Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Friday, July 24, 2020
Bruce G. Blair, acclaimed expert on the risks of nuclear war, dies at 72
Bruce G. Blair, acclaimed expert on the risks of nuclear war, dies at 72: Bruce Blair, an internationally renowned scholar and expert on the risks of accidental nuclear war, died on July 19 in hospital in Philadelphia following a severe stroke. He was 72.
Pompeo's speech will have the 'opposite effect' in China, says former U.S. diplomat
Pompeo's speech will have the 'opposite effect' in China, says former U.S. diplomat: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's seeming attempt to rally the Chinese people against the Communist Party of China has the opposite effect of increasing support for the ruling party, said Daniel Russel, former assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs from 2013 to 2017.
US agencies agree to work together on ISL regulation : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
US agencies agree to work together on ISL regulation : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: The USA's Environmental Protection Agency and Nuclear Regulatory Commission aim to improve their coordination and cooperation in the regulation of uranium extraction using in-situ recovery methods through a new Memorandum of Understanding.
New NRG tests could lead to novel nuclear fuels : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News
New NRG tests could lead to novel nuclear fuels : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News: New irradiation experiments on the behaviour of nuclear fuel have recently started in the High Flux Reactor at Petten, in the Netherlands. The Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group says that, by using a new measurement technique, data collected during the experiments could be used to develop new fuels and to optimise the efficiency of existing ones.
USA lifts nuclear finance ban : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News
USA lifts nuclear finance ban : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News: The USA has lifted its legacy prohibition on funding nuclear energy projects overseas. The US International Development Finance Corporation changed its Environmental and Social Policy and Procedures following a 30-day public consultation period.
Ohio Nuclear Power Scandal - CounterPunch.org
Ohio Nuclear Power Scandal - CounterPunch.org: The U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI this week charged the speaker of the Ohio House of Representative and four others in a $61 million scheme to use $1 billion in ratepayers money to keep two decrepit nuclear power plants operating. And, said the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, David DeVillers, at a More
Is Nuclear Energy Making A Pandemic Comeback? | OilPrice.com
Is Nuclear Energy Making A Pandemic Comeback? | OilPrice.com: The ongoing energy crisis has been helping to highlight nuclear energy’s billing as the most reliable energy source, but renewables sources such as solar and wind are generating much more interest from investors
Battelle Energy Alliance Seeks Industry Partners to Design Nuclear Power System for Moon | idahofallsmagazine.com
Battelle Energy Alliance Seeks Industry Partners to Design Nuclear Power System for Moon | idahofallsmagazine.com: Battelle Energy Alliance is seeking information from leaders in the nuclear and space industries to develop innovative technologies for a fission surface power system that can be operated on the moon.
Battelle Energy Alliance Seeks Industry Partners to Design Nuclear Power System for Moon | idahofallsmagazine.com
Battelle Energy Alliance Seeks Industry Partners to Design Nuclear Power System for Moon | idahofallsmagazine.com: Battelle Energy Alliance is seeking information from leaders in the nuclear and space industries to develop innovative technologies for a fission surface power system that can be operated on the moon.
Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020 - 2025)
Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020 - 2025): The market for nuclear power reactor decommissioning is expected to grow at approximately 12. 10% from 2020 – 2025.
Nuclear Power Plant Equipment Market- Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020 - 2025)
Nuclear Power Plant Equipment Market- Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020 - 2025): The nuclear power plant equipment market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 7. 81 % during the forecast period of 2020 – 2025.
Is nuclear power a problem or a solution? | Nuclear energy | Al Jazeera
Is nuclear power a problem or a solution? | Nuclear energy | Al Jazeera: Amid the global climate crisis, environmentalists are divided over the costs and benefits of nuclear energy.
Bribery scandals taint efforts to save U.S. nuclear plants
Bribery scandals taint efforts to save U.S. nuclear plants: From Bloomberg: Back-to-back bribery scandals involving utility giants in Ohio and Illinois over the past five days have given a black eye to efforts to prop up struggling U.S. nuclear plants. On Tuesday, July 21, federal officials arrested the speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives on racketeering charges tied to a bailout of two nuclear plants owned by Energy Harbor Corp., a former FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiary. Four days earlier, Exelon Corp.'s Commonwealth Edison unit agreed to pay $200 million to resolve a lobbying probe in Illinois, where nuclear plants also receive aid.
Ohio House Republicans introduce legislation to repeal controversial bailout of nuclear power plants
Ohio House Republicans introduce legislation to repeal controversial bailout of nuclear power plants: A pair of republican members of the Ohio House of Representatives are introducing a bill to repeal House Bill 6, the controversial bailout of the state’s nuclear power plants now at the center of a bombshell corruption scandal.
Optimism About Renewables Abounds amid Pandemic
Optimism About Renewables Abounds amid Pandemic: Industry stakeholders remain upbeat about the long-term prospects of renewable energy, as indicated by a panel during NARUC’s Summer Policy Summit.
Efforts to repeal HB6 could have major implications for Ottawa County
Efforts to repeal HB6 could have major implications for Ottawa County: Commissioner: “We aren’t disappointed in the bill; we’re disappointed in some of the things that were taking place down in Columbus."
Heaviest highway haul in Nevada history arrives at final destination | The Sierra Nevada Ally
Heaviest highway haul in Nevada history arrives at final destination | The Sierra Nevada Ally: There are oversized loads, and then there are nuclear-sized loads. The latter slowly snaked its way through rural eastern Nevada highways this month, in the form of a 1.47-million-pound decommissioned nuclear reactor pressure vessel, towed on a 384-tire trailer that was pushed and pulled by six heavy-duty trucks. Traveling between five and 10 miles per […]
US agencies agree to work together on ISL regulation : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
US agencies agree to work together on ISL regulation : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: The USA's Environmental Protection Agency and Nuclear Regulatory Commission aim to improve their coordination and cooperation in the regulation of uranium extraction using in-situ recovery methods through a new Memorandum of Understanding.
