Group items tagged

"A NUCLEAR test veteran has described how he believes his battle for compensation from the Government may not be won in his lifetime. Former RAF serviceman Archie Ross, of Oak Close, Castle GresleyArchie Ross, of Oak Close, Castle Gresley, made the claim as an appeal by the Ministry of Defence, against a decision to allow compensation for more than 1,000 servicemen, continues. Mr Ross claims that exposure to radiation in 1950s nuclear tests, during his time as an RAF serviceman on Christmas Island, near Australia, has had a devastating effect on his health, his daughters and his grandson. But the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has rejected allegations of negligence and countered by saying that the claims for compensation are now out of date."

Tony Ross' bat connected, sending the softball rocketing to the fence. While the outfielders scrambled after what should have been a home run, Ross stopped at second, doubled over and gasped for breath. Then he sat down on the base. The two teams playing were made up of machinists, custodians and guards from the late shift at the Bannister Federal Complex in south Kansas City. They had met, as usual, around midnight on the baseball diamond at the nearby Hickman Mills High School to play until four or five in the morning.

Tony Ross' bat connected, sending the softball rocketing to the fence. While the outfielders scrambled after what should have been a home run, Ross stopped at second, doubled over and gasped for breath. Then he sat down on the base. The two teams playing were made up of machinists, custodians and guards from the late shift at the Bannister Federal Complex in south Kansas City. They had met, as usual, around midnight on the baseball diamond at the nearby Hickman Mills High School to play until four or five in the morning.

RIO Tinto is considering boosting output at its Rossing mine in Namibia by more than 60 per cent This would make it the world's second-biggest uranium producer. The news is an indication that uranium has not be included in recently announced plans to delay expansion. Speaking at the mine last week, Rossing managing director Mike Leech said the goal of growing to 5500 tonnes of uranium by 2012, outlined four months ago, would probably be raised in the first or second quarter of next year. The open pit mine in the Namib Desert will log production of more than 4000 tonnes of uranium in 2008, its best year since 1990. It is looking to build up to the plant's design capacity of 4500 tonnes by 2012.

To prove he is sick enough to deserve the federal compensation promised to former uranium miners such as himself, 86-year-old Ross Williams must take a lung-function test. The problem is, Williams and some others like him are too sick to complete the required test. With measured breath, he explains in his native Navajo language what has happened each time he has tried to take it.

Critics of TVA's Watts Bar Nuclear Plant told regulators today that finishing another reactor is too risky and expensive. "The dangers are real and consequential," said Dr. Ross McCluney, a Chattanooga physicist and a member of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. "I think TVA is a little off its rocker, proposing a 30-year-old nuclear power plant design with known safety problems." The Tennessee Valley Authority, which suspended construction of the Watts Bar Unit 2 reactor in 1985, is the midst of a $2.5 billion program to finish the unit by 2012. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is conducting a hearing today on the environmental impact of finishing the Unit 2 reactor. TVA obtained a construction permit for Watts Bar in 1973, but the utility still must obtain an operating license once the reactor is finished. Today's hearing is part of the NRC's assessment of the plant.

Critics of TVA's Watts Bar Nuclear Plant told regulators today that finishing another reactor is too risky and expensive. "The dangers are real and consequential," said Dr. Ross McCluney, a Chattanooga physicist and a member of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. "I think TVA is a little off its rocker, proposing a 30-year-old nuclear power plant design with known safety problems." The Tennessee Valley Authority, which suspended construction of the Watts Bar Unit 2 reactor in 1985, is the midst of a $2.5 billion program to finish the unit by 2012. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is conducting a hearing today on the environmental impact of finishing the Unit 2 reactor. TVA obtained a construction permit for Watts Bar in 1973, but the utility still must obtain an operating license once the reactor is finished. Today's hearing is part of the NRC's assessment of the plant.

