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The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry Fukushima Chernobyl Mayak Three Mile Island Atomic Testing Radiation Isotope

15 Nuclear Reactors on New Madrid Fault Line Before It’s News , 16 Mar 2011 Bob Nations, Jr., the Director of Shelby County Office of Preparedness, says that since the lack of preparation exposed by Hurricane Katrina, he is “preparing for the catastrophic event” in his six-county jurisdiction.

Nations admitted that after a major quake, Tennessee’s infrastructure and response capabilities “would get overwhelmed fairly quickly.”

There are 15 nuclear power plants in the New Madrid fault zone — three reactors in Alabama — that are of the same or similar design as the site in Japan experiencing problems.

The USGS report predicts that a major quake would create horrific
scenes like something out of a science fiction movie, potentially
cutting the Eastern part of the country off from the West in terms of
vehicular traffic and road commerce. …..
http://www.sott.net/article/225939-15-Nuclear-Reactors-on-New-Madrid-Fault-Line

October 8, 2012 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

San Onofre nuclear reactor to restart without any repairs!

Edison rolls the nuclear dice, Friends of the Earth Oct. 5, 2012  by: Kendra Ulrich A dangerous gamble with the safety of Southern California If you have ever been to Las Vegas, you’ve seen it: People so caught up in the excitement of the casino that they just can’t resist the lure of the next bet or the thought that maybe thistime they’ll win.

Unfortunately, it seems that San Onofre nuclear operator, Southern California Edison, has the same weak spot for a high-stakes gamble. In a stunning announcement yesterday, the utility said that it plans to restart one of the crippled San Onofre nuclear reactors without any repairs. Continue reading →

October 5, 2012 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Regulators warn of flood risk at SC nuclear plant http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/05/4884081/regulators-warn-of-flood-risk.html#storylink=cpy The Associated Press, Oct. 5, 2012  CHARLOTTE, N.C. –– Federal regulators say the danger of flooding at Duke Energy’s Oconee Nuclear Station in South Carolina  is higher than previously thought.

The Charlotte Observer  reported (http://bit.ly/UlTVhk) the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission  has notified the Charlotte-based utility about
the risks.

The report says estimates of flooding have increased substantially if
the 385-foot high Jocassee Dam failed upstream from the three reactors
near Seneca, S.C.

The report warns such flooding could leave the station blacked out.
The NRC removed large parts of the report from the public version in
order to protect infrastructure that could become a security target.

Duke says Oconee is safe and the utility has taken steps to reduce flood risks.

The NRC began a formal study of the safety implications of dam failure
on nuclear plants in March.

October 5, 2012 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Leaked report on Europe’s troubled nuclear power plants

‘Hundreds of problems’ at EU nuclear plants, BBC News 3 Oct 12 The draft report found specific failings in all 58 of France’s nuclear reactors
Hundreds of problems have been found at European nuclear plants that would cost 25bn euros (£20bn) to fix, says a leaked draft report. Continue reading →

October 4, 2012 Posted by | EUROPE, safety | Leave a comment

Increase in UK nuclear transport accidents

Sharp rise in nuclear transport accidents , 3 Oct 12, http://www.robedwards.com/2012/09/sharp-rise-in-nuclear-transport-accidents.html from Sunday Herald, 30 September 2012 The number of accidents transporting radioactive materials has risen sharply, prompting fears for public safety.

According to a new report from the UK government’s Health Protection Agency (HPA), there were 38 incidents reported in 2011, up from 30 in 2010. This is the second highest in the last six years, which have seen a total of 195 mishaps (see table below). Continue reading →

October 4, 2012 Posted by | incidents, UK | Leave a comment

Never mind the radioactive waste under the Arctic sea: Shell is keen to drill there

Shell still optimistic about Arctic drilling
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/breaking-news/shell-still-optimistic-about-arctic-drilling/story-e6frf7ko-1226485643427   AP October 01, 2012   THE stars lined up – almost – for Shell Oil to drill exploratory wells this year in waters off Alaska’s north coast.
The Arctic Ocean was on record pace for low sea ice. The Obama administration gave a qualified green light to drilling. Two drill ships and a flotilla of support vessels were staged off prospects.

But as the open water season wound down, Shell announced last week it would limit drilling to time-consuming preparation for an offshore well. The final straw for the decision: damage during testing September 15 to an undersea containment dome, a key to the company’s spill response system.

Environmentalists cheered the setback. Shell Oil President Marvin Odum says he considers it a temporary impediment in the long-term quest to open a petroleum frontier.

