Annette Cary;Herald staff writer /Cary Annette/390 words/10 December 2009/Tri-City Herald/TRIC/B6/
English/(c) 2009 The Tri-City Herald. All Rights Reserved.
A protest has been lodged in the Department of Energy’s $48.6 million award to Advanced Technologies and Laboratories International to operate Hanford’s 222-S Laboratory.
The Department of Energy will have 35 days to address the protest, which was filed with the agency’s Environmental Management Consolidated Business Center rather than the Government Accountability Office. The protest was filed Nov. 27.
Four bids were received for the small business contract, which DOE awarded Nov. 20. DOE declined to say who bid on the project or which bidder filed the protest.
CRESP Newstories and Links related to risk-based cleanup of the nation’s nuclear weapons production facility waste sites and cost-effective, risk-based management of potential future nuclear sites and wastes. CRESP seeks to improve the scientific and technical basis for environmental management decisions by the Department of Energy (DOE) and by fostering public participation in that search.
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Former Oak Ridge lab leader nominated to TVA board
BILL THEOBALD /264 words/10 December 2009/Gannett News Service/GNS/English/© 2009 Gannett News Service. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All Rights Reserved. /By BILL THEOBALD/Gannett Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON - Marilyn A. Brown, who formerly managed the energy efficiency research and development program at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and was part of a committee that shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, was nominated to the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors on Thursday by President Barack Obama.
Brown's nomination is the fourth Obama has made to the TVA board this year. The nominees would fill out the nine-member board that oversees the nation's largest public utility.
Brown is a professor of energy policy at the School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech, where she joined the faculty in 2006. She was a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize along with former Vice President Al Gore.
In 2006, Brown helped launch the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance. She serves on the board of the Alliance to Save Energy, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and the National Commission on Energy Policy.
Brown remains a distinguished visiting scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She earned a Ph.D. in geography from Ohio State University, a master's in regional planning from the University of Massachusetts, and a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University.
Brown donated several times to Republican Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga while she worked at Oak Ridge, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Her nomination must be approved by the Senate.
WASHINGTON - Marilyn A. Brown, who formerly managed the energy efficiency research and development program at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and was part of a committee that shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, was nominated to the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors on Thursday by President Barack Obama.
Brown's nomination is the fourth Obama has made to the TVA board this year. The nominees would fill out the nine-member board that oversees the nation's largest public utility.
Brown is a professor of energy policy at the School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech, where she joined the faculty in 2006. She was a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize along with former Vice President Al Gore.
In 2006, Brown helped launch the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance. She serves on the board of the Alliance to Save Energy, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and the National Commission on Energy Policy.
Brown remains a distinguished visiting scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She earned a Ph.D. in geography from Ohio State University, a master's in regional planning from the University of Massachusetts, and a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University.
Brown donated several times to Republican Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga while she worked at Oak Ridge, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Her nomination must be approved by the Senate.
Debate over nuclear legal challenge heats up
1002 words/10 December 2009/European Daily Electricity Markets/EURODE/English/(c)2009 Heren Energy Ltd
A top energy lawyer has dismissed the possibility of a legal challenge against UK nuclear industry “subsidies”.
The anti-nuclear lobby in the UK has repeatedly raised the possibility of a legal challenge, with supporters including Liberal Democrats shadow energy secretary Simon Hughes, on the grounds that alleged financial assistance may be an infringement of EU competition laws (see EDEM 20 October 2009).
The seven areas of subsidy were identified in the report Nuclear Subsidies, published last month by the influential pressure group Energy Fair. These were:
limitations on liabilities
underwriting commercial risks
protection against terrorist attack
the cap on short- to medium-term costs of disposing of nuclear waste
a cap on long-term costs of disposing of nuclear waste
the cost of decommissioning nuclear plants being ring-fenced
institutional support for the nuclear industry.
A top energy lawyer has dismissed the possibility of a legal challenge against UK nuclear industry “subsidies”.
The anti-nuclear lobby in the UK has repeatedly raised the possibility of a legal challenge, with supporters including Liberal Democrats shadow energy secretary Simon Hughes, on the grounds that alleged financial assistance may be an infringement of EU competition laws (see EDEM 20 October 2009).
