Nuclear submarine accidents contaminating Russia’s Far East
Here’s What You Need To Remember: The explosion blew out the reactor’s twelve-ton lid—and fuel rods—and ruptured the pressure hull. The reactor core was destroyed, and eight officers and two enlisted men standing nearby were killed instantly. A the blast threw debris was thrown into the air, and a plume of fallout 650 meters wide by 3.5 kilometers long traveled downwind on the Dunay Peninsula. More debris and the isotope Cobalt-60 was thrown overboard and onto the nearby docks.
In 1985, a Soviet submarine undergoing a delicate refueling procedure experienced a freak accident that killed ten naval personnel. The fuel involved was not diesel, but nuclear, and the resulting environmental disaster contaminated the area with dangerous, lasting radiation. The incident, which remained secret until after the demise of the USSR itself, was one of many nuclear accidents the Soviet Navy experienced during the Cold War……
The explosion blew out the reactor’s twelve-ton lid—and fuel rods—and ruptured the pressure hull. The reactor core was destroyed, and eight officers and two enlisted men standing nearby were killed instantly. A the blast threw debris was thrown into the air, and a plume of fallout 650 meters wide by 3.5 kilometers long traveled downwind on the Dunay Peninsula. More debris and the isotope Cobalt-60 was thrown overboard and onto the nearby docks.
According to Nuclear Risks, the accident scene was heavily contaminated with radioactivity. Gamma ray radiation was not particularly bad; at an exposure rate of five millisieverts per hour, it was the equivalent of getting a chest CT scan every hour. However, the explosion also released 259 petabecquerels of radioactive particles, including twenty-nine gigabecquerels of iodine-131, a known cause of cancer. This bode very badly for the emergency cleanup crews, especially firefighters who needed to get close to the explosion site, and the nearby village of Shkotovo-22. Forty-nine members of the cleanup crew displayed symptoms of radiation sickness, ten of them displaying acute symptoms…….
While the Chazhma Bay region appears contaminated to this day with radiation, it is unknown how much of it is the result of the K-431 incident and how much the result of the many nuclear-powered submarines that were junked and forgotten in the area.
The K-431 incident was one of several involving Soviet submarine reactors. Ten Soviet submarines experienced nuclear accidents, and one other, K-11, also suffered a refueling criticality………. https://news.yahoo.com/1985-nuclear-submarine-explosion-contaminated-213000521.html
USA nuclear-missile program data leaked, as contractor hit with Maze Ransomware
A U.S. military contractor involved in the maintenance of the country’s Minuteman III nuclear arsenal has been hit by the Maze ransomware, according to reports – with the hackers making off with reams of sensitive information.
The company, Westech International, has a range of contracts with the military for everything from ongoing evaluation for the ballistic missile defense system in Colorado, to a role as a sub-contractor for Northrup Grumman. In the latter capacity it provides engineering support, repair and maintenance for ground subsystems components involved in the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program.
The U.S. has about 440 of the ICBMs, which have been around since the 1970s and which are stored in U.S. Air Force facilities in Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming. They make up the country’s long-range land-to-air nuclear stockpile, and each can travel up to 6,000 miles with a payload of several thermonuclear warheads on board, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The cyberattackers first compromised the contractor’s internal network, the company confirmed to Sky News, before encrypting files and exfiltrating data. Maze has a quirk not found in most ransomwares: In addition to encrypting files and offering the decryption key in exchange for a ransom payment, it also automatically copies all affected files to the malicious operators’ servers.
The Maze operators thus often carry out “double extortion” attacks, in which they leak information on an underground forum unless victims pay up. In fact, researchers said in April that the Maze gang has created a dedicated web page, which lists the identities of their non-cooperative victims and regularly publishes samples of the stolen data. This so far includes details of dozens of companies, including law firms, medical service providers and insurance companies, that have not given in to their demands…….. https://threatpost.com/nuclear-contractor-maze-ransomware-data-leaked/156289/
Russia will now allow use of atomic weapons against non-nuclear strike
By including a non-nuclear attack as a possible trigger for Russian nuclear retaliation, the document appears to send a warning signal to the U.S. The new expanded wording reflects Russian concerns about the development of prospective weapons that could give Washington the capability to knock out key military assets and government facilities without resorting to atomic weapons.
In line with Russian military doctrine, the new document reaffirms that the country could use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack or an aggression involving conventional weapons that “threatens the very existence of the state.”
But the policy document now also offers a detailed description of situations that could trigger the use of nuclear weapons. They include the use of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction against Russia or its allies and an enemy attack with conventional weapons that threatens the country’s existence.
U.S.-Russia relations are at post-Cold War lows over the Ukrainian crisis, the accusations of Russian meddling in the U.S. 2016 presidential election and other differences.
Last year, both Moscow and Washington withdrew from the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The only U.S.-Russia nuclear arms control agreement still standing is the New START treaty, which was signed in 2010 by U.S. President Barack Obama and then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The pact limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance.
Uranium mining protests in Russia
“……..Uranium mining protest
In the Kurgan region, Rosatom’s subsidiary company, Dalur, has been mining uranium and the local communities fear an environmental disaster. In the summer of 2019, the state environmental appraisal revealed a discrepancy between Dalur’s documentation and the Russian legislation
Activists attribute her persecution to her work at the Public Monitoring Fund for the Environmental Condition and the Population Welfare which she led back in 2017. The Foundation has repeatedly published information on the possible environmental damage resulting from Dalur’s mining activity. (28)
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In the fall of 2019, environmentalists revealed that radioactive and toxic waste (uranium hexafluoride, UF6)were being imported from Germany through the port of Amsterdam into Russia. This is the waste from the uranium enrichment process which will be sent to the Urals or Siberia and stored in containers above the ground. Thus, under the auspices of a commercial transaction, the German uranium–enriching enterprise, Urenco, avoids its nuclear waste problem, while Rosatom profits by taking the hazardous waste into Russia.
Activists, despite government oppression, campaign for decommissioning of Russia’s aging nuclear reactors
Anti–nuclear resistance in Russia: problems, protests, reprisals [Full Report 2020] Report “Anti–nuclear resistance in Russia: problems, protests, reprisals” Produced by RSEU’s program “Against nuclear and radioaсtive threats”“………..For many years, Murmansk regional environmental groups have opposed the ageing Kola NPP reactor’s lifetime extension. They have participated in public hearings, have organised many demonstrations (8-9-10), appealed to and received support from the prosecutor’s office(11), but this was all ignored by Rosatom. Activists also called on the governor to shut down the old NPP, but environmental organisations were shutdown instead. One such organisation is Kola Environmental Center (KEC) – listed as a Foreign Agent in 2017– and was subject to two trials and fined 150,000 rubles (12). KEC was forced to close down as a legal entity in2018, but has continued its environmental work as a public movement(13). Another organisation in the region –Nature and Youth – made the decision to close down in order to avoid prosecution, but continues its work as an unregistered initiative
• In 2018, after 45 years of operation, the first power unit of the Leningrad NPP was finally shut down.The second one scheduled for shutdown is in 2020, the third in 2025 and the fourth in 2026. However,decommissioning projects have not yet been clearly developed for the reactors.
• The public organisation, Green World, has worked for many years in Sosnovy Bor, Leningrad Region, a city dominated by the nuclear industry and closed to outsiders. Since 1988, activists of the organisation have opposed dangerous nuclear projects in the Baltic Sea region(17) and have provided the public with independent information on the environmental situation. (18)
In its place, another organisation was opened – the Public Council of the South Coast of the Gulf of Finland. Activists have continued their work as before under this new name…….”
French state-controlled utility EDF has to inspect valve leaks at Flamanville, Taishan, Finland nuclear sites
Flamanville and Taishan nuclear sites after valve leaks were reported at
Finland’s Olkiluoto 3 (OL3) nuclear reactor, a company’s spokesman said
on Wednesday. EDF was unaware of any major issues at Flamanville and
Taishan sites similar to the valve leaks in Finland, the spokesman also
said. Finland’s nuclear watchdog reported on May 25 valve problems in a
component involved in the cooling process at the long-delayed OL3 nuclear
reactor.
Deep concern over environmental cost of planned Sizewell C nuclear station
East Anglian Daily Times 5th June 2020 Councillor David Blackburn: Deeply concerned over the environmental cost of Sizewell C. I share the ‘deep concerns’ of the National Trust to
the potential environmental costs of the proposed Sizewell C new nuclear
reactor project (EADT, 25th May).
They tally with those made at our recent
Saxmundham seminar from environmental representatives including the
naturalist Simon Barnes, the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Suffolk Coastal
Friends of the Earth. At that meeting it was made clear that Sizewell C
could have major and long term negative effects on highly sensitive sites
like Minsmere, and as the National Trust notes, Dunwich Heath.