October 1, 2012 Posted by | oceans, safety | Leave a comment

Document analysing the (un)safety status of San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant

San Onofre Nuclear Waste Generating Station Decommission San Onofre 29 sept 12 Aging Nuke Plants On Fault Lines In Tsunami Hazard Zones = Fukushimas… Any Questions? PLEASE Turn off a light for Fukushima USA / San Clemente

The Number 1 US Nuclear Safety Concern ==> San Onofre’s Replacement Steam Generators The DAB Safety Team is thankful to numerous anonymous concerned SONGS Workers, who have provided factual information in the interest of the Public Safety to us so that we could arrive at these “Reasonable Conclusions” regarding SONGS Replacement Steam Generators
Degradation.  We acknowledge Fairewinds Energy Association, Professor Daniel Hirsch, Friends of the Earth, San Clemente Green, Media, News Papers and the SD Reader, whose material has contributed to the successful completion of this document. Continue reading →

September 29, 2012 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Japan’s new Nuclear Regulation Authority setting new guidelines

Nuclear Regulation Authority to set new guidelines http://japandailypress.com/nuclear-regulation-authority-to-set-new-guidelines-2713469 By Ida Torres  /   September 27, 2012   The newly launched Nuclear Regulation Authority is set to come up with new guidelines on nuclear disaster management, particularly expanding the area for urgent measures in the event of a nuclear accident.
Currently, the area is just at a 8-10 kilometer radius, but after the Fukushima power plant crisis in 2011, they believe the area should be expanded to a 30 kilometer radius.

The authority will also survey a fault under the Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture after an independent survey by KEPCO showed that the fault might be active.

Part of the new guidelines that the authority is expected to draft would be to make these guidelines sanctioned under special regulation so that the local governments and entities would be required to comply and obey the instructions. Also, prefectural and municipal governments will be required to come up with new or revised disaster management
plans so authorities can determine which areas will be under priority measures. They also need to devise detailed evacuation plans for residents, especially those that are in the radius of the power plants.

The government is doing all it can to be more prepared for nuclear meltdown threats, especially after the aforementioned Fukushima events. They abolished the Cabinet Office’s Nuclear Safety Commission, which initially drafted these guidelines, to give way to the Nuclear  Regulation Authority

September 29, 2012 Posted by | Japan, safety | Leave a comment

UN warning on the danger of nuclear terrorism – “dirty bombs”

UN: Nuclear terrorism threat hasn’t diminished Bellingham Herald, September 28, 2012 UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. nuclear chief warned Friday that the threat of nuclear terrorism has not diminished, saying a key risk is that terrorists could detonate a so-called “dirty bomb” to contaminate a major city. Continue reading →

September 29, 2012 Posted by | 2 WORLD, safety | Leave a comment

Danger as oil companies plan drilling in nuclear waste ocean dump

The Kara Sea is so remote that the Soviet Union used it as a dumping ground for radioactive material for more than 25 years. The two oil companies have avoided calls for the nuclear waste, estimated to consist of over 17,000 barrels of radioactive waste, worn-out reactors, and even an old nuclear submarine, to be cleared up before any exploration takes place.

The most dangerous item down on the sea floor in that area is the K-27 nuclear submarine, which was dumped their by the Soviet navy in 1981. The NRPA said that any significant corrosion could damage the ships reactor and cause an environmental disaster.

Exxon, Rosneft eye oil in nuclear wasteland http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2012/0927/Exxon-Rosneft-eye-oil-in-nuclear-wasteland
Exxon Mobil and Rosneft are planning to drill for oil in the Kara Sea, which the Soviet Union used as a dumping ground for radioactive material for more than 25 years, according to OilPrice.com. By James Burgess,   September 27, 2012 It has been well documented that oil majors from around the world are looking at oil exploration in the Arctic, where they believe that some of the largest untapped fields in the world still lie.

Environmentalists have been fighting efforts to start exploring for oil, fearing that any serious oil spill could mean the destruction of one of the last pristine wildernesses on the planet. Continue reading →

September 28, 2012 Posted by | oceans, Russia, safety, USA | 1 Comment

Government secrecy on the litany of nuclear accidents

Windscale nuclear reactor, U.K. (1957); Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, U.S. (1961); Three Mile Island power plant, U.S. (1979); Chernobyl power plant, Russia (1986); Seversk, Russia (1993); the Tokai-Mura nuclear fuel processing facility, Japan (1989); Mihama power plant, Japan (2004); Fukushima Daiichi power plant, Japan (2011) and the Marcoule nuclear site, France (2011).

All these incidents and many more unreported ones including from India have obviously raised questions about the desirability of nuclear energy and any real possibility of it being “safe.”

Desirability of nuclear power is the real question, THE HINDU, 28 Sept 12 MADHUMITA DUTTA “….. The claim [is that]modern technology, maintenance and safety standards will make it “safe.” Notwithstanding of course the ideal scientifically “controlled” conditions vs ground realities.
If one looks at the dubious track record of nuclear power plants across the world and its horrendous reputation of regularly exposing its workers and residents to dangerous levels of ionising radiations, the disconnect is pretty obvious.

In 1957, a fault in the cooling system in Kyshtym nuclear complex in Russia led to a chemical explosion and the release of 70-80 tonnes of radioactive material into the air, exposing thousands of people and leading to the evacuation of thousands more. Major accidents, which have killed, maimed and exposed large populations of worker and local
residents, have been reported from various other nuclear facilities — Continue reading →

September 28, 2012 Posted by | 2 WORLD, history, safety | 2 Comments

Third steel beam found beside the fuel rack. Tepco “Fuel assemblies may be damaged” Fukushima Diary, by Mochizuki on September 25th, 2012 · 
As to the latest accident in reactor3, Fukushima Diary reported Tepco
found 2 steel beams in SFP3.
(cf. [Reactor3] Underwater video, “Two steel beams were found in the pool”)

After this article, Tepco found another steel beam in the pool, now
they are considering the possibility that the fuel assemblies are
damaged.

So far, Tepco finished investigating the 1/8 of the pool and found 3
steel beams in total. One of the 3 steel beams was found beside a rack
of fuel assemblies.

Tepco still hasn’t verified the dropped steel beam.

They have been stating there is no change in the radiation level in
the pool water and no change of the water level, which suggests the
state of the pool and fuel assemblies were sound, but they are
starting to suggest the possibility that fuel assemblies were
damaged…….. http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/09/third-steel-beam-found-beside-the-fuel-rack-tepco-fuel-assemblies-may-be-damaged/

September 27, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012, incidents | Leave a comment

Japan’s new nuclear safety agency dumps the previous hastily made “stress tests”

New nuclear watchdog to dump reactor stress tests http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120925c1.html Kyodo Japan’s new nuclear watchdog plans to disregard the stress tests used by its predecessor for the reactor reactivation process because it
plans to create fresh criteria for the task, Nuclear Regulation Authority chief Shunichi Tanaka said Monday.

“We will not use ‘stress tests’ as our judgment criteria,” Tanaka said in an interview,
referring to the two-stage safety examination that the government slapped together to push through reactor restarts in the wake of the Fukushima disaster in March last year, fearing summer power outages.

Utilities seeking to restart reactors have already submitted the results of their first-phase stress tests to the NRA’s predecessor, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. NISA was to check the results.

Of the nation’s 50 viable commercial reactors, results on 30 have been submitted. In July, Kansai Electric Power Co.’s two reactors at the Oi power plant in Fukui Prefecture became the first to be reactivated since the crisis.

But Tanaka’s remarks mean the utilities will have to go back to square one to restart their reactors.

Tanaka emphasized that he has “no intention” to decide on whether the stress test results so far submitted are proper.

The NRA, launched earlier this month as part of efforts to improve regulation in light of the Fukushima crisis, plans to formulate new safety standards within 10 months.

September 25, 2012 Posted by | Japan, safety | Leave a comment

Radiation medicine scandal in France

French trial opens on cancer radiation scandal, France 24, 25 SEPTEMBER 2012  Radiophysicist Joshua Anah along with two doctors, is accused of involuntary homicide, not helping people in danger and destroying evidence arising from radiation overdoses given to nearly 450 cancer patients in a French hospital.

AFP – Two doctors and a radio physicist were due to go on trial Monday on manslaughter charges arising from radiation overdoses given to nearly 450 cancer patients in a French hospital. At least seven people died as a result of overdoses administered to patients at the Jean Monnet hospital in Epinal in northeastern France between 2001 and 2006.

At least 24 people treated between May 2004 and August 2005 received 20 percent more radiation than they should have due to a calibration error.

Another dysfunction led to 424 people being overdosed by between eight and 10 percent in the period spanning 2001 and 2006. Many of the victims were being treated for prostrate cancer.

Scores of victims are due to testify from Monday until October 31, some of them by video-link because they are too ill to attend court. The two doctors, Jean-Francois Sztermer, 64, Michel Aubertel, 62, and radio physicist Joshua Anah, 54, are accused of involuntary homicide, not helping people in danger and destroying evidence.

Three health executives are also in the dock on charges of not helping people in danger…..http://www.france24.com/en/20120925-french-trial-opens-cancer-radiation-scandal

September 25, 2012 Posted by | France, incidents | Leave a comment

Uranium smuggling n former Soviet Union

Loose Nuke Smugglers Caught With Uranium
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/09/loose-nuke-smugglers-caught-in-former-soviet-region/ MOSCOW — Seven individuals were reportedly arrested for allegedly trafficking uranium and weapons in a breakaway region of Moldova.
The unnamed group had been detained last week in the separatist enclave of Transnistria, according to Moldova’s interior ministry, Reuters reported.
The group had allegedly been involved in shipments of hand grenades, Kalashnikov assault rifles, rocket propelled grenade launchers, and even containers of uranium-235, which could be used to produce a nuclear bomb. The ministry provided no further details about the uranium shipment or its origin, according to Reuters.
The United States has been very concerned about loose nuclear material being trafficked through parts of the former Soviet Union.
This is not the first reported case of uranium-235 smuggling in Transnistria. In June, 2011 Moldovan police reportedly arrested six members of a criminal group for trying to peddle one kilogram of uranium-235 for about $38 million. That nuclear material had allegedly
been sourced in Russia. Three of those individuals were convicted last May.

September 25, 2012 Posted by | EUROPE, safety | Leave a comment

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