Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Saturday, August 8, 2020
Novel Threats: National Security and the Coronavirus Pandemic - Rebecca Ingber on Coronavirus, Congress and the "Deep State" - Reiss Center on Law and Security
Novel Threats: National Security and the Coronavirus Pandemic - Rebecca Ingber on Coronavirus, Congress and the "Deep State" - Reiss Center on Law and Security: Rebecca Ingber on Coronavirus, Congress and the "Deep State"
Homeland Security Is Quietly Tying Antifa to Foreign Powers
Homeland Security Is Quietly Tying Antifa to Foreign Powers: An intelligence report obtained exclusively by The Nation mentions several Americans, including a left-wing podcast host.
Homeland Security Is Quietly Tying Antifa to Foreign Powers
Homeland Security Is Quietly Tying Antifa to Foreign Powers: An intelligence report obtained exclusively by The Nation mentions several Americans, including a left-wing podcast host.
Hiroshima anniversary: 75 years on, nuclear testing killed untold thousands - Washington Post
Hiroshima anniversary: 75 years on, nuclear testing killed untold thousands - Washington Post: In the decades since 1945, the United States, the Soviet Union and at least six other countries set off a total of more than 2,000 nuclear test explosions.
From the Manhattan Project, a legacy of discovery and a national burden - News - Stripes
From the Manhattan Project, a legacy of discovery and a national burden - News - Stripes: Trinity Site today is a once-a-year tourist attraction. But 75 years later, national laboratories at Los Alamos and Hanford, part of an extensive network that is the Manhattan Project legacy, are still in business.
Rush Of Federal Policies Back In Discussion That Affect Western Energy Landscape Prior To Election | WVIK
Rush Of Federal Policies Back In Discussion That Affect Western Energy Landscape Prior To Election | WVIK: Several policies that affect the west and the energy landscape here are back in the news, including
Letter: Indian Point good source of zero-carbon emission electricity
Letter: Indian Point good source of zero-carbon emission electricity: The fact is, by deactivating just one of Indian Point’s two reactors, New York...
Final canister of nuclear waste transferred to storage facility at San Onofre - Los Angeles Times
Final canister of nuclear waste transferred to storage facility at San Onofre - Los Angeles Times: The transfer of dozens of canisters of nuclear waste to a dry storage facility at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station wrapped up Friday.
Hogg: Permian Basin nuclear waste disposal site is a bad idea
Hogg: Permian Basin nuclear waste disposal site is a bad idea: Submitted pieces are not the opinion of the Standard-Times. Send your opinion for publication to Opinion@GoSanAngelo.com.
Alberta signs on to help develop nuclear reactor technology | CBC News
Alberta signs on to help develop nuclear reactor technology | CBC News: Alberta is joining three other provinces to support the advancement and deployment of nuclear energy through small modular reactors (SMRs).
US, Americas power sector deal activity slumps in H1; may grow later in year: EY | S&P Global Platts
US, Americas power sector deal activity slumps in H1; may grow later in year: EY | S&P Global Platts: Power and utility deal activity in the Americas dived 62.2% in the first half of 2020 compared with the year ago period, but the rate of dealmaking could pick up through the remainder of the year, acc
Radioactive SRS waste to be disposed of in Texas after Energy deems it less hazardous | News | aikenstandard.com
Radioactive SRS waste to be disposed of in Texas after Energy deems it less hazardous | News | aikenstandard.com: The U.S. Department of Energy intends to send a few gallons of radioactive wastewater at the Savannah River Site to a facility in Texas for treatment and disposal, a spearhead
Battery Storage Is Delivering Value For Solar Developers And Energy Consumers. But What About Cost?
Battery Storage Is Delivering Value For Solar Developers And Energy Consumers. But What About Cost?: Battery storage is advancing, allowing solar developers and utilities to harness electricity during the day and release those electrons at night. What's even more compelling is that such batteries are getting better and more efficient, adding even more value to renewables.
Scandals Shouldn’t Cloud The Benefits Of Nuclear Power
Scandals Shouldn’t Cloud The Benefits Of Nuclear Power: In 2019, nuclear power fought above its weight and supplied approximately 20% of the nation’s electricity with just an 8.6% share of installed capacity.
Nuclear Power Plants Decommissioning Market Size, Analytical Overview, Growth Factors, Demand, Trends and Forecast to 2027 - Market Research Correspondent
Nuclear Power Plants Decommissioning Market Size, Analytical Overview, Growth Factors, Demand, Trends and Forecast to 2027 - Market Research Correspondent: New Jersey, United States,- The research report on Nuclear Power Plants Decommissioning market comprises of insights in terms of pivotal parameters such as production as well as the consumption patterns alongside revenue estimations for the projected timeframe. Speaking of production aspects, the study offers an in-depth analysis regarding the manufacturing processes along with the gross …
4 Ohio operatives plead not guilty in $60M bribery probe - ABC News
4 Ohio operatives plead not guilty in $60M bribery probe - ABC News: Four Ohio lobbyists and political operatives have pleaded not guilty to charges they conspired as part of what one defendant called an “unholy alliance” aimed at bailing out two aging Ohio nuclear power plants
Nuclear Power Plants Decommissioning Services Market Forecast 2020-2027 Growth Drivers, Regional Outlook - Market Research Correspondent
Nuclear Power Plants Decommissioning Services Market Forecast 2020-2027 Growth Drivers, Regional Outlook - Market Research Correspondent: New Jersey, United States,- The research report on Nuclear Power Plants Decommissioning Services market comprises of insights in terms of pivotal parameters such as production as well as the consumption patterns alongside revenue estimations for the projected timeframe. Speaking of production aspects, the study offers an in-depth analysis regarding the manufacturing processes along with the …
Historic Portsmouth: Kind of a drag protesting nuke plant in 1980 - News - seacoastonline.com - Portsmouth, NH
Historic Portsmouth: Kind of a drag protesting nuke plant in 1980 - News - seacoastonline.com - Portsmouth, NH: The Christian Science Monitor called it a "costly weekend of futility." The New York Times reported 1,500 demonstrators vowing to occupy the nuclear power plant construction site at Seabrook "were easily turned away this afternoon by handfuls of state policemen and National Guardsmen." Police and guardsmen used guard dogs, nightsticks, fire hoses, pepper gas, and Mace to defeat the planned occupation.Protesters equipped with plywood shields, bolt-cutters, ropes and chains were able to breach
VVER-1200 reactors maximize resilience of nuclear power plant to external, internal impacts | BELNPP: NEWS FROM CONSTRUCTION SITE | NPP Belarus – Nuclear power industry – News Belarus – Technologies - BelTA
VVER-1200 reactors maximize resilience of nuclear power plant to external, internal impacts | BELNPP: NEWS FROM CONSTRUCTION SITE | NPP Belarus – Nuclear power industry – News Belarus – Technologies - BelTA: A Generation III+ unit with a VVER-1200 reactor boasts a number of advantages in comparison with units of the previous generation that rely on VVER-1000 reactors, Andrei Petrov noted. These advantages greatly enhance the unit's economic parameters and safety.
