Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Friday, September 12, 2014

Stopping climate meltdown needs the courage that saved the ozone layer

Governments dither on the solution to global warming – but the Montreal protocol is a reminder of a time when they took their hands out of their pockets

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/georgemonbiot/2014/sep/11/stopping-climate-meltdown-needs-the-political-courage-that-saved-the-ozone-layer

A Nuclear Bolivia? Why Not?

The renaissance in nuclear power is in full swing around the world, just not so much in the West.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2014/09/11/a-nuclear-bolivia-why-not/

Westinghouse Signs Cooperation Agreements with China’s State Nuclear Power Automation System Engineering Company

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC today announced it signed two instrumentation and control system cooperation agreements with China’s State Nuclear Power Automation System Engineering Company.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/09/prweb12162528.htm

BP and the Three Stooges Defense

Forget Stephen King. If you want scary, read U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier’s 150-page Findings of Fact released Thursday in the Deepwater Horizon case.
Although the judge found BP liable for “gross negligence,” some U.S. media failed to mention that Barbier let BP off the hook on punitive damages. And that stuns me, given that the record seems to identify enough smoking guns to roast a sizable pig.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/bp_and_the_three_stooges_defense_20140911

Thursday, September 11, 2014

ANS Update: ANS Webinar with NRC Chairman Allison Macfarlane

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ANS Webinar with NRC Chairman Allison Macfarlane

By ansnuclearcafe on Sep 11, 2014 11:57 am

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Allison Macfarlane today fielded questions from in-person and virtual attendees at a live, unscripted 60-minute webinar on nuclear energy issues. The event—”Bloggers’ Roundtable”—was held in Washington, DC, and was a collaborative effort of the NRC and … Continue reading →
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The value of nuclear

The value of nuclear
Liberalized electricity markets fail to appreciate the value nuclear power provides as a reliable, clean and cost-effective fuel that helps keep the grid stable, Marvin Fertel of the Nuclear Energy Institute said today.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-The-value-of-nuclear-1109201401.html

Nuclear's 'key role' in meeting climate change challenge

Nuclear's 'key role' in meeting climate change challenge
Meeting the energy needs of a growing global population while tackling climate change is the "biggest diplomatic challenge of the era," according to leading climate change expert Professor Sir David King. Nuclear energy, he suggests, has a key role to play in most regions of the world to meet this challenge.http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/EE-Nuclears-key-role-in-meeting-climate-change-challenge-1109144.html

Russia Practises Nuclear Cruise Missile Launches Against U.S.

Russia Practises Nuclear Cruise Missile Launches Against U.S.
http://www.darkgovernment.com/news/russia-practises-nuclear-cruise-missile-launches-against-u-s/

Two Russian strategic bombers conducted practice cruise missile attacks on the
United States during a training mission last week that defense officials say
appeared timed to the NATO summit in Wales.

The Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers were tracked flying a route across the northern
Atlantic near Iceland, Greenland, and Canada’s northeast.
Analysis of the flight indicated the [...]

Implementing Lessons Learned from Fukushima: Public Meetings/Presentations

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has a long-standing practice of conducting its regulatory responsibilities in an open manner, and keeping the public informed of the agency's regulatory, licensing, and oversight activities. For that reason, the NRC is committed to informing the public about its Lessons Learned from Fukushima. For general information about the available opportunities for public involvement in NRC activities, see Public Meetings and Involvement, Hearing Opportunities and License Applications, and NUREG/BR-0215, "Public Involvement in the Regulatory Process." For more specific information about public meetings and presentations that the NRC staff has conducted to discuss topics related to the Japan nuclear accident, see the following chronological listings on this page:

09/11/2014 The purpose of this webinar meeting is to continue discussions on activities directed by the Commission in a staff requirements' memorandum (SRM) dated March 19, 2013 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management Systems (ADAMS Accession No. ML13078A017), SRM-SECY-12-0157, "Consideration of Additional Requirements for Containment Venting Systems for Boiling Water Reactors with Mark I and Mark II containments". These discussions are related to the NRC's Implementation of Order EA-13-109, which addressed Recommendation 5.1 of the Near-Term Task Force (NTTF) Recommendations for Enhancing Reactor Safety in the 21st Century report, issued July 12, 2011, ( ADAMS Accession No. ML111861807).

