Framatome signs memorandum of understanding with Rosatom State Corporation: Paris, France (SPX) Jun 19, 2020 -
Framatome signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Rosatom State Corporation under the procedure of selecting a strategic investor for the Belene Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Bulgaria.
Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Friday, July 3, 2020
X-energy Teams with NFI to fuel the High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor in Japan
X-energy Teams with NFI to fuel the High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor in Japan: Rockville MD (SPX) Jun 26, 2020 -
X-energy announced it has teamed with Nuclear Fuel Industries (NFI) to be the exclusive counterparty to supply fuel to the Japanese high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR). X-energy is purchasing
X-energy announced it has teamed with Nuclear Fuel Industries (NFI) to be the exclusive counterparty to supply fuel to the Japanese high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR). X-energy is purchasing
Reducing the costs of nuclear power
Reducing the costs of nuclear power: Boulogne-Billancourt, France (SPX) Jul 03, 2020 -
It is time for action if countries around the world are to meet their decarbonisation and energy security policy goals. Nuclear energy can play a key role in meeting these objectives-if the cost of
It is time for action if countries around the world are to meet their decarbonisation and energy security policy goals. Nuclear energy can play a key role in meeting these objectives-if the cost of
Foratom Welcomes Decision To Appoint JRC To Review Nuclear’s Role In Taxonomy :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency
Foratom Welcomes Decision To Appoint JRC To Review Nuclear’s Role In Taxonomy :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency: The Brussels-based nuclear industry group has welcomed the European Commission’s decision to appoint the Joint Research Centre (JRC) as the group of experts which will assess nuclear energy’s role under the sustainable finance taxonomy.
In a communication on the issue, the Commission made it clear that the assessment should be scientifically rigorous, transparent, balanced – and reflect the principle of technology neutrality.
“This shows that they have taken recommendations that nuclear be assessed by scientific experts seriously,” said Foratom director-general Yves Desbazeille. “This is something which many stakeholders – including industry, several member states and MEPs – have been calling for over the past year.”
In a communication on the issue, the Commission made it clear that the assessment should be scientifically rigorous, transparent, balanced – and reflect the principle of technology neutrality.
“This shows that they have taken recommendations that nuclear be assessed by scientific experts seriously,” said Foratom director-general Yves Desbazeille. “This is something which many stakeholders – including industry, several member states and MEPs – have been calling for over the past year.”
Welcoming Robert LoPrete to the Bulletin Governing Board - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Welcoming Robert LoPrete to the Bulletin Governing Board - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is delighted to name attorney Robert LoPrete, a partner in Reed Smith’s Global Corporate Group, as a new member of its Governing Board.
Progress Announced On Inner Containment For Akkuyu-1 VVER-1200 :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency
Progress Announced On Inner Containment For Akkuyu-1 VVER-1200 :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency: Workers have installed the second-level steel ring of the inner containment for the Akkuyu-1 nuclear power unit under construction near Mersin on the southern cost of Turkey.
Russian sate nuclear corporation Rosatom said in a statement that the second inner steel ring is one of the largest structural components of the reactor building and its installation marks a milestone for the project.
The statement said the installed component weighs 411 tonnes and its diameter exceeds 20 metres.
Russian sate nuclear corporation Rosatom said in a statement that the second inner steel ring is one of the largest structural components of the reactor building and its installation marks a milestone for the project.
The statement said the installed component weighs 411 tonnes and its diameter exceeds 20 metres.
Oil Prices Fall As Demand Outlook Worsens In U.S. | OilPrice.com
Oil Prices Fall As Demand Outlook Worsens In U.S. | OilPrice.com: Oil prices fell early on Friday amid surging new coronavirus infections in the United States
Russia, China Drive Africa’s Plan for Nuclear Expansion
Russia, China Drive Africa’s Plan for Nuclear Expansion
https://www.powermag.com/russia-china-drive-africas-plan-for-nuclear-expansion/‘Mayfly accumulation’ suspected cause of power loss at nuclear plant - mlive.com
‘Mayfly accumulation’ suspected cause of power loss at nuclear plant - mlive.com: The power plant is in Monroe County on the shores of Lake Erie.
No printing from home? Agencies unaccustomed to telework navigate culture change | Federal News Network
No printing from home? Agencies unaccustomed to telework navigate culture change | Federal News Network: IT offices in some agencies have had to build up a culture of telework for employees unaccustomed to telework.
Russia’s New Super Weapons May Be Cause Of Radiation Leak
Russia’s New Super Weapons May Be Cause Of Radiation Leak: A recent nuclear leak is believed to originate in Northern Russia. Authorities have denied that it was from a civilian power plant. Here is why it may be from one of the nuclear-powered nuclear weapons Russia is trying to develop.
Source of low-level European release remains unknown : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
Source of low-level European release remains unknown : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: The recent detection of slightly elevated levels of radioisotopes in northern Europe is likely related to a nuclear reactor that is either operating or undergoing maintenance, when very low radioactive releases can occur, the International Atomic Energy Agency said yesterday. The geographical origin of the release has not yet been determined.
TVO awaits revised schedule for OL3 commissioning : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
TVO awaits revised schedule for OL3 commissioning : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Finnish utility Teollisuuden Voima Oyj expects to receive a revised schedule in August from the Areva-Siemens consortium for the commissioning of the Olkiluoto 3 EPR. Fuel loading, which had been planned for last month, has been delayed by among other things the COVID-19 pandemic.
EDF revises 2020 forecast for French nuclear output : Corporate - World Nuclear News
EDF revises 2020 forecast for French nuclear output : Corporate - World Nuclear News: EDF is revising upwards its nuclear output estimate in France for 2020, to around 315-325 terawatt-hours. In April, the French state-owned utility said it expected generation this year to be about 300 TWh, down from an initial expectation of 375-390 TWh before the coronavirus outbreak.
NEA study sets scene for reducing nuclear costs : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News
NEA study sets scene for reducing nuclear costs : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News: Building new nuclear capacity does not need to be risky or expensive, a new report from the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency has found. The organisation has called for government action to support a rapid reduction in the costs of new nuclear capacity by creating policy frameworks that capture and apply the lessons learned and capabilities developed over recent years.
EU experts to assess nuclear power’s green credentials – EURACTIV.com
EU experts to assess nuclear power’s green credentials – EURACTIV.com: The European Commission has mandated its in-house research body, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), to assess whether nuclear power should be considered as a “green” technology under the EU’s sustainable finance taxonomy.
Environment ministry: If Estonia gets nuclear power plant, not before 2035 | News | ERR
Environment ministry: If Estonia gets nuclear power plant, not before 2035 | News | ERR: Estonia's first nuclear power plant would not start operating before 2035, according to a memorandum from the Ministry of the Environment (Keskkonnaministeerium), which the government will discuss later this summer.
NEA: Reduce costs of nuclear power to achieve clean energy goals
NEA: Reduce costs of nuclear power to achieve clean energy goals: Nuclear Energy Agency says governments can support cost reduction of new nuclear capacity by creating policy frameworks that apply industrial capabilities.
UN agency: North Europe radiation likely linked to reactor - ABC News
UN agency: North Europe radiation likely linked to reactor - ABC News: The U.N. nuclear agency says that slightly elevated levels of radioactivity detected in northern Europe likely were related to a nuclear reactor that was either operating or undergoing maintenance, but it’s still unclear where it is located
Germany is first major economy to phase out coal and nuclear power | FOX 5 New York
Germany is first major economy to phase out coal and nuclear power | FOX 5 New York: German lawmakers have finalized the country's long-awaited phase-out of coal as an energy source, backing a plan that environmental groups say isn't ambitious enough and free marketeers criticize as a waste of taxpayers' money.
