Friday, August 14, 2020

NASA wants to make contaminated Santa Susana site a landmark - Los Angeles Times

NASA wants to make contaminated Santa Susana site a landmark - Los Angeles Times: NASA has nominated the nuclear-contaminated Santa Susana Field Laboratory for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

Energy secretary honors Hanford plant milestone | Tri-City Herald

Energy secretary honors Hanford plant milestone | Tri-City Herald: “I think that’s a monumental step for this community,” said Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar.

Energoatom disputes text of market rules : Corporate - World Nuclear News

Energoatom disputes text of market rules : Corporate - World Nuclear News: Energoatom, operator of Ukraine's nuclear power plants, says it "does not support" the final text of a resolution published by the Cabinet of Ministers on a new pricing mechanism for the Public Service Obligation section of the country's wholesale electricity market.

TVO submits EIA programme on very low-level waste disposal : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News

TVO submits EIA programme on very low-level waste disposal : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News: Finnish utility Teollisuuden Voima Oyj has today submitted an environmental impact assessment programme to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on very low-level radioactive waste disposal at the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant. The alternatives are constructing a new near-surface disposal facility or expanding the deep geological repository currently in use.

Israel’s New Peace Deal with the United Arab Emirates Transforms the Middle East | The New Yorker

Israel’s New Peace Deal with the United Arab Emirates Transforms the Middle East | The New Yorker: An agreement with the United Arab Emirates signals dwindling Arab support for the Palestinians in favor of a coalition against Iran.

Modernization of Belarusian oil refineries, alternative oil supplies, construction of nuclear power discussed at Palace of Independence

Modernization of Belarusian oil refineries, alternative oil supplies, construction of nuclear power discussed at Palace of Independence: Economy/Modernization of Belarusian oil refineries, alternative oil supplies, construction of nuclear power discussed at Palace of Independence

North Korea floods kill 22, approach nuclear reactor ? but Kim doesn?t want help - The Washington Post

North Korea floods kill 22, approach nuclear reactor ? but Kim doesn?t want help - The Washington Post: Kim Jong Un says borders must remain closed because of the risks of coronavirus.

Going Nuclear: Alberta Signs Inter-Provincial MOE to Explore Small Modular Reactors | Bennett Jones LLP - JDSupra

Going Nuclear: Alberta Signs Inter-Provincial MOE to Explore Small Modular Reactors | Bennett Jones LLP - JDSupra: On August 7, 2020, the Government of Alberta announced its intention to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore emerging nuclear power generation technology in the...

Fukushima Update August 14, 2020

Fukushima Update August 14, 2020 –

50% of the used fuel bundles have been removed from the F. Daiichi unit #3 SFP… A town in Hokkaido could be the home of Japan’s first high level waste facility… Tepco’s March 24th response to Tokyo’s subcommittee report on the disposal of wastewater containing radioactive isotopes has been posted in English.

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

Municipal power group awaits $1.4 billion from DOE for Idaho nuclear plant | S&P Global Platts

Municipal power group awaits $1.4 billion from DOE for Idaho nuclear plant | S&P Global Platts: A Utah municipal power association is expecting an influx of $1.4 billion in federal funds for the small modular reactor plant it is looking to build in Idaho, but association members are still decidi

Marine Corps’ Mobile Ready Position, NRC’s Remote Work Drills Aided Agency Telework Adjustments – MeriTalk

Marine Corps’ Mobile Ready Position, NRC’s Remote Work Drills Aided Agency Telework Adjustments – MeriTalk: Officials from the Marine Corps (USMC) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) credited laying the mobility groundwork and hosting remote work drills, respectively, for helping the agencies prepare workers for the telework transition during the COVID-19 pandemic.

UK Hydrogen Economic Impact Assessment | The Energy Collective Daily

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Core conundrum: Is it time to let U.S. allies co-invest in nuclear energy?

Core conundrum: Is it time to let U.S. allies co-invest in nuclear energy?: A new CGEP report looks at NuScale Power's bid to build an SMR reactor with non-U.S. partners, despite Cold War-era restrictions on foreign investment in U.S. nuclear projects.

Harris climate agenda stresses need for justice | TheHill

Harris climate agenda stresses need for justice | TheHill: Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) made waves during the campaign not with the specifics of her climate plan, but rather with her focus on rectifying environmental wrongs often centered in vulnerable communities.

X-Energy submits its SMR for Canadian Vendor Design Review - Nuclear Engineering International

X-Energy submits its SMR for Canadian Vendor Design Review - Nuclear Engineering International: US company X-energy announced on 11 August that it had initiated a Vendor Design Review (VDR) for its Xe-100 small modular reactor (SMR) design with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). In preparing to site the advanced nuclear...

Kerr: Army finally tearing down Fort Belvoir’s nuclear plant | Columnists | insidenova.com

Kerr: Army finally tearing down Fort Belvoir’s nuclear plant | Columnists | insidenova.com: Northern Virginia’s very own nuclear reactor facility at Fort Belvoir, a product of our country’s initial research into nuclear power generation, is finally going to be torn down next year.

Trump Administration Pivots To Nuclear Energy, Finds Lever Against China, Russia

Trump Administration Pivots To Nuclear Energy, Finds Lever Against China, Russia: Expanding U.S. commercial nuclear power abroad could become the Trump administration’s strongest lever against Chinese hegemony and Russian expansion in the global market.

US Coal Power Generation Plummets 30% in 2020, EIA Says | Greentech Media

US Coal Power Generation Plummets 30% in 2020, EIA Says | Greentech Media: Coal power fell by a record amount last year, and things have gone downhill quickly from there for the embattled sector.

Regulator Releases Report On Flamanville Site - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

Regulator Releases Report On Flamanville 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.

Japan’s nuclear fuel imports almost zero in 2019 as industry stagnates | The Japan Times

Japan’s nuclear fuel imports almost zero in 2019 as industry stagnates | The Japan Times: Only nine of the 54 reactors operating before the Fukushima disaster are currently online.

Plans Announced For New Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Facility :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency

Plans Announced For New Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Facility :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency: Three Russian organisations have signed an agreement for the development of a project to build a facility in Novouralsk, about 70 km north of Yekaterinburg, for the defluorination of depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUHF).

Sate nuclear fuel company Tvel, the Central Design and Technological Institute and the Ural Electrochemical Plant said they will prepare an investment rationale and carry out engineering survey for a DUHF processing facility at the Urals Electrochemical Combine (UEKhK) site in Novouralsk.

They said plans for a new facility, which will be Russia’s third, were in line with Moscow’s policy of reducing stocks of DUHF, an unstable waste product of uranium enrichment.

Oil major Chevron invests in nuclear fusion startup Zap Energy - Reuters

Oil major Chevron invests in nuclear fusion startup Zap Energy - Reuters: Oil major Chevron Corp said on Wednesday it is investing in Zap Energy Inc, joining Italy's ENI and Norwegian state oil company Equinor who have also backed nuclear fusion startups to reduce their carbon footprint.

