***************************************************************** 10/18/07 **** RADIATION BULLETIN(RADBULL) **** VOL 15.245 ***************************************************************** RADBULL IS PRODUCED BY THE ABALONE ALLIANCE CLEARINGHOUSE ***************************************************************** Send News Stories to news@energy-net.org with title on subject line and first line of body NUCLEAR POLICY NUCLEAR REACTORS 1 US: The Times-Tribune - Limits to expire; lawmakers fear 30% increas 2 US: WNN: Nuclear power plant proposed for Utah 3 US: Salt Lake Tribune: Lawmaker pushing N-power also is CEO seeking 4 US: usnews.com: Climate Change Endangers Energy Sector - 5 US: NRC: Notice of License Amendment Request of Nuclear Fuel Service 6 | Reuters: Areva sees nuclear deal signed with China in Nov 7 US: Reuters: Entergy N.Y. FitzPatrick reactor back at full power 8 US: Reuters: Exelon Pa. Peach Bottom 3 reactor up to 90 pct 9 US: Vermont Public Radio: Legislative leaders to address energy issu 10 US: Morning Journal: Nuclear reactor to be discarded 11 US: The Badger Herald: Nuclear power worth risks 12 US: KSBY: Mock accident at Diablo Canyon trains emergency responders NUCLEAR SECURITY 13 Forbes.com: U.S.-Russian Plutonium Poses Major Risk - NUCLEAR SAFETY 14 [v911t] Depleted Uranium Far Worse Than 9/11 15 Everything Marshall Islands :: 16 US: UPI: Officers may be fired over nuke incident - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE 17 Guardian Unlimited: Radioactive waste found on 2012 London Park 18 US: Ventura County Star: U.S. Senate panel hears about the Superfund 19 Russia-InfoCentre: Revolution in Nuclear Waste Disposal 20 UPI: Nevada wants Sandia out of Yucca plans - 21 Shetland News: Isles oppose nuclear transports 22 WNN: MOX requirements advance fast reactor plans 23 US: Press Enterprise: Rialto asks company for cleanup help 24 US: Independent: Bingaman introduces ?SECURE Water Act? 25 US: Daily Pennsylvanian: What to do with nuclear waste? - 26 ReviewJournal.com: Yucca hearing set, fulfilling Clinton campaign pr 27 US: The Tribune: Uranium mining in Colorado: Focus on facts, not fea 28 US: Herald News: Nuclear center's location still uncertain PEACE 29 [NYTr] USAF Said to be "Firing" 5 Officers over Nuke-armed B-52 "Mis 30 RIA Novosti: Russia announces successful Topol ballistic missile tes 31 Reuters: Russia plans new nuclear weapons 32 UPI: U.S. and Russia negotiate missile shield - 33 UPI: Putin details nuclear weapons development - 34 Guardian Unlimited: Putin unveils new nuclear weapons project 35 AFP: Putin attacks US foreign policy, announces new nuclear weapon - 36 The Hindu: India, Russia sign pact to build combat aircraft 37 Bulletin Online: Russia and nuclear disarmament US DEPT. OF ENERGY 38 Tri-City Herald: Work levels 300 Area at Hanford 39 Knoxville News Sentinel: ORNL scientist authors report on climate im ***************************************************************** ***************************************************************** FULL NEWS STORIES ***************************************************************** ***************************************************************** 1 The Times-Tribune - Limits to expire; lawmakers fear 30% increase Scranton, PAa BY ROBERT SWIFT HARRISBURG BUREAU CHIEF 10/17/2007 HARRISBURG ? A PPL executive told senators Tuesday that extending electric rate caps for consumers would have a negative impact on his company?s plan for a third reactor unit at the Susquehanna nuclear plant in Salem Township, Luzerne County. ?It would create regulatory uncertainty that will discourage investment in new generation, and certainly will impact PPL?s consideration of an additional nuclear generating unit at Susquehanna,? Bryce Shriver, president of PPL Nuclear Development, said in testimony at a hearing before two Senate committees. Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, was one of two senators presiding at the hearing. The hearing was about security measures at Pennsylvania?s nuclear plants, but discussion veered into plans by all three Pennsylvania nuclear power generators to expand production. While much of the focus in the special legislative session on energy is on promoting solar and wind power, several senators said Pennsylvanians need to remember that one-third of their energy comes from nuclear power. PPL is considering whether to apply next year to the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a license to build an additional unit at Susquehanna. Meanwhile, the utility is seeking NRC approval to increase the Susquehanna plant?s power output by about 20 percent above what the plants generated when they started operating in the 1980s. For the past decade, electric bills for consumers have been capped in Pennsylvania. But those rate caps are set to expire at the end of 2009 and 2010, and lawmakers are concerned that will lead to sudden rate hikes of 30 percent or more as electricity must be purchased without caps, on the open market. Mr. Shriver?s testimony presents a policy dilemma for Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Lehigh, a member of one of the committees holding the hearing. Ms. Boscola said she supports the development of nuclear power and is considering sponsoring a bill to provide state incentives to spur investment in nuclear power. ?I can?t see a better way to go than nuclear for a number of reasons,? she said. But Ms. Boscola has been vocal about the need to extend rate caps for two years after they would expire. She is drafting separate legislation on that topic. ?I?m worried people are going to have sticker shock in 2010,? she said. Testimony on security issues focused heavily on a recent event at Peach Bottom nuclear plant in York County where security officers were videotaped sleeping in a station ?ready room.? NRC officials are investigating the incident and Peach Bottom?s operator, Exelon Nuclear, fired a private security firm. PPL officials said they have an in-house security force and have spent more than $20 million on physical security improvements at Susquehanna since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com The Times-Tribune 2007 ***************************************************************** 2 WNN: Nuclear power plant proposed for Utah NEW NUCLEAR 18 October 2007 A private equity group has proposed the construction of the first nuclear power plant in the US state of Utah and has already agreed water rights for the plant. However, the involvement of two state lawmakers in the project has drawn criticism from opponents. Transition Power Development (TPD) is reviewing potential sites for the plant in Utah. The company plans to spend some $100 million on obtaining a licence from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to construct the proposed 1500 MWe plant. However, TPD plans to then sell the licence to another company which would actually construct and operate the plant. TPD, formed in February 2007, signed an agreement with the Kane County Water Conservancy District (KCWCD) on 20 September to secure the rights to water to cool the nuclear reactor. The water will be drawn from Lake Powell. Under the agreement, Transition Power will pay KCWCD $1 million annually for some 30,000 acre-feet of water (37.1 million cubic metres) once the plant begins operating. TPD paid the conservancy district $10,000 upon signing the agreement and will pay $100,000 annually for five years until construction of the plant commences. It will then pay $500,000 per year until power generation begins. However, critics of the proposed plant have called into question conflicts of interest of two Utah state representatives promoting it. Representative Aaron Tilton, Republican for Springville, is a partner in Transition Power. Representative Mike Noel, Republican for Kanab, is an executive director of KCWCD. Noel is chairman of the Utah's Legislature's Public Utilities and Technology Committee and Tilton is vice chairman. In addition, both men are members of the Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee, which is co-chaired by Noel. The interim committee is considering legislation that would assist utilities in constructing nuclear power plants in the state. A bill to such effect was discussed by the committee on 18 July and 19 September. Tilton said the criticism of his interests was "fairly predictable," but added that there has been no legislation before the committee that would help his company and he disclosed his involvement in Transition Power when he felt it appropriate. Noel said that he does not benefit in any way from the deal between KCWCD and TPD, either through the conservancy district or his private environmental consulting company. Nils Diaz, a former chairman of the NRC, is a policy advisor to Transition Power. Further information WNA's US Nuclear Power Industry information paper ***************************************************************** 3 Salt Lake Tribune: Lawmaker pushing N-power also is CEO seeking license for Utah's first nuke plant Tilton brushes aside questions about dual interests Article Last Updated: 10/18/2007 06:27:39 AM MDT Rep. Aaron Tilton gave colleagues a broad outline of his company's plan to obtain a license to build Utah's first nuclear power plant, brushing aside questions about his involvement in the project while he advocates for nuclear power in the Utah Legislature. If a nuclear plant is built in Utah, there are no guarantees the electricity produced would stay in the state, although the radioactive waste likely would for 50 to 60 years. The Springville Republican is CEO of Transition Power Development LLC, which is reviewing potential sites - he refused to say where - for a 1,500-megawatt nuclear power plant. The plan is for TPD to get the license then sell it to a company that would build and operate the reactor, said Reed Searle, who is leaving his post as the head of the Intermountain Power Agency, a major coal power producer, to be Transition Power's director of strategic relations. Tilton said it is too early to say where the plant would be located, who the potential buyer might be, and would not disclose who is providing financial backing for the company. Getting a license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission could cost $100 million. Building a power plant would cost as much as $3 billion, estimated David Hill, a nuclear researcher at the Idaho Nuclear Energy Lab. Nils Diaz, a former Nuclear Regulatory Commission chairman who now is a policy advisor to Transition Power, told members of the Legislature's public utilities committee that if the plant becomes a reality, the radioactive spent fuel would be stashed in dry-cask, on-site storage for a half-century or more. "It is an emotional issue," Diaz said of the waste storage. "It's very safe. It doesn't pose a risk to public health and safety." The state spent nearly a decade fighting a proposal by Private Fuel Storage, a consortium of nuclear plant operators, to store waste from nuclear plants around the country on the Skull Valley Goshute Indian reservation. Diaz, as a member of the NRC, consistently sided with PFS. PFS believes Utah should embrace nuclear power, said company spokeswoman Sue Martin. "With the air quality issues that Utah experiences, Utah should be moving forward on nuclear power as quickly as possible," Martin said. Tilton dismissed critics who have questioned his role in the trying to bring a nuclear power plant to Utah while advocating for nuclear energy in the Legislature. The criticism is "fairly predictable" but he has been up-front about his business dealings in the past and will be in the future, Tilton told fellow lawmakers. He said there has been no legislation before the committee that would help his company and he disclosed his involvement in the company when he felt it was appropriate. The company was formed in February; Tilton filed a conflict of interest disclosure last week. When asked last month whether he had interest in nuclear development, he said he did not. Tilton decided to declare a potential conflict after Transition Power signed a deal with the Kane County Water Conservancy District on Sept. 20 to secure the rights to 30,000 acre-feet of water per year to cool the nuclear reactor. Rep. Mike Noel, head of the public utilities committee and executive director of the water district, said he asked outside counsel to review Tilton's proposal to buy the water, because he is a friend and colleague of Tilton's and a supporter of nuclear power. "I'm totally clean on that," Noel said, adding he doesn't benefit in any way from the deal, either through the district or his private environmental consulting company. The water will be drawn from Lake Powell and Noel hopes to use money from the sale to build the Lake Powell pipeline to move water from the lake to Washington, Kane and Iron counties. Noel said the plant will not be built in Kane County. Vanessa Pierce, director of the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah, which opposes nuclear power, said Tilton has a clear conflict of interest. "He is the CEO of a group that wants to build a nuclear power plant in Utah. He's chairing a committee considering legislation to promote nuclear power in Utah. How is this not a conflict of interest?" None of the members on the legislative committee questioned Tilton's role in the company or whether there might be a conflict of interest. Noel joked that Sen. Mike Dmitrich, a Price Democrat and long-time Utah Power employee, might have to declare a conflict after singing the praises of coal power. "I'll have Tilton do it for me," Dmitrich said, laughing. * THE PROPOSAL: Erect a nuclear power plant in Utah. * THE COST: $100 million to license, $3 billion to build. * THE TENSION: Utah has fought a proposed high-level nuclear waste storage site on the Goshute reservation for 10 years. Waste from a power plant would stay on site for decades but there is no guarantee the power would be used in Utah. ***************************************************************** 4 usnews.com: Climate Change Endangers Energy Sector - News Desk October 18, 2007 02:52 PM ET | Permanent Link The energy sector is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, according to a report released this morning by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program in coordination with the Department of Energy. The report summarizes the known potential effects of climate change on energy production and use in the United States. It also identifies areas for future research. The report concludes that while U.S. need for heating will shrink over time, the demand for cooling will grow. Since nearly all cooling is provided by electricity (while heating is met by a variety of sources, such as natural gas and fuel oil), demands for electricity will likely increase. The report also finds that reduced snowfall in mountain areas in the West will reduce hydroelectric power, and changes in precipitation patterns could complicate thermal power-plant cooling and reduce efficiency. Sea-level rise could affect power plants along the coast, and warming in Alaska could impact energy exploration, production, and transportation. The report was unable to conclude what effect warming might have on the development of renewable energy alternatives, such as solar and wind power. Energy prices are likely to escalate, but effects could be mitigated through adaptation strategies if problems are identified and addressed promptly. Bret Schulte Copyright 2007 U.S. News &World Report, L.P. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 5 NRC: Notice of License Amendment Request of Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., Erwin, TN, and Opportunity To Request a Hearing FR Doc E7-20583 [Federal Register: October 18, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 201)] [Notices] [Page 59117-59118] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr18oc07-82] NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [Docket No. 70-143] AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of license amendment, and opportunity to request a hearing. DATES: A request for a hearing must be filed by December 17, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin M. Ramsey, Senior Project Manager, Fuel Manufacturing Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555. Telephone: (301) 492-3123; fax number: (301) 492-3359; e-mail: kmr@nrc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Introduction The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received, by letter dated May 15, 2007, a license amendment application from Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., requesting to increase the uranium-235 possession limit at its facility site located in Erwin, Tennessee. License No. SNM-124 authorizes the licensee to manufacture nuclear reactor fuel. Specifically, the amendment provides authorization to receive and store more uranium-235 than the current license permits. An NRC administrative review, documented in a letter to Nuclear Fuel Services dated June 18, 2007, found the application acceptable to begin a technical review. If the NRC approves the amendment, the approval will be documented in an amendment to NRC License No. SNM-124. However, before approving the proposed amendment, the NRC will need to make the findings required by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and NRC's regulations. These findings will be documented in a Safety Evaluation Report and an Environmental Assessment. II. Opportunity To Request a Hearing The NRC hereby provides notice that this is a proceeding on an application for a license amendment regarding a possession limit increase. In accordance with the general requirements in Subpart C of 10 CFR Part 2, as amended on January 14, 2004 (69 FR 2182), any person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding and who desires to participate as a party must file a written request for a hearing and a specification of the contentions which the person seeks to have litigated in the hearing. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.302 (a), a request for a hearing must be filed with the Commission either by: 1. First class mail addressed to: Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemakings and Adjudications; 2. Courier, express mail, and expedited delivery services: Office of the Secretary, Sixteenth Floor, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, Attention: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, between 7:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., Federal workdays; 3. E-mail addressed to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, HEARINGDOCKET@NRC.GOV; or 4. By facsimile transmission addressed to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC, Attention: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff, at (301) 415-1101; verification number is (301) 415-1966. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.302 (b), all documents offered for filing must be accompanied by proof of service on all parties to the proceeding or their attorneys of record as required by law or by rule or order of the Commission, including: 1. The applicant, Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc., 1205 Banner Hill Road, Erwin, Tennessee 37650, Attention: Ann M. Ward, General Counsel; and 2. The NRC staff, by delivery to the Office of the General Counsel, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, or by mail addressed to the Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. Hearing requests should also be transmitted to the Office of the General Counsel, either by means of facsimile transmission to (301) 415-3725, or by e-mail to ogcmailcenter@nrc.gov. The formal requirements for documents contained in 10 CFR 2.304 (b), (c), (d), and (e), must be met. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.304 (f), a document filed by electronic mail or facsimile transmission need not comply with the formal requirements of 10 CFR 2.304 (b), (c), and (d), as long as an original and two (2) copies otherwise complying with all of the requirements of 10 CFR 2.304 (b), (c), and (d) are mailed within two (2) days thereafter to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attention: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.309 (b), a request for a hearing must be filed by December 17, 2007. In addition to meeting other applicable requirements of 10 CFR 2.309, the general requirements involving a request for a hearing filed by a person other than an applicant must state: 1. The name, address, and telephone number of the requester; 2. The nature of the requester's right under the Act to be made a party to the proceeding; 3. The nature and extent of the requester's property, financial, or other interest in the proceeding; 4. The possible effect of any decision or order that may be issued in the proceeding on the requester's interest; and 5. The circumstances establishing that the request for a hearing is timely in accordance with 10 CFR 2.309 (b). In accordance with 10 CFR 2.309 (f)(1), a request for hearing or petitions for leave to intervene must set forth with particularity the contentions sought to be raised. For each contention, the request or petition must: 1. Provide a specific statement of the issue of law or fact to be raised or controverted; 2. Provide a brief explanation of the basis for the contention; 3. Demonstrate that the issue raised in the contention is within the scope of the proceeding; 4. Demonstrate that the issue raised in the contention is material to the findings that the NRC must make to support the action that is involved in the proceeding; 5. Provide a concise statement of the alleged facts or expert opinions which support the requester's/petitioner's position on the issue and on which the requester/petitioner intends to rely to support its position on the issue; and 6. Provide sufficient information to show that a genuine dispute exists with the applicant on a material issue of law or fact. This information must include references to specific portions of the application (including the applicant's environmental report and safety report) that the requester/petitioner disputes and the supporting reasons for each [[Page 59118]] dispute, or, if the requester/petitioner believes the application fails to contain information on a relevant matter as required by law, the identification of each failure and the supporting reasons for the requester's/petitioner's belief. In addition, in accordance with 10 CFR 2.309 (f)(2), contentions must be based on documents or other information available at the time the petition is to be filed, such as the application, supporting safety analysis report, environmental report or other supporting document filed by an applicant or licensee, or otherwise available to the petitioner. On issues arising under the National Environmental Policy Act, the requester/petitioner shall file contentions based on the applicant's environmental report. The requester/petitioner may amend those contentions or file new contentions if there are data or conclusions in the NRC draft, or final environmental impact statement, environmental assessment, or any supplements relating thereto, that differ significantly from the data or conclusions in the applicant's documents. Otherwise, contentions may be amended or new contentions filed after the initial filing only with leave of the presiding officer. Each contention shall be given a separate numeric or alpha designation within one of the following groups: 1. Technical--primarily concerns issues relating to matters discussed or referenced in the Safety Evaluation Report for the proposed action. 2. Environmental--primarily concerns issues relating to matters discussed or referenced in the Environmental Report for the proposed action. 3. Emergency Planning--primarily concerns issues relating to matters discussed or referenced in the Emergency Plan as it relates to the proposed action. 4. Physical Security--primarily concerns issues relating to matters discussed or referenced in the Physical Security Plan as it relates to the proposed action. 5. Miscellaneous--does not fall into one of the categories outlined above. If the requester/petitioner believes a contention raises issues that cannot be classified as primarily falling into one of these categories, the requester/petitioner must set forth the contention and supporting bases, in full, separately for each category into which the requester/petitioner asserts the contention belongs with a separate designation for that category. Requesters/petitioners should, when possible, consult with each other in preparing contentions and combine similar subject matter concerns into a joint contention, for which one of the co-sponsoring requesters/petitioners is designated the lead representative. Further, in accordance with 10 CFR 2.309(f)(3), any requester/petitioner that wishes to adopt a contention proposed by another requester/petitioner must do so in writing within 10 days of the date the contention is filed, and designate a representative who shall have the authority to act for the requester/petitioner. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.309 (g), a request for hearing and/or petition for leave to intervene may also address the selection of the hearing procedures, taking into account the provisions of 10 CFR 2.310. III. Further Information Documents related to this action, including the application for amendment and supporting documentation, are available electronically at the NRC's Electronic Reading Room at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. From this site, you can access the NRC's Agencywide Document Access and Management System (ADAMS), which provides text and image files of NRC's public documents. The ADAMS accession number for the document related to this Notice is ML072550166, Redacted Version of Amendment Request to Increase Uranium-235 Possession Limit. If you do not have access to ADAMS or if there are problems in accessing the documents located in ADAMS, contact the NRC Public Document Room (PDR) Reference staff at 1-800-397-4209, 301-415-4737, or by e-mail to pdr@nrc.gov. These documents may also be viewed electronically on the public computers located at the NRC's PDR, O 1 F21, One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. The PDR reproduction contractor will copy documents for a fee. Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 9th day of October 2007. For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Peter J. Habighorst, Chief, Fuel Manufacturing Branch, Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. [FR Doc. E7-20583 Filed 10-17-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P ***************************************************************** 6 | Reuters: Areva sees nuclear deal signed with China in Nov Thu Oct 18, 2007 12:12pm BST By Marie Maitre PARIS, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Areva (CEPFi.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) expects to sign deals with China for nuclear reactors during the state visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the end of November, the head of the French nuclear reactor group said on Thursday. "China is a very important country for us ... We have negotiated agreements that are very interesting and we are waiting for the official signing," Chief Executive Anne Lauvergeon told the Senate television channel after being heard by a parliamentary panel on defence and national security. Sources close to the deal told Reuters in July that France would sign a $5 billion ($7.13 billion) deal in the autumn to build two new-generation nuclear power reactors in China. China is a key market for Areva -- whose activities cover the full nuclear energy cycle from mining to waste recycling -- as the Asian country aims to spend $50 billion to quadruple its installed generating capacity at nuclear plants by 2020. Areva is already present in China but this would be the first contract for European Pressurised Reactors (EPR), with total power capacity of 3.2 gigawatts, which are to be completed in the southern Guangdong province by around 2013. A draft agreement was signed between state-owned Areva and China Guandong Nuclear Power Corp. (CGNPC) in February but another agreement between the two companies and their respective governments is needed for the deal to go ahead, sources close to the deal have said. The February agreement had raised eyebrows having come after China had awarded contracts for four reactors to U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric, now owned by Japan's Toshiba (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research), dampening hopes that France would secure a deal in China. During her parliamentary hearing, Lauvergeon also reiterated calls for a change in Areva's capital to help it finance its development -- two years after the previous conservative government shelved a plan to float part of the group on the stock market. "We are today in a period of considerable investment in industrial capacities, human resources and research and development. This calls for large financial means which we do not entirely have," she said. "Hence the whole issue surrounding the evolution of Areva's capital, which is I think a strategic subject," she added. Aides of Sarkozy said last month that a partial privatization of Areva was not on the agenda, and Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said on Tuesday that no decision had been made yet on the future of the group. Lagarde said the government was reviewing options to allow the nuclear industry to get better financing means. Areva's non-voting investment certificates traded 1.6 percent higher at 741.01 euros at the Paris bourse by 1100 GMT. ***************************************************************** 7 Reuters: Entergy N.Y. FitzPatrick reactor back at full power Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:15am EDT NEW YORK, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Entergy Corp's (ETR.N: Quote, Profile, Research) 852-megawatt FitzPatrick nuclear power station in New York returned to full power by early Thursday, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said in a report. On Wednesday, the unit was operating at 52 percent power after exiting an outage. It had shut on Oct. 14 due to an influx of algae in the cooling water intake. Power plants like FitzPatrick use water from a lake to cool the steam that drives the turbine into water, among other things. FitzPatrick sits on the shore of Lake Ontario. The station, which entered service in 1976, is located in Scriba in Oswego County, about 90 miles east of Rochester, New York. One MW powers about 800 homes in New York. Entergy in August 2006 filed for a 20-year extension of the unit's original 40-year operating license. It usually takes the NRC about 22 months (May 2008) to make a decision on a license renewal without a hearing and about 30 months (Jan 2009) with a hearing. Entergy owns and operates about 30,000 MW of generating capacity, markets energy commodities, and transmits and distributes power to 2.6 million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Reuters2007All rights reserved ***************************************************************** 8 Reuters: Exelon Pa. Peach Bottom 3 reactor up to 90 pct Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:18am EDT NEW YORK, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Exelon Corp's (EXC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) 1,112-megawatt Unit 3 at the Peach Bottom nuclear power station in Pennsylvania ramped up to 90 percent power by early Thursday, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said in a report. On Wednesday, the unit was operating at 37 percent power after exiting a refueling. The company shut the unit on Sept. 23. The unit last shut for refueling from Sept 20 to Oct 17, 2005. The unit is on a 24-month refueling cycle. The 2,224 MW Peach Bottom station, which entered service in 1974, is located in Peach Bottom in York County, about 75 miles southwest of Philadelphia. There are two 1,112 MW Units 2 and 3 at the station. Unit 2 continued to operate at full power. One MW powers about 800 homes in Pennsylvania. Separately, the NRC in 2003 renewed the plant's original 40-year operating licenses for both units for another 20 years until 2033 and 2034. Exelon Nuclear, a unit of Exelon's unregulated Exelon Generation Co LLC subsidiary, operates the station for its owners: Exelon (50 percent) and Public Service Enterprise Group Inc (PEG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (50 percent). Exelon, of Chicago, owns and operates more than 38,000 MW of generating capacity, markets energy commodities, and transmits and distributes electricity (5.4 million) and natural gas (480,000) to customers in Illinois and Pennsylvania. PSEG, of Newark, New Jersey, owns and operates more than 20,000 MW of generating capacity, markets energy commodities, and transmits and distributes electricity and natural gas to customers in North America and other parts of the world. Reuters2007All rights reserved ***************************************************************** 9 Vermont Public Radio: Legislative leaders to address energy issue again Thursday October 18, 2007 SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) After their efforts went down in a political defeat last session, legislative leaders are preparing to pass energy-efficiency legislation next year. They are hiring energy consultants to come up with a way to help Vermonters reduce their energy bills and how to pay for it. Regulatory Assistance Project, which has an office in Montpelier, is expected to report back to the Legislature by January. Last session, the Legislature passed a bill that would have expanded Efficiency Vermont to include all types of fuels, not just electricity. The governor vetoed the bill, saying he was opposed to an increased tax on the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant to pay for it. Copyright 2007, Associated Press. All rights reserved. This ***************************************************************** 10 Morning Journal: Nuclear reactor to be discarded By RICHARD PAYERCHIN, Sandusky Bureau Chief 10/18/2007 PERKINS TOWNSHIP -- The end is nearing for NASA Plum Brook Station's nuclear reactor. For years NASA and subcontractors have worked to take apart, clean and dispose of the nuclear reactor that was built to test potential spacecraft parts by exposing them to radiation. Although the reactor has not operated since 1973, the site is considered contaminated for purposes of cleanup. The decommissioning has passed several milestones in recent months, according to a report by Project Manager Keith Peecook. On Aug. 20, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission published its intention to approve NASA's Final Status Survey Plan, which explains how the space agency will meet the project goals and terminate NASA's license to operate the reactor, Peecook said. The NRC approval was ''the keystone in our efforts to complete a safe and successful decommissioning,'' Peecook said. At the end of August, NASA also issued a draft request for proposals for the decontamination and waste disposal contract. That request seeks a contractor to handle ''all the major, remaining project tasks,'' Peecook said. A contract will be awarded this winter and work will begin in the spring. Part of the final cleanup is completing decontamination throughout the entire facility, shipping and disposing of all packaged low-level radioactive waste on the site and excavating, testing and disposing of soil around the facility. That contract also will include cleanup of the Pentolite Ditch, the drainage ditch that empties into Plum Brook and that carried trace amounts of Cesium-137 and Cobalt-60. Those elements in 2005 were discovered in Plum Brook, the first instance of finding detectable levels of radiation outside Plum Brook Station's 6,400-acre site. NASA officials have repeatedly reported that the elements are not harmful to humans and this winter the space agency also will publish a fact sheet on additional sampling to find the radioactive elements in Plum Brook. As of June, consultant Bob Haag recommended leaving in place the cesium that had drifted into the East Sandusky Bay because they are away from frequent human access. More information is available at www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/pbrf. The Morning Journal 2007 ***************************************************************** 11 The Badger Herald: Nuclear power worth risks OPINION & EDITORIAL by Nathan Braun Thursday, October 18, 2007 Last week, Musicians for Safe Energy — Americas leading anti-nuclear-energy musical group — released the long-awaited follow up to their 1979 debut album, No Nukes. While it would be hard to top most of the songs off No Nukes — Plutonium is Forever is my personal favorite — the new release might come pretty close. The video features Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt and Ben Harper, among others, all singing about the new energy bill. Jackson Browne sums it up nicely; Language has been inserted in the bill which supports nuclear power, which is not clean and not safe. Ben Harper adds, You cant protect this stuff, theres no way. Its been proven. While it is admirable to see celebrities and potential role models passionate about a cause, these statements demonstrate whats wrong with anti-nuclear sentiment in America. They could be described as misinformed at best, fear-mongering at worst. Nuclear power is not perfect, but under the right circumstances it can be not only clean and safe, but also practical — the United States already gets 20 percent of its electricity from nuclear power; France gets 80 percent, mostly because political opposition isnt as strong. One of the biggest advantages of nuclear power is that it doesnt emit any carbon and therefore doesnt contribute to global warming. This is a big deal; electricity production by conventional sources — coal, petroleum and natural gas — accounts for 39 percent of our countrys total CO2 emissions in the most recent figures. Nuclear energy also produces essentially no sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide or particulates, all of which make up the smog found in our cities today. Shifting toward cleaner sources of power like nuclear energy — and other, renewable sources — would be a huge step in our battle to combat climate change. But limiting the emissions in electricity production is not going to be enough to combat climate change. A big part of the problem is all the oil and gasoline we burn up driving around every day. A way to address this could lie in electric plug-in vehicles, which have a traditional gasoline motor onboard only to recharge a battery once it runs down. GM recently unveiled the Chevy Volt, which runs purely on electricity for about 40 miles before the gasoline motor kicks in to recharge the battery. The Department of Transportation says that 78 percent of all commuters drive 40 miles or less to and from work each day. If they could recharge their vehicles every night, 78 percent of Americans would emit zero pollutants on their daily commute. This isnt a pipe dream — the Volt is expected to be on the market in 2010 and GM says it hopes to sell it for about $30,000. Some reports say as many as 60,000 may be built. This isnt the only option, either; next year Tesla Motors will begin selling the Tesla Roadster, a fully electric sports car that accelerates from 0-60 mph in under four seconds, gets 245 miles on a single charge and costs about $100,000. Notable owners include Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney and Black Eyed Peas lead singer will.i.am. Its an exciting time for innovation, and nice to see Detroit leading the way on this. But running 100 percent of our transportation off the grid wont mean anything if we dont have some way of producing mass quantities of clean power. At this point, nuclear energy is the best option for doing just that. The real problem with arguments by the Musicians for Safe Energy and other critics is that they dont offer any real workable alternatives. Most opponents are in favor of dumping nuclear power altogether in favor of renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power — which sounds fine — but these sources are intermittent, meaning they have problems when it isnt windy or sunny. Scientists are working on the technological obstacles that prevent renewable energy from being viable in the short term, and its important that they do so, but we need to address climate change now, in large part by switching to technologies that already exist. This isnt to say nuclear power doesnt have unique challenges and drawbacks; it produces radioactive waste, which is toxic for long periods and needs to be stored safely. There are also legitimate concerns about terrorism and nuclear proliferation, although I would point out any practical plans to reduce our dependence on foreign oil will necessarily have to involve an increase in nuclear power. A common argument given by many critics of the nuclear industry involves its high start-up and capital costs. You can see this in the music video. Why should the American people be subsidizing [this]? Bonnie Raitt asks. Ideally they wouldnt have to. If people had to pay the true costs of other energy sources — the cost of cleaning up soot and sulfur from coal, the risk of conflict that comes with oil and the greenhouse gases associated with both — we wouldnt have to subsidize anything. Two options would effectively address this problem: a carbon tax or a cap and trade system. Due to a monumental failure in political leadership, we are doing neither. Nuclear power is inherently different in that it involves far fewer externalities: The costs of building safe reactors, storing waste and even decommissioning the plant are already built right into its price. This is why nuclear power seems relatively more expensive than it really is. Subsidizing clean energy, such as renewable or nuclear power, is a second-best alternative behind taxing or capping carbon, but in todays political climate, it might be a choice we have to make. Nathan Braun (braun@wisc.edu) is a junior majoring in economics. Anonymous (October 18, 2007 @ 8:34am): Copyright 1999-2007 Badger Herald, Inc. Some rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 12 KSBY: Mock accident at Diablo Canyon trains emergency responders for real disaster Mock accident at Diablo Canyon trains emergency responders for real disaster Wednesday, October 17, 2007 Reported by: Shari Small SAN LUIS OBISPO A simulated accident at Diablo Canyon trains emergency responders for the real thing. French Hospital took part the disaster drill involving a mock accident at Diablo Canyon. French Hospital's CEO played the role of the victim who was exposed to a radioactive substance and injured at the power plant and taken to the hospital for treatment. "This is making sure that the power plant and our community can protect somebody that has been contaminated and injured and go ahead and take care of them in that way," said San Luis Obispo County Emergency Services Coordinator Tracey Vardas. FEMA evaluated Diablo Canyon, San Luis Ambulance, and French Hospital's performance. The County Office of Emergency Services should receive FEMA's evaluation within 60 days. All content Copyright 2000 - 2007 WorldNow and KSBY. All Rights Reserved. ***************************************************************** 13 Forbes.com: U.S.-Russian Plutonium Poses Major Risk - Oxford Analytica Oxford Analytica 10.18.07, 6:00 AM ET The U.S. Department of Energy is building a complex of facilities at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina to convert over 50 tons of plutonium into fuel for use in commercial, light water nuclear reactors in the United States. Washington and Moscow have an inter-governmental agreement to convert their stocks of plutonium into forms less attractive for use in nuclear weapons as a counter-proliferation measure and to ensure that both states continue to reduce their nuclear stockpiles. Yet the program's progress has recently slowed in both countries. To date, the United States has declared some 59 metric tons of plutonium from its nuclear weapons complex as "excess to defense needs" and designated it for conversion into forms unattractive for use in nuclear weapons. Former President Bill Clinton applied this designation to 52.5 tons of plutonium in the early 1990s, after the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) declared that excess plutonium from weapon stocks (especially in Russia) represented a "clear and present danger" requiring urgent international attention. U.S. efforts to dispose of excess plutonium were closely tied to those in Russia, which also declared 34 metric tons of plutonium as excess to weapons needs. The United States originally adopted the recommendations of the 1994 NAS study by pursuing two parallel tracks for disposal of excess plutonium. The goal of both programs was to convert excess plutonium into forms no more attractive for weapons use than the plutonium contained in spent fuel released from commercial light water reactors: --High purity plutonium (equaling 34 tons) was to be converted to mixed oxide fuels (MOX) containing both plutonium and uranium oxide, and then irradiated in commercial light water reactors. --The remaining materials (some 17 tons) were to be encased in highly radioactive glass (vitrified) being produced as part of the high-level radioactive waste management programs in the Department of Energy. --In both cases, weapons plutonium would be protected by high intensity radioactive barriers, which would serve as a major impediment to the use of the materials in nuclear weapons. --Both the spent fuel and vitrified glass were then to be disposed of in the long-term nuclear waste geologic repository being built at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. In 2002, the administration of President George Bush revised these long-standing plutonium disposition plans, due to the soaring costs, and dropped the plan to vitrify the low-purity plutonium. The original estimate for the cost of the entire U.S. disposition effort was $2 billion-- this figure had tripled to $6 billion by 2002. However, plans to dispose of the 34 tons of high-purity plutonium would continue. This change was forced, in part, by technical problems encountered in dealing with the high-level radioactive waste products that were to feed into the vitrification program. Another important driver of change in the program was a fundamental alteration in how Washington perceived the issue of excess Russian weapons plutonium. The continued relevance of the plutonium disposal program is currently being called into question, not least in Congress: The original goal was to ensure that excess Russian material was quickly disposed of. However, Moscow has experienced its own scheduling and cost problems, and only one-half of the international funding needed for the Russian MOX fabrication plant has been identified. The goal of plutonium disposition was closely linked to the 1990s process of nuclear weapons reductions and elimination, a process now stalled by the U.S.-Russian impasse on the best way to address the bilateral nuclear balance. The risk posed by the continued existence of large stockpiles of weapons-usable plutonium is serious. However, the comprehensive U.S.-Russia plutonium disposition program appears to be gradually collapsing. Increasing security around the facilities where such material is stored, rather than final disposal, may be the most likely course for the medium term. To read an extended version of this article, log on to Oxford Analytica's Web site. Oxford Analytica is an independent strategic-consulting firm drawing on a network of more than 1,000 scholar experts at Oxford and other leading universities and research institutions around the world. For more information, please visit www.oxan.com. To find out how to subscribe to the firm's Daily Brief Service, click here. ***************************************************************** 14 [v911t] Depleted Uranium Far Worse Than 9/11 Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 17:01:47 -0500 (CDT) Depleted Uranium b Far Worse Than 9/11 *Doug Westerman b via uruknet.infoSeptember 2006 * *In 1979, depleted uranium (DU) particles escaped from the National Lead Industries factory near Albany, N.Y.,which was manufacturing DU weapons for the U.S military. The particles traveled 26 miles and were discovered in a laboratory filter by Dr. Leonard Dietz, a nuclear physicist. This discovery led to a shut down of the factory in 1980, for releasing morethan 0.85pounds of DU dust into the atmosphere every month, and involved a cleanup of contaminated properties costing over 100 million dollars. Imagine a far worse scenario. Terrorists acquire a million pounds of the deadly dust and scatter it in populated areas throughout the U.S. Hundreds of children report symptoms. Many acquire cancer and leukemia, suffering an early and painful death. Huge increases in severe birth defects are reported. Oncologists are overwhelmed. Soccer fields, sand lots and parks, traditional play areas for kids, are no longer safe. People lose their most basic freedom, the ability to go outside and safely breathe. Sounds worse than 9/11? Welcome to Iraq and Afghanistan.