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Federal Appeals judge sides with NRC against environment groups

NRC-jpgAUDIO Anti-Nuclear Groups Won’t Have Role In Seabrook Re-Licensing
http://www.nhpr.org/post/anti-nuclear-groups-wont-have-role-seabrook-re-licensing
By ROGER WOOD, 8 Jan 13
Anti-Nuclear groups are disappointed by a recent Federal Court
decision regarding their role in the Seabrook Nuclear Plant
re-licensing process. On Friday, the Federal Appeals Court in Boston
rejected the petition from three anti-nuclear groups to re-instate
their intervenor status in the plant’s re-licensing application.  The
petition sought to overturn a Nuclear Regulatory Commission ruling
excluding them from public hearings on the issue.  A Three judge panel
decided that the NRC’s Atomic Safety and Licensing board erred in
granting opponents of the plant intervenor status.  Doug Bogen, of the
Seacoast Anti-Pollution League says that the groups sought to make the
point that wind power could replace nuclear energy.

“It seemed pretty clear that the judges were taking the side of the
industry and the NRC.  At least, they didn’t seem inclined to go
against their decision.”
NextEra Energy seeks a 20 year extension of its current license, which
expires in 2030.  Bogen says he now believes that the Seabrook Plant
will ultimately receive its operating extension.

January 9, 2013 Posted by | Legal, USA | Leave a comment

Judge rules that Bradley Manning was illegally treated

Military judge rules Bradley Manning was illegally treated, awards 112
days credit By Nathan Fuller, Bradley Manning Support Network. January
8, 2013.     After more than two weeks of intense litigation by
Bradley Manning’s defense, and hearing how Quantico brig staff
blatantly disregarded Navy Rules, military Judge Denise Lind has
confirmed that Bradley was punished unlawfully before trial by
awarding 112 days credit. Instead of awarding 10-for-1 credit (or
dismissing the charges altogether), which would severely reprimand the
military and significantly impact Bradley’s potential sentence, Judge
Lind gave 1-to-1 credit for selected portions of his Quantico
confinement.

Judge Lind has granted credit for the 7 days Bradley was kept on
suicide risk watch against Navy Rules, 75 days from November 1 to
January 18 when he was kept needlessly on Prevention of Injury watch,
and 20 days from April 1-20 when he was forced to remove his underwear
at night. Lind said Bradley’s confinement was “more rigorous than
necessary,” and that it “became excessive in relation to legitimate
government interests.”……
http://www.bradleymanning.org/news/military-judge-rules-bradley-manning-was-illegally-treated-awards-112-days-credit

January 9, 2013 Posted by | civil liberties, Legal, USA | Leave a comment

Navy men’s lawsuit against Japan alleges cover-up of radiation harm

justiceNavy rescue workers sue Japan over Fukushima cover-up — “Irreparable harm to life expectancy” — Gov’t and Tepco conspired http://enenews.com/navy-rescue-workers-sue-japan-over-fukushima-cover-up-irreparable-harm-to-their-life-expectancy-govt-and-tepco-conspired
 Title: U.S. Sailors Sue Japan Over Fukushima
Source: Courthouse News Service
Author: By ELIZABETH WARMERDAM
Date: Dec 26, 2012

flag-japan[…] Eight crew members of the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan, whose home port is San Diego, sued the Tokyo Electric Power Co. in Federal Court. […]

Flag-USALead plaintiff Lindsay R. Cooper claims Tokyo Electric (TEPCO) intentionally concealed the dangerous levels of radiation in the environment from U.S. Navy rescue crews working off the coast of Japan […]

The complaint states: “Defendant TEPCO and the government of Japan, conspired and acted in concert, among other things, to create an illusory impression that the extent of the radiation that had leaked from the site of the FNPP was at levels that would not pose a threat to the plaintiffs, in order to promote its interests and those of the government of Japan, knowing that the information it disseminated was defective, incomplete and untrue, while omitting to disclose the extraordinary risks posed to the plaintiffs who were carrying out their assigned duties aboard the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan.” […]

And, they say: “Defendants had actual and/or constructive knowledge of the properties of radiation that would ensure that, once released into the environment, radiation would spread further and in concentrations that would cause injury to the plaintiffs.” […]

The sailors say they “face additional and irreparable harm to their life expectancy, which has been shortened and cannot be restored to its prior condition.”

December 28, 2012 Posted by | Japan, Legal, Reference, USA | Leave a comment

Legal action against Japan by American Navy men over Fukushima radiation

justice

TEPCO, “a wholly owned public benefit subsidiary of the government of Japan,” misrepresented radiation levels after the meltdown in order to lull the US Navy “into a false sense of security.”