And we know as well that Coronation Wood is to be removed in the interim plans for the
site. The natural environment around Sizewell includes some rare and unique
habitats, and clearly an industrial development on the sheer scale of
Sizewell C can’t possibly be able to mitigate all of these issues.
It should also be noted that, in the past few months, renewable energy has
delivered the bulk of UK electricity needs and it is reported that EDF may
be paid £50 million just to turn Sizewell B off due to a lack of demand.
With longer-term concerns over climate change, coastal erosion and rising
sea levels there is a lethal combination of factors that make it much more
sensible not to develop new nuclear reactors in Suffolk. The concerns of
local environmental groups need to be heeded for this and future
generations so that we can continue to enjoy these beautiful landscapes and
their rare wildlife.
Emergency preparedness at San Onofre Nuclear Plant – agreement approved
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Southern California Edison and five local government agencies announced that they will continue their longstanding collaborative emergency preparedness activities related to SONGS. The five jurisdictions are the counties of Orange and San Diego, and the cities of San Clemente, Dana Point, and San Juan Capistrano. The county boards of supervisors and city councils approved the new agreement at their respective meetings on June 2. Senator Bates, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, and Southern California Edison Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Doug Bauder issued the following statements regarding the agreement: Senator Bates: The agreement will provide the five local jurisdictions more than $12.6 million for the eight-year deconstruction period of SONGS through 2029, and more than $9.9 million for the 20-year period through 2049, by which time spent nuclear fuel could potentially be removed from SONGS. Senator Bates authored Senate Bill 465 in 2019 that would have made it clear that local governments will continue to receive funding for costs incurred as a result of carrying out activities that ensure the safety and welfare of the communities surrounding SONGS. The full Senate and the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee both unanimously passed SB 465. In discussions with stakeholders, Senator Bates agreed to hold her bill to see if a voluntary agreement could be reached and ratified, which occurred this week. She has long advocated for the federal government to move SONGS’ nuclear waste to a safe and secure location that is far from communities as possible. SONGS sits near an active fault line, adjacent to the heavily-trafficked Interstate 5 and the Pacific Ocean, and sandwiched between densely-populated Orange and San Diego counties. Senator Bates previously served on the San Onofre Community Engagement Panel (CEP) when she was an Orange County Supervisor. She worked with her fellow panelists to address the issues raised by the continued storage of SONGS’ waste on-site. She also authored Senate Joint Resolution 23 in 2016 that urged Congress to pass the Interim Consolidated Storage Act of 2016 (House Resolution 4745). The Act would have paired a region that is volunteering to host an interim waste storage facility with communities around the country that have nuclear waste demanding a better storage solution. http://www.oc-breeze.com/2020/06/05/182927_agreement-approved-to-protect-emergency-preparedness-at-san-onofre-nuclear-plant/ |
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High rate of cancers among Mururoa nuclear veterans’ families
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Research confirms high rate of cancers among Mururoa nuclear veterans’ families https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/121726358/research-confirms-high-rate-of-cancers-among-mururoa-nuclear-veterans-families 5 June 20, A navy veteran who saw his own finger bones in the flash of a nuclear blast says families should be compensated for suffering health problems linked to the military service of their relatives.And he now has evidence to prove the link.
Gavin Smith, 69, served in the navy in 1973 when Prime Minister Norman Kirk sent two frigates and 500 men on a sea-borne protest to nuclear testing at a French Polynesian atoll. It was at Mururoa that he and his colleagues were exposed to harmful radiation while observing two nuclear explosions by the French on board HMNZS Canterbury. Smith, also president of the Mururoa Veterans Group, was one of 83 sailors and 65 children included in a University of Otago study, which was published in the New Zealand Medical Journal in May. The research proves they have a higher risk of transferring genetic illnesses. It shows 30 per cent of veterans suffer a cocktail of cancers, including prostate, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukaemia and skin conditions. Thirty-one per cent also suffer joint problems. Forty per cent of veterans’ children reported fertility problems, including endometriosis, miscarriages and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Some had taken more than 12 months to conceive children, while others chose not to have kids because of their fathers’ exposure to radiation. Smith said the next step was to create a registry for veterans and their families. He had contacted Minister of Defence Ron Mark about the study and hoped to gain funding for further genetic studies. This would detect heritable change, where scientists could look at specific changes in genetic code. Smith said the cost of veterans’ health problems were covered by Veterans Affairs, however the plight of their descendents were not. “We’re pleased to have the cold facts, because we’ve been fighting for this for 40 years,” he said. “It proves what we’ve been saying all along – that there is a problem and it needs addressing. “We now know [the rate of cancer] is higher among veterans and their descendents than the average rate, but further genetic studies will confirm the link.” The university’s director of veterans’ health research David McBride conducted the study, alongside a team of trainee doctors. McBride said only 21 veterans in the study were receiving Government support. “Ionising radiation can cause changes in the chromosomes carrying the genetic code, but we know neither if these changes result in disease nor whether they can be passed on by fathers to offspring.” McBride said more genetic testing was required to show the way genes express themselves through decoding. This would involve establishing a registry of veterans and their families, and storing tissue samples for analysis. |
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Iran challenges Donald Trump to return to nuclear deal
Iran freed Michael White on Thursday as part of a deal in which the United States allowed Iranian-American physician Majid Taheri to visit Iran.