The seven areas of subsidy were identified in the report Nuclear Subsidies, published last month by the influential pressure group Energy Fair. These were:
limitations on liabilities
underwriting commercial risks
protection against terrorist attack
the cap on short- to medium-term costs of disposing of nuclear waste
a cap on long-term costs of disposing of nuclear waste
the cost of decommissioning nuclear plants being ring-fenced
institutional support for the nuclear industry.
Utah congressman's spokeswoman: DOE has decided to dispose of SC depleted uranium in Utah
By BROCK VERGAKIS /Associated Press Writer/143 words/10 December 2009/17:43/Associated Press Newswires/APRS/English/(c) 2009. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A spokeswoman for Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson of Utah says the Department of Energy has decided it will begin shipping thousands of drums of low-level radioactive waste from South Carolina for disposal in Utah.
Alyson Heyrend says the department informed Matheson's office of its decision Thursday.
Matheson had asked the agency to halt shipments of depleted uranium from the Savannah River Site until the Nuclear Regulatory Commission finalizes rules for how the material should be disposed of.
Depleted uranium is different from other low-level radioactive waste disposed of in Utah because it becomes more radioactive over time.
The regulatory commission isn't expected to finalize its rules until 2012 at the earliest.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A spokeswoman for Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson of Utah says the Department of Energy has decided it will begin shipping thousands of drums of low-level radioactive waste from South Carolina for disposal in Utah.
Alyson Heyrend says the department informed Matheson's office of its decision Thursday.
Matheson had asked the agency to halt shipments of depleted uranium from the Savannah River Site until the Nuclear Regulatory Commission finalizes rules for how the material should be disposed of.
Depleted uranium is different from other low-level radioactive waste disposed of in Utah because it becomes more radioactive over time.
The regulatory commission isn't expected to finalize its rules until 2012 at the earliest.
DOE: Nevada not an option for SC depleted uranium
By BROCK VERGAKIS /Associated Press Writer/527 words/9 December 2009/17:07/Associated Press Newswires/APRS/English/(c) 2009. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Nevada has been ruled out as an alternative disposal site for low-level radioactive waste from South Carolina currently scheduled to come to Utah, a Department of Energy spokeswoman said Wednesday.
DOE spokeswoman Lauren Milone said nearly 15,000 drums of the material will either be disposed of in Utah or remain in South Carolina, and a final decision could come as early as next week.
She said the Nevada site about 65 miles north of Las Vegas is being excluded from discussions about the depleted uranium because the energy department agreed to conduct a statewide environmental impact statement before accepting new waste there. The review would take too long, probably at least a year, she said.
Disposal of the Savannah River Site waste is being funded through federal stimulus money, which is intended to quickly spur the economy.
The first shipments of depleted uranium were scheduled to leave South Carolina for Utah this month but the move was opposed by an environmental group and U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah.
Depleted uranium is different from other waste disposed at EnergySolutions Inc.'s facility 70 miles west of Salt Lake City because it becomes more radioactive over time, for up to 1 million years. The material is a by-product of the uranium enrichment process used to make nuclear weapons in the Cold War era.
EnergySolutions operates the country's largest and only privately owned low-level radioactive waste disposal site.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Nevada has been ruled out as an alternative disposal site for low-level radioactive waste from South Carolina currently scheduled to come to Utah, a Department of Energy spokeswoman said Wednesday.
DOE spokeswoman Lauren Milone said nearly 15,000 drums of the material will either be disposed of in Utah or remain in South Carolina, and a final decision could come as early as next week.
She said the Nevada site about 65 miles north of Las Vegas is being excluded from discussions about the depleted uranium because the energy department agreed to conduct a statewide environmental impact statement before accepting new waste there. The review would take too long, probably at least a year, she said.
Disposal of the Savannah River Site waste is being funded through federal stimulus money, which is intended to quickly spur the economy.
The first shipments of depleted uranium were scheduled to leave South Carolina for Utah this month but the move was opposed by an environmental group and U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah.
Depleted uranium is different from other waste disposed at EnergySolutions Inc.'s facility 70 miles west of Salt Lake City because it becomes more radioactive over time, for up to 1 million years. The material is a by-product of the uranium enrichment process used to make nuclear weapons in the Cold War era.
