2009 August 21 « nuclear-news

uranium mine could adversely affect groundwater

Nunn uranium mine could adversely affect groundwater

The Colorado Independent By David O. Williams 8/19/09

Colorado has uranium on the brain these days.

An environmental engineer and lecturer brought in by conservationists told an audience in Fort Collins Tuesday they should be concerned about the deterioration of their water quality if a proposed uranium mine near Nunn goes forward, according to the Greeley Tribune.

“If I was living in this area, I would certainly have concerns about groundwater,” said Dr. Gavin Mudd, an assistant lecturer at Monash University in Clayton, Australia. “Knowing the extent of problems they’ve had at mines in Wyoming and Texas, for example, I would certainly be concerned about protecting my groundwater quality.”

………Mountain communities in Southwest Colorado, meanwhile, are heatedly debating the benefits and risks of a mill that would process uranium in Montrose County………..

http://coloradoindependent.com/35963/nunn-uranium-mine-could-adversely-impact-groundwater-expert-says

August 21, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, USA | antinuclear, nuclear, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment

Sellafield nuclear waste: Cumbrian Council doesn’t want it

(UK) Nuclear waste sites set for thumbs down

Charlie, The Whitehaven News 20 August 09

Why do Sellafield want to store their waste in other peoples back yards? If it safe to be stored at Lillyhall then why not dig a big hole on the site of the old reactors? If waste is contained within a defined site it will not give surprises to future generations when the paperwork has been mislaid. This is proved by the problems over what is stored at Drigg. If we can’t trust them to keep track of dangerous waste for fifty years how can we expect them to know what is buried in hundreds of years to come.

The Whitehaven News by Alan Irving 20 August 09

TWO local sites earmarked for radioactive waste disposal are set to get the thumbs down from Cumbria County Council even though one – at Lillyhall – has already taken small amounts.

Cabinet councillors next week are expected to approve a recommendation that the low level radioactive waste is kept at Sellafield rather than sent to Keekle Head or Lillyhall…………

……………..yesterday Councillor Knowles said: “Sellafield waste should be dealt with at Sellafield. What we don’t want is a proliferation of radioactive waste, it should not be put in holes around West Cumbria and imposed on people.” At Keekle Head, French company subsidiary Endecom is already drilling boreholes to see whether it will be suitable. It also has an agreement to buy the derelict 173-acre site……………………

Consultations on the national strategy to manage future arisings of waste will close on September 11. Cabinet members will consider a county council response on the lines that “LLW produced at Sellafield should be disposed of near to Sellafield and should not be dispersed in sites further afield in West Cumbria.”

Whiitehaven News | News | Nuclear waste sites set for thumbs down

August 21, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1, UK, wastes | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear wastes, radioactive, wastes | Leave a comment

Minnesota nuclear study inadequate

Published Nuke study lacking, council says
By: Jon Swedien, The Republican Eagle August 20 2009
The state’s environmental report analyzing Xcel Energy’s plan to increase operations at the Prairie Island nuclear power plant isn’t up to snuff, according to Red Wing city officials

The state’s environmental report analyzing Xcel Energy’s plan to increase operations at the Prairie Island nuclear power plant isn’t up to snuff, according to Red Wing city officials.

Red Wing City Council on Wednesday, during a special meeting, approved a letter to the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Office of Energy expressing its concerns.

The letter says, “A review of the (Final) environmental Impact Statement) reveals that many of the inadequacies and deficiencies that were present in the (Draft Environmental Impact Statement) still remain and were not addressed” despite a public input process.

The state’s environmental study is one of a number of regulatory measures Xcel must undertake as it seeks permission from the Public Utilities Commission to increase Prairie Island’s output and the number of dry cask storage containers from 29 to 65………………………………….

City officials have been saying for some months they’re concerned that nuclear waste will be stored at Prairie Island for hundreds of years or permanently.

Nuke study lacking, council says | The Republican Eagle | Red Wing, Minnesota

August 21, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1 | Leave a comment