Crowdsourcing Competition: Call for Innovative Solutions Deployed at Nuclear Power Plants | IAEA
Crowdsourcing Competition: Call for Innovative Solutions Deployed at Nuclear Power Plants | IAEA: Interested contributors have until 15 August 2020 to submit abstracts for an IAEA crowdsourcing competition on innovations that nuclear power plants can use to boost their competitiveness.
Suspected mayfly swarm causes power loss at nuclear plant in Michigan | Toledo Blade
Suspected mayfly swarm causes power loss at nuclear plant in Michigan | Toledo Blade: NEWPORT, Mich. — A swarm of newly hatched mayflies caused one of the Fermi 2 Nuclear Power Plant’s offsite powerlines to shut down Wednesday, authorities ...
After many false starts, hydrogen power might now bear fruit | The Energy Collective Daily
After many false starts, hydrogen power might now bear fruit | The Energy Collective Daily
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- After many false starts, hydrogen power might now bear fruit
- A Look At Europe’s Ambitious $140 Billion Hydrogen Plan | OilPrice.com
- Anti-Fracking Effort Crumbles After Colorado Supreme Court Rejects Online Signature Gathering
- AESO 2019 Annual Market Statistic: a real world example of carbon pricing
- Which Version of Hickenlooper Will Emerge In The General Election? Will Activists Support Him?
Thursday, July 2, 2020
In Congress July 4, 1776 | Neutron Bytes
In Congress July 4, 1776 | Neutron Bytes: About this photo This painting depicts the moment on June 28, 1776, when the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was presented to the Second Continental Congress. The document stated the…
Nuclear's role recognised in US decarbonisation plan : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News
Nuclear's role recognised in US decarbonisation plan : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News: The US House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis has released a report establishing a goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide in the USA by no later than 2050. The Climate Crisis Action Plan includes support to keep existing nuclear plants operating and calls for Congressional support for the development of advanced nuclear technologies.
The Bay Area is sitting on a nuclear time bomb - SFChronicle.com
The Bay Area is sitting on a nuclear time bomb - SFChronicle.com: Close to San Francisco sits a commercial facility with enough highly enriched uranium to make a nuclear weapon — and no need for the dangerous fuel.
NRC Grants Security-Related Exemption at Defunct Nuclear Plant | The SandPaper
NRC Grants Security-Related Exemption at Defunct Nuclear Plant | The SandPaper: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved an exemption request from the owners of the defunct Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station last month for training
Loss of power near nuclear reactor along Lake Erie caused by ‘mayfly accumulation’
Loss of power near nuclear reactor along Lake Erie caused by ‘mayfly accumulation’: A nuclear reactor along Lake Erie lost offsite power on Wednesday night as a result of a mayfly swarms, according to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
If nuclear power had taken off - What if nuclear power had taken off in the 1970s? | The World If | The Economist
If nuclear power had taken off - What if nuclear power had taken off in the 1970s? | The World If | The Economist: How would the world look today if more countries had adopted nuclear power after the 1973 oil crisis? A look back on an alternative history from a rather different 2020
Interview: The importance of long-term operation : Perspectives - World Nuclear News
Interview: The importance of long-term operation : Perspectives - World Nuclear News: To coincide with the publication of the World Nuclear Association's technical position paper The Enduring Value of Nuclear Energy Assets, World Nuclear News interviewed the co-chairs of the Long-term Operation Task Force, Michael Baron and Abdou Al Mazouzi.
Russia uses nuclear power to fuel its influence
Russia uses nuclear power to fuel its influence
https://www.codastory.com/disinformation/russia-nuclear-power-legacy/Archaeological evidence of Pontius Pilate and his station corroborates Gospel
Archaeological evidence of Pontius Pilate and his station corroborates Gospel: In 1961, Italian Archaeologists found a limestone inscribed with the name and station of Pontius Pilate. This discovery corroborates Pilate's position as prefect of Judea, as well as the era in which he held office.
Actual number of COVID-19 cases is 12 times higher than reported, with 50 percent more deaths, says MIT study - The Boston Globe
Actual number of COVID-19 cases is 12 times higher than reported, with 50 percent more deaths, says MIT study - The Boston Globe: The researchers contend that a swifter response to the pandemic could have prevented one-third of all fatalities.
Dexamethasone | New Scientist
Dexamethasone | New Scientist: Dexamethasone is the first medicine shown to reduce deaths from covid-19. It belongs to a class of drugs called steroids, which damp down the immune system.
The true cost of a new confrontation with China (opinion) - CNN
The true cost of a new confrontation with China (opinion) - CNN: As American lawmakers eye a multi-billion-dollar defense buildup to counteract China's rise, Mark Hannah and William D. Hartung argue not only is this plan not worth its cost, but the strategy behind it is misguided.
California Enacts PG&E Takeover Law in Case Something Goes Wrong
California Enacts PG&E Takeover Law in Case Something Goes Wrong: California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation late Tuesday that would allow the state to take over PG&E Corp. if the utility giant falls short of safety standards -- including recklessly causing another catastrophic wildfire.
Editorial: As fire season arrives, it is time for PG&E to get specific about improvements – Marin Independent Journal
Editorial: As fire season arrives, it is time for PG&E to get specific about improvements – Marin Independent Journal: Pacific Gas and Electric Co. promises that it is better prepared for fire-safety power outages this year than it was in 2019.
PG&E, Troubled California Utility, Emerges From Bankruptcy - The New York Times
PG&E, Troubled California Utility, Emerges From Bankruptcy - The New York Times: The company, which has a new board and chief executive, said it had put $5.4 billion and its stock in a trust for victims of wildfires started by its equipment.
Senate bill would give Pentagon power over Energy’s nuclear arms budget
Senate bill would give Pentagon power over Energy’s nuclear arms budget: Tucked inside the Senate’s defense bill is a provision that experts say would give nuclear arms advocates extraordinary power over the president’s budget.
World’s first floating nuclear plant starts heating Asia’s northernmost town - News - GCR
World’s first floating nuclear plant starts heating Asia’s northernmost town - News - GCR: Akademic Lomonosov, the world’s first floating nuclear power plant, has begun supplying heat to the ......
New nuclear will ensure France's energy security, SFEN says : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News
New nuclear will ensure France's energy security, SFEN says : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News: A failure to renew France's fleet of nuclear power reactors will have consequences as soon as 2030 for not only the country's energy security but also its climate targets, according to the French nuclear energy society (SFEN). Nuclear power plants, with a combined capacity of 62 GWe, currently account for more than 70% of the country's electricity generation.
House Armed Services chairman casts serious doubt on pit production at SRS | News | aikenstandard.com
House Armed Services chairman casts serious doubt on pit production at SRS | News | aikenstandard.com: The chairman of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee is, apparently, a gambling man.
BWXT awarded contract to expand TRISO nuclear fuel production line | WSET
BWXT awarded contract to expand TRISO nuclear fuel production line | WSET: LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) -- BWX Technologies, Inc. announced Wednesday, July 1 that its Nuclear Operations Group, Inc. subsidiary has been awarded a competitively bid contract by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to expand and upgrade its TRISO nuclear fuel manufacturing line. The $26 million, 20-month contract award will both expand BWXT’s TRISO capacity for the manufacture of TRISO fuel compacts as well as upgrade existing systems for delivering production-scale quantities of TRISO fuel.
Russia’s New Super Weapons May Be Cause Of Radiation Leak
Russia’s New Super Weapons May Be Cause Of Radiation Leak: A recent nuclear leak is believed to originate in Northern Russia. Authorities have denied that it was from a civilian power plant. Here is why it may be from one of the nuclear-powered nuclear weapons Russia is trying to develop.
