquo;t pose a
public-health risk until they&rsquo;re found in drinking water at
levels above established health standards, many experts agree.

Drinking-water wells tap into the deep aquifer at 600 to 1,200 feet.
(Although wells may share the same aquifer as a pollutant, it takes
time for the pollution to move toward the drinking water.)

Several contaminants show up in surface or near-surface water,
according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Some of the intermediate
pollutants exceed health standards, and some of the alluvial streams
do too &mdash; but they&rsquo;re not used for drinking water. Some
underground radioactive waste that came downhill during the Cold War
has been found just upstream from the Buckman river-diversion site.

Radionuclides such as tritium can cause an increased cancer risk
when they exceed government standards.

These problems can be aggressively treated before the water hits
water pipes, city and lab water experts say. And staffers on the
Buckman project have suggested the lab pay for five projects aimed
at making the water safer for city residents.

Millions are being spent year after year to monitor the situation,
and New Mexico&rsquo;s senators are trying to get more money into
the cleanup side of the lab&rsquo;s budget.

&ldquo;Currently our status is that the drinking-water supply has
not been compromised and that contaminants have not left the site,
to our knowledge,&rdquo; said Tina Behr-Andres of the lab&rsquo;s
Earth and Environmental Sciences Division. &ldquo;Our network
isn&rsquo;t complete. But we&rsquo;ve not seen that.&rdquo;

More work needed to safeguard water

New Mexico&rsquo;s environment secretary has pushed the lab to build
a better set of monitoring wells that can track pollution and to
build barriers to prevent it from flowing downhill toward the river.

Still, major unknowns surround water quality in arid Northern New
Mexico:

* The lab&rsquo;s monitoring network is incomplete, and some
  critics say it doesn&rsquo;t work. The lab will have to drill new
  wells at $1 million to $1.5 million apiece. The lab has already
  proposed five new deep aquifer wells and two intermediate-depth
  monitoring wells.

&ldquo;People are entitled to clean groundwater, now and future
generations,&rdquo; said Bob Gilkeson, a former lab scientist who is
allied with Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety. &ldquo;And
it&rsquo;s our responsibility to protect the groundwater resources.
And that simply is not being done.&rdquo;

Katzman, who heads the new well project at LANL, said the lab is
working to ensure that pollutants are caught before they leave the
lab and get into water supplies. &ldquo;Our monitoring network is
driven by those kinds of concerns,&rdquo; he said.

* Federal officials need another five years to complete an
  inventory of the contamination on lab property.
* No decision has been made on what to do with a 63-acre site
  known as Area G, an unlined dump of low-level waste sitting on a
  mesa above the river. It could be moved, capped or a combination
  of the two.

Some canyons on lab property release radioactive contaminants such
as plutonium &mdash; albeit in small amounts &mdash; from lab
property into the Rio Grande. This usually happens during runoff
from major storms or from snowmelt. Research shows no increased
health risk, the lab says.

&ldquo;The laboratory, under the consent order, has a considerable
amount of work to do to really nail down not just the extent of the
contamination and do something to clean it up, but also to
understand ... threats on water supplies, including Buckman,&rdquo;
said James Bearzi of the New Mexico Environment Department.

Lab critic says dilution factor a plus

The planned river diversion will take in water downstream from where
plutonium is buried in river sediment, water officials wrote to the
local board overseeing the Buckman project. There&rsquo;s enough
plutonium there to exceed regulatory risk limits for long-term
residential exposure. But the plutonium will not be dug up,
according to the memo.

Even one of the lab&rsquo;s harshest critics is not worried about
contamination to either the Buckman wells or the river. &ldquo;The
deep aquifer contains a lot of water, and the Rio Grande contains a
lot of water,&rdquo; Greg Mello of the Los Alamos Study Group said.
&ldquo;And the dilution factors are very large.&rdquo;

However, Mello added it&rsquo;s not OK to contaminate the aquifer,
and groundwater pollution alone is a tiny piece of the problem.

&ldquo;The 360-degree threat includes accidents, sudden
surface-water contamination episodes and the totally uncertain
future of millions of cubic feet of nuclear and chemical waste ...
in place in a bad location,&rdquo; Mello said.

Still, any possible pollution can be treated before it hits the
drinking water, experts say &mdash; assuming the government pays for
it. &ldquo;First of all, we can work with LANL and (the New Mexico
Environment Department) to devise what we&rsquo;re calling an
early-warning system that will allow us to simply stop diverting
water during those times when we can anticipate high levels of
concentrations in the water,&rdquo; said Rick Carpenter, project
manager for the Buckman diversion.

An early-warning system would measure storms and notify people at
the diversion structure to stop diverting water and let the
pollution go downstream.

Secondly, a plant will be designed to effectively treat the water
before it goes into the drinking-water system, Carpenter said.

&ldquo;These transuranics and radionuclides like to bond very
strongly to smaller particles like sediment and silt,&rdquo; he said.

