Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Meet the Jeans-Wearing, Nature-Loving Nuns Who Helped Stop a Kentucky Pipeline

Meet the Jeans-Wearing, Nature-Loving Nuns Who Helped Stop a Kentucky Pipeline



http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/35631-meet-the-jeans-wearing-nature-loving-nuns-who-helped-stop-a-kentucky-pipeline

Forty Percent of US Electricity Could Come From Rooftop Solar

Forty Percent of US Electricity Could Come From Rooftop Solar

The Nuclear Waste Management Strategy - Journal Title: Progress in Nuclear Energy


A world's dilemma ‘upon which the sun never sets’ – The nuclear waste management strategy (part I): Western European Nation States and the United States of America

Highlights

Overview of the nuclear waste management strategies of various nation states.
The dilemma faced in developing a stable waste management program is examined.
The Sustainability model from an economic, environmental and society perspective is analyzed.
An overview of various legal systems and corresponding nuclear laws is provided.

Abstract

The management of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and nuclear wastes demands a strategy to provide for the safe, secure, and permanent disposal of radioactive material from power generation, defense uses, and other activities. Nation states have taken different paths to nuclear waste management and are at various stages of the development of a nuclear waste management strategy. A strategy may include developing a geological repository, nuclear fuel reprocessing, interim storage, as well as discussions of the creation of a multinational storage facility. The nation states have each developed (or are developing) a set of laws and regulations for the management of SNF and nuclear wastes within a constitutional framework and regulatory space. The paper provides an overview of the strategy used (or being developed) and its place within the legal framework. The paper concludes that though each nation state must look outward to its shared international obligations, there must also be an inward reflection of a nation state to its own traditions, customs, and legal/law making regimes. This is to assure a successful and stable outcome at the present period of time, and into the future.


 

It Ain’t Over ’Til It’s Over: Ohio Bailout Battle Marches On

It Ain’t Over ’Til It’s Over: Ohio Bailout Battle Marches On
By Environmental Defense Fund Energy Exchange Blog, Friday, April 15, 2016 10:00 AM
American Electric Power's (AEP) Mountain
In extremely disappointing news, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) recently approved the AEP and FirstEnergy bailout cases. By keeping old, uneconomic coal and nuclear plants running for the next eight years, the bailouts are bad for customers, bad for the environment, and bad for the competitive electric market. Even worse, customers are forced… Keep reading →http://breakingenergy.com/2016/04/15/it-aint-over-til-its-over-ohio-bailout-battle-marches-on/?utm_campaign=Breaking+Energy+Daily+Digest&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=28530747&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Fbkb1bA5vINGh_T4hnFLCNahSl03v6LwSslJfoGFYGpcr6hfs5INxK3TxMh2IEK3yHuNhmqm2VuS4zJCgQtXLZ5oBdg&_hsmi=28530747

Our Candidate: Energy

Our Candidate: Energy
By Energy Tomorrow Blog, Friday, April 15, 2016 2:00 PM
Domestic Oil And Gas Production
There’s a candidate in the 2016 campaign that’s a true unifier, a candidate reflecting the views of an overwhelming number of Americans and one that’s capable of being a sturdy bridge between Washington’s partisan interests: Energy. As the 2016 general election campaign season approaches, API this week unveiled its energy policy recommendations for the platform-writing… Keep reading →http://breakingenergy.com/2016/04/15/our-candidate-energy/?utm_campaign=Breaking+Energy+Daily+Digest&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=28530747&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_vf-8R8fsCIYiYWWH_bIVB8gsEE_tHgRj8CppVjM9KN6Kj8_DhNwS_1Xwi_7uSDsmVR6ZsdP8RGBr_5BTMEik2dhGcvg&_hsmi=28530747

MIT Technology Review Weekend Reads: Cars




April 16, 2016
Weekend Reads:
Cars



Cars are more than just a way to get from point A to point B. They are a part of how we grow up, learn responsibility, and ultimately become independent. Now more than ever, they are also marvels of engineering, packed with computing power and digital intelligence. This weekend, MIT Technology Review looks back at stories that explore our complex relationship with cars, from worries about fuel efficiency and climate change to glimpses of a future in which they, not we, are in the driver’s seat.