Hungary Submits Licence Application For Two New Reactor Units :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency
Hungary Submits Licence Application For Two New Reactor Units :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency: Hungary has submitted a licence application for the construction of two Generation III+ nuclear power plants at the Paks nuclear site in central Hungary to the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA).
János Süli, minister without portfolio responsible for the planning, construction and commissioning of the two new units at Paks 2, said 283,000 pages of documentation were submitted on 30 June.
Paks II, the company overseeing the Paks 2 project, told NucNet that the documentation had also been shown at a meeting of mayors, MPs and local residents’ groups in Budapest.
János Süli, minister without portfolio responsible for the planning, construction and commissioning of the two new units at Paks 2, said 283,000 pages of documentation were submitted on 30 June.
Paks II, the company overseeing the Paks 2 project, told NucNet that the documentation had also been shown at a meeting of mayors, MPs and local residents’ groups in Budapest.
Analysts: Fire at Iran nuclear site hit centrifuge facility
Analysts: Fire at Iran nuclear site hit centrifuge facility: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A fire and an explosion struck a centrifuge production plant above Iran's underground Natanz nuclear enrichment facility early Thursday, analysts said, one of...
U.S. says leaking nuclear waste in Marshall Islands is safe - Los Angeles Times
U.S. says leaking nuclear waste in Marshall Islands is safe - Los Angeles Times: The DOE says that radioactive leakage from Runit Dome, a respository for U.S. atomic waste, is insignificant. Marshall Islands leaders are skeptical.
NRC Grants Security-Related Exemption at Defunct Nuclear Plant | The SandPaper
NRC Grants Security-Related Exemption at Defunct Nuclear Plant | The SandPaper: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved an exemption request from the owners of the defunct Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station last month for training
Cortez Masto, Rosen file bill to block nuke weapons tests | Las Vegas Review-Journal
Cortez Masto, Rosen file bill to block nuke weapons tests | Las Vegas Review-Journal: Nevada’s U.S. senators have filed another bill to prevent the Trump administration from testing a nuclear weapon following earlier reports that an underground explosion was being considered.
Maths ‘noodling’ could lead to more twisty plasmas in nuclear fusion
Maths ‘noodling’ could lead to more twisty plasmas in nuclear fusion: Researchers take another step closer to stable nuclear fusion after learning more about a ‘hiccup’ known as the sawtooth instability.
Chinese Oil Futures Draw More International Interest - WSJ
Chinese Oil Futures Draw More International Interest - WSJ: Foreign companies and investors are warming to Chinese oil futures, a boost to a project that Beijing hopes will strengthen the yuan’s appeal and loosen the dollar’s hold on global commodity pricing.
Containment building of first Akkuyu unit takes shape : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Containment building of first Akkuyu unit takes shape : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The installation of the second tier of the reactor building's internal containment has been completed at unit 1 of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant under construction in Mersin province, southern Turkey. The inner containment is one of the critical components of unit's safety systems, which prevent the release of radioactive materials to the environment, said JSC Akkuyu Nuklear.
BWXT wins contract to expand TRISO production : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News
BWXT wins contract to expand TRISO production : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News: Idaho National Laboratory has awarded BWX Technologies Inc a USD26 million, 20-month contract to expand and upgrade its manufacturing line for TRISO nuclear fuel. The award, to BWXT Nuclear Operations Group, Inc, will expand its capacity for the manufacture of TRISO fuel compacts and also upgrade existing systems for delivering production-scale quantities of the fuel, BWXT said.
DOE Awards New Nationwide Deactivation, Decommissioning and Removal Contracts
DOE Awards New Nationwide Deactivation, Decommissioning and Removal Contracts
https://www.energy.gov/em/articles/doe-awards-new-nationwide-deactivation-decommissioning-and-removal-contracts
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
How the White House Coronavirus Response Went Wrong - The Atlantic
How the White House Coronavirus Response Went Wrong - The Atlantic: Imagine if the National Transportation Safety Board investigated America’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Growing a green gas giant: innovations in hydrogen production | The Energy Collective Daily
Growing a green gas giant: innovations in hydrogen production | The Energy Collective Daily |
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- Growing a green gas giant: innovations in hydrogen production
- Circular Economy for EV Batteries?
- The price of gas in Brazil
- Apocalypse Never From Environmentalist Who Helped Get $90 Billion Funding for Renewables
- ‘Legally Erroneous’: Governor, Regulators Slam Anti-Fracking Pa. Grand Jury Report
- Resilience in the eye of the storm: how Puerto Rico can build a stronger, more sustainable energy future
- California Accelerates Clean Transportation Policy, Sets Historic Target Of 500,000 Electric Trucks By 2040
- States, NGOs Ask Court to Restore State Clean Car Standards
- How Energy Efficiency and Demand Response are Turning Electricity Supply and Demand Upside Down – and Saving Money
- Nikola and Hydrogen Vehicles vs Tesla and Electric Vehicles
- Canadian Energy Weekly Round-Up: June 29, 2020
- Three things California should do to prepare for more electric trucks and buses
House Democrats release sweeping climate proposal calling for net-zero US emissions by 2050
House Democrats release sweeping climate proposal calling for net-zero US emissions by 2050
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/house-democrats-release-sweeping-climate-proposal-calling-for-net-zero-us-e/580830/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202020-07-01%20Utility%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:28237%5D&utm_term=Utility%20Dive
New nuclear will ensure France's energy security, SFEN says : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News
New nuclear will ensure France's energy security, SFEN says : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News: A failure to renew France's fleet of nuclear power reactors will have consequences as soon as 2030 for not only the country's energy security but also its climate targets, according to the French nuclear energy society (SFEN). Nuclear power plants, with a combined capacity of 62 GWe, currently account for more than 70% of the country's electricity generation.
Paks II construction licence application submitted : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Paks II construction licence application submitted : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The construction licence application for two VVER-1200 reactors at the existing Paks site was submitted to the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority yesterday by Paks II Limited. The regulator said it has 12 months in which to make a decision on the application, but this period can be extended by three months if required.
LTO essential for cost-effective climate benefits of nuclear : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News
LTO essential for cost-effective climate benefits of nuclear : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News: More governments must introduce policies to support the long-term operation of nuclear power plants to maximise the environmental, employment and economic benefits they bring, the World Nuclear Association said yesterday on the publication of its new technical position paper The Enduring Value of Nuclear Energy Assets.
Interview: The importance of long-term operation : Perspectives - World Nuclear News
Interview: The importance of long-term operation : Perspectives - World Nuclear News: To coincide with the publication of the World Nuclear Association's technical position paper The Enduring Value of Nuclear Energy Assets, World Nuclear News interviewed the co-chairs of the Long-term Operation Task Force, Michael Baron and Abdou Al Mazouzi.
France's oldest nuclear plant shuts down
France's oldest nuclear plant shuts down: France's oldest nuclear plant was switched off on Monday, ending four decades of output that built the local economy.
Worker at San Onofre nuclear plant tests positive for COVID-19 - The San Diego Union-Tribune
Worker at San Onofre nuclear plant tests positive for COVID-19 - The San Diego Union-Tribune: Employee not involved in decommissioning or fuel transfer operations
Luria’s Nuclear Energy Leadership Act gains support from House committee : Augusta Free Press
Luria’s Nuclear Energy Leadership Act gains support from House committee : Augusta Free Press: The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released its recommendations for how Congress should address the challenges posed by climate change.
Moorside Clean Energy Hub: Firms tout nuclear and hydrogen plan for Cumbria
Moorside Clean Energy Hub: Firms tout nuclear and hydrogen plan for Cumbria: Coalition including EDF, construction firms and trade unions sets out vision for new 3.2GW nuclear station linked with renewables and hydrogen production
An Important Step in the First Power Unit of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant | RayHaber | raillynews
An Important Step in the First Power Unit of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant | RayHaber | raillynews: An Important Step in the First Power Unit of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant | Installation of the second floor of the inner protection coating of the first power unit reactor building of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NGS) is under construction.
Global Nuclear Power Plant Equipment, Market Size 2020 - 2026
Global Nuclear Power Plant Equipment, Market Size 2020 - 2026: This report focuses on Nuclear Power Plant Equipment, Market volume and value at the global level, regional level and company level. From a global pe
Russia tells IAEA it is incident-free after nuclear particle increase | News | WIN 98.5
Russia tells IAEA it is incident-free after nuclear particle increase | News | WIN 98.5: VIENNA (Reuters) - Russia has told the U.N. atomic watchdog there have been no nuclear incidents on its territory that could explain elevated but still harmless levels of radioactive particles detect…
Russia not responding to IAEA over mysterious radiation leak - Business Insider
Russia not responding to IAEA over mysterious radiation leak - Business Insider: The International Atomic Energy Agency said 29 European countries responded to its request for information, but Russia did not.
Russia denies nuclear power plant leaks after higher than normal radiation levels in Europe
Russia denies nuclear power plant leaks after higher than normal radiation levels in Europe: Russia has denied that any leaks have occurred at two of its nuclear power plants after higher than usual radiation was detected over Norway, Sweden and Finland in the first half of June.
Russia, China Drive Africa’s Plan for Nuclear Expansion
Russia, China Drive Africa’s Plan for Nuclear Expansion: Officials in South Africa and across the African continent continue to explore new nuclear power generation projects, and the region provides an opportunity for other countries to export their advanced nuclear
“Radioactive Gobstoppers” Could Stop the Next Nuclear Reactor Meltdown
“Radioactive Gobstoppers” Could Stop the Next Nuclear Reactor Meltdown: Researchers are hoping that tiny graphite-coated balls of uranium could revolutionize and bring back nuclear energy production to the United States.
Governor Newsom Signs SB 350, Giving the State Protection that PG&E will be Transformed into a Safer Utility | California Governor
Governor Newsom Signs SB 350, Giving the State Protection that PG&E will be Transformed into a Safer Utility | California Governor: Signing follows 18 months of unprecedented state intervention to transform PG&E and put safety, reliability and its customers at the center of its business…
PG&E Faces An Uncertain Future | Across California, CA Patch
PG&E Faces An Uncertain Future | Across California, CA Patch: PG&E Faces An Uncertain Future - Across California, CA - PG&E is about to emerge from bankruptcy. If it cannot operate safely and profitably, a state takeover may be the option.
PG&E Public Utility 'Backstop' Bill Passes Senate, Awaits Newsom's Signature - California Globe
PG&E Public Utility 'Backstop' Bill Passes Senate, Awaits Newsom's Signature - California Globe: On Monday, the Senate passed a bill that would turn PG&E into a non-profit, public utility should the company fail to emerge from bankruptcy. A
PG&E funds lawsuit to hide details of Camp Fire crimes | abc10.com
PG&E funds lawsuit to hide details of Camp Fire crimes | abc10.com: After pleading guilty to 84 felony manslaughter charges related to the 2018 Camp Fire, PG&E is funding a new lawsuit to hide details of their crimes.
Molten Salt Reactors - What Are They, How Do They Work?
Molten Salt Reactors - What Are They, How Do They Work?: Molten salt reactors are nuclear's future, but there's still a lot we don't know. A new breakthrough could help engineers crack the next phase of nuclear energy.
The Kushner conundrum | Spectator USA
The Kushner conundrum | Spectator USA: Kushner does seem to listen to different ideas, but conservative members of the administration have learned not to cross him
A Tale of Two Decarbonizations | The Breakthrough Institute
A Tale of Two Decarbonizations | The Breakthrough Institute: Germany and the UK demonstrate that reducing emissions will rarely be the sole priority of climate action.
UK regulator receives application for new Sizewell nuclear reactors - Reuters
UK regulator receives application for new Sizewell nuclear reactors - Reuters: Britain's nuclear regulator said on Tuesday it had received an application for a licence to build two nuclear reactors at Sizewell in Suffolk county, north of London, from EDF Energy subsidiary NNB Generation Company.
EDF, other firms launch new nuclear plans for UK Cumbria site - Reuters
EDF, other firms launch new nuclear plans for UK Cumbria site - Reuters: Fifteen companies and trade unions, including French nuclear giant EDF and several engineering firms, on Tuesday launched proposals for a clean energy hub to be built at Cumbria in northwest England, including a new large nuclear plant.
Position Paper Calls For Policies To Support LTO Of Nuclear Plants :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency
Position Paper Calls For Policies To Support LTO Of Nuclear Plants :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency: More governments must introduce policies to support the long-term operation (LTO) of nuclear plants with market reforms brought in to value the “non-power” benefits of nuclear alongside other clean energy technologies, the London-based World Nuclear Association said.
In a position paper published on 30 June, the WNA said even where other options are cheaper and market conditions are challenging, nuclear plants offer many benefits beyond just electricity.
Those benefits include a low-carbon lifecycle, baseload power and increased resilience, grid stability and the stockpiling of fuel, which boosts security of energy supply.
The position paper said nuclear has a small land and resource footprint compared to other energy sources, avoids pollution such as nitrogen oxides, Sulphur oxides, heavy metals and particulate matter.
In a position paper published on 30 June, the WNA said even where other options are cheaper and market conditions are challenging, nuclear plants offer many benefits beyond just electricity.
Those benefits include a low-carbon lifecycle, baseload power and increased resilience, grid stability and the stockpiling of fuel, which boosts security of energy supply.
The position paper said nuclear has a small land and resource footprint compared to other energy sources, avoids pollution such as nitrogen oxides, Sulphur oxides, heavy metals and particulate matter.
Radiation alters ceramic grain boundaries – Physics World
Radiation alters ceramic grain boundaries – Physics World: Findings could enhance our understanding of existing ceramic materials and hasten the development of better ones – including in nuclear energy applications
Nuclear ‘Power Balls’ May Make Meltdowns a Thing of the Past | WIRED
Nuclear ‘Power Balls’ May Make Meltdowns a Thing of the Past | WIRED: Triso particles are an alien-looking fuel with built-in safety features that will power a new generation of high-temperature reactors.
Vit plant contractor earns $6 million for laboratory startup | Tri-City Herald
Vit plant contractor earns $6 million for laboratory startup | Tri-City Herald: The plant is required to start operating in 2023, some 21 years after construction began.
Arizona Public Service Lays Out Its Options for Reaching Zero-Carbon Energy by 2050 | Greentech Media
Arizona Public Service Lays Out Its Options for Reaching Zero-Carbon Energy by 2050 | Greentech Media: How quickly Arizona’s largest utility will be able to ditch gas will depend on the cost curve for batteries and unproven technologies like hydrogen.
Comprehensive energy bill could see Senate floor as early as July: Murkowski chief counsel | Utility Dive
Comprehensive energy bill could see Senate floor as early as July: Murkowski chief counsel | Utility Dive: Utility industry news and analysis for energy professionals.
heir applications. Ocean Energy Islands: An Ocean of Potential for Marine Energy Island nations are exploring marine energy, as they look to a new “Blue Economy” to pair renewable energy with ocean resources. Technology is evolving rapidly to serve the sector, with researchers looking at new business models in the power generation space.
Ocean Energy
Islands: An Ocean of Potential for Marine Energy
Island nations are exploring marine energy, as they look to a new “Blue Economy” to pair renewable energy with ocean resources. Technology is evolving rapidly to serve the sector, with researchers looking at new business models in the power generation space.
Island nations are exploring marine energy, as they look to a new “Blue Economy” to pair renewable energy with ocean resources. Technology is evolving rapidly to serve the sector, with researchers looking at new business models in the power generation space.
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
In The 80s - Performers From USA For Africa's "We Are The World"
In The 80s - Performers From USA For Africa's "We Are The World": A list of the famous performers who sang on the We Are The World record.
French Finance Minister: nuclear energy remains relevant for France - Agricultural Commodities - Reuters
French Finance Minister: nuclear energy remains relevant for France - Agricultural Commodities - Reuters: French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday that nuclear energy remained relevant for France, even as the country shut its oldest nuclear power plant at Fessenheim.
Pro-nuclear energy protesters rally against Greenpeace in Paris - Agricultural Commodities - Reuters
Pro-nuclear energy protesters rally against Greenpeace in Paris - Agricultural Commodities - Reuters: A group of pro-nuclear protesters demonstrated against the closure of a major reactor in France on Monday - taking their rally to the Paris headquarters of Greenpeace, the activists known for their eye-catching campaigns in favour of shutdowns.
Fossil Fuels Make Up 84 Percent Of The Global Energy Market | OilPrice.com
Fossil Fuels Make Up 84 Percent Of The Global Energy Market | OilPrice.com: While renewables have seen their market share grow fast in the last couple of years, fossil fuels still make up 84 percent of the world’s energy mix
Prominent climate activist Shellenberger officially recants: ‘On Behalf Of Environmentalists, I Apologize For The Climate Scare’ | Climate Depot
Prominent climate activist Shellenberger officially recants: ‘On Behalf Of Environmentalists, I Apologize For The Climate Scare’ | Climate Depot: Michael Shellenberger The author (second from right) in Maranhão, Brazil, 1995 MICHAEL SHELLENBERGER On behalf of environmentalists everywhere, I would like to formally apologize for the climate sc…
As an Environmentalist, I Apologize for the Climate Scare | RealClearPolitics
As an Environmentalist, I Apologize for the Climate Scare | RealClearPolitics: As an Environmentalist, I Apologize for the Climate Scare | RealClearPolitics
The Big Debate: Should nuclear energy be part of a Green New Deal? | The Star
The Big Debate: Should nuclear energy be part of a Green New Deal? | The Star: We must reduced the burning of fossil fuels to save our planet — but should nuclear energy be part of the solution? Prof. Jatin Nathwani argues yes wh...
Nuclear energy supporters back advanced reactors in NDAA
Nuclear energy supporters back advanced reactors in NDAA: Lisa Murkowski and others argue advanced nuclear reactors can provide clean, reliable and affordable energy to military bases and play national security role.
IAEA reports on nuclear plant operation and safeguards - Nuclear Engineering International
IAEA reports on nuclear plant operation and safeguards - Nuclear Engineering International: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has released its annual nuclear power status data for 2019 collected by the Power Reactor Information System (PRIS) and issued its Safeguards Statement for 2019.PRIS has been developed and maintained...
Russia’s longest quarantine How ‘Rosatom’ is keeping its key nuclear power plant workers in isolation during the coronavirus pandemic — Meduza
Russia’s longest quarantine How ‘Rosatom’ is keeping its key nuclear power plant workers in isolation during the coronavirus pandemic — Meduza: Russia’s government-owned atomic energy corporation, Rosatom, has been keeping key employees from its nuclear power plants in isolation during the coronavirus pandemic, reports the investigative news outlet Proekt. In particular, employees in charge of the control panel blocks and all technological aspects of these power stations have been isolated. Rosatom declared these people “critically important” workers, since the power units of these stations can’t function without them, and because replacing them is very difficult: in order to work in a nuclear control room you need to obtain a license and pass an exam. Russia has 11 nuclear power plants, which, according to Proekt’s calculations, employ a little more than 1,000 control room operators. Presumably all of them were sent into quarantine: Rosatom announced the decision to isolate “all workers who ensure the continuity of production processes and work in nuclear facilities” in the spring.
Conflicting emotions as France shutters oldest nuclear plant | St. Louis business news | stltoday.com
Conflicting emotions as France shutters oldest nuclear plant | St. Louis business news | stltoday.com: PARIS (AP) — Nuclear workers lamented the switching off Monday of France's oldest nuclear reactor, a closure celebrated by anti-nuclear campaigners.
Beth Jenkins becomes first woman plant manager for TVA nuclear plant | Chattanooga Times Free Press
Beth Jenkins becomes first woman plant manager for TVA nuclear plant | Chattanooga Times Free Press: America's newest commercial nuclear power plant is also the first for the Tennessee Valley Authority to have a female plant director.
Russia denies nuclear power plant leaks after higher than normal radiation levels in Europe | CTV News
Russia denies nuclear power plant leaks after higher than normal radiation levels in Europe | CTV News: Russia has denied that any leaks have occurred at two of its nuclear power plants after higher than usual radiation was detected over Norway, Sweden and Finland in the first half of June.
Russia denies nuclear power plant leaks after higher than normal radiation in Europe - CNN
Russia denies nuclear power plant leaks after higher than normal radiation in Europe - CNN: Russia has denied that any leaks have occurred at two of its nuclear power plants after higher than usual radiation was detected over Norway, Sweden and Finland in the first half of June.
California PG&E Takeover Bill Passes Senate, Heads to Governor
California PG&E Takeover Bill Passes Senate, Heads to Governor: California’s Legislature is sending Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) a bill that would allow the state to create Golden State Energy, a nonprofit public-benefit corporation, to acquire PG&E if the utility doesn’t meet certain bankruptcy deadlines or fails to perform required safety work.
Annals of engineering:Why was a radiation detector on the fritz? | FierceElectronics
Annals of engineering:Why was a radiation detector on the fritz? | FierceElectronics: In this true tale of troubleshooting before EMC regulations went into effect, an engineer investigates the source of false alarms at a nuclear power point.
NorthStar Wants to Ship 2M Gallons of Vermont Yankee Wastewater to Idaho - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1
NorthStar Wants to Ship 2M Gallons of Vermont Yankee Wastewater to Idaho - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1: ExchangeMonitor covers nuclear weapons, waste management, nuclear cleanup, international intelligence as well as carbon capture and storage.
Supreme Court Puts Independent Agencies at Risk
Supreme Court Puts Independent Agencies at Risk: (Bloomberg Opinion) -- On rare occasions, the Supreme Court answers the most fundamental questions, going to the very heart of our constitutional system. In striking down the independence of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the court today did exactly that.Since the founding itself — and with
Record-Breaking Heavy Transport Gets Underway in Nevada | 2020-06-29 | Engineering News-Record
Record-Breaking Heavy Transport Gets Underway in Nevada | 2020-06-29 | Engineering News-Record: The heaviest load to travel on Nevada highways in the state’s history inched its way out of Las Vegas in the early morning hours of June 29, beginning the first leg of a 345-mile trip that will take it mostly along two-lane roads to the Utah border. The transport assembly, anchored by six heavy-duty Class 8 trucks with four tractors pushing and two pulling, is hauling a 770-ton reactor pressure vessel previously used for cooling at the Southern California Edison’s San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, . . .
California developer of 'micro' nuclear reactor aims to prove environmentalist doubters wrong
California developer of 'micro' nuclear reactor aims to prove environmentalist doubters wrong: Jacob DeWitte is determined to shake up the struggling nuclear energy industry by moving his company, Oklo, through the cumbersome U.S. regulatory process faster than anyone before.