NNSA's Savannah River Site manager to soon be nuclear cleanup executive | News | aikenstandard.com

NNSA's Savannah River Site manager to soon be nuclear cleanup executive | News | aikenstandard.com: The National Nuclear Security Administration's manager at the Savannah River Site, Nicole Nelson-Jean, is leaving South Carolina for a high-profile leadership post with the Department of Energy's cleanup office.

State regulators settle over proposed transfer of Three Mile Island’s Unit 2 reactor | StateImpact Pennsylvania

State regulators settle over proposed transfer of Three Mile Island’s Unit 2 reactor | StateImpact Pennsylvania: Energy. Environment. Economy.

SMR developer and engineering firm to collaborate on helium technology : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

SMR developer and engineering firm to collaborate on helium technology : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: UK-based company Howden is to design a helium circulator for use in Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation's Micro-Modular Reactors under a newly announced contract. USNC said Howden's submerged helium blowers would maximise heat transfer in the MMR's power plant.

Fortum looks to extend operation of Loviisa plant : Corporate - World Nuclear News

Fortum looks to extend operation of Loviisa plant : Corporate - World Nuclear News: Finnish utility Fortum has begun the environmental impact assessment procedure for the operation of the two Loviisa nuclear units beyond their current licences. The two-stage process will take about 18 months to complete.

Oil giant taking stake in nuclear fusion startup | Power Engineering

Oil giant taking stake in nuclear fusion startup | Power Engineering: The second largest oil and gas company in the U.S. is putting some of its venture capital into a start-up focused on advanced modular nuclear reactor technology. Chevron Corp. announced a Series A investment in Seattle-based Zap Energy. Zap is working to develop a plan on advancing commercially scalable nuclear fusion reactors. Chevron is one...

Why the War On Nuclear Threatens Us All | City Journal

Why the War On Nuclear Threatens Us All | City Journal: America’s energy policies are pushing its allies into the embrace of undemocratic rivals.

USNC Invests in Modernization of Best-in-Breed Helium Blowers from Howden | State | chinookobserver.com

USNC Invests in Modernization of Best-in-Breed Helium Blowers from Howden | State | chinookobserver.com: SEATTLE, Aug. 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S.-based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation(TM) (USNC) has contracted with UK-based Howden to design a helium circulator for use in the company's Micro-Modular Reactors (MMR(TM)).

Worldwide Nuclear Decommissioning Services Industry (2019 to 2027) - Induction of Robotics to Pace Up the Activity Presents Opportunities - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Odessa American: Business

Worldwide Nuclear Decommissioning Services Industry (2019 to 2027) - Induction of Robotics to Pace Up the Activity Presents Opportunities - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Odessa American: Business: DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 12, 2020--

Pakistan's checkered journey from using thorns to nuclear power

Pakistan's checkered journey from using thorns to nuclear power: Coinciding 74th Independence Day, top Pakistani scientist claims his country produces more scientific papers than India

- Anadolu Agency

Real resilience - Nuclear Engineering International

Real resilience - Nuclear Engineering International: Is the nuclear industry resilient? The true test will be seeing whether build better business plans, not simply more resilient power plants, says Jeremy Gordon.OUR INDUSTRY TAKES A LOT of pride in its resilience, the ability of its power plants...

Uzbek, Hungarian ministers discuss cooperation in nuclear energy : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News

Uzbek, Hungarian ministers discuss cooperation in nuclear energy : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News: The leadership of the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan met with a Hungarian delegation to Tashkent last month, during which they discussed Hungary's willingness for partnership in the energy sector.

The Hard Work of Hardening: PG&E Makes the Grid More Resilient and Resistant to Wildfire Risk in High Fire-Threat Areas | Business Wire

The Hard Work of Hardening: PG&E Makes the Grid More Resilient and Resistant to Wildfire Risk in High Fire-Threat Areas | Business Wire: Mile-by-mile, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is transforming its electric system in high fire-threat areas to make it more resilient and

Government authorizes release of Rs101.5bn for development projects - Business - Dunya News

Government authorizes release of Rs101.5bn for development projects - Business - Dunya News: The government also released Rs13.5 billion for water resources division

IAEA Hosts Webinar on Expanding NPP Risk Assessment to Multi-unit Context | IAEA

IAEA Hosts Webinar on Expanding NPP Risk Assessment to Multi-unit Context | IAEA: Current energy demand and the growing difficulty in establishing new sites for nuclear power plants are powerful incentives for the nuclear industry to utilize existing sites to construct new reactor units.

Fear and misinformation hinder safe, clean nuclear power

Fear and misinformation hinder safe, clean nuclear power: Minnesota must remove the moratorium on safe nuclear power and stop supporting environment-damaging alternatives like wind and solar

Investors Get Charge Out Of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors

Investors Get Charge Out Of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors: The opportunity to provide carbon-free power to pair with renewables, combined with promises of increased safety over traditional nuclear plants, appear to be opening the door to the use of small modular reactors (SMRs) as a source of baseload power.

Critics urge Utah cities to leave Idaho nuclear power project – Idaho Business Review

Critics urge Utah cities to leave Idaho nuclear power project – Idaho Business Review: FILE - This Nov. 29, 2018 file photo shows the Transient Test Reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory about 50 miles west of Idaho Falls, in eastern Idaho. A Utah tax watchdog group and a former member of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission are calling on cities to pull out of the planned nuclear power plant project to get out before it becomes too expensive. The Deseret News reports the Carbon Free Power Project is promoted as the next generation design for nuclear power, but critics worry small modular reactor power is not cost effective. (AP Photo/Keith Ridler, File) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Taxpayers Association and a former member of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission are urging cities that have signed on to a planned nuclear power plant in Idaho to get out while they can before costs become too great. NuScale's Small Modular Reactor is planned for construction at the Idaho National Laboratory near Idaho Falls and would provide 720 megawatts of power, or enough

NRC Grants NFS Reporting Exemptions For Certain Events | Local News | greenevillesun.com

NRC Grants NFS Reporting Exemptions For Certain Events | Local News | greenevillesun.com: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently granted Nuclear Fuel Services in Erwin an exemption for reporting certain “unplanned contamination events.”

NRC Slightly Delays Report on Rad Waste Rules Proceedings - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1

NRC Slightly Delays Report on Rad Waste Rules Proceedings - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1: ExchangeMonitor covers nuclear weapons, waste management, nuclear cleanup, international intelligence as well as carbon capture and storage.

Texas Solar Hits a Turning Point | The Energy Collective Daily

The human cost of a WeChat ban: severing a hundred million ties | MIT Technology Review

The human cost of a WeChat ban: severing a hundred million ties | MIT Technology Review: In January, 1989, my 26-year-old father uprooted his life to move to the other side of the world. He had never been on a plane, let alone outside of China. But an American professor had offered him a postdoc, an opportunity he couldn’t refuse. When he landed, he made only one call at an airport…

Experts: Spain Is Losing the 2nd Round in COVID-19 Fight | Asharq AL-awsat

Experts: Spain Is Losing the 2nd Round in COVID-19 Fight | 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

Lebanon Parliament Approves State of Emergency in Beirut | Asharq AL-awsat

Lebanon Parliament Approves State of Emergency in Beirut | 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

Planned Parenthood Gets More Than 600 Million Dollars A Year From The Federal Government – End Of The American Dream

Planned Parenthood Gets More Than 600 Million Dollars A Year From The Federal Government – End Of The American Dream: The amount of funding that Planned Parenthood receives from the federal government continues to explode. When Barack Obama's second term ended, Planned

Pandemic Response CoLab

Pandemic Response CoLab: The Beat the Virus is a generic version of the Climate CoLab, a platform to crowdsource solutions to climate change.