How Might Apple Manufacture a Car?
Apple has neither confirmed nor denied the existence of the so-called “Apple car” project. But late last year, we took a hard look at whether the electronics giant could make a serious bid for a piece of the automotive industry. If it exists, is the Apple car going to be electric? Self-driving? And how will the company build it? Could they really outsource the whole damned thing?




Rebooting the Automobile
By some estimates, 25 percent of accidents are caused by drivers fiddling with their phones. Now Apple and Google are battling to create seamless integration between phones and cars, hoping to eliminate driver distraction and vastly improve cars in the process. As vehicles are increasingly governed by computers, the giants of Silicon Valley are betting that the next big thing in cars isn’t a bigger engine—it’s software.




Driverless Cars Are Further Away Than You Think
As bits of automation trickle into today’s cars, this feature from 2013 rings true: everyone loves hearing about how many miles Google’s robot cars have driven themselves, but when will driverless cars become the norm? There are still big issues to be worked out. TL;DR: It’s gonna a be a while, but there are some cool technologies coming to a car near you in the meantime.




The Trouble with India’s People Car
When it was first introduced in 2009, the Tata Nano was supposed to spark a revolution in car ownership across India. But even at the low price of around ,000, a year into its production the car was barely selling. Why wasn’t India’s rising middle class interested in the world’s cheapest car?



Hybrids’ Rising Sun
Way back in 2004, a new car was making waves in the automotive industry. It used a combination of a gasoline engine and an electric motor to achieve a stunning 55 miles per gallon of fuel efficiency. More environmentally friendly cars may have come before it—and more will follow—but the Toyota Prius was the automobile that introduced the world to the term “hybrid.” This is the inside story of how the Prius came to be.




A Turn-of-the-Century Road Trip
In 1910, car-friendly roads were a rarity, and cross-country road trips all but unheard of. But two MIT students set out on a wild ride from Massachusetts to Oregon—pulling up in towns that had never seen a car, scrounging for gasoline, and using their ingenuity to deal with breakdowns. A lot of breakdowns.






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Friday, April 15, 2016

Nuclear Energy for Puerto Rico | ANS Nuclear Cafe

Nuclear Energy for Puerto Rico | ANS Nuclear Cafe

SMR industry leaders say 2016 is milestone year for US, Asia deployment | Nuclear Energy Insider

SMR industry leaders say 2016 is milestone year for US, Asia deployment | Nuclear Energy Insider

Westinghouse Says UK Has Advanced Manufacturing Capabilities For SMR

Westinghouse Says UK Has Advanced Manufacturing Capabilities For SMR

Managing risks in nuclear new-build projects: how to strike the right balance | Fiona Reilly | LinkedIn

Managing risks in nuclear new-build projects: how to strike the right balance | Fiona Reilly | LinkedIn

U.S. Conspiracy Charges Spotlights China Nuclear Champion - Bloomberg

U.S. Conspiracy Charges Spotlights China Nuclear Champion - Bloomberg

Bernie Sanders' Energy Policy: Import A Lot More Oil

Bernie Sanders' Energy Policy: Import A Lot More Oil


http://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2016/04/15/bernie-sanders-energy-policy-import-a-lot-more-oil/#653b3e4e5e71

