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- The annual telephone survey to gauge public attitudes about the community's low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) clean-up is set to kick-off once again in Port Hope. The Port Hope Area Initiative's (PHAI) eighth annual public attitude survey will get underway in mid-November, said Sue Stickley, communications officer. Every year, the PHAI surveys local residents to get feedback on issues related to the clean-up and safe long-term management of historic low-level radioactive waste in the community. As in past years, individual survey responses are absolutely confidential, but the overall results will be made public. "If you receive a phone call and are invited to take part in the survey, please take a few moments to answer the interviewer's questions," said Ms. Stickley.

- The annual telephone survey to gauge public attitudes about the community's low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) clean-up is set to kick-off once again in Port Hope. The Port Hope Area Initiative's (PHAI) eighth annual public attitude survey will get underway in mid-November, said Sue Stickley, communications officer. Every year, the PHAI surveys local residents to get feedback on issues related to the clean-up and safe long-term management of historic low-level radioactive waste in the community. As in past years, individual survey responses are absolutely confidential, but the overall results will be made public. "If you receive a phone call and are invited to take part in the survey, please take a few moments to answer the interviewer's questions," said Ms. Stickley.

A majority of energy regulators agree that reducing greenhouse gas emissions will increase the costs of electricity, but that the public is willing to pay as much as 5 percent more for green energy, according to a survey from the Deloitte Center for Energy Solutions. The survey, which was completed by 60 state regulators in March and April 2009, found that 70 percent of surveyed regulators believe that the cost of electricity is likely to increase next year -- with 50 percent identifying environmental compliance as the strongest contributing factor to these increased electricity costs. In addition, more than 80 percent of surveyed regulators believe that the Obama administration's proposed cap and trade system for carbon dioxide emissions will result in higher electricity costs in their states. "For the second year in a row, our survey demonstrates that state utility regulators, while concerned about climate change, also understand the cost implications and viabilities of the various policy options," said Branko Terzic, Energy & Resources regulatory policy leader for Deloitte. Terzic is a former state regulator, a former commissioner with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and a former utility executive. He went on to point out that surveyed regulators showed a continued belief in the green benefits of nuclear power: 55.2 percent of them claimed that nuclear power is "extremely effective" in reducing greenhouse gases associated with power generation in their state. The survey also revealed that more than two-thirds (71.7 percent) of responding state regulators believe that the U.S. should continue to develop Yucca Mountain, despite recent decisions by the administration to look for alternatives.

"As part of its Open Government initiative, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is adopting a new web survey model to help measure and assess the public's perception of the agency's transparency. The survey, from ForeSee Results, will pop up at random on the NRC's website and ask a brief series of questions about the user's experience with and perceptions of various aspects of the website, including transparency. Other federal government agencies are using the same survey questions to provide metrics on transparency. The new survey model provides an accurate and precise way to measure how citizens view government transparency and quantify the relationships between online transparency, trust, and the likelihood to participate and collaborate with government agencies. Studies have found that satisfaction with federal websites, in turn, drives increased trust in government, as well as future participation and collaboration. The NRC encourages visitors to the website to participate in the survey if it appears on their screen to help the agency better serve the public and promote participation in the regulatory process."

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission released today a publication that provides new insights into how best to protect the public during a nuclear power plant accident. The publication is based on the results of focus groups and telephone surveys conducted in the Emergency Planning Zones (EPZs) around reactor sites. The data will help the NRC review its regulations and guidance related to emergency preparedness and determine if changes need to be considered to existing protective action strategies. Focus groups were used in 2007 to collect information that guided the development of the phone survey. The phone survey was administered in 2008 by Sandia National Laboratories, under contract to the NRC, to approximately 2,500 households randomly selected in order to obtain 800 completed, anonymous surveys.

"More than half of Santiago residents do not support nuclear energy as an energy source in Chile, according to a recent survey by the Universidad Diego Portales' center for energy and sustainable development. Further, 62 percent said they favor wind energy as the preferred source of energy. Around 25 percent said they favored nuclear energy. The survey was taken in light of the government's growing interest in nuclear energy. When citizens were asked about the risks posed by such projects, 54.8 percent cited nuclear energy's impact on health and the environment, 21.1 percent cited a possible lead of radioactive material and 18.6 percent cited risks associated with the lack of experienced professionals in the country. Opposition grew stronger when those surveyed were asked about possibly building a nuclear plant in the Metropolitan Region: 65 percent opposed and 18 percent were in favor."

