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

Global warming poses unusual threats to nuclear power plants

Jellyfish Invasions Force Shutdowns at 3 Separate Nuclear Plants– MSNBC.com By Natalie Wolchover, 7 July 11, A nuclear power plant on the coast of Israel was forced to shut down this week when its seawater cooling system became clogged with jellyfish. A similar incident temporarily disabled two nuclear reactors at the Torness power station on the Scottish coast last week. A week before, a reactor in Shimane, Japan was crippled by yet another jellyfish infiltration.

Amid speculation that warm waters and ocean acidification — both driven by climate change — are boosting jellyfish populations, are these three incidents signs of a growing trend?…………

Some researchers do suspect that populations are rising, as jellyfish may thrive in warmer oceans. “Jellyfish populations spike and wane with climate variability, so it’s not hard to make the logical leap that if climate is changing long-term, we’ll likely see a population change,” Graham said. He is conducting research to investigate whether jellyfish populations are increasing globally, and if so, why.

July 9, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, climate change | Leave a comment

Decades to clean up Fukushima nuclear plant. Cooling battle continues

Japan’s Kan says nuclear clean-up could take decades,  Jul 9, 2011, (Reuters) (reporting by Kaori Kaneko and Kevin Krolicki, editing by Miral Fahmy and Sugita Katyal) – Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Saturday it will take decades to clean up and decommission the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant after the world’s worst atomic accident since Chernobyl.

Kan’s comments marked the first time that Japan’s government has offered a timeframe for the clean-up at Fukushima beyond the emergency measures now underway to shut down its reactors.

“It will take three, five, ten years, or eventually several decades to take care of the accident,” Kan told local officials from his Democratic Party ofJapan meeting in Tokyo…….

Efforts to cool the Fukushima reactors currently hinge on a complex and hastily constructed system to decontaminate thousands of tonnes of water being pumped into the reactors and then to circulate it back through the reactors……http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/09/us-japan-nuclear-hosono-idUSTRE7680Z520110709

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July 9, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

Overview of nuclear problems – Britain, Japan ,France, USA

 

 

The Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant is still surrounded by floodwaters. Because there is so little information being released, it is difficult to assess the situation….

Nuclear Problems In Britain, Japan, France and the U.S.  WASHINGTON’S BLOG,  JULY 8, 2011

UK

The British government has finally admitted widespread contamination from the Sellafield plant.

The Guardian reports:

Radioactive pollution from the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria has led to children’s teeth across Britain being contaminated with plutonium.

The Government has admitted for the first time that Sellafield ‘is a source of plutonium contamination’ across the country. Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson has revealed that a study funded by the Department of Health discovered that the closer a child lived to Sellafield, the higher the levels of plutonium found in their teeth…. Continue reading →

July 9, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Wildfires in Nevada nuclear bomb test areas

Lightning sparked blazes at nuclear test areas, BY TREVON MILLIARD, LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL,  Jul. 9, 2011, Wildland firefighters battled more than just the usual Nevada brush blaze this week. They had to contend with the possibility of radiation.

Lightning sparked two fires Tuesday within the Nevada National Security Site, the former nuclear test site 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas. By Friday, the fires had consumed more than 6,000 acres, with the smaller blaze fully contained and the larger only 25 percent contained.

Crews have not only been watching winds and weather, but are monitoring radiation levels in the air, making certain the flames don’t stir up remnants of decades-old detonations. One of the fires is “several miles” from the location of an above-ground test, a safe distance according to Dante Pistone, a spokesman at the test site’s operations center…….

From 1951 until 1992, there were 928 nuclear tests involving 1,021 detonations at the test site. Of these, 100 were above ground and could be affected by disturbances such as wildfires…….http://www.lvrj.com/news/lightning-sparked-blazes-at-nuclear-test-areas-125260084.html?ref=084—

July 9, 2011 Posted by | environment, USA | Leave a comment

France’s tardy response to Pacific nuclear test victims

FRANCE RESPONDS TO TAHITI ON NUKE COMPENSATION
French Polynesia outcry registers in Paris, ,PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT, Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center, With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, July 7, 2011) – The French authorities have responded to a claim by a French Polynesian assembly vice president, Hiro Tefaarere, that the territory’s Social Welfare Fund was to seek millions of dollars in compensation for illnesses caused by France’s nuclear weapons tests…..

