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Public interest litigation in India questions nuclear power program

Petition filed against nuclear liability Act, THE HINDU, J. VENKATESAN, 15 Oct 11,  Petitioners seek safety reassessment and cost-benefit analysis of all nuclear facilities  A public interest litigation petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, that indemnifies nuclear manufacturers/suppliers and caps the financial liability of operators. Continue reading →

October 15, 2011 Posted by | India, Legal | Leave a comment

UK Coroner to fully investigate radiation murder of Alexander Litvinenko

Marina Litvinenko, Mr. Litvinenko’s widow, said the inquiry would include “an investigation into the involvement of the Russian state in his murder, which is exactly what I want.”

Britain Agrees to New Inquiry Into Poisoning Death of a Former K.G.B. Officer NYT, By  October 14, 2011  LONDON — A coroner has agreed to open a full inquest into the radiation poisoning of the former K.G.B. officer Alexander V. Litvinenko, potentially bringing the case before a British legal forum for the first time, opening new seams of information about his death and possibly stirring new tensions with Moscow. Continue reading →

October 15, 2011 Posted by | Legal, politics international, UK | 1 Comment

Nuclear terrorism in London – the murder of Alexander Litvinenko

Alexander Litvinenko murder was ‘London nuclear terror’, BBC News 13 Oct 11 The murder of Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko was “an act of nuclear terrorism on the streets of London”, a coroner has heard.

Mr Litvinenko died in 2006 after he was apparently poisoned with the radioactive substance polonium-210. Ben Emmerson QC said 700 people had to be tested for radioactive poisoning.St Pancras coroner Dr Andrew Reid is holding a pre-inquest review where he will decide whether he or a top judge should hear the inquest into the death.

‘Grave suspicion’  Mr Emmerson, representing Mr Litvinenko’s family, said a number of locations were closed for several months as health agencies tried to contain the risk of contamination. He told the hearing at St Pancras coroner’s court in London that the case gave rise to the “grave suspicion” that Mr Litvinenko’s death was the result of state-directed execution by Russia.

British authorities had abandoned the search for truth in order to maintain trade relations with the Russian government, he added. The prime suspect for Mr Litvinenko’s death is ex-KGB officer Andrei Lugovoi who was represented in court. His legal team says he denies any involvement.The family of former Russian spy Mr Litvinenko has called for a senior High Court judge to be appointed to conduct the inquest. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15293395

October 14, 2011 Posted by | Legal, secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | Leave a comment

Shroud of secrecy over USA nuclear loan guarantee program

 Of particular concern: the amount of taxpayer-backed obligations for the proposed Vogtle reactors is roughly 15 times greater than the failed Solyndra loan guarantee, which is receiving extensive Congressional scrutiny. Though the Vogtle project poses a much greater risk to taxpayers if default occurs, most in Congress havepaid little attention. 
Nuclear Secrecy – Plant Vogtle Federal Loan Guarantee History Clean Energy.org   October 13th, 2011   Sara Barczak  After more than a year and a half of stonewalling by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) continues to press ahead with our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation so that U.S. taxpayers can learn the full extent of the risks to which they are exposed in the massive commitment of$8.33 billion in conditional federal loan guarantees to Southern Company and their utility partners for two proposed new nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle in Georgia. Continue reading →

October 14, 2011 Posted by | Legal, secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | Leave a comment

Legal action against Belarus President over planned nuclear power plant

Presidential Decree No. 418 “On the location of a nuclear power station in Belarus” contradicts Article 18 of the country’s constitution, which proclaims Belarus “a neutral country with a nuclear-free territory.”

Activist Sues Belarusian President Over Nuclear Power Plant, Radio Free Europe, October 07, 2011, ASTRAVETS, Belarus — An antinuclear activist in western Belarus is suing President Alyaksandr Lukashenka over plans to build a contentious nuclear power station there, RFE/RL’s Belarus Service reports. Continue reading →

October 8, 2011 Posted by | Belarus, Legal | Leave a comment

Britain’s government spends millions to prevent atomic veterans getting justice

Around 1,000 atomic test veterans are trying to claim compensation for exposure to radiation in the Pacific Ocean and Maralinga in Australia, between 1952 and 1967.

the MoD, which denies responsibility for the men’s illnesses, has spent £5m on legal fees trying to stop compensation cases going to court.

Atomic bomb test veterans prepare for court battle, Portsmouth News UK 6 October 2011VETERANS who are fighting for compensation over radiation exposure at nuclear bomb testing sites held a remembrance service at Portsmouth Cathedral yesterday. Continue reading →

October 8, 2011 Posted by | Legal, UK | Leave a comment

AREVA company convicted of radioactive water pollution

AREVA-SOCATRI was finally convicted of the offense of water pollution, in addition to his conviction for delay in reporting an incident. 

Areva-Socatri convicted of water pollution: an unprecedented legal victory! , September 30, the Court of Appeal of Nîmes condemned AREVA-SOCATRI of water pollution, as a result of the appeal including the Network “Sortir du nucléaire”. This sentence follows the unprecedented radioactive leaks detected on the Tricastin nuclear site in July 2008.

Located between Valence and Avignon, the Tricastin nuclear site includes both treatment plants and four fuel nuclear power reactors in operation. SOCATRI society, located on this site, ensures the maintenance and dismantling of radioactive materials and nuclear waste treatment and industrial companies AREVA Tricastin.  Continue reading →

October 6, 2011 Posted by | France, Legal, water | Leave a comment

Court action in Canada over approval for nuclear reactors

 federal environmental assessment (EA) of the new reactors is flawed for several reasons, including:

  • it failed to examine a specific reactor or cooling water technology;
  • it failed to consider the long-term environmental effects of radioactive waste; and
  • it failed to look at alternatives to the project, such as green energy…..

