[ RadSafe ] Panel: Nuclear waste can be moved safely

[Sandy Perle]

Note: The nuclear news hasn't been published for awhile since I have 
been traveling. If interested, I've posted several picture pages as 
follows (news index to follow below):

Painted Desert and Petrified Forest, AZ: 
http://www.sandy-travels.com/painteddesert.shtml

Canyon De Chelly, Four Corner, AZ:
http://www.sandy-travels.com/canyondechelly.shtml

Wupatki Ruins National Park, AZ:
http://www.sandy-travels.com/wupatki.shtml

Sunset Crater Volcano National Park:
http://www.sandy-travels.com/sunsetcrater.shtml

Deset Botanixal Gardens, Phoenix, AZ:
http://www.sandy-travels.com/desertgardens.shtml

Apache Trail, AZ:
http://www.sandy-travels.com/apachetrail.shtml

Health Physics Society Meeting, Scottsdale, AZ:
http://www.sandy-travels.com/hpsaz.shtml
===========================================

Index:

Panel: Nuclear waste can be moved safely
'Dirty Bomb' Sensors Tested in Nevada Desert
Ukrainian Premier Expects Nuclear Fuel Production in 12 Years
Westinghouse Again Selected for Nuclear Fleet Expansion
UT regents give thumbs up to nuclear reactor
Utility draws fire over delayed reporting of water radiation
Poisoned by radiation overdose
=================================

Panel: Nuclear waste can be moved safely

Experts said shipments could be conducted, but also raised questions 
on fires and attacks.

WASHINGTON  AP  - Thousands of shipments of highly radioactive 
nuclear waste can be conducted safely, a panel of scientists 
concluded yesterday, although it warned that significant radiation 
might be released if a shipment were engulfed by intense fire.
The report by a panel of the National Academy of Sciences is expected 
to carry considerable weight as the government moves toward 
developing a central repository in Nevada for used commercial reactor 
fuel and defense waste now kept in 39 states.

The group examined the risk from possible accidents as nuclear 
shipments crisscross the country but said it did not assess security 
risks to such shipments because it could not gain access to 
classified information.

It called for a further examination of security issues, including a 
shipment's potential vulnerability to attack. It also said that the 
group doing the investigation should be independent of any 
governmental or industry conflicts. Such information should be made 
as public as possible, the scientists said.

The Energy Department is preparing a transportation plan to ship 
about 70,000 tons of nuclear waste from throughout the country to a 
proposed central repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada, if the 
facility gets a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The department said that would require 4,300 shipments, about three-
fourths by rail and the rest by highways, over 24 years. Nevada 
officials, who oppose the Yucca project, have said there could be as 
many as 50,000 shipments with wastes going through at least 43 
states.

The study by a special panel of the Academy's National Research 
Council concludes there are "no fundamental technical barriers" to 
safely transporting spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive 
waste.

But it warned that a significant radiation release could occur "in 
extreme accidents involving very-long duration, fully engulfing 
fires."
------------------

'Dirty Bomb' Sensors Tested in Nevada Desert

NEVADA TEST SITE, Nev. AP  (Jan. 28) - The scientists stood waiting 
for a read-out from a hand-held Geiger counter-type machine placed 
next to a large corrugated metal shipping container.

During the test at the Radiological-Nuclear Countermeasures Test and 
Evaluation Complex in the Nevada desert, the equipment failed to 
identify the plutonium in the container. On a second try, it worked.

Beyond the checkpoints, fences and armed guards, Homeland Security 
scientists here are working on a $33 million program to perfect 
devices that can more accurately detect nuclear devices and "dirty 
bombs."

"If we're not going forward with an investment in this type of 
technology, we could very easily miss an opportunity to defeat a 
terrorist with a dirty bomb or a radiological device," said Rep. Jim 
Gibbons, a member of the House Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear 
and Biological Attacks, who recently toured the site.

The program, a division of the federal Homeland Security Department, 
was created under a presidential order to refine methods to protect 
the nation from radiological and nuclear threats.

The test site is a stone's throw from an ultra-secure bunker in the 
desert, where the nation's nuclear weapons are assembled. It is 
surrounded by barren mountains, spiky yucca trees and craters left 
from decades of nuclear weapons tests about 75 miles north of Las 
Vegas.

