China: Govt 'set' to resume nuclear projects

China: Govt 'set' to resume nuclear projects

by Lee Gliddon

China is ready to resume nuclear power project approval, suspended last year in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, according to the former head of the National Energy Administration.

Speaking exclusively to China Daily, Zhang Guobao said the government may now "consider starting construction of four new projects that had been approved" prior to a suspension of activities after the crisis in Japan in March 2011.

The four nuclear plants, with seven reactors in total, were due to start construction in Fuqing, Fujian province, Tianwan, Zhejiang province, Yangjiang, Guangdong province and Shidaowan, Shandong province.
The projects are planned by the country's three nuclear power developers - China National Nuclear Corp, China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corp and China Huaneng Group.

Although not yet "officially announced", Zhang also revealed that the State Council gave approval in principle to a nuclear safety plan in June, for a five-year period ending in 2015 and long-term targets for 2020.

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Poland wants state companies to finance 6 GW nuclear plan: minister

Poland wants state companies to finance 6 GW nuclear plan: minister

by Lee Gliddon

Polish state-controlled companies should help finance the country's nuclear power plans, Treasury Minister Mikolaj Budzanowski said late Thursday.

The Polish government has tasked the country's largest power company, state-controlled Polska Grupa Energetyczna, to lead a consortium to build 6 GW of nuclear capacity in two separate locations by 2030, but there is concern about PGE's ability to finance the project alone.

Budzanowski said he would like to "combine the strength of the state Treasury companies" so that other power utilities, Tauron and Enea, and the country's copper miner, KGHM, co-finance the program.

"Financial investors, not direct [investors], but financial investors that will co-fund the investment together with PGE; for example, KGHM, Tauron and Enea," Budzanowski said on local television Superstacja. He added another state-controlled company could join the project.

READ MORE...

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• State-governed firms to construct Poland's first nuclear plant

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Nebraska nuclear plant not restarting soon

Nebraska nuclear plant not restarting soon

by Lee Gliddon

OMAHA, Neb. — Utility workers continue inspecting the Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant, but it's not clear whether the plant will be ready to restart in September as Omaha Public Power District officials hoped.

The nuclear plant about 20 miles north of Omaha is being scrutinized closely by regulators because it has been offline since April 2011 and several safety violations have been found.

"We have a lot of work left to do," OPPD spokesman Jeff Hanson said Wednesday.

Officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and OPPD held another public meeting about Fort Calhoun on Tuesday to answer questions about the plant.

Fort Calhoun was initially shut down for routine refueling maintenance in 2011, but flooding along the Missouri River and the safety violations regulators identified forced it to remain offline.

READ MORE...

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• Neb. utility may delay nuclear plant's restart

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Work needed to restart California nuclear plant: NRC report

Work needed to restart California nuclear plant: NRC report

by Lee Gliddon

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A U.S. nuclear inspection team has identified a number of issues that require further study before a damaged California nuclear plant can restart, according to a report issued on Thursday.

The two-reactor San Onofre Nuclear Station, located in Orange County, has been shut for more than five months due to the discovery of premature wear of steam generator tubes.

Located halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, the nuclear station is critical to bolster the state grid and allow power to be imported to Southern California from outside the state. The California grid operator has warned that a prolonged shutdown of the plant increases the possibility of rolling outages over the summer months when power demand rises.

READ MORE...

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Is the Olympic Dam mine a special case?

Jul 19, 2012

Is the Olympic Dam mine a special case?

by Barry Brook

Here is an Op Ed published by Geoff Russell and me in the The Adelaide Advertiser newspaper this week. It was in response to this piece by Jim Green.
————
OLYMPIC Dam uranium can power Australia four times over and close all our coal mines, write Geoff Russell and Barry Brook.

