2013 February 07 « nuclear-news

60 years to clean up radioactivity from closed Florida nuclear plant

AP: Florida nuclear plant will permanently close — 60 years to decontaminate and dismantle http://enenews.com/ap-florida-nuclear-plant-permanently-closed-60-years-decontaminate-dismantle
Title: Duke Energy to close Crystal River nuclear plant
Author: Associated Press
Date: February 5, 2013

The largest U.S. electricity company said Tuesday it will permanently close a Florida nuclear power plant after botched repairs and use $835 million from an insurance settlement to refund consumers forced to pay for higher-cost replacement power.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Duke Energy said Tuesday it will close its Crystal River Nuclear Plant north of Tampa, starting a process that may take 60 years before the site is decontaminated and dismantled. […]

“We believe the decision to retire the nuclear plant is in the best overall interests of our customers, investors, the state of Florida and our company,” Duke Energy Chairman and Chief Executive Jim Rogers said in a statement.

February 7, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Decline and fall of the nuclear industry – it’s the economics, stupid!

The Real Deterrent to Nuclear Power WSJ BY LIAM DENNING, 6 Feb 13 Long before they consume even a pound of uranium, nuclear-power plants burn through copious quantities of cash. That handicap was laid bare, once again, on both sides of the Atlantic this week.

On Tuesday, Duke Energy said it would decommission its Crystal River nuclear-power plant in Florida rather than pay a repair bill estimated last October at more than …(subscribers only) http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324761004578285992381951734.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

February 7, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Former judge urges the evacuation of Fukushima’s children

Japanese Judge: Already signs of major health hazard in Fukushima — Kids may end up like those around Chernobyl — Urgent need for evacuation (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/japanese-judge-already-signs-major-health-hazard-fukushima-kids-like-around-chernobyl-urgent-need-evacuation-video

Title: Statement by the former judge who once stopped a nuclear power plant

Sources: The Fukushima Collective Evacuation Trial Team & World Network for Saving Children from Radiation
Feb 5, 2013
At 2:00 in
Kenichi Ido, former judge: As I think there is now an urgent need to evacuate the children from the radioactive zones, I have been active as one of the defense lawyers for the Fukushima Collective Evacuation Trial.

I cannot help worrying about the future of children in Fukushima.

There have already been signs of a major health hazard.

Under the current situation, I think the children of Fukushima may fall into a situation like that of the children of Ukraine and Belarus, where only 20% of the children are considered healthy.
Such a danger exists in Fukushima.
Watch the video here

February 7, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Resources -audiovicual | Leave a comment

Another nuclear power plant bites the dust in USA

“I believe this is going to be further fuel on the fire for the Legislature, hopefully, to begin to question the wisdom of these high-risk investments in energy,” said Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.”

Florida Progress’ nuclear plant in Crystal River to close By MICHAEL SASSO | The Tampa Tribune February 06, 2013 TAMPA — Progress Energy Florida will permanently shut its damaged nuclear reactor in Crystal River, capping a very public and costly embarrassment that played out over the past three years.

Progress Energy, a subsidiary of Charlotte, N.C.-based Duke Energy, said Tuesday that it will begin decommissioning the Crystal River reactor instead of making repairs, which could have cost billions. Continue reading →

February 7, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

USA Senator calls for investigation into administration of San Onofre nuclear power plant

Barbara Boxer On San Onofre: Nuclear Power Plant Should Be Investigated
HUFFINGTON POST, By MICHAEL R. BLOOD 02/06/13 LOS ANGELES — California Sen. Barbara Boxer pressed federal regulators Wednesday to open an investigation into equipment problems at the shuttered San Onofre nuclear power plant.

In a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Democrat said information in a previously unreleased report shows operator Southern California Edison and the company that built the plant’s ailing steam generators, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, were aware of design problems before the equipment was installed.