The place provides an opportunity for scientists to test for nuclear 
material, including weapons-grade plutonium, in secure and controlled 
conditions.

Some of the monitors now used to identify such material do not always 
work, said Vayl Oxford, director of the federal Domestic Nuclear 
Detection Office.

The test site, a vast federal reservation the size of Rhode Island, 
also hosts the National Center for Combating Terrorism, which 
includes several facilities to improve the nation's ability to 
prevent or recover from a terrorist attack.

Technicians are testing pillar-style roadside sensors like those 
deployed to ports of entry and some highway weigh stations. The 
sensors detect neutrons and gamma rays emitted by lethal nuclear 
devices or radioactive isotopes that could be dispersed by less 
sophisticated explosives in a "dirty bomb."

The scientists also are testing sensors in vehicles, including white 
ambulance-style vans, black SUVs and a Jeep loaded with sophisticated 
radiation sniffers and computers.

The tests aim to see whether the 30 or so devices available 
commercially can distinguish a bomb from less harmful sources of 
radioactivity, such as a person who has had a radioactive isotope 
injected during a medical procedure, or household items like kitty 
litter and floor tiles that contain natural trace amounts.

"We get alarms frequently with medical patients or other materials," 
Oxford said.

Of the 10,000 alarms tallied to date across the nation, all have been 
resolved by closer inspections and matching shipments to manifests.

Detecting radioactive materials in public places is an evolving 
science, Oxford said. There are no national standards for devices 
that range from the size of a steam iron to the two-door prototype 
"Smart Jeep."

The next generation of hand-held detectors should be able to identify 
radiation sources without the need to open shipping containers using 
what Oxford calls "discrimination capability."

One goal will be to publish what officials say should be a "Consumer 
Reports"-style guide with information that state and local police, 
fire and security officials can use before buying the machines.

After nine months of testing, and with federal budgets being drawn 
up, program officials spent the week conducting tours for 
congressional representatives, reporters and first responders 
learning how to use the devices.

Gibbons, R-Nev., toured the site, which is in his home district, 
along with subcommittee Chairman James Langevin, D-R.I., Rep. John 
Linder, R-Ga., and Rep. Charles Dent, R-Pa., members of the House 
Homeland Security Committee.

"Of all the concerns we have for our nation's security, the most 
serious is the threat of nuclear or biological attack," Dent said in 
a statement. "I wanted to take the opportunity to see this front of 
the War on Terror."
------------------

Ukrainian Premier Expects Nuclear Fuel Production in 12 Years

Lviv, 10 February, Interfax-Ukraine news agency: Production of 
nuclear fuel in Ukraine could be set up in Ukraine in 12 years, Prime 
Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov has said. 

"Ukraine will have its nuclear cycle. It will require about 12 years 
of active and intensive work," Yekhanurov said, speaking at the Lviv 
polytechnic institute today. 

"Ukraine fully depends on fresh nuclear fuel imported from Russia," 
Yekhanurov said. "We should draw conclusions and are doing this," he 
said. 

The setting up of a full nuclear fuel cycle in Ukraine is hampered, 
in particular, by contradictions between two scientific schools. 
"There are two schools that are eating each other and don't listen to 
each other. There are scientific problems and the problem of vision," 
he said. 

The Ukrainian government is considering putting together all the 
companies that could participate in the production of nuclear fuel 
into a single cluster, including the Sevastopol university of nuclear 
fuel and nuclear industry and the Kharkiv physics-technical 
university and other companies. 

"We will do everything to allow all these companies to work on this 
idea in the future," Yekhanurov said.
---------------

Westinghouse Again Selected for Nuclear Fleet Expansion

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Westinghouse Electric 
Company today lauded South Carolina Electric & Gas (SCE&G), principal 
subsidiary of SCANA Corporation , and Santee Cooper for selecting 
both a site and reactor design for potential new nuclear plant 
construction.

"The announcement today that SCE&G and Santee Cooper are proactively 
moving forward to prepare for possible nuclear fleet expansion 
reflects a forward-looking willingness to plan for rather than react 
to increases in future energy requirements," said Steve Tritch, 
Westinghouse President and CEO. "This is a prudent move that will 
further ensure that both companies will be able to fulfill the needs 
of growing customer bases."