US Navy sailors sue Japan for lying about Fukushima radiation http://rt.com/usa/news/sailors-japan-fukushima-radiation-878/ 26 December, 2012, American sailors have filed a lawsuit against the Japanese government for allegedly lying about the health risks they faced while assisting in rescue efforts after last year’s Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Crewmembers from the USS Ronald Reagan filed a lawsuit in Federal Court in San Diego, California this week in an attempt to hold Japan accountable for any long-term damage they’ll caused during “Operation Tomadachi,” the spring 2011 relief effort that sent sailors near the coast of Japan to assist in the days after an earthquake and subsequent tsunami ravaged the island nation and caused a level 7 meltdown at three reactors in the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant.

The plaintiffs, eight sailors from the 5,500 or so that were aboard the USS Reagan at the time, say Japan did not act honestly in regards to explaining the severity of the meltdown and the risks they faced in involving themselves in the relief efforts. They are asking the state-owned Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) for $10 million in compensatory damages, as well as another $30 million in punitive damages for fraud, negligence, strict liability, failure to warn, public and private nuisance and defective design, Courthouse News Service reports.

Additionally, the sailors want TEPCO to set up a $100 million fund to pay for any future medical expenses they’re accrue as a result of the relief effort. Continue reading →

December 27, 2012 Posted by | Japan, Legal, USA | Leave a comment

Only 5 Polynesians to get compensation for French nuclear tests

Pacific Islands Development Program, East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies, University of Hawai‘i WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, Dec. 12, 2012) – France has agreed to compensate five French Polynesians for the damage caused to their health by its nuclear weapons tests in the South Pacific.

The Nouvelles de Tahiti says this was announced after a meeting of the compensation committee at the defense ministry in Paris.

In July, France had deemed that only four of the 720 applications were eligible for any compensation under a law passed three years ago.

Veterans’ organizations have strongly criticized the law for being far too restrictive, but the new defense minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, says any change to it is not on the agenda.

Until 2008, France claimed that its nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific were clean and had caused no harm.

December 14, 2012 Posted by | France, Legal, OCEANIA | Leave a comment

Greenpeace suing South Korea on its silencing of nuclear power critics

Greenpeace files court case to challenge South Korea’s silencing of nuclear criticshttp://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/press/Greenpeace-files-court-case-to-challenge-South-Koreas-silencing-of-nuclear-critics/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=blog&utm_term=121012_1112&utm_campaign=Climate Greenpeace International and Greenpeace East Asia have launched a legal challenge against the South Korean government seeking a declaration that the government’s prohibiting of key international staff from entering the country was unlawful and anattempt to silence criticism of nuclear policies.
Through the lawsuit, lodged on Monday on international Human Rights Day, Greenpeace is seeking compensation of almost 70 million Korean won for disruption of six staff members’ ability to conduct their campaign about the risks of nuclear energy and for other damages. Continue reading →

December 13, 2012 Posted by | Legal, South Korea | Leave a comment

Federal authority orders operator of San Onofre nuclear plant to hand over documents

nuclear-plant-San-OnofreAPNewsBreak: Dispute over records at nuclear plant, HUFFINGTON POST, MICHAEL R. BLOOD | December 7, 2012  LOS ANGELES — A federal board Friday ordered the operator of a shuttered nuclear power plant in California to turn over dozens of pages of documents that were withheld when the company submitted a plan to restart one of its damaged twin reactors.

The records at issue were prepared by industry experts who have helped Southern California Edison investigate why the San Onofre plant’s nearly new steam generators caused excessive wear to hundreds of tubes that carry radioactive water…..
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20121207/us-nuclear-plant-problems/?utm_hp_ref=travel&ir=travel

December 10, 2012 Posted by | Legal, USA | Leave a comment

New charges against anti nuclear nun – carry 20 years’ gaol

see-this.wayWatch: US gov’t charges nun, anti-nuclear activists with sabotage (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/watch-us-govt-charges-anti-nuclear-activists-with-sabotage-video  December 6th, 2012

 Title: Nuke Protesters Jailed   http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/anti-nuclear-protestors-vandalism-u.s./50c0a94d02a76018a1000004
Source: Huffington Post
Date: December 6, 2012
h/t Anonymous tip
Three anti-nuclear activists, including a nun, are charged under the Federal Sabotage Act for vandalizing the walls of a uranium facility with blood and peace messages.

