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Fort Calhoun nuclear plant still shut, – problems other than flooding

Regulators to hold meeting on Neb. nuclear plant CBS News, (AP) 5 Jan 12,   OMAHA, Neb. — Federal regulators will hold a public meeting about their plan to oversee Nebraska’s Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant, which remains shut down because of flood damage.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission plans to meet with Omaha Public Power District officials on Jan. 19 to discuss the Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant, which is 20 miles north of Omaha. The public canask questions at the 6 p.m. meeting at Omaha’s Doubletree Hotel downtown.

Regulators said last month they were imposing tougher oversight on Fort Calhoun because several problems had been found at the plant unrelated to last summer’s flooding along the Missouri River. This meeting will outline what that oversight will look like.

Fort Calhoun has been shut down since last spring’s refueling.Flooding along the Missouri forced it to remain closed. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57353123/regulators-to-hold-meeting-on-neb-nuclear-plant/

January 7, 2012 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Iowa Public Interest Group recommends energy conservation, renewables, not nuclear power

Environmental group: Save energy, skip nuclear plant in Iowa DesMoinesRegister.com , Jan 5, 2012 | by Perry Beeman Iowa should skip construction of nuclear plants unless they produce power at a lower cost than other options, including energy conservation, the Iowa Public Interest Research Group said Thursday.

The group also contended that MidAmerican Energy, which is studying whether to build a nuclear plant, should make stockholders take the financial risk, not ratepayers.

MidAmerican has said it will continue work on legislation that would allow the utility to charge customers for the cost of a feasibility study, even if the plant isn’t built. The Legislature, which failed to act on the bill last session largely due to debate scheduling considerations, convenes Monday.

Iowa PIRG said nuclear plants across the country have been plagued by cost overruns, and half of those proposed don’t get built. The group, which held a press conference at the Statehouse, said energy conservation, wind power and solar are better options……
http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/01/05/environmental-group-save-energy-skip-nuclear-plant-in-iowa/

January 6, 2012 Posted by | opposition to nuclear, USA | 1 Comment

Virginia delegate will vote to keep ban on uranium mining

Virginia delegate to vote no on lifting uranium mining moratorium WDBJ7.com, Justin Ward, January 5, 2012 DANVILLE, Va.— The first Virginia lawmaker to announce his vote on the uranium mining ban says his colleagues should consider his decision.

Delegate Don Merricks says he will vote against lifting the ban on uranium mining.

The proposal is expected to be introduced during the upcoming general assembly. Merricks says he’s read the studies but wants another year to research more site specific studies.

“I can not in good conscience vote to life the ban on this when there’s so many unknowns. We still have to narrow down and get focused and we got to get serious about what’s going to happen,” said 16th District Delegate Don Merricks.

Three studies about the socioeconomic and environmental impacts have been released but Merricks says none of them give him concrete answers to support mining in Pittsylvania County. http://www.wdbj7.com/news/blogs/wdbj7-virginia-delegate-will-vote-no-on-lifting-moratorium-on-uranium-mining-20120105,0,2566980.story

January 6, 2012 Posted by | politics, Uranium, USA | Leave a comment

Chemical spill at Prairie Island nuclear plant

Chlorine bleach leaks at Xcel nuclear plant, CBS News,  (AP)  ST.
PAUL, Minn, 5 Jan 12, . — A two-inch break in a pipe leading to a chlorine bleach
tank caused a chemical spill Thursday at Xcel Energy Inc.’s Prairie Island nuclear plant on the Mississippi River near Red Wing, but officials said no radiological material was released…..
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57353122/chlorine-bleach-leaks-at-xcel-nuclear-plant/

January 6, 2012 Posted by | incidents, USA | Leave a comment

Dilemma of USA’s Nuclear Waste Confidence Rule

 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)  is part of the agency’s 2010 Waste Confidence Decision and Rule regulations,

“There has been talk of creating regional disposal sites but really there should not be any new nuclear power plants built until they can figure out what to do with the nuclear waste we have now.’’

Federal regulators seek public comment on nuclear fuel storage, Agency to review 200-year storage plan, APP.com  by Bob Vosseller, 4 Jan 12 The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking public feedback on a report about the impact of storing spent fuel from the nation’s commercial nuclear power plants for as long as 200 years.

According to a release from NRC officials Tuesday, the feedback would be used for the agency’s plan to update its Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS.

