Nuclear Power Today articles from December 2004

Nuclear Power Today archives from December 2004

NRC Slackens Rules for SSCs With Low Safety Impact.(Nuclear Regulatory Commission)(structures, systems and components)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) last week announced a rule change to loosen regulatory controls over certain structures, systems and components (SSCs) that provide a minimal safety impact at nuclear power plants. Plant operators...

Iranian Nuclear Negotiator Says Voluntary Ban Only Temporary.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Reuters recently reported that Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani informed reporters earlier this week during a press conference that while Iran agreed on Monday to voluntarily discontinue its uranium enrichment initiatives, the...

SWECO PIC Awarded Engineering Contract for New Finnish Plant.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Nordic Business Report recently reported that AREVA and Siemens have awarded Swedish consulting group SWECO's Finnish subsidiary SWECO PIC an engineering contract for the safeguard and fuel buildings at the new Olkiluoto 3 power plant in...

NRC Increases Civil Monetary Penalties to Reflect Inflation.(Nuclear Regulatory Commission)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2004... The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently announced an increase in the civil penalties it can impose on licensees, with the maximum fee the commission can impose per violation per day now $130,000 for power reactors and gaseous diffusion...

PSB Calls for Fine Against Entergy Over Plant Construction.(Public Service Board)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that Public Service Board (PSB) hearing officer George Young has recommended that an $85,000 fine be imposed on Entergy Nuclear for its failure to obtain state approval before beginning construction...

TVA Reactor Returns to Service After Unexpected Shutdown.(Tennessee Valley Authority)(Brief Article)
December 2, 2004... Local Alabama newspaper the Huntsville Times recently reported that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has revealed that the Unit 3 reactor at the Browns Ferry nuclear plant near Athens, AL has returned to service after an unexpected shutdown...

Brazilian Energy Council to Discuss New Nuclear Facility.(Brief Article)
December 2, 2004... Dow Jones recently reported that Brazilian mines and energy minister Dilma Rousseff revealed earlier this week to Brazilian newswire Agencia Estado that the country's National Energy Council will consider the development of a new...

NEI to Drop Request for High Court Review of Repository.(Nuclear Energy Institute)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2004... The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported last week that the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) plans to abandon its request to the U.S. Supreme Court to review a federal court ruling that had stalled plans for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste...

DOE Exhibits How Nuclear Power Can Help Produce Hydrogen.(Department of Energy)(Brief Article)
December 3, 2004... The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that researchers at its Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) and Salt Lake City, UT-based Ceramatec, Inc. have demonstrated the feasibility of using nuclear power to...

China to Construct New Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong.(Brief Article)
December 3, 2004... Local Chinese newspaper the Standard recently reported that Guangzhou Daily has revealed that the government has begun a feasibility study into the possible construction of a fourth nuclear power facility in Guangdong Province, China. ...

Weekly Update.(Calendar)
December 3, 2004... IAEA'S INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON DISPOSAL OF LOW ACTIVITY RADIOACTIVE WASTE, December 13-17, 2004, Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain NUCLEAR FUEL SUPPLY FORUM, January 26, 2005, Willard Inter-Continental...

Small Cracks Discovered in SoCal Edision Nuclear Reactor.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that microscopic cracks have been found during a refueling inspection of approximately 30 water heaters at the Unit 3 nuclear reactor of Southern California (SoCal) Edison's power plant in San Onofre,...

GE Energy Launches New Nuclear Plant Performance Service.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... GE Energy recently announced that its nuclear business has launched a new service to help utilities evaluate and enhance plant reliability, performance and safety. According to the company, "Performance 20" is a multi-phase program that...

Toxics Action Includes Vermont Yankee on 'Dirty Dozen' List.(Brief Article)
December 6, 2004... Environmental group Toxics Action Center recently announced the winners of its 2004 Dirty Dozen Award, which spotlight 12 of New England's top polluting companies. According to Toxics Action, among the those singled out was Entergy...

NRC Licenses Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility at INEEL.(Nuclear Regulatory Commission)(Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory)(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently announced it has issued a license to the Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation to construct and operate an independent spent nuclear fuel storage installation at the Idaho National Engineering...

British Energy Secures Extension for Financial Restructuring.(Brief Article)
December 7, 2004... BBC recently reported that nuclear power company British Energy has secured an extension until March 31 for its debt-for-equity financial restructuring deal. According to BBC, under the restructuring agreement, creditors will take over...

Pakistan to Vote on New Nuclear Facility Construction.(Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2004... Pakistani newspaper the Dawn recently reported that Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) chairman Pervez Butt has revealed that the government is expected to vote shortly on the construction of a new 600-megawatt nuclear power plant in...

Swiss Government Allows Continued Production at Nuclear Reactor.(Beznau II nuclear reactor)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2004... Swissinfo recently reported that Switzerland's government has granted the Beznau II nuclear reactor permission to continue operating for fixed periods of time as a means to help encourage plant upgrades and safety improvements. According...