For more than 25 years a ship known as the peace boat has sailed around the world, promoting the cause of nuclear disarmament. Today it docked in Sydney, with some special passengers on board - survivors of the atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the closing days of the Second World War. Transcript SCOTT BEVAN, PRESENTER: Well, for more than 25 years a ship known as the the Peace Boat has sailed around the world promoting the cause of nuclear disarmament. Today the Peace Boat docked in Sydney with some special passengers on board, survivors of the atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the closing days of the Second World War. Ross Bray examines the peace message and continuing controversy over the dropping of the atomic bombs.

Despite Gov. Jim Gibbons' objections, the Board of Examiners voted Tuesday to give a Washington law firm another $10 million to continue the legal fight against a high-level nuclear waste repository in Yucca Mountain. The governor pointed out that Egan Fitzpatrick & Malsch already had received $27 million to fight Yucca Mountain, which, according to news accounts, is dead. "Why should we give them $10 million for a dead project?" Gibbons asked. But the other board members, Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto and Secretary of State Ross Miller, disagreed. They argued that the legal fight must continue until the U.S. Department of Energy drops its effort to secure Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing for Yucca Mountain.

A US House of Representatives panel that is analyzing legislation to cap man-made carbon emissions and mandate standards to boost renewable electricity by 20% narrowly rejected Thursday an amendment to allow nuclear power to be considered a renewable energy source. Michigan Republican Fred Upton's amendment failed in a 29-26 vote, but attracted support from four Democrats -- John Barrow of Georgia, Mike Ross of Arkansas, Baron Hill of Indiana and Zack Space of Ohio -- on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

"ACE believes taxpayer funding should go to residents and small businesses for solar and wind energy installations, instead of the wealthy nuclear industry. With solar and wind there's no perpetual astronomical waste costs, no security force, no government subsidized catastrophic insurance and no need for evacuation plans. In his April 30 letter, Ross Brady used meaningless calculations to support giving our tax dollars to the wealthy nuclear industry. Brady can defend dangerous, polluting, and costly nuclear power and attack ACE, but he can't silence ACE or make us move. I lived here over 40 years before Limerick Nuclear Plant started operating. I won't stop trying to prevent harm to our community's children and their children from Limerick's operations. ACE members care deeply about others. We don't believe anyone should have to leave their community for a safer life."

Growing demand from a much anticipated nuclear power renaissance and consequent soaring prices for nuclear fuel have recently spurred greater investment in uranium exploration in an increasing number of countries. Through several initiatives, the IAEA is facilitating the transfer of information and knowledge from states with extensive experience in uranium mining and production to "newcomers" to the sector. The overarching aim of these initiatives is to help the uranium industry share best practices, train a new generation of experts and comply with IAEA safety standards so that people and the environment are protected.

A shortage of energy and water will cap future uranium mine expansion in Namibia, but the country hopes to ease the bottlenecks through desalination and a new coal-fired power plant, an industry body said on Wednesday. The government has issued some 50 exclusive prospecting licenses for more uranium mining firms, but output of uranium is dependent on the availability of water.

I've long opposed nuclear energy in most of its forms. It's a struggle, sometimes, to explain why, and takes too long to say it, normally. Along comes this beautiful, one-paragraph statement of the deficiencies from David Orr. Below are some notes about nuclear energy from a speech made by David Orr in New Jersey, previously posted on the internet, so public domain. Orr is the Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies at Oberlin College.

Calling it the "beginning of the beginning," Duke Energy chairman, president and CEO James Rogers Thursday officially kicked off the effort to bring 400 to 700 new permanent jobs to Piketon within roughly the next decade. Advertisement The process will be pursued by a newly created partnership whose aim is to construct a new nuclear power facility in Piketon. And while it will take a considerable amount of time to complete, officials are hopeful it will lead the way to new life in a county that is presently facing 15.1 percent unemployment and routinely ranks among the highest jobless rates in the state. "It will, I think, help revitalize the economy of this part of the state," Gov. Ted Strickland said, adding that the project would make Ohio the only state including next-generation nuclear power production in its energy portfolio.