New York Must Better Plan Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Plants; A Bill Awaiting Passage in Albany Does Just That
New York Must Better Plan Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Plants; A Bill Awaiting Passage in Albany Does Just That: Gotham Gazette is an online publication covering New York policy and politics as well as news on public safety, transportation, education, finance and more.
Temporary Injunction Slows Holtec’s Work at Closed Nuclear Plant | TAPinto
Temporary Injunction Slows Holtec’s Work at Closed Nuclear Plant | TAPinto: LACEY, NJ – Holtec’s decommissioning work of the former Oyster Creek Nuclear Plant has slowed down since the beginning of this month in compliance with a court-ordered mandate. Ocean County...
Who’s paying to decommission Three Mile Island? You are, and you’re keeping the nuclear waste, too. - pennlive.com
Who’s paying to decommission Three Mile Island? You are, and you’re keeping the nuclear waste, too. - pennlive.com: No one knows what to do with nuclear waste and the cost of that indecision has been and will continue to be shouldered by the public.
EM Update June 30, 2020
Chemists
Kay Keltner, left, and Jaime Edwards are part of a team at Hanford’s
Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant that is integrating scientific
instruments inside the plant’s Analytical Laboratory. The laboratory is
the first nuclear facility in the tank waste treatment plant to complete
start-up testing prior to moving into the commissioning phase for
operations.
RICHLAND, Wash. – Workers recently finished start-up testing at the Analytical Laboratory in Hanford’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant
(WTP), marking the first nuclear facility in the tank waste treatment
complex to reach that point prior to moving into the commissioning phase
for operations.
The
Analytical Laboratory is a key part of the system that will be used to
treat millions of gallons of waste from Hanford’s underground tanks
through the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste approach. Moving these facilities from the construction phase to commissioning is one of EM’s priorities for 2020.
The
plant’s commissioning team will now ensure workers are trained, systems
and equipment are operational, and written procedures are in hand to
support future laboratory operations.
“This
is a significant accomplishment for Hanford cleanup,” said Tom
Fletcher, EM WTP federal project director. “The laboratory is critical
to making sure tank waste is safely encased in glass and meets
requirements for disposal. Our team is continuing to deliver significant
progress.”
The
laboratory’s key function is to determine the correct glass formulation
“recipe” for each incoming batch of waste and confirm that vitrified
glass produced by the Low-Activity Waste Facility meets regulatory
requirements and standards.
During
operations to treat tank waste using the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste
approach, laboratory chemists and technicians will analyze
approximately 3,000 samples each year. Samples will also be taken
throughout the vitrification process to confirm production of a
high-quality glass product and good process controls.
“Our
entire workforce contributed to safely handing over the Analytical
Laboratory systems from startup to commissioning,” said Valerie McCain,
principal vice president and WTP project director with Bechtel National,
Inc., EM’s WTP contractor. “Next, our workforce, along with teams of
chemists and technicians, will integrate the training, systems,
scientific instruments, and procedures needed to prepare the laboratory
to support the treatment of low-activity waste.”
-Contributor: George Rangel
Crews Mobilize to Resume Demolition at ETEC
As
part of the deactivation process, workers from DOE contractor North
Wind gather furnishings taken from buildings in the Radioactive
Materials Handling Complex that will be demolished later this summer at
the Energy Technology Engineering Center. The items will be disposed of
outside the State of California at licensed commercial disposal
facilities.
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. – Work crews at the Energy Technology Engineering Center
(ETEC) are mobilizing for demolition of 10 buildings at the former
nuclear and liquid metals research site in Southern California.
Deactivation
work to prepare the structures began the week of June 22, consisting of
disconnecting remaining power lines and removing loose debris from the
buildings. Demolition is expected to start in July, and to take
approximately six months. After more than a decade, active cleanup work
has resumed at ETEC.
“The
Department of Energy is eager to resume active cleanup at ETEC, and the
work will be done safely and effectively,” said ETEC Federal Project
Director John Jones.
The
10 buildings comprise the former Radioactive Materials Handling
Facility (RMHF) complex, built in 1959 and used to process, package, and
ship radioactive and mixed wastes during site operations that ended in
1988.
Demolition of the complex is being conducted under a recently signed agreement between the Department of Energy
(DOE) and the State of California. Removing the facilities will reduce
potential risk of release of hazardous substances due to wildfires or
erosion from severe storms.
DOE
and its contractor North Wind will adhere to all safety practices for
demolition and transport of the debris outside the State of California
to licensed commercial disposal facilities. They further will adhere to
all safety precautions and practices recommended to protect workers from
exposure to the coronavirus.
The
ETEC site is located in Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in
Ventura County, and ETEC served as a premier research facility. Since
the 1980s, more than 200 structures on the ETEC site have been
demolished and removed; once RMHF demolition is complete, only eight DOE
structures will remain.
DOE
will continue to work with the state on the steps necessary to remove
the remaining DOE buildings at ETEC, and toward remediation of soils and
groundwater at the site.
Oak Ridge’s UCOR Earns 94 Percent of Available Fee for First Half of Fiscal 2020
UCOR
began demolition on the Centrifuge Complex during the first half of
fiscal 2020. These buildings were the largest remaining buildings at the
site and spanned 235,000 square feet.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – EM
recently awarded Oak Ridge cleanup contractor UCOR $10.4 million for
its performance from October 2019 through March 2020, amounting to 94
percent of the available fee for the period.
The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management
(OREM) issued its fee determination scorecard for UCOR for the
six-month period of fiscal 2020 after completing its evaluation of the
contractor. EM releases information relating to contractor fee payments —
earned by completing the work called for in the contracts — to further
transparency in its cleanup program.
The
contractor received “excellent” ratings for project management and
business systems, and regulatory and stakeholder activity; a “good”
rating for operations management; and “high confidence” for cost and
schedule incentive, according to the scorecard.
UCOR had several significant accomplishments:
- Continued to address the environmental liability of DOE by accelerating cleanup, reducing risks, generating cost savings, and resolving regulatory issues and concerns.
- Provided outstanding support to the Mercury Treatment Facility construction project.
- Completed the conceptual design report for the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment’s Continuous Purge System. Implementing this strategy will improve the safety posture and reduce costs for maintaining the facility.
- Completed upgrades to the Aquatic Ecology Laboratory that provide unique capabilities for researchers to test and mature mercury remediation technologies that will aid mercury cleanup in the years ahead.
- Met all regulatory schedule requirements. UCOR has operated 60 months without a letter of noncompliance from an outside regulatory agency and 99 months without a spill or release reportable to outside agencies other than a routine regulatory report.
- Met or exceeded all DOE subcontracting goals for small business, including small disadvantaged business, women owned, HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zones), service disabled veteran owned, and veteran owned.
OREM
noted areas for improvement. UCOR experienced several issues with
transportation, including an accident involving an employee and a
tractor trailer truck at the East Tennessee Technology Park. There are
opportunities for UCOR to improve after a couple items fell during
hoisting and riggings activities. There were no injuries in that
incident.
View the fee determination letter and the full scorecard here.
NNSS Cleanup Contractor Earns 96 Percent of Available Fee From October 2018 Through January 2020
Navarro
Research and Engineering, Inc. performed environmental corrective
actions at the Clean Slate III site in July 2019 that included removing
contaminated soil and debris for packaging and disposal at the Nevada
National Security Site.
LAS VEGAS – EM’s
cleanup contractor for the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS),
Navarro Research and Engineering, Inc. (Navarro), has earned 96 percent
of the available fee for its most recent contract evaluation period,
according to recently released information.