The bottom line is that Carpenter is confident the pollution can be
dealt with. &ldquo;We feel that between an early-warning system ...
combined with a very robust, state-of-the-art water treatment plant
will enable us not to exceed any federal drinking-water
standard,&rdquo; Carpenter said.

The lab has committed to setting up and staffing an early warning
system, Katzman said.

Arends of Concerned Citizens said that work is important because of
what&rsquo;s happened in other states. The Department of Energy
&ldquo;has a bad track record of contaminating water supplies
surrounding facilities,&rdquo; she said.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;re going to do everything in our power to protect
(the) water supply,&rdquo; Katzman said. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s of
paramount importance. It&rsquo;s our highest priority. But
we&rsquo;re prepared, in the event that something occurs that we are
unable to mitigate or prevent, to take the appropriate actions to
ensure the safe delivery of water.&rdquo;



Contact Andy Lenderman at 986-3073 or alenderman@sfnewmexican.com.

Privacy Policy / Terms of Use | �2007, Santa Fe New Mexican, all
*****************************************************************
 51 DOE: Biological and Environmental Research (BER); Federal Interagency 
Steering Committee on Multimedia Environmental Modeling

FR Doc E7-18254

[Federal Register: September 17, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 179)] 
[Notices] [Page 52867-52868] From the Federal Register Online via 
GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr17se07-40]                         

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

AGENCY: Office of Science; Biological and Environmental Research 
(BER), Department of Energy, (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

SUMMARY: The annual public meeting of the Federal Interagency Steering 
Committee on Multimedia Environmental Modeling (ISCMEM) will convene to 
discuss new operational initiatives for FY 2008 among the participating 
agencies.

DATES: September 25, 2007. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Washington Hilton Hotel, 1919 Connecticut Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Inquiries and notice of intent to 
attend the meeting may be faxed or e-mailed to: Dr. Robert T. Anderson, 
ISCMEM Chair, Office of Biological and Environmental Research, SC-23.4/
Germantown Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-1290, Tel 301-903-5549, Fax 301-903-
4154, Todd.Anderson@science.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: Eight Federal agencies have been cooperating under a 
new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the research and development 
of multimedia environmental models for the past year. The new MOU 
continues a previous 5 year effort that began in 2001 and establishes a 
framework for

[[Page 52868]]

facilitating cooperation and coordination among the following agencies 
(the specific research organization within the agency is in 
parenthesis): U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Engineer Research and 
Development Center); U.S. Department of Agriculture (Natural Resources 
Conservation Service); U.S. Department of Energy (Office of Biological 
and Environmental Research); U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; U.S. 
Geological Survey; U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmosphere 
Administration; and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Office of 
Nuclear Regulatory Research); U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. These 
agencies are cooperating and coordinating in the research and 
development (R&D) of multimedia environmental models, software and 
related databases, including development, enhancements, applications 
and assessments of site specific, generic, and process-oriented 
multimedia environmental models as they pertain to human and 
environmental health risk assessment. Multimedia model development and 
simulation supports interagency interests in risk assessment, 
uncertainty analyses, water supply issues and contaminant transport.
    Purpose of the Public Meeting: The annual public meeting provides 
an opportunity for the scientific community, other Federal and State 
agencies, and the public to be briefed on ISCMEM activities and their 
initiatives for the upcoming year, and to discuss technological 
advancements in multimedia environmental modeling.
    Proposed Agenda: The ISCMEM Chair will open the meeting with a 
brief overview of the goals of the MOU and an update on current 
activities of ISCMEM. This introduction will be followed by series of 
invited presentations throughout the morning session focusing on topics 
of mutual interest to ISCMEM participants. The afternoon session will 
be largely devoted to discussing future goals and projects that will 
set the stage for collaborative interactions among ISCMEM participating 
agencies for coming year. A detailed agenda with presentation titles 
and speakers will be posted on the MOU public Web site: http://www.ISCMEM.Org
.

    Meeting Access: The Washington Hilton Hotel is located at 1919 
Connecticut Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20009. The most convenient 
transportation to the meeting venue is via Metro. Please take Metro to 
the Dupont Circle Metro stop on the Red Line. Upon exiting the Metro 
station proceed Northwest on Connecticut Avenue, NW., for about 4 
blocks. The Washington Hilton is on the right. Please check with the 
hotel staff or look for signs for the ISCMEM public meeting room as you 
enter the building.

