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

Scale of radiation ” As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP”

Occupy the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) 60 YEARS AGO: The birth of a new Scale of Radiation – and the END of COMPENSATION! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D9c9kQDMis As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) was replaced by: As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP): To satisfy the ALARP principle, measures necessary to reduce risk must be taken until or unless the cost of those measures, whether money, time or trouble is disproportionate to the reduction in risk.” PAGE 170 – by UK Departement of Energy & Climate change – QUOTE:
An example: quote “as far as is practically achievable”:http://enformable.com/2011/09/scottish-nuclear-leak-will-never-be-completely-cleaned-up/

http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/meeting-energy-demand/consents-planning/nps2011/1925-appl-of-sust-of-revised-draft-en6.pdf

November 2, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s careful censorship of the facts

America’s nuclear safety under scrutiny after Oyster Creek’s Sandy alert US nuclear regulators model risk from seismic activity or flooding based on past history. That’s leaving way too much to luck Richard Schiffman guardian.co.uk, 1 November 2012 “…..The Huffington Post reported earlier this month that:

“According to the NRC’s own calculations … the odds of the dam near the Oconee plant [operated by Duke Energy in South Carolina] failing at some point over the next 22 years are far higher than were the odds of an earthquake-induced tsunami causing a meltdown at the Fukushima plant.”

This alarming news, however, was blacked out of the NRC’s public report. It was leaked by the lead author, Richard H Perkins, who said that his work had been censored because it revealed that:

“The NRC has been in possession of relevant, notable, and derogatory safety information for an extended period but failed to properly act on it.”

In another section of the report, about the Fort Calhoun nuclear plant in Nebraska, NRC redactors removed information indicating that the failure of the Oahe or Fort Randall dams could result in levels of rampaging water higher than the plant’s flood protection walls. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission evidently believes that it is better to hide the facts about nuclear risks than to fix the problem.

Critics allege that not only does the NRC withhold critical information, but also fails in many cases to enforce regulations that are already on the books. David Lochbaum warns:

“I’m most concerned about the NRC’s practice of allowing unsafe reactors to operate. UCS’s Nuclear Power Information Tracker shows 47 reactors that NRC knows to violate fire protection regulations and 27 reactors with seismic protection known to be less than the seismic hazards they face. These pre-existing vulnerabilities mean that the American public is protected more by luck than by skill.”

And if superstorm Sandy, and the increasing frequency of other extreme weather events in recent years is any evidence, America’s luck may be running out. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/01/nuclear-safety-oyster-creek-sandy-alert?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038

November 2, 2012 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | Leave a comment

Forecast for uranium market – still sinkng

Nuclear bearishness sinks claws into uranium price, demand forecasts Dundee Capital Markets drops its near term uranium price forecasts : Kip Keen  , 01 Nov 2012  (MINEWEB) –  With post-Fukushima anti-nuclear sentiment continuing to weigh, Dundee Capital Markets cut its near-term uranium price forecast.

“A cloud still hangs over the uranium sector as we approach the second anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi disaster,” Dundee’s David Talbot wrote in a recent note to clients. “The impact has been felt on the spot market, with prices now dipping below post-Fukushima lows of US$49.00/lb U3O8, to a range of around $42 to $43 per pound  ).” In cutting forecasts Talbot focused heavily on dour near term demand for uranium and issues of public perception for nuclear power, particularly in developed nations following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan last year. Dundee dropped its spot uranium forecast in the near term to $49 per pound from $60 a pound and its term (contract) price to $61 from $65 a pound…..
Dundee’s change in outlook came a day after Cameco, a leading uranium producer, put a damper on its long term production outlook, cutting back growth plans from 40 million pounds uranium to 36 million pounds uranium in production a year by 2018(covered in these pages by Dorothy Kosich here)..

November 2, 2012 Posted by | 2 WORLD, business and costs, Uranium | Leave a comment

VIDEO: Children living in radioactive areas in Fukushima

Why Can’t They Relocate? Fukushima’s Dilemma http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTmT8JOlG40&feature=player_detailpage#t=1080s BACKGROUND: A year and a half after the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, there are still many families with children who live in highly contaminated areas for various reasons even if they are concerned about the health effects from radiation exposure. Many citizens are struggling financially and unable to relocate to outside of Fukushima without a proper assistance from the government. Fukushima families’ unique ties with neighbors, relatives and friends in their communities sometimes prevent them to evacuate from contaminated areas. Some families with members who have a disability or chronic illness do not have capacity to relocate to a new community. In order to assist those families from highly contaminated areas in Fukushima, many Japanese nonprofit organizations and grassroots organizations established “hoyo projects” or recreation projects to provide them with temporary group homes, so that their children could enjoy short-term recreation opportunities in less contaminated areas while reducing their accumulated dosage of radiation. However, these projects are now facing challenges.

