nuclear-news

Protect nuclear whistleblowers
Upcoming ‘nuclear renaissance’ will bring grave risks to health and safety. The National Law Journal Nicole J. Williams and Debra KatzMay 18, 2009 During the past few years, U.S. public policymakers from across the political spectrum and industry advocates have ushered in a “nuclear renaissance” — an era in which nuclear energy is being touted as the only technology, other than hydroelectric power, capable of generating large volumes of energy without directly producing greenhouses gases…………………………Massive federal subsidies, loan guarantees and production tax credits to the nuclear industry have provided the springboard for the greatest expansion of nuclear power in the United States since the 1960s.

What is troubling, however, is that this resurgence in support for nuclear power comes despite serious concerns about the tremendous costs of constructing new reactors, uncertainty regarding the future of highly radioactive waste disposal and ongoing violations of the rights of workers who bear the day-to-day responsibility of operating nuclear power plants and ensuring compliance with nuclear safety regulations……………………………With the expansion of the nuclear energy, there is bound to be pressure to build and operate nuclear plants faster and cheaper. If history tells us anything, these pressures will invariably lead to a “schedule over safety” culture at some plants, and nuclear workers will be pressured to cut corners and overlook safety problems in the interest of getting and keeping plants online and profits flowing to shareholders. These workers, who serve as the “eyes and ears” of the public, will be forced to decide whether and how vigorously to blow the whistle on their employer’s nuclear safety practices or to be silent out of fear of losing their jobs. It is crucial that these workers, who have a legal duty to report nuclear safety concerns, be aware of their legal rights…………………………………Given the grave consequences that blowing the whistle generally has to the careers of nuclear workers, the Department of Labor must approach its task of protecting the rights of these workers with renewed vigor — a task that will be made especially challenging by the determination of the nuclear industry to bring more reactors online in a shorter period of time than ever before in the industry’s history.

Safety scares at Sellafield threaten to undermine nuclear ‘renaissance’ The Guardian, terry Macalister 17 May 09 Managers insist 14-month radioactive leak and loss of toxic containers pose no threat to public safety

New safety scares at Britain’s largest atomic site – including a 14-month radioactive leak and the loss of two toxic containers – are threatening to undermine confidence in the government’s nuclear renaissance.

Nuclear Management Partners, which runs Sellafield complex, admitted a spillage found in January, the day before Gordon Brown visited, was “level two”, the worst since a 2005 accident that saw then-owners British Nuclear Fuels Ltd fined £500,000………………………………

Environmentalists said the latest scares would further undermine public confidence. “Never mind swine flu, this pandemic of nuclear carelessness poses a far greater risk to us all, and highlights the sloppy housekeeping that is endemic at Sellafield,” said Martin Forwood of Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment.Local anti-nuclear campaigners said they were very disturbed that Sellafield Ltd was “clinging to the hope” that the lost cans had been moved to another secure facility on the site.

But they were even more worried that the consortium had so far offered no explanation as to how remotely controlled robots could have effected such a removal service unobserved by managers and workers alike, or by the site’s security services.

A continuing hunt is on to find the materials, which were stored in a “cave” with such high levels of radioactivity that the canisters can only be moved only by robots. NMP said it needed to understand how the materials had been moved to ensure that there could be no repeat.

Government pressed to hold inquiry into construction of nuclear stations• Academics and green groups say system for assessing need is ‘fatally flawed’• Worries over leaving final decision on nuclear plants to Ed Miliband The Guardian, Terry Macalister  17 May 2009

The government is under growing pressure to hold a public inquiry into building new nuclear stations amid claims that the current system of “justification” is fatally flawed and that public confidence in ministers is at an all-time low.

A group of leading academics has joined green pressure groups and others in demanding greater transparency. The justification process is required by the European Union as a high-level assessment to ensure the benefits of new-build nuclear stations outweigh potential detriment…………….

The atomic industry is attacked for having “very high” opportunity costs and will suck investment out of renewables. It cites the example of AMEC selling off its wind energy subsidiary to put its efforts into Sellafield nuclear site, where it has just become a joint manager.

Dorfman and his colleagues, who also include Professor Keith Barnham from Imperial College and Professor Gordon Walker from Lancaster University, say nuclear has a history of cost over-runs at the expense of the taypayer, noting the financial problems of British Energy and the £80bn cost of cleaning up atomic waste.