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Legitimate fears about the safety of USA nuclear plants

Why Recent Earthquakes Should Make You Worry About Nuclear Power, By  | August 24, 2011, BNet A 5.8 magnitude earthquake — the largest to hit the East Coast in nearly seven decades — caused the shutdown of two nuclear reactors located less than 15 miles from the epicenter of the temblor. The back-up diesel generator system worked as designed (well, except for the one with the coolant leak), and by late Tuesday night operator Dominion Resources had restored offsite power.

Yet instead of putting folks at ease, the incident actually raises legitimate fears about the safety of U.S. nuclear power plants.

Consider, for starters, the fact that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has taken more than six years to develop new safety standards to address higher-than-expected seismic risks. It turns out that seismic risks to nuclear plants in the eastern United States were greater than the NRC had previously realized, iWatch.org reported.

North Anna, a twin-reactor nuclear facility about 85 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., was one of four plants with a seismic hazard higher than previously thought. (It’s also the plant with the coolant leak that shut down one of its backup diesels.)……http://www.bnet.com/blog/clean-energy/why-recent-earthquakes-should-make-you-worry-about-nuclear-power/6199

August 25, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Earthquakes and Environmental Modification Techniques

D.C. area hit with 5.9 quake: Natural or manmade?, Deborah Dupre, Human Rights Examiner, August 23, 2011

On Tuesday, at approximately 2:05 pm ET, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake has hit Washington D.C. and felt in New York, North Carolina, Connecticut, Delaware, Ohio and there were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries according to Reuters, KSFR Santa Fe Public Radio. Tuesday’s mid-day quake, later downgraded to 5.9, has prompted further public discussion about environmental modification techniques (ENMOD), weapons of mass destruction with capacity to trigger or cause earthquakes.

Continue reading on Examiner.com D.C. area hit with 5.9 quake: Natural or manmade? – National Human Rights | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/human-rights-in-national/d-c-area-hit-with-5-9-quake-natural-or-manmade?CID=examiner_alerts_article#ixzz1W5dbkXHo

August 25, 2011 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | Leave a comment

Radiation pills for USA States – good idea or not?

NRC officials say they do not favor expanded distribution because there’s a misconception about potassium iodide’s powers and a fear people might delay in heeding evacuation orders, if they have pills. “It doesn’t protect against damage to organs other than the thyroid,” said Patricia Milligan, a certified health physicist in the NRC’s division of preparedness and response. “It’s not an anti-radiation pill, as some people seem to think”

States Urged to Offer Radiation Pills, WSJ,  By REBECCA SMITH —Yuka Hayashi contributed to this article. 24 Aug 11,  It has been nearly a decade since Congress passed a law promoting distribution of pills to people living near nuclear plants that would minimize one potentially lethal effect of accidental radiation exposure. But the law still hasn’t been implemented. Continue reading →

August 25, 2011 Posted by | health, USA | 1 Comment

Colorado State makes things financially easier for uranium milling company

State defers Energy Fuels’ bond deadlines Telluride Daily Planet, By Kathrine Warren August 24, 2011
As Energy Fuels wades through regulation and litigation surrounding its planned Piñon Ridge Mill, the State of Colorado announced on Tuesday that it will defer the company’s requirement to pay upcoming bonds until construction begins. Continue reading →

August 25, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, Uranium, USA | Leave a comment

Safety concerns over USA nuclear reactors, after earthquake

Tuesday’s quake, which was felt along the East Coast as far north as Canada, was the region’s largest since a 5.9 quake hit New York State in 1944…..

Quake raises safety concerns as nuclear plant shut, By Eileen O’Grady and Joshua Schneyer, HOUSTON/NEW YORK   Aug 23, 2011  (Reuters) – The largest earthquake to hit the East Coast of the United States in 67 years raised concerns on Tuesday about the safety of the country’s nuclear power plants. Continue reading →

August 25, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Risk of earthquakes to USA’s East coast nuclear plants

Nuclear quake risk on East Coast: 1 plant down, 12 shook, , Human Rights Examiner, August 24, 2011 

Nuclear energy plants keep Americans at risk: ‘Redesigning from Scratch’ needed As a big blue Freedom Bus rolls through cities proving nuclear energy, like other non-renewable sources, is inhumane, twelve U.S. nuclear plants were shaken, eight declared “unusual events,” and two extra risky reactors shut down during Tuesday’s east coast intense quake after which it was reported that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) previously “meant to identify” earthquake risks at North Anna nuclear energy plant near Tuesday’s epicenter, as various parts, systems, and hose stations at that facility “are not seismically designed.”