For
the period of Oct. 1, 2018 through Jan. 31, 2020, Navarro earned
$1,158,125 out of an available $1,210,298 in award and incentive fees.
Navarro received “excellent” ratings in the areas of business relations;
management of key personnel and subcontracts; cost control; and health
and safety. The contractor received ratings of “very good” in the areas
of schedule and quality of products and services.
Crews
have completed deactivation inside the 42,000-square-foot K-1600
facility. Teardown is scheduled to begin this summer. It will mark the
final demolition project for the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental
Management and its cleanup contractor UCOR to achieve Vision 2020.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – Workers have completed deactivating
Building K-1600, a former test and demonstration facility for uranium
enrichment centrifuges at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP), and now it is ready for demolition.
“This
is an incredibly significant project for us and our contractor UCOR
because it paves the way for the final demolition at ETTP and positions
us to accomplish our ambitious Vision 2020 goal,” said Jay Mullis,
manager of the Oak Ridge Office of EM.
Among EM’s 2020 priorities, Vision 2020
is the cleanup program’s goal to complete all demolitions and major
cleanup at ETTP by the end of 2020. It will mark the first time in the
world an enrichment complex is cleaned and removed.
The
42,000-square-foot K-1600 facility was transferred to Oak Ridge cleanup
contractor UCOR in September 2019 to complete deactivation and
demolition. Centrus Energy Corp. had leased Building K-1600 since 2002
and finished decommissioning activities prior to the transfer. The
company no longer needed the lease after consolidating its centrifuge
testing and demonstration activities into a location in Oak Ridge.
Building
K-1600 is a recognizable facility at ETTP due to its height and
location. It sits in the center of the footprint for the former
mile-long, U-shaped K-25 Building. K-25 was one of the site’s five
massive gaseous diffusion buildings that once held the title of the
world’s largest building.
Deactivation
of K-1600 included rendering the building “cold and dark,” which means
disconnecting utilities to the structure and installing temporary
utilities, such as electrical power. It also included asbestos abatement
and waste removal.
Demolition is scheduled to begin this summer.
To
date, Oak Ridge’s EM program has taken down facilities spanning nearly
13 million square feet, transferred more than 1,200 acres of land for
economic development, and placed more than 3,000 acres in a conservation
easement for community recreational use.
Additionally,
more than 100 acres will be used for historic preservation efforts at
ETTP. Since the K-25 footprint is part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, the demolition of Building K-1600 will increase accessibility and remove risks in the area for future use.
-Contributor: Wayne McKinney
SRS Set to Clean Up 12-Acre Coal Yard From Cold War Powerhouse
While
maintaining social distancing, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS)
heavy equipment operators Tyler Wilson, left, and Ed Townsley, center,
update SRNS Project Manager Kelsey Holcomb regarding the D-Area Coal
Storage Yard Project at the Savannah River Site.
AIKEN, S.C.
– The long metal arm and strong steel teeth of a massive construction
excavator recently cleared its first bucket full of hardened clay
containing countless bits and pieces of coal, the first step towards
removing contaminated soil from 12 acres at the Savannah River Site (SRS) known as the D-Area Coal Storage Yard.
Until
recently, the yard held huge piles of coal used to continuously feed an
enormous powerhouse built in the late 1950s that provided steam and
electricity for SRS missions. The site shut it down in 2012 and launched
an innovative technology that burns forest debris, agricultural waste,
and scrap lumber to generate steam and power. The powerhouse is now cold
and dark, awaiting demolition.
“Any
large pile of coal that sits for nearly six decades will interact with
rainwater and the atmosphere,” said Kelsey Holcomb, a project manager
with EM contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS). “Coal
contains iron sulfide, also known as pyrite or fool’s gold. And when it
mixes with rainwater, it creates sulfuric acid. The acidity leaches into
the soil and draws out heavy metals such as beryllium and chromium.”
According
to Holcomb, these heavy metals are found primarily within the first few
feet of soil but will slowly migrate over time into the groundwater
where they might risk reaching the Savannah River, a source of drinking
water for downstream communities.
“We
like to catch things as far up stream as possible before we get into a
human health or ecology threat condition,” Holcomb said. “We’re taking
action to remedy the acidic condition of the soil in the coal storage
yard. It currently has about the same pH as a cola-based soft drink,
around 3.0 to 3.2. We’re going to thoroughly mix fine grade limestone
throughout 12 acres of the coal storage yard down to four feet, which
will bring the pH back to around 5.5. That’s normal for this area.”
Plans call for using approximately 1,000 tons of fine-grade limestone over six months to complete the project. The material was purchased from a quarry in eastern South Carolina.
Plans call for using approximately 1,000 tons of fine-grade limestone over six months to complete the project. The material was purchased from a quarry in eastern South Carolina.
SRNS
construction personnel will work on only one acre at a time to control
erosion and ensure no sediment enters nearby creeks and streams as a
result of soil excavation. The construction workers will operate an
excavator, dump trucks, a road scraper, and a large industrial mixer to
treat each section of the coal yard.
Gigantic
piles of unused coal were removed from the coal storage yard in 2012
and the surface was scraped to reveal a layer of red clay.
“It looks like the surface of Mars out there,” Holcomb said.
The
sprawling coal storage yard will change from red to gray over the next
six months as the final covering, normally sodded grass, will include a
layer of limestone gravel. This innovative approach is expected to
shorten the project schedule and significantly reduce the overall cost.
“Working
closely with our South Carolina and federal environmental regulators,
this project is typical of the creative, cost-effective, and responsible
cleanup activities we as a company have embraced while successfully
remediating dozens of projects since SRNS became the
management-and-operations contractor in 2008,” said Chris Bergren, SRNS
director of environmental compliance and area completion projects.
-Contributor: DT Townsend
Idaho Site Finishes Treating 'Squeezant' Liquid Wastes
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – EM
and cleanup contractor Fluor Idaho have finished processing a
challenging liquid waste form dubbed “squeezants,” allowing the material
to be sent from the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site to an out-of-state permanent disposal facility.
“This was a great effort on the part of our crews to safely treat this material and prepare it for shipment to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
(WIPP) or other off-site facility for compliant disposal,” said Ross
Langseth, Fluor Idaho operations manager at the INL Site’s Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP).
The
radioactive and hazardous liquid wastes were generated by AMWTP’s
supercompactor when 55-gallon waste drums were crushed with 4 million
pounds of force to create what resemble 5-inch-thick hockey pucks to
reduce their shipping and storage volume. Squeezants are the liquids
that were "squeezed" out of the waste drums by the supercompactor. The
squeezants captured in the supercompactor’s sump were later moved to
4-liter jars and placed into 55-gallon drums.
Those
drums were transferred to six drum overpacks and brought into one of
the facility’s boxlines where the squeezants were soaked up by an
absorbent and blended with debris waste. The material was then put in
55-gallon drums and compacted in the supercompactor. Boxlines are huge
concrete and metal hot cells where containers of radioactive waste are
opened and sorted without exposing workers to the materials inside.
Since
2003, workers at AMWTP have retrieved, treated, packaged, certified,
and shipped an inventory of 65,000 cubic meters of transuranic and
low-level wastes generated during nuclear weapons production at the former Rocky Flats Plant
and other Cold War facilities. The waste was shipped to the INL Site
for above-ground storage from 1970 to the late 1980s. AMWTP completed
treatment of transuranic debris waste in October 2019 and is scheduled
to continue sending that waste to WIPP throughout the next decade.
“Our
crews are some of the best in the business when it comes to
dispositioning challenging wastes,” Langseth said. “We prove each and
every time that it can be done safely.”
