2010 October 18 « nuclear-news

Taxpayer will cop the bill for UK’s nuclear reactor wastes

The industry will only invest in new reactors if the government fixes a disposal levy to cover their contribution towards disposal in such a repository. The taxpayer will be liable for any shortfall if the actual costs exceed this levy decades from now.

Taxpayer could be hit by nuclear waste bill for new reactors• Fears new disposal levy could underestimate cost• Radioactive waste ‘could be traded like commodity’ Tim Webb * guardian.co.uk, 18 October 2010 The nuclear industry could end up passing on to taxpayers the costs of disposing of waste from new reactors under government plans, according to official documents seen by the Guardian. Continue reading →

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | AUSTRALIA, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear weapons, radiation, radioactive, reactors | Leave a comment

Radiation risks of nuclear medicine need more oversight

CT scans of the abdomen use an amount of radiation equivalent to getting 1,500 dental X-rays, she said. CT scans of the heart and brain can use even more. The increased number of CT tests and increased amount of radiation used has boosted the amount of radiation exposure experienced by the general population…….

More oversight urged for X-ray technicians, Rapid City Journal, by Lynn Taylor Rick, October 18, 2010 “…………South Dakota is one of seven states in the nation that doesn’t require specific credentials for medical imaging operators, Continue reading →

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | health, USA | antinuclear, cancer, nuclear, nuclear costs, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Local communities shut out of UK nuclear site decisions

NE nuclear wait goes on The Northern Echo 18 Oct 10, “……..four ‘Evolutionary Power Reactors’ (EPR), to open by 2025, have already been allocated to EDF’s sites in Suffolk and Somerset. Two will be built at each…………Jim Footner, head of Greenpeace’s climate and energy campaign, said: “Local democracy is being kicked out of the door when it comes to nuclear sites.
Lib Dem supporters must be furious that local communities will have little say about nuclear power stations in their area, other than choosing the colour of the gates.”…..bigger sea defences must be built. Last year, ministers also admitted that nuclear waste will have to be stored on site for more than 100 years if the go-ahead is given.

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, reactors | Leave a comment

New UK Trident nuclear submarines not ready before 2028

The decision means that the first of the new generation of nuclear submarines may not enter service until 2028 – around five years after the first Vanguard submarine is due to be withdrawn.

Trident nuclear deterrent replacement faces delay of up to five years guardian.co.uk, Wintour and Watt, 18 Oct 10, New generation of nuclear submarines may not enter service until 2028….. Continue reading →

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

No subsidy for nuclear power plants, says UK govt

there will be no levy, direct payment or market support for electricity supplied or capacity provided by a private sector new nuclear operator, unless similar support is also made available more widely to other types of generation,” said Chris Huhne, secretary of state for energy and climate change.

Subsidy for eight nuclear reactors rejected, FT.com, By Sylvia Pfeifer October 18 2010 Ministers said they would not rule out taking on “financial risks” as the government paved the way for eight new nuclear reactors, but they insisted there would be “no subsidy” for new nuclear power. Continue reading →

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, reactors | 1 Comment

UK’s Ministry of Defence secretive over nuclear safety failures

The MoD has been trying since 2007 to keep the reports, which give a unique insight into the managing of Britain’s bomb, secret.

MoD papers reveal catalogue of nuclear safety failures – Herald Scotland | News Rob Edwards 17 Oct 2010 Potentially catastrophic lapses in nuclear weapons safety at the Clyde naval base have been exposed by secret Ministry of Defence reports released after a three-year freedom of information battle. Continue reading →

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | AUSTRALIA, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons, radioactive | Leave a comment

Western countries funding multi $billion cleanup of Russia’s arctic nuclear wastes

Although Russian authorities pledged transparency about the region’s nuclear issues, foreign journalists are denied access to a number of sites.

Russian Arctic’s ‘nuclear dump’ gets a facelift By Pierre-Henry Deshayes , Google hosted news, (AFP) –18 Oct 10, MURMANSK, Russia — An electronic sign along a busy street posts the outside temperature, the wind strength — and the radioactivity level.Welcome to Russia’s Kola Peninsula, a region that still bears the scars of its dubious past as the Soviet Union’s “nuclear dump”. Continue reading →

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Russia, wastes | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive | Leave a comment

Rumour of USA planning to seize Pakistan’s nuclear weapons

Credible? – New War Rumors: U.S. Plans To Seize Pakistan?s Nuclear Arsenal, strategy.com, 16 Oct 10, Quote -Two recent news items emanating from the United States have begun to reverberate in Pakistan and give rise to speculation that growing American drone strikes and NATO helicopter attacks in that country may be the harbingers of far broader actions: Nothing less than the expansion of the West?s war in Afghanistan into Pakistan with the ultimate goal of seizing the nation?s nuclear weapons.

The News International, Pakistan?s largest English-language newspaper, published a report on October 13 based on excerpts from American journalist Bob Woodward?s recently released volume ?Obama?s Wars? which stated that during a trilateral summit between the presidents of the U.S., Afghanistan and Pakistan on May 6 of 2009 Pakistani head of state Asif Ali Zardari accused Washington of being behind Taliban attacks inside his country with the intent to use them so ?the US could invade and seize its nuclear weapons.? [1]- End Quote

Credible? – New War Rumors: U.S. Plans To Seize Pakistan?s Nuclear Arsenal

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Pakistan, weapons and war | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear secrecy, nuclear weapons | Leave a comment

Radioactive waste – depleted uranium headed for Nevada?

Nuclear Waste Shipment Could Be Headed To NV – KTVN Channel 2 , 17 Oct 10, RENO, Nev. (AP) — A shipment of 9,400 drums of depleted uranium oxide could be headed to Nevada. State officials say the U.S. Department of Energy is considering a plan to send the radioactive waste from a cleanup site in South Carolina to the Nevada National Security Site, formerly known as the Nevada Test Site……Stutsman also declined to comment on a published report that DOE wants to permanently dispose of the material at the Nevada site about 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Nuclear Waste Shipment Could Be Headed To NV – KTVN Channel 2 – Reno Tahoe News Weather, Video –

October 18, 2010 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uranium, USA, wastes | antinuclear, depleted, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, uranium | Leave a comment