Robert T. Anderson,
Chair, Federal Interagency Steering Committee on Multimedia 
Environmental Modeling.
 [FR Doc. E7-18254 Filed 9-14-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P


*****************************************************************
 52 Knoxville News Sentinel: Group says 7 historic buildings need help 

Preservationists hope to save pieces of Oak Ridge history

By Frank Munger (Contact)
Monday, September 17, 2007

Photo Gallery

Oak Ridge's Atomic Heritage lists some endangered facilities

SAVE THE SEVEN LIST


Endangered buildings from Oak Ridge’s atomic heritage:

* "The Guest House" — Where such Manhattan Project luminaries as
  Enrico Fermi, J. Robert Oppenheimer and Gen. Leslie Groves stayed,
  it’s privately owned and falling into serious disrepair.
* K-25 building — Although the Department of Energy has agreed
  in a memo to save the north tower that forms the bottom of the
  giant, U-shaped structure, preservationists are concerned about
  its deteriorating state.
* The NOAA building — The town’s original health center, built
  in 1945, could be threatened because of its location in a
  developing commercial district along South Illinois Avenue in Oak
  Ridge.
* Building 9706-2 — The historic medical center at the Y-12
  plant is one of the last examples of the yellow-tile construction
  used in wartime at the Oak Ridge plant. Operations there are being
  relocated to a new building, fueling concerns about its future.
* Beta-3 — One of the Y-12 facilities that enriched uranium for
  the first atomic bomb, which was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, on
  Aug. 6, 1945, it’s the last building with functioning calutrons.
* Building 9731 — The first building constructed at Y-12 in
  1943, it housed a pilot operation for the calutrons that separated
  U-235.
* The Graphite Reactor — Located at Oak Ridge National
  Laboratory, it has been declared a National Historic Landmark and
  a Nuclear Historic Landmark. While the government says it plans to
  preserve the facility, preservationists say there’s no
  guarantee. It’s one of the most important structures in Oak
  Ridge’s nuclear history.


OAK RIDGE — Another World War II-related mission is under way in
Oak Ridge, and this, too, has a sense of urgency.

Preservationists are trying to save precious pieces of the Atomic
City’s wartime history, and the Oak Ridge Heritage and
Preservation Association last week identified seven buildings as top
priorities — either because the buildings are in immediate danger
or because they’re an important part of the Oak Ridge story.

“You can’t save everything,” said Oak Ridge historian Bill
Wilcox. “We’re trying to be practical and sensible and thinking
about the long-term future.”

Topping the list is The Guest House, which housed a number of famous
visitors — such as Enrico Fermi, J. Robert Oppenheimer and Gen.
Leslie Groves — during the Manhattan Project.

It’s now unused, privately owned, badly deteriorated and looking
worse by the day. So far, efforts to find a preservation sugar daddy
have been unsuccessful.

“It is in sorry shape,” Wilcox said. “It’s urgent that we do
something about it.”

Three buildings on the “Save the Seven” list are at the Y-12
nuclear weapons plant, which is undergoing a major modernization
project. Dozens of structures have been bulldozed there in the past
few years.

Building 9706-2 was built in 1943-44, and it housed Y-12’s medical
center from the outset. It’s one of the last remaining examples of
the yellow-tile construction used during the wartime project.

Wilcox said he’s concerned that 9706-2 soon could be on a
demolition list because the plant’s medical facilities are being
relocated to a new building at Y-12.

Other priorities are Building 9731, the first building constructed
at Y-12 during World War II, and Beta-3, which houses the plant’s
last group of operating calutrons.

Perhaps the biggest surprise on the list is the Graphite Reactor,
the world’s first continuously operated nuclear reactor. The
reactor, which was shut down in 1963, is an Oak Ridge icon.

The Graphite Reactor was designated a National Historic Landmark in
1966 and a Nuclear Historic Landmark in 1992.

Wilcox said those appellations are nice, but they don’t guarantee
the reactor’s long-term protection. He said he’d like to see a
formal commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Billy Stair, of UT-Battelle, the contractor that manages Oak Ridge
National Laboratory for DOE, said there are plans to create a
history park, with the Graphite Reactor as the centerpiece.

A number of old buildings would be taken down in that vicinity, but
the Graphite Reactor would be left intact “as a monument to the
lab’s history,” Stair said. There also are plans to upgrade
parts of the reactor building’s interior and improve the
aesthetics of the exterior grounds, he said.

DOE spokesman John Shewairy said, “In short, our plans are to
preserve the Graphite Reactor as it is. Not much else to add to
that.”

Susan Gawarecki, executive director of the Local Oversight
Committee, which represents local governments on environmental
issues, said it’s hard to overvalue the historic facilities.

“This place can be a huge attraction,” she said.

Unfortunately, many old buildings have already been demolished in
the name of modernization, and others could come down soon,
Gawarecki said.

Once a building is vacated, it can deteriorate quickly —
especially if the utilities are turned off, she said. “If it’s
not heated and cooled, then the roof starts to go, and water entry
causes huge problems. It’s a downhill slide,” she said.

At one time, preservationists identified 108 buildings at the K-25
enrichment plant that were worth saving. That was later whittled
down to 9. Ultimately, they negotiated an agreement with DOE to save
a piece of one — the north tower of the original K-25 building.

“We can’t afford to save 100 buildings,” Wilcox said. “You
have to focus your energy and make sure you’re saving something
really important.”

Senior writer Frank Munger may be reached at 865-342-6329.

� 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

*****************************************************************
 53 Knoxville News Sentinel: Y-12 invention could provide big benefits to metals industry

By Frank Munger (Contact)

Monday, September 17, 2007

Submitted

Ed Ripley, a metallurgist at the Y-12 nuclear weapons complex, pours
salts into a prototype molten salt bath system that incorporates
microwave technology. The heat treatment is used to enhance and
control the desired properties in metal components.


When the topic of Oak Ridge and tech transfer comes up for
discussion, it usually centers on spin-off activities from the
science missions at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

However, world-class research also is taking place at the Y-12
National Security Complex, and even though much of the Y-12 work is
secret stuff pertaining to weapons production, there’s useful
technology that can be shared with others.

Y-12 metallurgist Ed Ripley is convinced that microwave
heat-treatment techniques developed at the Oak Ridge site could be a
boon to a broad swatch of industry that uses molten salt baths and
other treatments to induce, enhance and control the desired
properties of metal components.

Ripley, who works in Y-12’s applied technologies division, has
received a patent for microwave heat-treating, with two other
related patents pending.

The researcher pursued development of the technique and patents
because of the potential benefit in “real world” industry, not
because of an immediate use planned at Y-12 — although Ripley said
some applications at the warhead-manufacturing facility are being
explored.

“We really didn’t have a specific application in mind,” the
44-year-old researcher said.

The microwave heat-treating, which includes salt-bath processing,
offers great potential for energy savings, Ripley said. It could
lend flexibility for small shops that don’t want have the
resources to conduct large-scale, around-the-clock processing
operations.

Traditional molten salt baths with submerged electrodes are
typically run 24 hours a day, “until you’re ready for an
outage,” Ripley said.

Microwave heat treatments can be stopped and started much more
easily, can be modified to meet the size of components, and don’t
have to be run when there’s no work in the pipeline, he said.

In addition, they don’t require as much power when operating, he
said.

“The industry-standard salt baths are 10 to 20 kilowatts, run 24
hours, 7 days a week,” Ripley said. “This (microwave) salt bath
uses 3 to 6 kilowatts to heat the same amount, but you can turn it
on and off.”

The maintenance costs also are lower, he said, because the longer
you operate equipment at high temperatures — molten-salt baths are
around 930 degrees Fahrenheit — the faster it breaks down.

The Y-12 staff has created a small prototype unit to demonstrate the
salt baths with microwaves, and Ripley said the invention could have
an impact rather quickly.

Microwave generators and others materials and equipment are
available off the shelf, he said.

Y-12 officials are talking with potential users, although Ripley
wouldn’t specify any of the companies involved in those talks. He
said he plans to take his demonstration unit to an upcoming trade
show in Detroit.

“We’d love to license it,” said Ripley, who has worked at Y-12
for 17 years. He holds master’s degrees in nuclear engineering and
metallurgy.

“All the things that are required to make it work are already
things that we do on a daily basis,” Ripley said.

He sees a bigger picture why inventions such as this need to take
hold.

U.S. businesses increasingly are exporting their work to other
countries because of low labor costs or other advantages, and Ripley
said, “If we don’t find a way to keep them in the United States,
the metal-working business is going to leave. Keeping down energy
use is one of the main ways we can keep down costs. That’s what we
need to do if we’re going to be competitive in the world market.”

UT-Battelle, the government’s managing contractor at Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, has reshaped the look of the lab with a major
modernization program over the past six years.

New buildings are all over the place, and the work isn’t done yet,
according to Jeff Smith, ORNL’s deputy director for operations.

The plan is to refurbish the 1950s-vintage office-and-lab complex
known as 4500-North and 4500-South.

The massive structures, which house many of the lab’s scientists
as well as top administrators, will be updated at cost of $250
million-$300 million over about a 10-year period.

Before that can be done, however, UT-Battelle wants to build a new
facility across the street to house all the materials and chemistry
labs currently in the 4500 complex.

That new facility would have about 150,000 square feet of workspace
and cost about $90 million, Smith said. UT-Battelle hopes to get a
line item for the construction in the 2009 budget and complete that
work over about four years, he said.

The building doesn’t have a name yet, and UT-Battelle is just
starting work on the conceptual design, Smith said. He said he
expects the design to be compatible with the other new structures
surrounding the site on the central campus of ORNL.

There is some sense of urgency to the project because the new
facility needs to be completed — the working labs relocated —
before the 4500 refurbishment can really begin.

“You can’t remodel a house while you’re living in it,” Smith
said.

Senior writer Frank Munger covers Department of Energy operations in
Oak Ridge. He may be reached at 865-342-6329.

� 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

*****************************************************************
 54 Arbiter Online: Nuclear delegates attend Global 2007 on the Grove - 

CLAUDIO BEAGARIE News Writer

Issue date: 9/17/07 Section: News

Idaho National Laboratory Technical Program Chair and Global 2007
Meeting Official Mike Goff stands in front of a poster promoting
global energy partnerships. Goff was responsible for much of the
planning that went into the organization of the conference.
[Click to enlarge]


It was crowded in the main lobby of the Boise Center on the Grove
Monday, Sept. 10. There was a definite hustle to the delegates from
20 different countries who showed up for the start of the week-long
nuclear energy conference.