China's biggest challenge will be balancing US ties amid high tensions - Global Times

Tomgram: Andrew Bacevich, The First Two Weeks

Give the president, his administration, and his party credit. They’re doing their damnedest to undermine this election and elections to come: from voter suppression to selling doubt about the most basic aspects of American democracy (including voting by mail), from undermining the postal service that will deliver vast numbers of mail-in ballots during a pandemic moment to claiming ahead of time that the vote is rigged (and not by Republicans). And don’t forget the way they’re screwing up the census count (key to future elections). Admittedly it’s already quite a record, but I’ll tell you what worries me right now: a story that got only the most modest coverage when, in my opinion, it should have been front-page screaming headlines followed by much outrage.

Here’s its essence: Donald Trump recently appointed a retired brigadier general named Anthony Tata as deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, the number three position at the Pentagon. Tata had, of course, praised the president fulsomely (and attacked his enemies) on Fox News and, in recent years, had also managed to make various strikingly racist and wildly Islamophobic comments, including calling former president Barack Obama a “terrorist leader” and his wife Michelle “borderline treasonous.” The president got Tata a “temporary” appointment after even Senate Republicans refused to hold confirmation hearings for him. That means the retired brigadier general should still be in place at the Pentagon after the election.

Why should any of this matter if Joe Biden wins? Because if Donald Trump (predictably) declares that election a fraud (which he even did in the 2016 election when he won) and refuses to leave the White House, who’s going to get him out of there? Not, certainly, the U.S. military if the Pentagon is staffed by and stuffed with Trump favorites and flacks. With that grim thought in mind, it’s also worth imagining a future in which Joe Biden does find himself in the Oval Office on January 20th in a moment guaranteed to be one of pandemic (and other kinds of) chaos in the wake of the singularly worst administration in American history. That, as it happens, is the subject TomDispatch regular Andrew Bacevich, author most recently of The Age of Illusions: How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory, takes up today. Tom

Biden Wins
Then What?
By Andrew Bacevich

Assume Joe Biden wins the presidency. Assume as well that he genuinely intends to repair the damage our country has sustained since we declared ourselves history’s “Indispensable Nation,” compounded by the traumatic events of 2020 that demolished whatever remnants of that claim survived. Assume, that is, that this aging career politician and creature of the Washington establishment really intends to salvage something of value from all that has been lost.

If he seriously intends to be more than a relic of pre-Trump liberal centrism, how exactly should President Biden go about making his mark?

Here, free of charge, Joe, is an action plan that will get you from Election Night through your first two weeks in office. Follow this plan and by your 100th day in the White House observers will be comparing you to at least one President Roosevelt, if not both.

Click here to read more of this dispatch. https://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176740/tomgram%3A_andrew_bacevich%2C_the_first_two_weeks/#more

Explainer: The U.S. push to extend U.N. arms embargo on Iran

Explainer: The U.S. push to extend U.N. arms embargo on Iran: The U.N. Security Council is preparing to vote this week on a U.S. proposal to extend an arms embargo on Iran, a move that some diplomats say is bound to fail and put an already fragile nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers further at risk. WHY IS THE ARMS EMBARGO ON IRAN EXPIRING? The United

Military Has-Beens Ask General to 'Remove' Trump If He Refuses to Go | The American Conservative

Military Has-Beens Ask General to 'Remove' Trump If He Refuses to Go | The American Conservative: Desperate to be relevant again, COINdinista John Nagl emerges from obscurity to join Resistance crazy train.

“. . . All Enemies, Foreign and Domestic”: An Open Letter to Gen. Milley - Defense One

“. . . All Enemies, Foreign and Domestic”: An Open Letter to Gen. Milley - Defense One: If the commander in chief attempts to ignore the election’s results, you will face a choice.

The Military Won’t Save Us – and You Shouldn’t Want Them To - Defense One

The Military Won’t Save Us – and You Shouldn’t Want Them To - Defense One: It’s deeply irresponsible, not to mention organizationally nonsensical, to suggest that Gen. Milley should evict an election-losing Trump from the White...

Facing the world, blindfolded - The dereliction of American diplomacy | International | The Economist

Facing the world, blindfolded - The dereliction of American diplomacy | International | The Economist: Donald Trump dismisses it as the “Deep State Department”. Yet America needs it more than ever

‘I Stand with Israel’: Kamala Harris in Her Own Words (FULL SPEECH) - Palestine Chronicle

‘I Stand with Israel’: Kamala Harris in Her Own Words (FULL SPEECH) - Palestine Chronicle: While Harris is recognized for her progressive stances on various issues, her record on the Israeli military occupation and Israeli apartheid in Palestine is quite bleak.

If the ‘terrorist’ were Jewish - Opinion - Haaretz.com

If the ‘terrorist’ were Jewish - Opinion - Haaretz.com: Let’s say Nizmi Abu Bakr was a Jewish citizen of Israel. It’s nighttime in his village, he’s sleeping in his apartment, and late into the night he suddenly hears loud yel

Facebook banned stereotypes of Jewish global domination – The Forward

Facebook banned stereotypes of Jewish global domination – The Forward: Facebook banned anti-Semitic stereotypes of Jewish global control of the media and economy. Did that satisfy Jewish organizations fighting hate?

Israel suspends West Bank annexation in deal to normalize relations with the UAE - Israel News - Haaretz.com

Israel suspends West Bank annexation in deal to normalize relations with the UAE - Israel News - Haaretz.com: Under the agreement, Israel has agreed to suspend applying sovereignty to areas of the West Bank that it has been discussing annexing, senior White House officials say

Bob Woodward obtains letters between Trump and Kim Jong-un for new book Rage | US news | The Guardian

Bob Woodward obtains letters between Trump and Kim Jong-un for new book Rage | US news | The Guardian: Publisher announces details of successor to bestseller Fear, including North Korean leader describing bond out of a ‘fantasy film’

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Unprecedented open criticism of king aired at Thai protest

Unprecedented open criticism of king aired at Thai protest: PATHUM THANI, Thailand (AP) — Student leaders in Thailand delivered an unprecedented challenge to the country’s constitutional monarchy on Monday, strongly criticizing the king and demanding...

BeiDou a threat to the West, but perhaps not individuals - GPS World : GPS World

What 'airborne coronavirus' means, and how to protect yourself

What 'airborne coronavirus' means, and how to protect yourself: The COVID-19 pandemic has revived a decades-old debate about how respiratory diseases travel—which affects the safety practices experts recommend.

The Squad ends primary season with a 4-0 record against pro-Israel groups - U.S. News - Haaretz.com

The Squad ends primary season with a 4-0 record against pro-Israel groups - U.S. News - Haaretz.com: The victories of Jamaal Bowman, Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush and Ilhan Omar are worrying for groups like AIPAC, the Democratic Majority for Israel and their allies

Did Trump Get Owned by China? - The Bulwark

Did Trump Get Owned by China? - The Bulwark: The Bulwark is a news network launched in 2018 dedicated to providing political analysis and reporting free from the constraints of partisan loyalties or tribal prejudices.

» Pompeo’s @StateDept Office – Oh, My! Warning Red in All Categories #BestPlacestoWorkNot Diplopundit

» Pompeo’s @StateDept Office – Oh, My! Warning Red in All Categories #BestPlacestoWorkNot Diplopundit: The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) recently published a report looking into the firing of former State OIG Steve Linick (see Watchdog Firing Came Amid Probe of Trump’s Friend, the U.S. Ambassador in London). Excerpt below: In Senate testimony on July 30, Pompeo gave a new reason for the firing, claiming there was dismal…

Berkeley granted land use permit for Salamanca : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News

Berkeley granted land use permit for Salamanca : Uranium & Fuel - World Nuclear News: The Municipality of Retortillo has issued Berkeley Energia a land use permit, known as an Urbanism Licence, for construction works at the Salamanca uranium project in western Spain. The project still requires a construction permit for the uranium processing plant before full construction of the mine can begin.

Uzbek, Hungarian ministers discuss cooperation in nuclear energy : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News

Judge Orders PG&E in California to Beef up Safety

Judge Orders PG&E in California to Beef up Safety: A federal judge has ordered Pacific Gas and Electric to better inspect high-voltage power lines, hire more tree-trimming supervisors and upgrade records

Japanese Nuclear Fuel Imports Staggered In 2019 - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

Japanese Nuclear Fuel Imports Staggered In 2019 - 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.

Reactor Pressure Vessel Milestones At Rooppur NPP - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

Reactor Pressure Vessel Milestones At Rooppur 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.

Regulator Releases Report On Flamanville Site - News - Nuclear Power News - Nuclear Street - Nuclear Power Plant News, Jobs, and Careers

Analysis of Renewable Energy Points Policy Makers to Path Toward More Affordable and Reliable Carbon-Free Electricity | www.caltech.edu

Analysis of Renewable Energy Points Policy Makers to Path Toward More Affordable and Reliable Carbon-Free Electricity | www.caltech.edu: A study identifies long-term storage technologies that would enhance the affordability and reliability of renewable electricity.

How the Australia-ASEAN Power Link plans to make the island continent a solar superpower - The Washington Post

How the Australia-ASEAN Power Link plans to make the island continent a solar superpower - The Washington Post: Australian entrepreneurs envisage harnessing the power of the Outback sun and transmitting the energy to Asia, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Famette/Rice: And the nuclear waste? | Commentary | timesargus.com

Famette/Rice: And the nuclear waste? | Commentary | timesargus.com: What about Vermont Yankee’s nuclear waste? Or dealing with it?

Perry nuclear plant rescue remains a good policy for Lake County: Jamie Callender - cleveland.com

Perry nuclear plant rescue remains a good policy for Lake County: Jamie Callender - cleveland.com: My focus will now be on rebuilding faith in the important work of state lawmakers and taking the legislative actions necessary to protect the Perry nuclear power plant. Our Lake County families, schools, and first responders need help, and I stand for them, writes Republican state Rep. Jamie Callender, who represents Lake County's 61st House District in Columbus.

Perry nuclear plant rescue remains a good policy for Lake County: Jamie Callender - cleveland.com

Japan's nuclear fuel imports almost zero in 2019, 1st time in 50 yrs - The Mainichi

Japan's nuclear fuel imports almost zero in 2019, 1st time in 50 yrs - The Mainichi: TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's imports of fuel to power nuclear plants were close to zero last year, reflecting the stagnating nuclear industry following th

Nuclear, renewable power to help reach climate goals - dep minister – The First News

Nuclear, renewable power to help reach climate goals - dep minister – The First News: Nuclear and renewable energy will help Poland switch to a low-emission economy and attain the EU's climate neutrality goals, Deputy Climate Minister Adam Guiborge-Czetwertynski told the Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily on Wednesday.

Global Nuclear Plant Operations, Nuclear Fuel, and Nuclear Instrumentation Market (2019 to 2025) - Featuring Cameco, Eurodif & Iberdrola Among Others

Global Nuclear Plant Operations, Nuclear Fuel, and Nuclear Instrumentation Market (2019 to 2025) - Featuring Cameco, Eurodif & Iberdrola Among Others: /PRNewswire/ -- The "Nuclear Plant Operations, Nuclear Fuel, and Nuclear Instrumentation: Global Markets" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's...

E.ON sells German nuclear power ahead at above-market prices - Reuters

E.ON sells German nuclear power ahead at above-market prices - Reuters: German utility E.ON said on Wednesday it has sold forward 73% of its 2021 nuclear power generation and 46% of its 2022 output at prices above the current wholesale market, raising earnings prospects from that segment.

Japan’s nuclear fuel imports almost zero in 2019 as industry stagnates | The Japan Times

Japan’s nuclear fuel imports almost zero in 2019 as industry stagnates | The Japan Times: Only nine of the 54 reactors operating before the Fukushima disaster are currently online.

Feds Propose More Sites For Nuke Waste Storage (Not Disposal)

Feds Propose More Sites For Nuke Waste Storage (Not Disposal): Safe disposal does not equal safety when materials remain active for generations.

Critics urge Utah cities to leave Idaho nuclear power project | State and Regional | jhnewsandguide.com

Critics urge Utah cities to leave Idaho nuclear power project | State and Regional | jhnewsandguide.com: SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Taxpayers Association and a former member of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission are urging cities that have signed on to a planned nuclear

'Derecho' storm causes Cargill plant closure, emergency shutdown of nuclear plant in Iowa

The storm caused crop damage and outages throughout the Midwest

https://www.startribune.com/derecho-storm-causes-cargill-plant-closure-emergency-shutdown-of-nuclear-plant-in-iowa/572080462/

US nuclear fleet must adapt by operating flexibly, making hydrogen: officials | S&P Global Platts

US nuclear fleet must adapt by operating flexibly, making hydrogen: officials | S&P Global Platts: The US nuclear fleet must adapt to the growing renewable generation being added to the electric grid and the resulting power price decline by operating flexibly and making hydrogen, industry officials

Used fuel removal from Russia’s Andreeva Bay to be completed by 2027 - Nuclear Engineering International

Used fuel removal from Russia’s Andreeva Bay to be completed by 2027 - Nuclear Engineering International: The unloading of used nuclear fuel from Russian storage facilities at the former onshore technical base of the Navy in in Andreeva Bay near Murmansk is planned to be fully completed by 2027, state nuclear corporation Rosatom said on 6 August. The...

Tianwan-5 Nuclear Power Plant Connected To Grid :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency

Tianwan-5 Nuclear Power Plant Connected To Grid :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency: Unit 5 of the Tianwan nuclear power station in Jiangsu province, eastern China, has been connected to the grid for the first time, China National Nuclear Corporation announced.