* Dr. Jawad Al-Ali (55), director of the Oncology Center at the largest hospital in Basra, Iraq stated, at a recent (2003) conference in Japan: "Two strange phenomena have come about in Basra which I have never seen before. The first is double and triple cancers in one patient. For example, leukemia and cancer of the stomach. We had one patient with 2 cancers b one in his stomach and kidney. Months later, primary cancer was developing in his other kidney--he had three different cancer types. The second is the clustering of cancer in families. We have 58 families here with more than one person affected by cancer. Dr Yasin, a general Surgeon here has two uncles, a sister and cousin affected with cancer. Dr Mazen, another specialist, has six family members suffering from cancer. My wife has nine members of her family with cancer". "Children in particular are susceptible to DU poisoning. They have a much higher absorption rate as their blood is being used to build and nourish their bones and they have a lot of soft tissues. Bone cancer and leukemia used to be diseases affecting them the most, however, cancer of the lymph system which can develop anywhere on the body, and has rarely been seen before the age of 12 is now also common.", "We were accused of spreading propaganda for Saddam before the war. When I have gone to do talks I have had people accuse me of being pro-Saddam. Sometimes I feel afraid to even talk. Regime people have been stealing my data and calling it their own, and using it for their own agendas. The Kuwaitis banned me from entering Kuwait b we were accused of being Saddam supporters." *The arrogance of the Pentagon people is incredible* John Hanchette, a journalism professor at St. Bonaventure University, and one of the founding editors of USA Today related the following to DU researcher Leuren Moret. He stated that he had prepared news breaking stories about the effects of DU on Gulf War soldiers and Iraqi citizens, but that each time he was ready to publish, he received a phone call from the Pentagon asking him not to print the story. He has since been replaced as editor of USA Today. Dr. Keith Baverstock, The World Health Organization's chief expert on radiation and health for 11 years and author of an unpublished study has charged that his report "on the cancer risk to civilians in Iraq from breathing uranium contaminated dust " was also deliberately suppressed. The information released by the U.S. Dept. of Defense is not reliable, according to some sources even within the military. In 1997, while citing experiments, by others, in which 84 percent of dogs exposed to inhaled uranium died of cancer of the lungs, Dr. Asaf Durakovic, then Professor of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at Georgetown University in Washington was quoted as saying, "The [US government's] Veterans Administration asked me to lie about the risks of incorporating depleted uranium in the human body." At that time Dr. Durakovic was a colonel in the U.S. Army. He has since left the military, to found the Uranium Medical Research Center, a privately funded organization with headquarters in Canada. PFC Stuart Grainger of 23 Army Division, 34th Platoon, (names and numbers have been changed) was diagnosed with cancer after returning from Iraq. Seven other men in the Platoon also have malignancies. *The Pentagon's "dirty" bomb* Doug Rokke, U.S. Army contractor who headed a clean-up of depleted uranium after the first Gulf War states: "Depleted uranium is a crime against God and humanity." Rokke's own crew, a hundred employees, was devastated by exposure to the fine dust. He stated: "When we went to the Gulf, we were all really healthy." After performing clean-up operations in the desert (mistakenly without protective gear), 30 members of his staff died, and most others, "including Rokke himself", developed serious health problems. Rokke now has reactive airway disease, neurological damage, cataracts, and kidney problems. "We warned the Department of Defense in 1991 after the Gulf War. Their arrogance is beyond comprehension. Yet the D.O.D still insists such ingestion is "not sufficient to make troops seriously ill in most cases." Then why did it make the clean up crew seriously or terminally ill in nearly all cases? *Particles one-tenth of a micron are dispersed into the atmosphere* Marion Falk, a retired chemical physicist who built nuclear bombs for more than 20 years at Lawrence Livermore Lab, was asked if he thought that DU weapons operate in a similar manner as a dirty bomb. "That's exactly what they are. They fit the description of a dirty bomb in every way." According to Falk, more than 30 percent of the DU fired from the cannons of U.S. tanks is reduced to particles one-tenth of a micron (one millionth of a meter) in size or smaller on impact. "The larger the bang" the greater the amount of DU that is dispersed into the atmosphere, Falk said. With the larger missiles and bombs, nearly 100 percent of the DU is reduced to radioactive dust particles of the "micron size" or smaller, he said. *Bombs with DU are the perfect weapons for killing lots of people* When asked if the main purpose for using it was for destroying things and killing people, Falk was more specific: "I would say that it is the perfect weapon for killing lots of people." When a DU round or bomb strikes a hard target, most of its kinetic energy is converted to heat " sufficient heat to ignite the DU. From 40% to 70% of the DU is converted to extremely fine dust particles of ceramic uranium oxide (primarily dioxide, though other formulations also occur). Over 60% of these particles are smaller than 5 microns in diameter, about the same size as the cigarette ash particles in cigarette smoke and therefore respirable. Because conditions are so chaotic in Iraq, the medical infrastructure has been greatly compromised. In terms of both cancer and birth defects due to DU, only a small fraction of the cases are being reported. *Birth defects are now commonplace* Doctors in southern Iraq are making comparisons to the birth defects that followed the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in WWII. They have numerous photos of infants born without brains, with their internal organs outside their bodies, without sexual organs, without spines, and the list of deformities goes on an on. Such birth defects were extremely rare in Iraq prior to the large scale use of DU. Weapons. Now they are commonplace. In hospitals across Iraq, the mothers are no longer asking, "Doctor, is it a boy or girl?" but rather, "Doctor, is it normal?" The photos are horrendous. They can be viewed on the website http://www.xs4all.nl/~stgvisie/VISIE/extremedeformities.html Ross B. Mirkarimi, a spokesman at The Arms Control Research Centre stated: "Unborn children of the region are being asked to pay the highest price, the integrity of their DNA." Prior to her death from leukemia in Sept. 2004, Nuha Al Radi , an accomplished Iraqi artist and author of the "Baghdad Diaries" wrote: "Everyone seems to be dying of cancer. Every day one hears about another acquaintance or friend of a friend dying. How many more die in hospitals that one does not know? Apparently, over thirty percent of Iraqis have cancer, and there are lots of kids with leukemia." "The depleted uranium left by the U.S. bombing campaign has turned Iraq into a cancer-infested country. For hundreds of years to come, the effects of the uranium will continue to wreak havoc on Iraq and its surrounding areas." This excerpt in her diary was written in 1993, after Gulf War I (approximately 300 tons of DU ordinance, mostly in desert areas) but before Operation Iraqi Freedom, (est. 1700 tons with much more near major population centers). So, it's 5b6 times worse now than it was when she wrote that diary entry!! *Over one million pounds of dust scattered throughout Iraq* Estimates of the percentage of D.U. which was 'aerosolized' into fine uranium oxide dust are approximately 30b40%. That works out to over one million pounds of dust scattered throughout Iraq. As a special advisor to the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and the Iraqi Ministry of Health, Dr. Ahmad Hardan has documented the effects of DU in Iraq between 1991 and 2002. "American forces admit to using over 300 tons of DU weapons in 1991. The actual figure is closer to 800. This has caused a health crisis that has affected almost a third of a million people. As if that was not enough, America went on and used 200 tons more in Bagdad alone during the recent invasion. I don't know about other parts of Iraq, it will take me years to document that. "In Basra, it took us two years to obtain conclusive proof of what DU does, but we now know what to look for and the results are terrifying." By far the most devastating effect is on unborn children. Nothing can prepare anyone for the sight of hundreds of preserved fetuses, scarcely human in appearance. Iraq is now seeing babies with terribly foreshortened limbs, with their intestines outside their bodies, with huge bulging tumors where their eyes should be, or with a single eye-like Cyclops, or without eyes, or without limbs, and even without heads. Significantly, some of the defects are almost unknown outside textbooks showing the babies born near A-bomb test sites in the Pacific. *US prevent scientific exchange* Dr. Hardan also states: "I arranged for a delegation from Japan's Hiroshima Hospital to come and share their expertise in the radiological diseases we are likely to face over time. The delegation told me the Americans had objected and they decided not to come. Similarly, a world famous German cancer specialist agreed to come, only to be told later that he would not be given permission to enter Iraq." Not only are we poisoning the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, but we are making a concerted effort to keep out specialists from other countries who can help. The U.S. Military doesn't want the rest of the world to find out what we have done. Such relatively swift development of cancers has been reported by doctors in hospitals treating civilians following NATO bombing with DU in Yugoslavia in 1998b1999 and the US military invasion of Iraq using DU for the first time in 1991. Medical experts report that this phenomenon of multiple malignancies from unrelated causes has been unknown until now and is a new syndrome associated with internal DU exposure. Just 467 US personnel were wounded in the three-week Persian Gulf War in 1990b1991. Out of 580b 400 soldiers who served in Gulf War I, 11b 000 are dead, and by 2000 there were 325b 000 on permanent medical disability. This astounding number of disabled vets means that a decade later, 56 percent of those soldiers who served in the first Gulf War now have medical problems. *Tokyo tribunal, guided by the principles of International Criminal Law and International Humanitarian Law, found Bush guilty of war crimes* Although not reported in the mainstream American press, a recent Tokyo tribunal, guided by the principles of International Criminal Law and International Humanitarian Law, found President George W. Bush guilty of war crimes. On March 14, 2004, Nao Shimoyachi, reported in "The Japan Times" that President Bush was found guilty "for attacking civilians with indiscriminate weapons and other arms," and the "tribunal also issued recommendations for banning Depleted Uranium shells and other weapons that indiscriminately harm people." Although this was a "Citizen's Court" having no legal authority, the participants were sincere in their determination that international laws have been violated and a war crimes conviction is warranted. Troops involved in actual combat are not the only servicemen reporting symptoms. Four soldiers from a New York Army National Guard company serving in Iraq are among several members of the same company, the 442nd Military Police, who say they have been battling persistent physical ailments that began last summer in the Iraqi town of Samawah. "I got sick instantly in June," said Staff Sgt. Ray Ramos, a Brooklyn housing cop. "My health kept going downhill with daily headaches, constant numbness in my hands and rashes on my stomach." *Uran Medical Research Center: Air, soil and water samples contained "hundreds to thousands of times" the normal levels of radiation* Dr. Asaf Durakovic, UMRC founder, and nuclear medicine expert examined and tested nine soldiers from the company says that four "almost certainly" inhaled radioactive dust from exploded American shells manufactured with depleted uranium. Laboratory tests revealed traces of two manmade forms of uranium in urine samples from four of the soldiers. If so, the men b Sgt. Hector Vega, Sgt. Ray Ramos, Sgt. Agustin Matos and Cpl. Anthony Yonnone b are the first confirmed cases of inhaled depleted uranium exposure from the current Iraq conflict. The 442nd, made up for the most part of New York cops, firefighters and correction officers, is based in Orangeburg, Rockland County. Dispatched to Iraq in Easter of 2003, the unit's members had been providing guard duty for convoys, running jails and training Iraqi police. The entire company is due to return home later this month. "These are amazing results, especially since these soldiers were military police not exposed to the heat of battle," said Dr. Asaf Duracovic, who examined the G.I.s and performed the testing. In a group of eight U.S. led Coalition servicemen whose babies were born without eyes, seven are known to have been directly exposed to DU dust. In a group (250 soldiers) exposed during the first Gulf war, 67% of the children conceived after the war had birth defects. Dr. Durakovic's UMRC research team also conducted a three-week field trip to Iraq in October of 2003. It collected about 100 samples of substances such as soil, civilian urine and the tissue from the corpses of Iraqi soldiers in 10 cities, including Baghdad, Basra and Najaf. Durakovic said preliminary tests show that the air, soil and water samples contained "hundreds to thousands of times" the normal levels of radiation. "This high level of contamination is because much more depleted uranium was used this year than in (the Gulf War of) 1991," Durakovic told The Japan Times. "They are hampering efforts to prove the connection between Depleted Uranium and the illness," Durakovic said. "They do not want to admit that they committed war crimes" by using weapons that kill indiscriminately, which are banned under international law." (Note about Dr. Durakovic; First, he was warned to stop his work, then he was fired from his position, then his house was ransacked, and he has also reported receiving death threats. Evidently the U.S. D.O.D is very keen on censoring DU whistle-blowers!) *Diagnostic distinction between natural uranium and DU using the technique of TIMS* Dr. Durakovic, UMRC research associates Patricia Horan and Leonard Dietz, published a unique study in the August 2002 issue of Military Medicine Medical Journal. The study is believed to be the first to look at inhaled DU among Gulf War veterans, using the ultrasensitive technique of thermal ionization mass spectrometry, which enabled them to easily distinguish between natural uranium and DU. The study, which examined British, Canadian and U.S. veterans, all suffering typical Gulf War Syndrome ailments, found that, nine years after the war, 14 of 27 veterans studied had DU in their urine. DU also was found in the lung and bone of a deceased Gulf War veteran. That no governmental study has been done on inhaled DU "amounts to a massive malpractice," Dietz said in an interview. *Small particle size and crystalline structure* The Japanese began studying DU effects in the southern Iraq in the summer of 2003. They had a Geiger counter which they watched go off the scale on many occasions. During their visit,a local hospital was treating upwards of 600 children per day, many of which suffered symptoms of internal poisoning by radiation. 600 children per day? How many of these children will get cancer and suffer an early and painful death? "Ingested DU particles can cause up to 1000 times the damage of an X-ray", said Mary Olson, a nuclear waste specialist and biologist at the Nuclear Information and Resource Service in Washington D.C. It is this difference in particle size as well as the dust's crystalline structure that make the presence of DU dust in the environment such an extreme hazard, and which differentiates its properties from that of the natural uranium dust that is ubiquitous and to which we all are exposed every day, which seldom reaches such a small size. This point is being stressed, as comparing DU particles to much larger natural ones is misleading. The U.S. Military and its supporters regularly quote a Rand Corp. Study which uses the natural uranium inhaled by miners. Particles smaller than 10 microns can access the innermost recesses of lung tissue where they become permanently lodged. Furthermore, if the substance is relatively insoluble, such as the ceramic DU-oxide dust produced from burning DU, it will remain in place for decades, dissolving very slowly into the bloodstream and lymphatic fluids through the course of time. Studies have identified DU in the urine of Gulf War veterans nine years after that conflict, testifying to the permanence of ceramic DU-oxide in the lungs. Thus the effects are far different from natural uranium dust, whose coarse particles are almost entirely excreted by the body within 24 hours. *Over 10 trillion doses at 0.34 milligrams per dose are floating around Iraq and Afghanistan* The military is aware of DU's harmful effects on the human genetic code. A 2001 study of DU's effect on DNA done by Dr. Alexandra C. Miller for the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute in Bethesda, Md., indicates that DU's chemical instability causes 1 million times more genetic damage than would be expected from its radiation effect alone. Studies have shown that inhaled nano-particles are far more toxic than micro-sized particles of the same basic chemical composition. British toxicopathologist Vyvyan Howard has reported that the increased toxicity of the nano-particle is due to its size. For example, when mice were exposed to virus-size particles of Teflon (0.13microns) in a University of Rochester study, there were no ill effects. But when mice were exposed to nano-particles of Teflon for 15 minutes, nearly all the mice died within 4 hours. "Exposure pathways for depleted uranium can be through the skin, by inhalation, and ingestion," writes Lauren Moret, another DU researcher. "Nano-particles have high mobility and can easily enter the body. Inhalation of nano-particles of depleted uranium is the most hazardous exposure, because the particles pass through the lung-blood barrier directly into the blood." "When inhaled through the nose, nano-particles can cross the olfactory bulb directly into the brain through the blood brain barrier, where they migrate all through the brain," she wrote. "Many Gulf era soldiers exposed to depleted uranium have been diagnosed with brain tumors, brain damage and impaired thought processes. Uranium can interfere with the mitochondria, which provide energy for the nerve processes, and transmittal of the nerve signal across synapses in the brain." Based on dissolution and excretion rate data, it is possible to approximate the amount of DU initially inhaled by these veterans. For the handful of veterans studied, this amount averaged 0.34 milligrams. Knowing the specific activity (radiation rate) for DU allows one to determine that the total radiation (alpha, beta and gamma) occurring from DU and its radioactive decay products within their bodies comes to about 26 radiation events every second, or 800 million events each year. At .34 milligrams per dose, there are over 10 trillion doses floating around Iraq and Afghanistan. How many additional deaths are we talking about? In the aftermath of the first Gulf War, the UK Atomic Energy Authority came up with estimates for the potential effects of the DU contamination left by the conflict. It calculated that "this could cause 500b 000 potential deaths". This was "a theoretical figure", it stressed, that indicated "a significant problem". The AEA's calculation was made in a confidential memo to the privatized munitions company, Royal Ordnance, dated 30 April 1991. The high number of potential deaths was dismissed as "very far from realistic" by a British defense minister, Lord Gilbert. "Since the rounds were fired in the desert, many miles from the nearest village, it is highly unlikely that the local population would have been exposed to any significant amount of respirable oxide," he said. These remarks were made prior to the more recent invasions of both Afghanistan and Iraq, where DU munitions were used on a larger scale in and near many of the most populated areas. If the amount of DU ordinance used in the first Gulf War was sufficient to cause 500b 000 potential deaths, (had it been used near the populated areas), then what of the nearly six times that amount used in operation Iraqi Freedom, which was used in and near the major towns and cities? Extrapolating the U.K. AEA estimate with this amount gives a figure of potentially 3 million extra deaths from inhaling DU dust in Iraq alone, not including Afghanistan. This is about 11% of Iraq's total population of 27 million. Dan Bishop, Ph.d chemist for IDUST feels that this estimate may be low, if the long life of DU dust is considered. In Afghanistan, the concentration in some areas is greater than Iraq. *The suffering of the veterans* What can an otherwise healthy person expect when inhaling the deadly dust? Captain Terry Riordon was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces serving in Gulf War I. He passed away in April 1999 at age 45. Terry left Canada a very fit man who did cross-country skiing and ran in marathons. On his return only two months later he could barely walk. He returned to Canada in February 1991 with documented loss of motor control, chronic fatigue, respiratory difficulties, chest pain, difficulty breathing, sleep problems, short-term memory loss, testicle pain, body pains, aching bones, diarrhea, and depression. After his death, depleted uranium contamination was discovered in his lungs and bones. For eight years he suffered his innumerable ailments and struggled with the military bureaucracy and the system to get proper diagnosis and treatment. He had arranged, upon his death, to bequeath his body to the UMRC. Through his gift, the UMRC was able to obtain conclusive evidence that inhaling fine particles of depleted uranium dust completely destroyed his heath. How many Terry Riordans are out there among the troops being exposed, not to mention Iraqi and Afghan civilians? Inhaling the dust will not kill large numbers of Iraqi and Afghan civilians right away, any more than it did Captain Riordan. Rather, what we will see is vast numbers of people who are chronically and severely ill, having their life spans drastically shortened, many with multiple cancers. Melissa Sterry, another sick veteran, served for six months at a supply base in Kuwait during the winter of 1991b92. Part of her job with the National Guard's Combat Equipment Company "A" was to clean out tanks and other armored vehicles that had been used during the war, preparing them for storage. She said she swept out the armored vehicles, cleaning up dust, sand and debris, sometimes being ordered to help bury contaminated parts. In a telephone interview, she stated that after researching depleted uranium she chose not to take the military's test because she could not trust the results. It is alarming that Melissa was stationed in Kuwait, not Iraq. Cleaning out tanks with DU dust was enough to make her ill. *US-UK war alliance: war criminals* In, 2003, the Christian Science Monitor sent reporters to Iraq to investigate long-term effects of depleted uranium. Staff writer Scott Peterson saw children playing on top of a burnt-out tank near a vegetable stand on the outskirts of Baghdad, a tank that had been destroyed by armor-piercing shells coated with depleted uranium. Wearing his mask and protective clothing, he pointed his Geiger counter toward the tank. It registered 1000 times the normal background radiation. If the troops were on a mission of mercy to bring democracy to Iraq, wouldn't keeping children away from such dangers be the top priority? The laws of war prohibit the use of weapons that have deadly and inhumane effects beyond the field of battle. Nor can weapons be legally deployed in war when they are known to remain active, or cause harm after the war concludes. It is no surprise that the Japanese Court found President Bush guilty of war crimes. Dr. Alim Yacoub of Basra University conducted an epidemiological study into incidences of malignancies in children under fifteen years old, in the Basra area (an area bombed with DU during the first Gulf War). They found over the 1990 to 1999 period, there was a 242% rise. That was before the recent invasion. In Kosovo, similar spikes in cancer and birth defects were noticed by numerous international experts, although the quantity of DU weapons used was only a small fraction of what was used in Iraq. *Field study results from Afghanistan* Verifiable statistics for Iraq will remain elusive for some time, but widespread field studies in Afghanistan point to the existence of a large scale public health disaster. In May of 2002, the UMRC (Uranium Medical Research Center) sent a field team to interview and examine residents and internally displaced people in Afghanistan. The UMRC field team began by first identifying several hundred people suffering from illnesses and medical conditions displaying clinical symptoms which are considered to be characteristic of radiation exposure. To investigate the possibility that the symptoms were due to radiation sickness, the UMRC team collected urine specimens and soil samples, transporting them to an independent research lab in England. UMRC's Field Team found Afghan civilians with acute symptoms of radiation poisoning, along with chronic symptoms of internal uranium contamination, including congenital problems in newborns. Local civilians reported large, dense dust clouds and smoke plumes rising from the point of impact, an acrid smell, followed by burning of the nasal passages, throat and upper respiratory tract. Subjects in all locations presented identical symptom profiles and chronologies. The victims reported symptoms including pain in the cervical column, upper shoulders and basal area of the skull, lower back/kidney pain, joint and muscle weakness, sleeping difficulties, headaches, memory problems and disorientation. Two additional scientific study teams were sent to Afghanistan. The first arrived in June 2002, concentrating on the Jalalabad region. The second arrived four months later, broadening the study to include the capital Kabul, which has a population of nearly 3.5 million people. The city itself contains the highest recorded number of fixed targets during Operation Enduring Freedom. For the study's purposes, the vicinity of three major bomb sites were examined. It was predicted that signatures