An aura of optimism pervaded last Monday morning&rsquo;s gathering
as if attendees came prepared to make nuclear history.

New nuclear fuel processes were introduced at the plenary session,
along with a discussion of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership and
the proposed nuclear plant to be located in Owyhee County.

All 500 conference participants attended the Plenary session.
Don Gillispie, CEO of Alternate Energies Holdings Inc., a Virginia-
based company, spent the better part of one hour during the opening
session laying out the fundamentals of his company&rsquo;s planned
1,600 megawatt nuclear power plant.

Gillispie said the plan was to sell 500 megawatts of electrical
power in Idaho and to export more than 1,000 megawatts to
neighboring states, mostly directed toward California.
The proposed site is 45 miles southwest of Boise near the Snake
River.

Gillispie claimed a growth of support in Owyhee County and the
resultant rise in local property values vindicates the project, but
he then listed the benefits that would accrue to Idaho, such as
cheaper electricity, tax revenues and a $1 billion boost to the
state economy.

While speaking of increasing support from the national environmental
community for nuclear energy, Gillispie mostly dealt with the issue
of the ex-Greenpeace Chief Patrick Moore, whose pro-nuclear views
run counter to the anti-nuclear stance of Greenpeace.

Gillispie, could not show that his company has garnered any local
support amongst Idaho&rsquo;s environmental groups.

&ldquo;Only one of 12 Idaho based environmental organizations
queried about the proposed nuclear power plant bothered to answer,
and that reply was negative, the Snake River Alliance expressed
their opposition to the proposed nuclear power plant,&rdquo;
Gillispie said.

 In addition to the environmentalist&rsquo;s woes, last May three
national environmental groups publicly demanded that AEHI remove its
names from the company&rsquo;s Website, stating their opposition to
nuclear power and damage to its reputations by association with
AEHI. 

Two Korean delegates expressed interest to learn more about the
latest fast-breeder reactor technologies directly through
participation in conference workshops. They believed that
face-to-face contact is still superior to phones and e-mail when it
comes to technological exchanges.

 About 100 of the delegates journeyed from Asian counties, and about
200 of the delegates were from the United States.
Boise State University is assuming an increasingly important roll in
the nuclear power field. A Master of Science in Materials and
Engineering program is now offered through the College of
Engineering. This program is dedicated to the improvement of nuclear
fuel technology.

It is also tied in with the Center for Advanced Energy Studies. CAES
will be centered in Idaho Falls, conveniently close to the Idaho
National Laboratory. 

Professor of Materials Science Darryl Butt, a BSU presenter, said he
and his master-level students are working on important energy
projects.

They are designed to make nuclear fuel more economical by using new
production processes that reduce the necessary
production steps.

According to Butt, his research group is pursuing new production
methods for the synthesizing of uranium monontride, an advanced
nuclear fuel.

This fuel is used in so-called fast reactors, which have some
desirable attributes over older style reactors due to the fact that
they produce more nuclear fuel than they use.

&ldquo;This is an important international meeting that is being held
in Idaho for the first time.

&ldquo;We have speakers from all over the world discussing nuclear
energy and technologies for reducing green house gases and
eliminating high level nuclear waste,&rdquo; Butt said.

&ldquo;It is an exciting time to be at an Idaho university and to be
involved in this very important area of research and technology
development.&rdquo;

Conference organizer and INL Technical Program Chairman Mike Goff
expressed optimism at the tone of the conference, which is the
largest such gathering ever held.

&ldquo;This was a very critical time in the history of nuclear
power, countries such as China, India were aggressively moving
forward with advanced fuel cycles while we have not built any new
plants in years,&rdquo; Goff said.

&ldquo;These conferences were a good place for these scientists and
industry people to meet exchange information and promote
technical progress.&rdquo;


Dr. Peter Rickards DPM

posted 9/17/07 @ 11:11 AM MST

The businessman planning to build a merchant nuclear power plant 
in Bruneau forgot to mention a few important issues, when he 
wrote about the money he would generate. (Continued&hellip;) 

� The Arbiter Online, All Rights Reserved The Arbiter, Boise 
State University, 1910 University Dr, Boise, ID, 83706 The 
Arbiter 208.345.8204 Fax 208.426.3884 Advertising 208.345.8204 
(ext.) 118 Feedback? Send a Letter to the Editor | Online Editor 
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 55 DOE: DOE Names Director for Office of Indian Energy Policy and 
Makes Available $2 Million for Clean Energy Projects on Tribal 
Lands

September 14, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC � U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W.
Bodman today announced the appointment of Steven J. Morello to be
Director of DOE�s newly formed Office of Indian Energy Policy and
Programs.  As Director of this office, Mr. Morello will work to
implement and manage energy planning, education and efficiency for
American Indian tribes.