Feds enter new agreement to help Wyoming uranium producers; conservationists have concerns | Energy Journal | trib.com
Feds enter new agreement to help Wyoming uranium producers; conservationists have concerns | Energy Journal | trib.com: The memorandum of understanding signed by Environmental Protection Agency in Wyoming on Thursday clarifies the responsibilities of federal and state regulators to oversee in situ uranium production and cleanup.
Truck-sized Reactors Could Help Military’s Growing Reliance on Electricity
Truck-sized Reactors Could Help Military’s Growing Reliance on Electricity: For Alexander the Great, it was provisions. For World War II strategists, it was fuel. For the next ...
Feds enter new agreement to help Wyoming uranium producers; conservationists have concerns | National News | kpvi.com
Feds enter new agreement to help Wyoming uranium producers; conservationists have concerns | National News | kpvi.com: The memorandum of understanding signed by Environmental Protection Agency in Wyoming on Thursday clarifies the responsibilities of federal and state regulators to oversee in situ uranium production and cleanup.
Rethinking nuclear - Nuclear Engineering International
Rethinking nuclear - Nuclear Engineering International: Jeremy Gordon explains how more data on nuclear energy, and personal experiences, can help people change their views.IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE anything more boring than a concrete block sitting in a warehouse. At more than two metres on each...
Ohio governor calls for repeal of state nuclear bailout bill under probe - Reuters
Ohio governor calls for repeal of state nuclear bailout bill under probe - Reuters: Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on Thursday reversed course and called on the state's legislature to repeal and replace a nuclear energy bailout bill at the center of a federal investigation into bribery.
Going nuclear: NASA's Perseverance Mars rover gets its power source for July 30 launch | Space
Going nuclear: NASA's Perseverance Mars rover gets its power source for July 30 launch | Space: Launch personnel have loaded the nuclear power system into NASA's Perseverance Mars rover ahead of its launch on July 30, 2020.
6th case of COVID-19 reported at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
6th case of COVID-19 reported at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant: The employee works at the WIPP site, but has not been at the facility since July 7, according to a news release from Nuclear Waste Partnership.
Canada looks to robotic solutions
Canada looks to robotic solutions
https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newscanada-looks-to-robotic-solutions-8041088
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Pakistan ranked most improved in protecting nuclear materials
Pakistan ranked most improved in protecting nuclear materials: According to the Nuclear Security Index for 2020 published by US-based Nuclear Threat Initiative, headed by former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn and philanthropist Ted Turner,
As Flood Season Settles In, Experts Shed Light on Dam Safety Problems | 2020-07-22 | Engineering News-Record
As Flood Season Settles In, Experts Shed Light on Dam Safety Problems | 2020-07-22 | Engineering News-Record: U.S. dam safety frameworks have helped to prevent major calamities, but the May collapse of the 95-year-old Edenville Dam in Michigan illustrates that key failure risks remain—often involving many causes, according to a study of dam safety risk assessments by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. “It’s really unusual that a big system fails because of one thing,” says Greg Baecher, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Maryland, and co-author of the Oak Ridge report conducted for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and . . .
NASA is prepared for the risks of launching nuclear-powered rover
NASA is prepared for the risks of launching nuclear-powered rover: NASA is working with Brevard emergency management in case there is an accident that causes radioactive material to be released during the Mars 2020 rover launch next week.
FirstEnergy share price plummets following subpoena in $61M racketeering bribery case
FirstEnergy share price plummets following subpoena in $61M racketeering bribery case
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/firstenergy-share-price-plummets-following-subpoena-in-61m-racketeering-br/582160/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202020-07-23%20Utility%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:28643%5D&utm_term=Utility%20Dive
[Webinar] Unplugged Renewable Energy Series - PG&E Bankruptcy: Lessons Learned and a Path Forward - August 4th, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm PT | Farella Braun + Martel LLP - JDSupra
[Webinar] Unplugged Renewable Energy Series - PG&E Bankruptcy: Lessons Learned and a Path Forward - August 4th, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm PT | Farella Braun + Martel LLP - JDSupra: The California power giant, PG&E, has emerged from the country’s largest utility bankruptcy proceeding as a dramatically different company. Not only has PG&E exited Chapter 11, it has...
Gov. DeWine stands by nuclear bailout, lawyer recalls effort to thwart ballot initiative | WKRC
Gov. DeWine stands by nuclear bailout, lawyer recalls effort to thwart ballot initiative | WKRC: COLUMBUS, Ohio (WKRC) - As Republican and Democratic state legislators work on bills to repeal the nuclear company bailout signed into law last year, Gov. Mike DeWine said Wednesday he does not support repealing it. DeWine signed House Bill 6 into law in 2019. It provides a $1. 3 billion ratepayer-funded bailout of Ohio's two nuclear power plants owned by FirstEnergy Solutions, which is now Energy Harbor. "We had a couple of big factors in my support for the bill. One is the jobs," DeWine said.
Bribery Scandals Taint Efforts to Save U.S. Nuclear Plants
Bribery Scandals Taint Efforts to Save U.S. Nuclear Plants: (Bloomberg) -- Back-to-back bribery scandals involving utility giants in Ohio and Illinois over the last five days have given a black eye to efforts to prop up struggling U.S. nuclear plants.On Tuesday, federal officials arrested the speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives on racketeering charges
A tour of Mississippi: Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Station | Mississippi Today
A tour of Mississippi: Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Station | Mississippi Today: Take a tour of Mississippi with Marshall Ramsey and download a coloring sheet of Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Station near Port Gibson, Mississippi.
