ECA Update: September 9, 2013
Published: Mon, 09/09/13
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House Panel Hearing: Implementing the Nuclear Waste Policy Act - Next Steps
House Energy and Commerce Committee
Hearing: September 10, 2013 (10 AM EST)
House Energy and Commerce Committee
Hearing: September 10, 2013 (10 AM EST)
On Tuesday, September 10, the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy will hold a hearing on "Implementing the Nuclear Waste Policy Act - Next Steps." Tuesday's hearing comes on the heels of the August 13 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission must resume its consideration of the Department of Energy's license application for Yucca Mountain. NRC Chairman Allison Macfarlane will testify along with Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Peter Lyons. Officials from both NRC and DOE previously committed to complying with the court's decision during testimony before the subcommittee. Committee leaders have expressed that the first order of compliance should be for NRC to complete the Safety Evaluation Report (SER) on Yucca Mountain and release it publicly. The Majority Memorandum is available here. Witness testimony will be available at the same link as posted.
The hearing webcast will be available at http://energycommerce.house.gov/.
U.S. Nuclear Body Gathers Feedback on Restarting Yucca Review
Global Security Newswire
September 3, 2013
Global Security Newswire
September 3, 2013
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission last Friday said the public can submit comments until the end of September on how to restart the Yucca Mountain nuclear-waste project, Reuters reported.
The Obama administration tried to quash plans to build the controversial storage site in the Nevada desert, but a federal appeals court on Aug. 13 ruled that the NRC had to stop delaying and either accept or reject a permit for it.
The NRC's Aug. 30 request for views on resuming the Yucca Mountain licensing process is the first action it has taken on the matter since the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District Court of Columbia issued its order three weeks ago. That court mandate, which becomes effective Tuesday, says the administration was not heeding a law that designates the mountain as the U.S. nuclear-waste repository.
The atomic agency asked for comments to be filed by Sept. 30. They are intended to help the commission "ensure the most efficient and productive use of the approximately $11 million the agency has left to resume the licensing process," which was suspended in September 2011, it says in a press release.
The commission will review input from the public, as well as "pertinent budgeting information" its staff gathers, during the 30-day comment period, in order to "decide the path forward in the licensing process," it adds.
The Obama administration has said, however, that Congress has not appropriated enough funding for the project.
The Obama administration tried to quash plans to build the controversial storage site in the Nevada desert, but a federal appeals court on Aug. 13 ruled that the NRC had to stop delaying and either accept or reject a permit for it.
The NRC's Aug. 30 request for views on resuming the Yucca Mountain licensing process is the first action it has taken on the matter since the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District Court of Columbia issued its order three weeks ago. That court mandate, which becomes effective Tuesday, says the administration was not heeding a law that designates the mountain as the U.S. nuclear-waste repository.
The atomic agency asked for comments to be filed by Sept. 30. They are intended to help the commission "ensure the most efficient and productive use of the approximately $11 million the agency has left to resume the licensing process," which was suspended in September 2011, it says in a press release.
The commission will review input from the public, as well as "pertinent budgeting information" its staff gathers, during the 30-day comment period, in order to "decide the path forward in the licensing process," it adds.
The Obama administration has said, however, that Congress has not appropriated enough funding for the project.
Nevada considering seeking rehearing in Yucca licensing case: official
Platts
September 5, 2013
The state of Nevada might seek a rehearing of an August federal appeals court's 2-1 decision ordering the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to restart the licensing proceeding for a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, according to a senior official in the Nevada attorney general's office.
Senior Deputy Attorney General Marta Adams said in an interview Thursday that the state will decide in a few weeks whether it will seek a rehearing. "Whenever you have a split decision, you have the prospect of swaying judges," she said.
The state, like NRC and other parties in the case, has until September 27 to request that the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit reconsider the case.
Nevada has long opposed the Department of Energy's plan to construct and operate a repository at Yucca Mountain. It has said the site, which has seismic faults and volcanoes nearby, cannot be used to safely dispose of nuclear waste.
The decision the DC Circuit issued August 13 said NRC was "flouting the law" by refusing to review DOE's application for a Yucca Mountain repository.
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act requires DOE to submit an application for a Yucca Mountain repository to NRC and gives the agency three years from when the application is docketed to issue a license decision. NRC formally accepted the application for review in 2008.
But NRC began an orderly shutdown of its Yucca licensing activities in 2010, the same year that DOE dismantled the program in part due to Nevada's opposition to the facility. NRC suspended all Yucca work in 2011 even though the DOE application was still at the agency. Then-NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko attributed that action to the agency's lack of funds to complete that work.
Chief Judge Merrick Garland questioned in his dissenting opinion in the Yucca case whether NRC could make any "meaningful progress" on a licensing review with the $11.1 million in Yucca carryover funds available to it.
The court order would force NRC "to unpack and pack boxes," Adams said, paraphrasing a portion of Garland's opinion.
But Adams also said that she does not think the court's decision puts proponents of a Yucca Mountain repository "closer to a license." She noted that Congress has not funded the program and it "has a new direction now," referring to recommendations by a blue ribbon commission on nuclear waste that would, among other things, move the waste program out of DOE to a separate entity that would use a voluntary process to site one or more spent fuel storage facilities and one or more repositories.
Implementation of the recommendations would require legislative action by Congress. Legislation has been introduced in the Senate. But there is not a companion bill in the House of Representatives, which has supported a revival of the Yucca Mountain program.
Still unsure how to meet budget and debt-limit deadlines, Congress now confronts Syria choice
Associated Press
September 9, 2013
WASHINGTON -- Congress' September agenda, already destined to be tense and dramatic, got worse while lawmakers were away this summer. Now they end their five-week recess by plunging into an emotional debate over whether to launch missile strikes against Syria.
That will leave them even less time to meet looming deadlines on budget problems, the big issue that's been building for months. And then, just maybe, they will turn to immigration, the once fiercely debated topic that somehow moved to Washington's back burner.
No member of Congress is in a tighter spot than House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. He risks seeing most of his Republican colleagues vote against him on three major issues, just as they did earlier on a hurricane relief bill and the "fiscal cliff" budget showdown.
Boehner supports President Barack Obama's proposal to fire missiles into Syria as punishment for the gassing of hundreds of civilians. GOP rank-and-file opposition, however, is running strong, especially in the House.
On the budget front, Boehner says he wants no government shutdown or default on the debt. Those scenarios conceivably could result in a few weeks from partisan impasses over spending and the need to raise the ceiling on how much the government can borrow.
Some conservative Republicans want to shut down the government if that's what it takes to block the "Obamacare" health program. The fiscal year ends Sept. 30, and government agencies will start shutting down if some type of budget bill isn't enacted by then.
Meanwhile, leaders of both parties continue to make irreconcilable demands on how to raise the federal debt ceiling this fall. Unless it rises, the government will start defaulting on financial obligations, rattling world markets.
Finally, Boehner has signaled that he wants far-reaching changes to immigration laws. That puts him in sync with many national GOP leaders who say the party must improve its weak standing among Hispanic voters. But it puts him at odds with many House Republicans who adamantly oppose a Senate-passed bill, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants living here illegally.
The House is now scheduled to take another recess the week of Sept. 23. That gives it two weeks to decide how to keep funding the government on Oct. 1 and beyond. Many expect a stopgap "continuing resolution," which would keep agencies running for some specified time at current budget levels.
The government's ability to borrow more money will probably end in late October if the debt ceiling isn't raised. While GOP leaders plan House votes on bite-sized pieces of an immigration bill this fall, many lawmakers say momentum for a broad overhaul may die if the issue extends into 2014, an election year.
That's a heavy autumn load by any measure. And now, "obviously the Syria issue is dominating the discussions and legislative agenda," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the House Budget Committee's top Democrat.
Van Hollen said he thinks Boehner and other top Republicans believe a GOP-driven refusal to raise the debt ceiling would be disastrous for the party. "But as of now," he said, "I don't think they have a clear plan on how to get something through their right-wing caucus."
Rep. Jack Kingston, a Georgia Republican, is hearing lots of resistance to bombing Syria as he campaigns for his state's open Senate seat. He said he's keeping an open mind. But he warned that congressional opposition is setting in fast, and Obama's scheduled Tuesday night national address may be too late.
"A lot of votes are going to have to get reversed to get passage," Kingston said in a phone interview from Georgia.
As for the debt limit increase, he said, it may have to be linked to more popular items, such as a major farm bill. Even then, Kingston said, "it's going to be a massive, fiscal cliff-like drama, as we're getting used to."
The fiscal cliff was the year-end budget scenario in which Boehner and other Republicans had to swallow tax increases for the wealthy in order to avoid higher tax rates for nearly everyone.
Another result of the partisan logjam on spending was the "sequester" cuts, which are chopping billions of dollars from federal budgets. Boehner and others are calling for still deeper cuts.
Kingston warned, however: "People don't realize what impact a second year of sequester will have on the military."
On top of all this, Republicans vow to keep hammering away at "Obamacare," even though there's no realistic way to block it so long as Democrats control the Senate and White House.
More than a third of House Republicans have urged Boehner to trigger a government shutdown rather than fund the implementation of the health care overhaul, enacted in 2010 without a single GOP vote.
Syria debate likely to delay defense bill
Darren Samuelsohn, Politico
September 4, 2013
Next week's expected Senate floor debate over authorizing U.S. military action in Syria likely means another delay for the defense authorization bill, according to several top Democrats.
"Everything's been delayed a bit," Majority Whip Dick Durbin told POLITICO today. "My guess is our first week back is going to be all about Syria. And then I don't want to guess how [Senate Majority Leader] Harry [Reid] is going to decide between energy and defense at that point."
"Everything's been delayed a bit," Majority Whip Dick Durbin told POLITICO today. "My guess is our first week back is going to be all about Syria. And then I don't want to guess how [Senate Majority Leader] Harry [Reid] is going to decide between energy and defense at that point."
Senate Democratic leaders had told members before the start of the August recess that debate on the bill authorizing $625.1 billion for national defense could start as soon as mid-September. Now, key members and aides say that Syria and looming fiscal deadlines mean the floor likely will be clogged with other pressing priorities.
"I am expecting it later rather than sooner," said a Senate Democratic leadership aide.
The defense authorization legislation is expected to draw a number of controversial amendments, including language dealing with terror detainees at Guantanamo Bay and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's effort to remove the Pentagon command chain from prosecuting sexual assault cases.
Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin said in a brief interview Wednesday that he hadn't spoken to Reid yet on the timing for the defense policy bill but he wasn't giving up on a floor debate later this month.
"It puts a greater squeeze on him in terms of time obviously, but I'm still obviously hopeful," Levin said.
Asked if he was concerned Reid could hold the must-pass legislation until the late fall or even until the end of the year, similar to the timing on last year's measure, Levin replied, "No, no, no, no. Don't push me there. A Christmas gift to me would be to do it in September. That's the Christmas gift I'm looking for."
"I am expecting it later rather than sooner," said a Senate Democratic leadership aide.
The defense authorization legislation is expected to draw a number of controversial amendments, including language dealing with terror detainees at Guantanamo Bay and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's effort to remove the Pentagon command chain from prosecuting sexual assault cases.
Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin said in a brief interview Wednesday that he hadn't spoken to Reid yet on the timing for the defense policy bill but he wasn't giving up on a floor debate later this month.
"It puts a greater squeeze on him in terms of time obviously, but I'm still obviously hopeful," Levin said.
Asked if he was concerned Reid could hold the must-pass legislation until the late fall or even until the end of the year, similar to the timing on last year's measure, Levin replied, "No, no, no, no. Don't push me there. A Christmas gift to me would be to do it in September. That's the Christmas gift I'm looking for."
Hanford chides DOE for missed budget details
Annette Cary, Tri-City Herald
September 7, 2013
The Hanford Advisory Board criticized the Department of Energy on Friday for failing to yet make public a detailed budget request for key projects in fiscal 2015, which begins in less than 13 months.