Trump tweeted on Thursday of White’s release: “Thank you to Iran, it shows a deal is possible!”
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, addressing Trump, said on Twitter, “We achieved humanitarian swap despite your subordinates’ efforts”.
“We had a deal when you entered office. … Your advisors -most fired by now – made a dumb bet. Up to you to decide when you want to fix it.”……. https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-challenges-donald-trump-to-return-to-nuclear-deal-303659
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will run environmental study BEFORE relicensing South Carolina nuclear fuel plant
After public outcry, feds will conduct extensive study of SC nuclear fuel plant The State BY SAMMY FRETWELL JUNE 05, 2020 , Following state concerns about previously unknown pollution at an atomic fuel plant near Columbia, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced Friday that it will conduct an extensive environmental study of the Westinghouse fuel factory.
Conducting a detailed study is expected to delay by a year any decision on a new license for the plant while the agency looks into problems that have surfaced in recent years.
The plant has polluted groundwater, some of which has only been discovered since 2018, and neighbors have raised concerns about safety and water contamination.
The NRC’s decision marks the first time the agency has ever conducted a full environmental impact statement before deciding if a nuclear fuel fabrication plant should be relicensed, NRC spokesman Roger Hannah said. The plant’s owner, Westinghouse, wants a new 40-year-operating license for the plant, built in 1969.
“In March 2020, the NRC received new data collected by Westinghouse during ongoing site investigations,’’ the agency said in a news release Friday afternoon. “Based on the NRC’s independent evaluation of the new data .
… the NRC decided it could no longer conclude that renewal of the license would result in a finding of no significant impact’’ to the environment.
The Westinghouse plant, which employs more than 1,000 people, is one of only three nuclear fuel factories of its kind in the United States. The plant makes fuel rods for the nation’s atomic energy plants. Plants in North Carolina and Washington state also make nuclear fuel.
Tom Clements, a nuclear safety watchdog in Columbia, said it appears that the NRC listened to concerns by the public and state regulators.
“That is very encouraging to hear,’’ said Clements, who said the full study is needed. “It took a clamor from the public before they would do the right thing. I’m glad they have finally done this.’’
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control called for a full environmental impact statement after finding rising pollution levels in ponds on the site.. …… https://www.thestate.com/news/local/environment/article243310956.html
Kim Jong Un unlikely to use nuclear weapons – an alternative leader of N Korea might be worse
Kim Jong-un: Terrifying reason behind North Korean leader’s nuclear obsession exposed, Express UK By JOSH SAUNDERS, Jun 5, 2020
KIM JONG-UN is considered one of North Korea’s most feared leaders because he has successfully produced a stockpile of nuclear missiles – but one expert claims the hermit state head would not use them and instead there is a more chilling reason behind his obsession with world-ending weapons……….
Mr Mikul told Express.co.uk: “He essentially became westernised, so you can see why there is a big difference between him and the other leaders of North Korea.
“while no one likes to see the continued success of a brutal dictator” things could be a lot worse if he had died – as was believed in April and May.
Despite the threat perceived by the US Department of the Defence, Mr Mikul believes the weapons may be more symbolic and a way to secure their regime.
If Kim Jong-un was to die, he fears there would more risk from the hermit state due to “no clear successor” being named.
He believes – if it happened – that there could be a “fight at the top” among the inner circle, which in turn could collapse the regime.