EnergySolutions operates the country's largest and only privately owned low-level radioactive waste disposal site.
DOE; Staffing woes frustrate stimulus disbursement -- IG
Katherine Ling, E&E reporter /314 words/9 December 2009/Greenwire/GRWR/English/© 2009 E&E Publishing, LLC. All Rights Reserved
The Energy Department's ability to hire, train and retain a sufficient number of employees to disburse and monitor the almost $33 billion in stimulus funds remains a problem, DOE's inspector general said in a report released today.
The report found program staffing inadequate to ensure stimulus funds could be distributed in a timely manner and monitored for abuse or fraud. DOE has awarded almost $19 billion so far, of which $1.6 billion has been spent.
"While we recognize that it takes time to address inadequate staffing levels, we believe that this will continue to be a challenge encountered by most programs in the foreseeable future," the report says. "The effort to date has strained existing resources. As has been widely acknowledged, any effort to disburse massive additional funding and to expeditiously initiate and complete projects increases the risk of fraud, waste and abuse," it says.
The report acknowledged that DOE has made some progress in identifying risks and preparing mitigation plans by establishing the Risk Management Office within the Chief Financial Office. DOE also reported that programs are set to submit staffing requirement plans in January and have hired some contractors and reallocated personnel.
The report also recommends that performance measures be tied to accomplishing goals. "In this way, contractors' performance on Recovery Act projects may directly affect the fees they can earn," the report says.
DOE should also give extra scrutiny to larger projects -- for example, integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) projects for coal-fired power plants -- that include multiple partners, the report says. "Given the complexity and substantial costs of these projects, business arrangements between teaming partners should be subject to extensive coordination and rigorous Department review," it says.
DOE management generally concurred with the report's findings.
The Energy Department's ability to hire, train and retain a sufficient number of employees to disburse and monitor the almost $33 billion in stimulus funds remains a problem, DOE's inspector general said in a report released today.
The report found program staffing inadequate to ensure stimulus funds could be distributed in a timely manner and monitored for abuse or fraud. DOE has awarded almost $19 billion so far, of which $1.6 billion has been spent.
"While we recognize that it takes time to address inadequate staffing levels, we believe that this will continue to be a challenge encountered by most programs in the foreseeable future," the report says. "The effort to date has strained existing resources. As has been widely acknowledged, any effort to disburse massive additional funding and to expeditiously initiate and complete projects increases the risk of fraud, waste and abuse," it says.
The report acknowledged that DOE has made some progress in identifying risks and preparing mitigation plans by establishing the Risk Management Office within the Chief Financial Office. DOE also reported that programs are set to submit staffing requirement plans in January and have hired some contractors and reallocated personnel.
The report also recommends that performance measures be tied to accomplishing goals. "In this way, contractors' performance on Recovery Act projects may directly affect the fees they can earn," the report says.
DOE should also give extra scrutiny to larger projects -- for example, integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) projects for coal-fired power plants -- that include multiple partners, the report says. "Given the complexity and substantial costs of these projects, business arrangements between teaming partners should be subject to extensive coordination and rigorous Department review," it says.
DOE management generally concurred with the report's findings.
Domenici Nuclear Waste Proposal Would Likely Draw State Opposition
1111 words/ 9 December 2009/ Energy Washington Week/ IEPA/ Vol. 6, No. 49/ English/Copyright © 2009, Inside Washington Publishers. All rights reserved. Also available in print and online as part of www.EnergyWashington.com.
A proposal put forth last week by former Senate energy committee chief Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) for the U.S. to adopt nuclear waste recycling in light of the Yucca Mountain repository's demise as a waste management option has stirred discussion among lawmakers and others but if it is taken seriously will almost certainly encounter state utility regulators' resistance because it would entail diverting money from the $23 billion nuclear waste fund to build a recycling pilot plant and would abrogate DOE's obligations under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act to transport and store the waste, according to industry sources.
The proposal was put forward by Domenici -- now a senior fellow with the influential Bipartisan Policy Center think tank -- in a Dec. 1 speech at an event sponsored by the U.S. Energy Association (USEA), a group of private and public energy officials, and has attracted attention among parties interested in nuclear policy. Domenici's proposal comes amid continued DOE inaction on Energy Secretary Steven Chu's announced intention to establish a "blue ribbon panel" to design a path forward on waste disposal now that the Obama administration has said the site DOE designated for storing high-level waste under the nuclear waste law -- Nevada's Yucca Mountain -- is no longer an option. For several months DOE has said that the formation of the blue ribbon panel is imminent.