March 23rd, 2011 – What We would Do (The US BWR Operating Community)

http://enformable.com/2012/07/march-23rd-2011-what-we-would-do-the-us-bwr-operating-community/

Full-throttle operation set for Iran's first nuclear plant

Full-throttle operation set for Iran's first nuclear plant
Russian main contractor Atomstroyexport announced that the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran is set to be fully operational in August. The plant reached 75% of power-generating capacity in mid-February and was expected to attain 100% capacity in May. RIA Novosti (Russia) (7/19)

Canada expands uranium-export agreement with China

• Canada expands uranium-export agreement with China
  Canada signed an agreement that aims to increase its uranium exports to China, its second-largest trading partner. The "supplementary protocol" signed by Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and China's National Energy Administration chief, Liu Tienan, expands a 1994 nuclear cooperation pact between the two countries. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)/The Canadian Press

Taiwan will renounce nuclear-fuel production rights in U.S. agreement

Taiwan will renounce nuclear-fuel production rights in U.S. agreement
Taiwan is prepared to give up any rights to produce nuclear fuel as part of the renewal of its atomic energy cooperation agreement with the U.S., according to officials from both countries. "This is proof that there are at least two countries -- and probably more -- out there that are willing to undertake a legally binding gold standard in their nuclear cooperation agreement," a congressional source said. National Journal

Entergy Grand Gulf reactor to increase capacity to 1,498 megawatts

Entergy Grand Gulf reactor to increase capacity to 1,498 megawatts
Entergy is set to increase the power capacity of the reactor at its Grand Gulf nuclear plant in Mississippi by 13%, which will make it the largest power reactor in the country, with a total capacity of 1,498 megawatts electrical. The move was approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission nearly two years after Entergy applied for a license amendment in September 2010. It will take Entergy "a few months to reach the new, higher generating capacity, because our procedures require that we increase power a few percent at a time and do various checks and tests before power is increased further," said spokeswoman Suzanne Anderson. Platts

Just Released: The Sourcebook for Competitive Powerplant Management

Just Released:
The Sourcebook for Competitive Powerplant Management
This manual covers all aspects of the business, from the startup of a plant, to safety issues, day-to-day operations, keeping it profitable, leadership principles, staffing solutions and more. The Sourcebook for Competitive Powerplant Management will quickly become your number one go-to industry resource.
355 detailed pages.
Delivered in a PDF format.
Section 1: The Need for Change
Section 2: Operating the Plant

• Thriving through Initial Startup
• Setting Up the Ops Department
• Targets and Standards
• Training Costs a Lot Ignorance Costs

Section 3: O&M Fundamentals

• Water Treatment
• Lubrication
• Equipment Protection and Preservation
• Turbomachinery Essentials
• Information Technologies

Section 4: Profit-Centered Maintenance

• Competitive Maintenance Strategies
• Predictive Maintenance that Works
• Outage Planning and Execution
• Life-Cycle Asset Management

Section 5: Safety & Environmental

• Prepare a One-Step Shopping Guide
• Create Safety, Not Just Safety Programs
• Trekking through the Environmental Jungle
• Other Regulatory Hurdles

Section 6: Business Management

• Day-to-Day Management
• Understanding Accountants
• Contractor and Inventory Costs
• Managing the Total Risk
• Employment Law

Section 7: Leaders in the Powerplant

• Critical Leadership Principals
• Finding and Keeping-an O&M Staff
• Conducting Performance Appraisals
• A Living, Breathing Policy Manual
• Benchmarking

Epilogue: Stepping into the Ring
Appendices
Appendix A- Professional Organizations
Appendix B- Licensing Requirements for Steam-Plant Operations
Appendix C- Glossary of Abbreviations

Order your copy today.

View a full list of products from the POWER store now.

Fukushima Update from Hiroshimasyndrome

Tokyo antinuke rally was caused by the Hiroshima Syndrome...This past Monday’s antinuclear rally in Tokyo demonstrates that most, if not all of those involved are Hiroshima Syndrome victims. Those afflicted suffer because of one or more of three fundamental misconception; belief that there is a crucial similarity between reactors and bombs, bomb fallout and nuclear power plant releases are one-and-same and/or there is no safe level of radiation exposure. The people of Japan run the risk of being the source in the world-wide contamination of the Hiroshima Syndrome.

Today's updates are... Japan’s Meteorological Agency has issued a heatstroke warning... The first fuel bundles have been removed from F. Daiichi unit #4 spent fuel pool... The Hamaoka nuclear power station on Tokyo Bay has held a power blackout drill, simulating what happened to Fukushima Daiichi on 3/11/11... the government is stepping up quake analysis for Japan’s nukes... Fukushima University plans on opening a research center to study the long-term effects of radioactive contamination... America’s National Academy of Sciences has established a committee to study the F. Daiichi accident.