The selection of the AP1000 nuclear power plant for possible 
deployment at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station near Jenkinsville, 
S.C., marks the third time in three weeks and the fourth time since 
October that major utilities or nuclear generating companies have 
picked Westinghouse.

The AP1000 will now be the technology basis for 10 combined 
construction and operating license (COL) applications. Previously, 
Duke Power, Progress Energy and the team of Southern Company and 
Georgia Power had selected the AP1000 for any future expansion of 
their nuclear capability.

In September 2005, NuStart, the nation's largest consortium of 
nuclear power companies, selected TVA's Bellefonte nuclear plant site 
for a COL application for the AP1000.

Additionally, Westinghouse announced that it will collaborate with 
The Shaw Group, Inc. , to support the SCE&G/Santee Cooper COL and 
possible future construction of a new plant at the V.C. Summer site. 
Westinghouse and Shaw will also work together in support of other 
U.S. power companies that have selected the AP1000 technology for COL 
applications.

Westinghouse believes the AP1000 is ideally suited for the worldwide 
nuclear power marketplace. The AP1000 is:

- The safest, most advanced, yet proven nuclear power plant currently 
available in the worldwide marketplace (conservative probabilistic 
risk assessment (PRA): core damage frequency potential at negligible 
2.5x10- 7 ) - Based on standard Westinghouse pressurized water 
reactor (PWR) technology that has achieved more than 2,500 reactor 
years of highly successful operation - An 1100MWe design that is 
ideal for providing baseload generating capacity - Modular in design, 
promoting ready standardization and high construction quality - 
Economical to construct and maintain (less concrete and steel and 
fewer components and systems mean there is less to install, inspect 
and maintain) - Designed to promote ease of operation (features most 
advanced instrumentation and control (I&C) in the industry) 

For more information about the Westinghouse AP1000, visit its Web 
site at http://www.ap1000.westinghousenuclear.com/. For images of the 
AP1000, visit http://www.westinghousenuclear.com/D6.asp.

Westinghouse Electric Company is the world's pioneering nuclear power 
company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and 
technologies to utilities throughout the world. Westinghouse supplied 
the world's first PWR in 1957 in Shippingport, Pa. Today, 
Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately one-half of 
the world's operating nuclear plants, including 60 percent of those 
in the United States. 
------------------

UT regents give thumbs up to nuclear reactor

University of Texas System regents on Thursday threw their support 
behind a proposed test nuclear reactor in Andrews.

“Everything went great today with the regents,” UTPB President David 
Watts said. “It was a great day.”

The regents approved a teaming agreement between the UT System, UT 
Permian Basin, UT Austin, UT Arlington, UT Dallas, UT El Paso, the 
City of Andrews, the City of Odessa, the City of Midland, Sandia 
National Laboratories, Thorium Power Inc. and General Atomics.
“It’s moving forward as we had hoped,” Andrews City Manager Glen 
Hackler said. “It’s one of the reasons why the parties to the 
agreement tried to move as quickly as we could — to put it in a 
position to move forward.”

The teaming agreement lasts for one year. The agreement is for all 
the organizations to lend their support to creating a pre-conceptual 
design for the proposed state-of-the-art facility in Andrews County.
“That design is the next step in our process to establish a high 
temperature test teaching and research reactor in West Texas,” Watts 
said.

Hackler echoed that.

“The pre-conceptual design is critical toward ultimately getting the 
test reactor facility funded and built,” he said. “Without the pre-
conceptual design, it’s only an idea. This is a critical next step to 
making it a reality.”

Each of the three communities backing the project — Andrews, Odessa 
and Midland — has committed to spending $500,000 toward a pre-
conceptual design for the test nuclear reactor facility.

The Odessa Development Corp. and the Midland Development Corp. — both 
of which are funded by local sales taxes — each committed $500,000 to 
the pre-conceptual design. The city and county of Andrews have each 
pledged $250,000 to the design.

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin has received pledges for 
all $3 million needed for a pre-conceptual design for the proposed 
state-of-the-art test nuclear reactor in Andrews.
“We have commitments for all the money — for every penny of the $3 
million,” Watts said.

Half of that money came from Andrews, Odessa and Midland. Thorium 
Power of McLean, Va., has pledged $1.25 million. The other quarter of 
a million dollars has come from individual and corporate donations.
Meanwhile, the regents noted that the teaming agreement “relates 
solely to the parties’ desire to work collaboratively together to 
complete the PCD.” 

After the pre-conceptual design, a new teaming agreement would be 
needed — with approval from the UT Board of Regents — if any of the 
parties wanted to help with the actual construction of the reactor.
“The PCD is going to be a reality,” Watts said. “And the next step, 
of course, is to get regents’ approval to proceed with the next phase 
of the plan.”

Acquiring funding for the engineering, licensing and construction of 
the proposed High Temperature Test Teaching Reactor — dubbed HT3R 
(pronounced heater) — facility is a joint project between UTPB and 
General Atomics of San Diego, Calif.

If it goes ahead as planned, the HT3R would be the first nuclear 
reactor built in the Unites States since 1976.

Officials from General Atomics, UTPB, Andrews, Odessa and Midland 
held two public forums in January. Response from both the Andrews 
community and those of Odessa and Midland seemed favorable toward the 
idea.

The proposed facility in Andrews would include three components — a 
high-temperature, gas-cooled teaching and test reactor; a high-
temperature process laboratory to develop and test other methods of 
the economical production of synthetic fuels and hydrogen; and a 
Brayton Cycle Laboratory for development of new methods to develop 
electricity with increased efficiencies.

According to the UT System Regent’s docket item, HT3R represents new 
nuclear technology that is different from technology used at the 
nation’s estimated 108 existing nuclear reactors. It is helium-cooled 
instead of water-cooled and, because of that and other technology 
advances, offers the opportunity to conduct research on a safer, more 
reliable reactor that produces hydrogen as a waste stream.
UTPB has said if the residents of Andrews agree, the university would 
proceed with developing a non-federally funded $3 million pre-
conceptual design. That design would be used to try to raise about 
$400 million to engineer, license and construct the facility 
beginning as soon as spring of 2007.

That design would also determine what the reactor would look like, 
where it would be located, how large it would be and what it would 
end up costing.

Watts said General Atomics would be the manager of the pre-conceptual 
design. UTPB will coordinate all the elements of the study, including 
academics, technical and business aspects.
Watts said all the partners in the teaming agreement are eager to get 
moving on the project.

“I’ve been in contact with a number of them since regents’ action,” 
Watts said. “There’s a great excitement. The people at General 
Atomics are very excited. Our partners at UT institutions are 
excited. The regents, including the chairman, vice chair and the 
chancellor, all expressed a great deal of support and interest in the 
project.”
-------------------

Utility draws fire over delayed reporting of water radiation

DOVER TOWNSHIP, N.J. - AP Feb 9 The state Department of Environmental 
Protection is considering whether to fine a local water utility for 
failing to promptly report elevated radiation levels.

It took until Jan. 30 for United Water officials to inform the DEP 
that water testing going back to last May found seven instances of 
radiation levels exceeding state limits.

Federal and state regulations require notification within 30 days.

United is now issuing a letter to customers informing them of the 
sampling and assuring them that the levels are not "an immediate 
risk." The higher radiation levels involved three well locations, 
where water enters the local distribution system.

News of United Water's delayed reporting drew criticism from Dover 
Township officials, as well as community activists who have been 
claiming there is a cancer cluster in the area.
 
Dover Township officials described the delayed reporting as a 
disturbing pattern. The township council is considering some type of 
action against the company.

"The real concern here is the continuing pattern of the water company 
not informing us of the problem," Mayor Paul C. Brush told the Asbury 
Park Press for Thursday newspapers.

The water company is reviewing why it failed to report the elevated 
radiation levels. The general manager of the local United Water 
office has been replaced.

The radiation involved gross alpha, a natural energy released from 
the decay of elements in the earth's crust, and radium 226 and 228, 
forms of a metal found in the ground that spreads to water, plants 
and food.
------------------

Poisoned by radiation overdose

After months of gruelling treatment for a brain tumour, Lisa Norris 
was looking forward to her new life.
Although still in pain, the 15-year-old sc
hoolgirl had been given the all clear by cancer doctors. 

But - just days later - she was plunged into unimaginable despair 
when they told her she had been given massive overdoses of radiation. 

The hospital said "human error" had led to Lisa being given overdoses 
at each of her 17 scheduled radiotherapy sessions. 

Appalling blunder 

"I've been told I could be brain damaged, could be paralysed and in 
ten to 15 years I might not be here, I could die," she said last 
night. 

"I could have a scar on my head or brain which can lead to strokes, 
heart attacks and whatever else. 

"I don't know what is going to happen to me, it could happen in the 
next six months to a year. We just don't know what is going to 
happen. 

"I've got burns on the back of my neck and ears and they're starting 
to blister. 

"I can't sleep because I can't lie on my back. I can't really do 
much, my mum has to help me put my clothes on." 

Family want staff sacked 

The hospital has apologised and said the five staff involved were 
distraught. But Lisa and her family want them all sacked. 

"I'm really angry with them, they shouldn't be able to get away with 
it," said Lisa, from Girvan, Ayrshire. 

"By rights, they should be put out of their jobs and not allowed to 
work in the NHS ever again because it could happen to somebody else." 


Only this week, Health Service chiefs revealed a catalogue of medical 
blunders that included a woman wrongly being given a hysterectomy. 

Lisa was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour five months ago after 
suffering headaches, blurred vision and tiredness for more than a 
year. 

Doctors at Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow said she had 
pineoblastoma which affects fewer than 100 Britons. 

The tumour is hard to treat because it is located in the centre of 
the brain. 

After chemotherapy, which made her hair fall out, Lisa was told 
radiotherapy was needed to shrink the tumour. 

Told the tumour had gone 

She had 17 courses of radiation and last week was told the tumour had 
gone. 

Lisa, her parents, Kenneth and Elizabeth, and brother Andrew, 12, 
were delighted. But then they were told by telephone that two 
consultants were coming to see them. 

"We knew something was wrong," said Mrs Norris, 49. 

"You never hear of consultants visiting your house, so alarm bells 
were ringing." 

Her husband, a 50-year-old joiner, said: "It just knocked us for six. 
We've not been able to sleep a night since. If they can do this to 
Lisa, they can do this to anyone." 

A friend said the schoolgirl had been trying to stay upbeat and was 
the only member of the family not to have cried. 

"Lisa is the most bubbly person you would ever meet," she said. "She 
says she's not going to let it get her down. She's being so strong 
about it." 

A full inquiry is under way to find out why the routine procedure at 
the oncology centre went so wrong. 

Deep regret 

Professor Alan Rodger, the centre's medical director, said: "My 
colleagues and I deeply regret the error that has led to Lisa Norris 
being given an overdose of radiation during her course of treatment. 

"The staff involved with his isolated incident are extremely 
distraught. 

"Initial meetings have taken place with Lisa and her family and we 
will do everything in our power to support them in the challenges 
ahead." 

The inquiry is being conducted by the Department of Health and the 
radiation protection division of the UK Health Protection Agency. 

It has not yet emerged how the wrong dose of radiation was 
administered 17 times. 

But it is thought that the wrong level was given on Lisa's first 
session and then repeated because it was written in the notes with no 
one spotting that it was too high. 

Beatson is the second largest cancer centre in the UK and has a 
global reputation. 

It treats 8,000 new patients each year delivering more than 15,000 
courses of chemotherapy and 6,500 courses of radiotherapy. 

It is based on three sites in Glasgow and the overdose was given at 
the Western Infirmary. When radiotherapy is given, experts calibrate 
the machines to ensure the right dose has been prescribed and checks 
are made throughout the procedure. 

Martin Ledwick, of Cancer Research UK, said: "Obviously as a health 
professional working with cancer patients for a number of years I was 
very shocked and surprised that this happened as I'm aware of all the 
checks that are in place to avoid this sort of mistake being made." 

The hospital would not say whether it had suspended the staff 
involved. 

Cancer experts said it may be many months before doctors can work out 
the impact of the mistake. 

Lisa, who now has schooling at home, is having an MRI brain scan in 
three weeks to start this assessment process. 

-------------------------------------
Sandy Perle
Senior Vice President, Technical Operations
Global Dosimetry Solutions, Inc.
2652 McGaw Avenue
Irvine, CA 92614 

Tel: (949) 296-2306 / (888) 437-1714  Extension 2306
Fax:(949) 296-1144

E-Mail: sperle at dosimetry.com
E-Mail: sandyfl at earthlink.net 

Global Dosimetry Website: http://www.dosimetry.com/ 
Personal Website: http://sandy-travels.com/