Edison spokeswoman Maureen Brown did not immediately respond to an email and phone message seeking comment. Mitsubishi spokesman Patrick Boyle did not immediately respond to an email or phone message seeking comment……. Continue reading →

February 7, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | Leave a comment

Plutonium in ocean near Fukushima

Study: Fukushima plutonium in Pacific Ocean from ‘liquid direct releases’? http://enenews.com/study-plutonium-could-be-pacific-ocean-liquid-direct-releases-fukushima
Title: Should we measure plutonium concentrations in marine sediments near Fukushima?
Source: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Author: R. Periáñez, Kyung-Suk Suh, Byung-Il Min
Date: February 2013

Excerpt

Much less information is available in the case of plutonium isotopes. Trace amounts of Pu isotopes originating from the accident have been identified in soil samples. While it is known that atmospheric releases of Pu were several orders of magnitude lower than that from Chernobyl accident, no information on Pu isotopes in the liquid direct releases to the sea is available. Pu isotopes have been measured in marine sediments outside a 30 km radius circle around Fukushima. Results do not show any contamination due to the accident. Instead Pu isotopes here detected are attributed to global fallout.

However, the situation inside the 30 km zone remains unknown. It could be possible that Pu isotopes entered this coastal area from the direct release of contaminated water in early April 2011. The objective for this work consists of showing, by means of numerical modelling, that, if Pu contamination originating from the accident would be present in sediments of the close area to Fukushima, contamination would not reach areas far from the plant. Contamination would be restricted to the close area because of the low mobility of Pu. Thus, it would not be detected if samples are not collected there. Consequently, further studies on the determination of Pu isotopes in seawater and sediments within the 30 km zone would be required.

Note the objective: “The objective for this work consists of showing […] that, […] Pu contamination […] would not reach areas far from the plant.”

See more from the study here

February 7, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima 2013, Japan, oceans, Reference | Leave a comment

Doubts about independence of Japan’s nuclear regulator – another setback for restart of nukes

Leak stalls Japan’s nuclear return BY:RICK WALLACE, TOKYO CORRESPONDENT :The Australian February 06, 2013 JAPAN’s attempts to boost its economy by restarting nuclear plants have suffered a setback with its new regulatory body under fire over leaks to a power company and a criminal negligence probe into the Fukushima disaster gathering momentum.

The removal of an official at the Nuclear Regulation Authority for leaking a draft report on the Tsuruga nuclear plant has cast further doubt on its independence. Tetsuo Nayuki, 54, director-general for nuclear regulation policy, received an official reprimand last month and was transferred to the science ministry after news of the leak emerged….(subscribers only) http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/leak-stalls-japans-nuclear-return/story-e6frg6so-1226571126055

February 7, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment

Aboriginal elder saves priceless Koongarra from uranium minng

Aboriginal elder spurns million dollar offer from uranium miners http://www.mining.com/aboriginal-elder-spurns-millions-of-dollars-from-uranium-miners-58963/Marc Howe | February 6, 2013 An elder from the Djok aboriginal community has hailed a move by the federal government to prevent the mining of uranium on his ancestral lands.

On Wednesday the federal government introduced a bill to incorporate 1228 hectares of the Koongarra, the traditional land of the Djok people, into the Kakadu National Park, thus preventing efforts by uranium mines to develop the area’s resources.

Jeffrey Lee, an elder of the Djok people, welcomed the decision after fighting for over three decades to prevent uranium extraction in the area, as well as spurning million dollar offers from miners.

“I have said no to uranium mining at Koongarra because I believe that the land and my cultural beliefs are more important than mining and money,” said Mr. Lee.

A French company reportedly offered Mr. Lee $5 million to withdrawn his opposition to uranium development plans.

Although Koongarra lies within the Kakadu area, a ruling in 1979 prevented its inclusion in the park, in order to leave open the possibility of development of its uranium resources, estimated to stand at around 14,000 tonnes.

Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke as well as Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke joined Mr. Lee to make the announcement as well as hail the government’s decision.

February 7, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA, indigenous issues | Leave a comment

New USA defence secretary Hagel supports reduction in nuclear arms

Hagel supports nuclear weapons reduction , Ahramonline, Chuck Hagel,
nominated to be President Obama’s next defence secretary, supports
‘Global Zero’ movement on nuclear disarmament Bassem Aly , 6 Feb 2013
Former Republican senator Chuck Hagel will likely be the first
American defence secretary, if approved, to back the so-called “Global
Zero” movement that supports reducing the number of US nuclear
weapons.

Global Zero members believe that stopping the spread of nuclear
weapons, securing all nuclear materials and eliminating all nuclear
weapons is the only way to end the nuclear threat, including
proliferation and nuclear “terrorism.”

The movement, joined by almost 300 world leaders and more than 400,000
citizens worldwide, was launched in Paris in December 2008.

