nuclear-news

Nuke safety issues at uranium storehouseBy Frank Munger (Contact)Originally published 10:34 a.m., January 27, 2009Updated 10:56 a.m., January 27, 2009

A federal review board has found deficiencies in the nuclear safety evaluations for Y-12’s new storehouse for bomb-grade uranium, noting that failure to meet requirements could “potentially compromise the requisite safety margin for fissionable material operations.”

The problem involves the evaluations and supporting documents that were done to demonstrate nuclear criticality safety for $549 million storage center, known officially as the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility.

For more details, see Frank Munger’s blog Atomic City Underground.

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Nuclear plant ‘quake ban’ lifted BBC News 28 Jan 09 An outright ban on locating new nuclear power stations in areas of the UK which are susceptible to earthquakes has been lifted by the government………………The areas of highest risk are thought to be along the west of England, Scotland and Wales……………………Concerns over flood risk and the impact of power stations on “environmentally-protected” status areas also do not automatically rule out an area, but planners will have to show how damage could be eliminated or minimised…………………..Most current UK nuclear power stations will cease operating within the next 20 years, prompting fears of an “energy gap” amid uncertainty about levels of future gas and oil supplies.

Chalk River tight-lipped about heavy water leak Spill at Chalk River Nuclear Labs happened Dec. 5: Reports Ottawa CitizenJanuary 27, 2009

OTTAWA — Nearly two months after a radioactive spill at the Chalk River Nuclear Labs, the plant’s owners and the federal office that regulates nuclear safety are keeping a tight lid on information about what caused the spill and how bad it was.

Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. has not responded to phone calls Tuesday about the Dec. 5 leak.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, (CNSC) the nuclear regulator, responded to inquiries by sending out one brief printed report, but officials have not yet returned calls to explain it or discuss any environmental risk.

Australia urged to take greater role in renewable energy ABC Rural News  27/01/2009 Australia is being urged to take a more active role in a new international renewable energy agency, IRENA, that’s meeting for the first time today.Chairman of the International Renewable Energy Alliance, Peter Rae, says the Australian Government only has observer status at this week’s IRENA founding conference in Bonn.He says Australia is missing an opportunity to develop renewable energy policies, and set an example on sustainable living.”The Federal Government certainly could take a much more active role,” he says.”I just think we need to upgrade what we’re doing and look at it as being part of a world scene and take a leadership role in relationship to the development of renewable energy.”

Uranium miner expands its workforce ABC Rural News 27/01/2009

Mining company, Uranium One, has started the recruitment process for its Honeymoon project, and will expand its workforce by about 120 people by the end of the year.

A $104 million joint investment deal with Japanese company Mitsui, announced last week, means Uranium One can start hiring for its initial construction phase.

The mine, 75 kilometres west of Broken Hill, begins production in 2010……………………..

Meanwhile, an anti-nuclear campaigner claims the joint venture with Uranium One could be putting Mitsui’s reputation at risk.

Australian Conservation Foundation Nuclear Free campaigner, David Noonan, says the on-site leaching techniques to be used at Honeymoon are environmentally unsound, and could put Mitsui in poor standing.

“They may be unaware of the very substantial reputational damage that they could suffer, as a major Japanese trading company, by becoming involved in acid in-situ leaching in Australia and the proposed discharge of mine waste to groundwater in the remote outback, without any required rehabilitation of their mining impacts on our environment.”