U.S. regulators to investigate after LANL improperly shipped nuclear material CBS News June 23, 2017 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- U.S. regulators said Friday they are launching an investigation into the improper shipment of nuclear material from the laboratory that created the atomic bomb to other federal facilities this week, marking the latest safety lapse for Los Alamos National Laboratory as it faces growing criticism over its track
record.
The National Nuclear Security Administration said it was informed by the lab in New Mexico that procedures were not followed when shipping small
amounts of "special nuclear material" to facilities in California and South Carolina.
The material had been packaged for ground transport.
But instead it was shipped via a commercial air cargo service, which isn't allowed under U.S. regulations. >>Continue readingNNSA Release: Improper Shipment from Los Alamos National Laboratory NNSA June 23, 2017 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has been informed by Los Alamos National Laboratory that proper procedures were not followed in shipping small quantities of special nuclear material to both Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Savannah River National Laboratory last
week.
The shipments should have been made using commercial ground cargo services, and were
packaged and containerized for this mode of transportation. However, the actual shipment documents were instead prepared for transport via commercial air cargo services, a mode of transportation not authorized by Federal regulations. The shipments were subsequently sent aboard commercial cargo aircraft. Upon receipt of the shipments at their respective destinations, safety tests confirmed that there was no loss of radioactive material or
contamination.
“This failure to follow established procedures is
absolutely unacceptable,” said NNSA Administrator Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, USAF (Ret). “I require the contractors who manage and operate our national laboratories and production plants to rigorously adhere to the highest safety and security standards in performing the vitally important work they do for our national security.”
>>Continue readingWCS not to seek merger, mulls resuming nuke waste storage license Midland Reporter Telegrahm June 23,
2017 On the heels of losing an antitrust case, Waste Control Specialists will no longer seek a merger.
The U.S. District Court for
the District of Delaware on Wednesday ruled in favor of the Justice Department's civil antitrust lawsuit to block the merger of WCS and
EnergySolutions.
On Friday, WCS parent company Valhi Inc. said in a press release that while the company disagreed with the court's ruling, it would not seek an appeal and that it had terminated the purchase agreement for a sale of WCS to Rockwell Holdco Inc., the parent company of
EnergySolutions.
WCS operates a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility in Andrews County. It was seeking licensure for the temporary storage of high-level radioactive waste until the federal government can find a permanent home. WCS in April requested the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission temporarily suspend its review of the company’s license application for storage until the completion of the antitrust
lawsuit.
When asked Friday if WCS would resume pursuit of its storage license, company spokesman Chuck McDonald told the Reporter-Telegram that WCS is evaluating all options at this time and a decision might come as early as a month from now.
>>Continue readingDOE moves forward with application for new disposal cell in Nye County Pahrump Valley Times June 23, 2017 The U.S. Department of Energy is moving forward with plans to construct a new cell for mixed low-level waste at Area 5 of the Nevada National Security
Site.
The Energy Department submitted a permit
modification request to the state of Nevada for the construction of a new mixed low-level waste disposal cell in 2016 and received six public comments during its December meeting in
Pahrump.
Scott Wade, the assistant manager for environmental
management at the Nevada National Security Site field office, said that the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection is currently requesting public comment on a proposed permit modification. The public comment ends today
.
“Only if we are issued a modification of a permit,
will we be able to start the dirt work and proceed with construction,” Wade said. >>Continue readingIdaho small modular reactor funding uncertain The Post Register June 21,
2017 Certification of NuScale Power’s small modular reactor design continues, even as a major source of its funding is in jeopardy.
President Donald Trump’s
proposed budget includes a variety of cuts to the U.S. Department of Energy, including zeroing out licensing support for NuScale’s design.
Congress ultimately will decide the budget, but DOE funds have been critical to development of the reactor, which is currently under a multiyear review by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission.
Corvallis, Ore.-based NuScale plans to build the first-of-a-kind power plant at the DOE’s desert site west of Idaho
Falls.
In May, NuScale had spent $160 million of a $217 million DOE cost-sharing appropriation throughout the small modular reactor design process. More than $600 million in private and public funds have been invested in the NuScale project. It’s estimated to take another $400 million to deploy the reactor, according to NuScale Chief Commercial Officer Tom Mundy.
>>Continue reading |
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| August 2017 | | 8-9 | Intermountain Energy Summitt |
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| August
2017 | | 16-17 | INVITATION ONLY ECA Peer Exchange: Implementation of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Richland, WA |
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| September 2017 | | 5-7 | Radwaste Summitt 2017 Summerlin, NV |
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| September 2017 | | 12-14 | 2017 National Cleanup
Workshop Alexandria,
VA |
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| September 2017 | | 13 | House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus
Event Washington,
DC
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Find the most recent ECA Bulletin here |
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