nuclear-news

The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry Fukushima Chernobyl Mayak Three Mile Island Atomic Testing Radiation Isotope

Wikileaks reveal near catastrophe with Libya’s Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU)

US embassy cables: Ambassador warns of potential environmental disaster as Libya halts uranium shipment   guardian.co.uk, Friday 3 December 2010

Part of the WikiLeaks tranch US cable 25 November 2009 A crisis arose when Libya unexpectedly stopped a flight carrying highly-enriched uranium (HEU) to Russia. The material, which had been part of Libya’s weapons programme, was due for disposal. American officials were alarmed at the decision, and particularly at the fact that the uranium wanow sitting, barely guarded and in unsuitable containers, on the runway tarmac.

The HEU was not packaged for storage and was literally getting hotter and
hotter…… …   US embassy cables: Ambassador warns of potential environmental disaster as Libya halts uranium shipment | World news | guardian.co.uk

December 7, 2010 Posted by | MIDDLE EAST, safety | Leave a comment

Faced with mass protests, Germany stops transport of nuclear waste to Russia

German environmentalists said they would stage protests against the shipment, which they branded “highly dangerous”.

Demonstrators in Moscow rallied against the plans in August, citing the threat of “terrorist acts” and risk of forest fires leading to radioactive contamination.

Germany calls off disputed nuclear shipment to Russia, Google hosted news, (AFP) – 7 Dec 10, BERLIN — Germany on Monday called off hotly-disputed plans to ship radioactive nuclear waste to Russia as it doubted the cargo would be safely disposed of, a spokeswoman for the environment ministry said. Continue reading →

December 7, 2010 Posted by | Germany, wastes | Leave a comment

Politicians join community protest against Jaitapur nuclear plant

The power plant will endanger the health of those living along the Konkan coast and it will also destroy agriculture”….”The government should not think that it can gag the public.”……

Sena joins ‘people’s war’ against Jaitapur N-plant, The Times of India, Ambarish Mishra,  Dec 7, 2010, MUMBAI: Adding muscle to the ongoing agitation, the Shiv Sena has also joined in the protest against the nuclear power plant proposed to be set up at Jaitapur in the coastal Konkan belt Continue reading →

December 7, 2010 Posted by | India, politics | Leave a comment

Excessive radiation from airport scanners not properly scrutinised

The TSA and its contractors had failed to identify the machines that were emitting excessive radiation — a failure that continues to leave TSA workers and some lawmakers uneasy, especially as the agency continues to deploy hundreds of controversial radiation-emitting machines to help screen passengers……

TSA workers, experts worry about radiation exposure

By Alison Young, USA TODAY, 6 Dec 10,
When investigators with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention‘s workplace safety team visited a dozen airports in 2003 and 2004, what they found was disturbing — at least to federal airport workers. Continue reading →

December 7, 2010 Posted by | safety, USA | | Leave a comment

UK’s Climate Change chief trying to pass off nuclear energy as “renewable”

The government is considering several options for supporting low-carbon energy. One is to extend the existing renewables obligation system to nuclear generators. Under this system, renewable energy providers are awarded saleable certificates for the power they generate, which are bought by electricity utilities to fulfil their obligation to produce a certain proportion of their energy from renewable sources.

Nuclear plants’ subsidies attacked, FT.com, By Fiona Harvey,  December 7 2010 New nuclear power plants should not receive government subsidies Continue reading →

December 7, 2010 Posted by | politics, UK | Leave a comment

UK oil company exposed workers to radiation risk

Company fined over radiation risk, Google hosted news, (UKPA) – 7 Dec 10, A company has been fined £300,000 over a “wholly avoidable” incident which left offshore workers at risk of radiation exposure.Schlumberger Oilfield UK Plc admitted breaching health and safety legislation following the incident on a North Sea mobile drilling rig more than 200 miles off the coast of Dundee.Prosecutors said 14 workers from other companies were put at risk of radiation exposure during the incident on April 4 2008.. The Press Association: Company fined over radiation risk

December 7, 2010 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

Scottish govt ponders export of nuclear waste

Dounreay Radioactive Waste Substitution Consultation 2010, The Scottish Government, 7 Dec 10, “……….Dounreay’s Historic Contracts & the Current Situation
2.1.6 The contracts entered into by UKAEA contained clauses allowing for the radioactive waste allocated to overseas customers under the reprocessing contracts to be returned to the country of origin:- the “Return of Waste Clauses”. It is Government policy that these clauses be enacted and the radioactive waste sent back to the countries of origin. However to enact these clauses, the NDA is contractually obliged to return the radioactive waste in a form which can be safely transported and stored in accordance with such regulations as may be specified by the relevant competent national authorities.
2.1.7 The countries with radioactive waste at Dounreay which is due to be returned to them are Australia, Belgium, Germany and Italy…….. Dounreay Radioactive Waste Substitution Consultation 2010

December 7, 2010 Posted by | UK, wastes | Leave a comment