India’s largest nuclear power reactor becomes operational | Deccan Herald
India’s largest nuclear power reactor becomes operational | Deccan Herald: India’s biggest indigenous nuclear power reactor on Wednesday became operational as criticality was achieved at the country’s first 700-MW power plant at Kakrapar atomic power station in Gujarat. With the criticality—initiation of the self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction inside the reactor’s core—achieved successfully, the N-power company will conduct few other tests and
Bribery scandals taint efforts to save U.S. nuclear plants | The Japan Times
Bribery scandals taint efforts to save U.S. nuclear plants | The Japan Times: Back-to-back bribery scandals involving utility giants in Ohio and Illinois over the past week have given a black eye to efforts to prop up struggling U.S.
Nuclear Power Plant Bailout At The Center Of Federal Corruption Case | WKSU
Nuclear Power Plant Bailout At The Center Of Federal Corruption Case | WKSU: Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) has been arrested in connection to a $61 million public corruption racketeering conspiracy case. He and
Nuclear Power Plant Bailout At The Center Of Federal Corruption Case | WKSU
Nuclear Power Plant Bailout At The Center Of Federal Corruption Case | WKSU: Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) has been arrested in connection to a $61 million public corruption racketeering conspiracy case. He and
FirstEnergy was relentless in quest to have Ohio legislature bail out the utility’s nuclear plants - cleveland.com
FirstEnergy was relentless in quest to have Ohio legislature bail out the utility’s nuclear plants - cleveland.com: After previous attempts had failed, First Energy finally managed to orchestrate a nuclear bailout with the help of Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder.
Bruce Power celebrates Reactor Maintenance Platform for MCR project - Nuclear Engineering International
Bruce Power celebrates Reactor Maintenance Platform for MCR project - Nuclear Engineering International: Canada’s Bruce Power, Shoreline Power Group, Promation Nuclear, and Laveer Engineering on 16 July celebrated the innovation and delivery of a new re-usable, multi-unit Reactor Maintenance Platform. The platform, which was developed...
General Fusion draws new investors amid efforts to commercialize - Technology | Business in Vancouver
General Fusion draws new investors amid efforts to commercialize - Technology | Business in Vancouver: What happened: General Fusion reveals backing from new investors
Why it matters: The company says the investments help secure its foothold in Asia in bid to make fusion power go mainstream
Why it matters: The company says the investments help secure its foothold in Asia in bid to make fusion power go mainstream
How Extremophile Bacteria Living In Nuclear Reactors Might Help Us Make Vaccines
How Extremophile Bacteria Living In Nuclear Reactors Might Help Us Make Vaccines: Extremophiles like the bacterium D. radiodurans that can withstand levels of radiation thousands of times what most animals can, are able to help us make vaccines faster, cheaper and safer. They use special molecular protectors to shield their repair proteins but not their DNA or RNA.
UR and possible game-changer for Navy: Using salt water for fuel | RochesterFirst
UR and possible game-changer for Navy: Using salt water for fuel | RochesterFirst: ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The US Navy leads the way in efficient, nuclear-powered vessels. All active aircraft carriers, and a number of other ships and subs are powered using that method. Now, researchers at the University of Rochester are working on a way to create another kind of fuel out at sea to make some […]
New NRC inspector announced for Wolf Creek
New NRC inspector announced for Wolf Creek: A new inspector is getting settled in at Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Station. Christopher Henderson has been selected as Wolf Creek's new senior resi...
Repeal effort announced for House Bill 6, Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear 'bailout bill' | Toledo Blade
Repeal effort announced for House Bill 6, Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear 'bailout bill' | Toledo Blade: OAK HARBOR, Ohio — Roughly 24 hours after Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four others were arrested and charged with masterminding a $61 million ...
Ohio legislator charged in racketeering case : Corporate - World Nuclear News
Ohio legislator charged in racketeering case : Corporate - World Nuclear News: Five people, including the Speaker of Ohio's House of Representatives, have been charged in a federal racketeering conspiracy involving USD60 million related to legislation passed last year to provide financial support to two nuclear power plants.
OPG launches centre to support sustainable decommissioning : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News
OPG launches centre to support sustainable decommissioning : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News: Ontario Power Generation has launched the Centre for Canadian Nuclear Sustainability to support preparations for the decommissioning of the Pickering nuclear power plant. The regional hub will integrate collaboration and research to strengthen Ontario's supply chain for nuclear decommissioning.
Russia establishes RBMK decommissioning technology centre : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News
Russia establishes RBMK decommissioning technology centre : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News: Rosenergoatom, the operator subsidiary of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, is establishing a new experimental and demonstration engineering centre for the decommissioning of RBMK reactors. The new centre will be based at the Leningrad plant site in the Leningrad region of Russia, with a branch at the Beloyarsk plant in the Sverdlovsk region.
Reload MOX fuel ready for BN-800 fast reactor : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News
Reload MOX fuel ready for BN-800 fast reactor : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News: The manufacture of the first full reload batch of uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuel for unit 4 of the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant in Russia has been completed by the Mining and Chemical Combine in Zheleznogorsk, in the Krasnoyarsk region. The 169 fuel assemblies have been accepted by operator Rosenergoatom, and its authorised representative VPO ZAES, which has confirmed the consignment is ready for shipment.
Thriving Time for Ukraine's Natural Gas Infrastructure | The Energy Collective Daily
- Thriving Time for Ukraine's Natural Gas Infrastructure
- Renewables beat fossil fuels - Ember
- South Africa / Policy Announcement Opens Door To All Types Of Nuclear Technology, Including SMRs
- Decarbonising the UK’s Long-Haul Road Freight at Minimum Economic Cost - The Centre For Sustainable Road Freight
Thriving Time for Ukraine's Natural Gas Infrastructure | The Energy Collective Daily |
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Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Cheap Natural Gas To Remain Fuel Of Choice For Decades To Come | OilPrice.com
Cheap Natural Gas To Remain Fuel Of Choice For Decades To Come | OilPrice.com: Researchers think that cheap natural gas will remain the fuel of choice as more countries are moving to net-zero energy policies
Report shows advantages of nuclear employment : Corporate - World Nuclear News
Report shows advantages of nuclear employment : Corporate - World Nuclear News: The nuclear energy industry provides more numerous, better-paid and more highly-trained jobs than does the wind power sector, according to a technical position paper published today by World Nuclear Association. It provides around 25% more employment per unit of electricity generated.