US NRC Blog Update: Progress Toward a Right-Sized, Agile Nuclear Regulator

Progress Toward a Right-Sized, Agile Nuclear Regulator

Victor M. McCree
Executive Director for Operations
The NRC has begun “re-baselining” the agency’s workload, shedding, deferring or reducing resources. This is a crucial step in Project Aim, our effort to transform the NRC into a more agile, effective and efficient organization poised to meet the challenges of the future.
The Commission has decided on the staff’s recommendations of activities that can be eliminated or de-prioritized without compromising our important safety mission. Re-baselining reductions total about $48.97 million and will reduce the workforce by about 185.3 full-time equivalent (FTE) over the next two years. We are confident we can implement the majority of these reductions by the end of September, allowing us to achieve significant savings in fiscal year 2017.
We can implement re-baselining without impacting our important safety and security mission and without affecting our ability to demonstrate organizational values and principles of good regulation.
Every office, division and branch within the NRC will be affected by re-baselining, directly or indirectly.
What will all this mean for our licensees and other external stakeholders? We will no longer conduct mid-cycle reviews under the Reactor Oversight Process. Procedures and guidance may not be updated as often, and the updates may take longer. Materials licenses will be renewed every 15 years instead of every 10. As our budget shrinks, fees assessed to licensees should go down as well.
While we remain committed to be open and transparent, some public meetings traditionally held near nuclear facilities will instead be handled by webinars or GoToMeeting. And if you call the NRC after work hours, you may end up talking to an answering machine rather than an operator, as we cut back on contractor expenses. The emergency operations center will continue to be staffed 24 hours a day. We will also be reducing travel and training support for our Agreement State and tribal government partners.
Re-baselining is the beginning, not the end, of the NRC’s Project Aim transformation to be better positioned to meet the challenges ahead. We will continue to look for more ways to increase efficiency. As part of this effort, the staff on March 18 presented the Commission a list of longer-term efficiencies that will bring additional benefits now and in the future, as well as a projection of changes in the agency workload through FY 2020. Additional proposals will be sent to the Commission in the spring, including potential reductions to the agency’s drug testing program and current security clearance requirements, and the evaluation of merging the Offices of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and the Office of New Reactors
Rest assured: As we carry out these important changes, we remain focused on our mission of regulating the civilian uses of radioactive material while protecting public health, safety, the environment and the nation’s security.


7.0 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Japan One Day After Deadly 6.2 Temblor

 

7.0 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Japan One Day After Deadly 6.2 Temblor

https://weather.com/safety/earthquake/news/major-earthquake-japan-friday?cm_ven=FB_NEWS_JB_41516_7

Rosatom supports Nuclear Energy event in Egypt

Rosatom supports Nuclear Energy event in Egypt

S. Korea to open its nuclear facilities wider to IAEA

S. Korea to open its nuclear facilities wider to IAEA

Nuclear industry needs to improve communication

Nuclear industry needs to improve communication

Regulatory Excess Takes a Holiday in NRC Fuel Cycle Decision - Nuclear Energy Institute

Regulatory Excess Takes a Holiday in NRC Fuel Cycle Decision - Nuclear Energy Institute

Nuclear Industry Supports House Appropriators’ Move to Sharpen NRC Safety Focus - Nuclear Energy Institute

Nuclear Industry Supports House Appropriators’ Move to Sharpen NRC Safety Focus - Nuclear Energy Institute

Nuclear Developer Details Timeline For Trailblazing Reactor Debut In Idaho | KUOW News and Information

Nuclear Developer Details Timeline For Trailblazing Reactor Debut In Idaho | KUOW News and Information

Feds: TVA executive traded nuclear information for cash in Chinese espionage case

Feds: TVA executive traded nuclear information for cash in Chinese espionage case

Idaho Attorney General Wasden should sign waiver, allow Idaho nuclear research | Idaho Statesman

Idaho Attorney General Wasden should sign waiver, allow Idaho nuclear research | Idaho Statesman

What does "nuclear terrorism" really mean? | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

What does "nuclear terrorism" really mean? | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Radiological terrorism: The unaddressed threat | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Radiological terrorism: The unaddressed threat | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

President Obama's Hiroshima speech | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

President Obama's Hiroshima speech | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Yes, there really is scientific consensus on climate change | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Yes, there really is scientific consensus on climate change | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

DPRK is to develop its nuclear weapons_GMW.cn

DPRK is to develop its nuclear weapons_GMW.cn

Amy Goodman: Obama drives nuclear train wreck | The Spokesman-Review

Amy Goodman: Obama drives nuclear train wreck | The Spokesman-Review

CGN Power (01816) 1Q on-grid nuclear power output up 54.4% - 經濟通 ET Net

CGN Power (01816) 1Q on-grid nuclear power output up 54.4% - 經濟通 ET Net

Fukushima disaster 5 years on: How it changed Japan - CNN.com

Fukushima disaster 5 years on: How it changed Japan - CNN.com

US Accuses Nuclear Engineer Of Illegally Recruiting Experts To Help Build Reactors In China

US Accuses Nuclear Engineer Of Illegally Recruiting Experts To Help Build Reactors In China

Inspectors faked safety checks at two nuclear plants - The Local

Inspectors faked safety checks at two nuclear plants - The Local

Ghana News - Atomic Energy Commission engages stakeholders on nuclear power programme

Ghana News - Atomic Energy Commission engages stakeholders on nuclear power programme

