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For about two weeks there have been arguments over the "suddenly revived" Soviet-made nuclear-powered satellite which had been placed into an 800 km-high orbit in 1987. The military space vehicle suddenly started losing parts, sparking fears of a possible threat. Rest assured, the Kosmos 1818 satellite is incapable of destroying the Earth. However, the question forces consideration of space security issues in general. The back story is as follows. In mid-summer last year, NORAD tracking systems spotted the first signs of the satellite's disintegration. On July 4, NASA published the information recorded. The process gained momentum, in the current state of the satellite covered in the NASA orbital debris bulletin of January 15.

Analysis: Even if unanimity in standards exists, waste disposal after decades of nuclear weapon production will require taking risks. This is Part Two of a three-part series on nuclear waste. Part One covered what it will take to clean up the mess left by the nuclear arms race. Part Three will illustrate how openness, accountability and trust can lead to effective actions to reduce present and future risks.

Following a 3 1/2-year review of the license renewal application for the Oyster Creek nuclear generating station in Lacey, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Wednesday may, for all intents and purposes, decide whether to allow the plant to operate for another 20 years. To head off any chance the NRC will give Oyster Creek the green light next week, the state Department of Environmental Protection should seek a federal injunction to prevent a vote until all of the recommendations made by the NRC licensing board for further analysis of the plant's drywell - the steel barrier surrounding the reactor that is designed to contain radiation in the event of an accident - are heeded.

Steven Chu said today that as energy secretary he will pursue the "best possible scientific analysis" to chart the disposal of the nation's nuclear waste, without saying specifically what he plans to do about the proposed Yucca Mountain repository. Appearing at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Chu was asked how he plans to approach nuclear waste management where the government's preferred disposal site in Nevada is more than 10 years behind schedule. Nuclear waste poses "very thorny questions," Chu said, noting that President-elect Barack Obama has stated "very clearly" his opposition to the repository where the Energy Department is seeking a license to build disposal tunnels for more than 77,000 tons of radioactive material.

SUBJECT: The outlook for nuclear power. SIGNIFICANCE: Increases in the cost of borrowing and the availability of credit represent a major challenge for the nuclear industry. ANALYSIS: A so-called nuclear renaissance has been under way for some years now. It has taken three broad forms, namely: the predominantly state-led and financed continuation of nuclear construction in countries with an existing industry, such as South Korea, China, India and Russia; renewed support for nuclear power in countries that have existing industries but that have not seen any newbuild in decades, the most notable in this regard being the United Kingdom and United States; and a host of potential newcomers to the nuclear market, the most substantial groups being emerging economies in Asia and the Middle East.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) has elected Dr. Mario V. Bonaca as Chairman, Dr. Said Abdel-Khalik as Vice-Chairman, and Dr. J. Sam Armijo as Member-at-Large. The ACRS advises the Commission independently from the NRC staff on the safety and safeguards aspects of nuclear facilities and the adequacy of safety standards. Bonaca is a nuclear consultant with more than 30 years of experience in analysis, design and operational support of nuclear power plants. He has worked at Combustion Engineering, Babcock and Wilcox, and was director of nuclear engineering services at Northeast Utilities prior to his retirement. He has been a member of the ACRS since 1999, and served as the ACRS Chairman in 2003 and 2004. He received his doctorate in physics from the University of Florence, Italy.

Please be informed. An outstanding book is out by novelist Gwyneth Cravens titled Power to Save the World. In this book the author traces her journey from Nuclear opponent to an understanding that it represents truly the path toward saving the world. Ms Cravens met a scientist Dr Rip Anderson who is an expert in risk assessment and analysis and nuclear energy. He patiently explained the true benefits of nuclear power apparently overcoming every objection posed by the conventional wisdom of nuclear opponents. The two of them decided that the book would detail the authors journey conducted by Dr Anderson toward nuclear understanding.

WASHINGTON -- The NRC has issued its Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Indian Point nuclear power plant license renewal application. The staff's preliminary recommendation is that the presidentially appointed Commission that oversees the NRC should accept the environmental impacts of license renewal for Indian Point 2 and 3. The recommendation is based on the analysis and findings in the agency's Generic Environmental Impact Statement for license renewal reviews; the environmental report submitted by Entergy as part of its application; consultation with other federal, state and local agencies; the NRC staff's independent review of environmental impacts; and consideration of public comments submitted.

California is urging federal regulators to turn down the Energy Department's bid to build a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, charging analysts did not fully study how the plan would affect Death Valley groundwater and the state's transportation networks. "Proceeding with the project in the manner described by DOE poses a threat to the people, natural resources and environment of California," attorneys said at the outset of a 400-page document filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Share & Save Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites What is this? Most Popular Stories # WYNN RESORTS: Enter the Encore # NORM: Fredericks bidding KVBC-TV farewell # HAPPY NEW YEAR: Rates for rooms at discounts # SILENT NIGHT: Workers outnumber stocked racks at soon-to-be-closed stores # NORM: Deadbeat leaves his mark on Strip # F Street closing called biased # NORM: Record numbers of strippers seen # LAS VEGAS LAWYER: Justices chide 'heavy hitter' # North Las Vegas police officer arrested on misconduct, other charges # Station Casinos to use its remaining credit The commission "may not approve DOE's license application unless DOE provides an adequate environmental analysis that analyzes threats to California and how to mitigate them," said the lawyers from the state's Energy Commission and its Department of Justice.

A one-size-fits-all analysis is inappropriate when it comes to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's "Generic Environmental Impact Statement for In-Situ Leach Uranium Milling Facilities," according to the Navajo Nation. "The jurisdictional issue involving the Navajo Nation cannot be looked at in a vacuum. It involves substantial environmental justice implications for a Native Nation uniquely impacted by past activities now under the direct control of the NRC, " David Taylor, principal attorney with the Natural Resources Unit, stated in comments to the NRC sent Nov. 7.

As industry lobbyists and campaigning politicians are busily pushing nuclear power as "a clean safe alternative" to fossil fuels, a landmark article by Lester R. Brown of the Earth Policy Institute shows conclusively that nuclear power is a "bad deal" any way you look at it. Amory Lovins and Imran Sheikh, in a recent analysis, 'The Nuclear Illusion," sets the cost of electricity from a new nuclear power plant at 14 cents per kilowatt hour, while the cost of electricity from a wind farm is half that. Why the huge difference? In addition to fuel costs, capital operations, transmission and distribution expenses, nuclear power must also pay for waste disposal, insurance against accidents, and plant decommissioning. The U.S. leads the world in nuclear power generation, with 104 reactors producing 101,000 megawatts, compared to second-ranked France which produces 63,000 megawatts. The estimated cost of constructing a permanent, safe waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, ballooned from $58 billion in 2001 to $96 billion by 2008, and this repository could not be completed before 2017, meaning that high-level nuclear waste must be stored at reactor sites at least until then.

Can the theories of peace address current global conflicts and counter terrorism? Can we use the lessons of peace to counter nuclear proliferation? What is realistic pacifism? It is fitting that in a year celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the peace symbol, veteran scholar and peace activist David Cortright offers a definitive history of the human striving for peace and an analysis of its religious and intellectual roots. This balanced and highly readable volume also explores the underlying principles of peace--nonviolence, democracy, social justice, and human rights--all placed within a framework of "realistic pacifism." Peace brings the story up-to-date by examining opposition to the Iraq War and responses to the so-called "war on terror." This is history with a modern twist, set in the context of current debates about 'the responsibility to protect, Darfur, nuclear proliferation, and conflict transformation. Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan calls PEACE, "A hopeful but realistic book that deserves to be read and studied widely." Bishop Desmond Tutu calls it "an exploration of the essential principles and practical means of preventing war and resolving conflict without violence." Father Theodore Hesburgh, C.M.C., calls PEACE "A crowning achievement."

HSS falls short of fully meeting GAO's elements of effective independent oversight of nuclear safety: independence, technical expertise, ability to perform reviews and have findings effectively addressed, enforcement, and public access to facility information. For example, HSS's ability to function independently is limited because it has no role in reviewing the "safety basis"-a technical analysis that helps ensure safe design and operation of these facilities-for new high-hazard nuclear facilities and because it has no personnel at DOE sites to provide independent safety observations. In addition, although HSS conducts periodic site inspections and identifies deficiencies that must be addressed, there are gaps in its inspection schedule and it lacks useful information on the status of the safety basis of all nuclear facilities. For example, HSS was not aware that 31 of the 205 facilities did not have a safety basis that meets requirements established in 2001. Finally, while HSS uses its authority to enforce nuclear safety requirements, its actions have not reduced the occurrence of over one-third of the most commonly reported violations in the last 3 years, although this is a priority for HSS.

Lester R. Brown, one of the world's most widely published authors and referred to by the Washington Post as "one of the world's most influential thinkers", has recently published his views via the Earth Policy Institute on the nuclear vs. wind and solar power debate; stating that nuclear power is uneconomical compared to renewable energy. Quoting from a recent analysis entitled "The Nuclear Illusion", Brown points out the cost of electricity from a new nuclear power plant costs around (USD) 14¢ per kilowatt hour compared to a wind farm's very economical 7¢ per kilowatt hour. The costings take into account capital, general operations and maintenance, transmission and distribution in relation to both options.