The 1,000-MW pressurised water reactor achieved the milestone at 19:52 local time on 8 August, CNNC said.

The unit, which achieved first criticality on 27 July, will now undergo tests at 30%, 50% and 100% of its generating capacity before entering a full power demonstration operating assessment, CNNC said. During this assessment stage, performance indicators will need to meet design standards and the requirements of the power grid, which will indicate that the unit has achieved formal commercial operating conditions.

Fuel loading begins at Belarus NPP - Nuclear Engineering International

Fuel loading begins at Belarus NPP - Nuclear Engineering International: Fuel loading has begun at unit 1 of the Belarus NPP, Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom said on 7 August. This followed the issuing of a permit by the Department of Nuclear and Radiation Safety of the Belarus Ministry for Emergency...

Half-Dozen Procurement Notices Expected This Year From DOE Cleanup Office - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1

Half-Dozen Procurement Notices Expected This Year From DOE Cleanup Office - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1: ExchangeMonitor covers nuclear weapons, waste management, nuclear cleanup, international intelligence as well as carbon capture and storage.

CIA Project Aquiline Declassified - Nuclear-Powered Bird Drone

CIA Project Aquiline Declassified - Nuclear-Powered Bird Drone: The CIA once built a nuclear-powered bird drone to spy on communists in the 1960s. Now it's declassified. Why did this thing fail again?

NextEra Energy's 647-MW Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa remains shut because of storms, heavy winds: company | S&P Global Platts

NextEra Energy's 647-MW Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa remains shut because of storms, heavy winds: company | S&P Global Platts: NextEra Energy s 647 MW Duane Arnold nuclear reactor in Palo, Iowa, remains shut because of storms, which damaged the cooling towers at the plant, a NextEra spokesman said Aug. 11.

Experts: NPPs should consider making hydrogen

https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/electric-power/081120-us-nuclear-fleet-must-adapt-by-operating-flexibly-making-hydrogen-officials

Experts: NPPs should consider making hydrogen

Nuclear utilities need to face the "new grid reality" of price reductions, the addition of renewable energy sources and a need for operational flexibility, experts told a virtual plenary session of the American Nuclear Society's Utility Working Conference. One way plants can prepare for changing energy needs is by adapting infrastructure to produce hydrogen for internal use and for sale.

Full Story: S&P Global Platts (free registration) (8/11)

Nine Theses on U.S.-China Relations | The National Interest

Nine Theses on U.S.-China Relations | The National Interest: Henry Kissinger observes that the current state of U.S.-China relations reminds him of the period before World War I when Europe’s leaders would not have made the decisions they did if they had known the horrible consequences—twenty million dead.

Who will salute Trump's man in Berlin? - UnHerd

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Yes, Emissions Have Fallen. That Won’t Fix Climate Change | WIRED

Yes, Emissions Have Fallen. That Won’t Fix Climate Change | WIRED: The drop in carbon pollution will cool the planet only a tiny bit. So how about this: Revive the economy and the Earth by pouring money into green tech.

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Diplomatizzando: A falta de liderança diplomática dos EUA - The Economist

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Population immunity is slowing down the pandemic in parts of the US | MIT Technology Review

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Federal Workers Ready to Retire If Government Forces Reopening

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New detection technology to help decommissioning : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News

New detection technology to help decommissioning : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News: Jacobs and IS Instruments have designed a new type of Raman spectroscopy technology to detect radioactive contamination or other hazardous substances in waste stores and nuclear facilities undergoing decommissioning.

X-energy makes Canadian SMR review submission : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

X-energy makes Canadian SMR review submission : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: US company X-energy has initiated a Vendor Design Review for its Xe-100 small modular reactor design with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. Kinetrics will lead X-energy’s Canadian regulatory affairs and licensing efforts.

Chinese fast reactor completes trial operating cycle : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Chinese fast reactor completes trial operating cycle : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The China Experimental Fast Reactor completed a manual emergency shutdown test from full power on 31 July, China National Nuclear Corporation announced last week. The company said this marked the end of commissioning tests for the power test phase of the reactor and verified that its performance met the design requirements under stable conditions and expected transient operating conditions.

Final used fuel transfer marks SONGS decommissioning milestone : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News

Final used fuel transfer marks SONGS decommissioning milestone : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News: The final canister of used fuel from the shut-down San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station has now been transferred into dry storage, marking a milestone for the decommissioning of the California site.

Leningrad II-2 passes WANO pre-start peer review : Regulation & Safety - World Nuclear News

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Uranium Week: Biden Condemns Trump's Nuclear Plans - FNArena

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NTH-Energy-Daily-IG-survey-results-describe-broad.pdf

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Alberta to join other provinces in exploring small nuclear technology - PLANTPLANT

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Risch, Gates tout INL cybersecurity role at Senate hearing | Local | idahostatejournal.com

Energy secretary plans visit to Hanford and PNNL this week | Tri-City Herald

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More workers at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant test positive for COVID-19

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Report warns against nuclear security complacency

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Further measures are needed to guard against the theft of plutonium and highly enriched uranium scattered worldwide, according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative.

A world first for Aberdeen as hydrogen ambitions grow | www.fch.europa.eu | The Energy Collective Daily

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Varcoe: Alberta studies nuclear power again — this time, it’s small modular reactors | The Province

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NextEra Energy's 647-MW Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa remains shut because of storms, heavy winds: company | S&P Global Platts

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Register for free webinar tomorrow: Spotlight on National Labs: Oak Ridge National Laboratory 8/12/20

Register for free webinar tomorrow!

Don't miss the next installment of the ANS Young Members Group Spotlight on the National Labs webinar series, featuring Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)!

The free webinar takes place tomorrow, August 12, 1:30 - 3:00 pm EDT. Register now.

Why spotlight ORNL?

Its very beginnings laid the foundation for world-leading science in multiple disciplines. Established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project, ORNL is now the largest U.S. Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, employing more than 5,200. Every day, ORNL delivers scientific discoveries and technical breakthroughs needed to realize solutions in energy and national security and provide economic benefit to the nation.

Historical inspiration comes from the lab’s Graphite Reactor, the world’s first continuously operated nuclear reactor. ORNL’s nuclear scientists and engineers draw from the lab’s rich history to help them address compelling challenges in nuclear science and technology—from pursuing economical nuclear energy and groundbreaking fusion energy advances to identifying new applications for radioisotopes.

Panelists will offer insights into the unique nuclear science occurring at ORNL, highlighting how the lab is pursuing the Transformational Challenge Reactor, the world’s first additively manufactured nuclear reactor, as well developing leading modeling and simulation tools, moving reactor technologies forward, discovering new elements, and advancing the long-term vision of viable fusion energy.

Panelists

Thomas Zacharia, ORNL Director
Alan Icenhour, Associate Laboratory Director, Nuclear Science and Engineering
Rose Montgomery, Group Leader, Used Fuel Systems
Kurt Terrani, Program Director, Transformational Challenge Reactor
Tara Pandya, Nuclear Engineer
Dianne Ezell, Electrical Engineer
Clarice Phelps, Nuclear Chemist
Elijah Martin, Plasma Physicist

Moderator

Sarah Camba Lynn, ANS Young Members Group Secretary

Check out previous Spotlight on National Labs webinars and others on demand.