Letter: A close-up look at Fukushima devastation, nuclear dangers

Letter: A close-up look at Fukushima devastation, nuclear dangers


http://www.citizen-times.com/story/opinion/readers/2016/04/14/letter-close-look-fukushima-devastation-nuclear-dangers/83031160/

Exxon seeks to block subpoena over climate-change documents


Exxon seeks to block subpoena over climate-change documents

http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2016/04/exxon-seeks-to-block-subpoena-over-climate-change-documents.html?cmpid=EnlWeeklyPetroApril152016&eid=288118515&bid=1373698

BP chief weathers shareholder discontent over $20M pay pack


BP chief weathers shareholder discontent over $20M pay pack

http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2016/04/bp-chief-weathers-shareholder-discontent-over-20m-pay-pack.html?cmpid=EnlWeeklyPetroApril152016&eid=288118515&bid=1373698

Nuclear Knowledge Management and Cyber Security Conference, June 17-18 2016, Cardiff

Nuclear knowledge management conference

In the UK alone 70% of high skilled nuclear labour is set to retire by 2025. Attracting new talent from other industries and educational programmes will be one vital step but enhancing transparency of information and knowledge amongst the key stakeholders operating in this highly regulated industry cannot be overlooked.

This June (17-18) these leading nuclear stakeholders will come together with top security experts at the Nuclear Knowledge Management and Cyber Security Conference (17-18 June, Cardiff): http://bit.ly/1evr3if

Some of the leading names set to attend include:
• Head of Strategy for Civil Nuclear Security – ONR
• Director for Civil Nuclear Security – ONR
• Head of Cyber Security and Information Assurance – ONR
• Civil Nuclear Security Policy Advisor – DECC
• Pre-Operations Director – EDF NNB
• Knowledge Management Lead – EDF NNB
• Head of KM and Intellectual Property – Sellafield
• OD Programme Support Team Lead – Horizon Nuclear Power
• Nuclear Regulator – Environment Agency
• Knowledge and Information Lead – Magnox

To register your interest and find out about how you can get involved simply email Mike on mvickery@nuclearenergyinsider.com to find out more.

Kind regards,

Mike

Michael Vickery
Senior Project Manager
Nuclear Energy Insider
@nuclearenergy1
+44 (0) 207 375 7177

ANS Annual Meeting June 12-16, 2016, New Orleans

2016 ANS Annual Meeting
Nuclear Power: Leading the Supply of Clean, Carbon Free Energy
June 12-16, 2016 • Hyatt Regency New Orleans • New Orleans, LA
General Chair’s Session
The General Chair’s Session
Tuesday, June 14th
 
Improving the Competitiveness of the Existing U.S. Commercial Nuclear Fleet
- Sustaining a National Asset

Many U.S. nuclear power plants currently operate in a world of uncertainty, challenged by low commodity prices and competitive market imbalances.  Senior industry and government leaders will discuss the current issues and challenges affecting the continued operation of the fleet, actions underway in market reform, and optimization of operating costs.

Panel:
  • William M. Mohl - President, Entergy Wholesale Commodities
  • William E. Webster, Jr. - Executive Vice President, Industry Strategy, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations
  • Dr. Peter B. Lyons - Former Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, Former NRC Commissioner 
  • Anthony R. Pietrangelo - Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer, Nuclear Energy Institute

See the Preview Program for a daily breakdown of sessions, events, and more.
 
Register Today!

Save up to $150 when you register before May 12!
 

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Rock, Drill Bit, Microwave: Paul Woskov Explores a New Path through the Earth’s Crust

Rock, Drill Bit, Microwave: Paul Woskov Explores a New Path through the Earth’s Crust


http://www.theenergycollective.com/energyatmit/2376069/rock-drill-bit-microwave-paul-woskov-explores-a-new-path-through-the-earths-crust?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

The Importance of New York City’s Water Infrastructure


The Importance of New York City’s Water Infrastructure

http://www.theenergycollective.com/stevenacohen/2376072/the-importance-of-new-york-citys-water-infrastructure?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

Big Errors in Measuring Carbon Emissions from Power Plants


Big Errors in Measuring Carbon Emissions from Power Plants

http://www.theenergycollective.com/john-wilson/2376080/big-errors-in-measuring-carbon-emissions-from-power-plants?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

The Myth of Technology Neutral Regulation

The Myth of Technology Neutral Regulation
http://www.theenergycollective.com/parth-vaishnav/2376107/the-myth-of-technology-neutral-regulation?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+Energy+Collective+%28all+posts%29

