NRC alerts nuclear operators to possible design flaw July 27 Jul 28, 2012 (Reuters) – The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Friday alerted nuclear power plant operators to a potential design vulnerability that could affect key safety equipment and requested additional information about power system designs.
The regulator’s notice comes after Exelon Corp’s 1,136-megawatt unit 2
at Byron nuclear power station automatically shut on Jan. 30 due to
unbalanced voltage entering the plant’s power system from the
transmission network……. Loss of offsite power was identified by
the NRC as an important issue to be addressed in the wake of the
devastating earthquake and tsunami that led to the meltdown of
reactors at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant in March 2011.
The NRC will use the information it receives to determine if further
regulatory action is needed.
The NRC issued a notice March 1 to inform licensees of recent
experience involving loss of one of three phases of the offsite power
circuit, including the Byron event.
Operators have to provide information on their electric system designs
within 90 days. Both operating commercial power reactors and the four
combined licenses for new reactors issued earlier this year must
respond, the NRC said .
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/27/utilities-operations-nrc-idINL2E8IR7EL20120727
AUDIO Annotations: The NEH Preservation Project http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/neh-preservation-project/2012/jul/25/brighter-100-suns-preparing-nuclear-attack-new-york-city-1951/ Brighter Than 100 Suns: Preparing for Nuclear Attack in New York City, 1951, July 25, 2012
By Emily Vinson Five years after the U.S. Army Air Force dropped atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Cold War-era New York officials were preparing for the worst case scenario, an atomic bomb detonation over New York City.
In response to the Cold War threat of nuclear war the New York State Civil Defense Network produced an informational radio series titled Plan for Survival, hosted by Bill Leonard. The program informed New Yorkers of the enduring threat of war and encouraged them to enroll in Civil Defense training.
This episode, “The A-Bomb and its Effects,” opens with the ominous sound of a ticking clock, followed by the Earth-shattering rumble of an atom bomb blast….
……..”90 seconds after an atomic air burst there will be no danger from radiation within the City at all.” He reassures listeners that only in cases of a water or land burst is there a great danger of radiation. Even those who survived the attacks at Hiroshima and Nagasaki are plagued with inconvenient symptoms such as sterility that lasted “only a few months.” And only 40 cases of cataracts were reported.
. In the second featured Plan for Survival episode, the 38th in the series, reporter Lockwood Doty asks men and women of New York state what they would do if the bomb fell; most of the answers are disappointingly incorrect. Once again, listeners are reminded that survival is the responsibility of each individual. http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/neh-preservation-project/2012/jul/25/brighter-100-suns-preparing-nuclear-attack-new-york-city-1951/
My Second Amendment Right to Own Nuclear Weapons HUFFINGTON POST, 07/25/2012 My Second Amendment right to own nuclear weapons. Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? And yet this is the argument used by the NRA to support anybody’s access to any weapons. I am one of a few who could actually design and build his own nuclear bomb. Should I be allowed to do so? Obviously not. Can you imagine the Aurora shooter with a nuclear bomb?…….,
the NRA has become so obsessed with politics there is a need for a group to replace them as a club for gun users and hobbyists. Today we are way beyond colonial muskets, cannons and horses of the 1700s. The idea that anyone can oppose a modern military — trillion dollar budgets, supersonic aircraft and missiles, GPS satellites and communications for millions of soldiers — with a gun is childish Hollywood at best.
Back to reality, we have an enemy that is killing thousands of Americans every year, wounding many more than even our wars. If this were a direct attack on us, like 9/11, we would respond. Are we unable to respond to this threat because we are afraid that lobbyist or politician will throw an irrational temper tantrum?
Weapons, like everything in life, have limits. America is no longer the colonial frontier of 300 years ago, but a large technological society of 300 million. Time to grow up and plan for today.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gareth-harris/my-second-amendment-right_b_1698099.html
Seabrook nuclear protest film to start local series http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID= 20120727/NEWS/207270355/-1/NEWSMAP July 27, 2012 SEABROOK — A film chronicling the events that sparked the creation of a grassroots antinuclear power movement across the country 35 years ago will be shown at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, at the Seabrook Public Library at 25 Liberty Lane.
“Seabrook 1977” is the next film in the “Nuclear Dangers — Past, Present, and Future” summer film series sponsored by the Seacoast Anti-Pollution League.
Admission is free and open to the public. A complete listing of film dates, locations and descriptions is available at SAPL’s website www.saplnh.org . Continue reading
The children of Fukushima.
Fukushima Daiichi has been like a suppurating wound, leaching radionuclides into the environment since March 2011,
According to the American Thyroid Association (ATA), thyroid problems from nuclear events occur when radioactive iodine is leaked into the atmosphere and thyroid cells that absorb too much of this radioactive iodine may become cancerous, with children being particularly susceptible.