Also today, the Secretary announced that DOE�s Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy would make available a total of up
to $2 million for 15 Native American tribes and Alaskan villages
that have been selected for negotiation of awards that support the
advancement of renewable energy technologies on tribal lands and
rural Alaskan villages.

�The creation of the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs
will further assist the Department in reaching all Americans in
promoting clean, reliable and affordable energy,� Secretary Bodman
said. �I look forward to working with Steve to advance and promote
clean energy, changing the way we power this nation.�

The Indian Energy Policy and Program Office will reside within DOE�s
Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs where Mr.
Morello will also continue to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Intergovernmental and External Affairs.  Most recently, Mr.
Morello founded Native Insurance Agency LLC (NIA), a Small Business
Association-certified, minority-owned small disadvantaged business,
where he served as its Managing Member.  Prior to NIA, Mr. Morello
worked in his own law firm, Native Law Group PC, representing his
tribe, the Sault Saint Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, among others.

In 2001, Mr. Morello was nominated by President George W. Bush, and
later confirmed by the Senate, to be the General Counsel of the U.S.
Department of the Army.  In that position, he served as the legal
advisor to the Secretary of the Army and the Army�s Chief Legal
Officer.  A Georgetown University graduate, Mr. Morello received his
law degree from the University of Detroit Law School, and earned a
Master of Science in Business Administration degree from Boston
University.  Mr. Morello also earned a Master of Arts in Pastoral
Studies from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan.

As part of DOE�s ongoing commitment to work with Native American
tribes and Alaskan villages, the $2 million Secretary Bodman
announced today will be invested, subject to negotiations, in
renewable energy and energy efficiency projects on tribal lands that
support President Bush�s Advanced Energy Initiative, which
challenges Americans to change the way we power our homes, offices,
and vehicles.

�The Department of Energy is committed to encouraging and helping
groups develop and deploy clean energy sources,� Secretary Bodman
said.  �Providing support for Native Americans to explore and employ
clean, renewable energy technologies will help increase efficiency
and provide for a cleaner environment.�

Of the 15 Native American tribes and villages whose projects have
been selected for negotiation, six will study the feasibility of
utilizing renewable energy technologies on tribal lands; and nine
projects will take initial steps toward implementing renewable
energy and energy efficiency projects on tribal lands.  The selected
projects will receive both financial and technical assistance from
DOE.  Since 2001, DOE has provided $12.4 million for 76 tribal
energy projects, with tribes contributing an additional $3.6
million.  Read more on DOE's Tribal Energy Program.

Tribes receiving awards for feasibility studies are:
* Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments (Alaska) � This
  consortium, consisting of ten Gwich�in and Kouyukon Athabascan
  tribes settled along the Yukon River, will conduct a feasibility
  study of biomass-generated heat and power.  The region is rich in
  forest resources, but electricity costs approximately 46 cents per
  kilowatt-hour compared to 8.5 cents per kilowatt-hour in Fairbanks.
* NANA Regional Corporation (Alaska) � The NANA Region of Alaska
  plan to establish a strategic energy plan and analyze energy
  options available to tribal members and shareholders.  The region
  includes eleven communities totaling 7,600 people, many of whom
  are of Inupiat Eskimo decent.  With this project, the corporation
  plans to promote the use of renewable resources, especially its
  abundant supply of wind and geothermal resources, to heighten the
  tribe�s self-determination, while maintaining Inupiat traditional
  values.
* Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes (Montana) � The Salish and
  Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation plan to develop a
  strategic energy plan to incorporate the use of biomass resources
  that could be used for heating selected facilities.
* Warm Springs (Central Oregon) � Members of the Warm Springs
  Reservation plan to develop a comprehensive business plan to build
  a commercial wind energy facility at Mutton Mountain.  Warm
  Springs is home to the Warm Springs, Wasco, and Paiute Tribes. 
  Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises, a corporate entity owned
  by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, have been conducting
  wind studies on the reservation since 2002.
* Yurok Tribe (Northwest California) � With nearly 5,000 enrolled
  members, the Yurok Tribe is the largest in California.  The
  project will help the tribe assess the feasibility of employing
  wind and hydroelectric energy technologies to take advantage of
  the Klamath River, which runs about 50 miles through the
  reservation.


The following table lists the six projects selected for negotiation
of awards that will study the feasibility of utilizing renewable
energy technologies on tribal lands.


