A new report from the Department of Energy’s Inspector General says that some 2,000 radioactive waste capsules currently held underwater at a Hanford, Washington facility should be moved to dry storage because of the risk of earthquakes in the region. “We acknowledge the budgetary challenges facing the department and its impact on moving the capsules into dry storage,” report author David Sedillo wrote. “However we suggest that the manager (of the) Richland Operations Office expeditiously proceed with its plans to pursue a dry storage alternative … at the earliest possible time frame.” Ironically, the recommendation comes as the NRC has rejected repeated efforts by environmental groups to encourage expedited movement of commercial radioactive waste from fuel pools to dry casks.
Good news: Shizuoka governor rejects using plutonium-mix fuel at Japanese reactor.
Will new French energy/environment minister end EDF’s bloated Flamanville reactor project? Maybe. She is certainly not a nuclear booster, but may not be entirely knowledgeable about energy issues either.
Veteran activist and former South Carolina Senate candidate Tom Clements has formed a new group to monitor the DOE’s Savannah River Site, especially its plutonium programs, as well as construction of nearby commercial reactors at Vogtle and Summer. SRS watch is at www.srswatch.org.
The solar cost battle already has been won. Utilities that don’t get that are going to disappear.
Michael Mariotte
April 3, 2014
Permalink: https://www.nirs.org/2014/04/03/nuclear-newsreel-thursday-april-3-2014/
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