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An event in eastern Missouri will join other U.S. observances of the service of Cold War-era nuclear weapons workers. Several hundred workers, or their survivors and friends, are expected to attend ceremonies Oct. 30 in Weldon Spring during the first National Day of Remembrance. Congress dedicated the day to recognize the sacrifices of nuclear weapons and uranium workers from more than 300 U.S. facilities, many of them disabled or dead from exposure to radiation or other toxins. Event organizer Denise Brock says $4 billion has been paid to workers or their survivors nationwide, including $200 million in Missouri, as federal compensation for the harm since 2000. The event will include a tree dedication and wreath laying, as well as signups for free medical screenings.

An event in eastern Missouri will join other U.S. observances of the service of Cold War-era nuclear weapons workers. Several hundred workers, or their survivors and friends, are expected to attend ceremonies Oct. 30 in Weldon Spring during the first National Day of Remembrance. Congress dedicated the day to recognize the sacrifices of nuclear weapons and uranium workers from more than 300 U.S. facilities, many of them disabled or dead from exposure to radiation or other toxins. Event organizer Denise Brock says $4 billion has been paid to workers or their survivors nationwide, including $200 million in Missouri, as federal compensation for the harm since 2000. The event will include a tree dedication and wreath laying, as well as signups for free medical screenings.

Southern California Edison declared an unusual event at the 1,080-megawatt Unit 3 at San Onofre nuclear power station in California due to both emergency diesel generators being inoperable, the company told the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in a report. Operators started to shut the unit but returned it to nearly full power after fixing the problem. The unit started at full power on Dec. 12 and was cut to at least 90 percent. It was back to 99 percent power early Monday. An unusual event is the lowest of the NRC's four emergency classifications. San Onofre is located in San Clemente in San Diego County about 60 miles (96 km) north of San Diego.

Southern California Edison declared an unusual event at the 1,080-megawatt Unit 3 at San Onofre nuclear power station in California due to both emergency diesel generators being inoperable, the company told the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in a report. Operators started to shut the unit but returned it to nearly full power after fixing the problem. The unit started at full power on Dec. 12 and was cut to at least 90 percent. It was back to 99 percent power early Monday. An unusual event is the lowest of the NRC's four emergency classifications. San Onofre is located in San Clemente in San Diego County about 60 miles (96 km) north of San Diego.

The Brattleboro Common transformed from a picturesque, quiet corner of the town into a festival of grassroots activism Saturday during the Nuclear Free Jubilee. Hundreds of residents turned out for the event, hoping to push the state closer toward a clean, renewable energy future and fuel a drive toward "green collar" jobs and industries. The nuclear free event was sponsored by the localized campaign known as Safe and Green, which looks to highlight the public support for closing the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant located in Vernon when the original license expires in the next four years. "This is a unique moment for Vermont," said Ellen Kaye, Safe and Green coordinator within Vermont. She estimated about 1,000 people participated in the day's events.

Snake River Alliance Announces November Special Events with Dr. Arjun Makhijani The Snake River Alliance is proud to present a week of events featuring one of the United State's leading energy experts. Dr. Arjun Makhijani holds a Ph.D. in engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. A recognized authority on energy issues, Dr. Makhijani has produced many studies and articles on nuclear fuel cycle related issues, including weapons production, testing, and nuclear waste and has also served as a consultant to United Nations agencies, many non-governmental organizations, and other institutions. He will be accompanied by national Carbon-free and Nuclear-free campaign coordinator and energy activist, Jennifer Nordstrom.

A series of public events is planned to discuss plans for a new nuclear plant at Hinkley, Somerset. Local residents will be give the opportunity to see current plans and to raise any concerns they have. British Energy and EDF are arranging events as part of proposals to involve the local community in discussions about new nuclear power plants. Events are planned at Nether Stowey, Cannington, Bridgwater, Combwich, Burnham-on-Sea, Williton and Stogursey.

Enhancements to Emergency Preparedness Regulations AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission) is proposing to amend certain emergency preparedness (EP) requirements in its regulations that govern domestic licensing of production and utilization facilities. A conforming provision would also be added in the regulations that govern licenses, certifications, and approvals for new nuclear power plants. The proposed amendments would codify certain voluntary protective measures contained in NRC Bulletin 2005-02, ``Emergency Preparedness and Response Actions for Security-Based Events,'' and other generically applicable requirements similar to those previously imposed by Commission orders. They would also amend other licensee emergency plan requirements based on a comprehensive review of the NRC's EP regulations and guidance. The proposed requirements would enhance the ability of licensees in preparing to take and taking certain emergency preparedness and protective measures in the event of a radiological emergency; address, in part, security issues identified after the terrorist events of September 11, 2001; clarify regulations to effect consistent emergency plan implementation among licensees; and modify certain EP requirements to be more effective and efficient.

Report to Congress on Abnormal Occurrences; Fiscal Year 2008; Dissemination of Information Section 208 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93- 438) defines an abnormal occurrence (AO) as an unscheduled incident or event which the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) determines to be significant from the standpoint of public health or safety. The Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-68) requires that AOs be reported to Congress annually. During Fiscal Year 2008, ten events that occurred at facilities licensed or otherwise regulated by the NRC and/or Agreement States were determined to be AOs. The report describes five events at NRC-licensed facilities.

Physicians for Social Responsibility invites the public to "Nuclear Reconsidered-the Start of a Conversation" at 7 p.m. April 6 on the third floor of Owen Hall at UNC Asheville. The League of Women Voters co-sponsor the event with the World Affairs Council and United Nations Association. Advertisement Two short films will be shown, each to be followed by discussion and comments from the audience. To set the scene for the conversation, "Building a World Beyond War" will offer rationale for ending war. After a short question and comment period, "Nuclear Weapons and the Human Future" will be the main presentation, followed by discussion. Two member physicians, Lew Patrie & Don Richardson, will be resource people for questions. Leah Karpen, a member of both Physicians for Social Responsibility and the League of Women Voters, will be the moderator. A member of the league will explain its position on nuclear issues. This event is open to the public at no charge.

Takashi Tanemori was 8 years old when an atomic bomb destroyed his home city of Hiroshima. "I had a 14-month-old baby sister, and I had promised my daddy that I would love and protect her with all my heart and all my soul," Tanemori told Marin Academy students Wednesday as part of the school's participation in the World March for Peace and Non-Violence. "My dad said, 'I'm counting on you,'" Tanemori recalled. "That day, my mother, my dad and my baby sister were buried under the ashes." Tanemori and other participants in the march walked from the San Rafael private school to the center of the city as part of a global effort to eliminate nuclear weapons. The event began on Oct. 2 - Mohandas Ghandi's birthday - in Wellington, New Zealand and will conclude on Jan. 2, 2010 in Punta de Vacas, Argentina. Marchers intend to touch down in 90 countries across six continents and are holding forums and events such as Wednesday's talk and demonstration in San Rafael.

Takashi Tanemori was 8 years old when an atomic bomb destroyed his home city of Hiroshima. "I had a 14-month-old baby sister, and I had promised my daddy that I would love and protect her with all my heart and all my soul," Tanemori told Marin Academy students Wednesday as part of the school's participation in the World March for Peace and Non-Violence. "My dad said, 'I'm counting on you,'" Tanemori recalled. "That day, my mother, my dad and my baby sister were buried under the ashes." Tanemori and other participants in the march walked from the San Rafael private school to the center of the city as part of a global effort to eliminate nuclear weapons. The event began on Oct. 2 - Mohandas Ghandi's birthday - in Wellington, New Zealand and will conclude on Jan. 2, 2010 in Punta de Vacas, Argentina. Marchers intend to touch down in 90 countries across six continents and are holding forums and events such as Wednesday's talk and demonstration in San Rafael.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) on Monday, experts revealed a troublesome fact about Chernobyl, the Ukrainian nuclear power plant that blew up in 1986. Recent measurements in the exclusion zone, where no humans can go without protective equipment, have revealed that the radioactive material that was spilled in the area was nowhere near the decay level that was predicted for it. In other words, the scientists are saying that it will take a lot more time for the land to be cleansed than originally believed, Wired reports. Previous estimates, based on the fact that the Cesium 137's half-life is 30 years, estimated that the restriction zone could be lifted, and then re-inhabited soon. But experiments reveal that the radioactive material is not decaying as fast as predicted, and scientists have no clue as to why this is happening. The April 26, 1986 accident was the largest nuclear accident in the world, and only a level 7 event on the International Nuclear Event Scale. Its fallout was made worse by the Soviet Union's attempt at covering up the incident, which saw a lot of people exposed to lethal doses of radiations.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) on Monday, experts revealed a troublesome fact about Chernobyl, the Ukrainian nuclear power plant that blew up in 1986. Recent measurements in the exclusion zone, where no humans can go without protective equipment, have revealed that the radioactive material that was spilled in the area was nowhere near the decay level that was predicted for it. In other words, the scientists are saying that it will take a lot more time for the land to be cleansed than originally believed, Wired reports. Previous estimates, based on the fact that the Cesium 137's half-life is 30 years, estimated that the restriction zone could be lifted, and then re-inhabited soon. But experiments reveal that the radioactive material is not decaying as fast as predicted, and scientists have no clue as to why this is happening. The April 26, 1986 accident was the largest nuclear accident in the world, and only a level 7 event on the International Nuclear Event Scale. Its fallout was made worse by the Soviet Union's attempt at covering up the incident, which saw a lot of people exposed to lethal doses of radiations.

"Stimulus funds at Savannah River Site are going to be used in spectacular fashion today, as a cooling tower is set to be demolished using 1,100 pounds of explosives. The K Cooling Tower stands 450 feet tall, weighs 24,000 tons and will be explosively imploded today around 10 a.m. The dramatic demolition will not be able to be viewed by the public or media; however, Doug Loizeaux of Controlled Demolition Inc. said that there will be six remote cameras in place to capture the event. One reason for letting the public know of the event is that S.C. Highway 125 will be closed for around 30 minutes the time of the event. American Demolition and Nuclear Decommissioning Inc. is performing all coordination and on-site activities associated with the demolition. The company is working with Controlled Demolition Inc., a company specializing in demolition, which is performing the implosion. The K Cooling Tower was constructed in 1992 to support nuclear production at the K Reactor; however, as the Cold War ended, the reactor and tower became unnecessary."

The 11 March 2011 9.0 magnitude earthquake off Japan's northeast coast set off a series of cascading events which resulted in the deaths of more than 20,500 people along with an ongoing nuclear crisis. The crisis epitomized what disaster scholars call a compounded or complex disaster. The quake itself caused few direct casualties - fewer than 5 percent of the deaths due to this disaster are attributed to collapsed buildings - but triggered a devastating tsunami which overtopped seawalls, washed away entire villages, swept people and cars out to sea, and damaged the back-up cooling systems at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power complex. Of the six reactors on site, the quake's arrival automatically shut down the three which were operational. With diesel generators and batteries offline, the residual heat in the reactors raised the temperature to more than 2000 degrees Fahrenheit, melting down the zircaloy fuel rods. The fuel pellets, free from their sheaths, fell to the floor of the steel containment vessels where they may have burned holes through the thick steel plating. Nuclear authorities in Japan eventually classified the radiation release from the Fukushima nuclear complex as a level 7 nuclear crisis on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES), placing the event in the same category as the 26 April 1986 Chernobyl accident in the Ukraine.

Soon after the Fukushima accident last month, I stated publicly that a nuclear event of this size and catastrophic potential could present a medical problem of very large dimensions. Events have proven this observation to be true despite the nuclear industry's campaign about the "minimal" health effects of so-called low-level radiation. That billions of its dollars are at stake if the Fukushima event causes the "nuclear renaissance" to slow down appears to be evident from the industry's attacks on its critics, even in the face of an unresolved and escalating disaster at the reactor complex at Fukushima. Proponents of nuclear power - including George Monbiot, who has had a mysterious road-to-Damascus conversion to its supposedly benign effects - accuse me and others who call attention to the potential serious medical consequences of the accident of "cherry-picking" data and overstating the health effects of radiation from the radioactive fuel in the destroyed reactors and their cooling pools. Yet by reassuring the public that things aren't too bad, Monbiot and others at best misinform, and at worst misrepresent or distort, the scientific evidence of the harmful effects of radiation exposure - and they play a predictable shoot-the-messenger game in the process.

"The consequences of the Japanese earthquake - especially the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant - resonate grimly for observers of the American financial crash that precipitated the Great Recession. Both events provide stark lessons about risks, and about how badly markets and societies can manage them. Of course, in one sense, there is no comparison between the tragedy of the earthquake - which has left more than 25,000 people dead or missing - and the financial crisis, to which no such acute physical suffering can be attributed. But when it comes to the nuclear meltdown at Fukushima, there is a common theme in the two events. Experts in both the nuclear and finance industries assured us that new technology had all but eliminated the risk of catastrophe. Events proved them wrong: not only did the risks exist, but their consequences were so enormous that they easily erased all the supposed benefits of the systems that industry leaders promoted."

"Cooper Nuclear Station, an electric power plant in southeast Nebraska, declared a "Notification of Unusual Event" Tuesday, June 22nd at 2:06 a.m. The notification was made as part of safety and emergency preparedness procedures the station follows when flooding conditions are in effect. The procedures dictate when the Missouri River's water level reaches 42.5 feet, or greater than 899 feet above sea level, a notification of unusual event is declared. There is no threat to plant employees or to the public; the plant continues to operate safely. Appropriate Local, County, State, and Federal agencies were also notified, as part of Cooper's Emergency Preparedness plan. As a precautionary measure, when the river reached 897 feet above sea level last week, Cooper management initiated steps to barricade external doorways to the plant with sandbags. Should the river's level increase to 900 feet above sea level, plant personnel will also barricade internal doorways as another layer of protection for facility equipment."

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region III office in Lisle, Ill., activated its Incident Response Center today to monitor an unusual event declared at the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant. The plant, operated by Xcel Energy, is located in Monticello, Minn. The unusual event was declared at 10:30 a.m. when a contractor struck a power line, which resulted in a loss of power to non-safety equipment. The contractor was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead, according to local authorities. The loss of power affected equipment necessary to provide cooling water to the reactor. Around 11:30 a.m. the plant restored the equipment necessary to provide cooling water support to the reactor in a shutdown condition.

One little thing can turn into a big headache, or worse, said Jim Matteau, executive director of Windham Regional Commission. Matteau is concerned that an event that may not need to be reported according to Nuclear Regulatory Commission standards could cause a cascade of events requiring the notification of emergency planners and possible implementation of evacuation procedures. "We do these practices all the time and they always start with something simple," said Matteau.

"NEWS EVENT DOCUMENTS 1. 032410 IEER news release: EXPERTS: U.S. HAS AGREED TO STORE ENOUGH NUCLEAR REACTOR WASTE TO FILL TWO YUCCA MOUNTAINS … OR FACE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN NEW PENALTIES" 2. Backgrounder on New DOE Contracts for Commercial High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal 3. Principles for Safeguarding Nuclear Waste at Reactors 4. Listen to the streaming audio of the news event"

"A vocal critic of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will be in Brattleboro on Saturday to discuss the failings of the government agency that is tasked with regulating the nuclear power industry. David Lochbaum, who received his bachelor of science in nuclear engineering in 1979 and is now the director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Nuclear Safety Project, worked in the nuclear industry for 17 years as a reactor engineer, a trainer and as a consultant. He will speak at 4 p.m. in the Robert H. Gibson River Garden. The event, titled "Nuclear Cop on the Beat ... or Beaten Nuclear Cop," is free and open to the public. "I'll be talking about the leaking radioactive material from Vermont Yankee and other plants," said Lochbaum, during a telephone interview with the Reformer. Lochbaum is the guest of the New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution, which is opposed to the continued operation of Yankee past its license expiration date of 2012. The event is the 39th Annual Membership Meeting of NEC. "

Chronology of events surrounding crippled Fukushima nuclear plant A school building, which was submerged as a result of a tsunami on March 11, stands in an area of Yamamoto, Miyagi Prefecture. (Mainichi) TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The following is a chronology of events regarding the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station in Fukushima Prefecture, triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that struck northeastern and eastern Japan. March 11 -- Magnitude 9.0 earthquake forces power plant's Nos. 1-3 reactors to suspend operations automatically (Nos. 4-6 reactors were shut down, undergoing regular checks). Prime Minister Kan declares nuclear emergency, directing local residents in 3-kilometer radius of plant to evacuate. March 12 -- Kan inspects stricken plant. Radioactive steam is vented from No. 1 reactor's containment vessel. Hydrogen explosion rips No. 1 reactor building. Government expands evacuation zone to 20 km radius of plant. March 14 -- Hydrogen explosion rocks No. 3 reactor building. No. 2 reactor's fuel rods are exposed as water recedes inside reactor vessel. March 15 -- Kan scolds Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) officials at company head office. Explosion is heard near suppression chamber of No. 2 reactor's containment vessel. Explosion is also heard at No. 4 reactor. Government directs residents in 20-30-km ring of plant to stay indoors. A tsunami crests the embankment of the Heikawa River in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, before sweeping into the city on March 11. (Mainichi) March 16 -- Damage is feared to have been done to No. 3 reactor's containment vessel, forcing workers to retreat. March 17 -- Ground Self-Defense Force helicopters drop water on No. 3 reactor building. Fire engines spray water from ground. March 18 -- Nuclear safety agency gives crisis involving Nos. 1-3 reactors preliminary value of Level 5 on nuclear accident scale of 7. March 19 -- Tokyo firefighters spray water at No. 3 reactor. Government announces detecti