A senior official with Areva, the French-based nuclear power company and one of the world's leading proponents of nuclear waste recycling, although interested in Domenici's proposal, sees significant hurdles in negotiating around the nuclear waste law unless a recycling program can ensure the removal of the waste by the government. The states are not likely to endorse the use of two decades of ratepayer fee collections plus earned interest to invest in what would essentially be a research and development program that would not fulfill DOE's obligations under the law, says the source.
A proposal put forth last week by former Senate energy committee chief Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) for the U.S. to adopt nuclear waste recycling in light of the Yucca Mountain repository's demise as a waste management option has stirred discussion among lawmakers and others but if it is taken seriously will almost certainly encounter state utility regulators' resistance because it would entail diverting money from the $23 billion nuclear waste fund to build a recycling pilot plant and would abrogate DOE's obligations under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act to transport and store the waste, according to industry sources.
The proposal was put forward by Domenici -- now a senior fellow with the influential Bipartisan Policy Center think tank -- in a Dec. 1 speech at an event sponsored by the U.S. Energy Association (USEA), a group of private and public energy officials, and has attracted attention among parties interested in nuclear policy. Domenici's proposal comes amid continued DOE inaction on Energy Secretary Steven Chu's announced intention to establish a "blue ribbon panel" to design a path forward on waste disposal now that the Obama administration has said the site DOE designated for storing high-level waste under the nuclear waste law -- Nevada's Yucca Mountain -- is no longer an option. For several months DOE has said that the formation of the blue ribbon panel is imminent.
A senior official with Areva, the French-based nuclear power company and one of the world's leading proponents of nuclear waste recycling, although interested in Domenici's proposal, sees significant hurdles in negotiating around the nuclear waste law unless a recycling program can ensure the removal of the waste by the government. The states are not likely to endorse the use of two decades of ratepayer fee collections plus earned interest to invest in what would essentially be a research and development program that would not fulfill DOE's obligations under the law, says the source.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Office of Waste Processing Technical Exchange May 2009
The presentation videos and slides are available at the following website.
http://srnl.doe.gov/owp_techex09/denver_webcast/presentations.htm
Poster presentations from the meeting are available at:
http://srnl.doe.gov/owp_techex09/denver_webcast/posters.htm
General Information about the meeting below.
Over the past seven years, personnel from the three sites, Savannah River/Hanford/Idaho along with others receiving funding from the Office of Environmental Management have met to exchange recent results of on-going field operations and technology development. The purpose of this exchange is to provide a forum for discussion of each Site’s efforts to accelerate cleanup operations. Keys to success and lessons learned are openly exchanged in a manner to allow for open discussion between operations, engineering and scientists to accelerate transition of technologies from concepts to field implementation.
Technical issues will include:
• Waste Retrieval
• Waste Form Development
• Pretreatment
• Facility Readiness and Startup
• Performance Assessment
• Tank Farm Operational Improvements
• Advance Stabilization
Special Features
• Technical presentations
• Technical Sessions (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
• Technical poster session (Wednesday)
• ON-DEMAND Web Cast of recorded Technical Sessions
http://srnl.doe.gov/owp_techex09/denver_webcast/presentations.htm
Poster presentations from the meeting are available at:
http://srnl.doe.gov/owp_techex09/denver_webcast/posters.htm
General Information about the meeting below.
Over the past seven years, personnel from the three sites, Savannah River/Hanford/Idaho along with others receiving funding from the Office of Environmental Management have met to exchange recent results of on-going field operations and technology development. The purpose of this exchange is to provide a forum for discussion of each Site’s efforts to accelerate cleanup operations. Keys to success and lessons learned are openly exchanged in a manner to allow for open discussion between operations, engineering and scientists to accelerate transition of technologies from concepts to field implementation.
Technical issues will include:
• Waste Retrieval
• Waste Form Development
• Pretreatment
• Facility Readiness and Startup
• Performance Assessment
• Tank Farm Operational Improvements
• Advance Stabilization
Special Features
• Technical presentations
• Technical Sessions (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
• Technical poster session (Wednesday)
• ON-DEMAND Web Cast of recorded Technical Sessions
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Experts Urge New Accounts for Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel
1095 words/1 December 2009/ENP Newswire/ENPNEW/English/(c) 2009, Electronic News Publishing. All Rights Reserved. /Release date - 30112009
With no long-term plan yet in sight for managing the more than 58,000 tons of highly radioactive spent fuel piling up at the nation’s nuclear reactors, a group of experts is urging the creation of escrow accounts for utilities to draw on as they store spent fuel on-site in large casks.
In effect, the group is calling on Congress and the U.S. government to recognize what already is happening-the storage of large amounts of spent fuel at reactor sites-and to come up with financial mechanisms to help ensure that the waste is kept secure for decades to come.
The expert group was organized by the Program in Arms Control, Disarmament and International Security at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, with the cooperation of the AAAS Center for Science, Technology and Security Policy.
Under the 1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act, the United States government was supposed to take title to the nation’s spent nuclear fuel and eventually dispose of it in a deep underground repository. The federal government has been collecting 1/10th of a cent on every kilowatt-hour of power generated by nuclear plants as a Nuclear Waste Fund to pay for the eventual shipping and burial of the spent fuel.
But the government failed to take title to the fuel in 1998 as scheduled and is unlikely to do so any time soon. The Obama administration recently eliminated further funding for the planned federal disposal site at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, and licensing of the project is virtually stalled.
The $23 billion currently in the Nuclear Waste Fund is not available to utilities for on-site storage of reactor waste. Given the impasse over long-term disposal of spent fuel, the expert group has concluded that the U.S. government should start placing spent fuel management charges into regulated escrow accounts that would be attached to each commercial nuclear plant. That money could then be used to help pay the cost of on-site storage of spent fuel in dry casks and the subsequent removal and management of the casks.
Clifford E. Singer, a professor in the department of nuclear, plasma and radiological engineering at the University of Illinois, discussed the group’s report, ‘‘Plan D’ for Spent Nuclear Fuel,’ at a 16 November Capitol Hill briefing for congressional staff and others.
With no long-term plan yet in sight for managing the more than 58,000 tons of highly radioactive spent fuel piling up at the nation’s nuclear reactors, a group of experts is urging the creation of escrow accounts for utilities to draw on as they store spent fuel on-site in large casks.
In effect, the group is calling on Congress and the U.S. government to recognize what already is happening-the storage of large amounts of spent fuel at reactor sites-and to come up with financial mechanisms to help ensure that the waste is kept secure for decades to come.
The expert group was organized by the Program in Arms Control, Disarmament and International Security at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, with the cooperation of the AAAS Center for Science, Technology and Security Policy.
Under the 1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act, the United States government was supposed to take title to the nation’s spent nuclear fuel and eventually dispose of it in a deep underground repository. The federal government has been collecting 1/10th of a cent on every kilowatt-hour of power generated by nuclear plants as a Nuclear Waste Fund to pay for the eventual shipping and burial of the spent fuel.
But the government failed to take title to the fuel in 1998 as scheduled and is unlikely to do so any time soon. The Obama administration recently eliminated further funding for the planned federal disposal site at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, and licensing of the project is virtually stalled.
The $23 billion currently in the Nuclear Waste Fund is not available to utilities for on-site storage of reactor waste. Given the impasse over long-term disposal of spent fuel, the expert group has concluded that the U.S. government should start placing spent fuel management charges into regulated escrow accounts that would be attached to each commercial nuclear plant. That money could then be used to help pay the cost of on-site storage of spent fuel in dry casks and the subsequent removal and management of the casks.
Clifford E. Singer, a professor in the department of nuclear, plasma and radiological engineering at the University of Illinois, discussed the group’s report, ‘‘Plan D’ for Spent Nuclear Fuel,’ at a 16 November Capitol Hill briefing for congressional staff and others.
Former Senator Pete Domenici Delivers Speech on Future of Global Nuclear Energy
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former Senator Pete Domenici today delivered a speech outlining a 21st century framework for global nuclear power at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) and the United States Energy Association hosted the presentation by former Senator Domenici, now a Senior Fellow at the BPC.
