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Plan for world’s biggest uranium mine scrapped

The mine would have become the world’s biggest open cut copper and uranium mine at six kilometres long and one kilometre deep.

BHP cancels $30 billion Olympic Dam expansion near Roxby Downs in South Australian Outback  Business Writer Meredith Booth AdelaideNow August 22, 2012   BHP Billiton has shelved its $30 billion Olympic Dam expansion and will go back to the drawing board to find a cheaper alternative…. Continue reading →

August 22, 2012 Posted by | AUSTRALIA, business and costs | 1 Comment

Hackers may be able to attack US nuclear power plants

US Nuclear Power Plants May Be Totally Vulnerable To Hackers Jim Finkle , Reuters     | Aug. 22, 2012 BOSTON – The U.S. government is looking into claims by a cyber security researcher that flaws in software for specialized networking equipment from Siemens could enable hackers to attack power plants and other critical systems.
Justin W. Clarke, an expert in securing industrial control systems, disclosed at a conference in Los Angeles on Friday that he had figured out a way to spy on traffic moving through networking equipment manufactured by Siemens’ RuggedCom division.
The Department of Homeland Security said in an alert released on Tuesday that it had asked RuggedCom to confirm the vulnerability that Clarke, a 30-year-old security expert who has long worked in theelectric utility field, had identified and identify steps to mitigate its impact……  http://www.businessinsider.com/flaw-in-us-computer-software-may-allow-hackers-to-control-nuclear-power-plants-2012-8#ixzz24Lul43tb

August 22, 2012 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Hanford nuclear waste tank – a new radioactive leak?

Big, radioactive lump in Hanford nuclear-waste tank: Is it leaking? Seattle Times, 21 Aug 12, A discovery at the Hanford nuclear reservation throws into question the integrity of the double-walled steel tanks where radioactive waste is being temporarily stored. Continue reading →

August 22, 2012 Posted by | incidents, USA | Leave a comment

Is Edison planning to keep San Onofre nuclear plant permanently closed?

San Onofre layoffs raise questions about nuclear plant’s future LA Times, August 21, 2012 |  More than six months after a leaking steam generator tube prompted a complete shutdown of the San Onofre nuclear power plant, Southern California Edison officials announced plans to lay off nearly one-third of its workforce, leading many to wonder if the troubled plant would ever fully reopen. Continue reading →

August 22, 2012 Posted by | business and costs, USA | 1 Comment

Nuclear Chief: Belgium reactor could have ’1,000s of cracks’ — Same as used at U.S. plants — Suggests permanent closure all but certain

http://enenews.com/nuclear-chief-belgium-reactor-could-1000s-cracks-suggests-permanent-closure-all

Published: August 21st, 2012 at 4:55 pm ET 
By 

Title: Nuclear chief says Belgium reactor could have ‘thousands of cracks’
Source: Power Engineering International
Author: Diarmaid Williams
Date: Aug 17, 2012

 

“…The cracks, which possibly date back to the reactor’s construction some 40 years ago, were discovered using ultra-sound during inspections in June and July…”

 

August 22, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

3 additional radioactive isotopes detected in latest sinkhole sample — Over 80 picocuries per kilogram of radium (PHOTOS)

http://enenews.com/3-radioactive-isotopes-detected-latest-sinkhole-sample-sinkhole
 
Published: August 21st, 2012 at 8:37 pm ET 
By  

“…

ARS Data – radiological (NORM) results for 1 water sample collected near the sinkhole
Source: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
Sample Collected:  August 15, 2012
Sample Tested: August 17, 2012
Results Published: August 21, 2012

There are 6 isotopes — not besides Potassium-40 — that are above the minimum detectable concentration (MDC).

  • Thallium-208 @ 4.819 pCi/kg*
  • Bismuth-214 @ 15.590 pCi/kg
  • Lead-214 @ 15.517 pCi/kg
  • Radium-226 @ 63.569 pCi/kg*
  • Radium-228 @ 18.705 pCi/kg*
  • Thorium-228 @ 12.776 pCi/kg

*In the last report from a week ago, only 3 isotopes — Bismuth-214, Lead-214, and Thorium-228 — were detected….”

August 22, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment