*** Fukushima *** and other nuclear-----updates and links

"Fukushima: TWO "Worst Case Scenarios" By Arnie Gundersen update 11/22/13 (by MissingSky101)"

[link to www.youtube.com (secure)]

TEPCO removes first fuel rods from Fukushima No. 4 reactor

TOKYO — The operator of Japan’s wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant completed on Thursday the removal of the first fuel rods from a cooling pool high up in a badly damaged reactor building, a rare success in the often fraught battle to control the site.

The batch of 22 unused fuel assemblies, which each contain 50-70 of the fuel rods, was transferred by a trailer to a safer storage pool, the last day of a four-day operation, Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said in a statement.

The company must carefully pluck more than 1,500 brittle and potentially damaged assemblies from the unstable reactor No. 4, the early stages of a decommissioning process following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that wrecked the site.

TEPCO estimates removing the damaged assemblies from reactor No. 4 alone will take a year. Some experts say that timeline is ambitious.
[link to www.japantoday.com]
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Sharif to lay foundation of 2 new Chinese-aided Karachi nuclear power plants

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Friday he will soon lay the foundation stone of a twin-reactor nuclear power plant in Karachi, which is to constructed by China National Nuclear Corp. at an estimated cost of $9.6 billion.

Addressing a function concerning his government's Vision 2015 program, Sharif said the two reactors, which will have a total installed capacity of 2,117 megawatts, will go a long way in tackling the country's power shortage.

The stone-laying ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday.
[link to english.kyodonews.jp]
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Gov't to buy land to store waste created from decontamination work

The government plans to purchase a vast area of land around the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to build sites to store radioactive soil and other waste created by decontamination activities in Fukushima Prefecture, government sources said Friday.

The land will total 15 square kilometers, involving thousands of landowners. The construction of the interim waste storage facilities is expected to accelerate the sluggish cleanup activities in Fukushima Prefecture.

But former residents in areas to be put under state control, who used to live there before the 2011 nuclear crisis, may not be able to return to their homes. A large part of the plant's vicinity has already been classified as a zone difficult to return to for a long time.
[link to english.kyodonews.jp]
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11 Democratic U.S. Senators protest NRC's new restrictions on transparency and accountability to Congress

On Nov. 21st, a group of ten Democratic U.S. Senators wrote U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairwoman Allison Macfarlane regarding their concerns about new agency policies restricting transparency, even to Members of Congress.

One of signatories, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA, photo left), a press release, stating, that the new NRC policy restricts congressional oversight and undermines transparency.

“This change in policy is clearly inconsistent with your stated commitment, is contrary to principles of government accountability, and in conflict with Congress’s constitutionally-authorized oversight authorities,” the Senators wrote in the letter to NRC Chief Macfarlane.

The other nine signatories on the letter are: Senators Menendez (NJ), Leahy (VT), Wyden (OR), Sanders (VT), Warren (MA), Gillibrand (NY), Blumenthal (CT), Baldwin (WI) and Whitehouse (RI).
[link to www.beyondnuclear.org]
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Preview of Keystone XL...

Pipeline explosion in China kills 35, injures 166

A pipeline blast in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao has killed 35 people, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reports. Another 166 people have been reported injured.

The explosion occurred at around 10:30am as workers were trying to fix the leaking pipeline, owned by oil giant Sinopec. The line ruptured at around 3am and leaked for about 15 minutes.

"I have only seen this in disaster films," a rescue worker told the news agency.
[link to www.mining.com]
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We won't let the Iranians pull a fast one: John Kerry

In a bid to appease his foreign and domestic critics, US Secretary of State John Kerry promised not to let a deal with Iran become a time-buying cover for Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"We will not allow this agreement, should it be reached … to buy time or to allow for the acceptance of an agreement that does not properly address our core, fundamental concerns," said Kerry on Wednesday in Geneva.
[link to www.mining.com]
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Horizon 2020 spending approval

The European Parliament has approved a new €1.6 billion ($2.2 billion) spending program for nuclear energy research, as part of the €78.6 billion ($106.3 billion) Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.

Of that budget, €636 million ($860 million) will be set aside for nuclear fusion research, and €318 million ($430 million) for fission.

The parliament also approved a separate spending program to support the ITER fusion reactor project, which will have an additional €2.5 billion ($3.5 billion) set aside. Both budgets will be spent between 2014 and 2020.
[link to www.world-nuclear-news.org]
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Homer Simpson would be proud: Nuclear regulators crack firewalls to access porn

It’s become tougher to surf porn on government computers after scandals, but some workers at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission managed to find ways to bypass detection software and firewalls to get the illicit content, records show.

One contract employee watched, in his words, two “porn type” Netflix movies during “downtime” on his 12-hour shift at the commission’s office of information services, according to case records reviewed by The Washington Times.
[link to www.washingtontimes.com]
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Dominion Dedicates Somers Solar Center in Connecticut

Center to Produce Clean Energy for Connecticut Consumers

SOMERS, Conn., Nov. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Representative Joseph Courtney and other federal, state and local dignitaries joined Dominion (NYSE: D) today to dedicate the Somers Solar Center – capable of producing enough electricity to power more than 1,500 homes – and mark a major milestone in the development of renewable energy in The Constitution State.

