Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
India's Parliament approves nuclear liability bill
The Indian Parliament ratified a bill Monday that restricts the liability of foreign nuclear entities operating in India to $320 million. The legislation is expected to ease the entry of U.S. companies, which have been wary of India-based endeavors because of the lack of limits on accident compensation. Bloomberg Businessweek/The Associated Press (8/30)
U.S. Announces New N. Korea Sanctions - Council on Foreign Relations
U.S. Announces New N. Korea Sanctions
The White House announced new sanctions against North Korea (WashPost), which target weapons providers, luxury goods producers, and financial services involved in money laundering, counterfeiting, and narcotics trafficking. The sanctions come in response to the March sinking of a South Korean warship, which an international investigation blamed on North Korea. The announcement came days after former president Jimmy Carter visited North Korea to secure the release of an American activist. The sanctions would make it illegal for U.S. companies to do business with firms found to be helping North Korea with illicit activities. The sanctions may complicate the relaunch of talks on North Korea's nuclear arms program, which the Obama administration said it is still hoping to resume. The U.S. announcement came hours after North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il told Chinese President Hu Jintao during a four-day visit to China that North Korea wanted to rejoin Six Party Talks (KoreaTimes) on denuclearization. South Korea, a member of the talks, has said the talks can only resume after North Korea admits to the March 26 attack (Bloomberg) and apologizes.
Analysis:
On ForeignPolicy.com, Weston Konishi, associate director of Asia-Pacific studies at the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis, says there have been so many rounds of sanctions against North Korea that there's not much added benefit to additional measures.
In an interview with CFR.org, Marcus Noland, of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said that Washington's new sanctions against North Korea, focusing on international financial institutions and banking systems, are likely to have more impact than trade sanctions.
This CFR Analysis Brief examines heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, in part fueled by U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises.
Background:
This CFR Crisis Guide examines politics on the Korean Peninsula.
Coming Nuclear Flashpoint
Obama moves to remake US weapons controls
Obama moves to remake US weapons controls
Washington (AFP) Aug 30, 2010 - President Barack Obama will on Tuesday move to reform US export rules, hoping to boost trade while hampering the sale of sensitive technology. Capping a year-long review of weapons controls, Obama will tell a Washington non-proliferation conference that previous rules were fractured, making it difficult for some legitimate firms to do business. "These reforms will focus our resources on ... more
Washington (AFP) Aug 30, 2010 - President Barack Obama will on Tuesday move to reform US export rules, hoping to boost trade while hampering the sale of sensitive technology. Capping a year-long review of weapons controls, Obama will tell a Washington non-proliferation conference that previous rules were fractured, making it difficult for some legitimate firms to do business. "These reforms will focus our resources on ... more
uclear Power Fought With Social Media By New Generation Of Activists
Nuclear Power Fought With Social Media By New Generation Of Activists
Monday, August 30, 2010
DOE's License Application for a High-Level Waste Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain
Image via WikipediaDOE's License Application for a High-Level Waste Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain
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On June 3, 2008, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) submitted a license application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), seeking authorization to construct a high-level waste geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. For details, see the following documents and correspondence from DOE:
- Transmittal Letter (June 3, 2008)
- General Information
- Safety Analysis Report (SAR)
- References cited by U.S. Department of Energy
- 2002 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
- 2008 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
- Letter to NRC re: Notification of Plan for Supplementing the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) (October 3, 2008)
- Letter to NRC re: Update to the Yucca Mountain Repository License Application (LA) for Construction Authorization. (February 19, 2009)
- Letter to NRC re: Notification of Change of Commitment for Supplementing the Final Environmental Impact Statement (July 30, 2009)
NRC Issues First Volume of Staff's Safety Evaluation Report (August 23, 2010)
- News Release
- NUREG-1949, Volume 1, "Safety Evaluation Report Related to Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Wastes in a Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada; Volume 1: General Information"
- NRC Docketing and EIS Adoption Review
- Federal Register Notices
- Press Releases
- NRC Docketing Review and Hearing Opportunity Schedule
- Contact Us
Related Informationhttp://www.nrc.gov/waste/hlw-disposal/yucca-lic-app.html
- Fact Sheet on Licensing Yucca Mountain
- The Hearing Process
- High-Level Waste Hearings
- Licensing Support Network Document Collection
- Requests for Additional Information (RAIs)
Carter Leaves North Korea With Message on Nuclear Talks Friday, Aug. 27, 2010
The second in charge of North Korea told visiting ex-U.S. President Jimmy Carter that the regime was resolved to seeing the Korean Peninsula stripped of nuclear weapons and to rejoining the moribund six-nation talks, Reuters reported today
"Kim Yong Nam expressed the will of the D.P.R.K. government for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the resumption of the six-party talks," the state-controlled Korean Central News Agency said.
Pyongyang abandoned the nuclear talks in April 2009 in the wake of another round of U.N. Security Council sanctions. It subsequently conducted its second nuclear test and announced it was rolling back denuclearization measures undertaken during the years-long six-nation process.
The U.S. State Department indicated yesterday the Obama administration was likely to wait until next month's U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York to directly discuss relaunching the negotiations with the other participating states -- China, Japan, the two Koreas and Russia, Agence France-Presse reported More at: .http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20100827_9331.php
"Kim Yong Nam expressed the will of the D.P.R.K. government for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the resumption of the six-party talks," the state-controlled Korean Central News Agency said.
Pyongyang abandoned the nuclear talks in April 2009 in the wake of another round of U.N. Security Council sanctions. It subsequently conducted its second nuclear test and announced it was rolling back denuclearization measures undertaken during the years-long six-nation process.
The U.S. State Department indicated yesterday the Obama administration was likely to wait until next month's U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York to directly discuss relaunching the negotiations with the other participating states -- China, Japan, the two Koreas and Russia, Agence France-Presse reported More at: .http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20100827_9331.php
Nation’s Nuclear Power Plants Prepare for Cyber Attacks By Martin Matishak Global Security Newswire
WASHINGTON -- The threat to digital systems at the country's nuclear power plants is considerable, but the sector is better prepared to defend against potentially devastating cyber attacks than most other utilities, according to government and industry officials and experts
Cyber attacks have been an increasing source of concern in recent years but the threat was highlighted last month by the first discovery of malicious code, called a worm, specifically formulated to target the systems that direct the inner operations of industrial plants. To date the malware is thought to have infected more than 15,000 computers worldwide, mostly in Iran, Indonesia and India.
The issue is critically important for new nuclear power facilities that would be built in the United States and throughout the world as control rooms would employ digital systems to operate the plants. Those state-of-the-art instruments and systems make them targets for hackers.
More at:
http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20100827_1692.php
Cyber attacks have been an increasing source of concern in recent years but the threat was highlighted last month by the first discovery of malicious code, called a worm, specifically formulated to target the systems that direct the inner operations of industrial plants. To date the malware is thought to have infected more than 15,000 computers worldwide, mostly in Iran, Indonesia and India.
The issue is critically important for new nuclear power facilities that would be built in the United States and throughout the world as control rooms would employ digital systems to operate the plants. Those state-of-the-art instruments and systems make them targets for hackers.
More at:
http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20100827_1692.php
Westinghouse Celebrates Grand Opening of First-of-a-Kind AP1000 Startup Test Engineer Training Facility
Westinghouse Electric Company celebrated the grand opening of a First-of-a-Kind Startup Test Engineer Training Facility at its headquarters in Cranberry Township, Pa. on August 25, 2010. The grand opening celebration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by facility tours featuring the facility's diagnostic lab room that comes complete with a flow loop....
Entergy is looking to sell Vt. nuclear plant, source says
Is Entergy trying to sell Yankee?
Entergy is seeking to sell its Vermont Yankee nuclear plant and has piqued the interest of Exelon and NRG Energy, said Jeff Beattie of Energy Daily. Entergy refused to respond to the report but said that as part of its "point-of-view" planning, it would "consider buying or selling any asset or business depending on what option creates the most value," said spokesman Mike Burns. Brattleboro Reformer (Vt.)
Luminant extols economic benefits of Comanche expansion
Comanche Peak nuclear plant has towering ambitions
Luminant's plan to construct two nuclear reactors at its Comanche Peak plant could become the "largest economic-development project in Texas' history," said company spokesman Allan Koenig. The reactors, which are estimated to cost up to $20 billion to build, will be able to produce 3,400 megawatts -- enough to supply electricity for 1.8 million homes. The company is requesting federal clearance for a combined construction-and-operating license, expecting to obtain it in 2012 or 2013. Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas)
Vogtle plant-expansion site is being prepared
Vogtle has generated power for two decades
Building crews are already performing site-preparation activities for Southern's Vogtle expansion project that will see two Westinghouse AP1000 reactors added to the site. The two reactors, which are expected to cost about $14.5 billion, are slated to go online in 2016 and 2017, depending on the release of operating permits from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The Augusta Chronicle (Ga.)
Official wants Germany's nuclear plants to run beyond 2021
The German government should allow its nuclear facilities to continue running for 12 years after their targeted shutdown in 2021, said Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle. "Research into different scenarios showed the economic advantages are greatest if nuclear power is extended by 12 to 20 years compared to extensions at either extreme," he said during an interview. Reuters
Opinion: Nuclear is the right solution for Georgia's future
Compared with renewable sources such as wind, solar or biofuels, nuclear is the cleanest and most reliable energy source available to Georgia, according to Benita M. Dodd, vice president of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. To meet Georgia's increasing energy needs, officials must approve the building of two new reactors for Southern's Vogtle plant despite the efforts by misguided nuclear-energy critics to slow down the expansion project, Dodd argues. TalkGwinnett.net (Gwinnett County, Ga.)
Opinion: Nuclear plants are safer than offshore oil drilling
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/fl-nuclear-power-forum-0903-20100830,0,7091635.story
The U.S. should construct more nuclear energy facilities and curb its dependence on offshore oil drilling and its dangers, according to Stan Davidson, a retired nuclear engineer. Nuclear plants follow "immediate and safe" procedures when shutting down, and they have "leak- and crash-proof containments," he argues. These safety measures are enough to avert an environmental disaster like the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, he writes. Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
The U.S. should construct more nuclear energy facilities and curb its dependence on offshore oil drilling and its dangers, according to Stan Davidson, a retired nuclear engineer. Nuclear plants follow "immediate and safe" procedures when shutting down, and they have "leak- and crash-proof containments," he argues. These safety measures are enough to avert an environmental disaster like the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, he writes. Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Tehran debates talks with Uncle Sam
Tehran debates talks with Uncle Sam
For all the heated and unresolved debate among Iran's political factions over how to handle the United States, it boils down to the question of whether to talk or not to talk to Uncle Sam. After several rounds of bilateral and multilateral negotiations, more talks are not "mission impossible". In the run-up to next month's United Nations General Assembly meeting, Tehran's main concern is not to look too defensive. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi (Aug 30, '10)
For all the heated and unresolved debate among Iran's political factions over how to handle the United States, it boils down to the question of whether to talk or not to talk to Uncle Sam. After several rounds of bilateral and multilateral negotiations, more talks are not "mission impossible". In the run-up to next month's United Nations General Assembly meeting, Tehran's main concern is not to look too defensive. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi (Aug 30, '10)
Obama draws line on Iran policy
United States President Barack Obama appears to have drawn a line that blocks Defense Secretary Robert Gates' push for a policy that gives Washington reason for threatening Iran if it fails to cut its low enriched uranium stocks and end enrichment. Obama's thinking: There are other ways for Iran to demonstrate its intent not to build a nuclear bomb. - Gareth Porter (Aug 30, '10)
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