Bulletin of Atomic Scientists Nuclear Roundup September 8, 2017

Nuclear Roundup
September 8, 2017
A compilation of quality nuclear policy news published on the Web, around the world.

North Korea

S. Korea braces for another possible N. Korea missile test

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_KOREAS_TENSIONS_ASOL-?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-09-08-03-17-26

Mexico expels North Korean ambassador over nuclear tests

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/08/mexico-expels-north-korean-ambassador-over-nuclear-tests.html

Trump renews threat of force against North Korea over nuclear weapons

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/china-will-back-fresh-un-sanctions-on-north-korea-over-nuclear-tests/2017/09/07/afc6ac52-93a9-11e7-b9bc-b2f7903bab0d_story.html?utm_term=.85e3365cb628

How Would the U.S. Defend Against a North Korean Nuclear Attack?

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2017-us-defense-against-north-korean-nuclear-attack/

Why Kim Jong-Un wouldn’t be irrational to use a nuclear bomb first

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/why-kim-jong-un-wouldnt-be-irrational-to-use-a-nuclear-bomb-first/2017/09/08/a9d36ca4-934f-11e7-aace-04b862b2b3f3_story.html?utm_term=.7ca5a68a2a94

Israel Has a Playbook for Dealing With North Korea

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-09-07/israel-has-a-playbook-for-dealing-with-north-korea

Why North Korea is a black hole for American spies

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/08/why-north-korea-is-a-black-hole-for-spies-242473

The case for letting North Korea keep its nukes

https://www.vox.com/world/2017/9/8/16256880/north-korea-nuclear-weapons-test-containment

How surprising is North Korea’s nuclear success? Picking up where proliferation theories leave off

https://warontherocks.com/2017/09/how-surprising-is-north-koreas-nuclear-success-picking-up-where-proliferation-theories-leave-off/

Collina: On North Korea, More Missile Defense Is Not the Answer

http://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2017/09/north-korea-more-missile-defense-not-answer/140822/?oref=defenseone_today_nl

The Risk of Nuclear War with North Korea

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/09/18/the-risk-of-nuclear-war-with-north-korea

North Korean Nuclear Bombs

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3cstzrr

North Korean nuclear test shows steady advance: interview with Siegfried Hecker

http://thebulletin.org/north-korean-nuclear-test-shows-steady-advance-interview-siegfried-hecker11091

United States

Federal auditors say US nuclear dump running out of room

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/watchdog-agency-us-nuclear-dump-running-room-49684101

The Air Force's 'rods from god' could hit with the force a nuclear weapon — but with no fallout

http://www.businessinsider.com/air-force-rods-from-god-kinetic-weapon-hit-with-nuclear-weapon-force-2017-9

CSI: Nuclear

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2017/09/07/csi-nuclear/#3cf3f9bc64ce

McCaul emerges as a leading candidate for DHS secretary

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/07/mccaul-emerges-as-leading-dhs-pick-242459

International

Czechs refuse to lift ban on nuclear supplies for Iran

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/czechs-refuse-to-lift-ban-on-nuclear-supplies-for-iran/

Does Japan really want nuclear weapons?

http://www.atimes.com/japan-really-want-nuclear-weapons/

A War with Russia Would Go Nuclear. Here's Why.

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/war-russia-would-go-nuclear-heres-why-22202

Japan May Be Coming Full Circle After Its Fukushima Nuclear Energy Disaster

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2017/09/08/japan-may-be-coming-full-circle-after-its-fukushima-nuclear-energy-disaster/#5b57d2df30e8

PM inaugurates 340MW nuclear power plant at Chashma

https://www.geo.tv/latest/157151-pm-to-inaugurate-340mw-nuclear-power-plant-at-chashma-today

Inside Siberia's remote nuclear science hub – in pictures

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2017/sep/08/inside-siberia-remote-nuclear-science-hub-akademgorok-in-pictures