Continue reading on Examiner.com Nuclear quake risk on East Coast: 1 plant down, 12 shook – National Human Rights | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/human-rights-in-national/nuclear-quake-risk-on-east-coast-1-plant-still-down-12-shook?CID=examiner_alerts_article#ixzz1W5QTDFzu

August 25, 2011 Posted by | safety, USA | Leave a comment

Science and Climate Change action under attack from Republican presidential candidates

Rick Perry denounces the concept of man-made global warming as “one contrived phony mess that is falling apart under its own weight”..

..poll found that 98 per cent of scientists accepted the idea [of globalwarming]…..

GOP presidential hopefuls rush to deny climate change  The Australian, Catherine Philp, Washington  August 23, 2011 “…..In the past week, the Environmental Protection Agency has become the new target for Republican hopefuls, with conservative candidates scrambling to outdo each other over how quickly they would abolish it. The attacks have exposed a sharp split in the field between those who accept the scientific basis of climate change and those who do not.

Michele Bachmann, the Tea Party insurgent, said that on the first day of her presidency, “the EPA will have the doors locked and lights turned off”. Continue reading →

August 23, 2011 Posted by | climate change, politics, USA | Leave a comment

Vermont Yankee – nuclear plant’s lawyers trying to suppress witnesses in court action

Entergy tries to block Vt. witnesses in nuke trial  Houston Chronicle, August 22, 2011, BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (AP) — Lawyers for the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant’s owners are trying to block three witnesses for the state of Vermont from testifying at the upcoming trial that could determine the fate of the plant.

Entergy Corp. is suing Vermont to block the state’s efforts to shut Vermont Yankee down when the plant’s initial 40-year license expires next March. The plant has won federal approval for a 20-year license extension, but Vermont is moving to shut the reactor down.

The Brattleboro Reformer (http://bit.ly/nHL97P ) says Entergy has asked Judge J. Garvan Murtha to bar former federal regulator Peter Bradford, consultant Bruce Hinkley and former Vermont regulator William Steinhurst from offering testimony about the preemptive scope of the Atomic Energy Act, the federal law governing nuclear power….Entergy tries to block Vt. witnesses in nuke trial – Houston Chronicle

August 23, 2011 Posted by | Legal, USA | Leave a comment

Despite Fukushima, AREVA still touting nuclear power as “clean”

AREVA sponsors Nuclear Clean Air Energy team as Simona prepares for Infineon RacewayAugust 22, 2011 PennEnergy Indianapolis, IN – HVM Racing and Entergy are seeing continued success in spreading the ‘Nuclear Clean Air Energy’ message on the 2011 IndyCar season as AREVA – ranked first in the global nuclear energy industry – has come on board for the Baltimore Grand Prix…..
“As the global leader in clean energy production, AREVA understands the importance of raising awareness about the benefits of nuclear energy,” said Jacques Besnainou, CEO of AREVA Inc.

“Partnering with Simona and the Nuclear Clean Air Energy team offers us a unique way to talk about our energy challenges and nuclear energy as safe, reliable and clean electricity that is powering one of five American households.”
AREVA sponsors Nuclear Clean Air Energy team as Simona prepares for Infineon Raceway

August 23, 2011 Posted by | marketing of nuclear, USA | Leave a comment

General Atomics trying to avoid uranium mine cleanup

General Atomics Faces Yet Another Uranium Cleanup Fight, By Matt Potter, San Diego Reader August 22, 2011,  The New York Times has reported via the Greenwire news service that Rio Grande Resources Corp., a subsidiary of La Jolla-based General Atomics is stirring opposition in New Mexico with its plans to delay cleanup of its Mount Taylor uranium mine, which has been closed since 1990.

The mountain, which contains the nation’s largest single deposit of the radioactive ore, is said to be viewed as sacred land by surrounding Native American tribes, the story says.

“More than 8 million pounds of “yellow cake” were produced from the mine before it was closed more than two decades ago due to plummeting uranium prices,” according to the report…….

Rio Grande critics testified at a hearing on the application to keep the mine in “standby status” held by the New Mexico Mining and Minerals Division that a five year delay in remediation risked further contamination of the site, but backers said it would help the mine get back into operation.

As we’ve previously reported, General Atomics, operated by San Diego brothers Neal and Linden Blue, also faces a fight in Colorado over the cleanup of an old uranium mill in that state….San Diego Reader | “General Atomics Faces Yet Another Uranium Cleanup Fight” by mpotter

August 23, 2011 Posted by | Uranium, USA, wastes | Leave a comment

With gas power more likely, why should Florida residents pay upfront for new nuclear power?