Faison, ClearPath Action Offer Support for S. 2795, the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act


Faison, ClearPath Action Offer Support for S. 2795, the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act

Conservative Clean Energy Group Says Updating Regulatory System for Advanced Reactors is an Important Part of the Broader Need to "Rightsize" the NRC to Match its Workload.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/faison-clearpath-action-offer-support-for-s-2795-the-nuclear-energy-innovation-and-modernization-act-300251809.html

Report details mistakes in radiation event

Report details mistakes in radiation event


http://www.postregister.com/articles/news-daily-email-todays-headlines/2016/04/13/report-details-mistakes-radiation-event

L-3 MAPPS awarded contract for Korean Candu simulator


L-3 MAPPS awarded contract for Korean Candu simulator

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/C-L-3-MAPPS-awarded-contract-for-Korean-Candu-simulator-1304164.html

Senate Bill Drives Efficiency in NRC Regulation, Advanced Reactor Licensing

Senate Bill Drives Efficiency in NRC Regulation, Advanced Reactor Licensing


http://www.nei.org/News-Media/Media-Room/News-Releases/Senate-Bill-Drives-Efficiency-in-NRC-Regulation,-A

House Releases $37.4 Billion Energy Spending Bill

House Releases $37.4 Billion Energy Spending Bill


http://www.bna.com/house-releases-374-n57982069785/

Nuclear Regulatory Commission gives top ratings to Browns Ferry plant


Nuclear Regulatory Commission gives top ratings to Browns Ferry plant

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2016/apr/13/nuclear-regulatory-commission-gives-top-ratings-browns-ferry-plant/359960/

Company proposes nuclear waste storage in New Mexico



http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/apr/13/company-proposes-nuclear-waste-storage-in-new-mexi/

GROUP SUPPORTS INDIAN POINT, SAYS NUCLEAR POWER IS NET POSITIVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

GROUP SUPPORTS INDIAN POINT, SAYS NUCLEAR POWER IS NET POSITIVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT


http://www.rocklandtimes.com/2016/04/14/group-supports-indian-point-says-nuclear-power-is-net-positive-for-the-environment/

Feds list Idaho as possible site for nuclear waste storage

Feds list Idaho as possible site for nuclear waste storage


http://www.theeagle.com/news/nation/feds-list-idaho-as-possible-site-for-nuclear-waste-storage/article_043eefe3-e43a-5734-a7c7-c8461414a556.html

Landmark Vatican conference rejects just war theory, asks for encyclical on nonviolence

Landmark Vatican conference rejects just war theory, asks for encyclical on nonviolence

http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/landmark-vatican-conference-rejects-just-war-theory-asks-encyclical-nonviolence

Fukushima Update 4/14/16

Fukushima Update 4/14/16

Japans Tritium fears get blasted by an EPRI researcher… Tokyo considers lifting the evacuation order for most of Katsurao Village on June 12… Two Japanese research reactors’ safety measures are approved by Tokyo… Salmon fishing resumes in a Fukushima lake… A Tepco official says he knew the company’s meltdown criterion before the nuke accident… Another lawsuit says the NRA’s new regulations are inadequate.

http://www.hiroshimasyndrome.com/fukushima-accident-updates.html

New emergency equipment facility for US plant

New emergency equipment facility for US plant
A new building designed to withstand earthquakes and tornadoes has been completed at the Hatch nuclear power plant in Georgia. The dome-shaped building will house portable back-up emergency equipment including generators, pumps and other resources.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-New-emergency-equipment-facility-for-US-plant-1404167.html

Operating licence application submitted for Finnish EPR

Operating licence application submitted for Finnish EPR
Finnish utility Teollisuuden Voima Oyj has today submitted its operating licence application for unit 3 of the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant. The first-of-a-kind EPR plant is scheduled to start up in late 2018.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-Operating-licence-application-submitted-for-Finnish-EPR-1404164.html

Nuclear industry needs to improve communication

 

Nuclear industry needs to improve communication

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-Nuclear-industry-needs-to-improve-communication-14041601.html