 Environmentalists go to court to halt new Ontario nuclear reactors, Northumberland View, Sep 29, 2011  Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, Canadian Environmental Law Association, Greenpeace Canada, and Ecojustice, Waterkeeper.ca Weekly

Risks to Lake Ontario and surrounding communities unclear after flawed assessment

— Environmental groups have asked a federal court to stop government agencies from approving construction of new nuclear reactors at Darlington until an environmental assessment is fully completed and shows the project won’t negatively impact the environment or human health as required by law. Continue reading →

October 1, 2011 Posted by | Canada, Legal | Leave a comment

Darlington nuclear review unsatisfactory, – more study needed

Court asked to order Darlington nuclear review, The Star.com John Spears, 29 Swept 11,  A federal panel failed to complete the job of reviewing the environmental impact of new reactors at the Darlington nuclear station, four environmental groups have told a court.

As a result, no further permission should be granted toward letting the project continue until the panel finishes its job, the groups ask. They’ve filed an application with federal court, seeking an order sending the issue back to the review panel. Continue reading →

September 30, 2011 Posted by | Canada, Legal | Leave a comment

Lengthy, expensive wrangle over uranium spill ship

as a heavy metal, uranium is also toxic in the same way as lead or mercury. The compound is certainly not safe to be ingested or inhaled, and cleaning it up requires specialized knowledge and equipment, 

Uranium spill ship moored in limbo off North Vancouver, Empty ship for sale by bankrupt owners while cargo’s costs subject of civil suit, By James Weldon, North Shore News September 25, 2011 A ship that made headlines this year when a large amount of radioactive cargo spilled in its hold has wound up in limbo off North Vancouver while the owners duke it out in court….. Continue reading →

September 26, 2011 Posted by | Canada, Legal | Leave a comment

USA’s endless wrangle over its mounting nuclear waste

Yucca Nuclear Waste Wars, Aol Energy, By , September 19, 2011“………Utility commissioners renewed their request to an appeals court to force the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to make a decision on whether spent nuclear fuel can be safely stored at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Continue reading →

September 21, 2011 Posted by | Legal, USA | Leave a comment

Entergy company argues that nuclear safety less important than Atomic Energy Act rules

Local resistance to the plant hardened after leaky pipes seeped radioactive material into the groundwater in 2010. If Vermont succeeds, it would be the first U.S. state to shut a nuclear power plant that had received an extended operating permit from the NRC….

“The Atomic Energy Act preempts any effort to shutdown Vermont Yankee for reasons of nuclear safety,” Entergy lawyer Kathleen Sullivan said.

Entergy, Vermont battle over nuclear plant’s fate, Sep 12, 2011, Trial to decide fate of 39-yr-old plant By Zach Howard BRATTLEBORO, Vt., Sept 12 (Reuters) – Power company Entergy faced off against the state of Vermont in U.S. court on Monday to fight a landmark effort to force the closure of its aging nuclear power plant. Continue reading →

September 13, 2011 Posted by | Legal, USA | Leave a comment

Nuclear company Exelon sued over child’s brain cancer

The demand came about after the parents of a girl sued Exelon claiming their daughter developed brain cancer as a result of living close to the nuclear plant,  Dresden Generating Station in northern Illinois.

Judge Orders Exelon to Divulge Radiation Data in Child Brain Cancer Lawsuit, AllGov – News, -Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky, September 03, 2011, Energy company Exelon has been ordered by a federal judge to turn over data regarding radiation leakage from one of its power plants. Continue reading →

September 5, 2011 Posted by | Legal, USA | 1 Comment

Nuclear power company Exelon in court over child’s cancer

Plant Must Disclose Data to Fight Cancer Lawsuit, Courthouse News serBy JACK BOUBOUSHIAN CHICAGO (CN), 3 Sept 11 – The parents of a girl who developed brain cancer can access over a decade of data on an Exelon power plant they claim discharged harmful radiation, a federal judge ruled, but the energy giant can withhold certain other information.
Joseph and Cynthia Sauer say their daughter, Sarah, was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma, a highly malignant brain tumor, roughly three years after the family moved to Grundy County, where Exelon operates the Dresden Generating Station and Unitech Services Group has a nuclear facility.
They claim that radioactive discharges from the plants traveled through the groundwater, causing Sarah’s cancer……..
Courthouse News Service

September 5, 2011 Posted by | Legal, USA | Leave a comment

Radiation carelessness – 6 Indian professors charged

6 Delhi University teachers face charges. The Asian Age, Sep 03, 2011 |  The Delhi police on Friday filed a charge sheet in a city court against six Delhi University professors in the 2010 Mayapuri radiation case for endangering lives by auctioning an radioactive gamma irradiator without following mandatory precautions.

The chargesheet, filed before metropolitan magistrate Lovleen, covers Delhi University teachers including the then head of chemistry department V.S. Parmar and the then dean of sciences Roop Lal.
Besides them, Rakesh Kumar, Ramesh Chandra Rastogi, Ashok Prasad and Rita Kakkar have also been chargesheeted under various penal provisions dealing with causing death by rash and negligent acts and causing grievous hurt.
The court is likely to take cognisance of the probe report on September 21. http://www.asianage.com/delhi/6-du-teachers-face-charges-919

September 3, 2011 Posted by | India, Legal | Leave a comment

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