nuclear-news

From Nuclear Free Local Authorities:
“NFLA Media release – for immediate release, 21st October 2015

NFLA notes only a participation agreement between China, UK and EDF is being agreed today for Hinkley Point C. Many hurdles still remain. NFLA calls instead for investment in renewables and decentralised energy.

The Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) notes with dismay the announcement to sign an initial participation agreement between the Chinese and UK Governments and EDF over the proposed construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, and future plans for new nuclear reactors at Sizewell and Bradwell. However, it is clear that this is still not a final investment decision and many significant hurdles still remain.

NFLA note the comment published in the Financial Times that: ―senior EDF executives and a negotiating team led by China’s state-owned CGN struck an accord that will lead to a final investment decision…

“According to American Ecology, about 47 pounds of plutonium was disposed of at the Beatty, Nevada, facility. Also, US Ecology’s December 1994 plan to stabilize and close its disposal facility for low-level radioactive wastes at Richland, Washington, states that approximately 450 pounds of plutonium was disposed of at that facility, including about 270.3 pounds of plutonium-239. Finally, about 140 pounds of plutonium was disposed of at the Kentucky facility.” GAOLRCED-98-40R Questions on Ward Valley http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML0827/ML082760004.pdf

“Approximately 24 hours after notification of a fire at a low-level radioactive storage site near Beatty, Nevada, the State of Nevada has determined that there are no known current health risks to area residents associated with the fire. Department of Public Safety Director Jim Wright has authorized the opening of U.S. Highway 95 beginning at 5:30 p.m.” Read the rest here: http://dps.nv.gov/media/PR/2015/Update_on_the_U_S__Ecology_Industrial_Fire_in_Nye_County/ They don’t say if they tested for alpha radiation…

The lead author of the 2006 Stern Review on the economics of climate change says that although there will be an agreement at the UN climate conference in Paris, COP21, in December, it’s what happens afterwards that is crucial.
Professor Nicholas Stern warns: “Whatever way we look at it, the action we need to take is immense.”
If governments delay taking decisive measures to halt greenhouse gas emissions, he is convinced that a tipping point on climate will be reached. “In Paris, we need recognition of what we need to do—and how radical that change will be.”

Awareness of Urgency
Stern, chair of the UK’s Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and a former chief economist at the World Bank, will be involved in the Paris negotiations.
He told a packed audience at Oxford University that, on the plus side, there is now a much greater willingness to work towards…