Hanford officials held an annual public meeting on the budget four months ago, but had no numbers to discuss then for work in the tank farms or the vitrification plant.
That meeting already had been postponed because of issues including the late release of the Obama's proposed budget for fiscal 2014 and uncertainty in the 2013 fiscal budget, in part because of forced federal budget cuts called sequestration.
DOE has failed to provide sufficient and timely information for several years on the two projects, both the responsibility of the DOE Hanford Office of River Protection, the board said in a letter of advice to DOE.
The lack of information harms the board's and the public's ability to comment on the work that is planned and the budget priorities, the letter said.
"Work does not happen without money, and the right work does not happen without details to discuss," said John Price, of the Washington State Department of Ecology, as the board discussed the issue.
DOE and its regulators -- the Department of Ecology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -- expect the board to provide advice on proposed budget priorities and the board takes that responsibility seriously, said board member Susan Leckband.
DOE Hanford officials have been unable to provide fiscal 2015 information on the vitrification plant because they are waiting on Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz's plan to resolve technical issues and provide a path forward for work there, said Ben Harp, DOE manager of the vitrification plant start-up and commissioning integration.
In addition, numbers have been delayed because plans and a schedule for work at Hanford's Tank AY-102 are not clear. The double-shell tank is leaking waste from its inner shell and regulations require it to be emptied.
Hanford officials already have concerns about the budget for the tank farms for fiscal 2014, which starts Oct. 1. The tank farms hold 56 million gallons of radioactive waste left from weapons plutonium production in underground tanks, some of them known or suspected of leaking.
Much of the waste is expected to be glassified at the vitrification plant, which is required to start operating in 2019.
President Obama requested $520 million for the Hanford tank farms in the 2014 budget proposal submitted to Congress.
However, with that fiscal year start just weeks away and no budget approved by Congress, Hanford may be required to operate with funding levels set by a continuing resolution for an unknown time, said Kevin Smith, manager of the DOE Hanford Office of River Protection.
That could mean continuing with the current annual funding level of $409 million for the tank farms, he said.
For the upcoming fiscal years, the board, the public and Hanford regulators are struggling to develop informed advice on the priorities of emptying leaking tanks, tank farm operation and vitrification plant construction without being provided more detailed information about the budget and the work planned, according to the board letter.
The letter recommended that the Office of River Protection provide the board detailed budget proposals for fiscal 2014 and 2015 for the tank farms within 30 days.
It also called for the Office of River Protection to implement an open and transparent process to share detailed budget information in time for the board and the public to provide comments on it.
The information should be released in the spring before the administration's budget request is released, which is usually in February after a period without public discussion of the budget, the board said.
The Department of Ecology, which also was sent the letter, should take actions to ensure information is timely, the board said.
Leaking SRS waste vault cited as example of why cleanup needed
Rob Pavey, The Augusta Chronicle
September 4, 2013
Cracks discovered in the concrete roof of a nuclear waste vault at Savannah River Site were promptly fixed, but officials are planning additional repairs in the future.
The damage, which allowed rainwater to seep inside, occurred in a structure known as Vault 4, which contains radioactive "saltstone" processed from high-level waste tanks.
Terry Spears, the SRS' assistant waste disposition manager, said in a July 31 letter to the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control that the large crack in the Vault 4 roof was discovered Feb. 13 and repairs were initiated shortly thereafter.
Issues with rainwater leaking into six of the vault's cells were corrected by installing membranes and sealants, the letter said, and plans include capping the cells with grout to reduce exposure to workers who would access the roof to apply waterproof coatings.
The incident, although promptly addressed, underscores the importance of radioactive waste cleanup programs and the funding required to keep those efforts intact, said Tom Clements, the Southeastern nuclear campaign coordinator for Friends of the Earth.
"The fact that the vault has degraded so quickly is of concern and may well indicate that there will be medium-term leakage problems," said Clements, who obtained Spears' letter from DHEC through a public records request.
SRS officials told South Carolina regulators that the radionuclide leaks, which include cesium, technetium and tritium, are below U.S. Department of Energy regulatory standards.
