nuclear-news

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

Los Alamos nuclear lab security fix drags on, with escalating consts

Los Alamos nuclear lab fix to cost $41 million
http://www.currentargus.com/ci_21968436/los-alamos-nuclear-lab-fix-cost-41-million The Associated Press 11/10/2012 09: ALBUQUERQUE – The estimate for fixing a new but inoperable $213 million security system at the nation’s nuclear bomb lab has doubled, officials with Los Alamos National Laboratory confirmed Friday.

Lab director Charles McMillan sent employees a memo this week saying it will cost an additional $41 million and take six months to fix the system, which has been under construction for seven years and was supposed to be complete this summer. That is double what officials estimated a few weeks ago, when problems with the security system were first reported. Continue reading →

November 12, 2012 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Cracks in nuclear facility add to South Korea’s nuclear scandal problem

Cracks at South Korean nuclear plant raise fresh safety concerns By K.J. Kwon, CNN November 9, 2012 Seoul, South Korea (CNN) –– Tiny cracks have been found in tunnels at a nuclear plant in South Korea, increasing concerns about nuclear safety in the country following a recentscandal involving the use of unverified parts.
The reactor where the cracks were found will remain offline for weeks as regulators investigate the problem, putting extra strain on South Korea’s already stretched power supply going into the winter months…… the news could hurt South Korea’s efforts to export its
nuclear power technology to other countries.
The problems at the South Korean reactors come amid increased scrutiny of nuclear power worldwide following the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan during the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that hit the country in March 2011.
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/09/world/asia/south-korea-nuclear-reactor/index.html

November 10, 2012 Posted by | safety, South Korea | Leave a comment

Guilty plea for arson at nuclear submarine

Ex-worker pleads guilty in $450M nuclear-sub fire David Sharp, Philly.com.  Associated Press , November 9, 2012,  PORTLAND, Maine – A former shipyard worker who set a fire that caused about $450 million in damage to a nuclear-powered submarine pleaded guilty Thursday under an agreement that could send him to prison for nearly 20 years…..
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20121109_Ex-worker_pleads_guilty_in__450M_nuclear-sub_fire.html

November 10, 2012 Posted by | incidents, USA | Leave a comment

Computer problem causes nuclear reactor shut-down

Pa. nuclear reactor shut down after computer system problem discovered, The Republic, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS November 09, 2012   BERWICK, Pa. — One of two reactors at a northeastern Pennsylvania nuclear plant was shut down Friday morning after a problem with the computer system that controls its level of water, power company officials said.

The Unit 2 reactor at PPL’s Susquehanna nuclear power plant was manually shut down by operators after operators began receiving “invalid data” on a screen, company spokesman Joe Scopelliti said….. http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/9b8f86ecd78f4764b1095c5902c4addc/PA–Reactor-Shutdown

November 10, 2012 Posted by | incidents, USA | Leave a comment

US military leaders plead Congress to pass Bills against nuclear terrorism

Senate, Grassley must take lead on preventing nuclear terrorism
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/266845-senate-grassley-must-take-lead-on-preventing-nuclear-terrorism By Retired Maj. Gen. Roger R. Blunt (U.S. Army)  – 11/08/12  We need every tool available to prevent nuclear terrorism.

Unfortunately, two treaties that have been awaiting Congressional approval for more than half a decade that will enhance our ability to protect nuclear materials and go after terrorists intent on using them are stalled in Congress. This is unacceptable.

Now that the election is over, one of the first orders of business when Congress returns
should be to get past the bickering and pass these two nonpartisan treaties our military leaders have been pleading for. Continue reading →

November 9, 2012 Posted by | politics, safety, USA | Leave a comment

Russia sends radioactive products back to Japan

TV: 200% as many radioactive products returned to Japan this year than
in 2011 says Russian report (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/200-more-radioactive-products-sent-back-to-japan-this-year-than-in-2011-says-russian-report-video
November 7th, 2012 Title: Russia ShipBack #Radiation
Detected Goods from #Japan
Source: TBS/JNN
Translation & Subtitle: Jo2Rayden
Date Aired: Oct 25, 2012
Date Published: Nov 6, 2012
h/t junebloke

[…]

According to the Russian news agency Prima Media, from January to
September in this year, the radiation dose exceeded of Russia standard
value was detected from 319 goods,　such as used car, food, medical
supplies and others which were imported from Japan, to the Russian Far
East ports.

The Russia customhouse did not accept importing 284 goods, then, send
back to Japan.

145 goods send back to Japan in whole last year, due to the radiation
dose exceeded of standard value was detected in the Russian Far East
area.

But, It will reach almost double compared to 2011 with this year, even
until September.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWy3BkF7tQ4

November 9, 2012 Posted by | Japan, Russia, safety | Leave a comment

Earthquake fault under Oi nuclear reactor is definitely active

Gov’t Nuclear Expert: Immediately halt Japan’s only 2 operating reactors — “It’s certain there’s an active fault” http://enenews.com/govt-nuclear-expert-immediately-halt-japans-only-two-operating-reactors-its-certain-there-is-an-active-fault
  November 4th, 2012
Title: Panel at odds over fault at Oi nuke plant   Source: Kyodo Date: Nov. 5, 2012

A fault running under the Oi nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture is definitely active, an expert on a Nuclear Regulation Authority panel investigating the compound’s safety said Sunday, as other members continued to debate the potential danger.