The defence ministry in Paris says work has been started between the French state and the Fund in Tahiti on how those deemed eligible for compensation can be paid.

The ministry says France is yet to get a response to its initiative.

Two years ago, France recognised for the first time that its weapons tests weren’t clean but to date only one compensation claim has been recognised.

France tested nearly 200 nuclear weapons in French Polynesia before winding up its programme in 1996…..http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2011/July/07-08-14.htm

July 9, 2011 Posted by | health, OCEANIA | Leave a comment

Japan’s nuclear reactors could be all shut down by May 2012

Japan May Have No Nukes Operating By 2012, Says Bloomberg, Barron’s, July 8 2011, By Tiernan Ray, Interesting article by Bloomberg’s Tsuyoshi Inajima and Chisaki Watanabe this morning about Japan perhaps dumping all nukes by May of next year.

Two thirds of Japan’s nuclear reactors have been shut down since the earthquake and resultant tsunami in March, the authors write. Now, stress tests ordered by the government this week on various reactors are causing delays to the resumption of operations at plants.

“The remaining operating units in Japan, the world’s third- biggest user of nuclear power, must be idled by May next year, according to schedules provided to Bloomberg by Kyushu Electric, Shikoku Electric, Tokyo Electric Power Co., Kansai Electric Power Co. and the other power companies,” write Inajima and Watanabe….http://blogs.barrons.com/stockstowatchtoday/2011/07/08/japan-may-have-no-nukes-operating-by-2012-says-bloomberg/?mod=google_news_blog

July 9, 2011 Posted by | Japan, safety | Leave a comment

$1 Billion emergency response plan for USA nuclear industry ?

Representative Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, has faulted U.S. oversight of reactor safety. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, both California Democrats, have called on the NRC to examine nuclear power plants located in areas of seismic activity. In June, rising waters of the Missouri River in Nebraska threatened to breach flood walls protecting two nuclear plants.

Nuke industry weighing $1B emergency response plan, Fuel Fix, By Brian Wingfield, 8 July 11 (Bloomberg) — The U.S. nuclear-power industry is considering a $1 billion plan that would create regional centers to store equipment for delivery to reactors within 24 hours of an emergency.  Continue reading →

July 9, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Perry Nuclear Plant may not be operating safely

Perry Nuclear Plant facing possible safety violations, The investigation into an April incident at Perry Nuclear Power Plant in North Perry Village has the plant facing a possible safety violation., News Herald,  July 09, 2011, 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokeswoman Viktoria Mitlyng said preliminary findings indicate numerous missteps were taken on April 21 when workers removed a neuron monitor from a reactor………Mitlyng said the potential violation follows a series of indications that the plant may not be operating as safely as possible.

“Perry has had issues with human performance which for 31⁄2 years they have not been able to resolve.”…http://news-herald.com/articles/2011/07/09/news/nh4230128.txt?viewmode=2

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July 9, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Uranium mining gets an unlikely enemy, American hunters!

Elk, not uranium, Salt Lake Tribune, John Pollard Co-chair, Utah Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, 7 July  Sportsmen from Utah and across the American West know about the prized elk hunting near the Grand Canyon. Field and Stream magazine named its “monster elk” among the nation’s top hunts on public lands.

These elk, and our hunting and fishing heritage, survive thanks to volunteer labor, an uncontaminated water supply and public access. Now we can add to that list Ken Salazar. The secretary of the Interior has signaled his intention to halt new uranium mining on these public lands near the Grand Canyon for another 20 years.

Let’s hope that is the case. Uranium can be found elsewhere; the “monster elk” cannot, http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/52146664-82/elk-public-uranium-canyon.html.csp

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July 9, 2011 Posted by | environment, USA | Leave a comment

USA taxpayers to pay Xcel for temporary nuclear waste storage

A proposed permanent storage site for U.S. nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada was dropped from consideration last year by the Obama administration. The blue ribbon commission has been studying what to do next……..

U.S. to pay Xcel $100M for nuclear waste storage: DAN BROWNING and NEAL ST. ANTHONY , Star Tribune ,  July 8, 2011  In the latest in a series of settlements with the nation’s electric utilities, the government agreed to bear the cost of storing waste……Xcel announced Friday that the government will pay $100 million to settle a lawsuit it filed in 1998. The payment is reimbursement for 10 years of storage costs incurred by the utility and its customers,…… Continue reading →

July 9, 2011 Posted by | Legal, USA, wastes | Leave a comment

Honolulu’s new law to help consumers get renewable energy

New law focuses on energy financing, Legislation provides for a study on renewable energy for consumers, Honolulu Star Advertiser, By Derrick DePledge , Jul 09, 2011

Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed into law Friday a bill directing the state Public Utilities Commission to study a program to encourage more consumers to move to renewable energy.