Final canister of nuclear waste transferred to storage facility at San Onofre - Los Angeles Times
Final canister of nuclear waste transferred to storage facility at San Onofre - Los Angeles Times: The transfer of dozens of canisters of nuclear waste to a dry storage facility at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station wrapped up Friday.
5 ways 1945 nuclear attack on Hiroshima-Nagasaki continues to impact the world
5 ways 1945 nuclear attack on Hiroshima-Nagasaki continues to impact the world: Seventy-five years since the US' nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, no other country has used the weapons even though many have acquired them.
Belarus fuels first nuclear plant ahead of presidential poll | Macau Business
Belarus fuels first nuclear plant ahead of presidential poll | Macau Business: Belarus on Friday announced it had loaded fuel into its Russian-built nuclear power station as strongman Alexander Lukashenko prepares...
Alberta signs on to help develop nuclear reactor technology | CBC News
Alberta signs on to help develop nuclear reactor technology | CBC News: Alberta is joining three other provinces to support the advancement and deployment of nuclear energy through small modular reactors (SMRs).
Mapped: The World’s Nuclear Reactor Landscape
Mapped: The World’s Nuclear Reactor Landscape
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-the-worlds-nuclear-reactor-landscape/
At Harvard, other elite colleges, more students deferring their first year - The Boston Globe
At Harvard, other elite colleges, more students deferring their first year - The Boston Globe: Twenty percent of Harvard first-year students are opting to defer their admission as students decide to take a gap year rather than start their elite education online.
Friday, August 7, 2020
Sogin begins dismantling Latina NPP - Nuclear Engineering International
Sogin begins dismantling Latina NPP - Nuclear Engineering International: Italy’s Societa Gestione Impianti Nucleari SpA (Sogin), which is responsible nuclear decommissioning, has started demolishing the screens of the steam generators (SGs) of the reactor building at the Latina NPP.This activity represents a...
Kazatomprom to resume uranium production as pandemic restriction ease - Nuclear Engineering International
Kazatomprom to resume uranium production as pandemic restriction ease - Nuclear Engineering International: Kazakhstan’s National Atomic Company Kazatomprom on 3 August announced its operating results for the 2nd quarter and 1st half of the year ending 30 June. Kazatomprom, world's biggest uranium producer, uses in situ leach...
Russia to open radiopharmaceutical plant in Obninsk - Nuclear Engineering International
Russia to open radiopharmaceutical plant in Obninsk - Nuclear Engineering International: Rusatom Healthcare, part of state nuclear corporation Rosatom, will build Russia’s first radiopharmaceutical plant to meet global GMP good manufacturing practice standards. The new production facility will be...
NAC receives Canadian certification for OPTIMUS packaging - Nuclear Engineering International
NAC receives Canadian certification for OPTIMUS packaging - Nuclear Engineering International: US-based NAC International (NAC) has received certification for the OPTIMUS®-L version of its versatile OPTIMUS (OPTImal Modular Universal Shipping) transport packagings from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). NAC received...
Regulators tackle SMRs to give them room to grow | Nuclear Energy Insider
Regulators tackle SMRs to give them room to grow | Nuclear Energy Insider: Safety regulations on a 3.5 GW second generation power plant built in the 1970s cannot be applied to a state-of-the-art, 300-MW molten salt reactor, but with possibly hundreds of SMR designs being worked on worldwide, regulators are faced with the challenge of applying overarching laws that can effectively govern the next generation.
New Policy Group Calls For Nuclear-Specific Staff In White House :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency
New Policy Group Calls For Nuclear-Specific Staff In White House :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency: A new policy research organisation has called on the next administration in the White House to establish a climate office and include a nuclear-specific staff position.
The US-based Good Energy Collective said the moves would be in line with recommendations in a plan put forward by Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, and the Evergreen Action group, established by staff of the Democratic governor of Washington, Jay Inslee. The Good Energy Collective urged the new administration to include advanced nuclear energy as a part of the climate response and set a clear mandate for adoption of the technology.
It said advanced nuclear energy should be integrated into climate legislation and incentives should be similar to those for renewables, including loan guarantees, production and investment tax credits, access to public land, and federal power purchase agreements.
The US-based Good Energy Collective said the moves would be in line with recommendations in a plan put forward by Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, and the Evergreen Action group, established by staff of the Democratic governor of Washington, Jay Inslee. The Good Energy Collective urged the new administration to include advanced nuclear energy as a part of the climate response and set a clear mandate for adoption of the technology.
It said advanced nuclear energy should be integrated into climate legislation and incentives should be similar to those for renewables, including loan guarantees, production and investment tax credits, access to public land, and federal power purchase agreements.
4 Ohio operatives plead not guilty in $60M bribery probe
4 Ohio operatives plead not guilty in $60M bribery probe: COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Four Ohio lobbyists and political operatives pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges they conspired as part of what one defendant called an “unholy alliance” aimed at bailing...
Moltex Energy selects Jacobs to develop Stable Salt Reactor
Moltex Energy selects Jacobs to develop Stable Salt Reactor: US-based technical professional services provider Jacobs was selected by Moltex Energy to support the development of a new type of nuclear power plant.
IAEA assesses pre-operational safety at Flamanville EPR : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
IAEA assesses pre-operational safety at Flamanville EPR : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: The French nuclear safety authority, Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire, has published the report of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Pre-Operational Safety Review Team mission conducted last year at the Flamanville 3 EPR. The mission team identified eight good practices and made six recommendations and 15 suggestions.
EDF Energy prolongs outages at Dungeness and Hunterston units : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
EDF Energy prolongs outages at Dungeness and Hunterston units : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: The restarts of three advanced gas-cooled reactor units at EDF's Dungeness B and Hunterston B nuclear power plants in the UK have been postponed.
Fuel loading starts at Belarusian reactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Fuel loading starts at Belarusian reactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Fuel loading began today at unit 1 of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom has announced. At 11:45am local time, the first fuel assembly was loaded into the reactor and a total of 163 assemblies will be loaded before the end of the month.
Saudi Arabia Reported to Acquire Uranium Mill Technology from China to Make Yellowcake | The Energy Collective Daily
Saudi Arabia Reported to Acquire Uranium Mill Technology from China to Make Yellowcake | The Energy Collective Daily |
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- Saudi Arabia Reported to Acquire Uranium Mill Technology from China to Make Yellowcake
- EGLE awards $1.7 million for 36 EV charger stations
- BP underscores commitment to energy transition
- Germany could produce cost-competitive hydrogen at $1/kg in 2050, says report
- Business Leaders Call for Clean Energy in COVID-19 Response
- As Colorado towns come to grips with a coal-free future, the state looks for ways to help
- BP Declares 40% Production Cut by 2030, Boosts Renewables, After Pandemic Delivers Big Quarterly Loss
- DOJ Urges Court to Reconsider Oakland’s Climate Case
- Report: Higher Investment, GDP, Employment, and Fiscal Gains Linked to LNG Development in B.C.
- Long-Duration Energy Storage in Variable Renewable Electricity Systems
Thursday, August 6, 2020
China Trends #6 - Generally Stable? Facing US Pushback in the South China Sea | Institut Montaigne
China Trends #6 - Generally Stable? Facing US Pushback in the South China Sea | Institut Montaigne: Analysis by Mathieu Duchâtel, Director of the Asia Program, at Institut Montaigne
Syria says U.S. oil firm signed deal with Kurdish-led rebels - Reuters
Syria says U.S. oil firm signed deal with Kurdish-led rebels - Reuters: Syria's foreign ministry said on Sunday that an American oil company had signed an agreement with Kurdish-led rebels who control northeastern oilfields in what it described as an illegal deal aimed at "stealing" Syria's crude.
The United States, China, and the contest for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
The United States, China, and the contest for the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Rush Doshi testifies before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on the need for a realignment of U.S. economic policies to build resiliency and competitiveness against the China challenge.
Jacobs to assist Moltex in development of SSR : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Jacobs to assist Moltex in development of SSR : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: USA-based Jacobs Engineering Group has been selected by Moltex Energy to support its development of the Stable Salt Reactor (SSR), a 300 MWe small modular reactor design. Jacobs will build a bespoke experimental facility for thermal transfer testing at its Birchwood Park research and development facility near Warrington, UK.
Ostrovets plant set for fuel loading : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News
Ostrovets plant set for fuel loading : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News: The Nuclear and Radiation Safety Department of the Belarusian Emergencies Ministry (Gosatomnadzor) has issued a permit for the loading of fresh fuel into unit one of the nuclear power plant under construction near Ostrovets in the Grodno region. It consists of two VVER-1200 reactors that are scheduled for commissioning this year and next.
Why Blockading Would Have Been Better Than Bombing Japan | The American Conservative
Why Blockading Would Have Been Better Than Bombing Japan | The American Conservative: But choosing the latter was really about demonstrating the power of our new weapon to a likely future enemy---the Soviet Union.
75 Years After Hiroshima, Time to Give Dr. Strangelove His Walking Papers | The American Conservative
75 Years After Hiroshima, Time to Give Dr. Strangelove His Walking Papers | The American Conservative: Even if the bombing was not a criminal act, the modernization of the U.S. nuclear arsenal qualifies as madness.
Hiroshima and the Evil Jinn | The American Conservative
Hiroshima and the Evil Jinn | The American Conservative: After its wish to end World War Two was granted, America became something we hadn't quite bargained for: a god.
Construction Milestone At Rooppur NPP Site - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers
Construction Milestone At Rooppur NPP Site - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers: The latest nuclear news in Nuclear Power Industry about utilities, companies, suppliers in the nuclear energy market.
Tianwan Unit 5 Accomplishes First Criticality - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers
Tianwan Unit 5 Accomplishes First Criticality - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers: The latest nuclear news in Nuclear Power Industry about utilities, companies, suppliers in the nuclear energy market.
ENEC Fires Up Unit 1 At Barakah NPP - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers
ENEC Fires Up Unit 1 At Barakah NPP - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers: The latest nuclear news in Nuclear Power Industry about utilities, companies, suppliers in the nuclear energy market.