Rick Kelley, a spokesman for waste contractor Savannah River Remediation, said the Vault 4 disposal unit was completed in 1988 and began receiving its low-level waste mixture in 1990.
"The vaults have been and continue to be inspected on a routine basis during all operations," he said, adding that the leaks pose no threat to workers, the public or the environment.
Terry Spears, the SRS' assistant waste disposition manager, said in a July 31 letter to the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control that the large crack in the Vault 4 roof was discovered Feb. 13 and repairs were initiated shortly thereafter.
Issues with rainwater leaking into six of the vault's cells were corrected by installing membranes and sealants, the letter said, and plans include capping the cells with grout to reduce exposure to workers who would access the roof to apply waterproof coatings.
The incident, although promptly addressed, underscores the importance of radioactive waste cleanup programs and the funding required to keep those efforts intact, said Tom Clements, the Southeastern nuclear campaign coordinator for Friends of the Earth.
"The fact that the vault has degraded so quickly is of concern and may well indicate that there will be medium-term leakage problems," said Clements, who obtained Spears' letter from DHEC through a public records request.
SRS officials told South Carolina regulators that the radionuclide leaks, which include cesium, technetium and tritium, are below U.S. Department of Energy regulatory standards.
Rick Kelley, a spokesman for waste contractor Savannah River Remediation, said the Vault 4 disposal unit was completed in 1988 and began receiving its low-level waste mixture in 1990.
"The vaults have been and continue to be inspected on a routine basis during all operations," he said, adding that the leaks pose no threat to workers, the public or the environment.
Report reveals radionuclide leaks in SRS vault
Derrek Asberry, Aiken Standard
September 5, 2013
The Savannah River Site has confirmed its efforts to maintain radionuclide leaks caused by cracking in a vault on Site
Vault 4 was previously used for the disposal of nuclear waste from high-level waste tanks. As of now, the vault is no longer being used to receive radioactive salt waste.
Vault 4 was previously used for the disposal of nuclear waste from high-level waste tanks. As of now, the vault is no longer being used to receive radioactive salt waste.
Information on the leakage was uncovered after Tom Clements, a member of Friends of the Earth, filed a Freedom of Information Act request on Aug. 6.
The Department of Energy's Savannah River Site identified the leakage in February. Department officials stated the problem stems from cracks in the roof of the vault. On July 31, SRS submitted a letter to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control outlining the issue and the Site's repair efforts.
These efforts include pouring a new concrete cap on the degraded sections of vault and the application of a sealant to those leaking sections.
"While SRS acted responsibly in identifying the degradation in the vault and in addressing the problems, there is concern about long-term stability of the structure and potential future radionuclide leakage," said Clements in a press release.
In addition, DOE has stated that it has increased monitoring of the vault roof and will aggressively make necessary repairs to lessen potential leakage in the future. The department is also looking to modernize vault designs to increase safety levels.
In addition, DOE has stated that it has increased monitoring of the vault roof and will aggressively make necessary repairs to lessen potential leakage in the future. The department is also looking to modernize vault designs to increase safety levels.
"A more permanent elastic coating is targeted for installation on Vault 4 disposal unit in 2014, which will eliminate rainwater infiltration and reduce the potential for low-level radioactive contamination on the vault exterior," stated Savannah River Remediation, the Site's liquid waste contractor.
Even with efforts to manage the leaks, SRS has stated that the radionuclide leaks are below DOE regulatory standards.
Site representatives further stated the leakage from the cracks are due to the high amounts of local rainfall since February.
"The vaults have been and continue to be inspected on a routine basis during all operations," Savannah River Remediation added. "Additionally, the vault is inspected monthly by SCDHEC regulators."
Derrek Asberry is a beat reporter with the Aiken Standard news team and joined the paper in June. He is originally from Vidalia, Ga., and graduated from Georgia Southern University with a journalism degree in May 2012.
Site representatives further stated the leakage from the cracks are due to the high amounts of local rainfall since February.
"The vaults have been and continue to be inspected on a routine basis during all operations," Savannah River Remediation added. "Additionally, the vault is inspected monthly by SCDHEC regulators."