Hagel had previously co-authored with other public figures the 2012
Global Zero U.S. Nuclear Policy Commission Report that outlined a
step-by-step plan to eliminate nuclear weapons, involving bilateral
negotiations with Russia to be followed by other key countries…..
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/9/64167/World/International/Hagel-supports-nuclear-weapons-reduction-.aspx

February 7, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, weapons and war | 1 Comment

Greenland now up for uranium grabbing?

Thanks To Global Warming, Everyone Wants To Mine Greenland’s Uranium Deposit
Business Insider, Rob Wile | Feb. 6, 2013 “……Denmark’s Politiken via Presseurop reports that thanks to global warming, Greenland’s icy surface is melting away, and many believe it’s too poor to refuse the opportunity. The country sits on top of the fifth-largest uranium deposit in the world….. The plan has Irked some environmentalists. And technically, the Danish parliament would still have to approve a final decision.

But a majority in the Danish parliament is prepared for the first time to repeal Denmark’s nominal zero-tolerance policy on the radioactive metal, according to Euractiv.

…… http://www.businessinsider.com/race-for-greenland-uranium-deposits-2013-2#ixzz2KFWg91ok

February 7, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, EUROPE | Leave a comment

Niger gets a poor deal from AREVA’s uranium mining

In Niger, New Disputes Over French Uranium Extraction International Business Times, 6 Feb 13, “....no wonder Paris sent its own special security forces to Niger this week to protect a French-operated uranium mine there.

But mineral resources have long been a touchy subject in Niger, and the extra security has generated some controversy as to whether foreign investors have dealt a fair hand to the country’s 16 million people.

“Uranium is really a crucial point of contention,” said Leonardo A. Villalón, an associate professor at the University of Florida and expert on the Sahel, the band of semi-arid land just south of the Sahara Desert. “The notion of exactly who benefits from the resource is the central question of political economy in Niger.”….. President Mahamadou Issoufou suggested on Sunday that Nigeriens are getting the short end of the stick…..

The exact details regarding Areva’s current dealings with Niger are murky. …. Areva did not respond to requests for comment regarding its current agreement with the Nigerien administration….. http://www.ibtimes.com/niger-new-disputes-over-french-uranium-extraction-1064546

February 7, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Niger, politics international | Leave a comment

Nuclear power “solution” to global warming creates bigger problems

The danger of relying on nuclear power plants http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-nuclear-power-20130206,0,4009253.story Gwen L. DuBois February 6, 2013 Norman Meadow’s commentary promoting nuclear power over wind energy as a solution to climate change leaves out serious unsolved problems that wind does not present (“Nuclear blows away wind,” Feb. 1).

Huge piles of highly radioactive waste are sitting all over the world in vulnerable spent fuel pools lacking containment structures or backup generators. The Japanese government was considering an evacuation of Tokyo in the event of an explosion at one.

As we expand our reliance on nuclear power, we also expand this Achilles heel of the nuclear industry. Fukushima led to hot spots of radioactivity as far as 158 miles away. While Mr. Meadow talks of exaggerated fears of small doses of radiation from accidents, would anyone choose to raise their children in an area contaminated by radioactive cesium with a half-life of 30 years?

Recently 28 of 442 exported food samples tested by the Food and Drug Administration were found to be contaminated. Chernobyl may have led to as many as 900,000 deaths worldwide.

Decades ago, a Sandia National Labs report for Congress estimated tens of thousands of deaths would occur from a worst-case nuclear accident, which would also be costly and chill the expansion of nuclear power plants. Three Mile Island, a formerNuclear Regulatory Commission member said, “taught Wall Street that a group of NRC-licensed reactor operators, as good as any other, could turn a $2 billion asset into a $1 billion cleanup job in about 90 minutes.”

Mr. Meadow’s goal of a carbon-free society is correct. In addition to wind, we need solar; we need smart grid and infrastructure and we need greater efficiency. We need lifestyle changes leading to less energy use.

We can get to zero this way, and nuclear can be a transitional source of energy while we are gearing up renewable energy sources. But what we don’t need are more nuclear wastes, more nuclear accidents, more dirty mining of uranium or more sources of weapons-grade uranium and plutonium waiting to be stolen and used against us.

February 7, 2013 Posted by Christina Macpherson | general | Leave a comment