Infinite Carbon-Free Energy Is Closer Than Ever | OilPrice.com
Infinite Carbon-Free Energy Is Closer Than Ever | OilPrice.com: The incredibly powerful superconductive magnets could play a key role in the commercialization of nuclear fusion
770-ton load from San Onofre nuclear plant finishes trip to Utah - The San Diego Union-Tribune
770-ton load from San Onofre nuclear plant finishes trip to Utah - The San Diego Union-Tribune: An old nuclear reactor pressure vessel is part of the dismantlement of the plant
SRS pit production provision in key defense bill deemed problematic by White House | News | aikenstandard.com
SRS pit production provision in key defense bill deemed problematic by White House | News | aikenstandard.com: The White House on Tuesday threatened to veto a version of the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act – significant defense legislation – for myriad reasons, including a plutonium
Amentum-Jacobs JV to Continue Nuclear Hazard Cleanup at DOE’s Oak Ridge Complex – GovCon Wire
Amentum-Jacobs JV to Continue Nuclear Hazard Cleanup at DOE’s Oak Ridge Complex – GovCon Wire: A joint venture between Amentum and Jacobs (NYSE: J) has received a potential two-year contract modi
DOE targets end to US reliance on Russian nuclear fuel, revived domestic capability | Utility Dive
DOE targets end to US reliance on Russian nuclear fuel, revived domestic capability | Utility Dive: Utility industry news and analysis for energy professionals.
New Canadian radioisiotope partnerships announced : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
New Canadian radioisiotope partnerships announced : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: A newly signed Memorandum of Understanding between Bruce Power, Isogen and BWXT ITG Canada Inc will see them work together to advance the production of medical radioisotopes in Ontario. Bruce has also signed an MoU with McMaster University on the applications and supply of established and emerging medical isotopes.
Deep Isolation, NAC extend cooperation on waste canisters : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News
Deep Isolation, NAC extend cooperation on waste canisters : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News: Deep Isolation has signed a long-term cooperation and licensing agreement with NAC International to design, manufacture and supply canisters to store and/or dispose of nuclear waste in deep horizontal boreholes. The agreement follows a short-term memorandum of understanding the two companies signed last year.
Kakrapar 3 achieves first criticality : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Kakrapar 3 achieves first criticality : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Unit 3 of the Kakrapar nuclear power plant in the Surat district of the Indian state of Gujarat has attained a sustained chain reaction for the first time. It is the country's first indigenously-designed 700 MWe pressurised heavy water reactor to reach the commissioning milestone. Loading of fuel into the reactor's core was completed in mid-March.
DOE Cybersecurity RFI UPDATE: Comments now posted | The Energy Collective Daily
DOE Cybersecurity RFI UPDATE: Comments now posted | The Energy Collective Daily |
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- DOE Cybersecurity RFI UPDATE: Comments now posted
- How "green" is the Brazilian power matrix?
- The German coal phase-out is law: an overview
- Interstate eTrucking
- Enel Reveals Plan to Add 1GW of Batteries to US Renewables Fleet by 2022
- Low-Carbon Ships
- Progress on our goal to be carbon negative by 2030 - Microsoft on the Issues
- The modern grid, electricity or hydrogen?
- How green is the Brazilian power matrix?
House Speaker Larry Householder Engaged in Racketeering Around Nuclear Energy Bailout HB6, Federal Charges Allege | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog
House Speaker Larry Householder Engaged in Racketeering Around Nuclear Energy Bailout HB6, Federal Charges Allege | Scene and Heard: Scene's News Blog: The U.S. Attorneys Office in Columbus today released criminal charges against Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, his aide Jeff Longstreth, lobbyist and former Ohio Republican...
Belarus developing permanent seismic monitoring system for nuclear power plant
Belarus developing permanent seismic monitoring system for nuclear power plant: A permanent network of seismic stations is being developed to monitor the situation in the vicinity of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, BelTA learned from the report on the state of nuclear and radiation safety of Belarus of 2019.
FirstEnergy, Energy Harbor stocks fall in wake of criminal probe | wkyc.com
FirstEnergy, Energy Harbor stocks fall in wake of criminal probe | wkyc.com: A criminal probe has targeted the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives as well as several others.
Report shows advantages of nuclear employment : Corporate - World Nuclear News
Report shows advantages of nuclear employment : Corporate - World Nuclear News: The nuclear energy industry provides more numerous, better-paid and more highly-trained jobs than does the wind power sector, according to a technical position paper published today by World Nuclear Association. It provides around 25% more employment per unit of electricity generated.
Feds Assert Criminal Conspiracy Aided Passage of FirstEnergy Nuclear Bailout Bill | Greentech Media
Feds Assert Criminal Conspiracy Aided Passage of FirstEnergy Nuclear Bailout Bill | Greentech Media: Federal agents arrested the Ohio house speaker on charges of taking bribes and funneling millions to boost passage of a controversial bill.
Nuclear Decommissioning Services Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Reactor Type ; Strategy ; Application ; Capacity
Nuclear Decommissioning Services Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Reactor Type ; Strategy ; Application ; Capacity: The nuclear decommissioning services market was valued at US$ 5. 82 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 9.
770-ton load from San Onofre nuclear plant arrives in Utah - Los Angeles Times
770-ton load from San Onofre nuclear plant arrives in Utah - Los Angeles Times: An old nuclear reactor pressure vessel was removed as part of the dismantlement of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
AP: Ohio House Speaker arrested in bribery probe linked to nuclear power plants | Power Engineering
AP: Ohio House Speaker arrested in bribery probe linked to nuclear power plants | Power Engineering: COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The powerful Republican speaker of the Ohio House and four other people were arrested Tuesday in a $60 million federal bribery investigation, a person briefed on the matter said, as the FBI raided the legislative leader’s rural farm. Speaker Larry Householder was one of the driving forces behind a roughly $1...