of depleted or enriched uranium would be found in the urine and soil samples taken during the research. The team was unprepared for the shock of its findings, which indicated in both Jalalabad and Kabul, DU was causing the high levels of illness. Tests taken from a number of Jalalabad subjects showed concentrations 400% to 2000% above that for normal populations, amounts which have not been recorded in civilian studies before. Those in Kabul who were directly exposed to US-British precision bombing showed extreme signs of contamination, consistent with uranium exposure. These included pains in joints, back/kidney pain, muscle weakness, memory problems and confusion and disorientation. Those exposed to the bombing report symptoms of flu-type illnesses, bleeding, runny noses and blood-stained mucous. How many of these people will suffer a painful and early death from cancer? Even the study team itself complained of similar symptoms during their stay. Most of these symptoms last for days or months. In August of 2002, UMRC completed its preliminary analysis of the results from Nangarhar. Without exception, every person donating urine specimens tested positive for uranium contamination. The specific results indicated an astoundingly high level of contamination; concentrations were 100 to 400 times greater than those of the Gulf War Veterans tested in 1999. A researcher reported. "We took both soil and biological samples, and found considerable presence in urine samples of radioactivity; the heavy concentration astonished us. They were beyond our wildest imagination." *Fall 2002: 30% of those interviewed in Afghanistan display symptoms of radiation sickness* In the fall of 2002, the UMRC field team went back to Afghanistan for a broader survey, and revealed a potentially larger exposure than initially anticipated. Approximately 30% of those interviewed in the affected areas displayed symptoms of radiation sickness. New born babies were among those displaying symptoms, with village elders reporting that over 25% of the infants were inexplicably ill. How widespread and extensive is the exposure? A quote from the UMRC field report reads: "The UMRC field team was shocked by the breadth of public health impacts coincident with the bombing. Without exception, at every bombsite investigated, people are ill. A significant portion of the civilian population presents symptoms consistent with internal contamination by uranium." In Afghanistan, unlike Iraq, UMRC lab results indicated high concentrations of Non-depleted Uranium, with the concentrations being much higher than in DU victims from Iraq. Afghanistan was used as a testing ground for a new generation of "bunker buster" bombs containing high concentrations of other uranium alloys. "A significant portion of the civilian population"? It appears that by going after a handful of terrorists in Afghanistan we have poisoned a huge number of innocent civilians, with a disproportionate number of them being children. The military has found depleted uranium in the urine of some soldiers but contends it was not enough to make them seriously ill in most cases. Critics have asked for more sensitive, more expensive testing. *Italy* According to an October 2004 Dispatch from the Italian Military Health Observatory, a total of 109 Italian soldiers have died thus far due to exposure to depleted uranium. A spokesman at the Military Health Observatory, Domenico Leggiero, states "The total of 109 casualties exceeds the total number of persons dying as a consequence of road accidents. Anyone denying the significance of such data is purely acting out of ill faith, and the truth is that our soldiers are dying out there due to a lack of adequate protection against depleted uranium". Members of the Observatory have petitioned for an urgent hearing "in order to study effective prevention and safeguard measures aimed at reducing the death-toll amongst our serving soldiers". There were only 3000 Italian soldiers sent to Iraq, and they were there for a short time. The number of 109 represents about 3.6% of the total. If the same percentage of Iraqis get a similar exposure, that would amount to 936b 000. As Iraqis are permanently living in the same contaminated environment, their percentage will be higher. *The Pentagon and its misinformation machine: They lie and denigrate* The Pentagon/DoD have interfered with UMRC's ability to have its studies published by managing, a progressive and persistent misinformation program in the press against UMRC, and through the use of its control of science research grants to refute UMRC's scientific findings and destroy the reputation of UMRC's scientific staff, physicians and laboratories. UMRC is the first independent research organization to find Depleted Uranium in the bodies of US, UK and Canadian Gulf War I veterans and has subsequently, following Operation Iraqi Freedom, found Depleted Uranium in the water, soils and atmosphere of Iraq as well as biological samples donated by Iraqi civilians. Yet the first thing that comes up on Internet searches are these supposed "studies repeatedly showing DU to be harmless." The technique is to approach the story as a debate between government and independent experts in which public interest is stimulated by polarizing the issues rather than telling the scientific and medical truth. The issues are systematically confused and misinformed by government, UN regulatory agencies (WHO, UNEP, IAEA, CDC, DOE, etc) and defense sector (military and the weapons developers and manufacturers). Dr. Yuko Fujita, an assistant professor at Keio University, Japan who examined the effects of radioactivity in Iraq from May to June, 2003, said : "I doubt that Iraq is fabricating data because in fact there are many children suffering from leukemia in hospitals," Fujita said. "As a result of the Iraq war, the situation will be desperate in some five to 10 years." The March 14, 2004 Tokyo Citizen's Tribunal that "convicted" President Bush gave the following summation regarding DU weapons: (This court was a citizen's court with no binding legal authority) 1. Their use has indiscriminate effects; 2. Their use is out of proportion with the pursuit of military objectives; 3. Their use adversely affects the environment in a widespread, long term and severe manner; 4. Their use causes superfluous injury and unnecessary suffering. Two years ago, President Bush withdrew the United States as a signatory to the International Criminal Court's statute, which has been ratified by all other Western democracies. The White House actually seeks to immunize U.S. leaders from war crimes prosecutions entirely. It has also demanded express immunity from ICC prosecution for American nationals. *Conclusions* If terrorists succeeded in spreading something throughout the U.S. that ended up causing hundreds of thousands of cancer cases and birth defects over a period of many years, they would be guilty of a crime against humanity that far surpasses the Sept. 11th attacks in scope and severity. Although not deliberate, with our military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, we have done just that. If the physical environment is so unsafe and unhealthy that one cannot safely breath, then the outer trappings of democracy have little meaning. At least under Saddam, the Iraqi people could stay healthy and conceive normal children. Few Americans are aware that in getting rid of Saddam, we left something much worse in his place. www.currentconcerns.ch/archive/2006/03/20060312.php Last updated 18/10/2007 http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/print.asp?ID=7374 -- _________________________________ Alfred Lambremont Webre, JD, MEd ICIS-Institute for Cooperation in Space 3339 West 41 Avenue Vancouver, B.C. V6N3E5 CANADA TEL: 604-733-8134 FAX: 604-733-8135 Email: alw@peaceinspace.com ICIS: http://www.peaceinspace.com CAMPAIGN: http://www.peaceinspace.org NUCLEAR FREE ZONE: http://peaceinspace.blogs.com/nuclear_free_zone/ 9/11 War Crimes Tribunal: http://peaceinspace.blogs.com/911/ EXOPOLITICS: http://www.exopolitics.com STAR DREAMS INITIATIVE http://www.peaceinspace.net LISTEN TO EXOPOLITICS RADIO http://www.exopoliticsradio.com ***************************************************************** 15 Everything Marshall Islands :: http://www.yokwe.net PACIFIC FORUM COMMUNIQUE: Lends Support to Marshall Islands' Nuke Legacy Issue In the Final Communique issued yesterday at the conclusion of the Pacific Islands Forum meeting, leaders reaffirmed the existence of a special responsibility by the United States of America towards the people of the Marshall Islands, who have been, and continue to be, adversely affected as a direct result of nuclear weapons tests conducted by the United States during its administration of the islands under the UN Trusteeship mandate. Forum statement number eighteen, "Radioactive Contaminants in the Republic of the Marshall Islands," was one of about thirty endorsements stipulated in the Pacific Plan document. 2007 FINAL COMMUNIQUE The Thirty-Eighth Pacific Islands Forum was held in Tonga from 16-17 October 2007 and was attended by Heads of State and Government of the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, and representatives of Australia, Kiribati, Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Solomon Islands. New Caledonia and French Polynesia also attended the formal session as Associate Members and Timor-Leste, Tokelau and Wallis & Futuna as observers. The Forum Retreat was held at Vava'u, Tonga. 2. Leaders expressed their deep appreciation to the Government and people of Tonga for hosting the 2007 meeting, for the warm and generous manner in which they had been welcomed and for the arrangements made for the meetings. PACIFIC PLAN 3. Leaders noted that two years after its launch, considerable progress has been made in the implementation of initiatives across all four of the Pacific Plan's pillars. Challenges, however, remain. These include the maintenance of timely reporting to support ongoing assessment of the Plan's progress, and continuing human and financial capacity constraints in the implementation of some initiatives. 4. Leaders agreed on a number of key commitments in order to move the Plan forward in the next twelve months. Priority areas for attention under the Pacific Plan are listed below and at Annex A. Fisheries 5. Despite the considerable work undertaken to date to strengthen the region's management of its highly migratory fish stocks, Leaders believe urgent supplementary work is needed in specific areas. Fisheries represents one of the region's strongest drivers for sustainable economic growth. As a source of both export revenue and food security, efforts must continue to maintain regional solidarity among Forum Members in their management of these fish stocks, particularly tuna. Greater effort to foster a long-term strategic approach to ensuring these resources are effectively managed will provide enduring benefits for all Forum Member countries. This approach must include the upholding and strengthening of existing regional arrangements, agreements and conservation measures that protect this essential resource in the face of threatened stock levels and intensifying global interest, particularly from distant water fishing nations. Leaders adopted a Declaration on Pacific Fisheries Resources (attached as Annex B). 6. Leaders also welcomed with appreciation the NZ$5 million contribution to the Secretariat of the Pacific Community tuna tagging programme announced by New Zealand and the A$500,000 contribution as incentive funding to recognise effective action by Pacific Island Countries to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing announced by Australia. Energy 7. Leaders believe there remains a need for continued high level support to address the region's energy needs and more specifically efforts to secure equitable access to reliable and affordable energy for all Forum Members. This year's Pacific Energy Ministers' Meeting provided a significant boost towards achieving this objective, in particular, commissioning work to ensure a finalised proposal for regional bulk fuel procurement for the consideration of Forum Leaders in 2008. By delivering a strong statement through their communiqu, the Ministers clearly identified the challenges and proposed mitigation strategies necessary to address the region's energy needs. In acknowledgement of the direction provided to the region by its Energy Ministers, Leaders endorsed the comprehensive implementation of the Ministers' communiqu's recommendations. Trade and Economic Integration 8. Leaders acknowledged that economic growth is central to the Pacific Plan and that the integration of the region's economies presents significant opportunities to raise living standards for all Forum Members. The continuing focus on trade and economic integration has been evident with both Economic and Trade Ministers respectively continuing to work on ways to achieve success in these areas noting the importance of, for instance, labour mobility. Challenges remain, however, among them the slow pace at which regional trade agreements are being implemented. Leaders supported a continued focus on trade and economic integration to underwrite the desire to strengthen the region's economic growth. Climate Change 9. Leaders reiterated their deep concern over the serious and growing threat posed by climate change to the economic, social and environmental well being of Pacific Island Countries, their communities, peoples and cultures. They noted that they have been calling on the international community to take concerted action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere since 1990. Recent events and major international reports such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 4th Assessment Report show unequivocally that climate change is occurring and that it is very likely caused by human actions. Adaptation to climate change is now an inevitable requirement, as the Earth begins responding to greenhouse gases already emitted. 10. Leaders recognised the special concerns and interests of Forum small low lying island countries on the adverse implications of climate change, in particular sea level rise. 11. Leaders welcomed the guidance from the IPCC that it is physically and economically feasible to mitigate climate change and that with concerted international support, adaptation can also succeed. Conversely, without serious action, the global economy and the fragile resources of the Pacific will be severely affected. 12. Leaders called on the international community to reach agreement urgently on an effective global response to deliver on the ultimate objective of the UNFCCC to avoid dangerous levels of interference with the climate system, including further commitments in the future by all major greenhouse gas emitters to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and to increase and mobilise financial and technical resources to support adaptation efforts in developing countries. They recognised that climate change is a long-term international challenge and that an effective international response would require a resolute and concerted international effort, including effective action in particular by the world's major greenhouse gas emitting countries to reduce their emissions and by all countries to adapt to the changes that climate change will bring. 13. Leaders committed to actively and constructively participate in the UNFCCC meeting in Bali in December 2007, and agreed to work at that meeting towards the launch of negotiations on a comprehensive post-2012 framework to tackle climate change. To that end, Leaders welcomed the positive outcomes of the APEC 2007 meeting in Sydney in promoting more effective international responses to climate change. Transport 14. Leaders acknowledged that transport underpins most other economic development. The provision of reliable and effective air and maritime services is reducing trade costs and decreasing the barriers that distance places on the Pacific. Eliminating unnecessary regulation allows for the freer movement of goods and services improving access to opportunity for the peoples of the Pacific. Considerable work has been undertaken to date to support the strengthening of transport services in the region, particularly in the aviation and maritime sectors. Transport's significance as a facilitator of economic growth continues however to be hampered by gaps in services and supporting infrastructure, particularly in the region's Smaller Island States. Leaders expressed appreciation for the valuable contribution of the Pacific Forum Line to regional transport development. A continued focus through regional and sub-regional approaches to improve shipping and aviation services, aviation liberalisation, safety and security as well as the physical infrastructure that supports these sectors, remains an essential need for Forum Members. Progress in this area will also assist with tourism, the development of which remains a key economic priority for the region. FIJI 15. Leaders: (a) endorsed the findings of the EPG Report following its mission to Fiji from 29 January to 1 February 2007 and the outcomes of the Forum Foreign Affairs Ministers' Meeting in March 2007 as an appropriate way forward to the restoration of constitutional and democratic government in Fiji; (b) welcomed the undertaking by the Leader of the Fiji Interim Government to the Forum Leaders today that a parliamentary election will be held in the first quarter of 2009, and noted that he also stated to Forum Leaders that he and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces will accept the outcome of the elections in the first quarter of 2009; (c) called on the Fiji Interim Government now to work with the Forum-Joint Working Group to produce a credible roadmap to those elections at that time according to the Constitution and law of Fiji, and urged the Interim Government to accord the highest priority to this task; (d) noted that the Interim Government is pursuing an initiative to produce a People's Charter; (e) expressed appreciation for the support which members of the international community have accorded to the Forum's actions in addressing the pathway to election by the first quarter of 2009; (f) commended the work carried out by the Fiji/Forum Joint Working Group in seeking to advance the pathway to elections by the first quarter of 2009; and (g) called for a meeting of the Forum Foreign Affairs Ministers in January next year to review the progress being made towards the election in the first quarter of 2009. REGIONAL ASSISTANCE MISSION TO SOLOMON ISLANDS 16. Leaders: (a) commended and confirmed the continuing support of all Forum members as contributing countries to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands as an outstanding example of cooperative regionalism; (b) noted that, in accordance with their decisions in 2006, a consultative mechanism between the Government of Solomon Islands, RAMSI and the Pacific Islands Forum has been established, and the Task Force to renew RAMSI has reported to Forum Foreign Affairs Ministers; (c) recognised the significant contribution that the implementation of the Recommendations of the Task Force would make to the more effective operation of RAMSI; (d) endorsed the Task Force recommendations and commended them for the support of the Government of Solomon Islands; (e) agreed that urgent consultations should be pursued through the Forum Ministerial Standing Committee with the Government of Solomon Islands to seek clarification of their concerns with respect to the specific recommendations of the Task Force, and that the Standing Committee report further to Leaders at the earliest opportunity; (f) noted that the Review has been conducted according to the agreed Terms of Reference; (g) noted the decision by the Government of Solomon Islands to review the Facilitation of International Assistance Act; and (h) noted the importance Leaders place on the assurances given to the Forum Chair that any proposals to amend the Act will be the subject of prior consultation with RAMSI contributing countries. PACIFIC REGIONAL ASSISTANCE TO NAURU 17. The Forum Leaders received the report of the President of Nauru on the progress made in his country's reform and recovery programmes, congratulated the Nauru Government on its re-election; and noted the significant contributions made by the Pacific Regional Assistance to Nauru (PRAN) to the Government's efforts. At the same time Leaders noted the many constraints that remained, including in the enormous public debt inherited from the past, and agreed to continue supporting Nauru's efforts through PRAN and other bilateral measures. RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINANTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS 18. Leaders recognised the special circumstances pertaining to the continued presence of radioactive contaminants in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and reaffirmed the existence of a special responsibility by the United States of America towards the people of the Marshall Islands, who have been, and continue to be, adversely affected as a direct result of nuclear weapons tests conducted by the United States during its administration of the islands under the UN Trusteeship mandate. Leaders reiterated their call on the United States to live up to its full obligations on the provision of adequate and fair compensation and commitment to its responsibility for the safe resettlement of displaced populations, including the full and final restoration to economic productivity of all affected areas. Leaders noted the continuing dialogue between the Governments of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the United States, including the U.S. Congress, Senate and Administration, and agreed to submit an additional letter by the Forum Chair to the United States Government urging the United States to take action in the aftermath of Congressional hearings that established the lingering needs resulting from the U.S. testing programme. Leaders encouraged members to lend support to the Marshall Islands on this issue at the United Nations General Assembly and other international fora and to continue to assist by raising the issue with Members of the U.S. Congress. REGIONAL INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK REVIEW 19. Leaders agreed to: (a) the inclusion of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) into Pillar 1, in order to recognise the Agency's central regional role and to provide fisheries issues with the political profile they require; (b) the need to rationalise the functions of the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) with the work programmes of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) with the view to absorbing those functions of SOPAC into SPC and SPREP; (c) the South Pacific Bureau for Education Assessment (SPBEA) merging into SPC; and (d) the University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Fiji School of Medicine forming part of Pillar 3 (Education). COUNTRY INITIATIVES Sports 20. In noting the importance of sports in the social, cultural and economic life of Pacific Island countries, Leaders encouraged their National Sports and Olympic Federations to work together with their counterparts in the region to develop and implement regional programmes and projects, such as has been achieved for weightlifting, that would optimally employ the limited resources available to Pacific Island countries. Leaders recognised the important role of sport as a potential tool for development and peace, within the broader social, political, cultural and economic wellbeing of the people of the Pacific, and the particular contribution it could make to the achievement of healthy lifestyles, to which appropriate donor funding should be targetted. 