Toyo University professor Mitsuhisa Watanabe is calling for the immediate halt of two reactors at the plant, the only nuclear facility reactivated since the Fukushima disaster last year, arguing evidence points to an active fault.

“It’s certain there is an active fault. Operations should be stopped and another investigation should be conducted” at the Oi plant, Watanabe said. […]

November 6, 2012 Posted by | Japan, safety | Leave a comment

Active fault under Oi nuclear power plant – restart decision is postponed

Decision on fault under Oi nuclear plant deferred http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T121104002958.htm Jiji Press, 5 Nov 12Nuclear regulators deferred a decision Sunday as to whether an active fault runs under Kansai Electric Power Co.’s Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture.

Outside experts who participated in the Nuclear Regulation Authority’s on-site inspection of the plant Friday were divided in their evaluations of whether a crush zone underneath the plant is an active fault. The authority decided to hold another meeting Wednesday.

Mitsuhisa Watanabe, a professor at Toyo University, said he was certain there is an active fault under the Oi plant. But Norio Shigematsu, a research scientist at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and Atsumasa Okada, a professor at Ritsumeikan University, said it would be premature to draw a conclusion and called for further surveys.

If the authority determines the crush zone is an active fault, the Oi plant’s No. 3 and No. 4 reactors, currently the only active reactors in Japan, would face a possible shutdown.

The crush zone runs directly under a seawater intake channel to cool the No. 3 and No. 4 reactors in the event of emergencies. If the crush zone moves in an earthquake, the emergency system could become unavailable. In an interim report to the government, Kansai Electric said there are no data suggesting the crush zone is an active fault.

The reactors were brought back online in July. The rest of the country’s 50 reactors remain idled in the wake of the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

November 5, 2012 Posted by | Japan, safety | Leave a comment

Salem nuclear plant : no timeline for restarting it after Hurricane Sandy

No timeline for restarting New Jersey nuclear reactor after high wave took out 5 of 6 water intake pumps during Sandy http://enenews.com/no-timeline-for-restarting-nj-reactor-after-high-wave-took-out-5-of-6-water-intake-pumps-during-sandy
  November 3rd, 2012 
By ENENews  Title: No timeline for full power at New Jersey nuclear reactor
Source: Reuters
Date: Nov 3, 2012

Public Service Enterprise Group Inc’s provided no timeline for its Salem 1 nuclear plant to fully start-up after it shut down from superstorm Sandy.

PSEG had not yet connected the plant to the regional grid, but “grid stability is not an issue at this time,” Joe Delmar, a PSEG spokesman said on Saturday. […]

Title: Salem Unit 1, No Timeline For Restart
Source: SimplyInfo
Date: November 3rd, 2012

Reuters is reporting no timeline for restarting unit 1 at Salem after a high wave from hurricane Sandy took out 5 of the 6 water intake pumps. […]  It is likely that the widespread outages still going on across the area mean there is less demand for power. It could also be that they are still repairing the intake pumps for Salem yet choose to not publicly disclose the status of this issue.

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

Japan might shut down its only operating nuclear reactor

AP: Japan’s only operating nuclear power plant may be closed   http://enenews.com/ap-japans-only-operating-nuclear-reactor-may-be-closed November 2nd, 2012
NHK, Nov. 2: Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority ha surveyed the country’s only operating nuclear power plant to determine whether a seam under the facility is an active fault. The authority says it may ask the Ohi plant’s operator — Kansai Electric Power Company — to suspend operations, depending on the survey results.

AP, Nov. 2: Japanese nuclear regulators inspected ground structures at the country’s only operating nuclear power plant Friday to examine if an existing fault line is active. The inspection will determine whether the Ohi plant in western Japan should close.
Kyodo, Nov. 2: “It is one possibility that there will be some talks about reinvestigation” during a meeting on Sunday in Tokyo to evaluate the results, Kunihiko Shimazaki said at a news conference after the one-day inspection, which was closely watched as the country’s sole operating nuclear plant could be asked to shutdown if the fault is judged as active.

November 3, 2012 Posted by | Japan, safety | Leave a comment

USA’s aging nuclear power plants in need of monitoring

Expert: “There’s another nuclear disaster” if operators aren’t able to connect temporary equipment in flooding http://enenews.com/expert-theres-another-nuclear-disaster-if-operators-arent-able-to-connect-temporary-equipment-in-flooding  November 1st, 2012
 Title: U.S. nuclear energy safety questioned
Source: UPI
Author: LINYI ZHANG
Date: Nov. 1, 2012

The United States is headed toward a major nuclear disaster unless the government closely monitors aging power plants, safety advocates and activists said. […]

Tuesday’s historic hurricane brought the issue into sharp focus as Oyster Creek nuclear station — one of the oldest nuclear plants adjacent to the Oyster Creek in New Jersey using Mark I boiling water reactor [identical to the containment vessels used at Fukushima Daiichi] — declared an alert because of high water levels. The plant experienced power disruption but backup diesel fuel was able to provide power for cooling.