Fukushima – Local Children Unwitting Guinea Pigs, Scoop, By. John C.K. Daly of Oilprice.com, 27 July 2012, “…….The issue of nuclear radiation on human health cites besides Fukushima the August 1945 U.S nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the April 1986 explosion of the Chernobyl reactor complex in Ukraine, but in reality, there are no comparisons to evaluate Fukushima. Continue reading
Shoddy way that India’s government overrides anti nuclear villagrers
Nuclear showdown in Delhi’s neighbourhood Rediff, 26 July 12, 2012 Gopal Krishna Plans to build India’s biggest indigenous nuclear power plant have failed to impress villagers in Haryana’s Fatehabad district, who fear a Fukushima-type disaster. The shoddy way in which the government agencies have handled the issue has not helped matters either. Gopal Krishna reports.The angry protest by Haryana villagers against the proposed nuclear plant 210 km from Delhi on July 17 — a day after biggest rally in
Tokyo demanded an end to nuclear power — signifies the unity of the
struggle against nuclear power.
In Fatehabad, a big dharna and conference is planned on August 17, 2012 against the Gorakhpur nuclear power project. Continue reading
Changing nature of Japan’s anti nuclear movement
Political Clout of Japan’s Anti-Nuke Movement Tested By YUKA HAYASHI And TOKO SEKIGUCHI, 28 July 12, TOKYO—Two events Sunday will test the political influence of Japan’s growing movement against nuclear power: a regional election featuring one of the country’s most prominent industry critics, and a 1960s-style surround-the-parliament protest aimed at evoking memories of past mass demonstrations. Continue reading
That magic phrase again – Fukushima – “just a SPEED HUMP”
Report: Fukushima a “Speed Bump” on the Road to Massive Nuclear Power Expansion IEEE Spectrum BY: DAVE LEVITAN, JULY 26, 2012 “….. According to the UN’s Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency nuclear power will expand between 44 and 99 percent by 2035, with a total added capacity between 165 and 371 gigawatts.
To be sure, some countries, notably Germany, which has pledged to shut down all of its 17 reactors by 2022, are headed in the opposite direction. Even if they follow through, however, this might not make a dent in the industry overall growth. The report, known informally as
the Red Book, predicts nuclear will expand between 125 and 185 percent in East Asia, with heavy construction in China, South Korea, India, and Russia. (Notably though, the low end of that prediction does not include the possibility that Japan will fully disavow the use of
nuclear in Fukushima’s wake.)
It seems striking that a disaster that captured the world’s full attention might have so little lingering effect. Gary Dyck, the head of nuclear fuel cycle and materials at IAEA, told Reuters that “we see [Fukushima] as a speed bump. We still expect huge growth in China.” That’s a hell of a speed bump; after Chernobyl in 1986, global nuclear capacity growth did slowfairly dramatically, though this could be attributed to a number of factors.
Mihama reactor 2 turns 40 years; future uncertain, Japan Times, Kyodo TSURUGA, Fukui Pref. 27 July 12 — Reactor 2 at the Mihama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture marked its 40th year in operation Wednesday, while the government weighs allowing the now-idled unit to keep running longer than originally planned.
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency last week approved changes in safety regulations to permit reactors to keep running for more than 40 years.
All but two of Japan’s 50 commercial nuclear reactors are now shut down due to safety concerns in the wake of the meltdowns at the Fukushima No. 1 plant in March 2011. Before they can be restarted, the reactors must pass “stress tests” to check their ability to withstand
earthquakes and tsunami.
The 500,000-kw reactor 2 at the Mihama plant, operated by Kansai Electric Power Co., is the third-oldest commercially run reactor in Japan. The two older are reactor 1 at Japan Atomic Power Co.’s Tsuruga plant, also in Fukui, and reactor 1 at the Mihama plant….. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120726a9.html
Peace event on atom bomb anniversary to reflect on nuclear power ‘From Hiroshima to Fukushima’ The Republic EVANSTON, Ill. — A peace event called “From Hiroshima to Fukushima” will be held in Evanston next month, and will feature two experts on nuclear power.
Norma Field is the Robert S. Ingersoll Distinguished Professor in Japanese Studies, who is retiring from the University of Chicago this year after a career as a scholar, teacher and activist.
Yasuteru Yamada is co-founder of the Skilled Veterans Corps for Fukushima. It’s a group of Japanese retirees who volunteered to do cleanup work after the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster to spare younger people exposure to radiation.
The conference on nuclear power will take place at the Unitarian Church of Evanston on Aug. 5, the 67th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II.