Federal Register :: List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: Holtec International HI-STORM Flood/Wind Multipurpose Canister Storage System, Certificate of Compliance No. 1032, Amendment No. 5
Federal Register :: List of Approved Spent Fuel Storage Casks: Holtec International HI-STORM Flood/Wind Multipurpose Canister Storage System, Certificate of Compliance No. 1032, Amendment No. 5: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is confirming the effective date of July 27, 2020, for the direct final rule that was published in the Federal Register on May 13, 2020. The direct final rule amends the NRC's spent fuel storage regulations by revising the Holtec International HI-STORM...
Leading Black Educators in US Black Engineer Magazine - US Black Engineer
Leading Black Educators in US Black Engineer Magazine - US Black Engineer: Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, are both part of US Black Engineer magazine’s list of influential college presidents, provosts, and academic deans. Stay tuned for the next issue of USBE magazine. Both presidents have a special … Continue reading "Leading Black Educators in US Black Engineer Magazine"
770-ton load from San Onofre nuclear plant arrives in Utah - Los Angeles Times
770-ton load from San Onofre nuclear plant arrives in Utah - Los Angeles Times: An old nuclear reactor pressure vessel was removed as part of the dismantlement of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
Ohio leaders react to nuclear bailout corruption probe | Toledo Blade
Ohio leaders react to nuclear bailout corruption probe | Toledo Blade: Ohio politicians reacted with anger and calls for further investigation as news spread Tuesday about what authorities are describing as a $60 million ...
Generational Reform of the National Environmental Policy Act Has Weighty Implications for the Nuclear Industry | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP - JDSupra
Generational Reform of the National Environmental Policy Act Has Weighty Implications for the Nuclear Industry | Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP - JDSupra: On July 15, 2020, the White House Council on Environmental Quality implemented sweeping amendments to modernize and streamline NEPA environmental reviews. These...
EM News Flash July 22, 2020
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Robots, drones and surveillance apps: The unexpected future of medicine | ZDNet
Robots, drones and surveillance apps: The unexpected future of medicine | ZDNet: Healthcare has traditionally been cautious about new technologies. But a new wave of innovation is likely to change all of that.
Scientists Discover That The One Big Assumption That Everyone Has Been Making About COVID-19 May Be Dead Wrong – End Of The American Dream
Scientists Discover That The One Big Assumption That Everyone Has Been Making About COVID-19 May Be Dead Wrong – End Of The American Dream: Over the past several months, there has been a tremendous amount of debate about almost every aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic. People have been eager to debate
Spain COVID-19 study says antibodies disappear after weeks | Miami Herald
Spain COVID-19 study says antibodies disappear after weeks | Miami Herald: Over 60,000 people participated in the study.
Clinical and immunological assessment of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections | Nature Medicine
Clinical and immunological assessment of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections | Nature Medicine: The clinical features and immune responses of asymptomatic individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have not been well described. We studied 37 asymptomatic individuals in the Wanzhou District who were diagnosed with RT–PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections but without any relevant clinical symptoms in the preceding 14 d and during hospitalization. Asymptomatic individuals were admitted to the government-designated Wanzhou People’s Hospital for centralized isolation in accordance with policy1. The median duration of viral shedding in the asymptomatic group was 19 d (interquartile range (IQR), 15–26 d). The asymptomatic group had a significantly longer duration of viral shedding than the symptomatic group (log-rank P = 0.028). The virus-specific IgG levels in the asymptomatic group (median S/CO, 3.4; IQR, 1.6–10.7) were significantly lower (P = 0.005) relative to the symptomatic group (median S/CO, 20.5; IQR, 5.8–38.2) in the acute phase. Of asymptomatic individuals, 93.3% (28/30) and 81.1% (30/37) had reduction in IgG and neutralizing antibody levels, respectively, during the early convalescent phase, as compared to 96.8% (30/31) and 62.2
Chinese study: Antibodies in COVID-19 patients fade quickly | CIDRAP
Chinese study: Antibodies in COVID-19 patients fade quickly | CIDRAP: Symptoms or not, more than 90% showed steep declines in antibodies within 3 months.
Can you catch Covid-19 twice? A doctor suggests herd immunity could be wishful thinking - Vox
Can you catch Covid-19 twice? A doctor suggests herd immunity could be wishful thinking - Vox: My patient caught Covid-19 twice. So long to herd immunity hopes?
Iran Says 138 Medical Professionals among Virus Fatalities | Asharq AL-awsat
Iran Says 138 Medical Professionals among Virus Fatalities | Asharq AL-awsat: Middle-East Arab News and Opinion - Asharq Al-Awsat is the world’s premier pan-Arab daily newspaper, printed simultaneously each day on four continents in 14 cities
Warehouse Workers in a Bind as Virus Spikes in Southern California - The New York Times
Warehouse Workers in a Bind as Virus Spikes in Southern California - The New York Times: California’s efforts to at once contain the coronavirus and the economic devastation trailing in its wake have converged in the Inland Empire.
Flying Under the Radar: Iranian Alternatives to Suez and Belt and Road
Flying Under the Radar: Iranian Alternatives to Suez and Belt and Road: Iran, India, and Russia are pushing forward with a sea and rail corridor that could reduce the time and cost of shipping goods from India to Europe.
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
America’s Interior Ministry - The Atlantic
America’s Interior Ministry - The Atlantic: President Trump is cobbling together something the United States has never had before—a national police force, used to quell protests.
Visualizing Permian Oil & Gas Production (Through April 2020) | The Energy Collective Daily
Visualizing Permian Oil & Gas Production (Through April 2020) | The Energy Collective Daily |
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- Visualizing Permian Oil & Gas Production (Through April 2020)
- Power prices/tariffs not viable in Brazil
- The Rise of Green Initiatives in Commercial Industries and How it Impacts the Power Industry
- We Can Solve the Climate Crisis by Tracing Pollution Back to Its Sources.