[…] As part of an updated indictment announced on Wednesday, Greg Boertje-Obed, Michael Walli and Sister Megan Rice could spend 20 years in prison for the felony crime of injuring national-defense premises under the Sabotage Act. Continue reading →

December 8, 2012 Posted by | Legal, USA | Leave a comment

6 elderly anti nuclear women found guilty, in Massachusetts court case

6 Yankee protesters convicted of trespassing http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/6-women-go-on-trial-for-nuclear-protest-4068991.php , November 27, 2012 BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (AP) — A jury has found six Massachusetts women guilty of trespassing at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant last year to protest the continued operation of the reactor.

Police say the women, all members of the Shut It Down Affinity Group, traveled to the nuclear plant’s gate in Vernon on Aug. 30, 2011, used a chain and padlock to lock the entrance gate and chained themselves to the fence, while officials were busy with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene.

It’s one of about 22 protests the group has mounted against the reactor’s continued operation in recent years.

In court, the woman, who range in age from 69 to 93, represented themselves and raised concerns about the ecological and health effects of the facility.

November 28, 2012 Posted by | Legal, USA, women | Leave a comment

Sellafield nuclear waste site owners charged with illegal dumping

British government files charges against nuclear waste plant owners PlanetArk 16-Nov-12  UK   John McGarrity British regulators filed charges against the owners of the Sellafield nuclear waste site on Thursday on allegations of illegal dumping of radioactive waste, adding to the plant’s history of controversy and complaints.

The nine charges relate to the dumping of low-level waste in a landfill in 2010, the latest in a string of issues involving Sellafield, which for the last 60 years has handled Britain’s spent
nuclear fuel.

“The regulators’ joint action follows an extensive investigation,” Britain’s Environment Agency and the Office for Nuclear Safety said in a statement.

The regulators alleged that Sellafield Ltd, which runs the plant, had breached permits by dumping four bags of nuclear waste material at the nearby Lillyhall landfill without authorisation.

The penalties for such a breach are expected to be relatively small, but the prosecution comes at an inopportune time for Sellafield following a highly critical report earlier this month, said Paul Dorfman, a nuclear waste expert at Warwick University. “It’s another suggestion of laissez faire management,” he said.,,,, http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/67145

November 16, 2012 Posted by | Legal, UK, wastes | Leave a comment

Legal action against approval of Wyoming uranium mine

Group sues over planned Wyo. uranium mine, Wyoming Business Report By MJ Clark November 12, 2012 — CHEYENNE — The Biodiversity Conservation Alliance filed suit in federal court in Cheyenne last week to contest federal approval of a uranium mine in southwest Wyoming…. Continue reading →

November 15, 2012 Posted by | Legal, Uranium, USA | Leave a comment

Another expensive legal fight over Vogtle nuclear power plant

New $900 million Vogtle lawsuit filed, By Kristi Swartz, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5 Nov 12 The main contractors building two nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle filed a more than $900 million lawsuit against Georgia Power and other utility groups Thursday, escalating a fight over the project’s costs. Continue reading →

November 6, 2012 Posted by | Legal, USA | Leave a comment

India’s Kudankulam nuclear power plant founded on illegalities

Kudankulam on shaky legal ground http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/kudankulam-on-shaky-legal-ground/article4064951.ece D. NAGASAILA
V. SURESH  5 Nov Violations of Coastal Regulation Zone and Environmental Impact Assessment notifications make official claims questionable

The debate over nuclear energy will go on, but the issue with the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is one of the several illegalities on which it is founded. Continue reading →

November 5, 2012 Posted by | India, Legal | Leave a comment

By 2014, Fukushima victims lose right to claim for compensation

Tepco has the right to reject compensation in 2014 http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/11/tepco-has-the-right-to-reject-compensation-in-2014/ by Mochizuki November 2nd, 2012 · Fukushima governor Sato asked Tepco not to claim for the right of extinctive prescription for compensation.

According to the civil code, Fukushima victims will lose the right to claim for the compensation from Tepco 3 years after 311 if Tepco claims for extinctive prescription.
Tepco president Hirose commented, it is difficult to make a statement about that yet.

In Chernobyl, major symptoms started appearing 4 years later after the accident…Tepco paid only 30,000 yen for 200 million yen of compensation claim

November 3, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012, Japan, Legal | Leave a comment

India’s Attorney General not happy about waiving nuclear liability law for Russian nuclear reactors

‘Why nuclear liability waiver for Russian company’ Dhananjay Mahapatra, TNN | Nov 1, 2012 NEW DELHI: Attorney general G E Vahanvati has reservations over the ministry of external affairs’ backing for grant of a nuclear liability law waiver to the Russian
manufacturer for Units 3 and 4 of Kudankulam nuclear power plant on the ground that while this could be legal under a 2008 inter-governmental agreement, it might not be prudent. Continue reading →

November 1, 2012 Posted by | India, Legal, politics, politics international | Leave a comment

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