# NAME* TECHNOLOGY STATE REQUESTED DOE FUNDS** COST SHARE
1 Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments Biomass Heat and Power &
Biomass Delivery AK $143,720 $155,000
2 NANA Regional Corporation (Geothermal) Geothermal AK $149,988 $46,84
0
3 NANA Regional Corporation (Wind) Wind Energy AK $149,990 $88,080
4 Salish & Kootenai Holding Company (Flathead Reservation) Biomass
Heating MT $117,070 $4,000
5 Warm Springs Power and Water Enterprises Utility-scale Wind Energy O
R $150,000 $75,300
6 Yurok Tribe Hydro & Wind Energy CA $150,000 $18,744

*  Listed in alphabetical order; **

* Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (Warm Springs Power & Water
  Enterprises) (Oregon)  �  The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
  project will focus on a 12-month public involvement and building
  program designed to educate the Tribes on the development process,
  impacts and benefits of renewable energy.
* Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (North Carolina) � Funding for
  the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will develop a comprehensive
  Tribal Strategic Energy Plan that defines the Tribe�s energy
  vision, goals and objectives; establishes current energy usage and
  future needs; assesses the full spectrum of renewable and
  conventional energy opportunities and energy efficiency options;
  and defines an action plan to reach the defined goals.
* Interior Regional Housing Authority for Hughes Village
  Consortium (Alaska) - This project, which includes Hughes
  (representing the consortium) Birch Creek, Huslia, and Allakaket,
  will focus on developing an energy management program to reduce
  energy usage and explore alternative sources for energy.
* Karuk Tribe of California (California) � This project will
  assess solar, micro-hydro, woody biomass, and wind energy
  resources on trust lands within the tribe Ancestral Territory. 
  The project will also promote energy efficiency and human capacity
  building with the Karuk Tribe and its communities.
* Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
  (Wisconsin) - This project will focus on energy analysis as the
  first step toward achieving the tribe commitment to energy
  self-sufficiency.  This will include analysis of current and
  future efficiency and renewable energy projects; audits of current
  energy use and carbon emissions; and development of policy and
  programs options to improve efficiency.
* Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
  (Wisconsin) - This project will establish a baseline, assess,
  evaluate, and plan for optimal utilization of efficiency and
  renewable energy resources and technologies on tribal lands. 
  Through the development of the energy plan, the tribe will refine
  its vision for energy use, explore options for technical
  assistance, and establish long-term goals and objectives.
* NANA Regional Corporation (Alaska)  � This project will analyze
  energy consumption needs and patterns, as well as examine energy
  options through a pre-feasibility analysis of identified renewable
  resources, non-renewable renewable resources, and energy
  efficiency measures. Ultimately, a strategic plan will provide
  stakeholders with a conceptual framework and energy vision for
  enhancing energy security.
* Robinson Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians - (California) � This
  project will support the tribe�s commitment to the Lake County
  Tribal Energy Program, a multi Tribal program. This project aims
  to promote Tribal energy efficiency and create employment and
  economic opportunities on Tribal Lands through energy efficiency
  development.
* Seneca Nation of Indian  � This funding will support the Seneca
  Nation�s evaluation of forming tribal utility and/or energy
  services/ production companies and the  most efficient and
  effective framework within which the energy program will operate.


The following table lists nine projects selected for negotiation of
awards that will focus on taking initial steps toward implementing
renewable energy and energy efficiency projects on tribal lands.


�FIRST STEPS TOWARD DEVELOPING RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY
EFFICIENCY ON TRIBAL LANDS�

  NAME* SCOPE STATE REQUESTED DOE FUNDS** COST SHARE
1 Confederated Tribes of Warm Spring* (Warm Springs Power & Water
Enterprises WSPWE) Capacity and Awareness Building (Wind &
Geothermal Training) OR $100,000 $34,318
2 Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Strategic Energy Plan NC $100,000 $
66,951
3 Hughes Village Council (Consortium of AK Villages) Capacity
Building for Efficiency AK $100,000 $45,536
4 Karuk Tribe of California Energy Option Analysis and Conservation CA $
97,940 $2,060
5 Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Energy
Options Analysis & Resource Planning WI $56,115 $0
6 Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians Strategic
Energy Planning & Energy Options WI $99,423 $33,342
7 NANA Regional Corporation Strategic Energy Plan & Energy Options AK $
99,855 $95,920
8 Robinson Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians (Consortium) Strategic
Energy Planning & Energy Options CA $100,000 $22,076
9 Seneca Nation of Indians Energy Organization Development NY $100,000 $
85,280

Media contact(s): Julie Ruggiero, (202) 586-4940 

 U.S. Department of Energy | 1000 Independence Ave., SW | 
Washington, DC 20585 1-800-dial-DOE | f/202-586-4403
*****************************************************************
 56 DOE: U.S. and China Sign Agreement to Increase Industrial Energy Efficiency

September 14, 2007

DOE to Conduct Energy Efficiency Audits on up to 12 Facilities

SAN FRANCISCO, CA � U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant
Secretary for Policy and International Affairs Karen Harbert and
Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Committee
(NDRC) Chen Deming, this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) to increase cooperation and energy efficiency in China�s
industrial sector, which accounts for 70 percent of the country�s
total energy demand.  This MOU, titled Industrial Energy Efficiency
Cooperation, follows discussions this week at the third U.S.-China
Energy Policy Dialogue where the U.S. and China agreed to conduct
audits to increase China�s national, regional, and local energy
efficiency.