- Lawsuits Seek Transparency On Coordination Between State Attorneys General Offices And Outside Organizations
- Flawed Poll Uses Biased Questions And Questionable Methodology To Push Climate Litigation Campaign
- EU must take on its methane problem before turning to hydrogen
- Global Ranking 2019 of Battery Manufacturers
Judge approves Santee Cooper ratepayer settlement over failed VC Summer nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com
Judge approves Santee Cooper ratepayer settlement over failed VC Summer nuclear project | Business | postandcourier.com: It puts refunds into the pockets of customers who have paid higher power bills for the V.C. Summer project, as well as substantial fees for the attorneys who argued the
Iran Aims At $1 Trillion Oil Revenue From Giant Field Development | OilPrice.com
Iran Aims At $1 Trillion Oil Revenue From Giant Field Development | OilPrice.com: Iran signed on Monday a US$1.3-billion deal with domestic companies to double the production capacity at the massive Azadegan oilfield
Iran Could Flood Oil Markets If Biden Becomes U.S. President | OilPrice.com
Iran Could Flood Oil Markets If Biden Becomes U.S. President | OilPrice.com: If presumptive Democratic candidate Joe Biden wins the presidential election in November, Iran could suddenly turn from a bullish driver for oil prices into a bearish factor
Biden's Climate, Energy Plan Is a Gift for China | RealClearEnergy
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EM Update July 21, 2020
Workers
have begun demolition at the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility
complex at the Energy Technology Engineering Center.
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. – Work crews have begun demolishing a set of Department of Energy-owned buildings at the Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC), a key step forward in cleanup at the former nuclear and liquid metals research site in southern California.
On
July 21, an ancillary guard station at the Radioactive Materials
Handling Facility (RMHF) complex was the first structure being torn down
under a recently signed agreement between DOE and the State of
California that allowed active cleanup to resume at ETEC after more than
10 years. This cleanup is among EM's 2020 priorities.
The agreement cleared the way for demolition
of the RMHF complex, 10 buildings constructed in 1959 on 1.5 acres and
used for the processing, packaging, and shipment of radioactive and
mixed hazardous wastes during site operations that ended in 1988.
Removing the RMHF facilities will reduce potential risk of release of
hazardous substances due to wildfires or erosion from severe storms.
“It
is a great feeling to see progress being made again at ETEC,” said ETEC
Federal Project Director John Jones. “We are committed to conducting
our work safely and efficiently.”
RMHF
demolition and removal of debris is expected to take approximately six
months. Activities are being conducted in adherence to safety practices
recommended to protect workers from exposure to the coronavirus. Debris
from the cleanup is being transported outside the State of California
for disposal at licensed commercial disposal facilities.
ETEC,
located in Area IV of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in Ventura
County, served as a premier research facility from the 1950s until the
end of active operations. Since the 1980s, more than 200 structures on
the site have been demolished and removed. After completing RMHF
demolition, only eight DOE-owned 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 Completes Major Soil Remediation Project at K-25 Footprint
An
aerial view of the massive K-25 footprint spanning 44 acres at Oak
Ridge. Future plans call for transforming the footprint into a
commemorative site as part of the Manhattan Project National Historical
Park.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn.
– Workers recently finished removing contaminated soil under a section
of the former Building K-25 footprint in another major action to help EM reach its goal to complete cleanup at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) this year.
ETTP,
the former Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, once contained five
massive uranium enrichment buildings, which included Building K-25,
along with hundreds of support facilities.
After conducting sampling and characterization, Oak Ridge’s
cleanup contractor UCOR identified areas in a section of the 44-acre
K-25 footprint where contaminated soil needed to be excavated and
removed. Workers have now completed that excavation — which began in
2018 — removing more than 90,000 cubic yards of soil. The site has been
backfilled and seeded.
“Completion
of this project reduces risk at ETTP, while helping position us to
achieve site cleanup this year,” said James Daffron, acting ETTP
portfolio federal project director for Oak Ridge’s EM program.
Workers
have completed an excavation of contaminated soil from the K-25
footprint, removing more than 90,000 cubic yards of soil.
Crews
finish backfilling and seeding a portion of the K-25 footprint. This is
the last step of the project, and it gets the area ready for its future
use to commemorate the site’s history.
The
K-25 Building was built in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project. At
that time, K-25 was the largest building in the world. It operated until
1964, producing enriched uranium for defense and commercial purposes.
The K-25 Building demolition project began in December 2008, and that work was completed on the mile-long, U-shaped structure in December 2013.
Tearing
down the 1.6-million-square-foot facility was EM’s largest ever
demolition project. Waste hauled from the site included 6,000
compressors, 3,000 converters, 187,000 cubic yards of steel, 3,800 miles
of electrical conductors, and 1.2 million cubic feet of asbestos
insulation. In total, more than 460,000 cubic yards of K-25 waste —
which could fill more than 33,000 dump trucks — was shipped for
disposal.
Completing
this soil remediation project eliminates risks at the site, and it will
also help facilitate future plans to transform the K-25 Building
footprint into a commemorative site as part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The K-25 History Center
opened earlier this year adjacent to the footprint, and future plans
include a viewing tower, equipment building, and wayside exhibits.
EM’s goal for this year is to complete ETTP cleanup, known as Vision 2020, as the site transitions to a multi-use industrial park, national park, and conservation center.
-Contributor: Wayne McKinney
Hanford Waste Treatment Plant Continues Progress Toward Commissioning
RICHLAND, Wash. – Workers at Hanford’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant
(WTP) recently completed startup testing on another significant plant
system, the utility building that provides power to the plant’s Effluent Management Facility,
pictured above. The system is one of many going through commissioning
prior to starting low-activity tank waste treatment through the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) approach. This development at WTP supports one of EM's 2020 priorities: complete DFLAW construction turn-over to commissioning.
-Contributor: George Rangel
SRS Achieves Analytical Laboratories Project Milestone Ahead of Schedule
AIKEN, S.C. – EM recently surpassed a project milestone to clean 20 gloveboxes and radiohoods in the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) Analytical Laboratory approximately two months early as part of the Savannah River Site’s (SRS) laboratory consolidation efforts.
Workers
have analyzed samples from radiochemical processing and radiological
environmental monitoring programs using gloveboxes and radiohoods for
over 55 years at several facilities across the site. Gloveboxes are
stainless-steel boxes with safety glass panels and fitted glove-port
openings to allow for safe handling of contaminated materials. They
shield and segregate workers from hazards. A radiohood contains a work
surface and ventilation hood, and is used for handling small quantities
of radioactive materials and corrosive chemicals.
“Completing
the cleanup of gloveboxes and radiohoods ahead of schedule is a great
accomplishment,” DOE F Area Program Manager Randy Clendenning said.
To
reduce costs and streamline capabilities, SRNL has begun a multi-year
project to relocate analytical services from SRNL laboratory facilities
located in SRS’s F Area to SRNL’s central facilities location.
“Safe
reduction in the operational footprint of F Area laboratories and
relocation of ongoing analytical methods have involved teaming by many
workgroups at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) and SRNL,” said
Woodie Melton, director of the Analytical Laboratories
Section at SRNS, the site’s management and operations contractor. “When
complete, the consolidation of analytical work at SRNL will provide a
significant savings and allow the lab to better serve EM and National Nuclear Security Administration missions.”
Lee
Stevens, a transportation expert with Navarro Research and Engineering,
the lead environmental program services contractor for EM Nevada, uses
the Nevada National Security Site-based Hazardous Materials Notification
System to monitor and manage shipments from waste generators.
EM
Nevada uses the NNSS-based Hazardous Materials Notification System
(HAZTRAK) to monitor and manage such shipments. Applicable information
from HAZTRAK is also accessible to intergovernmental partners and the
general public on the NNSS website here.
EM
Nevada also recently worked with personnel from the Nevada Department
of Transportation (NDOT) to publish guidance that ensures NDOT route
approvals are consistent with agreements between DOE and Nevada
stakeholders.
Since
1999, more than 31,000 radioactive and classified waste shipments have
been safely transported to the NNSS. To learn more, click here for the EM Nevada waste transportation fact sheet.
-Contributors: Michelle French, Jesse Sleezer
Idaho Site Safely Ships Waste to Meet Regulatory Agreements
Fluor
Idaho Waste Disposal and Waste Generator Services Manager Bruno Zovi
inspects a pending shipment of mixed low-level waste prior to shipment
offsite.
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – DOE cleanup agreements with the state of Idaho require EM to ship nuclear waste for disposal, whether it’s newly generated or been stored at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site for decades.
“Our
responsibilities are diverse,” said Bruno Zovi, waste disposal and
waste generator services manager of Fluor Idaho, EM’s INL Site cleanup
contractor. “While the transuranic waste that’s shipped offsite is
crucially important to meeting the Idaho Settlement Agreement, there are
other wastes that must also leave the state of Idaho.”
In
the last 15 years, EM has completed 1,772 low-level and mixed low-level
waste shipments from the INL Site, including 40,115 containers with a
total volume of 25,204 cubic meters. “Most importantly, we’ve done it
safely and compliantly,” Zovi said.
EM
has shipped contaminated debris, soils, sludges, salts, and liquids to
seven treatment and disposal facilities across the U.S.
Fewer than 100 containers of mixed low-level debris waste remain to be shipped for disposal.
As sludges and soils are treated to meet criteria for disposal at treatment and disposal facilities, the volume of waste sometimes increases. This is due to absorbent, inert material added to absorb liquids present in the waste.
As sludges and soils are treated to meet criteria for disposal at treatment and disposal facilities, the volume of waste sometimes increases. This is due to absorbent, inert material added to absorb liquids present in the waste.
If
no liquids are found and all other conditions are acceptable, the waste
is packaged, sent for final characterization and certification, and
prepared for shipment and disposal. The site’s waste management project
is preparing to ship several hundred containers of non-transuranic waste
that will be generated from the ongoing sludge repackaging project.
Employees
implemented the use of multi-layered, mixed low-level waste disposal
bags that have eliminated the need for offsite treatment prior to
shipment to an offsite waste repository, resulting in a cost savings of
approximately $10 million since 2014.
-Contributor: Erik Simpson
Creativity Leads SRS to Complete Equipment Test During COVID-19 Pandemic
A
factory acceptance test for a Savannah River Remediation equipment
procurement was completed remotely instead of in-person at the
manufacturer’s site due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
AIKEN, S.C. – EM and its liquid waste contractor at the Savannah River Site (SRS) used creativity to complete a critical equipment test recently while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines.
The
Savannah River Remediation (SRR) tank closure team needed to complete a
factory acceptance test for a water addition pump skid being procured
to supply water for Tank 27 salt dissolution. The tests, which help
identify issues with new equipment and correct them prior to shipment,
are a significant step in the procurement process at SRS.
Water
additions are necessary for salt dissolution, allowing the salt waste
to be transferred from the tank for processing and immobilization. Tank
27 salt dissolution is key to the site’s liquid waste program and will
feed multiple salt batches when the Salt Waste Processing Facility comes
online.
After
bulk salt dissolution is completed, Tank 27 will be available for
continued use as a hub or blend tank to support salt waste processing
and eventual closure of F Tank Farm.
The
tests are typically conducted at the manufacturer’s site prior to
delivery and installation at SRS. However, SRR tank closure staff
couldn’t travel for the onsite inspection at the manufacturer due to
restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead,
the team held video calls on their smartphones to conduct a group
surveillance of the skid equipment. SRR Project Manager Sam Rollings
said the test was completed satisfactorily.
“Thanks
to the team’s adaptability and willingness to work together, we were
able to complete this critical step in the procurement and keep the
delivery on schedule for this important piece of equipment,” Rollings
said.