This Dead Russian Nuclear Submarine Could Be a "Ticking Environmental Time Bomb"

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/dead-russian-nuclear-submarine-could-be-ticking-22210

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IAEA Concludes Four-year Research Project on Fast Reactor Safety Features

IAEA Concludes Four-year Research Project on Fast Reactor Safety Features

Block control room of BN-800's Unit 4. The BN-800 reactor is a sodium-cooled fast breeder reactor, built at the Beloyarsk Nuclear Power Plant. (Photo: Rosenergoatom)
Results of a four-year IAEA Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on improving system and safety analysis of sodium cooled fast reactors (SFRs) are now available. The recently published IAEA TECDOC, Benchmark Analysis of EBR-II Shutdown Heat Removal Tests, is a result of work done by experts from 19 organisations in 11 Member States.
The SFR technology development traces its beginnings to the Experimental Breeder Reactor I (EBR-I) at Argonne National Laboratory in the United States, which first generated useable amounts of electricity in December 1951. The succeeding decades saw construction and operation of experimental and prototype fast reactor facilities in the US, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan and India. At present, a new generation of fast reactors have been introduced with the BN-800 in Russia operating since 2015, the China Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR) operating in China since 2011 and the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) under construction in India since 2004.
SFRs represent a significant advance over established and evolutionary light water reactor designs in terms of efficient resource utilization, passive safety1, reliability and management of high-level waste.
The Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II) operated at Argonne-West in Idaho from 1964 to 1994 and was the backbone of the U.S. breeder reactor effort, as it successfully demonstrated the concept of a liquid metallic sodium being used as a coolant in a nuclear reactor. (Photo: Argonne National Laboratory)
In response to growing interest, in June 2012, the IAEA initiated a four-year Coordinated Research Project (CRP) with the objective of improving SFR modelling and simulation tools for safety validation, alongside training the next generation of researchers, analysts and designers through international benchmark exercises.
The participating organisations in this CRP demonstrated, via simulation and modelling, how SFRs would stand a severe accident with no core damage, a scenario which was experimentally tested in the 1980s in the EBR-II reactor. Several meetings held during the project have provided insight into the performance and reliability of simulation codes to be used for the system design and the safety analysis of future prototype reactors, with particular emphasis on shutdown heat removal phenomena2.
“Nothing would have been possible without the outstanding and precious work performed by Argonne National Laboratory,” said Stefano Monti, Head of the IAEA Nuclear Power Technology Development Section.
“Sometimes we underestimate the intrinsic value of technical data provided by our Member States to carry out our activities, but we have to consider that this information comes from very expensive and complex experimental campaigns. This will undoubtedly allow our Member States with an active programme on fast reactors to improve their capability to perform reliable safety analysis of innovative reactor types.”
__________
1 A safety feature that does not require manual or electronic actions to safely shut down a reactor in the event of an emergency (usually overheating resulting from a loss of coolant or loss of coolant flow). Such reactors tend to rely more on engineering of components, such that their predicted behaviour, would slow, rather than accelerate, a nuclear reaction.
2 The removal of residual heat from the reactor core after shutdown, and during and after appropriate operational states and accident conditions.

2018 Nuclear Deterrence Summit Theme Announced

For Immediate Release
Contact: Sarah Plombon
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ExchangeMonitor Announces Theme for the 2018 Nuclear Deterrence Summit with Focus on the Administration’s Nuclear Posture Review (NPR)
The annual Nuclear Deterrence Summit gathers U.S. and international leaders, experts, and industry executives in the field of nuclear deterrence to discuss management of the nuclear complex, the security of the stockpile, arms control negotiations, and strategic policy.

Rockville, MD – September 8, 2017 – ExchangeMonitor Publications & Forums has announced the theme for the 2018 Nuclear Deterrence Summit, The Administration’s New Nuclear Posture Review. This Summit brings together leaders from across the U.S. nuclear enterprise to discuss high-level policy changes. The final document of the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) is set to be released just months before the Summit takes place, and will cover each leg of the nuclear triad.