Fukushima Updates 9/11/14

Fukushima Updates 9/11/14 –

Ex-F. Daiichi boss Masao Yoshida was upset about the nuke accident getting more attention than the tsunami… A panel member of the NAIIC calls the release of the Yoshida testimony significant… The Asahi Shimbun has admitted error in its earlier reporting of the Yoshida testimony… Tokyo’s nuclear watchdog (NRA) says the Sendai nukes meet regulatory mandates for safety.

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

Wave energy research continues with $4M grant

The total recoverable wave energy resource along the U.S. continental shelf is almost one-third of the total electricity used in the U.S. each year, according to the Electric Power Research Institute, and could provide the sustainable generating potential of approximately 10 percent of global energy needs. The Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center (NNMREC) is examining this potential with the help of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Originally a partnership of Oregon State University and the University of Washington, the NNMREC is expanding its technological research and environmental monitoring of wave energy resources with the help of $4 million from the DOE and has added the University of Alaska Fairbanks as a new partner.

http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/wave-energy-research-continues-4m-grant/2014-09-11?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

For more:
- read this article
Related Articles:
World's largest wave energy site approved
Wave energy test site calls Newport home

Warning to investors: Avoid Dominion Cove Point LNG

http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/warning-investors-avoid-dominion-cove-point-lng/2014-09-11?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

For more:
- see this report
Related Articles:
MD PSC approves Cove Point LNG- with lots of conditions
Dominion Cove Point LNG could reduce U.S. deficit by $7B a year

Energy Index ranks states by economic efficiency

A new report from the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) measures the regulatory climate for energy consumption, production, and distribution, and ranks the states in terms of economic efficiency.

http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/energy-index-ranks-states-economic-efficiency/2014-09-11?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

Researchers developing reactor powered by nuclear waste

http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/03/hitachi-spent-fuel-test-reactor/

IAEA: Safe and Sustainable Radioactive Waste Management

Safe and Sustainable Radioactive Waste Management

IAEA Scientific Forum to Highlight How to Meet This Challenge

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With 437 nuclear power reactors in operation in 30 countries, a further 70 under construction in 15 States, and thousands of radioactive sources being used worldwide in industry, agriculture medicine and research, the safe and sustainable management of radioactive waste is a priority for every country.
Certain types of waste can remain radioactive from a few hours to hundreds of thousands of years, and suitable approaches to storage and disposal must be developed to protect people and the environment from potential hazards, to ensure their safety now and in the future.
To highlight this important issue, the IAEA has organized this year's Scientific Forum to focus on the scientific and technological experience gained around the world, providing the basis for safe and sustainable waste management approaches.
The Scientific Forum (23-24 September 2014) will be held on the margins of the 58th General Conference (22-26 September 2014), the annual weeklong gathering of all the IAEA's Member States.
Entitled Radioactive Waste: Meeting the Challenge - Science and Technology for Safe and Sustainable Solutions, the Scientific Forum will explore the importance of an integrated approach to waste management, from its generation to disposal, including anticipation of future developments. Representatives from 18 countries will showcase how available solutions can address the challenges being faced in radioactive waste management.
In dedicated sessions, these experts will present available experience with waste characterization, treatment and conditioning, to convert it into a form suitable for storage, transport, and ultimately, disposal, and discuss how these provide the basis for its safe management. A panel session will also focus on how evolving nuclear technologies such as better use of nuclear fuel, innovative fuels and advanced reactors and fuel cycles, could affect future waste management needs.
According to the IAEA Nuclear Technology Review 2014, there were 68 million m³ of radioactive waste in storage around the world at the end of 2013. And up to the year 2012, approximately 76 million m³ of radioactive waste were disposed of.
Although each country is responsible for the safe management of its radioactive waste, the IAEA, with experience in this area spanning more than five decades, provides technical assistance when Member States request it. Hence, the Scientific Forum will highlight the benefits of international cooperation in this field and the IAEA support to its Member States in developing and implementing viable radioactive waste management solutions.

- By Sasha Henriques, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication