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$26 million just to find out how much 2 nuclear reactors might cost

TORONTO – It’s like giving the cashier at Tim Hortons a penny to find out how much a cup of coffee costs.CNews 11 July 12,
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has agreed to pay two prospective reactor builders $26 million to come up with an estimate on how much two new nuclear reactors at the Darlington Generating Station would cost, Energy Minister Chris Bentley told a Queen’s Park committee
Wednesday. Continue reading →

July 12, 2012 Posted by | business and costs, Canada | Leave a comment

Workers exposed to airborne uranium, due to pressurised yellowcake containers

Pressurized drums create yellowcake uranium hazard, NRC says By Todd Sperry, CNN Senior Producer July 11, 2012 – Washington (CNN) — After three Canadian employees were exposed to yellowcake uranium last month when a lid blew off a pressurized 55-gallon drum, a uranium mining company has informed U.S. nuclear regulatory officials it has found additional drums possibly susceptible to the same problem, CNN has learned..

.. The NRC and
Canadian nuclear officials are investigating drums shipped from a Willow Creek, Wyoming, mining facility operated by Uranium One to an Ontario processing plant where workers opened them, including the one that ejected the powder. The three employees were overcome by a cloud of yellowcake uranium that had unexpectedly become pressurized.
The worker closest to the drum and two others in the area, who were not wearing respirators, were exposed to airborne uranium, according to the NRC..

… Yellowcake is the byproduct of uranium ore that is mined, crushed and milled until concentrated. It is a key component in manufacturing uranium fuel for nuclear reactors.
NRC officials gave Uranium One until this week to identify whether any other drums had become pressurized during manufacture or shipment…… Other drums shipped to the Canadian facility containing yellowcake were found to be bulging from internal pressure, the NRC said.

July 12, 2012 Posted by | Canada, incidents, Uranium | Leave a comment

Strike and problem of decaying concrete at Canada’s nuclear power plants

those employees should also be demanding safety in their workplace as well. At least one Candu plant – Gentilly-2 in Quebec – is decaying .

The plant is one of many that regulators say is operating well past its expected life of 25 to 30 years

Major Problems Facing Canada’s Nuclear Sector http://www.care2.com/causes/major-problems-facing-canadas-nuclear-sector.html#ixzz20GmGP3Pi by Amy Boughner July 9, 2012 Canada’s nuclear industry is once again facing major issues. More than 800 Candu Energy employees  are on strike as of the morning of July 9, looking for higher wages. The scientists, engineers and technologists work at Candu plants in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. Continue reading →

July 10, 2012 Posted by | Canada, employment, safety | Leave a comment

Decaying concrete a problem for aging nuclear power plants

concrete degradation has surfaced in the reactor containment buildings of three U.S. nuclear power stations. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently warned operators there that design strengths and assumptions used in original containment building design plans “may no longer hold true,” if ASR and its telltale cracks and fissures are present.

Decaying concrete raising concerns at Canada’s aging nuclear plants, National Post Ian MacLeod, Postmedia News  Jul 8, 2012 Decaying concrete at nuclear power plants is the latest concern for nuclear safety authorities.

At Quebec’s sole atomic power station, Gentilly-2, eroding concrete has prompted federal licensing officials to suggest that any provincial attempt to refurbish and re-license the 30-year-old plant must satisfy federal concerns over the aging concrete’s ability to stand up to another two or three decades of service.

The move comes as economic pressures force nuclear utilities to consider refurbishing their nuclear plants and operating them well past their 25- to 30-year initial lives. Continue reading →

July 9, 2012 Posted by | Canada, safety, USA | Leave a comment

Workers exposed to radioactive uranium

Canadian workers exposed to yellowcake http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/canadian-workers-exposed-to-yellowcake/story-fn3dxix6-1226419628561  July 07, 2012  Three workers at a uranium processing plant in Canada were exposed to radioactive yellowcake when the lid blew off of a bulging container imported from the United States, US nuclear regulatory officials say. Continue reading →

July 7, 2012 Posted by | Canada, incidents, Uranium | Leave a comment

Despite previous radioactive spills, Point Lepreau nuclear reactor will not be fully monitored

Point Lepreau has been out of service since March 2008 for a major refurbishment designed to extend the life of the reactor by 25 years. It is scheduled to reopen this fall, three years behind schedule.