The review will detail the administration’s priorities for modernization and how this effort will relate to the nation’s policies on nonproliferation, arms control and keeping the nation safe from nuclear attack as well as continuing efforts by the Department of Homeland Security and Nuclear Detection Office to combat future nuclear smuggling and terrorism activities. Join leaders from across the U.S. nuclear enterprise at the 2018 Nuclear Deterrence Summit to discuss the impact of the NPR on the future of the nuclear deterrent enterprise at both the Energy and Defense Departments.

Taking place February 20-22 at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City in Arlington, VA, 2018 marks the 10 year anniversary of the annual Summit. With over 350 expected attendees and several high-profile sponsors already secured, including General Dynamics, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Jacobs and AECOM, the 2018 Nuclear Deterrence Summit is a can’t miss event.

“Nuclear deterrence seems to make headlines every week lately, but to get beyond the headlines, you need to hear directly from the men and women who support nuclear security here and around the world,” said Dan Leone, reporter for Nuclear Security & Deterrence Monitor.

Agenda topics include:
  • Nuclear Policy Update
  • National Laboratories Updates
  • MOX Update
  • NNSA Weapons Activities Updates
  • Countering Nuclear Smuggling
  • Proliferation Challenges: North Korea, China & Iran
  • Extended Deterrence Challenges: Russia and NATO
  • Arms Control/International Security Diplomacy
  • Nuclear Triad Modernization
  • And more!
The Summit gives attendees access to executives representing some of the world’s most influential organizations and government agencies working in the nuclear deterrence and nonproliferation areas. Through a day and a half of conference sessions and networking events, attendees will get high-level strategic updates from high-profile and expert speakers who are moving the industry forward, and connect with one another to create business for 2018 and beyond.

To learn more and to register, visit www.deterrencesummit.com.


Register by October 27 to receive the early bird rate – you’ll save up to $200.

About ExchangeMonitor, a division of Access Intelligence, LLC
ExchangeMonitor Publications & Forums publishes professional newsletters and creates, manages and sponsors forums, colloquiums and workshops to facilitate an exchange of views and information on critical programs and policies. Areas of focus include: the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management and the cleanup of the nuclear legacy of the Manhattan Project and the Cold War; the National Nuclear Security Administrative and the current U.S. nuclear weapons complex; and the commercial radioactive waste industry. View in web browser

