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The head of Nevada's anti-nuclear dump agency was hit Thursday with an ethics complaint filed by a legislative leader irate that the official gave himself and other staffers pay increases far above authorized amounts. Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert, R-Reno, filed the complaint against Bob Loux, head of the state Nuclear Projects Agency, with the state Ethics Commission, saying his actions were "both egregious and indefensible, and the citizens of Nevada deserve better."

Alberta's six Catholic bishops say serious ethical questions must be answered before any decision can be made about whether or not to build nuclear reactors in the province. In a pastoral letter issued Wednesday, the Alberta Conference of Catholic Bishops called for more public input into the nuclear power question, citing concerns about stewardship of the environment, effects on water supplies, protection of human life, security threats and adequate consultation. Calgary Catholic Bishop Fred Henry said expert opinions on nuclear energy are divided and the debate can easily become polarized.

The increased sourcing of raw uranium that will arise from nuclear new build is an ethical and environmental nightmare currently being ignored by the government. The World Nuclear Association (WNA), the trade body for companies that make up 90% of the industry, admits that in "emerging uranium producing countries" there is frequently no adequate environmental health and safety legislation, let alone monitoring. It is considerately proposing a Charter of Ethics containing principles of uranium stewardship for its members to follow. But this is a self-policing voluntary arrangement. Similarly, the International Atomic Energy Agency's safety guide to the Management of Radioactive Waste from the Mining and Milling of Ores (pdf) are not legally binding on operators.

Gov. Jim Gibbons says the attorney general's office should be criminally prosecuting former nuclear projects director Bob Loux, rather than defending him before the state Ethics Commission. Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto told the governor her office was obligated to defend Loux if his actions were in "good faith" when he raised his own salary above the amount set in the law. The two clashed at a meeting of the state Board of Examiners Tuesday over a $20,000 contract for Masto to hire an outside lawyer to defend Loux before the ethics commission that meets March 12 to consider the case.

Attorneys for a state official facing a Nevada Ethics Commission hearing into allegations that he gave himself and his staff unauthorized pay increases say he acted properly and didn't seek "unwarranted advantages" for himself. Attorneys Judy Sheldrew and Tom Perkins made the comments in a formal response to the accusations against Bob Loux, who recently resigned as head of the agency fighting federal plans for a nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain. He's staying on until a replacement is selected.

Two top Public Service Commission staffers resigned Tuesday and two others went on administrative leave as alleged ethics lapses again overshadowed a hearing on proposed rate increases - this time to pay for new nuclear power plants. At least the appearance of a too-cozy relationship with Florida Power & Light Co., one of two utilities seeking higher nuclear rates, led to the resignation of Ryder Rudd as director of strategic analysis and governmental affairs. Rudd, whose duties included lobbying the Legislature, last month acknowledged he and his wife attended a Kentucky Derby Party at the home of an FPL executive. That disclosure came as the commission began hearings on a separate FPL request to raise its base rates. Commissioner Nancy Argenziano's chief adviser, Larry Harris, also resigned at her request after admitting he gave the private messaging code for his smartphone to an FPL executive.

We, the Catholic bishops of Alberta, wish to speak with the members of our dioceses and eparchy and all Albertans about the recent proposals to build and operate commercial nuclear reactors in our province. These proposals raise important issues which deserve serious discussion and ethical reflection. Debates about nuclear power can quickly become polarized. We encourage everyone to take the time to study this issue, and to examine critically the information presented from the different sides. We believe that there are serious ethical questions that must be adequately addressed before a decision is reached and implemented. Stewardship of the Environment: One major environmental impact of nuclear reactors is their consumption of substantial amounts of water.

The Nevada Commission on Ethics Thursday cleared former Nuclear Projects Director Bob Loux of charges he broke the rules by raising his own pay. They did so on a 3-2 vote with the majority pointing out that the charges levied against him were wrong because they said he raised his own pay "above the legislatively approved" amount. Commissioners George Keele, Don Classic and James Shaw all agreed the legislature doesn't approve specific salaries for non-classified state employees in the governor's office. "It should have said, did he give himself a pay raise above the governor's approved salary," said Klassic.

"The agencies of government involved in the implementation of the Nuclear Power Programme must ensure that the security of the country and safety of citizens are guaranteed. The National Security Adviser, Major-Gen. Seriki Muktar (rtd), and the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency, Air Vice Marshal Muhammed Audu-Bida (rtd), warned on Monday. In his message to a national workshop on "Expert Mission on Human Resources Development and Workforce Planning," in Abuja, the NSA warned that persons who would be involved in implementation of the nuclear power programme must be above board as far ethics and integrity were concerned. He stressed that because of the delicate nature of nuclear power facilities, especially the health and security implications, the operators must be of high ethical standards and accountable."

Attorneys for a state official facing a Nevada Ethics Commission hearing into allegations that he gave himself and his staff unauthorized pay increases say he acted properly and didn't seek "unwarranted advantages" for himself. Attorneys Judy Sheldrew and Tom Perkins made the comments in a formal response to the accusations against Bob Loux (lux), who recently resigned as head of the agency fighting federal plans for a nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain. He's staying on until a replacement is selected.

The Ethics Commission will hold a hearing Wednesday on charges that Nuclear Projects Office Director Bob Loux illegally raised his own salary. The meeting, however, is closed to the public and, under state law, commission director Patty Cafferata can't even confirm that there is a complaint against Loux. The complaint was filed by Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert after Gov. Jim Gibbons issued a letter demanding Loux resign because he had raised his own salary and the salaries of his staff beyond legislatively authorized maximums. The practice had apparently gone on since 2005 and, as of this fiscal year, Loux was paying himself at a rate of $151,542 - $37,454 more than his authorized salary of $114,088. Over that period, he and others in the Nuclear Projects Office had received $195,790 more in salary than they were entitled to.

A recent Corporate Watch Australia survey reveals that many so-called ethical investment funds invest in uranium mining. The number has risen significantly in recent years. Some fund managers justify investment in uranium with questionable arguments about nuclear power and climate change, but the primary reason for the shift is probably BHP Billiton's entry into the uranium industry with its 2005 acquisition of WMC Resources, which owns the Olympic Dam uranium mine in South Australia.

Weapons Complex Monitor reports that the Dept. of Energy is investigating an ethics complaint filed against Cynthia Anderson, who heads the Recovery Act efforts for DOE's Office of Environmental Management. The newsletter's Mike Nartker reported that the investigation was prompted by an anonymous complaint, which alleged improper acts in hiring-related activities at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina and other issues. The newsletter received a copy of the complaint, which also was reportedly sent to U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., the House Majority Whip, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and others. In a statement, DOE spokeswoman Shari Taylor Davenport told the newsletter, "The Department of Energy takes allegations of unethical behavior seriously and is looking into the matter."

The anti-nuclear group New England Coalition has asked the Vermont attorney general's office to investigate whether the state's chief utility regulator David O'Brien violated the state's ethics code by socializing with a top executive with Entergy Nuclear. The group, in a letter to Attorney General William Sorrell, said that O'Brien invited Entergy's top lobbyist, Jay Thayer, to his home during Christmas, where other utility executives and legislators were invited for a party. The group also noted that Thayer, who is heading up Entergy Nuclear's bid for another 20 years of operation of Vermont Yankee nuclear plant, contributed the maximum allowable amount to Gov. James Douglas' re-election in 2008.

The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) expressed its strong concern about President Obama's choice of William Magwood to fill a vacant seat on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). In a letter sent to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Chair Senator Barbara Boxer and Ranking Member James Inhofe yesterday, POGO questioned Mr. Magwood's ability to effectively oversee and regulate the more than 120 licenses and renewal applications currently and soon to be before the Commission, and opposed his nomination. "This nomination flies in the face of the spirit of President Obama's commitment to high ethical standards for the Administration's appointees," said POGO Executive Director Danielle Brian. "We believe it should be examined in the full light of public and congressional scrutiny."