The future of hydropower will be determined in the Pacific Northwest
The future of hydropower will be determined in the Pacific Northwest
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/the-future-of-hydropower-will-be-determined-in-the-pacific-northwest/582945/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202020-08-06%20Utility%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:28936%5D&utm_term=Utility%20Dive
Senate grills FERC, DOE on power sector cybersecurity
Senate grills FERC, DOE on power sector cybersecurity
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/senate-grills-ferc-doe-on-power-sector-cybersecurity/582996/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202020-08-06%20Utility%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:28936%5D&utm_term=Utility%20Dive
Sempra Energy bullish on hydrogen as California navigates natural gas future
Brief
Sempra Energy bullish on hydrogen as California navigates natural gas future
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/sempra-energy-bullish-on-hydrogen-as-california-navigates-natural-gas-futur/583015/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202020-08-06%20Utility%20Dive%20Newsletter%20%5Bissue:28936%5D&utm_term=Utility%20Dive
Sierra Club Lawsuit Alleging Dangerously High Levels of Radioactivity at Hakes Landfill Is Dismissed by Steuben Judge – Water Front- Peter Mantius
Sierra Club Lawsuit Alleging Dangerously High Levels of Radioactivity at Hakes Landfill Is Dismissed by Steuben Judge – Water Front- Peter Mantius: CORNING, Aug. 3, 2020 — A Steuben County judge has dismissed a civil suit alleging that state officials granted Hakes C&D Disposal Landfill a permit to expand without properly considering evide…
Companies urge repeal of Ohio nuclear bailout in light of bribery scandal - Business - The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus, OH
Companies urge repeal of Ohio nuclear bailout in light of bribery scandal - Business - The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus, OH: Facebook, General Mills and Nestle are among about 50 companies that have written a letter to Ohio leaders urging the repeal of House Bill 6, the 2019 nuclear-bailout law that has become the target of federal investigators."As businesses, investors, trade associations and employers, we urge the repeal of House Bill 6 in light of the disturbing and shocking allegations made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation," said the letter, which was sent to Gov. Mike DeWine and the leaders of the state
Could hydrogen bail out nuclear power?: Physics Today: Vol 73, No 8
Could hydrogen bail out nuclear power?: Physics Today: Vol 73, No 8: As nuclear-powered water electrolysis becomes cheaper, it could compete with the current, carbon-intensive hydrogen production process.
Energy Department begins search for next Savannah River Site management team | News | aikenstandard.com
Energy Department begins search for next Savannah River Site management team | News | aikenstandard.com: The U.S. Department of Energy's remediation office has kicked off what's likely to be an extensive search for the next Savannah River Site management-and-operations contractor, the team that will ultimately
Contractor at nuclear regulatory office tests positive for coronavirus | TheHill
Contractor at nuclear regulatory office tests positive for coronavirus | TheHill: A contractor was in a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) office in Pennsylvania tested positive for the coronavirus, resulting in a brief closure of the office.
Daily on Energy: Democrats fear GOP going too far on speeding nuclear reviews
Daily on Energy: Democrats fear GOP going too far on speeding nuclear reviews: Subscribe today to the Washington Examiner magazine and get Washington Briefing: politics and policy stories that will keep you up to date with what's going on in Washington. SUBSCRIBE NOW: Just $1.00 an issue!
Saudi Arabia, With China’s Help, Expands Its Nuclear Program - WSJ
Saudi Arabia, With China’s Help, Expands Its Nuclear Program - WSJ: Saudi Arabia has constructed with Chinese help a facility for extracting uranium yellowcake from uranium ore, an advance in the oil-rich kingdom’s drive to master nuclear technology, according to Western officials with knowledge of the site.
USNC, Korean companies to develop micro modular reactors : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
USNC, Korean companies to develop micro modular reactors : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation of the USA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with South Korea's Hyundai Engineering and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The five-year agreement outlines goals for development of technologies that enhance the ability of the USNC Micro Modular Reactor to produce and deliver carbon-free power, heat and hydrogen.
Daily on Energy: Democrats fear GOP going too far on speeding nuclear reviews
Daily on Energy: Democrats fear GOP going too far on speeding nuclear reviews: Subscribe today to the Washington Examiner magazine and get Washington Briefing: politics and policy stories that will keep you up to date with what's going on in Washington. SUBSCRIBE NOW: Just $1.00 an issue!
Japan's stalled nuclear fuel cycle policy | The Japan Times
Japan's stalled nuclear fuel cycle policy | The Japan Times: Despite the Nuclear Regulation Authority's recent technical go-ahead for a reprocessing plant under construction in Rokkasho, Aomori Prefecture, the nuclea
Subscribe to read | Financial Times
Subscribe to read | Financial Times: News, analysis and comment from the Financial Times, the worldʼs leading global business publication
U.S. Examines Whether Saudi Nuclear Program Could Lead to Bomb Effort - The New York Times
U.S. Examines Whether Saudi Nuclear Program Could Lead to Bomb Effort - The New York Times: Intelligence agencies are scrutinizing whether the kingdom’s work with China to develop nuclear expertise is cover to process uranium and move toward development of a weapon.
Barrasso: The American Nuclear Infrastructure Act is a Blueprint to Revitalize Our Nuclear Energy Industry - Press Releases - U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
Barrasso: The American Nuclear Infrastructure Act is a Blueprint to Revitalize Our Nuclear Energy Industry - Press Releases - U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works: Click here to watch Chairman Barrasso’s remarks.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), delivered the following remarks at a hearing titled “Hearing to Examine a Discussion Draft Bill, S.____, American Nuclear Infrastructure Act of 2020.”
The hearing featured testimony from Amy Roma, founding member of Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition at the Atlantic Council; W. Paul Goranson, president of Uranium Producers of America; and Armond Cohen, executive director of the Clean Air Task Force.
For more information on witness testimony click here.
Senator Barrasso’s remarks:
“Clean, reliable nuclear energy is a cornerstone of America’s energy infrastructure.
“Nuclear provides over half of our nation’s emission-free power.
“Today’s nuclear reactors can run up to two full years without needing to be refueled.
“America’s nuclear engineers and scientists also support our national security.
“Nuclear energy powers our Navy’s aircraft carriers and our submarines.
“Nuclear technolo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), delivered the following remarks at a hearing titled “Hearing to Examine a Discussion Draft Bill, S.____, American Nuclear Infrastructure Act of 2020.”
The hearing featured testimony from Amy Roma, founding member of Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition at the Atlantic Council; W. Paul Goranson, president of Uranium Producers of America; and Armond Cohen, executive director of the Clean Air Task Force.
For more information on witness testimony click here.
Senator Barrasso’s remarks:
“Clean, reliable nuclear energy is a cornerstone of America’s energy infrastructure.