21. Leaders agreed to draw the attention of the Australian and New Zealand Rugby Unions and the International Rugby Board (IRB) to the concerns of Pacific Island countries regarding the current eligibility rules under IRB and participation by Pacific Island teams or a combined Pacific team in the Southern Hemisphere's premier Super 14 competition. Sub-regional Arrangements 22. The Leaders noted the concern raised over the potential risk of regional sub-groups that could complicate the institution of the Pacific Islands Forum and decided to keep the issue active for future in-depth consideration. In this connection the Leaders requested the Secretary General to look into this issue and in particular to examine what possible practical measures may be made in the procedures and conduct of the Forum's business that could reduce the risks to the coherence and cohesiveness of the Forum and report back to the Leaders at their 2008 meeting. Kava 23. Leaders noted the pivotal cultural significance of kava to the region. Leaders further noted the current restrictions imposed by Australia on the importation of kava for indigenous health concerns. Leaders agreed to explore with Australia innovative measures to ease these restrictions. Health 24. Leaders welcomed with appreciation Australia's announcement of an extra A$20 million to tackle chronic diseases in the Pacific over the next four years. World Heritage Committee 25. Leaders supported Vanuatu's candidature for a "reserved" seat on the World Heritage Committee. OBSERVERSHIP 26. Leaders invited the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to become a Forum observer. POST-FORUM DIALOGUE PARTNER 27. Leaders welcomed Italy as the fourteenth Post-Forum Dialogue Partner and noted that it will be attending the 2007 Post-Forum Dialogue Plenary. UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC CHARTER 28. Leaders noted the proposal by the Council of the University of the South Pacific to conclude a new foundation document for the University in the form of a multilateral treaty ratified by USP Member Governments. In light of issues raised by the Leaders, the Secretariat was tasked to collect additional information and to report back to Leaders. PAPUA 29. Leaders noted the intention of the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea to convey the Forum discussions on Papua to the President of Indonesia. SMALLER ISLAND STATES LEADERS' SUMMIT 30. Leaders noted the outcomes of the Smaller Island States Leaders' Summit. PACIFIC ACP LEADERS' MEETING 31. Leaders noted the outcomes of the Pacific ACP Leaders' meeting. APPRECIATION 32. Leaders commended the interim outgoing Chair, Right Hon Grand Chief Sir Michael T. Somare, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, and his Government for their leadership of the Forum during 2007. VENUE 33. Leaders welcomed the Government of Niue's offer to host the 2008 Forum. Vava'u, Tonga 17 October 2007 Annex A VAVA'U DECISIONS ON THE PACIFIC PLAN In order to advance the Pacific Plan over the next twelve months, Leaders: International Context of the Pacific Plan  endorsed the following amendment to the Pacific Plan: "The Pacific Plan reflects the region's priorities which are in line with and support the implementation of international frameworks such as the Barbados Programme of Action and The Mauritius Strategy of Implementation. As such, the Pacific Plan provides a solid platform for regional cooperation guiding collective positions through the Commission on Sustainable Development and other international forums that advocate the `special case' of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The collective position of Pacific Islands Forum members in the international arena is a significant tool in garnering support for Pacific Island Countries individually and as a group and is recognised and valued by other United Nation members." Fisheries  reaffirmed the importance of fisheries to the economies of all Pacific Forum countries, and committed themselves to promoting domestic fisheries, in particular the development of national tuna industries, in the context of a phased introduction of rights-based management arrangements supported by an appropriate management and regulatory framework;  committed to: maintaining regional solidarity among Forum member countries in managing the region's tuna stocks; strengthening their support for the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and other regional fisheries bodies as they intensify their efforts in applying a long-term strategic approach to Pacific fisheries, and in tuna species in particular, to ensure that these resources are effectively managed so as to provide enduring economic, social and cultural benefits; and upholding and strengthening the existing regional and national arrangements, agreements and conservation measures that protect this essential resource;  committed themselves and their governments to the conservation and sustainable management of highly migratory tuna resources by: fully implementing without delay the conservation and management measures developed and endorsed by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC); seeking the urgent adoption of additional measures by the WCPFC to address over-fishing of bigeye and yellowfin, including a reduction in longline catches and addressing purse seine fishing, and specific steps to reduce the catch of juvenile bigeye and yellowfin; developing and implementing, with the assistance of the FFA, a comprehensive regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) strategy; and continuing support as appropriate for the current tuna tagging initiative of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, including the aspiration that it expand to cover the rest of the Pacific;  reaffirmed the Declaration on Deep Sea Bottom Trawling adopted at the 2006 Nadi Forum, welcomed the subsequent UNGA Resolution 61/105 which called for strong measures to regulate and manage deep sea bottom trawling, and committed to the protection of high seas biodiversity and the conservation and management of non-highly migratory fish stocks in the Pacific Ocean;  encouraged effective participation in the negotiations to deliver a best-practice South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation in view of the longer-term strategic significance to Members and the possible interaction of the high seas pelagic stocks with tuna resources governed by the WCPFC;  committed to the development and management of coastal/inshore fisheries and aquaculture to support food security, sustainable livelihoods and economic growth for current and future generations of Pacific people;  agreed to raise these deep concerns as a matter of urgency with Distant Water Fishing Nations and regional coastal states participating in the Post-Forum Dialogue, and urge their close cooperation with our efforts; Energy  committed their Governments to implementing the Pacific Energy Ministers' Communiqu noting in particular: that energy and economic development need to be integrated and prioritised in national and regional strategic development plans; the importance of Pacific Island countries' having robust national energy policies and strategic work plans to ensure energy initiatives are progressed in line with national expectations; the importance of implementing appropriate policies and programmes to promote an optimal energy mix and energy efficiency supporting sustainable renewable energy; and that a further Ministerial meeting would be valuable. They proposed that the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) convene this in 2009 with the next Energy Officials' Meeting; Trade and Economic Integration  reaffirmed the importance of intensified efforts in harnessing regional economic integration in view of its potential for engendering economic growth; noted the work of the Forum Economic Ministers' Meeting (FEMM) in advancing Pacific Plan initiatives in the areas of economic governance, including those related to strengthening regional approaches in the areas of customs, economic regulation, labour mobility and macro- and micro-economic technical assistance provision; and in this context, agreed to renew their commitment to the implementation of strengthened regional approaches;  noted and encouraged the pooling of resources to help alleviate underlying structural problems in delivering services such as customs and economic regulation, and reaffirmed the urgency of strengthening regional support, particularly through sustainable, long term solutions, in the spirit of the Pacific Plan;  directed that current efforts be intensified in ensuring regional economic integration, including implementation of the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) and the Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations (PACER), which directly address the objectives of the Pacific Plan, and stressed the importance of building on the results of the recently-completed PACER impact study and gap analysis to deepen regional economic and trade cooperation, and in doing so recognised the need for thorough consultations among all relevant national and regional stakeholders on the issues involved;  noted in this context the consultations at the 2007 Forum Trade Ministers' meeting, and commended the Trade Ministers' decision that officials meet informally in early 2008 at a meeting hosted by New Zealand to discuss issues relating to a possible way forward under PACER. They reaffirmed the need to coordinate intensified regional trade and economic initiatives, as agreed by Trade Ministers in 2005, with other regional priorities, such as trade in services among PICTA parties;  endorsed, subject to funding, conducting a programme of activities in the Forum Island Countries to strengthen national and regional capacities in intellectual property rights (IPRs), including the conduct of a study on the possible establishment of a regional institution to advocate for and protect traditional knowledge and IPRs as mandated in the Pacific Plan. They noted that further work is to be undertaken to develop an effective Dispute Resolution Mechanism to deal with disputes that may arise out of PICTA. Climate Change  agreed that national action plans for climate change should be developed and implemented and climate change should be mainstreamed into national development planning drawing on the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change and the associated implementation plan. They directed CROP agencies to: ? intensify joint programming with the aim of advancing the implementation of regional frameworks and action plans, in particular, the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Framework for Action to better assist members develop adaptation measures in response to the effects of climate change; ? facilitate the collection and analysis of scientific, social and economic information and traditional knowledge in a manner that will allow for appropriate and informed decision making by members; and ? identify sustainable financing options at national, sub-regional and/or regional levels to support climate change adaptation and mitigation by members;  requested that the issue of climate change be considered where possible or necessary in other regional meetings such as ministerial and officials' meetings, including partnerships for water resources and disaster risk reduction; Transport  reaffirmed the importance of intensified regional action to ensure effective transportation within the region, in particular, in developing improved shipping services and aviation liberalisation, safety and security and thereby enhancing trade opportunities. They welcomed the work done to date in support of developing sub-regional air and shipping services, noting the significant cost savings and greater efficiencies that could be secured, directed that this work continue and encouraged development partners to support the provision of reliable and effective air and maritime transport services and supporting infrastructure. New Legal Infrastructure Initiative  endorsed the inclusion of a proposed new initiative 12.9 "Legal Infrastructure Strengthening" in the Pacific Plan which, subject to funding, will commence with two scoping studies to explore modalities for strengthening the region's legal infrastructure, with the results to be reported to PPAC; Bulk Procurement of Petroleum  noted the considerable work done to date on the regional bulk fuel procurement initiative and endorsed the Framework Agreement approach proposed to implement this initiative with a finalised package to be presented to Leaders in 2008 ready for implementation; Tourism  agreed to: reconsider their current levels of support to their tourism industries and consider increasing these levels where appropriate; prioritise development of infrastructure and transport links (e.g. roads, ports, airports, aviation and shipping) in their countries to foster sustainable tourism and encourage foreign investment in their tourism industries; and encourage development of regional and sub-regional marketing strategies and brands for major international markets; Information and Communication Technology  recalled their call through the Pacific Plan Digital Strategy in 2005 to find technological solutions to bridge the communication and digital divide in the Pacific islands region and: ? In relation to Submarine Cable Technology: - noted the relative absence of submarine cable technology in the Pacific islands region, and acknowledged that existing (Fiji, Papua New Guinea) and planned (American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and New Caledonia) cables in this area had been through the individual effort of each country / territory; - agreed that sub-marine cable technology offers an ideal opportunity for enhanced regional corporation through a `regional project' that links many countries and territories in the region and supported by a mix of private and public financing; - welcomed the South Pacific Information network (SPIN) initiative, a new trans-Pacific submarine cable network that aims to link and connect twelve Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) to the international tele-communication backbone with a possible operational date of December 2008. The potential participating PICTs in SPIN from the east include; French Polynesia, Cook islands, Niue, American Samoa, Samoa, Wallis & Futuna, Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea; - encouraged the 12 participating PICTs to seriously consider taking up this opportunity of a `major regional project' that can enhance and unlock development potential in the 12 PICTs; - noted the interest raised in extending the SPIN project to other PICTs; - requested development partners and the private sector investors to support this major regional initiative to link 12 PICTs to the international communication back-bone that will open huge economic opportunities; and - requested the Secretariat and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) to continue to facilitate this consultation process on SPIN to achieve its implementation during 2008;  noted the launch of the Pacific Rural Internet Connectivity Project (RICS) pilot scheme with the view to assessing the usefulness of the Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technology in bridging the communication divide in rural and remote areas and that 100 sites are required within the next two years for it to be self sustaining;  noted the potential utility of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative and the need for respective education authorities, where appropriate, to assess the priority to be accorded to it in their countries as a tool for education and disseminating information to rural and remote communities; Private Sector Development  recognised the value of the ongoing work in product development and capacity building to strengthen small and medium enterprises in the region; National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDS)  committed to a `whole of government' and stakeholder based approach to strengthening and developing NSDS noting the importance of operationalising NSDS priorities with national budgetary processes;  called on regional agencies and development partners to jointly plan and coordinate regional assistance in support of Forum Island Countries to ensure that sectoral and cross cutting issues, are addressed and implemented through NSDS (and related) processes, with climate change and energy security as priorities for 2008; Innovative Financing for Conservation  reaffirmed their Governments' commitments to environmental conservation and called on CROP agencies, development partners, and non-governmental organisations to assist member countries to: ? mainstream conservation issues into NSDS-based national planning and budgetary processes; ? adopt stakeholder-based planning, establishment and management of conservation areas, supported by a strong understanding of economic, social and environmental benefits deriving from effective conservation; ? identify and obtain financial resources and undertake financial planning required for the development and management of conservation areas from different sources, including national budgets, private sources and development partners; and ? identify alternative international, regional and/or national level financing options for conservation utilising lessons learnt from different financing options, including conservation trust funds and the Global Environment Facility (GEF); Agriculture and Forestry  requested the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) to develop a new agriculture and forestry initiative, including atoll agriculture, under the Pacific Plan's sustainable development pillar to be considered and approved, noting resource requirements and implications, by the Pacific Plan Action Committee in 2008;  requested SPC and the Forum Secretariat to jointly develop NSDS-based agriculture and forestry policies, plans of action and budgeting processes, in collaboration with national governments, seeking technical and financial support from regional agencies and development partners as required; Waste Management  committed their Governments to: integrating waste management into national development planning and budgetary processes as necessary; adopting a whole of government approach (including local governments) and working with the private sector to manage waste in an integrated manner; and identifying and accessing alternative financial resources for waste management, including the use of economic instruments (e.g. user charges);  called on development partners to provide appropriate financial and technical resources to support member countries' efforts to develop integrated waste management strategies and systems; Health  called for immediate action to halt and reverse the trend of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the region through multi-sectoral engagement and resource mobilisation for implementation of evidence-based interventions including reprioritisation of national budgets, consideration of targeted taxes and encouragement of local food production;  endorsed the extension of the current Pacific Regional Strategy on HIV/AIDS (2004-2008) for a further five years to cover 2009-2013 and agreed that it be amended to emphasise current and emerging trends of the epidemic, including other Sexually Transmitted Infections;  agreed that subsequent to the extension of the Pacific Regional Strategy on HIV/AIDS, a Phase 2 of the implementation plan (for 2009-2013) be developed and resources mobilised accordingly for implementation;  agreed to commit their governments to implementing the five decisions by the Pacific Ministers of Health embodied in the Vanuatu Commitment;  noted the decisions by the Pacific Ministers of Health relating to the development of a framework for health priorities for the Pacific and funding of health initiatives in the Pacific; Education  agreed that the establishment and maintenance of a National Qualifications Register be included in National Development Plans/National Education Strategic Plans of Pacific Island countries;  noted that some countries have established professional units to oversee the development and maintenance of their national qualifications registers;  agreed to consider modalities for equitably sharing the long-term costs of running a Regional Qualifications Register; Good Governance  supported the strengthening of accountability and integrity institutions and in particular, Auditor General and Ombudsman offices, utilising regional and sub-regional approaches where possible;  agreed to explore ways to enhance participation, particularly by women, in decision making processes and institutions, and in particular parliamentary processes;  affirmed the importance of strong leadership values, supported ongoing work in this area and called on development partners, regional organisations and civil society to support the implementation of the Forum Principles of Accountability and Good Leadership, and in particular through the adoption of strong leadership codes;  encouraged the pooling of resources and capacities to help alleviate underlying structural problems hampering the delivery of effective statistical services in the region; Security  endorsed work on the applicability of the human security concept to the region with a view to developing a regional human security framework in the medium term that will provide insight into the broader security issues underlying crises and conflicts, and provide a set of tools for preventing and addressing these, including under the Biketawa Declaration;  directed relevant national and regional organisations and specialist Regional Law Enforcement Secretariats to strengthen the collection and exchange of law enforcement information to combat national and transnational organised crime and terrorism;  noted the widespread support for examining the potential for new multilateral Pacific regional arrangements patterned on the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement model for exchange of fisheries law enforcement data, cross-vesting of enforcement powers, and use of fisheries data for other law enforcement activities, and endorsed the Forum Secretariat and FFA working on modalities to take this issue forward;  endorsed the Pacific Urban Agenda 2 and its implementation through a regional action plan, coordinated by the Forum Secretariat and SPC, to assist member countries address the growing challenges posed by urbanisation. Annex B THE VAVA'U DECLARATION ON PACIFIC FISHERIES RESOURCES "OUR FISH, OUR FUTURE" We, the Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum, meeting at Vava'u in the Kingdom of Tonga: RECOGNISING that our regional fisheries resources remain a key driver for sustainable economic growth in the region, especially for small island states, and that they must as a consequence be supported by responsible and effective stewardship; RECALLING the commitment by Leaders under the Pacific Plan to maximise sustainable returns from fisheries by developing an ecosystem based fisheries management planning framework; encouraging effective fisheries development, including value-adding activities; and collaboration to ensure legislation and access frameworks are harmonised; ALSO RECOGNISING the aspirations of Pacific Islands countries to strengthen their engagement in sustainable fisheries and to maximise the flow on benefits from both domestic fisheries and foreign fishing operations in the region; RECALLING in this context our 2004 call for closer Ministerial oversight of Pacific fisheries issues; NOTING with appreciation and deep concern the report on the current state of Pacific fisheries provided to us by the current Chair of the Forum Fisheries Committee, at the request of the Committee's 64th Meeting, held at Ministerial level; COGNISANT of the significant economic opportunities which the regional fisheries resource offers to all our members, and of the comparatively low returns on the resource being achieved by countries in the region; SEIZED by the scientific advice that over-fishing of two key regional tuna species - bigeye and yellowfin tuna - now places stock levels in jeopardy; CONSCIOUS therefore of the imperative need for us to take immediate and decisive collective action to ensure that, within the next three to five years, we secure our peoples' future livelihoods, regional food security, and environmental sustainability of our seas and their ecosystems; HEREBY reaffirm the importance of fisheries to the economies of all Pacific Forum countries, and commit ourselves to:  PROMOTING DOMESTIC FISHERIES, in particular the development of national tuna industries, in the context of a phased introduction of rights-based management arrangements supported by an appropriate management and regulatory framework;  DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF COASTAL/INSHORE FISHERIES and aquaculture to support food security, sustainable livelihoods and economic growth for current and future generations of Pacific people;  MAINTAINING REGIONAL SOLIDARITY among Forum member countries in managing the region's tuna stocks;  STRENGTHENING OUR SUPPORT for the Forum Fisheries Agency, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and other regional fisheries bodies as they intensify their efforts in applying a long-term strategic approach to Pacific fisheries, and in tuna species in particular, to ensure that these resources are effectively managed so as to provide enduring economic, social and cultural benefits;  UPHOLDING AND STRENGTHENING the existing regional and national arrangements, agreements and conservation measures that protect this essential resource; and CONSISTENT with our earlier calls for the sustainable utilisation of fisheries resources, and with our concerns regarding food security for future generations, we further solemnly COMMIT ourselves and our governments to the conservation and sustainable management of highly migratory tuna resources by:  FULLY IMPLEMENTING without delay the conservation and management measures developed and endorsed by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC);  SEEKING THE URGENT ADOPTION OF ADDITIONAL MEASURES by the WCPFC to address over-fishing of bigeye and yellowfin, including a reduction in longline catches and addressing purse seine fishing, and specific steps to reduce the catch of juvenile bigeye and yellowfin;  RECOGNISING THE ASPIRATIONS OF SMALL ISLANDS DEVELOPING STATES to develop their domestic fisheries and CALLING ON DEVELOPED MEMBER COUNTRIES of the Commission to implement measures to support such endeavours;  DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING, with the assistance of the Forum Fisheries Agency, a comprehensive regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) strategy;  INVESTIGATING AND TAKING APPROPRIATE STEPS as a matter of priority to strengthen, simplify and give full transparency to our national fisheries governance and licensing arrangements;  CONTINUING SUPPORT as appropriate for the current tuna tagging initiative of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, including the aspiration that it expand to cover the rest of the Pacific; and,  SUPPORTING AND ENDORSING efforts by the Forum Fisheries Agency, supported by the Forum Secretariat, to take forward as a matter of urgency work to examine the potential for new multilateral Pacific regional arrangements patterned on the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement model for exchange of fisheries law enforcement data, cross-vesting of enforcement powers, and use of fisheries data for other law enforcement activities; and CONSISTENT with our previous deliberations, REAFFIRM the Declaration on Deep Sea Bottom Trawling adopted at the 2006 Nadi Forum and WELCOME the subsequent UNGA Resolution 61/105 which called for strong measures to regulate and manage deep sea bottom trawling; COMMIT to the protection of high seas biodiversity and the conservation and management of non-highly migratory fish stocks in the Pacific Ocean; ENCOURAGE effective participation in the negotiations to deliver a best-practice South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation in view of the longer-term strategic significance to Members and the possible interaction of the high seas pelagic stocks with tuna resources governed by the WCPFC; AGREE TO RAISE THESE DEEP CONCERNS as a matter of urgency with Distant Water Fishing Nations (DWFNs) and regional coastal states participating in the Post-Forum Dialogue, and urge their close cooperation with our efforts; and, REQUEST the Forum Fisheries Agency, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, the Forum Secretariat and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to jointly monitor progress in implementing these commitments, and reporting on this - especially progress in regional tuna management - under the Pacific Plan to Forum Fisheries Ministers and our next Leaders' Meeting for further consideration. Dedicated to the people of the Marshall Islands! Aenet Rowa, webmaster - yokwenet@aol.com Powered by PostNuke ***************************************************************** 16 UPI: Officers may be fired over nuke incident - UPI.com Published: 18, 2007 at 1:50 PM WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Two senior U.S. Air Force officials said at least five officers are being relieved of command over an incident involving the transport of nuclear missiles. The officials said the Air Force is also considering criminal charges in connection with the Aug. 29 "Bent Spear" incident, which involved nuclear-armed cruise missiles that were mistakenly flown from North Dakota to Louisiana, The Washington Post reported Thursday. The sources said senior Defense Department officials haven't yet been briefed on the outcome of the Air Force's investigation but at least one colonel is expected to lose his command and several enlisted personnel are expected to face disciplinary measures. The final decision is scheduled to be announced Friday along with the details of the six-week internal investigation into how a B-52 bomber crew erroneously took six nuclear warheads from one military base to another. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said she believed U.S. President George Bush has been briefed on the matter. Copyright United Press International. All Rights Reserved. ***************************************************************** 17 Guardian Unlimited: Radioactive waste found on 2012 London Park By Martyn Herman LONDON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Small amounts of radioactive waste have been found on the site of the London 2012 Olympics Park. "A 10cm gauge dial face painted with radium-based luminous paint has been found in the north of the Olympic Park site alongside other very low-level readings in small isolated areas," a statement from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) said on Thursday. According to the ODA the levels found pose no threat to the workers clearing the site or to the public. The 2.5 square-km site in east London was formerly home to light industrial premises and a 100-year-old waste tip. Several factories and workshops were known to be using radium paint between the 1930s and 1960s. A report from the ODA's specialist contractor said the finds registered low or very low levels of radioactivity only slightly above normal background levels. "Health and safety is our major priority. This report makes clear the health of the public or workers has not been put at risk," said ODA chief executive David Higgins. "We do want to be open and transparent about our work cleaning up the site. That is why we are publishing this expert report, commissioned immediately after this find, which confirms this initial assessment. "It is important this find is kept in perspective. It demonstrates our procedures are working and we are already acting on the recommendations from our experts to strengthen them further." The government's Health and Safety Executive has been advised as well as the Environment Agency. Guardian Unlimited Guardian News and Media Limited 2007 ***************************************************************** 18 Ventura County Star: U.S. Senate panel hears about the Superfund pitfalls : Oxnard : By Scott Hadly (Contact) Thursday, October 18, 2007 The Halaco Files Visit our Halaco Web site for more information and background on the Halaco site. VenturaCountyStar.com/halaco » Between two presentations in Ventura County concerning the fate of the contaminated Halaco metals recycling plant in Oxnard, a U.S. Senate subcommittee hearing Wednesday morning in Washington, D.C., outlined some of the potential pitfalls for any Superfund cleanup effort there. The hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund program held by the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee wasn't focused on the Halaco site so much, but on the 27-year history of the federal cleanup program. Since Congress failed in 1995 to renew a tax on companies to pay for toxic waste cleanup, the Superfund — established in 1980 by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act — has steadily been depleted. And with less money available, the EPA's pace of cleanup has slowed to a crawl, according to California Sen. Barbara Boxer, the Democratic chairwoman of the committee. Locally, both issues — limited money and the long Superfund process — have begun to weigh on those who want the 40-acre site cleaned up. On Tuesday at a Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting and again Wednesday night at a Port Hueneme City Council meeting, local officials wanted to know about who was going to pay for the cleanup of the heavy metals and radioactive material left on the Halaco site in south Oxnard. "Hasn't the Superfund been depleted?" county Supervisor Linda Parks asked Wayne Praskins, the EPA's Super- fund manager, at the meeting Tuesday. Praskins said there is money for cleanup. "Our first choice is to find those liable to pay for it," he said, "but if that doesn't happen, we'd look to the (Superfund) trust fund." Praskins told local officials that by having the site put on the Superfund list, the EPA is now committing itself to a cleanup. But he also cautioned that the Halaco site will have to compete for the same pool of money with 1,550 other sites across the nation. The EPA has already spent more than $5 million testing soil at the Halaco site and stabilizing an estimated 710,000 cubic yards of waste left there. The cost of a full cleanup has not yet been given, but some estimates range as high as $70 million. Halaco, which is now in bankruptcy, and its former owners do not appear to have anywhere near that much money, according to the trustee assigned to liquidate the company. The lack of cleanup money is an issue that has popped up at other sites across the country and has focused the debate in Washington. "I think it's clear this program needs additional funding," Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., said at Wednesday's subcommittee hearing. "I think reinstating the polluter-pays fee is a step we must take, both to provide additional funds for the cleanups and to make the program fairer. Ordinary tax- payers should not pay for cleanups, and that's what's been happening." Scripps Newspaper Group Online 2007 The E.W. Scripps Co. ***************************************************************** 19 Russia-InfoCentre: Revolution in Nuclear Waste Disposal 18.10.2007 Radioactive wastes Scientists form Saint Petersburg have created uranium nanostructures, which will solve problems of nuclear waste disposal. New materials can be used for developing new technologies of cleaning the environment from toxic and radioactive subtances, processing and burial of liquid radioactive wastes, as well as creating new materials displaying unique optical characteristics. Apart from developing crucially new approaches to problems of nuclear waste disposal scientists promise to create new materials, based on uranium, and to enhance environmental protection while transporting the element. Source: Science News Garant-InfoCentre, 2004-2007. All rights reserved and protected by the copyright law. Copyright to the content of the Site www.russia-ic.com, ***************************************************************** 20 UPI: Nevada wants Sandia out of Yucca plans - UPI.com Published: 17, 2007 at 7:09 PM CARSON CITY, Nev., Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Nevada is asking the U.S. government to remove Sandia National Laboratories from the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project. The state claims the company's memos show one of Sandia's managers prioritized meeting the federal government's deadlines over the quality of the science used in the project, the Albuquerque Journal reported Wednesday. Sandia is a privately owned lab doing projects for the U.S. Energy Department in California and Nevada. Officials with Sandia, which is heading the team of scientists charged with analyzing a Yucca Mountain site the federal government wants to use for burying dangerous radioactive waste, issued a response Tuesday defending the team's integrity. Nevada officials claim an Oct. 10, 2006, memo sent by Sandia official Geoff Freeze to his staff revealed that Freeze considered the schedule more important than science. "My responsibility ... is to ensure that the three priorities -- schedule, defensibility, credibility -- in that order, are satisfied," the state quoted the memo as reading. "If we do not meet the June 30 deadline, 'we are all out of a job,'" Freeze allegedly wrote. "Common sense and experience teach that a plan which puts schedule ahead of defensibility and defensibility ahead of genuine scientific credibility is a recipe for disaster," Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto wrote to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Copyright United Press International. All Rights Reserved. ***************************************************************** 21 Shetland News: Isles oppose nuclear transports 18 October 2007 COUNCILLORS in Shetland were yesterday (Wednesday) warned about the risks posed by the nuclear industry transporting shipments of dangerous cargo near the islands shores. The freight ship Atlantic Osprey, a former roll on-roll off cargo ferry sailed past Shetland in early October with a shipment of Swedish nuclear fuel for the Sellafield reprocessing plant, in Cumbria. The vessel is seen by campaigners as unsuitable to carry nuclear cargo. The councils environment and liaison officer, John Mouat, told a meeting of the environment forum that it was essential for the islands to take notice of such shipments, and of the potential threat to Shetlands wellbeing. SIC policy is that nuclear waste should be dealt with at the site at which it was produced, or as near to that as possible. We believe that if it is to be transported then it should be in the best available technology for these extremely dangerous cargos. The Atlantic Osprey is not the best available. It has already had one fire in the engine room that has stopped it before. He added that there were much better vessels available for the job, such as the Pacific Pintail, owned by the same company. She is double hulled and has a dual propulsion system, with separate engines and propellers as well as dual control for its two rudders, so if one breaks down it can still operate. She also has special features for transporting nuclear waste at sea, where as the Atlantic Osprey is not purpose built, it has just been refitted to carry nuclear material. content Copyright 2003-2007 Shetland News Agency This website ***************************************************************** 22 WNN: MOX requirements advance fast reactor plans EXPLORATION & NUCLEAR FUEL 18 October 2007 Requirements for mixed-oxide (MOX) nuclear fuel in Russia have been approved by the regulator, Rostechnadzor. It is Russia's goal to use the MOX fuel in fast breeder reactors able to destroy plutonium from dismantled weapons and re-use materials from used nuclear fuel. Rostechnadzor's documentation sets out the standards MOX fuel assemblies must meet in terms of thermal and mechanical stresses and resistance to effects of radiation. The fuel rods must withstand these potentially damaging forces lest they degrade to the point where heat from the highly-radioactive fuel inside could not be safely removed. One driving force for the use of MOX is the strategic approach Russia has taken to close its nuclear fuel cycle in the long term, which assumes the recycling of plutonium. The other is an agreement Russia made with the USA in 2000 which said both sides must convert 34 tonnes of plutonium from nuclear weapons into fuel for power reactors by 2014. The USA is doing this at the Savannah River site, where a MOX fuel manufacturing plant is under construction. Four test MOX assemblies made in France are already in use at the Catawba 1 PWR. However, Russia does not intends to use MOX widely in its PWR fleet and would prefer to load it instead in the prototype of the fast breeder reactor (FBR) family it hopes to use widely in coming decades. One FBR already operates at Beloyarsk (unit 3), supplying 560 MWe to the grid, while Beloyarsk 4 is under contruction now. This 800 MWe FBR should operate from 2012 and is planned to use all 34 tonnes of weapons plutonium during its life, even if not by 2014. Other stocks of plutonium have already been separated from previously used nuclear fuel. Future plans envisage an 1600 MWe unit which should be economically competitive with conventional water-cooled reactors from operation in 2020. Fifteen test MOX fuel assemblies are currently in use within the core of Beloyarsk 3, where they will stay until 2009. These were produced using a vibro-packing method developed by Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (NIIAR). Uranium/plutonium feed for the test assemblies was prepared by the Mining and Chemical Combine (MCC). If post-use tests verify the vibro-packing technique it is expected that NIIAR and MCC would create a production line capable of producing 50 MOX assemblies per year exclusively for use in Beloyarsk 4. Further information WNA's Nuclear Power in Russia information paper WNA's Mixed Oxide (MOX) information paper ***************************************************************** 23 Press Enterprise: Rialto asks company for cleanup help | San Bernardino County | PE.com PERCHLORATE: Goodrich Corp. is one of 42 companies that may have contributed to the plume. 10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 By MARY BENDER The Press-Enterprise Days after a judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Goodrich Corp. against the city of Rialto, the City Council sent a letter to the aerospace firm urging it to help clean up the underground reservoir polluted by perchlorate. The letter sent Wednesday to Marshall Larsen, Goodrich's president and chief executive officer, was signed by city council members Winnie Hanson, Ed Scott, Joe Baca Jr. and Deborah Robertson. In the letter, the City Council requests that Goodrich help Rialto pressure the state government to "fund an emergency cleanup of our underground drinking water supply and underground storage reservoir, while our attorneys and yours continue to argue in court ... over who will ultimately pay for this ongoing disaster." Aquifer Polluted Rialto City Attorney Bob Owen said Rialto's underground aquifer is "11 miles long and four miles wide and 1,000 feet deep, but we've got a plume of perchlorate sitting smack in the middle of it," he said. "We would like to clean that up and have Goodrich help us." Perchlorate is a component of rocket fuel, explosives and fireworks. Perchlorate "is contaminating 360 million gallons of water every month that they delay the legal proceedings," Owen said. On Friday, San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Brian McCarville ruled that Goodrich didn't have legal standing in the claim it brought this year against Rialto and the City Council. Goodrich "does not have an interest in uncontaminated waters within Rialto. Its interest is clearly in avoiding or shifting the cost of cleanup," McCarville wrote said in his ruling. The contamination occurred on a 160-acre industrial site north of Highway 210, in the northern part of Rialto. Over the decades, several companies operated on the land. Testing Rockets Goodrich operated in Rialto from 1957 to 1963. "They were developing and testing solid rocket propellant for small missiles," said Jeffrey Dintzer, legal counsel for Goodrich, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. Goodrich is one of 42 "potentially responsible parties" named in a federal lawsuit filed by Rialto in 2004 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. The company, founded in 1870 in Akron, Ohio, previously was known as BF Goodrich, a rubber manufacturer that made automobile and airplane tires. Goodrich also developed aircraft de-icing systems, pressure suits that allowed pilots to fly at high altitudes, space suits for NASA's Mercury Seven astronauts and wheels and brakes for the space shuttles. Goodrich quit the tire business and shifted its focus to the aerospace. The company contends that the city hasn't pressed a current occupant of the site, Kenneth Thompson Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Rialto Concrete Products, to properly clean up a contaminated portion of the land known as the McLaughlin Pit, where fireworks waste was dumped. Reach Mary Bender at 909-806-3056 or mbender@PE.com 2007 Press-Enterprise Company • 3450 Fourteenth Street, Riverside, California 92501 ***************************************************************** 24 Independent: Bingaman introduces ?SECURE Water Act? October 17, 2007 But future water security a question By Kathy Helms Din Bureau WINDOW ROCK ? U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman has introduced the ?SECURE Water Act? to address some of the serious water-related challenges facing New Mexico and the United States. ?Water is a precious and scarce resource, especially in the Southwest,? Bingaman said. ?Much more needs to be done to ensure that sufficient supplies of quality water are available to meet the basic needs of Americans, as well as for important economic and environmental uses.? The legislation is designed to facilitate the improvement of water management by the Bureau of Reclamation and takes into account the impacts of global climate change on water resources ? something not considered in BOR?s 2007 Hydrologic Determination which found sufficient water to support the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project. Bingaman also is sponsoring that legislation. Reports from the last several seasons indicate that increasing temperatures are resulting in less snowpack and more rain in many regions, changing the timing of snow-melt runoff and underscoring the need for more data. At a recent hearing on climate change and water held by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which Bingaman chairs, the U.S. Geological Survey indicated that current climate models also are projecting a long-term drying trend in the Southwest ? the fastest growing region in the country. Bingaman?s bill requires an expansion of the National Streamflow Information Program and the development of a systematic groundwater monitoring program, and directs the USGS to formally establish a water use and availability assessment program consistent with recommendations made by the National Research Council. It also would require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Energy to increase the acquisition and analysis of water-related data to assess the long-term availability of water resources for irrigation, hydroelectric power, municipal, environmental uses, and other purposes. For Navajo families living in the New Mexico portion of the reservation, who still must haul water for personal use and for livestock, the availability of water is a big question, especially in light of a revival of the uranium mining industry. While Cold War-era mining left them with a legacy of abandoned mines and contaminated lands, many fear that the new wave of in-situ recovery of uranium ? which depends on water ? will leave them and their grandchildren without a safe supply to meet their personal needs. There are a number of pending applications on file with the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer requesting water for proposed uranium mining operations in McKinley County, where Gallup is facing a critical water shortage and is depending on the Navajo-Gallup and the G-22 well projects to meet future needs. U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, a major proponent of nuclear energy and mining in the Grants Mineral Belt as well as co-sponsor of Bingaman?s ?Science and Engineering to Comprehensively Understand and Responsibly Enhance Water Act? (SECURE Water Act), has said he would not back the Navajo Nation?s proposed settlement of water claims in the San Juan Basin in New Mexico unless it includes water for Gallup. On Tuesday, Domenici announced his support for a $300,000 grant application on behalf of the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources to fund a mapping project to characterize the geology of certain regions in New Mexico. The Rio Grande Compact ? a treaty signed in 1938 between the United States, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas ? equitably apportioned the waters of the Rio Grande Basin. According to the Interbasin Compact Commission in Colorado, all of the water in the basin is overappropriated. Last Friday, Uranium Resources Inc. of Texas announced that it had entered into an agreement with BHP Billiton to acquire 100 percent ownership of Rio Algom Mining LLC. The purchase includes an NRC-licensed mill site with associated water rights in the historic Ambrosia Lake District, 20 miles north of Grants. URI said the mill will be capable of processing all of the remaining conventional ore in the Grants Mineral Belt, which could total 200 to 300 million pounds Uranium-308. Hydro Resources Inc., a subsidiary of URI, has a pending application request on file with the State Engineer?s Office for up to 650 acre-feet per year of groundwater for consumptive use and up to 650 acre-feet per year diversion for its West Largo in-situ uranium recovery project in McKinley County. Another application seeks the same amount for HRI?s Roca Honda project, also in McKinley County. Wednesday October 17, 2007 Selected Stories: Gallup Independent. Please send the Gallup Independent feedback on this website and the paper in general. Send questions or comments to gallpind@cia-g.com ***************************************************************** 25 Daily Pennsylvanian: What to do with nuclear waste? - Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: News Institute of Environmental Studies hosts lecture on government waste disposal project Kabir Bedi Deep below the surface of the earth, scientists are researching the best ways to dispose of nuclear waste left over from defense projects without harming the environment. As an inaugural speaker for its 2007-2008 lecture series, the Institute for Environmental Studies invited Laurence Brush from the Sandia National Laboratories to talk yesterday afternoon at the Lynch Auditorium in the Chemistry Building. Brush discussed the ongoing projects at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant of the U.S Department of Energy. Brush, who has been a part of WIPP for two decades, addressed an audience of about 25 people consisting predominantly of geologists and planetary scientists. WIPP, a 16-square mile area in New Mexico, is a U.S. Department of Energy repository for defense-related transuranic (TRU) waste, which is highly radioactive nuclear waste. TRU has a half-life greater than 20 years per gram of waste; thus, proper storage and disposal is key. Opened in March 1999, WIPP, Brush said, "safely [disposes] TRU waste formed from defense equipment." He further suggested that WIPP had already "managed 29.1 percent of the defense waste produced by the U.S." Brush also described the journey of TRU through 22 states before its arrival in southeast New Mexico. The long trip, however, is worth the effectiveness of the WIPP site. Structural geologist Steve Phipps said, "This is a good demonstration that nuclear waste can be disposed off as safely as you would want it to be." The history of WIPP, Brush said, goes back to 1957, when the National Academy of Sciences recommended deep-geologic disposal of nuclear waste, especially in salt basins, which, due the ground's chemical properties, are very conducive to disposal. The initial site for the plant, selected in 1970 by the Atomic Energy Commission, was Lyons, Kansas, but due to innumerable existing bore holes, it had to be abandoned in 1972. The Salado Formation, a Permian bedded-salt formation, Brush explained, contains high levels of halite with small traces of gypsum and clays. The talk, which was followed by a question-and-answer session, was well appreciated by the audience. David Grandstaff, chairman of the Temple geology department said, "I think Larry has done good work. He is really trying to protect the environment and pushing this necessary process." The Daily Pennsylvanian ***************************************************************** 26 ReviewJournal.com: Yucca hearing set, fulfilling Clinton campaign promise Oct. 18, 2007 By STEVE TETREAULT STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU WASHINGTON -- A Senate committee on Wednesday announced a hearing on the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project, enabling Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to claim credit for delivering on a campaign promise made to Nevadans over the summer. The Oct. 31 hearing will be the first Senate airing of the proposed waste repository since Democrats took control this year. The Environment and Public Works Committee that is organizing the session is headed by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., a critic of the proposed repository, 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The hearing probably will have political undercurrents as well. Clinton sits on the committee and is expected to take part in the hearing. The senator from New York has sought to position herself as the strongest voice against the project among Democrats running for president in advance of the state's party caucuses in January. "Senator Clinton has been working actively with the committee to schedule this hearing," said Rory Reid, Clark County commissioner and chairman of Clinton's campaign in Nevada, where the repository project is unpopular. "No other candidate for president has stood as strongly on this issue as Senator Clinton." The hearing probably will provide Clinton and other repository opponents a fresh forum to criticize the controversial program. While it will be in a Senate committee room, the intended audience members really are voters in Nevada, said Eric Herzik, a political scientist at the University of Nevada, Reno. "It is possible that something substantive could come out of this, but Yucca Mountain has been discussed for more than 20 years, and the sides are pretty well drawn," Herzik said. "This makes me think it will be more symbolic than substantive." Committee aides and other Senate officials said witnesses are being invited and will be announced next week. The panel has jurisdiction over the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency, so it is possible those agencies will be represented, officials said. One outstanding question is why the EPA is taking so long to issue required radiation safety standards for the project. Agency officials had promised Congress the standards would be released by the end of last year, and they are 10 months late and counting. Project managers from the Energy Department and spokespeople for the environmental community also might be invited. It was not clear whether Gov. Jim Gibbons is being invited to speak or to send a representative. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he has worked with Boxer to schedule the hearing "for the last few months. I am confident the information that comes out will shine a bright spotlight on the problems associated with this dangerous plan." Most elected leaders in Nevada oppose the proposed repository that is being designed to hold 70,000 tons of highly radioactive used fuel from commercial power plants and other forms of nuclear waste. They say they consider the venture unsafe and have little trust in the Energy Department to look after the health and safety of Nevadans. Clinton has sought to portray herself as the state's biggest ally among presidential candidates. On July 20, she said she would push for Senate hearings as a step toward delaying the project until she could be elected president in 2008. If she wins, Clinton said, "I will not go forward with Yucca Mountain. My administration will not proceed with Yucca Mountain." It was not clear Wednesday what role if any Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Clinton's perceived main rival in Nevada for the Democratic nomination, would play in the hearing. An Obama campaign aide said he might not be able to attend and ask questions because he is not a member of the Environment Committee. "Senator Obama does not need hearings to know he does not support Yucca Mountain," the aide said. "To the extent this hearing will help raise public awareness, he supports it." But a precedent might have been set for Obama's participation if he chooses, according to several Senate sources familiar with the Environment Committee. Several weeks ago, the committee chairman allowed nonmember Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., to take active part in a hearing about the Chesapeake Bay. Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., said he challenged Clinton to try to kill the Yucca project outright. "The Democrats are in charge, and the Democrats have done nothing to kill the project," Porter said. "Why is she going to wait to see if she wins? If she is sincere, she has the authority now." "This is precisely why she requested this hearing," said Hilarie Grey, Clinton's campaign spokeswoman in Nevada. "There are many public safety issues and health issues that have not been addressed and she wants to be sure those questions are asked right now. Senator Clinton has been a consistent opponent of Yucca Mountain." Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., noted the hearing will take place on Nevada Day, the Oct. 31 anniversary of when the state was admitted to the Union in 1864. "Nevada's flag reads Battle Born, and we will keep fighting Yucca Mountain and those -- like President Bush -- who want to see the Silver State turned into the nation's nuclear garbage dump," Berkley said. Contact Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia .com or (202) 783-1760. Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal, 1997 - 2007 Stephens Media, LLC Privacy Statement ***************************************************************** 27 The Tribune: Uranium mining in Colorado: Focus on facts, not fear Reader Submissions Guest Commentary October 18, 2007 Powertech (USA) Inc.'s proposal to recover uranium in Weld County has created lots of media ink -- and even more misinformation. We understand there are concerns among northern Colorado residents and legislators about our plans, and we encourage all interested parties to focus on facts, science and regulation from reliable sources, rather than innuendo and fear. Opponents will have you believe that our proposed operations at the Centennial Project would be overlooked by regulatory agencies, thus contaminating the entire Laramie-Fox Hills aquifer and releasing harmful radioactive dust, and that Powertech would pocket millions in profits without spending a dime to remediate the site. This information is not only false and inflammatory, but it is continually disseminated by individuals who have been provided with the facts, but thus far have chosen to ignore them. Uranium mining is a legal and highly-regulated business in Colorado. The State's Division of Mining Reclamation and Safety (DRMS) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) hold authority over permitting and regulatory oversight of the Centennial Project and other uranium operations. Powertech will follow all regulatory requirements for its permit applications and uranium recovery operations, and will secure the required bonds to guarantee up-front that funds are available for the full restoration of the site. Powertech plans to utilize in-situ recovery (ISR) to extract uranium, which involves piping groundwater with non-toxic oxygen and sodium bicarbonate-not acidic or caustic solutions into underground ore to dissolve the uranium, and then pumping it to the surface in a closed recovery process. Before you decide for yourself about this project, consider the facts: The groundwater in the uranium ore zones is not used for drinking and likely never will be. It is already heavily contaminated with heavy metals and radionuclides, which may become more concentrated at the mine site during recovery but will be confined and restored as required by law. Powertech will control, contain and monitor all mobilized elements within the mine site. Opponents' comparisons of the project to Rocky Flats, Chernobyl, Mount St. Helens, or the Summitville acid-leach mine are deceptive and demonstrate an alarming misunderstanding of low-level natural uranium and the ISR process. Uranium mining operations do not increase the risk of cancer mortality or cause adverse health impacts, as alleged by the Larimer County Medical Society. Colorado State University's Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences has independently compiled over 140 peer-reviewed scientific studies that challenge these allegations at www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/erhs/uranium_mining_ info.htm. Powertech has not engaged in unapproved activities and will not begin mining operations until it receives all appropriate federal, state and local permits. Powertech is not lying or withholding information. Opponents continue to disregard our responses to their questions and science that compete with their myths. Read them for yourself at www.powertechuranium.com. Uranium from the Centennial site likely would be processed in Wyoming, and used for nuclear energy generation in U.S. power plants. The U.S. obtains 20 percent of its electricity from nuclear power plants, but about 94 percent of the uranium used is imported from countries including Kazakhstan, Australia and Canada. As concerns grow about global warming and energy independence, nuclear power is a key solution as a domestically-fueled energy source that doesn't spew carbon dioxide. Powertech is here to stay. The company plans to submit its permit applications in late 2008, and will continue to be a good corporate citizen and neighbor. The company anticipates a life-of-project investment of about $230 million, with an anticipated tax infusion of $44 million in tax dollars into the local and state economies. Don't fall victim to the propaganda frenzy. Get educated about Powertech, uranium and recovery methods. Talk to unbiased third parties, such as regulators or scientists. Visit www.powertechuranium.com for information, science, updates and -- most importantly -- facts. If you have questions, call us at (877) 798-4240. Richard Blubaugh is the vice president of Environmental Health and Safety Resources for Powertech (USA) Inc. October 17, 2007 - What a uranium mine will really do to Nunn October 14, 2007 - Musgrave, residents, speak out against uranium project October 12, 2007 - Two meetings this weekend about uranium mine October 9, 2007 - We must stop PowerTech before plans go any further September 20, 2007 - Uranium, JFK and the Warren Commission September 13, 2007 - Time to stop denying hazards of uranium September 5, 2007 - What's all the fuss about a uranium mine near Nunn? September 2, 2007 - I, too, worry about uranium mining August 31, 2007 - Musgrave: NRC to allow more time to comment on uranium mine August 31, 2007 - Clean water + wind energy = uranium mining? August 20, 2007 - Uranium drilling sparks concern August 15, 2007 - Will uranium sites be adequately restored? June 24, 2007 - Will Fort Collins soon be the worst place to live? All contents Copyright 2007 greeleytrib.com The Greeley Publishing Co. - P.O. Box 1690 - Greeley, CO 80632 ***************************************************************** 28 Herald News: Nuclear center's location still uncertain HeraldNewsOnline.com Member of the Sun-Times News Group MORRIS AMONG CONTENDING CITIES October 18, 2007 By CHRISTINA CHAPMAN Staff Writer MORRIS -- The city is still in the running to be the home of a recycling center for spent nuclear fuel rods, but when the decision will come from the United States Department of Energy has been delayed. Nancy Norton Ammer, CEO of the Grundy Economic Development Council, attended a series of meetings with the DOE and other community representatives that are also being considered for the recycling center. At the meeting, Dennis Spurgeon, assistant secretary for the DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy announced that the location of the center would not be decided by the summer of 2008 as was planned, Ammer said. The DOE's proposal is to design, build and operate three facilities: an advanced fuel cycle research facility, a nuclear fuel recycling center and an advanced recycling reactor, which would destroy long-lived radioactive elements in the new fuel, while generating electricity. The proposal is part of President Bush's Global Nuclear Energy Partnership. The facilities would recover about 95 percent of the energy available in spent nuclear fuel and reduce radioactive half-lives. There are 13 possible sites for the DOE's proposed project. Locally, General Electric Co.'s Morris-area facility is one of the sites and GE is teaming up with Argonne for the technology. "With all the different presentations, different technologies and with all the (public) comments, I think they underestimated the time frame," Ammer said. The DOE held several meetings and allowed write-in comments from the public and more than 14,000 comments were received. Spokesperson for the DOE, Brian Quirke, could not comment on the time frame for the site decision, but did say that due to the extended comment period, the draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on each possible site would not be out until later this year. It was due this past summer. Originally the draft was supposed to narrow down the 13 sites, but Quirke said it will no longer do this. "It is no longer being approached this way. All 13 will have the same status in the draft," he said. The Grundy Economic Development Council thinks the program is worth investigating for the county, but Ammer is concerned what will happen once a new president is elected. "There is going to be a change in our administration so it depends on how institutional it is within the DOE and what will be the direction of the new administration," she said. The private sector The DOE now seems to be involving the private companies in the project, more than originally expected. "They went to the private sectors of all the sites to put together business proposals," Ammer said. The private companies will be the key to commercializing the process. Included in the private sector is GE, AREVA, Energy Solutions and General Atomics. Earlier this month these companies were awarded grants for technical and conceptual design studies for the GNEP project. As recipients of the grant, GE is still pushing hard to win this project. "GE is doing this to advance our role under the GNEP program," said Sarah Leversee, spokesperson for GE in Morris. "We're still excited and moving forward." Christina Chapman can be reached at (815) 729-6172 or by e-mail at cchapman@scn1.com Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Copyright 2007 Digital Chicago, Inc. | Terms of Use Privacy ***************************************************************** 29 [NYTr] USAF Said to be "Firing" 5 Officers over Nuke-armed B-52 "Mistake" Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2007 02:10:25 -0500 (CDT) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit [They're being "fired?" What are they? Outsourced corporate-employed mercenary "officers?" Military personnel get busted in rank, court-martialed, discharged or whatever. They don't get "fired." ] AP via ABC News - Oct 18, 2008 http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=nation_world&id=5714339 Air Force firing five officers over big nuclear mistake Air Force plans to fire officers involved in 'mistaken' B-52 flight with nuclear weapons (Washington - AP, October 18, 2007) - The Air Force is planning to fire at least five officers for an incident in which nuclear-armed missiles were mistakenly loaded on a B-52 bomber and flown across the U.S. - the worst known violation of nuclear security rules in decades. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen are to be briefed Friday on the disciplinary plan and other results of an Air Force probe into the incident. Gates said Thursday that officials want to reduce the chances of another such incident "to the lowest level humanly possible." But it "would be silly" to promise it won't happen again, he said at a press conference with Mullen. Asked if they could assure the American public the nation's nuclear stockpile is secure, Mullen said he wanted to see the report first. "I look forward to understanding ... what happened here ... to really make a judgment about where we are and what we have to do," he said. "But certainly being at a point where we can assure everybody that we have control of these weapons ... is where we absolutely have to be." Neither man commented on the pending disciplinary action. Two Defense Department officials said earlier Thursday that the Air Force investigation found long-established procedures for handling the munitions were not followed and one of the officials said it recommends that five or more officers be relieved of their duties. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record. They also said senior Air Force officials were still reviewing parts of the report, though it was unclear whether any changes were planned. The Air Force said last month that one munitions squadron commander was fired shortly after the Aug. 30 flight in question and that ground crews and others involved had been temporarily decertified for handling weapons. In an embarrassing incident that lawmakers called very disturbing, the B-52 mistakenly armed with six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles flew from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., with the missiles mounted under one of the bomber's wings and no one noticed for hours. The officials declined to say what procedures were not followed. But the mishandling in August would have required not one mistake - but a series of lapses by a number of people in order for armed weapons - as opposed to unarmed ones - to be inadvertently taken out of a storage bunker, mounted on the B-52, misidentified on a flight manifest and flown across the country for three hours without anyone noticing. The plane also sat on a runway for hours with the missiles after arriving in Louisiana before the breach was known - meaning a total of 36 hours passed before the missiles were properly secured, officials have said. The Air Combat Command ordered a command-wide stand-down - instituted base by base and completed Sept. 14 - to set aside time for personnel to review procedures, officials said. The incident was so serious that it required President Bush and Gates to be quickly informed. The Air Force said there was never any danger to the public because the weapons are designed with multiple safety features that ensure the warheads do not detonate accidentally. But officials also have asserted over the years that such a mistake could not happen because there were numerous procedures in place to ensure the safe handling of nuclear weapons. An Air Force spokesman, Lt. Col. Edward Thomas, declined to confirm Thursday morning what punishments were planned or to give any details of the probe's findings, saying Gates had not gotten the full report and those to be disciplined were not to be notified until later Thursday. Three other defense officials said the Air Force planned to announce its investigation results and the punishments at a Pentagon press conference Friday. But two of them said that could be delayed if, for instance, Gates wants further information after he is briefed or more senior officials in the Air Force, who were still discussing the report, disagree with the decision. The anticipated disciplinary actions would be the most severe ever brought in the Air Force in connection with the handling of nuclear weapons, The Washington Post said in Thursday editions, quoting an unidentified official who said that was aimed at sending a message about accountability. The weapons involved were the Advanced Cruise Missile, a "stealth" weapon developed in the 1980s with the ability to evade detection by Soviet radars. The Air Force said in March that it had decided to retire the Advanced Cruise Missile fleet soon, and they said after the breach that the missiles were being flown to Barksdale for decommissioning but were supposed to be unarmed ones. Three weeks into the Air Force investigation, Gates also asked for an outside inquiry to determine whether the incident indicates a larger security problem on the transfer of weapons. Official said his request for the inquiry, which is still under way, did not reflect any dissatisfaction with how the Air Force was conducting its investigation. White House press secretary Dana Perino said Thursday that President Bush "appreciates the fact that Secretary Gates (had moved quickly) to find out what went wrong, make sure it doesn't happen again, and hold people to account if anyone did something wrong." * ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us Our main website: http://www.blythe.org List Archives: http://blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ Subscribe: http://blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr ================================================================= ***************************************************************** 30 RIA Novosti: Russia announces successful Topol ballistic missile test 11:57 | 18/ 10/ 2007 MOSCOW, October 18 (RIA Novosti) - Russia has successfully test-fired an RS-12 Topol intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk space center, a spokesman for the Strategic Missile Forces announced on Thursday. The RS-12 (NATO reporting name SS-25 Sikle) has been in service since 1988. It is a road-mobile single-warhead ICBM, similar in size and shape to the U.S. Minuteman ICBM. "A mock warhead hit a designated target at testing grounds on the Kamchatka Peninsula [in Russia's Far East]," the spokesman said. He said the launch from the space center in north Russia had been conducted to assess the possibility of extending the service life of Topol missiles whose technical specifications stipulate a 10-year service term. "With this test launch the service life of Topol systems has been extended to 21 years," the official said. The missile will be progressively retired over the next decade. It is being replaced by a mobile version of the Topol-M (SS-27) missile, which can carry up to six nuclear warheads. RIA Novosti ***************************************************************** 31 Reuters: Russia plans new nuclear weapons Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:58am EDT By Dmitry Solovyov MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia was working on new types of nuclear weapons as part of a "grandiose" plan to boost the country's defenses. Putin, widely popular as his second four-year term draws to an end amid strong economic growth and rising incomes, has been trying to reassert Moscow's role on the international stage by reviving its armed forces, shattered by the tumultuous 1990s. "We will develop missile technology including completely new strategic (nuclear) complexes, completely new." Putin said in an annual televised question-and-answer session with Russian citizens. "Work is continuing and continuing successfully." "We have plans that are not only big, but grandiose, they are fully realistic. Our armed forces will be more compact but more effective and better ensure Russia defense," Putin said. In a striking contrast to the chaotic 1990s with its piecemeal financing of the demoralized army, Putin has overseen the roll-out of new jets, tactical and anti-aircraft missiles and even what Moscow says is the world's biggest vacuum bomb. A few hours earlier, Russia successfully test-fired its newest Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northwestern Russia. State television said it hit a target in the Pacific, thousands of miles away. "We serve our fatherland!" the officers who fired the missile replied in chorus after Putin congratulated them on the successful launch during the live broadcast. Putin did not specify what kind of "completely new strategic weapons" Russia was developing. Continued... ***************************************************************** 32 UPI: U.S. and Russia negotiate missile shield - UPI.com Published: 18, 2007 at 9:45 AM WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. officials told Russian President Vladimir Putin they would delay implementing a missile defense shield if an accord on Iranian capabilities was reached. The United States has announced plans to install a radar facility in the Czech Republic and 10 missile interceptors in Poland to counter the potential threat from Iranian long-range ballistic missiles U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Putin last week that the United States would adjust the operational capability of the missile defense shield based on threat assessments, the Financial Times