Iranian Nuclear Scientist Killed in Bombing Blas

Bombing Kills Iranian Nuclear Scientist - VOA
Blaming US and Israel, Iran Reports Killing of Nuclear Scientist - NYT
'Nuclear Scientist Killed' in Iran Blast - BBC
Report: Bomb Kills Official at Iran Nuke Facility - AP

Swiss nuclear plants need more safety reviews

10 Jan, 2012, 10.43PM IST, IANS

Iran has right to develop n-energy, says India

Iran Enrichment at Secured Nuclear Site Draws U.S., France Anger

Riddle to file bill to permit expansion of nuclear plant

Riddle to file bill to permit expansion of nuclear plant

2 Vt. utilities sue nuke plant over tower failure

Progress Energy expects to review repair proposals for nuclear plant by March

Public hearing on Lee Nuclear Plant

http://www.tryondailybulletin.com/2012/01/09/public-hearing-on-lee-nuclear-plant/

Some local residents are planning to attend a public hearing scheduled in Gaffney, S.C. on Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. about the proposed Lee Nuclear Plant on the Broad River.
At that public hearing, the public is invited to submit oral and written comments to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) about the proposed plant.
According to Ellen Thomas of Tryon, Lee Nuclear Plant’s two reactors would use 47 million gallons of water per day with 75 percent loss through evaporation. The NRC calls the Broad River “small” and climate changes suggest possible droughts, she said. Shutdowns could happen because of lack of water for cooling, she said.
The hearing will be held at Restoration Church International, 1905 North Limestone Street, Gaffney, S.C. 29340.
Those who want to speak at the public hearing will need to sign up 15 minutes before the meeting or reserve a spot in advance by contacting Sarah Lopas at 800-368-5642 ext. 1147 or  sarah.lopas@nrc.gov by Jan. 17.
If you would like to carpool to the hearing, or for further information, contact Ellen Thomas, P.O. Box 26, Tryon, N.C. 28782, 828-859-8325, et@prop1.org.

RC Revising Approach to Japan Lessons-Learned Recommendations

RC Revising Approach to Japan Lessons-Learned Recommendations

  by Moderator on January 11, 2012

Recent developments have given us the opportunity to improve on our goal of implementing the agency’s Japan Near-Term Task Force recommendations by 2016. You can get an up-close view of a meeting Friday between senior NRC managers and industry executives as we lay out the NRC’s new implementation approach.
When Congress passed a bill funding the NRC through fiscal 2012, it added specific instructions regarding the task force recommendations. Our task force focused primarily on earthquake and flooding concerns, but Congress required us to consider all kinds of “external hazards” in directing U.S. nuclear power plants to review their ability to meet our requirements, “as expeditiously as possible.” Congress also directed the NRC to implement the eight “Tier I,” or top priority, recommendations at least as quickly as the schedule described in the staff’s Oct. 3, 2011 paper to the Commission.
Last month the Nuclear Energy Institute laid out the nuclear power industry’s “FLEX” approach to addressing several recommendations. “FLEX” would create a diverse, flexible set of strategies for counteracting the effects of severe natural events that could exceed a plant’s design limits.
The NRC staff believes this approach is a reasonable starting point, although more work is needed on defining these strategies. We also must ensure the NRC can inspect how plants put the strategies in place and that we can hold plants accountable for keeping those strategies ready and available.
The bottom line is that we believe these combined developments may enhance the agency’s approach to implementing the recommendations. The NRC Steering Committee overseeing the implementation effort will lay out our new approach to members of the industry’s Steering Committee on Jan. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at NRC Headquarters in Rockville, Md. This meeting will also lay the foundation for more detailed, recommendation-specific discussions next week.
The meeting will be webcast and a teleconference will also be available. The NRC has also set up the JLD_Public.Resource@nrc.gov e-mail address for public comment on the recommendations and their ongoing implementation. We hope you’ll take the time to learn more about our new approach and come back to the blog and our website as more information becomes available.

Scott Burnell

Public Affairs Officer

atomic power review Nuclear Lunch, Fukushima, and other issues.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Nuclear Lunch, Fukushima, and other issues.

Construction Technologies for Nuclear Power Plants

Construction Technologies for Nuclear Power Plants

IAEA Nuclear Energy Series NP-T-2.5
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/P1526_Web.pdf

If You Want the Peace of the Dead, Prepare for Nuclear War By Ramesh Thakur

If You Want the Peace of the Dead, Prepare for Nuclear War

By Ramesh Thakur

 

Japan is the emotional touchstone in the discourse as the world's only victim of the bomb. The United States has a special responsibility to lead the way to nuclear abolition as the only country to have used atomic bombs, and as the world's biggest military power.

The world faces two existential threats: climate change, and nuclear Armageddon. Action on both is required urgently. Tackling the first will impose significant economic costs and lifestyle adjustments, while tackling the second will bring economic benefits without any lifestyle implications. Those who reject the first are derided as denialists; those dismissive of the second are praised as realists. Although action is needed now in order to keep the world on this side of the tipping point, a climate change-induced apocalypse will not occur until decades into the future. A nuclear catastrophe could destroy us at any time, although, if our luck holds out, it could be delayed for another six decades. The uncomfortable reality is that nuclear peace has been upheld, owing as much to good luck as to sound stewardship. Because we have learned to live with nuclear weapons for 66 years, we have become desensitized to the gravity and immediacy of the threat. The tyranny of complacency could yet exact a fearful price if we sleepwalk our way into a nuclear Armageddon. The time to lift the spectre of a mushroom cloud from the international body politic is long overdue.

Looking back at Nuclear, Nature and 2011 in the US

Looking back at Nuclear, Nature and 2011 in the US

from AREVA North America: Next Energy Blog by AREVA North America Blog

Our friends at NEI put together a great animated overview of how securely and safely the United States nuclear plants withstood what was a dramatic year of unprecedented natural events. 2011 included a 5.8 earthquake striking ten miles from a nuclear energy facility, massive flooding surrounding another, and a direct hit from a category 3 hurricane on multiple facilities up the East Coast. Our industry is always improving and implementing new safety features, and this animated infographic illustrates the successful steps taken at each nuclear facility to ensure safety and security in every situation.

Nuclear Industry Opposes Administration's Mining Ban in Southwestern United States

Nuclear Industry Opposes Administration's Mining Ban in Southwestern United States

from NEI News Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar today announced a 20-year ban on new hardrock mining claims on one million acres surrounding the 1.2 million-acre Grand Canyon. The region is rich in uranium deposits. Following is a statement from the Nuclear Energy Institute’s Senior Vice President for Governmental Affairs, Alex Flint.

IAEA Verifies Uranium Enrichment at Second Iranian Centrifuge Site

IAEA Verifies Uranium Enrichment at Second Iranian Centrifuge Site

Iran bunker site raises the nuclear stakes

Iran bunker site raises the nuclear stakes

China says war over Iran will bring disaster

China says war over Iran will bring disaster

IAEA School of Nuclear Energy Management Opens in Gulf Region

IAEA School of Nuclear Energy Management Opens in Gulf Region

Staff report

The Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi is the venue for the first IAEA School of Nuclear Management in the Gulf region, which takes place from 8-19 January 2012 in the United Arab Emirates. (Photo: Khalifa University - www.kustar.ac.ae)

Story Resources

• Training a New Generation of Nuclear Specialists, 8 August 2011
• Nuclear Knowledge Management
• IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy
• Listen to this story

After two successful sessions in Italy in as many years, the IAEA's School for Nuclear Energy Management is this year moving to the Gulf region. From 8-19 January, in Abu Dhabi, participants from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will study and learn essential knowledge of all applications of nuclear technology. Lectures, presentations and group work from IAEA and industry experts will help them be aware of the most recent developments in nuclear energy and develop a broad international perspective on the many issues related to the peaceful uses of nuclear technology.
The School, hosted by the Government of the United Arab Emirates and Khalifa University, is part of continuing efforts by the IAEA to address the knowledge management challenges in the nuclear industry of many countries.
"The generation of professionals who built and led the nuclear power industry for much of the past 50 years is approaching retirement and there are not enough students coming up through the educational system to take their place," IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano pointed out in his opening day message to the School's participants.
This situation is raising concerns among some countries about a possible shortage of skilled professionals in the nuclearfield in the coming decades, and the IAEA is doing all it can to help Member States address this issue. This School, being held in the United Arab Emirates, is part of Agency efforts to address thisproblem in the GCC area, Director General Amano said.
The School will provide a unique educational experience for young professionals in the Gulf region who have the potential to become future leaders in nuclear energy, whether in the nuclear industry itself, academia or the public sector.
In his opening statement on 8 January, IAEA Deputy Director General for Nuclear Energy, Alexander Bychkov, alluded to the growing support in the Gulf Region for nuclear power as a sustainable and clean energy source.
"A highly competent management is vital to the success at all stages of developing a safe and sustainable nuclear power programme," Mr. Bychkov said.
"Helping Member States - especially those considering or starting national nuclear power programmes - to obtain and manage this knowledge is an essential responsibility of the Agency," he added. "The School of Nuclear Energy Management plays an important role in meeting this responsibility."
During the course of the intensive two-week training, senior experts from the IAEA will be lecturing and presenting on a wide range of topics in the nuclear energy sector, including nuclear energy, nuclear safety, nuclear security and nuclear safeguards. The aim is to broaden the understanding of the current issues which need to be tackled by young professionals, and train them in new developments in technology and international perspectives on the safe use of nuclear energy.
"Many countries are concerned that they will not have enough skilled professionals in the nuclear field in the coming decades," Mr. Bychkov told the participants.
"However, when you return to your countries after the course, you will be better prepared to contribute to building and managing nuclear power programmes responsibly, safely and sustainably," he said.
Background
The School of Nuclear Energy Management in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is the first of two schools scheduled for 2012; another one is set to take place in Tokyo, Japan in June. Other countries have also requested to host the School in the future.
About 40 participants from GCC countries - Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates - are taking part in this training course. The programme of study, delivered by IAEA specialists and other international lecturers, covers the most important topics related to the nuclear energy sector.
They include topics such as: nuclear power; nuclear fuel cycle and waste management; lessons learned from Fukushima; energy planning; economics and finance; national nuclear infrastructure development from planning to decommissioning, reactor technologies and selections, nuclear security; emergency preparedness and response; nuclear law, international Conventions and relevant mechanisms; nuclear safety; non-proliferation; human resources and knowledge management, stakeholder involvement; and public communication.
-- by Rodolfo Quevenco, IAEA Division of Public Information

Slower gulf permitting pace costs jobs, API-funded study finds

Russia, China work on advanced nuclear

Russia, China work on advanced nuclear
Russia and China have held their first meeting for cooperation in the development of marine nuclear energy for floating power plants and potentially for propulsion of large ships.