Young Boy: When nuclear accident happened it looked like rain came over the Fukushima plant — My friend and I wondered about that (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/young-boy-when-nuclear-accident-happened-looked-like-rain-came-fukushima-plant-friend-wondered-about-video
October 31st, 2012 
 Why Can’t They Relocate? Fukushima’s Dilemma  
Kazumi Watanabe, Mammy Z Tummy Project For Fukushima
Interpreter: Rachel Clark
Cinema Forum Fukushima
Oct. 26, 2012
 Young Boy: When nuclear accident happened, rain (it looks like a rain) has come over the Fukushima nuclear power plant. My friend and I were wondered about it.  Watch the 5-part presentation

November 2, 2012 Posted by | Resources -audiovicual | Leave a comment

Germany’s nuclear phaseout – financial benefits to farmers, investors, and small business

the nuclear shutdown and an accompanying move toward renewable energy are already
yielding measurable economic and environmental benefits, with one top expert calling the German phase-out a probable game-changer for the nuclear industry worldwide.

 the nuclear phase-out and accompanying shift to renewable energy have brought financial benefits to farmers, investors, and small business;

Bulletin: German nuclear exit delivers economic, environmental
benefits http://www.ecnmag.com/news/2012/11/bulletin-german-nuclear-exit-delivers-economic-environmental-benefits, 11/01/2012  Following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in 2011, the German government took the nation’s eight oldest reactors offline immediately and passed legislation that will close the last nuclear power plant by 2022.

This nuclear phase-out had overwhelming political support in Germany. Continue reading →

November 2, 2012 Posted by | business and costs, Germany, renewable | Leave a comment

Superstorm shuts nuclear plants

Several nuke reactors shut because of Superstorm, Las Vegas Sun, The Associated Press Nov. 2, 2012  Three commercial nuclear power reactors remained shut Tuesday in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy while another plant _ the nation’s oldest _ was still on alert.

Nine Mile Point Unit 1 reactor on Lake Ontario, northwest of Syracuse, N.Y., shut down automatically around 9 p.m. Monday when an electrical fault occurred on a power line used to send electricity from the plant to the grid, according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The second reactor at the site lost one of its incoming power lines, causing a backup generator to start. That reactor was continuing to produce electricity.

Another nuclear reactor, Indian Point’s Unit 3, about 25 miles north of New York City, was shut down Monday because of external electrical grid issues, said Entergy Corp., which operates the plant. The company said there was no risk to employees or the public, and the plant was not at risk due to water levels from the adjacent Hudson River, which reached 9 feet 8 inches before beginning to subside. Another unit at the plant continued to operate at full power.

At the Salem plant in Hancocks Bridge, N.J., near the Delaware River, the Unit 1 reactor was shut down early Tuesday because four of its six circulating water pumps were no longer available, according to PSEG Nuclear, which operates the complex. The pumps are used to condense steam on the non-nuclear side of the plant…… http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/nov/02/us-superstorm-nuclear-safety/

November 2, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Uranium market uncertainty causes Cameco to cut its expansion plans

Expected nuclear construction cuts, prompts Cameco project paring  Recent developments in the nuclear industry, specifically in Japan, have caused more uncertainty over the growth rate of nuclear power globally, prompting Cameco to adjust its production forecasts. Mineweb Dorothy Kosich  , 01 Nov 2012  Ongoing market uncertainty in the near term has prompted mega-uranium miner Cameco to seriously tighten its project portfolio and drop four million pounds of future targeted uranium production….. In its analysis, Cameco noted that recent developments in the nuclear industry, primarily in Japan, have caused more uncertainty in the growth rate of nuclear power globally…… Cameco’s uranium production volumes remained flat for the third quarter of the year at 5.3 million pounds. However, the company also recorded a 29% decrease in sales.

Production for the first nine months of this year were also lower at 15.4 million pounds, down from 15.8 million pounds for the same period of 2011. The lower output as attributed to lower production at Smith Ranch-Highland and Inkai.