In his speech, Senator Domenici argued that America's nuclear renaissance has stalled and, as a result, the United States is lagging in the development and deployment of new nuclear technologies. Senator Domenici called for effective implementation of the bipartisan Energy Policy Act of 2005 provisions to support nuclear growth in the U.S.
Senator Domenici also emphasized the need to chart a strategic path forward for domestic waste in order to meaningfully participate in the management of used nuclear fuel. He argued that the U.S. must take the lead in addressing the growing global challenges of waste management and non-proliferation.
In his speech, Senator Domenici argued that America's nuclear renaissance has stalled and, as a result, the United States is lagging in the development and deployment of new nuclear technologies. Senator Domenici called for effective implementation of the bipartisan Energy Policy Act of 2005 provisions to support nuclear growth in the U.S.
Senator Domenici also emphasized the need to chart a strategic path forward for domestic waste in order to meaningfully participate in the management of used nuclear fuel. He argued that the U.S. must take the lead in addressing the growing global challenges of waste management and non-proliferation.
Yucca Mountain Nuclear Disposal Site Is Dead, Says Longtime Advocate
December 2, 2009/ By PETER BEHR of ClimateWire
Former Sen. Pete Domenici, a longtime advocate of nuclear power, said yesterday that it is time to give up attempts to create a permanent disposal site for the nation's nuclear waste fuel at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. He urged the Obama administration to move ahead with a planned blue-ribbon commission to find an alternative.
"We need to be realistic here," the former New Mexico Republican legislator said in a speech in Washington. "Yucca Mountain, once chosen as the site for permanent disposal of nuclear waste, is dead."
President Obama has cut off Energy Department funding for the Yucca Mountain project, following through on a campaign commitment to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the project's powerful and implacable opponent.
DOE declined to comment last week on reports that the department would withdraw the project's permit application at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. But DOE spokeswoman Stephanie Mueller said that "the president and Secretary [Steven] Chu have made it clear that nuclear waste storage at Yucca Mountain is not an option, period."
Former Sen. Pete Domenici, a longtime advocate of nuclear power, said yesterday that it is time to give up attempts to create a permanent disposal site for the nation's nuclear waste fuel at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. He urged the Obama administration to move ahead with a planned blue-ribbon commission to find an alternative.
"We need to be realistic here," the former New Mexico Republican legislator said in a speech in Washington. "Yucca Mountain, once chosen as the site for permanent disposal of nuclear waste, is dead."
President Obama has cut off Energy Department funding for the Yucca Mountain project, following through on a campaign commitment to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the project's powerful and implacable opponent.
DOE declined to comment last week on reports that the department would withdraw the project's permit application at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. But DOE spokeswoman Stephanie Mueller said that "the president and Secretary [Steven] Chu have made it clear that nuclear waste storage at Yucca Mountain is not an option, period."
DOE Moving To Pull Yucca License Application—Sources
December 2, 2009, The Energy Daily/BY JEFF BEATTIE
Sources say the Energy Department may move as early as Friday or Monday to withdraw the Yucca Mountain license application currently before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a move that would appear to permanently bury the project.
Sources say DOE may submit a “motion to withdraw” the license application and announce the move at about the same time it names a long-awaited blue-ribbon panel to explore alternative plans for managing the nation’s high-level nuclear waste.
By announcing the expert panel in conjunction with withdrawing the Yucca license application, sources speculate, DOE could say it is still meeting its legal obligations to pursue solutions to the nation’s radioactive waste problem even while ending work on Yucca, which has been the planned disposal repository for U.S nuclear waste for more than 20 years.
Sources say the Energy Department may move as early as Friday or Monday to withdraw the Yucca Mountain license application currently before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a move that would appear to permanently bury the project.
Sources say DOE may submit a “motion to withdraw” the license application and announce the move at about the same time it names a long-awaited blue-ribbon panel to explore alternative plans for managing the nation’s high-level nuclear waste.
By announcing the expert panel in conjunction with withdrawing the Yucca license application, sources speculate, DOE could say it is still meeting its legal obligations to pursue solutions to the nation’s radioactive waste problem even while ending work on Yucca, which has been the planned disposal repository for U.S nuclear waste for more than 20 years.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Energy Secretary Chu and SC and GA Congressional Leadership Break Ground on New Renewable Energy Facility at SRS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/(202) 586-4940 November 30, 2009/ (803) 952-7697
Aiken, SC – (November 30) Today Secretary of Energy Steven Chu was joined by South Carolina and Georgia Congressional delegation members to break ground on a new renewable energy fueled facility at the Savannah River Site (SRS). The new Biomass Cogeneration Facility replaces a deteriorating, inefficient coal powerhouse and oil-fired boilers at a savings of approximately $35 million a year in energy and operation and maintenance costs and reduces air emissions, including 100,000 tons per year of greenhouse gas emissions.
“"By investing in energy efficiency, we are creating good jobs that can’t be outsourced. This project will employ 800 workers during construction and about 25 people during permanent operations,” said Secretary Chu in addressing an audience of over 150 stakeholders and employees during the groundbreaking ceremony at SRS. “The money from those paychecks will go straight back into the local economy and drive even more economic recovery.” Joining Secretary Chu for the ceremonial groundbreaking were: South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (RSC); House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC); U.S. Representative Gresham Barrett (R-SC); U.S. Representative John Barrow (D-GA); U.S. Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC); DOE-Savannah River Manager Jeffrey Allison; DOE Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management Dae Chung; and Ameresco President and CEO George Sakerallis.
Under the Department’s largest ever Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC), DOE contracted with Ameresco Federal Solutions, Inc. (Ameresco) to finance, design, construct, operate, maintain and fuel the new biomass facility over the term of the 20-year contract valued at $795 million.
Aiken, SC – (November 30) Today Secretary of Energy Steven Chu was joined by South Carolina and Georgia Congressional delegation members to break ground on a new renewable energy fueled facility at the Savannah River Site (SRS). The new Biomass Cogeneration Facility replaces a deteriorating, inefficient coal powerhouse and oil-fired boilers at a savings of approximately $35 million a year in energy and operation and maintenance costs and reduces air emissions, including 100,000 tons per year of greenhouse gas emissions.
“"By investing in energy efficiency, we are creating good jobs that can’t be outsourced. This project will employ 800 workers during construction and about 25 people during permanent operations,” said Secretary Chu in addressing an audience of over 150 stakeholders and employees during the groundbreaking ceremony at SRS. “The money from those paychecks will go straight back into the local economy and drive even more economic recovery.” Joining Secretary Chu for the ceremonial groundbreaking were: South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (RSC); House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC); U.S. Representative Gresham Barrett (R-SC); U.S. Representative John Barrow (D-GA); U.S. Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC); DOE-Savannah River Manager Jeffrey Allison; DOE Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management Dae Chung; and Ameresco President and CEO George Sakerallis.
Under the Department’s largest ever Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC), DOE contracted with Ameresco Federal Solutions, Inc. (Ameresco) to finance, design, construct, operate, maintain and fuel the new biomass facility over the term of the 20-year contract valued at $795 million.
Nuclear hearing delay sought
Keith Rogers /843 words/23 November 2009/The Las Vegas Review-Journal/LVGS/1B/English/© 2009 The Las Vegas Review-Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All Rights Reserved.
By KEITH ROGERS/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
In a surprise move, the nuclear power industry's lobbying arm has asked regulators to suspend hearings on a license to bury tens of thousands of tons of highly radioactive waste in Yucca Mountain.
The proposal by the Nuclear Energy Institute takes a step back from a 20-year goal to reach the first year of the hearing process. Institute officials say the move is necessary to make wise use of funds left in a Yucca Mountain budget slashed severely by the Obama administration.
Nevada opponents contend that suspending the hearings would hamper their efforts to achieve victory early in the process by denying the state an opportunity to offer evidence against the license application that shows the site is not suitable and the repository's design is fatally flawed.
In essence, energy lobbyists want to shift the process to one focused on safety research by the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which critics say is an end run attempt to get those agencies to sign off on a license approval for the repository without input by Yucca foes that would come during licensing hearings.
Citing an internal Energy Department memorandum that calls for ending the agency's defense of the license next month, officials for the institute suggest using the money instead for completing a review of safety issues about the planned repository site, 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
By KEITH ROGERS/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
In a surprise move, the nuclear power industry's lobbying arm has asked regulators to suspend hearings on a license to bury tens of thousands of tons of highly radioactive waste in Yucca Mountain.