-Contributor: Erik Simpson
System Reliability, Remote Monitoring Support Hanford Groundwater Treatment
The
200 West Pump and Treat Facility is Hanford’s largest groundwater
treatment plant. All six of Hanford’s operating pump-and-treat
facilities can be monitored remotely, allowing plant managers to ensure
the systems continue to operate safely and efficiently while meeting
social distancing requirements. The six facilities combined have treated
more than 1.6 billion gallons of contaminated groundwater in fiscal
2020, which began Oct. 1.
RICHLAND, Wash. – Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic this spring, Hanford Site groundwater treatment continued largely uninterrupted and remains on track to meet EM’s goal of treating at least 2.2 billion gallons of contaminated groundwater in fiscal 2020.
Hanford’s advanced pump-and-treat systems allow operations managers with EM Richland Operations Office
(RL) contractor CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company (CHPRC) to safely
monitor the facilities remotely from home — meeting social distancing
requirements while ensuring the plants continue to operate efficiently
during the site’s essential mission-critical operations posture.
“The
efficiency and reliability of Hanford’s treatment systems have been
instrumental to our ability to maintain this key component of our
cleanup mission that’s so critical to the protection of the Columbia
River,” said Mike Cline, RL project director for cleanup of soil and
groundwater at Hanford.
Hanford’s
six operating pump-and-treat facilities have collectively treated more
than 1.6 billion gallons of groundwater in fiscal 2020, which began Oct.
1. In the first quarter of fiscal 2020, the 200 West Pump and Treat
Facility alone treated more than 300 million gallons of contaminated
groundwater on Hanford’s Central Plateau, a record volume for any
quarter since the site’s largest treatment plant began operating in
2012.
“I’m
proud of our team’s efforts to stay focused and ensure our facilities
operate safely as we continue striving to meet our cleanup goals,” said
Bill Barrett, vice president of CHPRC’s soil and groundwater remediation
project. “The ability to maintain safe operations during these unique
times has truly been a team effort and the result of excellent
communication and collaboration between our workers, labor, DOE, and the
regulators.”
Through
the life of the cleanup mission, Hanford has treated more than 23
billion gallons of groundwater and removed more than 500 tons of
contaminants, including the majority of the chromium along the River
Corridor and hundreds of tons of nitrates on the Central Plateau, as
well as other contaminants of concern such as carbon tetrachloride,
uranium, and technetium-99.
-Contributor: Dieter Bohrmann
EM Nevada Extends Grant for Groundwater Contamination Testing Program
Nye County’s John Klenke collects water samples from an Amargosa Valley location.
LAS VEGAS – The EM Nevada Program
has awarded a two-year grant extension to an intergovernmental
groundwater testing program carried out by Nye County that works to
ensure the safety of publicly accessible water.
The
Tritium Sampling and Monitoring Program, an EM grant-funded initiative,
supports annual independent sampling for tritium at locations near the
Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). Tritium is the primary contaminant
of concern, because it is highly mobile in groundwater and can serve as
an indicator of contaminant migration from nuclear testing.
“We
are proud of our collaborative partnership with Nye County, which is
helping to ensure the continued safety of publicly accessible water near
the Nevada National Security Site,” said Rob Boehlecke, EM Nevada
Program manager. “The Tritium Sampling and Monitoring Program is a
valuable initiative that continues to show no detectible migration of
tritium at sampling locations in Nye County."
Private
wells, natural springs, and local facilities make up the 20 tritium
sampling and monitoring locations the Tritium Sampling and Monitoring
Program sampled in 2019. For more information, visit the Nye County Nuclear Waste Repository Project.
The
collaborative sampling and monitoring initiative was initiated in 2015
when EM issued a five-year, $1.27 million grant to Nye County to monitor
tritium in wells near the NNSS. The grant also supports the county’s
involvement in technical reviews of the historical nuclear underground
test area groundwater activities.
Geoscientists
under the Nye County Nuclear Waste Repository Project Office have
sampled and monitored 50 separate locations since the program began,
including 42 wells and eight springs. Of these sites, 10 are sampled
every year, while the other 10 locations rotate annually. The 2019
sampling results of 17 wells and three springs found no detectible
levels of tritium in the sampled locations.
As
the environmental program services contractor for the EM Nevada
Program, Navarro Research and Engineering has supported Nye County in
coordinating the administration of the Tritium Sampling and Monitoring
Program. Other supporting partners include the State of Nevada Division
of Environmental Protection, Desert Research Institute, and the Nevada
Site Specific Advisory Board.
-Contributor: Michelle French
Hanford Firefighters Battle Challenging Wildfire
|
EM Update | Vol. 12, Issue 15 | June 30, 2020
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Major Hanford Tank Waste Treatment Unit First to Complete Start-up Testing | |
Employees
with Navarro Research and Engineering, Inc. and visiting scientists
observe the E-Tunnel South Portal at the Rainier Mesa/Shoshone Mountain
groundwater characterization area during a field trip to the Nevada
National Security Site.
Navarro’s
key accomplishments during the evaluation period included completing
remedial actions and obtaining regulatory closure of the final
contaminated soils site seven years earlier than the original EM Nevada
Program baseline; making significant progress toward closure of two
major groundwater areas on the NNSS; and cost effectively implementing
the Radioactive Waste Acceptance Program.
Navarro
also continued to demonstrate strong safety and health performance.
There were no injuries, exposures, or lost-workday accidents during the
evaluation period. Additionally, Navarro safely and efficiently
completed extensive follow-on activities within a remote high-hazard
area, including using heavy equipment in high radiological contamination
areas with no lost-time accidents, injuries, or radiological issues.
There
were no significant or notable deficiencies identified during the
rating period. Areas of improvement identified during the period
included timely completion of non-incentivized products, resolution of
information systems access issues, and implementation of a comprehensive
electronic waste profile review and approval process.
To view Navarro’s fee determination scorecard, click here.
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Last Major ETTP Facility Ready for Demolition at Oak Ridge | |
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The
supercompactor ram at the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project exerts
4 million pounds of force to compact filled waste drums.
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Kenny
Ferguson, director of information technology infrastructure services
for Richland Operations Office, inspects for potential damage to an
unoccupied facility following the Gable Mountain fire, which burned more
than 5,000 acres on the Hanford Site.
RICHLAND, Wash. – In a well-coordinated effort, the Hanford Fire Department
and nearby cities and counties successfully contained a wildfire that
presented firefighters with many challenges and obstacles.
Lightning sparked the fire that burned more than 5,000 acres of Gable Mountain, located near the center of Hanford, earlier this month. No one was injured.
“Before
the fire was contained, I had the opportunity to visit the fire command
center and see firsthand the hard work and dedication of the Hanford
Fire Department and other firefighters from neighboring cities and
counties,” said Brian Vance, Hanford Site manager. “These men and women
were battling challenging conditions to ensure the safety of our people,
the site, and our community.”
The
fire department, managed by Hanford contractor Mission Support Alliance
(MSA), called in firefighters from the nearby cities of Richland and
Kennewick, as well as Walla Walla, Benton, and Franklin counties to
combat the wildland fire. MSA also used heavy equipment operations to
support firefighting efforts.
“Firefighting
crews were challenged with heavy fuels due to the location,
difficult-to-access locations, and changing weather conditions such as
strong winds and increasing temperatures,” said Adam Moldovan, acting
fire chief of the Hanford Fire Department.
Lightning
also caused several other small fires across the 580-square-mile site.
Firefighters quickly extinguished those fires, protecting facilities and
allowing them to return focus to the Gable Mountain effort.
-Contributor: Melissa VerSteeg
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