Strong quakes hit Japan, nuclear plants safe, dozens injured: media

Strong quakes hit Japan, nuclear plants safe, dozens injured: media


http://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-quake-idUSKCN0XB1K6

How to Protect Nuclear Plants From Terrorists

How to Protect Nuclear Plants From Terrorists

Security is weak at many nuclear plants worldwide, says a former top U.S. nuclear regulator.



http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-04-13/how-to-protect-nuclear-plants-from-terrorists

Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction sets foot in Chinese nuclear power plant O&M market

Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction sets foot in Chinese nuclear power plant O&M market


http://pulsenews.co.kr/view.php?sc=30800021&year=2016&no=273812

Massachusetts nuke plant to refuel next year, close in 2019

Massachusetts nuke plant to refuel next year, close in 2019


http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2016/04/massachusetts-nuke-plant-to-refuel-next-year-close-in-2019.html

People’s Fission


People’s Fission

A supporter's plea for Bernie Sanders to change his mind and embrace nuclear energy.

https://newrepublic.com/article/132654/peoples-fission

Peabody Energy’s Bankruptcy Shows the Limits of “Clean Coal”

Peabody Energy’s Bankruptcy Shows the Limits of “Clean Coal”

Peabody Energy’s Bankruptcy Shows the Limits of “Clean Coal”
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/601270/peabody-energys-bankruptcy-shows-the-limits-of-clean-coal/#/set/id/601271/

ARPA-E Announces $60 Million In Funding For Two Innovative New Programs

 
By U.S. Department of Energy, Wednesday, April 13, 2016 4:30 PM
ARPAE blog
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) today announced up to $60 million in funding for two new programs that aim to solve some of the nation’s most pressing energy challenges by accelerating the development of novel energy technologies. The first program, NEXT-Generation Energy Technologies for Connected and Automated on-Road vehicles… Keep reading →http://breakingenergy.com/2016/04/13/arpa-e-announces-60-million-in-funding-for-two-innovative-new-programs/?utm_campaign=Breaking+Energy+Daily+Digest&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=28436574&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8KrVA3lTc5XU6Y7RSWng7MVGkLkFBCU7FLvGHUUATPUE6qUMdsnwXmbkCHVKKTqjJ83tVSUv4BhHKdcYEIMO0s8bbKTw&_hsmi=28436574

ISIS atomic plot? Police find file on German nuclear base at Paris attacks suspect’s flat

ISIS atomic plot? Police find file on German nuclear base at Paris attacks suspect’s flat


http://www.briefreport.co.uk/news/isis-atomic-plot-police-find-file-on-german-nuclear-base-at-paris-attacks-suspect-s-flat-4063261.html

Nuclear protesters sue NRA to halt Takahama reactor restarts

Nuclear protesters sue NRA to halt Takahama reactor restarts


http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/04/14/national/crime-legal/nuclear-protesters-sue-nra-halt-takahama-reactor-restarts/#.Vw-PgnCGhRk

Veolia Closes Acquisition of Kurion and Continues Its Development Strategy in Nuclear Facility Cleanup and Treatment of Radioactive Waste

Veolia Closes Acquisition of Kurion and Continues Its Development Strategy in Nuclear Facility Cleanup and Treatment of Radioactive Waste 

http://www.worldreginfo.com/cp2.asp?uid=DE241168-42CA-4595-B8D2-AEE248ACD550&id_language=2

Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam had documents about a nuclear research base in his Brussels flat

Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam had documents about a nuclear research base in his Brussels flat


http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/paris-attacks-suspect-salah-abdeslam-7752354

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Presidential Candidates’ Views on Energy Policy


Presidential Candidates’ Views on Energy Policy

http://ansnuclearcafe.org/2016/04/13/presidential-candidates-views-on-energy-policy/