The proposal by the Nuclear Energy Institute takes a step back from a 20-year goal to reach the first year of the hearing process. Institute officials say the move is necessary to make wise use of funds left in a Yucca Mountain budget slashed severely by the Obama administration.
Nevada opponents contend that suspending the hearings would hamper their efforts to achieve victory early in the process by denying the state an opportunity to offer evidence against the license application that shows the site is not suitable and the repository's design is fatally flawed.
In essence, energy lobbyists want to shift the process to one focused on safety research by the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which critics say is an end run attempt to get those agencies to sign off on a license approval for the repository without input by Yucca foes that would come during licensing hearings.
Citing an internal Energy Department memorandum that calls for ending the agency's defense of the license next month, officials for the institute suggest using the money instead for completing a review of safety issues about the planned repository site, 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
11/20/2009 - EM Update Newsletter - Issue 9
http://www.em.doe.gov/pdfs/11-20-09%20EM%20Update%20Newsletter.pdf
In This Issue
Portsmouth Visit ..........................1
All-Hands on Reorganization ......1
In B rief .........................................1
People ..........................................
All-Hands Meeting Set on EM Reorganization
Assistant Secretary Triay will conduct an “all hands” meeting for all EM employees on Tuesday, December 1, to introduce the members of her new leadership team, share her vision of EM’s “Journey to Excellence” and outline the next steps for implementing EM’s reorganization and its new business model. The two-hour session will also include remarks from Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Dae Chung and Merle Sykes and Frank Marcinowski, the acting Chief Business and Technical Offi cers for EM. Barry Clark and Carolyn Haylock, the presidents of National Treasury Employees Union Chapters 213 and 228, respectively, will also speak. The meeting will take place via a video conference linking headquarters to 21 EM field offi ces. An audio hookup will also be available for those offi ces without video capability.
The first hour of the session will consist of remarks from Triay and other speakers. The second hour will be devoted to answering questions from EM employees. EM’s reorganization and new business model have been in development since last summer. The headquarters portion of the reorganization took effect last month after it had obtained all needed reviews and approvals. Its key features include a major shift in relationships between the fi eld and headquarters provides more operating authority to managers in the field, revamped roles and responsibilities for EM’s Deputy Assistant Secretaries and the creation of the Chief Business and Technical Offi cer positions.
Full implementation of the reorganization and the new business model will require setting the criteria EM must meet to become a highperforming organization, completing site and headquarters self-assessments and, ultimately, establishing a new organization-wide baseline for measuring EM’s future performance in areas such as project, contract and financial management, health and safety and quality assurance.
In This Issue
Portsmouth Visit ..........................1
All-Hands on Reorganization ......1
In B rief .........................................1
People ..........................................
All-Hands Meeting Set on EM Reorganization
Assistant Secretary Triay will conduct an “all hands” meeting for all EM employees on Tuesday, December 1, to introduce the members of her new leadership team, share her vision of EM’s “Journey to Excellence” and outline the next steps for implementing EM’s reorganization and its new business model. The two-hour session will also include remarks from Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Dae Chung and Merle Sykes and Frank Marcinowski, the acting Chief Business and Technical Offi cers for EM. Barry Clark and Carolyn Haylock, the presidents of National Treasury Employees Union Chapters 213 and 228, respectively, will also speak. The meeting will take place via a video conference linking headquarters to 21 EM field offi ces. An audio hookup will also be available for those offi ces without video capability.
The first hour of the session will consist of remarks from Triay and other speakers. The second hour will be devoted to answering questions from EM employees. EM’s reorganization and new business model have been in development since last summer. The headquarters portion of the reorganization took effect last month after it had obtained all needed reviews and approvals. Its key features include a major shift in relationships between the fi eld and headquarters provides more operating authority to managers in the field, revamped roles and responsibilities for EM’s Deputy Assistant Secretaries and the creation of the Chief Business and Technical Offi cer positions.
Full implementation of the reorganization and the new business model will require setting the criteria EM must meet to become a highperforming organization, completing site and headquarters self-assessments and, ultimately, establishing a new organization-wide baseline for measuring EM’s future performance in areas such as project, contract and financial management, health and safety and quality assurance.
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