Nuclear power Florida: Progress Energy customers are being asked to pay more in upfront costs for nuclear power plants that are becoming much iffier propositions. – OrlandoSentinel.com, 22 Aug 11“…….the new nuclear industry is beginning to look a lot like the old nuclear industry.Progress announced a new price tag in 2008: $17 billion.The next update was $22.5 billion.And the first plant will not be operational until 2021. The Public Counsel’s Office thinks the real year may be 2027, if at all.Those “single-digit dollars” could hit $50 a month by 2020.Customers will be shelling out more money for an iffy proposition…..

There are other issues.

New drilling technology is producing an abundant supply of natural gas, which should stabilize prices. Natural-gas plants can be built much more cheaply and faster, and they release half the carbon as a coal plant. This makes them a lot more competitive with nuclear plants….

Our pre-payments are a form of loan guarantee. And we have little control over the risks Progress takes with them…

 

August 23, 2011 Posted by | business and costs, USA | Leave a comment

35 years of Seabrook activism in continuing fight against nuclear energy

Seabrook Station is currently seeking an extension of its operating license from 2030 to 2050. Twenty-five groups, including SAPL, have filed multiple legal challenges to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in an effort to delay nuclear plant licensing.

Nuclear protesters celebrate 35 years of activism with Seabrook march, SeacoastOnline.com, By Joey Cresta, August 22, 2011  SEABROOK — The past, present and future in the fight against the use of nuclear power converged Sunday at the site where battle lines were drawn on the Seacoast 35 years ago. Continue reading →

August 23, 2011 Posted by | opposition to nuclear, USA | Leave a comment

Silex laser uranium enrichment process classified secret under Atomic Energy Act

Some New Wrinkles in Nuclear Weapons Secrecy, Secrecy News, August 22nd, 2011 by Steven Aftergood  “………At this late date in the nuclear era, there are still other “innovations” in nuclear technology and nuclear secrecy.  The New York Times reported last weekend on an apparent breakthrough in the use of lasers to enrich uranium.  This laser enrichment process, known as SILEX (Separation of Isotopes by Laser Excitation), also poses new proliferation issues.  See “Laser Advances in Nuclear Fuel Stir Terror Fear” by William J. Broad, August 21.

Though the Times story did not mention it, the SILEX process is also a unique case in which information that was privately generated was nevertheless classified by the government. …..
As far as could be determined, the decision to classify this non-governmental information under the Atomic Energy Act is the first and only time that such authority has been exercised.  See this 2001 “Record of Decision to Classify Certain Elements of the SILEX Process as Privately Generated Restricted Data.”  (See also “A Glimpse of the SILEX Uranium Enrichment Process,” Secrecy News, August 22, 2007.)   Some New Wrinkles in Nuclear Weapons Secrecy | Secrecy News

August 23, 2011 Posted by | technology, Uranium, USA, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Only independent media gives information on Fukushima radiation fallout

due to the media blackout of Fukushima and its fallout in the United States,  ”We’re really dependent on indymedia these days.”
St. Louis raining Fukushima hot particles: Radiation 178 times normal(video)Examiner,21 Aug 11  

Heeding nuclear expert Arnie Gundersen’s call to monitor and share radiation data, a St. Louis citizen reporter has demonstrated with a Geiger counter on Saturday that background radiation in St. Louis Missouri was 178 times normal after the rainout according to ENEWS. Gundersen predicted that as Japan burns contaminated materials, radiation levels in the United States and Canada would escalate in rainouts for another year.

“St. Louis rain sample shows radiation dose on August 20 almost triple previous high reading,” ENEWS reported Sunday.  Continue reading →

August 22, 2011 Posted by | media, USA | Leave a comment

Silex laser uranium enrichment opening opportunities for nuclear terrorism

Dr. Slakey of the American Physical Society noted that the State Department a dozen years ago warned that the success of Silex could “renew interest” in laser enrichment for good or ill — to light cities or destroy them.

Laser Advances in Nuclear Fuel Stir Terror Fear, NYT, By ,August 20, 2011 Twenty miles southwest of Sydney, in a wooded region, Horst Struve and Michael Goldsworthy kept tinkering with the idea at a government institute. Finally, around 1994, the two men judged that they had a major advance.

The inventors called their idea Silex, for separation of isotopes by laser excitation. “Our approach is completely different,” Dr. Goldsworthy, a physicist, told a Parliamentary hearing… Continue reading →

August 22, 2011 Posted by | safety, technology, Uranium, USA | Leave a comment

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