NRC Blog Update: REFRESH: Jefferson Proving Ground – The NRC’s Role

REFRESH: Jefferson Proving Ground – The NRC’s Role

Jim Smith
Health Physicist
Materials Decommissioning Branch

refresh leafMost people think of nuclear reactors when they think of the NRC. Some may think of nuclear medicine or uranium. Many would be surprised to know we are also involved in regulating radioactive materials at U.S. military sites.
Although nuclear weapons are completely outside our purview, some military sites need an NRC license to possess and use certain nuclear materials. For example, the Army has a license to possess depleted uranium (DU) at a site in Indiana called Jefferson Proving Ground.
We wrote previously about the Army’s September 2014 plan to decommission that site. It asked the NRC to terminate the license, with certain access restrictions as allowed under our regulations. The NRC sent the Army a number of questions on the proposal.
In an April letter, the Army said it now believes the environmental and occupational risks of decommissioning outweigh the benefits. So instead of decommissioning and releasing the site for restricted use, the Army envisions keeping its license, at least for now, along with the security and surveillance requirements currently in place. The Army will follow up with a justification for its request for an exemption from the NRC’s “timeliness rule.” This rule requires licensees to notify the NRC within 60 days of permanently ceasing activities at a licensed site and either begin decommissioning or submit a decommissioning plan within 12 months. Rather than decommissioning the site, the Army now is proposing to maintain its license for possession of the depleted uranium penetrators dispersed across the impact area of the site.
The Army began using the 56,000-acre site in 1941 to test fire all sorts of munitions. The Army fired more than 24 million rounds before testing came to an end in 1994 and the installation closed in 1995 as a result of the Base Realignment and Closure Act. Today, the Army still owns about 51,000 acres of the original site, but nearly all of that is managed as a wildlife refuge. The Indiana Air National Guard uses another part of the site as an air-to-ground bombing training range. The 51,000-acre area contains unexploded ordnance —explosive munitions that could still go off—and live detonators, primers and fuzes, and can’t ever be used for farming, housing or commerce.
In the early 1980’s, the NRC got involved with the site when the Army wanted to test DU rounds there. The DU in these rounds is able to penetrate the armor on a tank. Over a 10-year period, the Army fired about 220,000 pounds of DU projectiles into a 2,080-acre area known as the DU Impact Area, which lies within the 51,000 acres with unexploded ordnance. The Army still has its NRC license for the DU and now wants to maintain the DU Impact Area as it currently exists.
duPictureAbout 162,000 pounds of DU remain in the DU Impact Area. There is also a high density of unexploded ordnance in this area. The Army proposes to leave the DU and unexploded ordnance in place because cleanup would be very dangerous and very expensive. To keep people out of the Jefferson Proving Ground site, the Army will keep the current access barriers—including a perimeter fence with padlocked gates and security warning signs—as well as legal and administrative controls.
We expect to have public conversations with the Army as it develops its justification for continued licensed possession of the depleted uranium. These discussions will either be in the form of in-person meetings or teleconferences. Either way, we will announce them ahead of time on our public meeting website. The public will be able to ask questions of the NRC. The Army may, but is not required to, answer questions from the public.
REFRESH is an occasional series where we revisit or update previous posts. This first ran in December 2014.

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Group calls for revamp of reactor licensing process

 

Group calls for revamp of reactor licensing process

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-Group-calls-for-revamp-of-reactor-licensing-process-1304165.html

Company proposes nuclear waste storage in New Mexico

Company proposes nuclear waste storage in New Mexico


http://www.newschannel10.com/story/31715084/company-proposes-nuclear-waste-storage-in-new-mexico

Small modular nuclear reactors not likely before mid-2020s

Small modular nuclear reactors not likely before mid-2020s


http://oakridgetoday.com/2016/04/13/small-nuclear-reactors-not-likely-before-mid-2020s/

NRC in Oak Ridge meeting hears concerns about TVA nuke plan


NRC in Oak Ridge meeting hears concerns about TVA nuke plan

http://www.knoxnews.com/business/nrc-in-oak-ridge-meeting-hears-concerns-about-tva-nuke-plan-304abc0c-35f3-403f-e053-0100007fa1d7-375467571.html

Economic Study Chronicles San Onofre Closing

 
Economic Study Chronicles San Onofre Closing

If the positive impact of nuclear power were not obvious enough, perhaps the negative consequences of closing a nuclear power plant will wake up the public to the role of nuclear power in the country's energy mix.

That's the message behind a couple of news reports this week that cite a new study by economists Lucas Davis from the University of California, Berkeley, and Catherine Hausman of the University of Michigan, that chronicles the repercussions of the closing of the two operating reactors of the San Onofre nuclear power plant in southern California.

The study found that in the year following the San Onofre closing, electricity generation costs rose by $350 million and that carbon dioxide emissions rose by 9 million tons, which is the equivalent of putting 2 million more cars on the road, wrote University of Michigan economics professor Mark J. Perry in a story that appeared in The Detroit News and the American Enterprise Institute, where Perry is affiliated. Read more or comment>>>>http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2016/04/13/economic-study-chronicles-san-onofre-closing-041301#.Vw6benCGhRl

Video Clip Highlights Q1 Progress At Vogtle Site

Video Clip Highlights Q1 Progress At Vogtle Site

Georgia Power has released the latest timeline video from the Plant Vogtle nuclear expansion project, showcasing construction progress in the first quarter of 2016. Now more than 60 percent complete based on contractual milestones, progress is visible every day, the company said.

In the scenic community of Waynesboro, Georgia, a community of 5,000 residents that calls itself "the bird dog capital of the world, " the Vogtle project is the state's largest job-producing construction project with more than 5,000 construction workers onsite and 800 permanent jobs that will be available once the new units begin operation. Once all four units are online, Plant Vogtle is expected to generate more electricity than any other U.S. nuclear facility, enough to power more than one million homes and businesses.

Each milestone is a significant step in the history of the plant, but also a renewed symbol of perseverance for the U.S. nuclear power industry.

Visible highlights from the first quarter of the year include more than 1,800 cubic yards of concrete poured to fill the walls of the Unit 3 CA20 building module, a continuous 45-hour pour, continued progress on cooling towers for both units and the preparation of the Unit 3 CA03 module for placement. View video and comment >>>> http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2016/04/12/video-clip-highlights-q1-progress-at-vogtle-site-041202#.Vw6YunCGhRl

Nuclear Energy’s Impact on Clean Power Plan Compliance

Nuclear Energy’s Impact on Clean Power Plan Compliance

Jessica Lovering, Director of Energy at The Breakthrough Institute & Member of the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition


http://casenergy.org/2016/04/nuclear-energys-impact-on-clean-power-plan-compliance/

Japan prepares for release of tritium from Fukushima plant

News from The Associated Press

Savannah River Site contractor resumes full operations | The Augusta Chronicle

Savannah River Site contractor resumes full operations | The Augusta Chronicle

POINT OF VIEW Turkey Point tritium levels well below hazardous... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

POINT OF VIEW Turkey Point tritium levels well below hazardous... | www.mypalmbeachpost.com

Sen. Manchin on the Limitations of Renewables - WSJ

Sen. Manchin on the Limitations of Renewables - WSJ

Kuwait calls for nuke-free Middle East

Kuwait calls for nuke-free Middle East 
http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/721935

Dimona Nuclear Reactor's Joint International Research Projects Revealed for First Time

Dimona Nuclear Reactor's Joint International Research Projects Revealed for First Time

Nuclear research center’s director cites cooperation with U.S., European and international bodies.
read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.714128

http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.714128

K3 and K3AD approved sensors for nuclear industry

K3 and K3AD approved sensors for nuclear industry


http://www.controlengeurope.com/article/114747/K3-and-K3AD-approved-sensors-for-nuclear-industry.aspx

Power Machines continue work on manufacturing of power equipment for the first under-construction nuclear power plant in Belarus

Power Machines continue work on manufacturing of power equipment for the first under-construction nuclear power plant in the Republic of Belarus (OAO TKZ Krasny Kotelshchik)


http://article.wn.com/view/2016/04/13/Power_Machines_continue_work_on_manufacturing_of_power_equip/

Can nuclear fusion CURE CANCER?


Can nuclear fusion CURE CANCER?


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Can-nuclear-fusion-CURE-CANCER-30283789.html

SASOR Announces Approval of Both Canadian and US Patents for the Use of Nuclear Thermal Technology in Oil Sands and Oil Shale Production

SASOR Announces Approval of Both Canadian and US Patents for the Use of Nuclear Thermal Technology in Oil Sands and Oil Shale Production

http://www.pr.com/press-release/666856

New uranium plant in Romania


New uranium plant in Romania

http://www.nineoclock.ro/new-uranium-plant-in-romania/

Radiation Monitoring and Safety Market Worth 652.8 Million USD by 2020

Radiation Monitoring and Safety Market Worth 652.8 Million USD by 2020


http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiation-monitoring-and-safety-market-worth-6528-million-usd-by-2020-573847321.html

Coal Slump Sends Mining Giant Peabody Energy Into Bankruptcy


Coal Slump Sends Mining Giant Peabody Energy Into Bankruptcy

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-13/peabody-majority-of-its-u-s-entities-file-for-chapter-11