�This agreement signifies the importance of our strategic energy and
economic cooperation with China,� Assistant Secretary Harbert said. 
�As global energy use continues to rapidly increase, the U.S. is
working to identify ways to increase industrial energy efficiency
both domestically and across the globe.  Our U.S. industry has
significant expertise and products that can improve energy
efficiency in China.�

The Industrial Energy Efficiency Cooperation MOU signifies the U.S.
and China�s intention to promote energy efficiency at
energy-intensive factories that will reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.  A DOE team of industrial energy efficiency experts,
which includes a NDRC counterpart team, will conduct on-site plant
audits of the production process and plant energy systems at up to
twelve facilities from �The Top 1000� energy enterprises in China. 
DOE will provide tools to conduct the plant audits and train factory
personnel on plant audit techniques.  These facilities must have the
resources and feasibility to implement energy efficient improvements
identified by the DOE and NDRC teams.  DOE will subsequently conduct
a comparison study of these Chinese enterprises and U.S.
manufacturing plants to identify differences in best practices.  The
MOU could also serve as a conduit for American companies to export
environmentally superior U.S.-made equipment and services to China.

DOE intends to host training sessions in the United States for
Chinese officials to familiarize energy-saving management personnel,
including government personnel, energy-saving supervisory and
monitoring personnel, energy policy research personnel and the
management of big energy consumption enterprises, with U.S. energy
saving laws, policies, advanced energy saving procedures and
technologies and best practices.  DOE will also provide
demonstrations for highly-efficient boilers, fired heaters and
combined heat and power units.

Through Save Energy Now Assessments, DOE works proactively with the
U.S. industrial sector to assess energy use and devise strategies
for savings.  Since 2006, DOE has conducted 344 industrial energy
assessments, identifying potential energy cost savings of more than
$585 million and 60 trillion btu per year.  When fully implemented,
the greenhouse gas emissions savings would be equivalent to removing
nearly 850,000 vehicles from the road each year.

The signing of this MOU follows cooperation through a number of
bilateral and multilateral partnerships aimed at increasing energy
efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and removing barriers
to private investment in clean energy technologies including the
U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, the U.S.-China Oil and Gas
Industry Forum, Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum and the
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.

United States-China&nbsp;MOU

Media contact(s): Megan Barnett, (202) 586-4940 



 U.S. Department of Energy | 1000 Independence Ave., SW | 
Washington, DC 20585 1-800-dial-DOE | f/202-586-4403

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 57 DOE: U.S. Removes Nine Metric Tons of Plutonium From Nuclear Weapons Stockpile

September 17, 2007

Declaration Reinforces U.S. Commitment to Nonproliferation

VIENNA, AUSTRIA - Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman today
announced that the Department of Energy�s National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA) will remove nine metric tons of plutonium from
further use as fissile material in U.S. nuclear weapons, signifying
the Bush Administration�s ongoing commitment to nonproliferation.  
Nine metric tons of plutonium is enough material to make over 1,000
nuclear weapons.  The Secretary made today�s announcement while
speaking before the International Atomic Energy Agency�s annual
general conference.

�The United States is leading by example and furthering our
commitment to nonproliferation and the Nuclear Nonproliferation
Treaty by safely reducing the amount of weapons-usable nuclear
material in the world,� Secretary Bodman said.  �As the United
States continues to reduce the size of its nuclear weapons
stockpile, we will be able to dispose of even more nuclear material
while increasing energy and national security.�

The excess plutonium will be removed in the coming decades from
retired, dismantled nuclear weapons.  It will be eliminated by
fabrication into mixed-oxide fuel that can be burned in commercial
nuclear reactors to produce electricity.

In 2004, President Bush directed that the size of the U.S. nuclear
weapons stockpile be reduced by almost half from its size in 2001
when he entered office.  This direction is consistent with the
President�s commitment to maintaining the lowest number of nuclear
weapons while providing for national security.  By 2012, the U.S.
nuclear arsenal will be at its lowest level since the Eisenhower
administration in the 1950s.

Today�s plutonium announcement follows Secretary Bodman�s 2005
announcement to remove from further use as fissile material in U.S.
nuclear weapons up to 200 metric tons of highly enriched uranium
from retired nuclear warheads.

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a separately organized
agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for
enhancing national security through the military application of
nuclear science.  NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security,
reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile
without nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons
of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective
nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological
emergencies in the United States and abroad.  Read more information
about the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

Media contact(s): Megan Barnett, (202) 586-4940 Julianne Smith, 
(202) 586-7371 

 U.S. Department of Energy | 1000 Independence Ave., SW | 
Washington, DC 20585 1-800-dial-DOE | f/202-586-4403
    
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material is distributed without profit or payment to those who 
have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for 
non-profit research and educational purposes only. For more 
information go to: 
<http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml> 
    
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