Two small areas of radioactive contamination have been detected during a survey of grazing land adjacent to the former nuclear research site at Dounreay. They were excavated and removed to the site for analysis. One was identified as a 'minor' particle of fast reactor fuel and the other as soil contaminated with radioactivity. The finds were 5-30cm below the surface and covered by vegetation, indicating they are most likely to be historic in origin. Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd is carrying out an investigation. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has been informed. The field where the contamination was detected forms part of a 44-hectare site zoned for the construction of a disposal facility for low-level waste from the decommissioning and closure of the site.Previously, this area was earmarked for construction of the European Demonstration Reprocessing Plant. The survey is to establish a baseline of radioactivity levels prior to the start of construction of the low level waste facility. The survey is due for completion by the end of August.

NRC investigations, disgruntled employees, and protests plague Diablo Canyon WHAT DO WE WANT? Last December, PG&E employees at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant were asked to fill out a survey. It was of the "are you happy with your job?" variety. The results overall: many aren't. And the survey is just a hint at a growing rift between employees and management. A copy obtained by New Times shows Diablo Canyon employees were less content than the rest of the PG&E family. The questions were weighted based on the number of favorable responses against the number of unfavorable ones and given a percentage. Companywide, the survey results were 67 percent in the positive on average. At Diablo Canyon it was 57 percent. Of the questions, the one that scored the best with 96 percent favorable was "I am committed to the success of PG&E." Similar questions scored much the same, generally around 70 to 80 percent.

The Commonwealth supervising scientist of the Ranger uranium mine at Kakadu National Park says investigations are continuing into water contamination at the site. Alan Hughes has told a Senate estimates committee that Energy Resources of Australia has conducted geophysical surveys to determine the impact and extent of leaking from a tailings dam at the mine. Mr Hughes says the company has only preliminary results from the surveys and is not sure if ERA will make the findings public. "I understand that they are having significant discussions with the traditional owners and the Northern Land Council about tailings and seepage issues on an ongoing basis," he said.

The Commonwealth supervising scientist of the Ranger uranium mine at Kakadu National Park says investigations are continuing into water contamination at the site. Alan Hughes has told a Senate estimates committee that Energy Resources of Australia has conducted geophysical surveys to determine the impact and extent of leaking from a tailings dam at the mine. Mr Hughes says the company has only preliminary results from the surveys and is not sure if ERA will make the findings public. "I understand that they are having significant discussions with the traditional owners and the Northern Land Council about tailings and seepage issues on an ongoing basis," he said.

Twenty-one percent of Americans would support a new nuclear power plant in their hometown, according to a survey released June 2 by investment bank RBC Capital Markets. This is up from 17% support in last year's survey,

"According to a report by researchers at the Oak Ridge Insitute for Science and Education, undergraduate degrees in health physics (the science of radiation protection) increased slightly in 2009 -- cotninuing a recent trend -- but the number of doctorate degrees awarded hit a 40-year low. The report, "Health Physics Enrollments and Degrees Survey, 2009 Data," surveyed 24 academic programs -- including the University of Tennessee -- with students majoring in health physcis or in "an option program equivalent to a major." ORISE reported that a total of 154 degrees in health physics -- B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. -- were awarded in 2009, but only nine of those were Ph.D.s."

A survey of a nuclear plant, carried out continuously over a period of 25 years, shows it has not affected the health of nearby residents, the Shenzhen health bureau said on Wednesday. The Daya Bay station is located about 70 km away from the center of Shenzhen, Guangdong province. The survey showed there was no greater incidence of diseases in Shenzhen such as malignant tumors, leukemia and goiter, compared to other cities in the province.

THE Commonwealth is expected to decide where to build a nuclear waste dump within months, with a scientific survey looking at the best sites in the Territory due to be completed within weeks. Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said no decision would be made without the "proper scientific assessment". His office yesterday indicated the scientific surveys of four Territory sites would be completed within a month.

MOSCOW, April 29 (UPI) -- A Russian survey suggests 41 percent of citizens support nuclear power. Nearly half of all Russians think there will be no alternative to nuclear energy if Russia eventually runs out of crude oil and natural gas, the survey results suggest. Eighteen percent favor the use of hydropower and 10 percent suggest coal, according to the Levada Center poll, the Daily News Bulletin reported.