“Nuclear provides over half of our nation’s emission-free power.
“Today’s nuclear reactors can run up to two full years without needing to be refueled.
“America’s nuclear engineers and scientists also support our national security.
“Nuclear energy powers our Navy’s aircraft carriers and our submarines.
“Nuclear technolo
Doug Bauder: Here's how Southern California Edison will safely store nuclear waste at San Onofre - The San Diego Union-Tribune
Doug Bauder: Here's how Southern California Edison will safely store nuclear waste at San Onofre - The San Diego Union-Tribune: All the spent nuclear fuel at San Onofre will be in dry storage shortly, but the story obviously doesn’t end there.
Watch Now: Why the atomic bombing of Hiroshima would be illegal today Global Webinar - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Watch Now: Why the atomic bombing of Hiroshima would be illegal today Global Webinar - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Just days before the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Bulletin hosted a global webinar featuring Scott Sagan, Bulletin SASB member and Caroline S.G. Munro Professor of Political Science at Stanford University; Allen Weiner, director of the Stanford Program in International and Comparative Law; led by Sara Kutchesfahani, director of N Square DC Hub.
A statement on the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
A statement on the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Seventy-five years after the first use of nuclear weapons and the founding of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, we—all the members of the Science and Security Board—pledge to redouble our efforts to bring about a world in which the use of nuclear weapons is both unthinkable and impossible. On this tragic anniversary, we ask political and military leaders around the world to join us—to demonstrate that nuclear weapons do not create safety or security, but diminish them and threaten humanity’s future. With the fantasy that they are useful dispelled, nuclear weapons may come to be viewed for what they are—a costly and dangerous detour from the path toward real global security.
The atomic bomb and common security - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
The atomic bomb and common security - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: National security is based on the belief that nations can only make themselves more secure by making their adversaries less secure. That’s a formula for mutual insecurity.
A message from Hiroshima on the reality of the atomic bombing - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
A message from Hiroshima on the reality of the atomic bombing - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Why has the urge of the victims of the atomic bombings and of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki for the abolition of nuclear weapons been betrayed for such a long time?
A message from Hiroshima on the reality of the atomic bombing - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
A message from Hiroshima on the reality of the atomic bombing - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Why has the urge of the victims of the atomic bombings and of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki for the abolition of nuclear weapons been betrayed for such a long time?
Counting the dead at Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Counting the dead at Hiroshima and Nagasaki
https://thebulletin.org/2020/08/counting-the-dead-at-hiroshima-and-nagasaki?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ThursdayNewsletter08062020&utm_content=NuclearRisk_Wellerstein_08042020
Wednesday, August 5, 2020
UK National Grid prepares for first T-pylon at Hinkley Point C : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
UK National Grid prepares for first T-pylon at Hinkley Point C : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The first T-pylon on National Grid's Hinkley Connection is scheduled to be constructed at the end of July 2021. It will be one of 116 T-pylons along the 57km route, which will connect low-carbon energy from EDF Energy's Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant to six million UK homes and businesses. It will also allow for more capacity on the network for renewable energy from the South West peninsular.
IAEA, GIF call for faster deployment of next generation reactors : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
IAEA, GIF call for faster deployment of next generation reactors : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The International Atomic Energy Agency and the Generation IV International Forum have called for greater efforts to support the early deployment of innovative nuclear reactor systems to address climate change. The appeal came during the 14th GIF-IAEA Interface Meeting held last week.
UK government support for modular reactor deployment : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
UK government support for modular reactor deployment : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The UK government has announced an investment of GBP40 million (USD50 million) in the development of advanced modular reactors and small modular reactors. A government-commissioned report, meanwhile, has made recommendations for boosting the capability of the UK's nuclear R&D sector and domestic supply chain to support future AMR deployment.
USNC, Korean companies to develop micro modular reactors : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
USNC, Korean companies to develop micro modular reactors : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation of the USA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with South Korea's Hyundai Engineering and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The five-year agreement outlines goals for development of technologies that enhance the ability of the USNC Micro Modular Reactor to produce and deliver carbon-free power, heat and hydrogen.
Feasibility study sought for Cernavoda expansion project : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
Feasibility study sought for Cernavoda expansion project : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Romania has launched a tender for a new feasibility study to complete units 3 and 4 of the Cernavoda nuclear power plant for which it is prepared to pay up to RON1 million (USD245,000). There is also the option of a single unit being put up for auction, according to a report by Economica.Net.
RWM launches new venture to lead UK repository research : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News
RWM launches new venture to lead UK repository research : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News: The University of Manchester and the University of Sheffield will support the delivery of independent evidence-based research to underpin the development of a UK Geological Disposal Facility following a GBP2.5 million (USD3.3 million) grant secured from Radioactive Waste Management (RWM).
USNC, Korean companies to develop micro modular reactors : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News
USNC, Korean companies to develop micro modular reactors : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation of the USA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with South Korea's Hyundai Engineering and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The five-year agreement outlines goals for development of technologies that enhance the ability of the USNC Micro Modular Reactor to produce and deliver carbon-free power, heat and hydrogen.
Coronavirus company news summary - Kenya's first nuclear plant progresses - Chinese solar growth unhindered by pandemic
Coronavirus company news summary - Kenya's first nuclear plant progresses - Chinese solar growth unhindered by pandemic: 5 August The nuclear agency of Kenya has submitted impact studies for a $5bn nuclear power plant. It hopes to...Read More...
Group to Cities: Get Out of Nuclear Project While You Can
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https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/despite-nevada-opposition-menezes-confirmed-to-energy-post-2088373/
Tuesday, August 4, 2020
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EM Update August 4, 2020
Demolition
of the Centrifuge Complex at Oak Ridge presented challenges due to the
size and height of its structures. Some buildings stood 180 feet tall.
That's too tall for conventional demolition equipment designed for
buildings with a maximum height of 100 feet.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – EM’s cleanup at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) took a major step forward with removal of the Centrifuge Complex in late July.