Iranian MPs Criticize Russia's Lack of Progress on Bushehr.(ministers of parliament)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2004... Iran's Mehr News Agency (MNA) recently reported that Iranian ministers of parliament Kazem Jalali and Hamidreza Hajbabayi commented late last week that the country does not plan to discuss with Russia any new nuclear power plant development...

DOE Extends Acceptance Policy for Foreign Spent Nuclear Fuel.(Department of Energy)(Brief Article)
December 9, 2004... Department of Energy (DOE) secretary Spencer Abraham recently announced the extension of a policy that to date has enabled the U.S. to recover nearly 500 kilograms of uranium-235 in U.S.-origin high-enriched uranium (HEU) used to fuel foreign...

NRC Issues Two Inspection Reports on Vermont Yankee.(Nuclear Regulatory Commission)(Brief Article)
December 9, 2004... The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently announced the issuance of two reports on recent inspections at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon, VT in response to requests from local stakeholders for time to review the final...

Salem Nuclear Unit Reports Coolant Leak.(Brief Article)
December 9, 2004... Reuters recently reported that the 1,150-megawatt Salem 1 nuclear unit in New Jersey has reported a reactor coolant leak to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). According to the incident report, the unit, owned by Public Service...

NRC Restores Online Availability of Reactor Documents.(Nuclear Regulatory Commission)(http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html)(Brief Article)
December 10, 2004... In a continuation of restoring public access to documents on its website, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently announced it has returned a large number of reactor-related documents to its online public library, ADAMS. According...

Detroit Edison Fermi II Reactor Experiences Unexpected Shutdown.(Brief Article)
December 10, 2004... Local Ohio newspaper the Toledo Blade recently reported that Detroit Edison's Fermi II reactor experienced an unexpected shutdown last week while returning to full operation after a scheduled refueling and maintenance inspection. According...

NPCR Delivers First Reactor for Indian Nuclear Plant.(Nuclear Power Corporation of Russia)(Brief Article)
December 10, 2004... Indian newspaper Project Monitor newspaper reported last week that the Nuclear Corporation of India, Ltd. (NCI) recently received the casing for the first of two VVER-1000 light water nuclear reactors to be supplied by the Nuclear Power...

Weekly Update.(Calendar)
December 10, 2004... IAEA'S INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON DISPOSAL OF LOW ACTIVITY RADIOACTIVE WASTE, December 13-17, 2004, Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain NUCLEAR FUEL SUPPLY FORUM, January 26, 2005, Willard Inter-Continental...

NEC Files Hearing Request on Vermont Yankee Ruling.(New England Coalition)(Brief Article)
December 13, 2004... The New England Coalition (NEC) recently announced it has filed a request for an evidentiary hearing with the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) regarding its intention to fine Entergy Corporation $85,000 for starting a construction project at...

New NCEP Consensus Strategy Includes Nuclear Recommendations.(National Commission on Energy Policy)
December 13, 2004... The National Commission on Energy Policy (NCEP) recently announced the release of a new report, titled "Ending the Energy Stalemate: A Bipartisan Strategy to Meet America's Energy Challenges," that contains detailed policy recommendations for...

NRC Approves 40-year Renewal of Surry Storage Site.(The Nuclear Regulatory Commission)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2004... The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced last week it has approved a 40-year license renewal for Dominion Generation's spent fuel storage facility at its Surry nuclear power plant in Surry, VA. According to NRC, the decision, which...

NEI Officials Comment on Temporary UT Waste Storage Proposal.(Nuclear Energy Institute)(Utah waste storage proposal)(Brief Article)
December 14, 2004... The Salt Lake Tribune recently reported that Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) chief nuclear officer Marvin Fertel and vice president John Kane both commented earlier this week on Private Fuel Storage's proposal to temporarily store spent...

Malaysian Official Declares Country Will Not Use Nuclear Power.(Brief Article)
December 14, 2004... The Australian recently reported that Malaysian officials have revealed that the country will not construct nuclear power plants to compensate for rising oil prices and increased energy demand. According to the newspaper, Malaysia Science,...

NRC Approves Method to Testing PWR Containment Sumps.(Nuclear Regulatory Commission approves pressurized-water reactors)(Brief Article)
December 15, 2004... The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced the approval last week of evaluation methodology for examining containment sumps in pressurized-water reactors (PWR). According to NRC, the test method was developed after recent research...

Global Containment to Construct Nuclear Equipment Facility in SC.(South Carolina, Global Containment Systems)(Brief Article)
December 15, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that St. Petersburg, FL-based Flanders Corporation subsidiary Global Containment Systems plans to construct a new $60-million facility in New Ellenton, SC to manufacture filters and custom equipment...

TEPCO Shuts Down Two Units at Fukushima Daiichi Plant.(Tokyo Electric Power Company Inc)(Brief Article)
December 15, 2004... Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) recently announced the manual shutdown of its No. 2 and No. 4 power units at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture due to water leakage. According to the company, there is no...

MHI to Design PBMR Generator for South African Reactor.(Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited)(PBMR Limited)(pebble bed modular reactors)(Brief Article)
December 16, 2004... Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) recently announced it has received an order from PBMR, Ltd. of the Republic of South Africa for basic design, research and development of a helium-driven turbo generator system, the major component of the...

Canadian Government Launches New Nuclear Power Program.(Brief Article)
December 16, 2004... Canadian minister of industry David Emerson recently announced a five-year, $1-million commitment toward a new research chair that will investigate the engineering and operation of the country's nuclear facilities in an attempt to help...

NIRS Director Faults NCEP for 'Nuclear Myth Misstep'.(Nuclear Information and Resource Service)(National Commission on Energy Policy)(Brief Article)
December 16, 2004... Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) executive director Michael Mariotte recently criticized the "self-described" National Commission on Energy Policy (NCEP), which released last week a report entitled "Ending the Energy Stalemate: A...

Russian Nuclear Reactor Experiences Unexpected Shutdown.(Sosnovyi Bor nuclear power plant)(Brief Article)
December 17, 2004... Local Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat recently reported that a reactor at the Sosnovyi Bor nuclear power plant near St. Petersburg, Russia experienced an unexpected shutdown last week due to an unknown cause. According to the paper,...

U.K. Report Calls for Government Decision on Nuclear Waste Site.(Brief Article)
December 17, 2004... U.K. newspaper the Independent recently reported that the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee has released a report criticizing the federal government's lack of progress in establishing a long-term radioactive waste facility....

NEC Calls for Cold Shutdown of Vermont Yankee Station.(New England Coalition)(Brief Article)
December 17, 2004... The New England Coalition (NEC) recently announced its filing late last week of a 2.206 Citizen's Petition with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) calling for "the immediate cold shutdown of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station until...

Weekly Update.
December 17, 2004... NUCLEAR FUEL SUPPLY FORUM, January 26, 2005, Willard Inter-Continental Washington, Washington, DC PLATTS NUCLEAR ENERGY CONFERENCE, February 16-17, 2005, Hamilton Crowne Plaza, Washington, DC WM '05 -- HLW, TRU, LLW/ILW, MIXED,...

Court Allows Holding of Informal Hearings in Reactor Proceedings.
December 20, 2004... National nonprofit public interest organization Public Citizen recently announced that the 1st Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Boston has ruled in a case filed by Public Citizen and the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) that "the...

CA Commission Increases Public Areas Near PG&E Waste Site.(Pacific Gas and Electric)(Brief Article)
December 20, 2004... Local California newspaper the San Luis Obispo Tribune recently reported that the state Coastal Commission has voted to allow increased public access to areas around Pacific Gas and Electric's (PG&E) Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in...

Czech Republic Temporarily Shuts Down Temelin Reactor.(Brief Article)
December 20, 2004... United Press International (UPI) recently reported that the Czech Republic shut down a reactor at its troubled Temelin nuclear power plant for five days to repair its cooling system. According to UPI, the announcement has created fears in...

NRC Finds Violations of Low Safety Significance at VT Yankee.(Nuclear Regulatory Commission)
December 21, 2004... The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently announced that, during a special engineering inspection at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, it found eight violations of "very low safety significance," all of which must be addressed by...

Sweden to Shut Down Barseback Nuclear Reactor Next Year.(Brief Article)
December 21, 2004... Chinese news agency Xinhua recently reported that Radio Sweden has revealed that the Swedish government has announced plans to permanently shut down the Barseback 2 nuclear reactor by May 31, 2005. According to Xinhua, the move comes as...

EIN's Adjusted Holiday Publishing Schedule.(Brief Article)
December 22, 2004... EIN will not publish its newsletters from December 23 through 31 in observance of the holiday season. We will resume our regular publishing schedule on January 3, 2005. We thank you for your continued support and wish you and yours the very...

NRC Expands Eligibility for Access to Classified Information.(Nuclear Regulatory Commission)(Brief Article)
December 22, 2004... The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently announced it is amending its regulations to expand the categories of persons who may seek access to classified information associated with NRC-regulated activities, as well as the categories of...

FirstEnergy Updates Status of FENOC Investigation.(FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company)(Brief Article)
December 22, 2004... FirstEnergy Corporation recently announced it has received a letter from the U.S. Attorney's Office stating that its FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC) subsidiary is a target of the federal grand jury investigation into alleged false...

Russian State Council Report Assesses Country's Nuclear Safety.(Brief Article)
December 22, 2004... Russian Information Agency (RIA) Novosti recently reported that a Presidium of the Russian State Council working group has issued a new report which reveals that the country has "developed and tested an effective system of maintaining nuclear...

Weekly Update.(Calendar)(Calendar)
December 22, 2004... NUCLEAR FUEL SUPPLY FORUM, January 26, 2005, Willard Inter-Continental Washington, Washington, DC PLATTS NUCLEAR ENERGY CONFERENCE, February 16-17, 2005, Hamilton Crowne Plaza, Washington, DC WM '05 -- HLW, TRU, LLW/ILW, MIXED,...