Derrek Asberry is a beat reporter with the Aiken Standard news team and joined the paper in June. He is originally from Vidalia, Ga., and graduated from Georgia Southern University with a journalism degree in May 2012.
Oak Ridge scientist and historian Bill Wilcox dies
Jim Matheny, WBIR.com
September 4, 2013
In life there are some people who teach history, some who keep records of history, and some who actually make history. Bill Wilcox was the rare combination of all three during his life as a nuclear scientist and historian in Oak Ridge.
Wilcox died Monday night at the age of 90. He arrived in the secret city of Oak Ridge in 1943 as a young chemist and attempted to enrich uranium for the first atomic weapons as part of the Manhattan Project.
Wilcox died Monday night at the age of 90. He arrived in the secret city of Oak Ridge in 1943 as a young chemist and attempted to enrich uranium for the first atomic weapons as part of the Manhattan Project.
"I was very excited to get to get to this place in Tennessee. They told us to look for a bus that said Y-12," said Wilcox in a 2010 interview with WBIR. "Oak Ridge was brimming full and the whole place was covered in different code-names. Nobody dared actually speak the word 'uranium' or you would be discharged immediately."
Wilcox's career in Oak Ridge lasted several decades beyond the Manhattan Project as he went on to become technical director in charge of research and development at Y-12 and K-25. When he retired, Wilcox continued working as energetically as ever on a new life's work of preserving Oak Ridge history. His volunteer efforts and hunger to share his expertise led Oak Ridge to name him the official historian.
"Bill always had his bow tie on and his bright smile and his enthusiasm would just fill a room," said Lissa Clarke with the American Museum of Science and Energy. "We're all going to miss him. And we're so glad to have the opportunity to be his friend, to have him show us the way."
"He was absolutely one of my best resources. When I needed any information about Oak Ridge, I would go to Bill," said Ray Smith, Y-12 historian.
From the Alexander Inn to the old equipment in Y-12, Wilcox made efforts to preserve the physical history within the "secret city."
"It is very important that we save for future generations the few remaining really significant relics of the Manhattan Project," said Wilcox during a tour of Y-12 in 2010.
The enthusiasm that radiated from Wilcox could capture the imagination of any audience.
"He was absolutely one of my best resources. When I needed any information about Oak Ridge, I would go to Bill," said Ray Smith, Y-12 historian.
From the Alexander Inn to the old equipment in Y-12, Wilcox made efforts to preserve the physical history within the "secret city."
"It is very important that we save for future generations the few remaining really significant relics of the Manhattan Project," said Wilcox during a tour of Y-12 in 2010.
The enthusiasm that radiated from Wilcox could capture the imagination of any audience.
"He could connect with the generation that is here now and tell the story. It was an amazing ability to connect with people," said Tom Beehan, Mayor of Oak Ridge.
"When Bill waved his arms, you knew he was making an important point," said Smith.
Wilcox waved his arms during an interview with WBIR in January 2010 as he forcefully proclaimed 63 percent of the Manhattan Project was done in Oak Ridge. The statement was made in the context of outrage that the National Park Service could possibly consider creating a park for the Manhattan Project that did not include an exhibit in Oak Ridge.
While Wilcox fought furiously to include Oak Ridge in large plans such as a National Park, he would also gleefully help create even the smallest exhibits for the local museum. That dedication earned Wilcox a tourism award in September 2010 in recognition of his tireless promotion of Oak Ridge history.
"When Bill waved his arms, you knew he was making an important point," said Smith.
Wilcox waved his arms during an interview with WBIR in January 2010 as he forcefully proclaimed 63 percent of the Manhattan Project was done in Oak Ridge. The statement was made in the context of outrage that the National Park Service could possibly consider creating a park for the Manhattan Project that did not include an exhibit in Oak Ridge.
While Wilcox fought furiously to include Oak Ridge in large plans such as a National Park, he would also gleefully help create even the smallest exhibits for the local museum. That dedication earned Wilcox a tourism award in September 2010 in recognition of his tireless promotion of Oak Ridge history.
"I'm a bit overwhelmed receiving such an honor for just doing what I love to do and would have been doing anyway," said Wilcox after receiving the award in 2010.