The EIS is a document used for decision-making and to determine whether there are any negative environmental effects caused by a proposed action. Continue reading →

January 5, 2012 Posted by | USA, wastes | Leave a comment

Security failings at Delaware nuclear reactor

Nuclear plants investigated Security shortcomings found at Salem/Hope Creek complex  by Delaware Onliner, JEFF MONTGOMERY  The News Journal, 4 Jan 12 Federal regulators are investigating undisclosed security failings at PSEG Nuclear’s big Salem/Hope Creek reactor site along the Delaware River, and warning of possible sanctions and additional citations against the company.

The action at PSEG’s complex in New Jersey, southeast of Augustine Beach, was one of several security-related shortcomings reported at nuclear plants around the country in recent months.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials on Tuesday declined to release details of inspection findings leading to the security citation at Salem/Hope Creek, relayed to PSEG in mid-December but made public only recently….. http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20120104/NEWS08/201040345/Nuclear-plants-investigated?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CHome

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

Obama govt doing a balancing act with sanctions on Iran

Sanctions against Iran a balancing act for U.S. FINANCIAL POST, Reuters  Jan 2, 2012 By Andrew Quinn WASHINGTON – The United States has armed itself with some of the toughest sanctions yet targeting Iran but must carefully assess how to avoid catching energy-importing allies such as Japan, South Korea and India in the crossfire.

President Barack Obama signed the law on Saturday imposing sanctions on financial institutions that deal with Iran’s central bank, the main clearinghouse through which OPEC’s No. 2 oil exporter deals with clients around the world. Continue reading →

January 3, 2012 Posted by | Iran, politics international, USA | Leave a comment

Ionising radiation and thyroid cancer

Vital Signs: Thyroid questions answered.   The Daily Progress  January 01, 2012  The terrible earthquake in Japan, and the resulting nuclear meltdowns, again have placed thyroid cancer in the news. There is a very close link between radiation exposure and thyroid cancer, and it is likely that Japan will see a sharp increase in aggressive thyroid cancers in the coming years, as was the case in Russia after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

Here in the United States, there was an increase in thyroid cancer following the nuclear testing in the 1950s in the Southwest. Though we have ceased such open-air testing, there are still numerous ways to be exposed to radiation, such as by receiving radiation therapy for cancer. And there is also a natural incidence of thyroid cancer unrelated to radiation exposure.

January is Thyroid Awareness Month, so it’s an apt time to discuss the thyroid, thyroid cancer and other thyroid conditions……. There are aggressive forms of thyroid cancer unrelated to radiation exposure, but they are very rare and typically occur in older males…. http://www2.dailyprogress.com/lifestyles/2012/jan/01/vital-signs-thyroid-questions-answered-ar-1575329/

January 2, 2012 Posted by | 2 WORLD, health, Japan, USA | Leave a comment

Reuters reports on diplomatic dance – USA and Iran on nuclear development

However, Obama asked for scope to apply the measures flexibly, and will have discretion to waive penalties. Senior U.S. officials said Washington was consulting foreign partners to ensure the new measures did not harm global energy markets.

Despite its missile tests, war games and threats to close the Hormuz Strait, Iran has also made conciliatory gestures, saying it wants to resume talks with major powers, stalled for a year, about its nuclear research programme…..

Iran reports nuclear progress as sanctions loom  Jan 1, 2012 
* Missile test and fuel rod breakthrough challenge West

* Obama signs sanctions targeting Iran’s oil exports

* Tehran offers fresh nuclear talks in letter to EU

By Parisa Hafezi TEHRAN, Jan 1 (Reuters) – – Iran announced a nuclear fuel breakthrough and test-fired a new radar-evading medium-range missile in the Gulf on Sunday, moves that could further antagonise the West at a time when Tehran is trying to avert harsh new sanctions on its oil industry. Continue reading →

January 2, 2012 Posted by | Iran, politics international, USA | Leave a comment

USA’s big increase in wind and solar energy in past 2 years

Obama has Nearly Quadrupled Renewable Energy on Public Lands CLEAN TECHNICA, DECEMBER 31, 2011 BY   With two years of the Obama administration, almost four times as much clean energy has been put on the grid on public lands as in all the previous 40 years.

All the renewable energy ever permitted on public lands totaled 1,800 MW by the end of 2008. In the last two years, the Department of the Interior has approved 6,600 MW of new projects. Continue reading →

January 2, 2012 Posted by | renewable, USA | Leave a comment

Risk of radioactive uranium pollution on indigenous Americans’ land and water

Uranium Mining Could Leave Toxic Waste in Occoquan Watershed LakeRidge-Occoquan Patch. 31 Dec 11 The Fairfax County Water Authority assesses the risks of uranium mining in Virginia.Lifting Virginia’s ban on uranium mining could open the door to toxic and radioactive waste in the Potomac and Occoquan Watersheds, according to a recent study by the Fairfax County Water Authority.

Though mineral mining occurs throughout the U.S. near water supplies, the study said, “Uranium mining and milling represent unique risks that require additional process controls to prevent impacts from toxic and radioactive byproducts.”…. “uranium mining and milling activities initiated in the Potomac and/or Occoquan watersheds have the potential to increase the risk of negative impacts to Fairfax Water’s source water quality and water supply reliability.”

The Washington Post reported that the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering also found that “steep hurdles” would need to be crossed before the ban should be lifted.

“A study commissioned by the Danville Regional Foundation also came out this month,” the Post article read. “It concluded that uranium mining could have economic benefits but also environmental risks.” http://lakeridge.patch.com/articles/uranium-mining-could-leave-toxic-waste-in-occoquan-watershed

December 31, 2011 Posted by | indigenous issues, Uranium, USA | Leave a comment

USA city Ithaca goes 100% renewable energy

Ithaca Moves to 100% Renewable Energy (VIDEO) http://www.weny.com/News-Local.asp?ARTICLE3864=9163128 Joe Melillo December 29, 2011 Ithaca (WENY) – The city of Ithaca will now be powered completely by renewable energy and moving the community one step closer to its goal of reducing the carbon footprint 20 percent by 2016. Nothing will change for people living in the city. From now on all the electricity used by the city will be from a renewable energy source. Continue reading →

December 30, 2011 Posted by | renewable, Resources -audiovicual, USA | Leave a comment

Ugly corporate tactics to get rid of safety conscious nuclear regulator Jaczko

What’s unfolding at the NRC is a textbook example of a little-discussed corporate tactic that is employed against public officials in extreme situations. 

Do what industry wants, and benefit both professionally and personally. But when carrots aren’t enough, corporations have sticks to swing, too.

“This is the ugly underbelly of large corporate lobbying,” 

Nuclear Power Play: Ambition, Betrayal And The ‘Ugly Underbelly’ Of Energy Regulation Huffington Post, by Ryan Grim, 30 Dec 11WASHINGTON — A feud at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, where five presidentially appointed commissioners oversee the safety of the nation’s nuclear power reactors, has broken out into full public view, with Chairman Gregory Jaczko’s fellow commissioners assailing his character and management style, both in a letter made public earlier this month and in the resulting testimony before Congress.

Republicans have begun calling for Jaczko’s ouster. Continue reading →

December 30, 2011 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | Leave a comment

Safety worries about cracks in Davis Besse nuclear reactor

Nuclear regulators plan January meeting to talk about probe into cracks found at Ohio reactor Washington Post, By Associated Press: December 29 TOLEDO, Ohio — Federal regulators will reveal more details next month about cracks found in the concrete shell of a nuclear reactor in Ohio.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has scheduled a Jan. 5 public meeting where it will also discuss the reasons behind allowing the plant near Toledo to reopen. The Davis-Besse (BEH’-see) nuclear plant began producing electricity again in early December, less than two
months after the cracks were discovered. Regulators allowed FirstEnergy Corp. to restart the plant after saying the company provided reasonable assurance that the cracks don’t pose a threat. Regulators say they also did their own checks.

Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich (koo-SIN’-ich) criticized the decision, saying that it’s still not known what caused the cracks orwhether it’s a bigger problem…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/nuclear-regulators-plan-january-meeting-to-talk-about-probe-into-cracks-found-at-ohio-reactor/2011/12/29/gIQAh1P4OP_story.html

December 30, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Safety failures mean that Indian Point nuclear plant should not be relicensed

“These failures mean that the relicensing of Indian Point cannot proceed,”

Is Indian Point Nuclear Plant Safe For Another 20 Years? Aol  Energy By  December 29, 2011  “….controversy following the Fukushima disaster is starting to impact operations at existing nuclear units as well as permitting for proposed facilities.

Particularly controversial has been upstate New York’s Indian Point nuclear plant run by Entergy in Buchanan, New York. As the plant reaches its fortieth year and Entergy applies for a new 20-year license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, several key stakeholders are trying to block the way. Continue reading →

December 30, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | 1 Comment

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