Online: http://www.chipeaceaction.org http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/c9ffd948cb284c29825a2cc92f0f6d52/IL–Hiroshima-Remembrance
Switzerland to switch from nuclear energy to renewables
SWITZERLAND LOOKING TO REPLACE NUCLEAR ENERGY WITH SOLAR REVMODO, DAVID QUILTY | 24 JULY, 2012 In 2011, the Swiss parliament decided not to build any more nuclear power plants after the Fukushima disaster in Japan. As nuclear currently supplies some 40 percent of the country’s energy needs, they are in search of ways to replace the energy source with cleaner alternatives. Solar is being debated as the front-runner to use as a replacement and plans are in the works to use the technology to replace at least one half the nuclear power used now. Representatives from the solar and the electricity industries are at odds as to whether it is viable, with solar industry insiders saying they can meet 20 percent of needs by 2025 and electric companies saying gas-fired plants are the way to go. However, the government doesn’t want to go with gas-fired plants as it won’t allow it to meet carbon emission reduction goals.
Also up for debate is whether solar power should be fully subsidized by the government in order to expedite installations or if electricity providers should play a wait and watch game to see if prices of photovoltaics come down anytime soon. Germany is heavily subsidizing renewables and have so far succeeded in setting a world record for solar power production, generating nearly 50 percent of the nation’s midday electricity demand in May. That’s the energy equivalent of 20 nuclear power plants operating at full capacity…… it is some very welcome news that Switzerland wants to replace nuclear energy with clean renewables.
China Leads The World In Renewable Energy Investment Forbes, 27 July
12, According to a recently released United Nations report, global
investment in renewable energy reached a record $257 billion in 2011,
a 17 percent increase from the amount invested in 2010. Globally,
renewable energy covers approximately 16.7 percent of energy
consumption…. China was responsible for almost one-fifth of total
global investment, spending $52 billion on renewable energy last year.
The United States was close behind with investments of $51 billion, as
developers sought to benefit from government incentive programs before
they expired. Germany, Italy and India rounded out the list of the top
five countries.
According to China’s 12th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social
Development (2011-2015), the country will spend $473.1 billion on
clean energy investments over the next five years. China’s goal is to
have 20 percent of its total energy demand sourced from renewable
energy by 2020.
In 2011, solar led the way as far as global investment in renewable
energy, with investment surging to $147 billion, a year-on-year
increase of 52 percent, due to strong demand for rooftop photovoltaic
installations in Germany, Italy, China and Britain. Large-scale solar
thermal installations in Spain and the United States also contributed
to growth during the year.
Scientists not happy with dangerous pool storage of spent nuclear fuel
An accident or terrorist attack resulting in a rapid loss of cooling water from a pool could lead to a self-sustaining fire and release of a massive quantity of highly radioactive Cesium-137 into the environment.
NRC Report States That Storing Spent Nuclear Fuel In Wet Pools Is ‘Adequate’ To Protect Public http://www.ucsusa.org/news/media_alerts/nrc-report-adequate-not-enough-0380.html
Transferring It to Dry Casks Would Be Significantly Safer, Science Group Says Continue reading
Cameco uranium company – profit loss with low sales and prices
Cameco profit hit by lower sales, prices Mining Peter Koven Jul 27, 2012 Second quarter profit dropped sharply at Cameco Corp. as the uranium giant’s sales volumes declined and it faced lower realized prices and higher costs.
Adjusted net income came in at $34-million, or 9 cents a share, down from 18 cents a year ago. The numbers fell short of analyst expectations.
Uranium sales volumes in the quarter were 5.3 million pounds, well down from 5.8 million pounds in the second quarter of 2011. Saskatoon-based Cameco’s realized price also dropped 8% year-over-year to US$42.08 a pound because of lower U.S.-dollar prices under
fixed-price contracts. Uranium production dropped 7%….
Corrosion at Hamaoka nuclear power station
Corrosion confirmed at Japan nuke plant — Seawater flowed into reactor pressure vessel — Years before prospects will be known http://enenews.com/corrosion-confirmed-at-japan-nuke-plant-seawater-flowed-into-reactor-years-before-prospects-for-reactor-will-be-known
July 26th, 2012 By ENENews In a fresh development adding to local worries, Chubu
Electric Power Co. said Wednesday that many parts of reactor 5 at its Hamaoka nuclear power station in Shizuoka Prefecture have been confirmed corroded. Continue reading
1 This Month
10 June – Assessing Canada’s Investments in Small Modular Nuclear Reactors – https://zoom.us/meeting/register/IiqHA5feRhaEBycOLNTJlA#/registration
Cuba Is Not a Failed State – It Is a Besieged State
PETITION: “Global Appeal to Endorse Palestinian Right of Return of Refugees”
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