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

ANS Update: ANS Friday Matinee: Eric Loewen at Arthur M. Sackler Colloquium

ANS Friday Matinee: Eric Loewen at Arthur M. Sackler Colloquium

By pbowersox on Jul 20, 2012 01:00 am

The Arthur M. Sackler Colloquia addresses scientific topics of broad and current interest that cut across the boundaries of traditional disciplines. “The Science of Science Communication” was a Sackler Colloquium interdisciplinary scientific meeting held at the National Academy of Sciences in … Continue reading →
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More to read:

The code inside code; Cyber attacks against Iran
Court upholds EPA greenhouse gas regulations
Video interview with ANS President Dr. Michael Corradini
The passing of the gavel
113th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

California Energy Update 7/20

Green Upgrades Increase Value of Los Angeles Homes by 5.5 to 9 Percent MarketWatch (press release) The case studies, funded by Energy Upgrade California in Los Angeles County and the Green Label Rebate Program, provide local support for the statewide findings that homes with green features sell at a higher price. To find the added value of green home ...

Green labels add value to California homes Los Angeles Times California homeowners who add insulation, upgrade to more efficient water heaters and make other energy- and water-saving improvements could add as much as 12% to the value of their homes when they are certified as green by the Energy Star, ...

'Green' Homes Hold Higher Value Experts Say Patch.com The study, titled "The Value of Green Labels in the California Housing Market," examined data on the 1.6 million single-family homes sold between 2007 and 2012. About 4300 of them were certified with green home labels from Energy Star, GreenPoint Rated ...

Study finds that energy-efficient homes often command higher prices Washington Post But it did find that in warmer parts of California, especially in the Central Valley, buyers are willing to pay more for the cost savings on energy that come with a green-rated property. The research was conducted by Matthew E. Kahn, an economics professor at ...

State, Business and US Navy Highlight Progress in Clean Energy and Job ... Equities.com "Where California has led the way in infrastructure, entertainment, and the computer, it stands to do so again with a sustainable energy industry," said California Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento). "A partnership with the Navy offers ...

US Navy considers alternative energy sources by California companies 89.3 KPCC At an event at the Capitol in Sacramento, the Navy and about a dozen California businesses and universities showed how much progress they're making. There were booths with algae oil used to make jet fuel and the latest in products that conserve energy.

Worldwide Energy & Manufacturing USA, Inc. Announces Officer and Director ... MarketWatch (press release) SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Jul 19, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Worldwide Energy & Manufacturing USA, Inc. ("Worldwide" or the "Company"), a supplier of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules under the 'Amerisolar' brand, and a supplier of contract ...

Struggling Cities (Financially Strapped Households) Beware: Renewable ... Energy Tribune Using an average of the renewable (wind and solar) energy cost increases (Metcalf, 505.56% and EIA, 307.25%) we can assume that renewable energy will be 406.45% higher than the least-cost source of electricity. So California, where the three cities, ...

AM Alert: US Navy highlights California clean-tech partnerships Sacramento Bee (blog) Fran Pavley and California Energy Commission Chairman Robert B. Weisenmiller to highlight clean-tech partnerships at California's naval installations. The Navy recently announced five energy goals, including cutting its power consumption in half by 2020, ...

Report: Not All Renewable Energy Investments Are Created Equal Renew Grid California's publicly owned utilities have significantly expanded their use of renewable energy over the past decade, yet several still have a long way to go to meet the state's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) of 33% by 2020, according to a new report by the ...

Tech Sector Layoffs Surge to Three-Year High Michael Shedlock

Tech Sector Layoffs Surge to Three-Year High Michael Shedlock

NRC's FAQ Index

FAQ Index

Related Information

• Fact Sheets - Easy-to-read, brief descriptions of NRC programs and regulatory topics
• Brochures - Includes additional brief descriptions of NRC programs as well as newsletters

NRC maintains answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) in a variety of subject areas of interest to our stakeholders. This page is an index to the pages containing these questions and answers.
10 CFR Part 2 Revisions
Access Authorization Programs
Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS)
ADR
Allegations Program
Alternate Fire Protection Rule
Annual Inventory Reconciliation (AIR)
Can It Happen Here?

Co-Op Education Program
Depleted Uranium Deconversion Facilities
Digital Certificates and Electronic Submittals
Digital Instrumentation and Controls
Electric Power Grid Loss on 8/14/03
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Export-Import Licensing
Fire Barriers
Fire-Induced Circuit Faults
Fire Protection
Fitness-for-Duty
Force-on-Force Security Exercises at Nuclear Power Plants
Gas Centrifuge Enrichment Plants
General Licenses
Generally Licensed Products Distribution
Generic Issues Program
Grant Opportunities
Health Physics Based on 10 CFR Part 20
License Renewal Inspection Procedure (IP) 71003,
"Post-Approval Site Inspection for License Renewal"
Liquid Radioactive Releases
Maintenance Rule
Mixed-Oxide Fuel
National Source Tracking System
NRCareers
NRC's Design-Basis Threat Final Rule
NRC's Role Under the National Environmental Policy Act
NRC's Response to the 9/11 Events
Nuclear Fuel Services Fuel Fabrication Facility
OIG Hotline
Options to Revise Radiation Protection Regulations and Guidance
Part 35, "Medical Use of Byproduct Material"
Post-Fire Operator Manual Actions
Post-Investigation ADR
Potassium Iodide
Pre-Investigation ADR
Public Meetings
PWR Sump Performance
Questions Related to the March 11, 2011 Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami
Radiation Protection
Reactor Decommissioning
Security Assessments at Nuclear Power Plants
State-of-the-Art Reactor Consequences Analyses (SOARCA)
Summer Employment Program
Waste Streams (Unique)
What Do I Need to Know to Protect Myself?
Withholding of Sensitive Information

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Thursday, March 29, 2012

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/faqlist.html

PennEnergy Week's Most Popular Oil & Gas News

This Week's Most Popular Oil & Gas News
• Osprey oil spill confirmed
• Flaring on the rise in the U.S.
• Tullow abandons high-pressure oil well off Guyana citing safety concerns
• Norway braces for further labor strife
• API releases oil and gas well completion report
• Aker Solutions acquires subsea companies
• Noble Energy to sell mid-continent oil, natural gas properties for $617MM
• BP America pays million dollar civil penalty
• Moody's reduces Eni's rating
• Petrobras approves contracts for offshore drilling rig construction
• Skills shortage debate takes center stage at Perth global oil and gas event
• Anadarko announces discovery offshore Ghana
• Farm-out agreement signed for Santos Basin, offshore Brazil

Human Capital - Health, Safety and Environment in Oil and Gas

Human Capital - Health, Safety and Environment in Oil and Gas
As the oil and gas industry continues exploration in deeper waters and harsher environments and environmental concerns continue, the demand for Health, Safety and Environmental talent is at an all high time high.
Full Article

Governing Energy - Stop Work!

Governing Energy - Stop Work!
This phrase is generally defined as the authority of anyone regardless of position or seniority on a job site to authorize work stoppage when an unsafe or environment hazard is identified. There is another situation where a stop work may be required.
Full Article

Jacobson misuses LNT to purposefully exaggerate effects of Fukushima radiation

Atomic Insights 
Jacobson misuses LNT to purposefully exaggerate effects of Fukushima radiation

http://atomicinsights.com/2012/07/jacobson-misuses-lnt-to-purposefully-exaggerate-effects-of-fukushima-radiation.html

Mark Z. Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, has a well known belief that human society can be powered entirely by wind, water, and sunlight. He is also illogically opposed to the use of nuclear energy, despite a career as an atmospheric modeler whose primary research area has been transportation of carbon particles and air pollution.

He put his modeling and guessing skills to work recently and boldly claimed to have "quantified" the potential cancer death toll from Fukushima. He applied the Linear No Threshold dose assumption in ways that even its defenders caution is a misuse of the admittedly conservative hypothesis. The advertiser supported media gladly swallowed the resulting press releases and took the computed range of values, all of which are based on extremely uncertain numbers, as a scientific result.