The so-called on-bill financing, if deemed viable and implemented by the PUC, would allow consumers to finance renewable energy systems over time through their electricity bills…..http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20110709_New_law_focuses_on_energy_financing.html

July 9, 2011 Posted by | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

Uranium mining in Virginia opposed by Halifax Council

Halifax Council to step up opposition to uranium mining  The Gazette Virginian  8 July 11, Halifax Town Council is set to take a firm stand opposing uranium mining in nearby Pittsylvania County.

At its monthly work session Wednesday night at Halifax Town Hall, council discussed possible strategies to get out the word on the hazards uranium mining presents to the county’s water sources.

Council had requested the county to include the Virginia Beach study, “A Preliminary Assessment of Potential Impacts of Uranium Mining in Virginia on Drinking Water Sources,” in the regional water supply plan. The county board of supervisors approved the regional supply plan at its June 20 meeting with the Virginia Beach study included.

A number of councilmen attended the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors’ meeting Tuesday night that featured Tom Leahy, Virginia Beach director of public works, speaking on how the water system downstream from the uranium mining operation would be affected in the event of a disaster resulting in a spill at the mining site.
Councilman Jack Dunavant, chairman of the Current Affairs Committee, said Leahy has agreed to come to Halifax County to speak to citizens on the impact of uranium mining. ……http://www.gazettevirginian.com/index.php/news/34-news/3486-halifax-council-to-step-up-opposition-to-uranium-mining

July 9, 2011 Posted by | opposition to nuclear, Uranium, USA | Leave a comment

Worldwide increasing popularity of renewable energy, especially wind

With transparency, consumers prepared to pay for wind energy, Reve, July 09, 2011, More than 50 percent of 31,000 people surveyed worldwide say they would pay more for products made with clean energy. In addition, 90 percent want more renewable energy and 79 percent have a more positive perception of brands produced using wind power.

More than 90 percent want more renewable energy and 79 percent have a more positive perception of brands produced using wind power. The poll, conducted in May 2011 by TNS Gallup and commissioned by wind turbines manufacturer Vestas, points to the importance ordinary people place on finding solutions to climate change – a full “53 percent of Chinese consumers rank climate change as the world’s greatest single challenge”, according to the poll.

One way to mitigate climate change is renewable energy, and this is obvious to a majority of people polled. They are prepared to pay more and make an effort to protect the environment. “The citizen and the consumer is coming together as a new stakeholder that is engaged in development and one that knows it can influence societal development through buying habits,” ……http://www.evwind.es/noticias.php?id_not=12361

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July 9, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | Leave a comment

Allegations of corruption against Pakistan’s nuclear scientist Khan

Pakistani nuclear scientist Khan accused of graft, The National, Tom Hussain, Jul 9, 2011 ISLAMABAD  The disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan, allegedly embezzled money from the country’s clandestine programme, and sought to sabotage technology acquisition deals for personal financial interest, a former chief diplomat said.

“He siphoned off a lot of money from every deal,” said Akram Zaki, the secretary general to Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs from 1992 to 1993, and a former senator.

“And the deals in which he didn’t get his finger, he tried to scuttle … even if they were national-interest [projects].”

His comments, in a recent interview with The National, were made before a Washington Post report on Thursday saying Mr Khan had leaked 1998 documents purporting to show Pakistani generals accepted more than $3.5 million (Dh12.9m) in bribes to allow the export of nuclear weapons technology to North Korea.

Mr Khan, the founding father of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme, was arrested in December 2003 after a shipment of nuclear weapons-making equipment, bound for Libya, was seized off the coast of Egypt. He was pardoned after making a televised apology to Pakistanis, but kept under house arrest until 2009.

International investigators and Pakistani officials have said Mr Khan had illegally exported some 200 uranium enrichment centrifuges to Iran and North Korea…….http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/south-asia/pakistani-nuclear-scientist-khan-accused-of-graft.

July 9, 2011 Posted by | Pakistan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment