COMMUNITY SAFETY
Piketon fears more radiation risk from demolition of former uranium plant
The Columbus Dispatch | 5/27/2021
Despite concerns from the community and calls from a senator and congressman, open-air demolition began last week at the U.S. Department of Energy's former uranium enrichment plant in a southern Ohio village.
The demolition in Piketon comes after the federal agency promised the community that has experienced high cancer rates independent testing for radiological contaminants. The results are expected to come later this year.
The demolition is moving forward without that information. With it comes the potential for releasing more contaminants into the surrounding area, residents say.
"We do not believe that to be a safe or responsible plan," wrote Tony Montgomery, president of the Pike County Board of Commissioners, in a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine late last year.
Between 2017 and 2019, radioactive isotopes were detected in groundwater on the plant site. They also have been found at the now-shuttered Zahn's Corner Middle School downwind from the plant.
The Department of Energy allowed The Dispatch an interview with plant manager Robert Edwards under a Biden Administration directive that it be on the condition that the federal agency could reject quotes made by Edwards during a recorded interview. The information Edwards provided is in this story, but DOE rejected five direct quotes from him, citing a quote approval policy.
| Follow the latest DOE budget updates with ECA's budget tracker
|
HEARING
Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Hearing: “FY22 Budget Request for Nuclear Forces and Atomic Energy Defense Activities”
House Armed Services Committee
Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Hearing: “FY22 Budget Request for Nuclear Forces and Atomic Energy Defense Activities”
Thursday, June 10, 2021 (11:00am ET –Virtual via WebEx – Open)
Purpose: The Subcommittee will receive testimony on the Fiscal Year 2022 President’s Budget request for U.S. nuclear weapon and warhead modernization and sustainment plans. The hearing will also cover nuclear deterrence, strategic stability, and the role of arms control and allies in the context of U.S. nuclear policy and programmatic priorities.
Witnesses:
Ms. Melissa Dalton Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities
U.S. Department of Defense
Dr. Charlie Verdon Acting Administrator
National Nuclear Security Administration
Vice Admiral Johnny Wolfe Director, Strategic Systems Programs
U.S. Navy
Lt Gen James Dawkins Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration
U.S. Air Force
MICROREACTOR
DOE invites the public to review the Final Environmental Assessment for construction of the MARVEL microreactor at Idaho National Laboratory
Department of Energy | 6/7/21
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the start of a 31-day public review period on a Final Environmental Assessment for a proposal to construct the Microreactor Applications Research Validation & Evaluation (MARVEL) project microreactor inside Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL’s) Transient Reactor Test Facility.
MARVEL, a sodium-potassium cooled, thermal microreactor with a power level of less than 100 kilowatts of electricity using High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU), will be capable of testing power applications such as load-following electricity demand to complement intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar – to help ensure reliable energy around the clock. It will also test the use of
nuclear energy for water purification, hydrogen production, and heat for chemical processing.
From January 11 to February 9, 2021, DOE conducted a public review and comment period on the project’s Draft Environmental Assessment. Comments received during that public review period, along with the agency’s corresponding responses, are published in the Response to Public Comments section of the Final Environmental Assessment issued today. DOE invites the public to comment on a proposed Finding of No
Significant Impact for the project.
NUCLEAR POWER
NUCLEAR REACTOR
Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation
Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation.
Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications
Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.
|
Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles
ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local
governments.
|
|
|
|