-Contributor: Colleen Hart
SRS Landscape Central to National Partnership’s Fight to Eradicate Rabies
Patrick Ryan, a technician at Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, collects biological samples from a sedated raccoon.
AIKEN, S.C. – Since 2017, the wild lands of the Savannah River Site (SRS) have served as a front line in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) fight to eradicate rabies in the nation.
Researchers at the University of Georgia’s (UGA) Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
(SREL) have been conducting studies focused on the elimination of
rabies in raccoons in partnership with the National Rabies Management
Program operated by USDA’s Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service
(APHIS). The research is intended to determine the most efficient method
for vaccinating the raccoon population to support the goal of
preventing the spread of wildlife rabies.
Olin
“Gene” Rhodes, director of SREL and a wildlife ecologist, said the
site’s 310-square-mile landscape and its diverse habitats,
characteristic of the southeast U.S., are ideal for conducting the
research.
“Rabies
is classified as a zoonotic disease because it is transmitted from
animals to humans. If not quickly treated, it is fatal to humans, and it
is a significant issue in the southeastern U.S.,” Rhodes said. “Large
areas of federally owned land like the SRS are excellent locations for
critical research on zoonotic diseases as they are home to large
populations of animals that commonly carry the variants of the rabies
virus in the southeastern U.S., like raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats.”
According
to APHIS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, raccoons
are the dominant carrier and species of concern for rabies in the
region.
|
EM Update | Vol. 12, Issue 18 | July 21, 2020
|
|
Crews Resume Environmental Cleanup at ETEC |
Before-and-after photos of cleanup of two areas in the F Area Analytical Laboratory facilities at the Savannah River Site.
F
Area is home to the decommissioned F Canyon chemical processing
facility and 235-F Plutonium Finishing Facility, which is currently
undergoing deactivation activities.
“Our
goal is to eventually move all personnel and capabilities out of F Area
and to put all facilities located there in surveillance and maintenance
until they are decommissioned,” said FH Lab Lay-up and Deactivation
Senior Project Manager Anatia Whittenburg.
Since
fiscal year (FY) 2018, the F Area Team has taken 10 laboratories no
longer used out of service in the F Area analytical facilities,
Whittenburg said.
“We
are expected to complete activities to take four additional labs out of
service this fiscal year,” said Whittenburg. “In addition to this work,
a number of gloveboxes and radiohoods are no longer in use in operating
labs and the team has been working to clean out those units, which will
allow us to accelerate deactivation activities next year.”
The
SRNS deactivation team is also removing and discarding unneeded
equipment. The deactivation of the F Area analytical facilities moves F
Area closer to being put in surveillance and maintenance mode, which
lowers the cost of operational activities.
The
colocation of SRNL capabilities is scheduled to continue through fiscal
FY2021 until deactivation of the F Area Analytical Laboratories can
begin. The site plans to begin those deactivation activities in FY2021
and complete them in FY2023.
-Contributor: Lindsey MonBarren
|
How EM Nevada’s Route Monitoring Ensures Safety of Waste Shipments
LAS VEGAS - A 5.8-magnitude earthquake centered near Lone Pine, California recently prompted rapid notifications from the EM Nevada Program to waste generators shipping classified and low-level, and mixed low-level radioactive waste to the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS).
That
swift reaction to ever-changing road conditions in the region is a
routine occurrence that demonstrates the EM Nevada Program’s commitment
to the safe transportation of waste for the protection of the public, workers, and the environment.
Following
the earthquake, Lee Stevens, a transportation expert with Navarro
Research and Engineering, the lead environmental program services
contractor for EM Nevada, immediately relayed key information concerning
regional road conditions and closures to waste generators with
shipments en route to the NNSS. His quick thinking and proactive
communication helped ensure the safety of drivers and their loads,
minimized rerouting or shipping delays, and facilitated continuous
situational awareness for DOE staff supporting NNSS waste management
operations.
“EM
Nevada is doing great work to keep waste generators across the DOE
complex aware of road and weather conditions on routes to the NNSS,” EM
Nevada Program Manager Rob Boehlecke said. “Lee’s rapid response on June
24 not only helped to ensure the safety of drivers and their cargo, but
also demonstrated that EM Nevada is ready, willing, and able to respond
decisively to a more significant event if the need arises.”
 |
A female Virginia opossum shelters in a tree stump at the Savannah River Site.
Guha
Dharmarajan, an assistant research scientist at SREL, supervises
graduate students working on the project. He said inoculating raccoon
populations in southeastern states requires overcoming an obstacle:
opossums.
Opossums,
non-carriers of the virus, can be found in the same habitats as the
raccoons — bottomland swamps, isolated wetlands, and upland pine. As a
result, they often consume the bait intended for raccoons, according to
Dharmarajan.
“We
are using capture-recapture methods and remote camera surveillance to
determine how densities of raccoons and opossums differ among common
southeastern habitat types, like those found on the SRS. Using this
data, we can improve the efficacy of USDA’s baiting strategy in the
region,” he said.
A
major component of the research is the cost-effective approach of
distributing oral placebo baits in the habitats to determine the
percentage of baits eaten by the raccoons as well as the percentage
taken by non-target species such as opossums. The results will provide
guidance to USDA on the most efficient method to distribute oral
vaccines to ensure a high rate of inoculation in the species.
Rhodes
said ensuring the health of wild species is vital to ensuring human
health, particularly in the case of zoonotic diseases. He also said
research data that may be used to combat the spread of the disease is
critical to the environmental stewardship goals of DOE and other federal
agencies that are large landholders in the U.S.
Through
its cooperative agreement with the DOE, UGA has been able to develop
facilities, expertise, and capabilities to use the SRS as a testing
ground for research focused on solving large-scale issues critical to
human health and the control of zoonotic disease in the U.S.
-Contributors: David Bernasconi, Vicky Sutton-Jackson
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