IAEA: Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station


Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

The Japanese Government has provided the IAEA with a report that summarizes the events and highlights the progress related to recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The IAEA provided its assessments, which are contained in full at the end of the report.
Reduction of groundwater inflow into the buildings & release of pumped-up groundwater to the sea
The IAEA acknowledges the multiple initiatives to reduce the volume of groundwater inflow into the buildings and to maintain the same level of pumped water even when it rains.
The IAEA further notes that according to the information provided by Japan, the reported volume of water is being released to the sea in a controlled manner, without a noticeable impact on the radiation levels in seawater (please, also see the below section on “Sea area monitoring results”).
Investigations inside the Primary Containment Vessels (PCVs)
The IAEA notes the ongoing progress that has been made in the investigation of PCV internal structures. The information gained from the investigation will help to develop the future plan to remove fuel and fuel debris. The IAEA also notes that, during the investigation, there was no significant change in radiation levels at monitoring posts and dust-monitoring at the site boundaries of Fukushima Daiichi NPS.
Off-site decontamination
The IAEA acknowledges the efforts undertaken by the Government of Japan as well as the concerned prefectures and municipalities to implement off-site decontamination. The IAEA notes Japan’s plans to continue monitoring the air dose rate in the environment and to continue implementing remediation measures, as appropriate.
Sea area monitoring results
Based on the information provided by Japan, no significant changes were observed in the monitoring results for seawater, sediment and marine biota during the period covered by this report. The levels measured by Japan in the marine environment are low and relatively stable. For the purpose of public reassurance, the IAEA encourages continuation of sea area monitoring, particularly considering the ongoing authorized discharges of treated and monitored groundwater into the ocean.
Sea area monitoring data quality assurance
The IAEA considers that the extensive data quality assurance programme helps to build confidence of the stakeholders in the accuracy and quality of the sea area monitoring data. A report on the inter-laboratory comparison exercise activities in 2014-2016 was published in July 2017. The report concludes that the results obtained in the inter-laboratory comparison exercises demonstrate a high level of accuracy and competence on the part of the Japanese laboratories involved in the analyses of radionuclides in marine samples for the Sea Area Monitoring programme.
Food products
Based on the information provided by the authorities of Japan, the situation with regard to the safety of food, fishery and agricultural production continues to remain stable. No significant changes were observed since the previous report. Monitoring foods, appropriate regulatory action and public communication are helping to maintain confidence in the safety of the food supply. Food restrictions continue to be revised and updated as necessary in line with the food monitoring results. This indicates the continued vigilance of the authorities in Japan and their commitment to protecting consumers and trade.
Based on the information that has been made available, the Joint FAO/IAEA Division understands that measures to monitor and respond to issues regarding radionuclide contamination of food are appropriate, and that the food supply chain is controlled effectively by the relevant authorities.

Fukushima Update 9/7/17

Fukushima Update 9/7/17

Minamisoma radiation levels are the same as cities on the west coast of Japan… Assumptions of bioaccumulation for Fukushima contamination are “unwise”… Tokyo posts the latest F. Daiichi decommissioning “roadmap”… Pictures of the installation of the second section of the unit #3 dome… Two of Tepco’s large BWR unit restarts will be discussed by the NRA… Tokyo says it will build a memorial in Namie for 2011 disaster victims... Fukushima will send 100 tons of its home-grown rice to Malaysia this year.

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

The NRC Readies for Hurricane Irma

The NRC Readies for Hurricane Irma

Roger Hannah
Senior Public Affairs Officer, Region II
At least two nuclear power plants, Turkey Point and St. Lucie, are in the predicted path of Hurricane Irma. Both are preparing for the strong and potentially damaging storm – just as they have for past dangerous hurricanes.
Twenty-five years ago, Turkey Point was directly in the path of Hurricane Andrew, a Category 5 storm, and although many of the plant’s structures were damaged and offsite power lines were lost, important safety equipment was safely maintained.
Florida Power & Light, the company that operates Turkey Point and St. Lucie, is working through a very detailed storm preparation procedure. That work includes checking equipment and supplies such as diesel generator fuel, securing or moving other equipment or items that might be blown around, and implementing a staffing plan to ensure enough operators and support staff are on site around the clock if roads become inaccessible.
Meanwhile, the NRC’s resident inspectors at the two sites are watching and ensuring company employees are following their procedures. The NRC’s Region II office in Atlanta has already dispatched two additional inspectors to Turkey Point and two others to St. Lucie so the resident inspectors assigned to those sites can take care of their homes and families.
As Hurricane Irma moves closer, the NRC will activate its Incident Response Center in Atlanta for around the clock staffing and begin ongoing communications with the plants and the NRC inspectors on site.
Procedures require both plants to be shut down prior to the onset of hurricane-force winds on site, and remain shut down until equipment has been checked and reliable offsite power lines are restored. The plants have diesel generators that can provide power to keep the plants in a safe condition for many days if offsite power is not available.
In addition, regional inspectors have been in contact with NRC license holders in Puerto Rico, Florida and other potentially affected states, which have responsibility for securing radioactive materials during the storm.
Hurricane Andrew and other natural events that have affected nuclear plants in past decades have provided the NRC with a wealth of experience in responding to conditions that can be expected during Hurricane Irma.


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