"Connecticut's federal and state officials should be commended for finding innovative ways to bring clean, renewable energy to consumers in Connecticut," said Dominion Generation Senior Vice President J. David Rives. "We are proud to be among those who are pioneers in that effort."
[link to www.nuclearpowerdaily.com]
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Westinghouse and John Barrow Celebrate Construction Progress at Plant Vogtle

Westinghouse Electric Company and its nuclear construction consortium partners achieved a significant milestone as the 40 hour and 46 minute continuous placement of nuclear concrete for Georgia Power's Vogtle Unit 4 AP1000 nuclear reactor was safely concluded.

"We've reached a critical milestone in completing the expansions at Plant Vogtle," said U.S. Rep. John Barrow of Georgia's 12th Congressional District. "The expansion, the first in more than 30 years for a nuclear facility, is creating good-paying jobs in our region, and will provide a safe, reliable energy source for Georgians. I congratulate Georgia Power, CB&I, and Westinghouse for reaching this milestone, and I look forward to continuing to work with them as this project continues."
[link to www.nuclearpowerdaily.com]
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Seaweed shuts down Scottish nuclear reactor

A nuclear reactor near Edinburgh shut down on Thursday because its seawater cooling system became clogged with seaweed.

This is the second time this year that reactors at Torness in East Lothian have been forced to close because of excessive seaweed. In 2011 it was closed by a swarm of jellyfish.
[link to www.nucpros.com]
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Air Force nuclear missile officers: Bored, cranky, frustrated -- and court-martialed

A report done for the Air Force found that "court-martial rates in the nuclear missile force in 2011 and 2012 were more than twice as high as in the overall Air Force. Administrative punishments, such as written reprimands for rules violations and other misbehavior, also were higher in those years."

This line really struck me: "In his doctoral dissertation published in 2010 after he finished a tour with the 91st Missile Wing at Minot, Christopher J. Ewing said 71 of the 99 launch officers he surveyed there had not chosen that assignment." I have to wonder what that portends for the future of the leadership of the U.S. nuclear force. Is it really true that we just don't care just who is getting handed weapons of mass destruction?

(Editorial Note: Any similarities in the Nuclear Industry?)
[link to www.nucpros.com]
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rather have you than a million tepco proponents backs anytime....

btw.. merry xmas :)



and FUCK TEPCO


ps... long hard road, but we know where we are at... do they?... ffs...

[cp]

Last Edited by CitizenPerth™ on 11/22/2013 10:52 PM

I'd say the nuclear industry suffers similar problems.. as illustrated by the number of Swede's posts concerning the impaired workers and operators getting busted lately.

The fish rots from the head.

wb

Agreed.

Thanks, again.

Iran nuclear talks at crucial stage

US Secretary of State John Kerry and the foreign ministers of 5 other countries are gathering in Geneva, seeking agreement with Iran over a nuclear dispute.

Talks between Iran and the 5 UN Security Council permanent members plus Germany are in their 4th day on Saturday.

Kerry arrived in Geneva on Saturday morning following Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. Later, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived.
[link to www3.nhk.or.jp]
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TEPCO, Mitsubishi plan coal-fired power plants at Fukushima

TOKYO — The operator of Japan’s wrecked nuclear plant and three Mitsubishi group firms plan to build a new type of energy-efficient coal-fired power plants in Fukushima, a source said on Saturday.

Tokyo Electric Power Co will tie up with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Corp and Mitsubishi Electric to build integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) stations.

Mitsubishi group companies will have a majority of stake in the new plants while cash-strapped TEPCO will be in charge of running the facilities, which they plan to put online around 2020, the source said.
[link to www.japantoday.com]
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Goldman to sell uranium trading desk as Fed review looms

NEW YORK/LONDON – US bank Goldman Sachs Group has put its uranium trading business up for sale, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday, the latest sign that Wall Street's most storied commodity trader is paring back parts of the business.

The move comes as other US banks, including JPMorgan Chase & Co and Morgan Stanley, look to exit physical commodity trading in the wake of increased government scrutiny, squeezed trading margins and forecasts for tepid demand in certain markets.
[link to www.nucpros.com]
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Westinghouse eyes nuclear power plants for Saudis

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil producer, is pressing ahead with an ambitious plan to build a chain of nuclear power plants to boost its electricity-generating capacity to free crude oil production for export and Westinghouse Electric says it's got its eye on the kingdom's program.
Riyadh is expected to seek preliminary bids in early 2014 for the first of the 16 nuclear reactors it plans to construct by 2030 at an estimated cost of $100 billion.

The Saudis plan to add 18 gigawatts of electricity from the nuclear plants to add to a planned 54 gigawatts of renewable energy in the next 10 years.

"We see Saudi Arabia as a good market for us," Westinghouse chief executive Danny Roderick said.

However, the Saudis would first have to sign a Section 123 Agreement with the United States for peaceful nuclear cooperation, as the United Arab Emirates, which has the most advanced nuclear power program in the Arab world, did in December 2009.

Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act allows signatories to acquire nuclear materials, equipment and components from the United States on condition they agree not to enrich uranium or reprocess nuclear fuel.
[link to www.upi.com]
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Dana's live event starts in 2 hours...he's been doing these every night for the past month, and has quite a crowd of Fukufolks:

"FUKUSHIMA . PLUTONIUM WHATS THE PROBLEM?"

^^^quote from above. read it and weep-

"...Nuclear experts and the corporate owned mass media say that these accidents have no consequences, and this is a lie. #3 reactor and spent fuel pool at Fukushima contained over a TON of plutonium. (This means it was a breeder reactor) Plutonium is a very dangerous substance that can turn into nano particles very easily in case of a nuclear accident. After an accident, plutonium nano dust rises into the air, gets carried by the wind and then goes around the world, where we inhale it or eat it with food or drink it with water. When a person who dies from inhaling one or more plutonium particles is cremated, those same plutonium particles will go up the stack at the cremation facility. Those same invisible and undetectable plutonium nano particles are then breathed into the next person, killing them over the next 10-20 years incubation and initiation period.

In this way the plutonium poison is recycled through one person, then the next, then the next, over and over again, killing many future generations over and over and over again. Plutonium is the perfect, invisible killing machine, designed to kill by remote control, automatically, with no one knowing how or when the death riding on the winds will come. This plutonium particle rides the winds globally, so EVERYONE is a potential victim...."
rp

Japan's solar dream shatters as projects fail

TOKYO — The failure of solar developers to deliver on planned projects in Japan will cost the country’s utilities close to 350 billion yen annually in additional coal and gas imports to generate power.

Japan’s government banked on solar power to help meet the shortfall in electricity supply after the Fukushima disaster in 2011 shattered public confidence in nuclear energy. The country’s reactors are shut while the government struggles to convince the population the plants are safe to restart.

To encourage solar investment Tokyo introduced generous subsidies more than a year ago, sparking a rush from developers who came forward with plans that would have supplied the equivalent to 21 nuclear reactors.

But in contrast to the experience in countries such as Spain and Britain, where subsidies sparked solar booms that strained government finances, in Japan developers are struggling to deliver.
[link to www.japantoday.com]
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TEPCO eyes restarting 4 reactors by 2015

Tokyo Electric Power Co. hopes to have four nuclear reactors in Niigata Prefecture back online by 2015, including two planned for next summer, despite the crisis at its hobbled Fukushima nuclear plant.

The company intends to reactivate the No. 1 and No. 5 reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant during the first half of 2015 after restarting the No. 6 and No. 7 reactors as early as July 2014, sources said.

Both plans will be included in the utility’s rehabilitation program when it is revised toward the end of this year.

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant has seven reactors. TEPCO estimates that for each reactor restart its annual profit will increase by about 100 billion yen ($1 billion).
[link to ajw.asahi.com]
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^^^this ^^ deserves its own thread.....

[link to fukushimaemergencywhatcanwedo.blogspot.com.au]

Last Edited by CitizenPerth™ on 11/24/2013 07:21 PM

Revered California Physician: The problem we face at Fukushima is absolutely huge — I may leave West Coast during attempt to remove nuclear fuel

(Another 'revered' physician who thinks moving to Boston will save him - smh)

The Santa Barbara Independent, Nov. 7, 2013: Doctor Talks Dangers of Fukushima Fallout; Stephen Hosea Expounds on the Problems with Nuclear Power [...] The Santa Barbara physician discussed the dangers of nuclear power plants at a lunchtime conference packed with health-care professionals at Cottage Hospital [...]

Dr. Hosea’s background is discussed in this Santa Barbara News-Press article: “He is just a phenomenal doctor, as well as just a wonderful guy,” said Dr. Elliot Schulman, health officer and Santa Barbara County Public Health director. “Everyone concurs,” said Peter MacDougall, past president of the Cottage Hospital board of directors. “Not only does he have tremendously strong technical competencies, but his personal modalities with patients, his caring, the deep sensitivity he shows represent just a terrific model for new doctors.” “He’s as close to a model physician as you could ask for,” Mr. MacDougall said. “We are, frankly, blessed to have a man of his talents.” [...] Government officials consider him a go-to guy, regularly seeking his advice [...]

“The Perils of Fukushima: What You Don’t Know Really Could Kill You”, Dr. Stephen Hosea, Published Nov. 23, 2013:

At 30:45 in

Should an event occur [during attempt to remove fuel from Unit 4], all of the radioactivity is going to go straight up into the air. We saw where it went the last time that that occurred. This is happening in the next two weeks. This is a possibility that could happen to each and every one of us. And I can tell you, it wasn’t until I started looking into this that I realized this was a possibility to happen. I certainly haven’t taken any preparations for this. I’m not exactly sure what the preparations are, but I think we ought to know so we can at least take whatever preparations we want to take. I may have to make a visit back to Boston during this period of time to protect myself from this..

[link to enenews.com]

It is sad to realize that breathing has now become Russian Roulette.
As many more begin to accept this truth, more will feel what we have felt for a long time.

No one is immune.

wb