EM Update August 11, 2020

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EM Update | Vol. 12, Issue 21 | Aug. 11, 2020

Final Class of Technicians in Training for Hanford WTP

Training while using COVID-19 safety protocols has kicked off for the final class of 27 technicians who will help prepare Hanford’s massive vitrification plant to start converting millions of gallons of radioactive tank waste into glass for safe disposal. When they complete the rigorous five-month training program, these workers will join more than 100 other technicians who will commission the plant over the next few years for its critical role in Hanford cleanup.

RICHLAND, Wash. – Training recently kicked off for the final class of commissioning technicians who will prepare Hanford’s massive Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) for round-the-clock operations in the next few years to vitrify millions of gallons of radioactive tank waste.

An in-depth classroom and on-the-job training program is preparing the final class of 27 new commissioning workers to bring more than 200 separate systems online in two main facilities, including the Low-Activity Waste Facility where the radioactive waste will be blended with glass-forming materials and heated to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit, and 14 support facilities.

At the end of the five-month training program, a total of approximately 140 commissioning technicians will be readying the plant for round-the-clock operations to treat a large volume of Hanford’s waste leftover from producing plutonium in the 1940s through the late 1980s.

“A lot of people have put in years of work and effort to get us to where we are today,” said Tom Fletcher, EM federal project director for the plant. “It’s an exciting time to be working at Hanford as our team moves closer to treating tank waste.”

Using appropriate COVID-19 safety protocols, commissioning technicians train at a 17,000-square-foot building that contains a full-scale, fully functional replica of the control room at Hanford’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant. From the plant’s real control room, technicians will eventually operate more than 200 systems in two large facilities and 14 support facilities in a 24/7 operation.

Training the technicians supports EM’s 2020 priorities, which include completing Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) construction for turnover to commissioning. Direct-feed means waste will be pretreated at a tank farm, which is a group of tanks, to remove radioactive cesium and solids. The resulting less radioactive, low-activity waste will be fed via pipelines directly to the Low-Activity Waste Facility for vitrification.

The Bechtel National, Inc.-led WTP contractor team began hiring technicians in 2016 to prepare, or commission, the WTP to start treating tank waste in the next few years. Workers are observing COVID-19 safety protocols while training at a 17,000-square-foot building that contains a full-scale, fully functional replica of the Low-Activity Waste Facility control room, where they will eventually work. In early 2019, the plant began 24/7 commissioning shift work, as the control room is already operational and staffed by qualified commissioning technicians.

“Our rigorous training program prepares and qualifies them to bring the plant online as we complete commissioning and for eventual around-the-clock operations,” said Valerie McCain, Bechtel National, Inc. project director. “I’m excited to welcome them to our team.”

Commissioning technicians also learn about conduct of operations; process systems; integrated system response; alarm response; normal, abnormal, and emergency procedures; and human performance improvement fundamentals.

-Contributor: George Rangel

Progress Moves Hanford Closer to Dry Storage of Radioactive Capsules

A conceptual illustration shows an outdoor storage area where large concrete casks designed to hold radioactive cesium and strontium capsules will be placed in a safe, compliant configuration at the Hanford Site.

RICHLAND, Wash. – Work is progressing on many fronts toward transferring 1,936 highly radioactive cesium and strontium capsules to safer, dry storage at the Hanford Site.

Check out this video to learn more about the advancements on this critical risk reduction project.

Workers with EM Richland Operations Office (RL) contractor CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company (CHPRC) recently broke ground at the site of the future dry cask storage area. And at the nearby Maintenance and Storage Facility, construction continues on a mock-up designed to replicate conditions at the Waste Encapsulation Storage Facility (WESF), where the capsules are currently in a safe configuration in an underwater basin. The mock-up will allow workers to safely train and test equipment before performing the work in a radiological environment.

“The project team came together to take this idea and advance it from a conceptual design to final design, and now we’re to the point where the project’s coming to life,” said Kalli Shupe, CHPRC vice president for the waste and fuels management project.

A conceptual illustration depicts a large concrete cask designed to hold radioactive capsules. Between 16 and 20 casks will be placed in a safe, compliant configuration in an outdoor storage area, similar to how spent commercial nuclear fuel is currently stored.

The capsules have been stored at WESF since the mid-1970s. Cesium and strontium were removed from waste tanks at Hanford to reduce the temperature of the waste inside the tanks. Transferring the capsules to dry storage in stainless steel and concrete casks reduces the risk of a radioactive release in the unlikely loss of water from the basin.

The cask storage system is designed for “passive cooling” by the airflow within the cask. Cool, clean air is drawn into the cask and warm air goes out, without the need for fans or mechanical equipment. Since the capsules are sealed within the cask, they do not come into contact with the cooling air. The same passive cooling approach is used for dry storage of used nuclear fuel at other locations. These concrete and steel casks also provide robust radiation shielding to protect workers and eliminate the possibility of a release of radioactive material.

Transferring the capsules to dry storage will also enable the planned deactivation of the WESF facility and a significant reduction in operating costs.

“DOE estimates moving the capsules to dry storage will save more than $6 million per year in operating costs,” said Gary Pyles, RL project director for the WESF project. “The estimated cost of dry storage at the cask storage area is less than $1 million per year.”

-Contributor: Joan Lucas

EM Advances Next Major Cleanup Phase in Oak Ridge

Buildings 3034 and 3036 are located at left in Isotope Row in the heart of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Addressing these facilities will eliminate significant risks, and their removal will provide valuable space for new research missions.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – While cleanup at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) is coming to an end this year, the Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) is continuing progress in another chapter of its mission at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12).

OREM recently received authority to conduct work inside five buildings at ORNL and Y-12, enabling trained, experienced crews from ETTP to transition to ORNL and Y-12 to begin characterization and deactivation projects to prepare those facilities for demolition.

Challenging tasks await OREM in the years ahead at ORNL and Y-12. Together, those sites have more than 200 excess, contaminated facilities that no longer serve national security or science missions. This inventory also includes the highest number of high-risk facilities in the DOE complex. Their removal will eliminate significant risks and open land for future DOE missions.

Two of the five buildings where OREM recently received authority to conduct cleanup work —Buildings 3034 and 3036 at ORNL — will join a number of facilities already undergoing deactivation by OREM and cleanup contractor UCOR.

Buildings 3034 and 3036 previously supported isotope research and production and are situated in ORNL’s central campus area. Both were constructed in the 1950s. Building 3034 housed the central electrical distribution station. Building 3036 was used as a decontamination facility for trucks and equipment, and served as a general storage site.

Alpha 2 is a former Manhattan Project building that supported uranium enrichment efforts for the first nuclear weapons developed in the Manhattan Project. EM will conduct deactivation efforts inside the building to prepare it for eventual demolition.

Beta-1 is also a former Manhattan Project building that supported uranium enrichment efforts for the first nuclear weapons created during the Manhattan Project. It was decommissioned in 1947 and subsequently transitioned to support Oak Ridge National Laboratory missions in 1950 until 1995.