But experts said if future events become more severe, under-designed protections might fail. […]

If operators aren’t able to connect temporary equipment in flooding, “there’s another nuclear disaster,” said Dave Lochbaum, director of the nuclear safety program of Union of Concerned Scientists, a nuclear oversight group. […]

November 3, 2012 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Oyster Creek nuclear plant did lose cooling of spent fuel during hurricane

NRC: Spent fuel pool cooling lost at NJ’s Oyster Creek nuclear plant during Hurricane Sandy http://enenews.com/nrc-spent-fuel-pool-cooling-lost-njs-oyster-creek-nuclear-plant-during-hurricane-sandy
 November 2nd, 2012 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (h/t Anonymous tip):Nuclear Regulatory Commission (h/t Anonymous tip):

On October 29, 2012, Oyster Creek declared a Notice of Unusual Event followed by an Alert due to high water levels in the intake structure. Elevated intake structure water levels are of concern as excessive levels can flood certain plant components and render normal cooling systems inoperable. No safety systems were adversely affected by the high intake level. The site also experienced a loss of offsite power. Both emergency diesel generators started as designed and supplied power to the emergency electrical busses. Shutdown cooling and spent fuel pool cooling were temporarily lost but subsequently restored, after the busses were reenergized. At 9:59 a.m. EDT on October 30, the licensee restored one line of off-site power via a start-up transformer. Oyster Creek terminated the Alert at 3:52 a.m. EDT on October 31 when water level dropped below 4.5 ft and off-site power was fully restored.
See also: Gundersen: I suspect we’re going to see reports of spent fuel pools heating up at New Jersey nuclear plants — The problem is reactors were in refueling mode (VIDEO)

November 3, 2012 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

UK’s planned new nuclear reactors all too close to Dublin, Ireland

New N-plant closer than Sellafield, warn Greens
http://www.herald.ie/news/new-nplant-closer-than-sellafield-warn-greens-3280668.html By Fiona Dillon, November 02 2012 THE GOVERNMENT is being called on to object to to plans to build a nuclear plant that’s closer to Dublin than the controversial Sellafield site.

Engineering giant Hitachi is in the process of buying Horizon Nuclear Power, which has rights to build reactors at Wylfa on Anglesey, North Wales.

The site is only 118km from Dublin, compared to Sellafield’s 217km. Continue reading →

November 3, 2012 Posted by | safety, UK | 1 Comment

Japan sets 30 Km radius evacuation zones for nuclear accidents

(I understand that the USA evacuation  zones have a lower radius. 10 km? – C.M. )

N-accident zones set at 30-km radius / NRA decides to use IAEA standards The Yomiuri Shimbun, 2 Nov 12 The Nuclear Regulation Authority on Wednesday issued new guidelines to establish 30-kilometer-radius zones in which intensive disaster-prevention measures will be taken in preparation for a serious nuclear accident.

About 4.8 million people in 135 municipalities are in these zones and will need particular protection under the new guidelines. Previously, only 45 municipalities were affected.

In a simulation released by the NRA on Oct. 24, the spread of radioactive substances from the nation’s nuclear power plants was recorded beyond the 30-kilometer radius in some cases.
The NRA, however, decided not to expand the key zones beyond the 30-kilometer mark, sticking to the standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Within this year, the NRA will set such standards as radiation levels to determine at what level it would be necessary to evacuate residents.

Local governments, which could be affected in a nuclear plant disaster, will draw up disaster-prevention plans by the end of March….. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy national/T121031003759.htm

November 3, 2012 Posted by | Japan, safety | Leave a comment

American nuclear reactors similar to Fukushima ones do not have emergency filtered vents

A Hard Look at U.S. Reactor Hardware After Fukushima NYT, By MATTHEW L. WALD, 2 Nov 12 Over the objections of the nuclear industry, the staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is planning to recommend the adoption of a new rule requiring American reactors similar to the ones at Fukushima Daiichi to install emergency vents with filters on them.

The filtered vents would be required on two of the oldest reactor designs sold by General Electric. The idea is that their containments could be opened early in an accident to vent a puff of slightly radioactive gas and explosive hydrogen and thus prevent a buildup in pressure or explosions as an accident unfolds. The reactors did not have such vents originally, but most of the oldest models, equipped with Mark I containments, added vents in the early 1990’s.

After the Fukushima accident of March 2011, the commission ordered that vents be added to Mark II reactors as well but told its staff to quickly study whether filtered ones were necessary.

The United States has 23 Mark I reactors, all of which now have vents, and eight Mark II reactors, none of which have vents. None have filtered vents….. Continue reading →

November 3, 2012 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

« Previous Entries     Next Entries »