Uranium revenues also dropped 5% during the first three quarters of this year, due to a 5% decrease in sales volumes. “Our $US realized prices were lower than the first nine months of 2011 mainly due to lower prices under market-related contracts being offset by a more favorable exchange rate,” said the company….. FINANCIALS

For the first nine months of this year, Cameco reported adjusted net earnings of $210 million or 53-cents per share, down from adjusted net earnings of $259 million or 66-cents per share. The change was due to lower earnings from the uranium business based on lower sales volumes, lower realized prices and higher costs; a $30 million contract termination change, as well as higher exploration and administration costs.

November 2, 2012 Posted by | business and costs, Uranium | Leave a comment

Wind power gaining economic advantage over coal

Economics of Coal Power and Wind are shifting in favor of Wind, Environmental News Network, Tina Casey, 1 Nov 12,  While the cost of wind power has been dropping, a fascinating article in The Washington Post describes how coal mining is becoming more difficult and expensive. The coal industry cites environmental regulations as the main source of upward pressure on costs but WaPo writer Steven Mufson makes a convincing case that factors within the coal fields themselves are the main culprit. Mufson is careful to note that the trend varies from one coal field to another, but it is occurring in the key coal-producing region of Appalachia among others. Against the backdrop of falling wind prices, the rising cost of coal provides businesses with yet another incentive to explore ways of tapping the wind to power their operations.
http://www.enn.com/energy/article/45160

November 2, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

USA came all too close to nuclear catastrophe

America’s nuclear safety under scrutiny after Oyster Creek’s Sandy alert
US nuclear regulators model risk from seismic activity or flooding based on past history. That’s leaving way too much to luck Richard Schiffman
guardian.co.uk, 1 November 2012  Oyster Creek nuclear power station was offline on Monday for maintenance, but officials said Sandy’s storm surge came within 6in of damaging its cooling system. Photograph: PR
We know the bad news about superstorm Sandy: the Jersey shore was devastated and many towns remain waterlogged. New York suffered a direct hit, with the city’s mass transit system flooded and part-paralyzed for days to come…..  luckily, it did not trigger an even greater disaster at one of the region’s nuclear power plants. But it could have. Continue reading →

November 2, 2012 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

USA safety worries – 23 nuclear plants same as Fukushima’s

concern centers on the 23 “Mark I” nuclear reactors in the United States, which are identical to the containment vessels used at Fukushima’s Daiichi nuclear power plant,

U.S. nuclear energy safety questioned Nuclear Power Daily, by Linyi Zhang, Medill  News ServiceWashington (UPI) Nov 1, 2012 The United States is headed toward a major nuclear disaster — one that could mirror what happened last year in Japan — unless the government more closely monitors aging power plants, Continue reading →

November 2, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

A solar energy solution for India’s power needs

The solar-powered success of the Malankara Tea Plantation has national implications.

 India’s most recent power outages demonstrate how important it is for the country and its peers to pursue the sustainable, onsite generation of renewable energy and move away from the fossil fuels and fragile power grids that left millions in the sweltering dark this summer.

Solar Energy Could Solve Developing Nations’ Infrastructure Problems Aol Energy , By Mark Cerasuolo November 1, 2012  The challenges with India’s public electricity grids last summer showed the world what happens when a country’s growth rapidly outpaces its energy delivery infrastructure and diversity of sources. When three of India’s electricity grids failed and more than half a billion people suffered two days of blackouts at the height of summer, the global media reminded us that even on the country’s best day, there is still an enormous portion of the population with no access to power. Solar energy is one way to solve this problem….

Today, India gets only one gigawatt of power from solar energy, a mere 0.5 percent of its total power consumption according to BusinessWeek . But the country’s solar capacity is growing, and the government is encouraging state utilities to tap into that capacity by offering companies the chance to trade renewable energy credits……

The Malankara Tea Plantation took advantage of the Indian government’s incentives on solar photovoltaic installations; it used capital subsidies of 90 rupees per watt up to a maximum of 30 percent of the project cost. It installed solar arrays and charge controllers that gave the company independence from the unreliable grid and made it one of India’s first net-zero energy buildings. The organization has also reduced its annual carbon emissions by 47 tons. Continue reading →

November 2, 2012 Posted by | decentralised, India | Leave a comment

Is Hanford Nuclear Reservation safe?

Occupy the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) Next week federal officials are mustering a several-hundred page report on the problem of radioactive leaking at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington. Over the decades the holding tanks have leaked about a million gallons of waste into the ground not far from the Columbia River. Together, all the tanks hold about 56 million gallons of toxic radioactive goo. Now with the new double layer tank failures, the federal government is running out of options to hold the sludge safely. Citizens want answers. Is the area safe? http://kplu.org/post/new-hanford-tank-leak-raises-questions-about-waste-storage

November 2, 2012 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

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