EM is working to complete significant cleanup at ETTP this year — an EM 2020 priority — and tearing down the sprawling 235,000-foot complex marks one of the final demolition projects at the site.
“Completing this project brings us significantly closer to achieving our ambitious goal at ETTP,” said Jay Mullis, manager of DOE’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM). “Our employees have accomplished so much, and their hard work has resulted in an amazing, visible transformation that will benefit the community for years to come.”
The Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, now called ETTP, was closed permanently in 1987. EM has been conducting large-scale demolition at the site since 2006, resulting in the removal of hundreds of old, contaminated facilities totaling more than 13 million square feet.
The Centrifuge Complex — one of the most recognizable structures in ETTP’s skyline — was built to develop, test, and demonstrate the capability of centrifuge technology for uranium enrichment. The last of these facilities ceased operation in the mid-1980s.
The Centrifuge Complex was one of the most recognizable structures in the East Tennessee Technology Park’s skyline.
A view of the Centrifuge Complex at the East Tennessee Technology Park as the initial stages of demolition began in fall 2019.
A view of the Centrifuge Complex area after demolition was completed at the end of July 2020. Completion of this project brings EM significantly closer to completing its cleanup goal at the East Tennessee Technology Park, an EM 2020 priority.
OREM and its cleanup contractor UCOR began tearing down the Centrifuge Complex in October 2019. This task presented challenges due to the structures’ size and height. Some buildings stood at 180 feet in height, which is too tall to be knocked down by conventional demolition equipment.
The Centrifuge Complex contained four major sections. The K-1004-J lab section was an original Manhattan Project facility built for research and development in 1944. The K-1200 section, known as the Advanced Machine Development Laboratory and Component Preparation Laboratory, was used from 1975 to 1985 to develop machines and manufacturing processes for centrifuges.
The K-1210 section was referred to as Component Test Facility and Advanced Equipment Test Facility. It operated from 1975 to 1985 to test the reliability and operability of centrifuge machines. The facility also served as a pilot plant for testing feed, withdrawal, and depleted uranium hexafluoride transfer systems.
The fourth section — the K-1220 Complex Centrifuge Plant Demonstration Facility — was used from 1981 to 1985 primarily to test production centrifuges to be used in the Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plant.
OREM and UCOR are working together to transform ETTP into a multi-use industrial park, national park, and conservation area for the community. That vision has already started to become a reality. OREM has transferred almost 1,300 acres at ETTP for economic development, with another 600 acres slated for transfer in the years ahead. OREM has also set aside more than 100 acres for historic preservation and placed more than 3,000 acres in conservation for community recreational use.
-Contributor: Wayne McKinney
Hanford Tank Waste Pretreatment System on Schedule
Hanford Site federal, state, and contractor officials recently broke ground to place a 1,600-foot waste-transfer pipeline that will feed waste pretreated by the Tank-Side Cesium Removal System from the site’s tank farms to the nearby Low-Activity Waste Facility at the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant for vitrification. Pictured from left are Alex Smith, manager of the Department of Ecology’s Nuclear Waste Program; Brian Vance, manager of the EM field offices at Hanford; and John Eschenberg, president and CEO of Hanford tank operations contractor Washington River Protection Solutions.
RICHLAND, Wash. – Observing COVID-19 safety protocols, workers recently started construction of concrete pads that will hold a waste pretreatment system vital to the Hanford Site cleanup mission.
The concrete pads are located next to the underground tank storage area called AP Tank Farm and will hold the Tank-Side Cesium Removal system. The system will pretreat tank waste for vitrification at the nearby Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant’s Low-Activity Waste Facility.
Hanford tank operations contractor Washington River Protection Solutions worked with subcontractor AVANTech to design and fabricate the cesium removal system at an offsite facility. Testing this spring confirmed mechanical, electrical, and instrument systems work properly, and the system removes radioactive cesium and solids as intended.
“Completing acceptance testing was the culminating achievement of 18 months of design and fabrication,” said Janet Diediker, acting federal project director for the EM Office of River Protection. “Kudos to the tank operations contractor and its subcontractor on achieving this major success while observing pandemic safety requirements.”
The pretreatment system is a key component of the treatment of tank waste using the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) approach, which will send the pretreated waste directly from the tank farms to the Low-Activity Waste Facility for vitrification. Progress on the project supports EM’s 2020 priority of completing DFLAW construction and turnover for commissioning.
“The cesium removal system is a critical part of the approach to treat low-activity tank waste,” said Kim Smith, the contractor’s project manager for demonstration of the cesium removal system. “The teams put in a lot of hard work to take this from concept to design to reality, and we’re confident of the result.”
Workers have successfully tested a new pretreatment system for tank waste at the Hanford Site and will move the Tank-Side Cesium Removal system to concrete pads next to underground waste tanks in the AP Tank Farm later this summer.
The system process enclosure holds two filters for straining out solids and three ion exchange columns for removing cesium from tank waste. During acceptance testing, the team ran simulated waste through the system to test operating conditions. Workers will move the system components from the AVANTech facility to the new concrete pads later this summer, with additional onsite testing to follow.
During pretreatment operations, tank waste will flow through the columns at about five gallons per minute. A double-shell tank at the AP Tank Farm will store the pretreated waste until it is fed via underground piping to the Low-Activity Waste Facility, where it will be vitrified — heated to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit, mixed with glass-forming materials, and poured into stainless steel containers for disposal.
During testing of the pretreatment system, the team also demonstrated the removal and installation of the ion exchange columns using a forklift. Forecasted to be full every 25 days, the ion exchange columns will weigh about 26,000 pounds each when replaced by the system operator teams. These “spent” columns will be placed on a nearby concrete pad — also under construction — for interim storage.
Familiarization and training of both maintenance workers and cesium removal system operators has recently begun to prepare for the full activation of the new system.
-Contributor: Hal McCune
ETEC Demolitions On Track After Crews Tear Down Seven Buildings
A crew tears down an equipment storage building at the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility complex at the Energy Technology Engineering Center.