# The Department of Energy and its program offices have worked diligently to compile comprehensive information, including all previous and forthcoming issues and developments, for the next administration in order to provide a timely and efficient transition. # The smooth and collegial transfer of power from one Presidential administration to the next is a hallmark of American democracy. It is always an enormous undertaking and requires hard work and a lot of coordination. # With energy security being a key component of our national security, DOE has additional responsibilities to establish and execute a transition plan that minimizes disruption and maintains continuity in these key areas. # In order to outline an effective foundation and blueprint for the next administration, DOE began transition work very early in 2008. # Secretary Bodman has directed his team to be forward-leaning in all our efforts to ensure as smooth and effective a transition as possible. Acting Deputy Secretary Jeffrey Kupfer has been leading the 2008 transition work at the U.S. Department of Energy. # Ingrid Kolb, a seasoned 30-year federal employee, has been named DOE's 2008 Agency Transition Coordinator and is overseeing daily transition operations. Jay Hoffman, Director of Program Analysis & Evaluation at DOE, is assisting Kolb with the preparation of transition briefing materials. # With a $24 billion budget, approximately 115,000 employees, and 17 national laboratories, the Department is involved in many aspects of global energy security - a seamless transition at DOE to the next Administration is vitally important.

Over the last few years the nuclear industry has used concerns about climate change to argue for a nuclear revival. Although industry representatives may have convinced some political leaders that this is a good idea, there is little evidence of private capital investing in nuclear plants in competitive electricity markets. The reason is simple: nuclear power is uneconomical. In an excellent recent analysis, "The Nuclear Illusion," Amory B. Lovins and Imran Sheikh put the cost of electricity from a new nuclear power plant at 14¢ per kilowatt hour and that from a wind farm at 7¢ per kilowatt hour. This comparison includes the costs of fuel, capital, operations and maintenance, and transmission and distribution. It does not include the additional costs for nuclear of disposing of waste, insuring plants against an accident, and decommissioning the plants when they wear out. Given this huge gap, the so-called nuclear revival can succeed only by unloading these costs onto taxpayers. If all the costs of generating nuclear electricity are included in the price to consumers, nuclear power is dead in the water.

Over the last few years the nuclear industry has used concerns about climate change to argue for a nuclear revival. Although industry representatives may have convinced some political leaders that this is a good idea, there is little evidence of private capital investing in nuclear plants in competitive electricity markets. The reason is simple: nuclear power is uneconomical. In an excellent recent analysis, "The Nuclear Illusion," Amory B. Lovins and Imran Sheikh put the cost of electricity from a new nuclear power plant at 14¢ per kilowatt hour and that from a wind farm at 7¢ per kilowatt hour.

Free health screenings, available through University of Iowa studies of both Army and Department of Energy workers at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant are continuing through this fall. Researchers are continuing to enroll people in the IAAP Munitions Workers Study. One aim of the research study, directed by Laurence Fuortes, M.D., professor of occupational and environmental health, is to assess exposure to beryllium alloys among conventional weapons workers at the plant. Participants also will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire and to provide a blood sample for analysis of beryllium sensitivity. Participation requires a 30- to 45-minute time commitment. Compensation is provided.

The NRC gives the go-ahead to begin transferring radioactive spent fuel to another site, bypassing a group's call for an in-depth environmental review The Nuclear Regulatory Commission ruled Thursday that Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant can begin loading used reactor fuel into an above-ground storage facility without doing a more comprehensive analysis of the environmental effects of a terrorist attack. The ruling in Rockville, Md., removes the last hurdle to the process of taking highly radioactive spent fuel out of storage pools and into large steel and concrete casks that will sit on a large pad behind the plant.

Notice of Availability of Draft Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement AGENCY: Office of Nuclear Energy, U.S. Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of Availability and Public Hearings. SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) announces the availability of the Draft Global Nuclear Energy Partnership Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Draft GNEP PEIS, DOE/EIS-0396). The Draft GNEP PEIS provides an analysis of the potential environmental consequences of the reasonable alternatives to support expansion of domestic and international nuclear energy production while reducing the risks associated with nuclear proliferation and reducing the impacts associated with spent nuclear fuel disposal (e.g., by reducing the volume, thermal output, and/or radiotoxicity of waste requiring geologic disposal). Based on the GNEP PEIS and other information, DOE could decide to support the demonstration and deployment of changes to the existing commercial nuclear fuel cycle in the United States. Alternatives analyzed include the existing open fuel cycle and various alternative closed and open fuel cycles. In an open (or once-through) fuel cycle, nuclear fuel is used in a power plant one time and the resulting spent nuclear fuel is stored for eventual disposal in a geologic repository. In a closed fuel cycle, spent nuclear fuel would be recycled to recover energy-bearing components for use in new nuclear fuel.