Although Wilcox focused much of his time researching and documenting the past, his efforts were always done with an eye on the future. He frequently spoke in terms of making sure future generations are aware of the story of Oak Ridge long after his greatest generation is gone.
Although Wilcox focused much of his time researching and documenting the past, his efforts were always done with an eye on the future. He frequently spoke in terms of making sure future generations are aware of the story of Oak Ridge long after his greatest generation is gone.
"Oak Ridge helped win the most terrible war in history," said Wilcox in 2010. "But then those scientists focused their efforts and knowledge on endeavors that benefit people all over the world like nuclear medicine and nuclear power. These are the legacies we like to have people remember as well how we helped end the war."
"His dedication to Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge history is unsurpassed. We've lost a giant in losing Bill Wilcox," said Smith.
Reporter's Note: See the "web extra" videos attached to this story for a full in-depth interview with Bill Wilcox about the history of Oak Ridge and the Manhattan Project. The interview was recorded in June 2010 at Wilcox's home. Due to the interview's length, the video has been uploaded in three parts. Mobile users may have to navigate to their app's video section or go to the main website to view the web extra interview.
Reporter's Note: See the "web extra" videos attached to this story for a full in-depth interview with Bill Wilcox about the history of Oak Ridge and the Manhattan Project. The interview was recorded in June 2010 at Wilcox's home. Due to the interview's length, the video has been uploaded in three parts. Mobile users may have to navigate to their app's video section or go to the main website to view the web extra interview.
Don't give up on nuclear energy yet
The Washington Post Editorial Board
September 4, 2013
OVER THE past couple of weeks, two of the arguments made against nuclear power by opponents seem to have gotten stronger: that it is too dangerous, and that it is too expensive. Yet it still would be wrong to rule out a near-carbon-free technology that produces a fifth of the country's electricity.
On Tuesday, the Japanese government announced a new plan to deal with the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power facility. Though the Fukushima meltdowns occurred more than two years ago, the facility's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco), is still struggling to contain the damage. The latest problem to attract alarm has been tons of contaminated water. Some 400 tons of groundwater mixes with tainted coolant inside the reactors every day. From there, much of it seeps into the ocean. On top of that, makeshift storage tanks containing radioactive coolant have started to leak. Last month, about 300 tons escaped from one tank. Last weekend, Tepco admitted that it found high radiation levels around another, and contamination readings spiked Tuesday.
Japan's government, finally, has decided to step in more forcefully. Its plan is to continually pump extremely cold liquid deep into the ground, freezing the soil and establishing an "ice wall" past which groundwater couldn't travel. With luck, that would prevent further interaction between the stricken reactors and underground water flows. The government also wants to improve the equipment Tepco is using to filter the water it is collecting. Even if these measures work, the government will still have to clean up melted nuclear fuel inside the plant, an exceptionally difficult task.
Meanwhile, Entergy Corp., a New Orleans-based utility, announced last week that it would shutter the Vermont Yankee nuclear power station next year. Vermont officials had opposed plans to keep the plant open for 20 more years, but the company appeared to be winning that fight. Instead, the company said, the problem is that the plant isn't economical. Electricity from now-cheap natural gas has been undercutting wholesale electricity prices, making it harder for nuclear facilities to compete.
Given these examples, it would be easy to conclude that nuclear is an aging technology that the country should abandon. We aren't convinced.
On safety, Fukushima offers lessons about how not to run a power plant; basic design flaws and subsequent mismanagement were responsible for its problems. Sound regulation can address such issues. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission required precautionary upgrades of all of America's nuclear facilities following the Fukushima accident. Regulators must stay vigilant. Plants built in the future, meanwhile, will be much safer, utilizing "passive" safety mechanisms that activate without human intervention.
The economics of constructing nuclear plants is a harder problem to work through. Part of the issue is that the marketplace doesn't value one of nuclear's greatest attractions: It reliably produces a lot of electricity without producing carbon dioxide emissions. Construction costs for nuclear plants have also been extremely high. It's possible that, with more rational climate-change policies in place, new and innovative reactor designs could help bring down nuclear energy's cost. It's also possible that some other technology could eventually offer nuclear's reliability and low-emissions profile at a commercial scale, a unique and necessary combination.
Until that's clearer, the nation must remain open to maintaining and even expanding its fleet of nuclear power plants.
DOE Awards Task Order for Disposal of Los Alamos National Laboratory Waste
DOE
September 4, 2013
Cincinnati -- The Department of Energy (DOE) today awarded a task order in support of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Legacy Waste Project to Waste Control Specialists (WCS) of Andrews, Texas under the Environmental Management (EM) Low-Level and Mixed Low-Level Waste Disposal Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) Master Contract. The award is a firm, fixed-price task order, based on pre-established rates with a $1.29 million value and has a one-year performance period.
The work to be performed under this task order includes the receipt and disposal of 207 cubic yards of Class C Mixed Low-Level Waste generated at the DOE Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The waste is from clean-up and remediation activities.
WCS is currently the only contractor under the two EM Low-Level and Mixed Low-Level Waste Disposal ID/IQ Master Contracts that possess the proper licenses to dispose of Class C Mixed Low-Level Waste.
The mission of the Office of Environmental Management is to complete the safe cleanup of the environmental legacy brought about from five decades of nuclear weapons development and government-sponsored nuclear energy research.
The work to be performed under this task order includes the receipt and disposal of 207 cubic yards of Class C Mixed Low-Level Waste generated at the DOE Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The waste is from clean-up and remediation activities.
WCS is currently the only contractor under the two EM Low-Level and Mixed Low-Level Waste Disposal ID/IQ Master Contracts that possess the proper licenses to dispose of Class C Mixed Low-Level Waste.
The mission of the Office of Environmental Management is to complete the safe cleanup of the environmental legacy brought about from five decades of nuclear weapons development and government-sponsored nuclear energy research.
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions named project management award finalist
The Augusta Chronicle
September 4, 2013
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions is one of three finalists for the Project of the Year award by the international Project Management Institute, the world's largest association for project managers.
SRNS, the U.S. Energy Department's contractor at the Savannah River Site, is being considered for management of work accomplished through $1.4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.
Specifically, SRNS is being recognized for managing projects that resulted in a significant reduction of footprint from past operations, ultimately changing the skyline at the site. The contractor further reduced risk by preparing legacy plutonium-contaminated waste for removal and disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico.
"We are honored to be chosen by PMI as a finalist for this prestigious award and are proud of the success achieved during the ARRA project. It is our goal to be defined by a commitment to exceptional and safe project execution. With the ARRA project, being good stewards of the $1.4 billion investment in the Savannah River Site was another important goal," said Dwayne Wilson, SRNS president and CEO.
The award recognizes, honors, and publicizes a successful project and the achievements of the project team for performance related to project management. Other finalists include the Adelaide Desalination Project in South Australia and the Nemours Children's Hospital in Orlando, Fla.
PMI is the world's largest not-for-profit membership association for the project management profession. Its professional resources and research empower more than 700,000 members in nearly every country in the world to improve their organizations' success and further mature the profession.
Specifically, SRNS is being recognized for managing projects that resulted in a significant reduction of footprint from past operations, ultimately changing the skyline at the site. The contractor further reduced risk by preparing legacy plutonium-contaminated waste for removal and disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico.
"We are honored to be chosen by PMI as a finalist for this prestigious award and are proud of the success achieved during the ARRA project. It is our goal to be defined by a commitment to exceptional and safe project execution. With the ARRA project, being good stewards of the $1.4 billion investment in the Savannah River Site was another important goal," said Dwayne Wilson, SRNS president and CEO.
The award recognizes, honors, and publicizes a successful project and the achievements of the project team for performance related to project management. Other finalists include the Adelaide Desalination Project in South Australia and the Nemours Children's Hospital in Orlando, Fla.
PMI is the world's largest not-for-profit membership association for the project management profession. Its professional resources and research empower more than 700,000 members in nearly every country in the world to improve their organizations' success and further mature the profession.
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