The operating rate of Japan's nuclear power plants stood at 58 percent in 2008, and will likely sink to the lowest level in 29 years on a fiscal-year basis, a government survey has shown. Provisional estimates in the survey by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry put the operating rate of 55 commercial nuclear power plants in Japan at 58 percent in 2008. The level is the lowest since the 57.4 percent recorded in 2003, when periodic inspections were held earlier due to false inspection reports. On a fiscal-year basis, the figure for fiscal 2008 is expected to come near the lowest level of 54.6 percent recorded in fiscal 1979.

The Liberal Democratic Party-New Komeito ruling coalition insists Japan should remain under the U.S. nuclear umbrella, while opposition parties' policies vary on the issue, a survey by a nongovernmental organization opposed to atomic weapons found. The LDP and New Komeito say the U.S. nuclear shield is an "appropriate" deterrent, but the Democratic Party of Japan said there should be more debate, according to the survey conducted by the International Commission on Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament Japan NGO Network.

Nurses in Saskatchewan say they appreciate the value of nuclear medicine but do not want the province to build a nuclear reactor so that it can start manufacturing medical isotopes. The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) presented its views Tuesday to Dan Perrins, who is heading the public consultation process on uranium development on behalf of the provincial government. Rosalee Longmore, the president of SUN, presented Perrins with a study that reviewed the medical literature on nuclear reactors. The union also released the results of an email survey of its members. According to the union, 822 nurses responded to the two questions posed. Prior to asking the questions, the survey outlined for the nurses four examples of health concerns related to nuclear reactors.

A Highland castle attacked by Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army and later a site of experiments on radioactive liquid is at risk of collapse. Engineers have carried out a structural survey of 16th Century Dounreay Castle following concerns over safety. They said the ruins, which form part of the estate now managed by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, had badly eroded lintels and precarious masonry. Historic Scotland has been informed of the latest survey results.

Americans' support for nuclear power skidded in polling after the Three Mile Island accident 30 years ago and slipped more after the Chernobyl disaster seven years later. In more recent years, nuclear power has regained popularity, but the level of support depends greatly on survey question wording. In more than 40 surveys from 1977 through 1990, Cambridge Reports National asked Americans about building more nuclear power plants as a way of "dealing with the energy crisis" and found a high of 58 percent favored it in the first poll.

An active fault likely exists under the sea off Aomori Prefecture where nuclear power plant-related facilities are located, research by a Chiba University professor has shown. A survey by Takahiro Miyauchi, a graduate professor at Chiba University, uncovered wavelike deformation in a marine terrace on the seabed off Shiriyazaki, on the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture. It is believed that the deformation was produced by repeated quake-generated movements in the earth's crust. "There is a need to reassess the quake resistance of nuclear power plant facilities," Miyauchi said.

An active fault likely exists under the sea off Aomori Prefecture where nuclear power plant-related facilities are located, research by a Chiba University professor has shown. A survey by Takahiro Miyauchi, a graduate professor at Chiba University, uncovered wavelike deformation in a marine terrace on the seabed off Shiriyazaki, on the Shimokita Peninsula in Aomori Prefecture. It is believed that the deformation was produced by repeated quake-generated movements in the earth's crust. "There is a need to reassess the quake resistance of nuclear power plant facilities," Miyauchi said.

Alberta will not stand in the way of the construction of nuclear power plants, Energy Minister Mel Knight said Monday, following the release of a telephone survey that suggests 45 per cent of Albertans want nuclear plants approved on a case-by-case basis. "There'll be no moratorium," Knight told reporters at the Alberta legislature. "We are not proponents of nuclear energy. We're not working with any company to build nuclear energy. … We're saying that we need power, and proponents that want to build in the system in Alberta are welcome to do so."

Alberta will not stand in the way of the construction of nuclear power plants, Energy Minister Mel Knight said Monday, following the release of a telephone survey that suggests 45 per cent of Albertans want nuclear plants approved on a case-by-case basis. "There'll be no moratorium," Knight told reporters at the Alberta legislature. "We are not proponents of nuclear energy. We're not working with any company to build nuclear energy. … We're saying that we need power, and proponents that want to build in the system in Alberta are welcome to do so."