The remaining three buildings are Alpha-2, Beta-1, and Building 9401-1 at Y-12. Alpha-2 and Beta-1 are large, former Manhattan Project buildings that supported uranium enrichment efforts, using an electromagnetic separation process, for the first nuclear weapons created during the Manhattan Project.

The 325,000-square-foot Alpha-2 housed operations that ended in the 1950s. The more than 210,000-square-foot Beta-1 was decommissioned in 1947 and was later used to support ORNL missions. Research and development and operational activities ended there in 1995.

Building 9401-1, a former steam plant for the site, was built in 1943. It served Y-12 missions in the 1960s and 1970s, and ORNL later used the facility to test non-radiological fuels such as ethanol and car and jet fuels.

-Contributor: Susanne Dupes

EM Names Nicole Nelson-Jean as Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations

EM has selected Nicole Nelson-Jean to serve as EM’s associate principal deputy assistant secretary for field operations, effective at the end of this month.

Nelson-Jean comes to EM from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), where she last served as the NNSA manager at the Savannah River Site (SRS).

At SRS, Nelson-Jean led the site-level effort to establish a plutonium pits capability, surplus plutonium disposition activities, and the operations of the nation’s only tritium plant that supports the nuclear stockpile. Prior to SRS, Nelson-Jean served as the NNSA manager at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Over her 28 years in the DOE complex, Nelson-Jean has served as a U.S. diplomat representing the Department in two posts, the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Vienna, Austria as the Nuclear Attaché and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo as Energy Attaché. As a leader in the Global Threat Reduction Initiative and International Material Protection Program, Nelson-Jean led multi-million-dollar international programs to protect, remove, and secure high-risk nuclear and radiological materials, including over 50 nuclear storage sites in Russia. Nelson-Jean has received the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award and the Service to America Medal.

For the past two months, Tom Mooney has served as EM’s acting associate principal deputy assistant secretary for field operations while continuing to serve as chief of staff. During that time, Mooney coordinated and oversaw activities in the field, including EM’s continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mooney will continue to support EM’s Office of Field Operations by serving in a new position as chief operating officer. In that role, he will assist Nelson-Jean in managing the Office of Field Operations mission. Mooney will also continue to serve as chief of staff until a replacement is named.

Virtual and Onsite Summer Internships Support EM Cleanup

Alexis Plum, an environmental sciences major at the University of Idaho, is interning onsite at Fluor Idaho this summer. In this photo, Plum is touring the Materials and Fuels Complex Landfill, which was recently covered with native soils. Fluor Idaho is EM’s cleanup contractor at the Idaho National Laboratory Site.

Despite limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students have been interning across the EM complex this summer with the help of creativity, technology, and a desire to learn.

The EM Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP) successfully hosted and mentored 32 student interns virtually. The interns from minority serving institutions participated in several areas of research, engineering, and environmental science projects.

Research scientists and engineers from the Idaho, Los Alamos, and Argonne national laboratories, minority serving institution professors, and the DOE Idaho Liaison Office assisted with the internships.

The MSIPP Summer Intern Program has two components: research and educational. The virtual research activities addressed cybersecurity issues and explored technology focused on wind energy. The virtual educational interns took courses in environmental sciences and engineering. Activities in those courses ranged from creating simple technology to improve water quality to planning individual engineering projects using remote environmental sensing.

Pictured are some of the Savannah River Site environmental sciences virtual interns, professors, and directors, as well as the Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program (MSIPP) manager, during virtual end-of-summer presentations. Pictured top row, from left, Frank Heckendorn, remote sensing instructor, Venetia Lyles, director, Titan Paul, materials instructor, Joniqua Howard, environmental science instructor, Bahaa Alhaj, intern; second row from top, from left, Bill Pirkle, South Carolina Universities Research and Education Foundation program manager, Volpe Vo, intern, Vivian Holloway, MSIPP program manager, Ken Stephens, engineering instructor, Natalie Ferguson, Savannah River National Laboratory; third row from top, from left, Luciano Jimenez, intern, Mallorie Prandy, intern, Steven Showalter, intern, Shanika Scott, intern, Jim Marra, engineering instructor; fourth row from top, from left, Woodrow Moses, intern, Kayla Gorden, intern, Cameron Bedenbaugh, intern, Allen Valdovinos, intern, Grace Gonzalez, intern; and fifth row from top, from left, Ruth Davis, intern and Tye’sha Fields, intern.

Florida International University’s DOE Fellows participated in internship programs at national laboratories and DOE contractors across the U.S. Eight DOE Fellows took part in remote or hybrid — which means remote and onsite — internships, working with mentors on topics related to robotics, environmental monitoring, high-level waste, and machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Following are summaries of the eight DOE Fellows 2020 summer internships:

Jeff Natividad is participating in a hybrid internship at Hanford Site contractor Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS). He is working on developing and validating semi-automated and automated robotic systems for safe and efficient monitoring of key equipment and structures.
Michael Thompson is taking part in a hybrid internship at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), working on flight control systems for autonomous indoor drones. The goal of the internship project is to help develop and deploy a robotic system capable of reading and recording data from analog gauges.
Gisselle Gutierrez-Zuniga is participating in a remote internship at the EM Carlsbad Field Office. Gutierrez-Zuniga is developing a web-accessible public database for meteorological data for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) with the objective of releasing a climatological summary report for WIPP.
Edward Nina is working on computational fluid dynamic modeling to investigate the condition of high-level waste at Hanford’s Tank Farm in a hybrid WRPS internship.
Juan Morales is participating in a remote internship at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The objective of his research is to assess the impact of heavy metals in surface waters utilizing transcriptomic gene signatures.
Aurelien Meray is taking part in a remote internship with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, working on a computer application for analyzing groundwater contamination data.
Roger Boza is working on a computer vision project in a remote internship at INL. The project is focused on the implementation of artificial intelligence networks for image processing and object detection. This project will streamline the data collection procedure for sensors around the nuclear facility.
Christopher Excellent is participating in a hybrid internship at INL. He is working on the development of a mobile hot cell system to better store and process radioactive sources. This project utilizes robotics and sensors to create a system that can complete tasks in minimal time through robotic automation.

Florida International University’s DOE Fellows participating in summer internships across the DOE complex include, top row, from left, Jeff Natividad, Aurelien Meray, and Gisselle Gutierrez; middle row, from left, Juan Morales, Michael Thompson, and Christopher Excellent; and bottom row, from left, Roger Boza and Edward Nina.

At INL Site cleanup contractor Fluor Idaho, some of the 24 student interns supporting projects across the 890-square-mile DOE site are working remotely.

The interns attend colleges and universities primarily in the northwest U.S. and are seeking degrees in information technology (IT), engineering, health and safety, and radiological protection.

The interns support the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit, which is preparing to treat 900,000 gallons of radioactive liquid waste; the Radioactive Waste Management Complex, which is retrieving, characterizing, and shipping Cold War weapons waste to WIPP; the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center, which manages spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste; and other facilities that provide services such as human resources, accounting, and communications.

Fluor Idaho assigns interns to technically challenging cleanup projects to support veteran scientists and engineers. Students welcome the challenges and become valuable resources to the projects.