The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) expressed its strong concern about President Obama's choice of William Magwood to fill a vacant seat on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). In a letter sent to Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Chair Senator Barbara Boxer and Ranking Member James Inhofe yesterday, POGO questioned Mr. Magwood's ability to effectively oversee and regulate the more than 120 licenses and renewal applications currently and soon to be before the Commission, and opposed his nomination. "This nomination flies in the face of the spirit of President Obama's commitment to high ethical standards for the Administration's appointees," said POGO Executive Director Danielle Brian. "We believe it should be examined in the full light of public and congressional scrutiny."

Ex-official said to have sought jobs from firms while on panel A former member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission violated government ethics rules by directly contacting potential employers with business before the NRC before the end of his term in mid-2007, according to a report by the commission's inspector general. Jeffrey S. Merrifield twice cast votes on matters involving companies he had contacted about job prospects, the report says. The firms -- the Shaw Group, Toshiba's Westinghouse Electric and General Electric -- "could potentially have benefited financially from his votes . . . during the specific timeframes in which Merrifield was negotiating with the three companies," the report concludes.

Ex-official said to have sought jobs from firms while on panel A former member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission violated government ethics rules by directly contacting potential employers with business before the NRC before the end of his term in mid-2007, according to a report by the commission's inspector general. Jeffrey S. Merrifield twice cast votes on matters involving companies he had contacted about job prospects, the report says. The firms -- the Shaw Group, Toshiba's Westinghouse Electric and General Electric -- "could potentially have benefited financially from his votes . . . during the specific timeframes in which Merrifield was negotiating with the three companies," the report concludes.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney told a special prosecutor in 2004 that he could not remember playing any role in leaking the identity of Valerie Plame as a clandestine CIA officer, according to FBI records released under court order (PDF) today. After years of legal maneuvering to keep the documents secret, they were made public late today under a lawsuit brought by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. That organization provided the FBI notes to The Washington Post. Portions of the three documents, totaling 67 pages, were redacted on grounds of national security, privacy or privileged presidential communications. Outline and Notes from the Cheney Interview (PDF) Second document from Cheney interview (PDF) Third document from Cheney interview (PDF)

Former Vice President Dick Cheney told a special prosecutor in 2004 that he could not remember playing any role in leaking the identity of Valerie Plame as a clandestine CIA officer, according to FBI records released under court order (PDF) today. After years of legal maneuvering to keep the documents secret, they were made public late today under a lawsuit brought by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. That organization provided the FBI notes to The Washington Post. Portions of the three documents, totaling 67 pages, were redacted on grounds of national security, privacy or privileged presidential communications. Outline and Notes from the Cheney Interview (PDF) Second document from Cheney interview (PDF) Third document from Cheney interview (PDF)

"Selling all or part of the country's publicly-owned nuclear agency is the only way to save it, says embattled Natural Resources Minister Christian Paradis. He appeared Wednesday before the Senate's finance committee, which is furiously studying a massive 900-page budget bill that includes giving the government carte blanche to restructure Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. any way it sees fit without any public consultation. Paradis - who is under investigation by Parliament's ethics czar for a potential conflict in dealings with disgraced former MP Rahim Jaffer - argued AECL and particularly the CANDU reactor division is too small to compete globally and needs a huge injection of cash to get it on a more competitive footing. CANDU hasn't sold a new reactor in over 10 years."

Almost 700m tonnes of CO2 would be released into the Earth's atmosphere by even the smallest nuclear conflict, according to a US study that compares the environmental costs of developing various power sources Just when you might have thought it was ethically sound to unleash a nuclear attack on a nearby city, along comes a pesky scientist and points out that atomic warfare is bad for the climate. According to a new paper in the journal Energy & Environmental Science, even a very limited nuclear exchange, using just a thousandth of the weaponry of a full-scale nuclear war, would cause up to 690m tonnes of CO2 to enter the atmosphere - more than UK's annual total.

Attorneys for Bob Loux, the embattled director of the Nuclear Projects Office, say he never intentionally or unethically used his position in raising his and other salaries in his office. "While he takes full responsibility for mistakes that may have been made and for errors in judgment, the allegations of improper or unethical conduct are faulty at their original premise," said the response to the Ethics Commission complaint by attorneys Judy Sheldrew and Tom Perkins.