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. – Exceptional progress continues at the Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC) in Ventura County, California with the successful demolition of seven buildings at the Radioactive Materials Handling Facility (RMHF) complex since July 21.
That was the date crews at the former nuclear and liquid metals research site resumed active cleanup at the site. They safely demolished four buildings in the first week, and knocked down three more structures by the end of the subsequent week, include an oxidation facility, storage yard building, and an equipment storage building.
“I’m proud of our team as they continue to exceed expectations on safety and timing for the RMHF demolition and disposal of materials,” said ETEC Federal Project Director John Jones, who is leading the effort for EM.
Removing the RMHF facilities, a set of 10 buildings constructed in 1959 and used for the processing, packaging, and shipment of radioactive and mixed hazardous wastes during site operations that ended in 1988, will reduce potential risk of release of hazardous substances due to wildfires or erosion from severe storms.
The next phase of work is expected to start in late August and includes demolition of the three remaining buildings at the RMHF complex.
The RMHF complex demolition and removal of debris is on track and scheduled to take approximately six months. Activities are being conducted under a 2020 agreement between the DOE and the State of California, and 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, served as a premier research facility from the 1950s until the end of active operations. Since the 1980s, more than 250 structures on the site have been demolished and removed. After workers finish demolishing the three remaining RMHF complex buildings, only eight DOE structures will remain.
-Contributor: Stephanie Shewmon
SRS Crews Build Second Water Line to Support Salt Waste Processing Facility
Trucks
carrying waste containers leave the West Valley Demonstration Project
in late July en route to an offsite disposal facility. Pictured in the
background is the Main Plant Process Building, which is set for
demolition this year. Demolishing that facility is an EM 2020 priority.
WEST VALLEY, N.Y. – EM West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) crews resumed waste disposal shipments in late July as part of cleanup efforts after the site moved into the second phase of its operations plan in response to COVID-19.
The waste being shipped is from the demolition of a former utility building that began in July. The 6,955-square-foot building is an ancillary structure to the Main Plant Process Building, the last remaining major facility at the West Valley site. Teardown of the Main Plant is among EM’s 2020 priorities.
Waste disposition is the final step in the completion of deactivation and decommissioning (D&D) of onsite structures. WVDP stopped shipments in March after D&D activities were put on hold due to COVID-19.
WVDP’s second phase of its operations plan in response to COVID-19 adds high-priority operations and activities to those authorized in the first phase. The additional activities in the second phase call for use of more personal protective equipment and other health and safety precautions while workers continue to follow social distancing guidelines and other controls.
“The protection of our workers, the public, and the environment remains our priority as we resume operations at the site,” EM WVDP Director Bryan Bower said. “The resumption of waste shipments is another accomplishment the WVDP team can be proud of as we safely and compliantly continue with our resumption-of-work plan.”
Debris generated from the demolition of the former utility building is expected to fill about 75 waste containers. The waste is being sent to an out-of-state disposal facility.
“Our team members continue to use their combined knowledge to safely resume work during this challenging time,” said John Rendall, president of WVDP cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley. “I’m proud of their efforts and accomplishments, and the work they continue to do on this project.”
-Contributor: Joseph Pillittere
EM Joins U.S.-Japan Workshop on Potential Decommissioning Collaborations
DOE officials were among the more than 170 government and industry representatives who explored potential collaborations between the U.S. and Japan in a workshop held virtually last week.
It was the second U.S.-Japan workshop held online this year focusing on decommissioning work in Japan. The latest event was hosted by Japan’s Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry and supported by EM’s Office of Intergovernmental and Stakeholder Programs.
“The information shared by the presenters, for example, on the decommissioning timelines and Japan’s decommissioning implementation plan, should provide a basis for potential meaningful interactions,” DOE Chief Risk Officer James Owendoff said.
Participants discussed possible collaborations in Japan, including decommissioning commercial reactors not affected by the Fukushima Daiichi accident, regulatory aspects of decommissioning in both countries, and stakeholder engagement challenges. The workshop was designed to help participants understand decommissioning models in both countries.
Workshop speakers included officials from Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission as well as representatives from U.S. companies Amentum and EnergySolutions, and Japanese companies Toshiba and Kajima.
Council Honors EM Sites, Contractors for Purchasing Sustainable Products
Several EM sites and contractors across the DOE complex were recognized last week for their efforts to purchase products that protect the environment, conserve energy, and reduce costs.
The Green Electronics Council and managers of the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) named 2020 EPEAT Purchaser Award winners representing the Hanford, Portsmouth, Paducah, Oak Ridge, and Moab sites. EPEAT is a ranking system that helps companies compare and select environmentally friendly office equipment. Ranking criteria includes greenhouse gas emissions, hazardous waste production, and total energy usage.
For the fourth straight year, the council awarded Hanford Site contractors CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company, HPMC Occupational Medical Services, Mission Support Alliance (MSA), Washington River Protection Solutions, and Wastren Advantage for their efforts to protect the environment by using sustainable electronics.
“Congratulations to all of the Hanford contractors who were a part of this award,” said Jeff Frey, EM Richland Operations Office assistant manager for mission support. “The continued recognition of the Hanford Site is further validation of our ongoing efforts to reduce our environmental impact.”
As Hanford’s site services provider, MSA tracks the purchase of electronic products for use by all contractors at the site.
“These kind of partnerships with the other contractors are important in accomplishing DOE’s goal of protecting the environment,” said Todd Eckman, MSA vice president for information management. “Congratulations to all of the contractors for their efforts to help Hanford achieve this award.”
In fiscal 2019, 97.5 percent of the electronics purchased by Hanford contractors met the EPEAT standard. Environmental benefits of these purchases include:
- Reduced use of primary materials, including oil, iron, and wood by an estimated 323 metric tons.
- Reduced hazardous waste by 2.6 metric tons.
- Reduced solid waste by 19 metric tons.
- Saved more than 1.4 million kilowatt hours of electricity — enough to power 121 average-sized homes for a year.
The council also honored EM West Valley Demonstration Project cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV). Among CHBWV’s achievements in 2019:
- Purchased 2,903 EPEAT-registered products, leading to a cost savings of more than $116,000 over the lifetime of the products.
- Reduced greenhouse gases by 702,139 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents, similar to removing 150 average U.S. passenger cars from the roads for a year.
- Saved 1,472 megawatt hours of electricity, comparable to the annual electricity consumption of 121 average U.S. households.
“Sustainability in electronics purchasing is part of our commitment to be good stewards of the environment,” EM WVDP Director Bryan Bower said. “Environmental stewardship is the right thing to do, and it helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, and saves money for taxpayers and the government.”
EM WVDP Regulatory Strategy and Environmental Compliance Team Lead Moira Maloney said the site’s regulatory strategy and procurement teams do an excellent job preparing requests for proposals that obtain the best results for WVDP’s electronics sustainability goals.
“They are always finding creative ways to proceduralize these initiatives to ensure the best results from qualified subcontractors and suppliers. It is truly a team effort,” Maloney said.
East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP), which is managed by Oak Ridge cleanup contractor UCOR, was recognized for the 508 EPEAT-registered products it purchased in 2019, representing a cost savings of $24,655 over the lifetime of the products. This is the sixth consecutive year ETTP has received the award.
UCOR uses EPEAT in purchasing contracts to require that vendors only provide electronics that meet strict sustainability criteria. These products are more energy efficient, less toxic, longer lasting, and easier to recycle than products that do not meet EPEAT criteria.
“It’s an honor to win this award,” said David Buhl, UCOR pollution prevention and waste minimization coordinator. “While DOE requires us to make sustainable electronics purchases, it’s something that UCOR has done for a number of years already and it’s just the right thing to do.”
The council also honored the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP), which purchased 246 EPEAT-registered products in 2019, resulting in a cost savings of $9,981 across the lifetime of the products. In 2019, the site also:
- Reduced greenhouse gases by 54,149 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents, similar to taking 12 average U.S. passenger cars from the roads for a year.
- Saved 209 megawatt hours of electricity, comparable to the annual electricity consumption of 17 average U.S. households.
"Practicing sustainable purchasing moves us closer to achieving a shared vision of minimizing DOE’s environmental impact," said Jeff Bettinger, EM’s Portsmouth site lead with the Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office. "The Portsmouth Site is proud to have received this recognition and is committed to continued procurement of sustainable electronics."
EPEAT Purchaser Award winner Swift & Staley, a Paducah Site contractor, purchased 1,055 EPEAT-registered products in 2019. That will bring a cost savings of $24,059 over the lifetime of those products. Among Swift & Staley’s achievements in 2019:
- Reduced greenhouse gases by 161,986 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalents, similar to removing 35 average U.S. passenger cars from the roads for a year.
- Saved 245 megawatt hours of electricity, comparable to the annual electricity consumption of 20 average U.S. households.
The council also recognized the Moab Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project.
Updated Agenda Available for Virtual 2020 National Cleanup Workshop
|
|
EM Update | Vol. 12, Issue 20 | Aug. 4, 2020 |
|
Crews Finish Takedown of Centrifuge Complex in Oak Ridge |
The
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions site services division managed the
safe and successful construction of a second water line to support the
Salt Waste Processing Facility at the Savannah River Site.
AIKEN, S.C. – Workers have successfully supplemented the Savannah River Site’s (SRS) only water source as the site prepares to achieve an EM 2020 priority: startup of the Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF). Personnel with site services contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) managed the design and installation of miles of water line, providing a critical second water source. “Due to a history of leaks and other issues related to the original line, a second line was connected to the site domestic water loop,” said Randy Keenan, facility manager with SRNS site services. Crews installed several valves, pressure and flow sensors, and more than 4,400 feet of four-inch pipe within excavated trenches. SRNS coordinated these activities with SWPF and Savannah River Remediation (SRR), the site’s liquid waste contractor, to comply with the facility startup testing schedule. “Thanks to the site services personnel, SRNS, and the SRR engineering division, and an experienced subcontractor, the project was successfully completed despite several challenges,” Keenan said. Those hurdles ranged from an unusually high number of delays in the project due to rain to underground obstacles such as cables, pipes, and metal conduits from past construction projects. “When an unknown buried object of some kind that’s not on site drawings is discovered, everything comes to a stop until it can be identified. Then, a careful and thorough investigation begins. Is it active, dead, or contaminated? And that happens frequently in certain areas. We had a lot of those kind of stops,” said Mark Eberl, SRNS site services subcontracts manager. Despite such challenges, all work was completed safely and within budget. Cold War nuclear material production operations at SRS resulted in liquid radioactive waste, which is stored in underground tanks. When operational, SWPF will use technologies piloted by the Actinide Removal Process/Modular Caustic Side Solvent Extraction Unit to separate highly radioactive cesium and low-level radioactive nuclides from the contaminated salt solution transferred from the waste storage tanks. Once separated, each source of radioactive waste, both high and low level, will be treated separately for safe, long-term storage. “Our goal is to safely and efficiently perform this mission using a proven technology and integrated process specific to significantly minimizing risk at the Savannah River Site,” said Frank Sheppard, senior vice president and SWPF project manager at Parsons, EM’s SWPF contractor. “We are achieving a much higher level of processing, treating, and storage of radioactive waste.” -Contributor: DT Townsend |
West Valley Resumes Shipments of Deactivation and Demolition Waste |
An updated agenda is now available for the 2020 National Cleanup Workshop, which will take place as a virtual half-day event on Sept. 16, 2020. The workshop will feature remarks from Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar and senior DOE officials, state and local government officials, and industry leaders. They will discuss key issues facing the DOE complex in the year ahead and celebrate important progress made this year. Last year, workshop participants celebrated 30 years of EM’s cleanup program. This year’s agenda will focus on continuing success and overcoming adversity with moderated discussions about the path forward for EM’s strategic vision, EM hot topics, and contracting updates. Click here to view the updated agenda. For more information, please click here. |
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