Nuclear watchdog unable to closely monitor Point Lepreau Limited resources prevent full oversight, says senior staffer CBC News Jun 21, 2012  Senior staff at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission say the regulatory body is unable to monitor the refurbishment and pending restart of New Brunswick’s Point Lepreau nuclear generating station as closely as it would like. He was answering questions about a recent heavy water spill at Lepreau, which is located in west Saint John. Continue reading →

June 22, 2012 Posted by | Canada, safety | Leave a comment

Pro uranium mining bias in Nunuvat’s supposedly independent report

“It is not clear why the GN chose to have its background document prepared by Golder and Associates, a consultancy that depends on the mining industry (including uranium mining), rather than either developing it internally or seeking an independent consultant,”

Nunavut group says uranium policy process biased, Questions hiring of consultant with mining industry clients CBC News Jun 8, 2012   A Nunavut group opposed to uranium mining says the territorial government’s consultation process for forming its official uranium policy , which supports mining — with conditions, was biased. Continue reading →

June 11, 2012 Posted by | Canada, Religion and ethics | Leave a comment

Cree people say No to uranium mining and nuclear power

Chief Shecapio explained that the Crees “have always been the guardians and protectors of the land and will continue to be. For the Crees of Mistissini, the land is a school of its own and the resources of the land are the material and supplies they need. Cree traplines are the classrooms. What is taught on these traplines to the youth is the Cree way of life, which means living in harmony with nature.

 “We do not believe that nuclear energy, which is the primary use for uranium in Canada, is a sustainable form of energy. We do not want to see a resource extracted from our land be responsible for causing pollution and waste. We do not want this to be our impact on the world..

Uranium Exploration: Mistissi Says “No” and Calls for a Moratorium MISTISSINI, Market Watch,  EEYOU ISTCHEE, Jun 05, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) 5 June 12, — The Chief of Cree Nation of Mistissini, Richard Shecapio, made it clear at the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s (CNSC) public hearing, held today (June 5) in Mistissini, that his
community is firmly against uranium development in Eeyou Istchee. “We want to put an end to the question of uranium development once and for all, right now. We know where this is going and we don’t want any uranium mining at all”, said Chief Shecapio. Continue reading →

June 6, 2012 Posted by | Canada, indigenous issues, Uranium | 1 Comment

High level nuclear waste dump for shores of Great Lakes!

how did governments around the world, citizens like us around the world, science and the nuclear industry, turn a blind eye to the huge buildup of nuclear waste for more than 40 years as we enjoyed the fruits of nuclear power?

the nuclear waste dangers will remain for thousands of years, longer than civilization itself. And right next to the largest fresh-water lake system in the world.

Nuclear waste, tourism don’t mix http://www.lfpress.com/comment/2012/05/25/19800186.html By WAYNE MACDONALD,  May 26, 2012  A packed council chambers in Saugeen Shores, where I live, stood in stunned amazement as its local council- once again – took a huge step toward changing the face of this lakeside community with no discussion, no debate. Absolutely none. Continue reading →

May 26, 2012 Posted by | Canada, environment, wastes | Leave a comment

Another radioactive spill at Point Lepreau nuclear power plant

N.B. nuclear plant reports second spill in 6 months  The Canadian Press 24, 2012 LEPREAU, N.B. — About 300 litres of radioactive heavy water spilled during a test at a New Brunswick nuclear power plant, making it the second spill at the site in less than six months.

NB Power said in a statement that the water spilled Monday at the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant, Atlantic Canada’s only nuclear facility…… In December, four to six lit res of radioactive heavy water spilled because of a leak at the plant, which prompted an evacuation. ….

….Point Lepreau has been out of service since March 2008 for a major refurbishment that’s meant to extend the life of the reactor by 25 years.

The project is about three years behind schedule and $1 billion over
the original $1.4-billion budget.
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/SciTech/20120524/nuclear-power-plant-spill-120524/#ixzz1vsdrt7z3

May 26, 2012 Posted by | Canada, incidents | Leave a comment

Canada’s unreliable and super-expensive nuclear reactors

Pickering nuclear units among the most expensive, least reliable in the world. The Star.com 15 May 12,  The economic performance of Ontario Power Generation’s Pickering nuclear stations is among the worst in the world, says a report prepared for the Ontario Energy Board.