reported Thursday. The United States and Russia differ over their public assessment of Iranian capabilities. U.S. officials estimate that Iran will have missiles capable of reaching Europe and the United States by 2015, while Russia’s estimates are further out. Russian officials said they see the Iranian program as a civilian program for energy purposes, U.S. officials said the Iranian nuclear program was the primary reason for the missile defense system. U.S. President George Bush said Wednesday that Iran should abandon its nuclear program if Iran was “interested in avoiding World War III.” Russian and U.S. officials also discussed the possible integration of several regional early warning systems. Copyright United Press International. All Rights Reserved. ***************************************************************** 33 UPI: Putin details nuclear weapons development - UPI.com Published: 18, 2007 at 12:34 PM MOSCOW, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Thursday Russia would continue to develop nuclear as well as conventional weapons for its armed forces. In a televised news conference, Putin said a development program running through 2015 would enhance all levels of Moscow’s nuclear forces, including strategic air and missiles based on land and aboard submarines. According to the RIA Novosti news service, Putin said Russia was developing a next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and sub-based missile. Novosti said Russia also announced it had successfully tested an improved RS-12M Topol ICBM. The RS-12 has been deployed since the 1980s and is undergoing modernization. Copyright United Press International. All Rights Reserved. ***************************************************************** 34 Guardian Unlimited: Putin unveils new nuclear weapons project Rosalind Ryan and agencies Thursday October 18, 2007 The Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Photograph: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP President Vladimir Putin said today that Russia is developing new types of nuclear weapons. Mr Putin said during a live televised phone-in that the new missiles were part of a "grandiose" plan to boost Russian defences, Reuters reported. "We will develop missile technology including completely new strategic [nuclear] complexes," he said in the annual phone-in, in which Russians can question him directly. Mr Putin began the session by extolling the strength of the Russian economy, particularly the improvements since he assumed office, but warned that inflation could rise to 8.5% by the end of the year. The annual televised Q&A session is Mr Putin's sixth since being elected president in 2000. More than 1 million people sent in questions by email, text or telephone. Many viewers were keen to see if Mr Putin would give any clues as to his plans when his second presidential term expires in 2008. Under the terms of the constitution he cannot be elected for a third term. Mr Putin did not reveal his intentions and focused instead on economic growth, which he said has been fuelled by a construction boom. "It's unlikely that we will succeed in keeping inflation in the planned framework," he said. "It's planned that it will be around 8.5%." He also said work on the new missiles was "continuing successfully". "We have plans that are not only big, but grandiose; they are fully realistic," he said. "Our armed forces will be more compact but more effective and better ensure Russia defence." Critics have claimed that the annual phone-in is choreographed tightly and that Mr Putin answers only safe, pre-selected questions. Traditionally questions have involved bread-and-butter issues such as water supply, school places and healthcare. The Kremlin said that this year's questions included queries on salaries for public sector workers, the environment and the 2014 Winter Olympics. While President Putin is keen to connect with voters using the phone-in, the Russian prime minister, Viktor Zubkov, is not so enthusiastic about allowing television an insight into the workings of government. Mr Zubkov banned the live broadcast of cabinet meetings today, saying that television cameras were preventing proper discussion. The televised sessions were the brainchild of previous prime minister Mikhail Fradkov. Guardian Unlimited Guardian News and Media Limited 2007 ***************************************************************** 35 AFP: Putin attacks US foreign policy, announces new nuclear weapon - by Sebastian Smith Thu Oct 18, 3:07 PM ET MOSCOW (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday chastised the United States over its policy in Iraq and Iran, and announced "grandiose" military plans, including development of a new nuclear weapon. Putin, who is to step down at the end of his second term next year, also said he wanted the ruling United Russia party to preserve his policies after December parliamentary elections, confirming that he wants to retain major political influence after leaving office. In a nationally broadcast link-up with ordinary Russians across the country, Putin called the US intervention in Iraq a "dead end" and called on Washington to set a deadline for the withdrawal of troops. Putin suggested that Iraq had been invaded because of its oil wealth and assured one caller that energy-rich Russia could not suffer the same fate. To think so, he said, was "political erotica." The White House quickly rebuffed Putin's comments, insisting there was a "good trend" in Iraq. The hawkish Russian leader also swiped at Washington's tough stand on Iran's nuclear power programme, saying Moscow's insistence on negotiations was better than "threats, sanctions or even force." In a video link-up with servicemen at the Plesetsk nuclear missile base, Putin said that Russia would build another nuclear submarine next year and was also planning a "completely new" atomic weapon. "We have grandiose plans and they are absolutely realistic," Putin said, speaking hours after the military announced the successful test firing of a Topol intercontinental ballistic missile. Putin's sixth phone-in during eight years in power came in for particular scrutiny for clues to Putin's future political career after December parliamentary and March presidential elections. Putin, 55, has left the world guessing about what he will do after the March election, in which he is barred by the constitution from seeking a third consecutive term. The former KGB officer who came to power in 2000 repeated that he will step down, saying "there will be another person here in the Kremlin in 2008." He confirmed that he would campaign for the United Russia party in the parliamentary election, saying this party's victory would ensure that his policies over the last eight years continued. "Imagine that people come to power who do not agree with these decisions, it would be easy to reverse them.... It is therefore extremely important that parliament is effective," Putin said. Putin has previously said he is considering taking up the prime minister's post after leaving the Kremlin, but he appeared to scotch speculation that he wants constitutional changes transfering power from the Kremlin to the government. He said he was "against cutting the powers of the president of Russia," Interfax said. On the economy, Putin trumpeted economic growth of 7.7 percent, but conceded that the government was so far unable to control inflation of 8.5 percent and rising beyond "the planned parameters." There has been a more than doubling of foreign investment, 13.4 percent increase in incomes, and 5.1 percent increase in pensions, he said, while gold and foreign currency reserves are at record levels. Putin also claimed credit for a slowdown in the country's dramatic population plunge, saying that government benefits to families were having an effect. Although Putin says he will step down next year, he remains by far the dominant political force in a country where there is almost no outspoken opposition. Adding to the mystery, no major politician has yet expressed interest in seeking the presidency, while polls indicate the parliamentary election will give Putin's United Russia party an overwhelming majority. Speculation is mounting that Putin will seek to remain in control even after quitting the presidency. Or he may return to the Kremlin for a third term after a break -- something the constitution does not bar. Later Thursday Putin was to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Moscow for talks expected to focus on Iran's Russian-backed nuclear programme. Putin was in Tehran on Tuesday, the first visit to Iran by a Kremlin leader since World War II. Copyright 2007 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. ***************************************************************** 36 The Hindu: India, Russia sign pact to build combat aircraft Friday, Oct 19, 2007 Vladimir Radyuhin 5th generation plane will give a new quality to our defence ties, says Defence Minister Antony A leap forward: Defence Minister A. K. Antony signs an agreement for the fighter aircraft with his Russian counterpart, Serdyukov Anatoly Eduardovich, in Moscow on Thursday. MOSCOW: Defence cooperation between India and Russia has taken a great leap forward with the signing of a multi-billion pact to build a futuristic combat aircraft and the coming lease of a Russian nuclear submarine to India. The 5th-generation plane agreement will give a new quality to our defence ties with Russia, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said. It marks the start of cooperation in the development of state-of-the-art new-technology weapon systems. The intergovernmental agreement to jointly design, develop, and manufacture the 5th-generation multi-role jet fighter was inked at the 7th session of the Indo-Russian Intergovernmental Commission (IRIGC) on Military-Technical Cooperation on Thursday. Russia is also set to lease out to India an Akula-II nuclear submarine for a period of 10 years beginning with 2008 or 2009, the Izvestia national daily reported on Thursday. During the two-day session, co-chaired by Mr. Antony and his Russian counterpart, Anatoly Serdyukov, the sides decided to start drafting a new long-term programme for defence cooperation. The current programme for the period 2000-2010 involves 200 defence projects estimated at $18 billion. We will further strengthen all-round defence cooperation and extend it to the future, Mr. Antony said after the IRIGC session closed on Thursday. We have decided to expand our cooperation in R&D and have more co-development and co-production projects in aviation and other defence hardware. Landmark event Describing the IRIGC session as a landmark event, Mr. Antony said an intergovernmental agreement for the joint design and manufacture of the Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA) for the military would be signed shortly. Russian sources said the deal would be inked during the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Russia for a summit with President Vladimir Putin next month. The military of the two countries have also decided to increase the frequency and raise the level and scope of joint military exercises, as well as expand reciprocal training programmes. This will mark the start of a new strategic relationship based on greater interaction at the various operational levels, Mr. Antony remarked. The Minister said all questions pertaining to the acquisition and production of T-90S Main Battle Tanks, Su-30MKI planes and other equipment had been sorted out. Russia would supply more 347 T-90S tanks and 40 Su-30MKI jets. Summing up the results of the IRIGC, Mr. Serdyukov said: Russian-Indian military-technical cooperation is developing dynamically and progressively in such fields as joint development of technologies, joint production and supplies of military products to third countries, and the perfection of business and financial relations with the view of attaining effectiveness and mutual benefit. Joint work Commenting on the 5th-generation jet pact, the head of the Sukhoi aircraft company, which is designing the plane, said joint work on the project would be modelled along the lines of the BrahMos missile joint venture. We will share the funding, engineering and intellectual property in a 50-50 proportion, Mikhail Pogosyan said. We hope that the export potential of the new aircraft will be higher now that it is a joint project between our two countries. He disclosed that the Indian version of the 5th-generation aircraft would be different from the Russian version because of specific Indian requirements. Implementation of the project will bring closer the technological basis of the Russian and Indian aircraft industries, beginning with design and ending with production technologies, a spokesman for the Russian Federal Agency for Military-Technical Cooperation told the RIA-Novosti news agency. Copyright 2007, The Hindu. ***************************************************************** 37 Bulletin Online: Russia and nuclear disarmament Russia and nuclear disarmament By Pavel Podvig | 17 October 2007 The vision of a nuclear-weapon-free world is as old as nuclear weapons themselves. One way or another, the idea of complete nuclear disarmament has always been a part of the international political debate, which, of course, includes the United States. Only recently, however, has this idea entered the U.S. political discourse in a way that it is safe for "mainstream" U.S. presidential candidates such as Barack Obama to openly call for nuclear abolition--if only as a distant goal. This is partially a result of a call for a nuclear-weapon-free world in a January 2007 Wall Street Journal op-ed published by four former high-ranking U.S. officials (Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, Sam Nunn, and William Perry). Their call has already been endorsed by a number of their former colleagues, and we should expect new interesting, high-profile endorsements in the near future. Some of my colleagues who have been advocating nuclear abolition for a long time argue that the motives of these U.S. politicians are self-serving and even imperialistic. The United States, they say, has finally figured out that a world where other countries have nuclear weapons is getting increasingly difficult to manage. I don't think this is the true motivation of those who signed the op-ed or have since endorsed its vision; indeed, nuclear weapons are obsolete, and the realization of this fact is simply finding its way into mainstream politics. But getting support for the idea of a nuclear-weapon-free world from U.S. political leaders might be the easiest part of the effort. Regardless of whether U.S. politicians are motivated by idealism or cold calculation, the rest of the world will certainly look at their statements with suspicion. Take, for example, Russia, a country crucial to any serious attempt to move nuclear disarmament forward. Largely due to the economic recovery of the last few years, Russia has busily modernized its strategic forces and invested a lot of effort and resources into upgrading the support infrastructure for these forces. It's building new land-based and sea-based ballistic missiles, strategic submarines, and early warning radars and satellites. In itself, this modernization is not entirely incompatible with the idea of disarmament--one can even argue that it might be easier for Russian leadership to agree to dramatic cuts in its nuclear forces now that it's demonstrated that it can sustain strategic parity with Washington. The real problem in Russia is that the idea of nuclear disarmament is completely absent from the public and professional discussion. Even President Vladimir Putin's opponents are more likely to criticize him for not doing enough to enhance strategic forces rather than question the growing reliance on nuclear weapons. In this environment, a U.S. call for complete nuclear disarmament will certainly revive old worries about U.S. military capabilities that have existed in Russia for a long time. One of them is that U.S. conventional forces, with their high-precision weapons, could be used in a preemptive attack to destroy most of Russia's strategic launchers. Another is that U.S. missile defense could further help neutralize whatever retaliatory potential Moscow might have left. Neither of these claims would withstand serious scrutiny, but unfortunately, this doesn't matter much; there are enough people in Russia who will make these arguments, and Russian politicians will be happy to pretend to take them seriously. In reality, from a national security viewpoint, Russia, similar to the United States or any other country, would be much better off without nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons may have played a role in the past, but they cannot possibly deal with the kind of security threats countries face today. But it will take time for Russia to start a serious (or any, for that matter) discussion of whether it really needs nuclear weapons. Having U.S. politicians endorse the vision of a nuclear-weapon-free world helps enormously, but it's only a start. Eventually, Washington will need to deal with Russia's perceptions of U.S. policies and do a better job of dispelling the notion that the U.S. security posture (whether backed by nuclear or conventional weapons) threatens Moscow, a deeply held belief among the Russian public. 2007 Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Remote Address: 206.130.124.74 Server: www.thebulletin.org ***************************************************************** 38 Tri-City Herald: Work levels 300 Area at Hanford Demolition ahead of schedule at Hanford's 300 Area Published Thursday, October 18th, 2007 By Annette Cary, Herald staff writer Washington Closure Hanford has reduced 100 Hanford buildings to rubble along the Columbia River. More than half were in Hanford's 300 Area, just north of Richland, changing the view for drivers along Stevens Drive. The north end of the 300 Area has been flattened, except for the power plant. The work is being done much faster than expected. When Washington Closure took over work to clean up the 300 Area and the reactor areas along the river in August 2005, its contract called for demolition of 31 buildings by the start of this month. The project has benefited from experience at Hanford and other Department of Energy sites, said Stacy Charboneau, DOE project director for the Hanford river corridor. Washington Closure also has sequenced work to make it more efficient, such as removing rubble for several buildings at once, she said. Workers have come up against anticipated hazards, such as buildings contaminated with radioactive materials, asbestos and other hazardous chemicals. But they've also coped with protecting wildlife at the site along the Columbia River. This summer, a great horned owl nested in the power plant, which hasn't been used since it was replaced with a boiler system in the 1990s. Washington Closure adapted, working elsewhere in the building until the chicks hatched and left the nest. A king bird that built a nest in the crook of an excavator during an early June weekend briefly stopped cleanup. Workers built a structure that looked something like the excavator, then transferred the nest. The king bird family seemed to be adapting until the chicks were eaten, likely by an osprey or crow. Washington Closure's original plan for the 300 Area called for all buildings there to be demolished, including those being used by about 1,000 workers for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. But because replacing all capabilities in the 300 Area was too costly, current plans call for saving four buildings. DOE's Office of Environmental Management has agreed to spend $12 million that would otherwise be spent on Hanford cleanup along the river to reroute and upgrade utilities to the remaining buildings. That will include building a new pump house. "We have to find efficiencies for the work," Charboneau said. "But overall it will be a benefit for the government." Replacing the utilities will be far less costly than replacing the 325 Radiochemical Processing Laboratory, the 331 Life Sciences Laboratory, the 318 Radiological Calibrations Laboratory and the 350 Plant Operations and Maintenance Facility. Plans call for continuing to use them for 20 years. Among DOE's reasons for originally wanting all buildings to come down was soil contamination beneath utilities and buildings. Some utilities are being rerouted so contaminated soil can be cleaned up. "There's been good cooperation among parties to make sure PNNL can continue to use buildings while at the same time continue cleanup," said Nick Ceto, Hanford project manager. He called demolition of the buildings a critical step in cleaning up contaminated soil and ground water. Wednesday, pieces of the roof of the 328 Engineering Services and Safety Shop crashed to the ground as it was demolished by shears on the end of an excavator arm. Workers will spend about three weeks taking down the building, which once housed shops for machining, welding, painting, carpentry and glass-blowing in 40,000 square feet of space. It was used to make and service specialized and intricate equipment needed by the Hanford nuclear reservation's laboratories. Loading out about 400 truckloads of debris from the building to be sent to the Environmental Restoration Disposal Facility in central Hanford will take another month. But most of the work was in preparation for the demolition. Workers spent nine months determining what kind of contamination might be in the building, putting in temporary lighting and removing utilities, machine shop equipment, asbestos and PCBs, among other work, said Mike Swartz, 300 Area manager for demolition and related work. The power plant is still standing because of the time required to remove large amount of asbestos, including asbestos siding. Washington Closure is continuing to work toward more complex buildings as it moves south toward the heart of the 300 Area. Among projects yet to be tackled are buildings with many hot cells for radioactive work. The 300 Area was used for research and uranium fuel fabrication when Hanford made plutonium for the nation's nuclear weapons program. Although Washington Closure recently passed the 100 building mark, it has 486 buildings to demolish under its original contract. The building slabs and contamination underneath also must be removed. © 2007 Tri-City Herald, Associated Press & Other Wire Services ***************************************************************** 39 Knoxville News Sentinel: ORNL scientist authors report on climate impacts on energy By Frank Munger (Contact) Updated 10:09 a.m., October 18, 2007 The first comprehensive look at the impact of climate change on U.S. energy use and production was released today in Washington, and an Oak Ridge scientist was in the spotlight. Tom Wilbanks, a corporate fellow and distinguished scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was the lead author of the report — the third in a series of 21 reports to address the current knowledge and identify research needs on climate issues — and he was scheduled to speak at a Department of Energy press briefing. In a telephone interview from Washington earlier this week, Wilbanks said the report has attracted a lot of attention, even though it’s not overly controversial or eyebrow-raising. “The bottom line is climate change raises some concerns about the energy sector in the United States, but there’s no reason to be alarmist at this point,” Wilbanks said. Although the changes are likely to occur gradually, it’s time to address some of the risks and vulnerabilities and figure out how to adapt, he said. “Clearly, if the climate gets warmer, we’re going to need more (energy) for cooling and less for warming,” the scientist said. That will put more demand on electricity, which is used for cooling, as opposed to other fuel sources involved in heating, Wilbanks said. Stronger storms can put additional pressures on power supplies and pose greater risks to energy infrastructure, which may need to be hardened or relocated, he said. “We found out with (Hurricane) Katrina what that might mean for infrastructure in coastal areas,” Wilbanks said. Also, less snowfall and snowpack in the mountains of the West will affect hydroelectric production and potentially reduce the water supplies for agriculture and other needs, he said. At this point, there are still plenty of unresolved questions about climate changes — especially on a regional basis, Wilbanks said. Future changes in wind patterns and cloud cover could have significant impacts on some of the renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, but they’re difficult to define, he said. “We wish we could say more,” Wilbanks said. “In the meantime, we need to come up with answers (to questions) we can’t answer now.” Oak Ridge National Laboratory is one of the leading U.S. research lab studying climate change, and Wilbanks said he expects that role to continue and perhaps grow. “ORNL is trying to position itself as the lead laboratory for ‘consequence’ research on climate change,” he said. “We are DOE’s lead laboratory on that right now.” More details as they develop online and in Friday’s News Sentinel. 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co. ***************************************************************** NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107 this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. 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