Beyond Nuclear files petition to be heard in U.S. Court of Appeals
IN BRIEF: Watchdog petitions D.C. Circuit for a voice in nuclear waste battle, https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-energy-lawsuit/in-brief-watchdog-petitions-dc-circuit-for-a-voice-in-nuclear-waste-battle-idUSL1N2DI1PH, Sebastien Malo 5 June 20
A nuclear watchdog has petitioned a federal appeals court to review the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) refusal to hear its opposition to the licensing of a proposed Holtec International “interim” facility to store commercial nuclear reactor waste in southeastern New Mexico.
Beyond Nuclear filed the petition on Thursday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, seeking the court’s review of the NRC’s denial in 2018 and 2020 of its request for a hearing over the storage plan on grounds it would violate the Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) and the Administrative Procedure Act.
To read the full story on Westlaw Practitioner Insights, click here: bit.ly/2ALiCzH
June 5 Energy News — geoharvey
Opinion: ¶ “Big Oil’s Race To Net Zero” • Shell, BP, and Total have all been pretty active in the renewables department in the past few years. Investors want to see a more sustainable business, governments are pushing for cleaner energy, and environmental activists are applying pressure to take responsibility for carbon footprints. So, how […]
Caring about Cancer? A UK and Irish perspective
“This means that no new research projects will be funded for at least the first 6 months of this financial year.” Cancer Research UK statement 16th April 2020
In these turbulent financial times many NGO`s and charities are straining at the hilt. Our hearts and minds are with the health workers, world wide that are dealing with this epidemic.
Especially thank you to the Chinese Nurses and Doctors who lost their lives as they negotiated the first complicated month of the pandemic and drew up the first protocols that saved so many western health workers lives. Namaste!
Picture courtesy of the Express UK
One such Charity is Cancer Research UK who have a shortfall in their annual funding. Here is what they had to say on the matter;
Our shops have closed, our mass fundraising events have stopped, legacies have reduced. We expect our fundraising income to fall by at least 20–25% in the next financial year as a direct result of this pandemic – a reduction of around £120m.
So, the UK Government has bailed out many business`s recently. Here is a breakdown of that; (Thxs to Afshin Rattansi from Going Underground for these stats)
NEW: UK state-aid coronavirus bailouts:
John Lewis £300m
Marks & Spencer £260m
Greggs £150m
Intercontinental Hotels £600m
£300m each to Privatized bus co. FirstGroup Privatized bus co. Stagecoach
Nissan £600m
Toyota £365m (Brexit bribe?)
Ryanair/Easyjet £600m
Privatized BA £300m
At the same time there are calls for £100m to go towards a Yacht for the Queen;
The difficulties for CRUK are looking grim. Here is a few quotes from the latest report they have submitted (From April 2020)
“This means that no new research projects will be funded for at least the first 6 months of this financial year.”
And concerning the funds they have been offered;
“But right now, it’s not clear whether Cancer Research UK will be able to access this fund to support our work,”
Full report here;
So whilst a confused and beleaguered British public are left with mixed messaging from their leaders, Irish cancer treatments are going ahead fairly normally;
Ireland, a country that didn`t run its medical staff raged
“Are you currently getting treatment for cancer? We understand that you might be worried about attending hospital. But it is very important that you continue to attend for your treatment.”
Source for that here;
https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/5/cancer/news/cancer%20treatment%20during%20covid-19.html
And Alzheimers sufferers are under strain because the UK couldn`t organise a party in a brothel (actually this particular observation may need some fact checking by a reporter :/) .
Extra 10,000 dementia deaths in England and Wales in April;
For any Journalists and bloggers you can use this blogpost as you will. Give CRUK and the HSE Ireland a shout out though. And lastly, another little reported health funding problem is the UN Yemen appeal that is seriously underfunded. I will link to the most recent UN video covering this. I will not comment on what I think the Saudi Dr is messaging to the world but the under-funding issue is well described by the UN representative Mark Lowcock.
Source for that rabbit hole here;
Reported by Shaun McGee
Reported on Nuclear-news.net
5th June 2020
1 This Month
23 April – WEBINAR – Why new nuclear reactors are the wrong tools for decarbonization Thursday, April 23 • 1 AM – 2 AM AEST
World Nuclear Power. Reactors 1951-2026, 75 Years of Nuclear Power.
Interactive Map– https://dv.worldnuclearreport.org/
Chernobyl: The Lost Tapes – A good documentary on Chernobyl on SBS available On Demand for the next 3 weeks– https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/chernobyl-the-lost-tapes/2352741955560
of the week–London Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Tell the Ukrainian Government to Drop Prosecution of Peace Activist Yurii Sheliazhenko
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity – go to https://nuclearinformation.wordpress.com
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