“We strive to provide an effective, hands-on learning environment for the interns,” Fluor Idaho human resources representative Brandi Nelson said. “The feedback we get from both the interns and our project personnel indicates that we have an effective program.”

The interns prepare presentations at the end of the summer that detail the types of support they provided, what they learned, and how their experiences have benefited their education or potential future employment opportunities. The majority of students who have interned with the cleanup program have said they desire to work at the INL Site upon graduation.

“Of course that’s always the goal,” said Nelson. “The intern program allows us as a contractor to determine if the interns have the necessary skills we need to eventually hire them full time. It also gives the students an opportunity to test-drive us, so to speak, as their potential employer.”

Nelson said Fluor Idaho generally hires a few employees each year who have gone through the intern program.

“What we find is those who have worked here as an intern hit the ground running as an employee,” she said. “They have formed working relationships with our employees and know the ins and outs of working at a nuclear cleanup facility.”

This year, some IT interns provide computer support remotely. Other interns working at the Idaho Falls and INL Site facilities have their temperatures checked with a thermal camera daily upon entering Fluor Idaho facilities. They also must wear masks if they can’t adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Emerson Brazile, a Nuclear Waste Partnership (NWP) summer intern, measures pressure across the bulkhead in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) underground. The bulkhead is WIPP’s main doorway underground. NWP is WIPP’s management-and-operations contractor. Brazile's internship was mostly onsite.

At WIPP, management-and-operations contractor Nuclear Waste Partnership (NWP) hired 11 summer interns this year. NWP President and Project Manager Sean Dunagan had pushed to keep the program in place while ensuring the interns would perform meaningful, challenging work. Some changes to the program were unavoidable, such as a reduction in program duration from 12 weeks to nine weeks.

Most NWP internships focused on engineering, including mechanical, chemical, electronics, and computer engineering. Other internships involved business administration disciplines for training and procedures, and emergency management departments. A cyber operations student was chosen for NWP’s information systems department, and an intern with an occupational safety and health discipline worked in NWP’s safety, industrial, health, and site environmental management department.

In-person social activities, meetings, and tours were not held due to COVID-19. A luncheon for the interns was held in a large auditorium and required face masks and social distancing.

“Many have also taken the initiative to take work home so they are able to work offline on items in the event that it becomes difficult to telecommute,” said Logan Shores, NWP’s facility operations engineering manager. The students also presented virtual presentations on their internships.

Pictured is Jeff Natividad and the Vector Waypoints robot. Natividad is working on a project to perfect an autonomous mobile robot for use in the Hanford tank farms. The robotic vehicle will reduce worker entries into high-risk areas, improving worker safety.

Nearly three dozen student interns are continuing their distance-learning experience at Hanford’s tank farms.

WRPS, EM Office of River Protection contractor, has 34 interns this year, providing participants with valuable real-world experience and networking opportunities. This year is a very different, however, with interns serving in a teleworking capacity and spending minimal, if any, time onsite. Meetings are held using Microsoft Teams, and collaboration abounds.

“It’s a really good experience, and I have great support from my mentors,” said Natividad, a WRPS intern and one of the eight DOE Fellows who have participated in internships across the DOE complex this summer. “In the classroom, you build a product; being on the consumer side is a different experience altogether.”

“We are striving to be an employer of choice to attract the next diverse generation of talented professionals to help us deliver our mission,” said Santos Ortega, DOE Hanford Equal Employment Opportunity manager.

INL Site Cleanup Contractors Collaborate on Spent Nuclear Fuel Project

Fluor Idaho Fuel Handling Operator Tyler Lane, right, and Senior Radiological Control Technician Tristan Shurtliff conduct a leak test on a storage vault containing Three Mile Island Unit 2 spent nuclear fuel and debris at the Idaho National Laboratory Site.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – Crews with EM Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site cleanup contractor Fluor Idaho recently provided their expertise to a critical sampling effort at the site required under a federal permit.

Several Fluor Idaho personnel at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC) conducted a leak test of the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation, which was built for the interim storage of spent nuclear fuel.

EM contractor SpectraTech manages spent nuclear fuel from Three Mile Island Unit 2 and a debris storage facility at INTEC. Fluor Idaho employees helped perform leak checks at each of the 29 storage vaults that contain fuel and debris from the 1979 Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania. SpectraTech is a small business that also manages a fuel storage facility in northern Colorado.

The INL site spent nuclear fuel storage installation is a horizontal concrete storage facility where spent fuel and debris are stored horizontally inside stainless steel sleeves. A large, steel door seals each vault.

According to Fluor Idaho Shift Supervisor Larry Wobig, SpectraTech contracted with Fluor Idaho to complete the work because several Fluor Idaho employees have experience with managing the INL Site spent fuel storage installation.

Wobig said the leak test is required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which is the federal agency that oversees the storage of the Three Mile Island Unit 2 spent nuclear fuel and reactor core debris.

“It made sense for us to complete the work because many of the technical experts work at Fluor Idaho and know that facility inside and out,” said Wobig.

Wobig said the seals to each vault remain effective and the leak testing of the storage modules didn’t indicate any leaks.

“This has been a reliable facility and has been safely storing the Three Mile Island Unit 2 fuel since 1999,” he said.

-Contributor: Erik Simpson

Council Honors EM Contractors as Leaders in Safety

Savannah River Remediation pipefitters Africona Washington, left, and Brandon Bly support a job safely in H Tank Farm at the Savannah River Site.

Two EM contractors recently earned national recognition for being leaders in safety.

Savannah River Remediation (SRR), EM’s liquid waste contractor at the Savannah River Site, and Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS), the Hanford Site tank operations contractor, won the 2020 Industry Leader Award from the National Safety Council.

The award recognizes the top five percent of member companies and facilities that have met the criteria and qualified for the 2020 Occupational Excellence Achievement Award, which is based on 2019 calendar year data, from the council.

Winners are selected based on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code; lowest total incident, or employee accident, rate; and a high total of employee safe work hours. NAICS is the standard used by federal statistical agencies in classifying companies for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.

SRR President and Project Manager Phil Breidenbach said earning external safety awards helps gauge if the company is doing the right thing.

“Safety is an SRR core value that sits above the rest,” Breidenbach said. “Safety isn’t a game, but if it was, the statistics help tell you which companies are winning. We use these statistics to measure our safety performance, but we never forget that the numbers represent co-workers, teammates, and friends.”

The SRR workforce worked 5.9 million safe hours in 2019. SRR has won the Industry Leader Award for the past five years.

John Eschenberg, WRPS president and CEO, said the award speaks to the dedication of WRPS employees and their vigilance of making safety a priority.

“Our people make the difference,” Eschenberg said. “This is one of the finest workforces I have had an opportunity to work with over my tenure.”

Rob Cantwell, WRPS environment, safety, health, and quality manager, said it is exciting that WRPS employees are being recognized at the national level for working safely every day.

“This award is a testament to our dedicated workforce and the accomplishments of the challenging work they perform in a safe manner,” Cantwell said. “The award winners exemplify excellence in safety performance.”

-Contributors: Colleen Hart, Denise Mellene

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