Not only is it the most expensive to operate, it lags at the far end of the pack in terms of reliability, with some units shut down almost 40 per cent of the time….. http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1178431–pickering-nuclear-units-among-the-most-expensive-least-reliable-in-the-world?bn=1

May 17, 2012 Posted by | business and costs, Canada | Leave a comment

Why is mainstream media not covering Fukushima radiation?

 the lack of the U.S. government to inform people of how serious the Fukushima situation is, and that after the accident stopped monitoring radiation levels in the U.S. On April 17, 2011 an independent journalist reported what we now now are facts about Fukushima. This story  should have been on mainstream news. Truth matters.

Fifty four reactors shut down, and guess what? The power is still on, so is the nuclear industry hoax? Was nuclear power ever really needed in this world? 

N. America’s radiation threat: another mainstream news blackout Digital Journal 5 May 2012 By Mindy Allan  It is odd that neither the Canadian nor the American mainstream news, nor any government agencies are speaking about the radiation that continues to flow into North America by way of the jet stream.

 News that should be a priority isn’t, and has been left up to the independent journalists of the world to report, like North America’s radiation problem from Fukushima that continually is left out of mainstream news. Why?

Fukushima is not just a problem for the Japanese, but for the whole world that no one in charge wants to address. North America was the first continent to receive the first waves of radiation from the meltdown, and explosion at Fukushima. The Canadian government said no worries and that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency would not be testing the food, or milk, according to Vancouver Late Night  in April of 2011. Continue reading →

May 7, 2012 Posted by | Canada, media, secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | 1 Comment

Canada avoids testing ocean salmon for radiation

Canadians track Japanese tsunami debris, but won’t systematically test salmon for radiation  http://www.straight.com/article-672746/vancouver/canadians-track-japanese-tsunami-debris-wont-systematically-test-salmon-radiation  by Charlie Smith   April 29, 2012 The Maritime Museum of B.C. has created a Facebook page devoted to collecting photos of debris from last year’s Japanese tsunami.

The majority of the material floating across the Pacific Ocean is not expected to arrive in B.C. until 2013 and 2014.

What I find interesting is that there still doesn’t appear to be a Facebook page concerning the potential effect of the Fukushima nuclear accident on the Canadian food supply.

Earlier this month, Straight reporter Carlito Pablo wrote an article noting that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has no plans to systematically test next year’s wild salmon for radioactivity.

These fish travel through the same waters as the flotsam and jetsam coming from Japan, where a devastating nuclear accident crippled the Fukushima power plant.

It’s okay to keep records of the garbage—but as far as the Conservative government is concerned, it appears to be not okay to examine if any of it is ending up in our digestive tracts.

April 30, 2012 Posted by | Canada, oceans | Leave a comment

Don’t drink and Drive a Nuclear reactor

Nuclear regulator proposes drug, alcohol policy for workers, The Star, 18 April 12  If you can’t drink and drive, maybe you shouldn’t drink and run a nuclear power plant.

Canada’s nuclear regulator has proposed new “fitness for duty” rules that would require anyone with unescorted access to sensitive areas of a nuclear plant to be subject to random drug and alcohol testing. The policy would be a departure for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. “Presently, the CNSC does not have explicit alcohol or drug testing
requirements,” a spokesman said.

The commission does require nuclear operators to have a “fitness for
duty” program, but doesn’t spell out the requirements for drug and
alcohol use. Now, the commission has released a discussion paper proposing to change that.
“The CNSC believes in being proactive, in order to reduce the risk of impairment-related safety events at Canada’s nuclear power plants,” says the paper……
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1163170–nuclear-regulator-proposes-drug-alcohol-policy-for-workers

April 18, 2012 Posted by | Canada, safety | Leave a comment

Farmers boost their income by also farming sunlight

“It is the sweet spot,”.. it doesn’t interfere with existing farming or grazing on prime lands. “It’s a way of getting yield from land that’s not paying enough.”…..

 the benefits of generating green energy are great, but the best part is that once the 20-year solar lease expires, the land can return to agricultural use….. “Years down the road it could revert to [agricultural] land,” .. “It was a win-win for everyone.”

Solar Energy Grows on North American Farms,13 Apr 2012, CNBC.co By: Trevor Curwin, A California solar power project developer is teaming with farmers to expand use of the alternative energy.  “It’s basically an opportunity to farm the sun,” says Recurrent Energy CEO Arno Harris, about his firm’s plans to build 500 megawatts of solar photovoltaic, PV, installations on farms in California and the Canadian province of Ontario.

The firm has contracted dozens of farmers in both areas, building five- to 20-megawatt solar PV installations on otherwise marginal farmland. Continue reading →

April 14, 2012 Posted by | Canada, renewable, USA | Leave a comment

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