City officials, doctors, public seek expansion of KI for nuclear disaster preparedness around Fermi-2 reactor

Credit: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory CommissionOn February 4, 2019, the Ann Arbor City Council in Southeast Michigan unanimously passed a municipal resolution calling on the State and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to upgrade radiological disaster preparedness around the Fermi Unit 2 nuclear power station, approximately 30-miles away, in Monroe, MI. Specifically, the city is requesting the State and the NRC to strategically stockpile potassium iodide (KI) tablets in city schools, hospitals, police and fire stations for the population-level protection of the thyroid, particularly those of infants, young children through 18 years old and pregnant woman and lactating mothers, from radioactive iodine released during a severe nuclear accident.  KI, if ingested shortly after a radioactive release and accompanied by evacuation, sheltering-in-place and avoiding contaminated food, water and milk, is effective in saturating the thyroid with stable iodine and preventing the absorption of cancer-causing radioiodine.

In fact, Ann Arbor officials are seeking the same level of disaster medicine preparedness as already provided Canadians living within Fermi nuclear station’s internationally recognized 50-mile emergency planning zone. The Fermi radiological emergency planning zone spans Lake Erie and the US and Canada border. Following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, Ontario health officials and Canadian nuclear regulators required in 2014 the predistribution and stockpiling of KI to Canadian populations around all Canadian nuclear power stations. In December 2017, the Ontario Provincial Government expanded the predistribution of KI to Canadians living in radiological emergency planning zones for the U.S.-based nuclear power stations in Michigan (Fermi-2) and Ohio (Davis-Besse and Perry).

The Ann Arbor municipal resolution---introduced by Beyond Nuclear, city residents and a Michigan safe energy coalition---is supported by the American Thyroid Association (ATA).  In testimony before City Council on the night of the vote, Dr. Thomas Giordano, an Ann Arbor resident, a pathologist with University of Michigan’s Michigan Medicine and ATA board member, supported passage of the municipal resolution. Dr. Giordano emphasized the importance of KI pre-distribution and stockpiling around nuclear power stations to protect the youngest and most vulnerable population and that it should be required---not just an option.

The City of Ann Arbor is now preparing a KI lobby campaign to approach state and Washtenaw County emergency planners and public health officials as well as the NRC. Beyond Nuclear will work with Ann Arbor officials and broaden its public outreach to foster support for the resolution in municipalities within the emergency planning zone of Fermi and other U.S. reactors.

Currently, the availability of free KI tablets from the NRC  for the prophylactic protection of the thyroid from cancer-causing radioactive iodine released during a nuclear accident is an optional volutary program for states affected by nuclear power plants' 10-mile  evacuation planning zones. Of those states participating, KI is distributed within the 10-mile EPZ through vouchers sent in the mail with utility bills that can be redeemed for KI tablets on designated calendar dates at designiated pickup stations. A 2012 study by Michigan health health officials determined that little more that 5% of eligible receipents actually picked up their tablets.

Trump wants space for war, others remind us of its beauty and our place in it

This week, two stories on Beyond Nuclear International juxtapose the transformative beauty of Earth from space and our home in the universe, with President Trump's latest move toward war in space. Bella Gaia, Kenji Williams' breathtaking creation, is an immersive, multi-media experience that uses NASA photography of Earth from and in space, as well as digital creations that represent our heavy footprint down on Earth -- including forest fires, air traffic, ocean pollution and the Fukushima radioactive plume. But Trump is pulling the US out of the INF treaty, has already withdrawn the US from the Iran nuclear deal, has demanded a "Space Force" and now, writes Karl Grossman, wants to ramp up Reagan's failed and futile "Star Wars" missile defense system.

Bella Gaia: https://beyondnuclearinternational.org/2019/02/03/a-planet-worth-saving/

Darth Trump: https://beyondnuclearinternational.org/2019/02/03/darth-trump-from-space-force-to-star-wars/

(Headline photo of ocean currents and temperature from Bella Gaia courtesy of Christopher Altman/Creative Commons.)

The global crisis of nuclear waste

A comprehensive report -- in English -- has been published by Greenpeace France, taking an in-depth look at the growing, unending and unsolved problem of radioactive waste. A team of experts reviewed the radioactive waste situation in Belgium, France, Japan, Sweden, Finland, the UK and the USA. The report -- The Global Crisis of Nuclear Waste - is authored by Pete Roche, Bertrand Thuillier, Bernard Laponche, Miles Goldstick, Johann Swahn, Hideyuki Ban and Robert Alvarez.

US set to suspend compliance with the INF Treaty today

In a move that will still make nuclear war in Europe more likely, the US is today expected to suspend its compliance with the INF Treaty (Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, signed by the US and then USSR in 1987) -- rather than withdraw from it as originally announced. However, the US may also give notice of its intent to withdraw.

According to Beatrice Fihn, head of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning ICAN, "Suspension from a bilateral treaty is different from withdrawal from it as suspension means that the treaty continues to exist. It appears that the United States will suspend its compliance with the treaty on Friday on the basis that the Russian Novator 9M729 missile is within the prohibited missile range (more than 500 km). By suspending its compliance with the Treaty based on a material breach by Russia, it means the United States will be able to deploy prohibited missiles in Europe. Russia will still be bound by the treaty, but could of course respond by saying that they are in compliance so US suspension is itself unlawful, or themselves suspend or withdraw from treaty as a reaction to the US actions.

"Withdrawal means a state intends no longer to be a party to a treaty. In the case of the INF treaty there is a six-month notice period. This is to allow time for discussions or negotiations in case it is possible to resolve the problem. If there is no amicable resolution and the United States does give formal notice of withdrawal, it will no longer be a party to the INF Treaty. Similarly, Russia will, in all likelihood, no longer be bound either."

Further reading: Why the INF treaty matters -- and -- Why we all need the INF Treaty.

Photo: Soviet inspectors and their American escorts stand among several dismantled Pershing II missiles as they view the destruction of other missile components. The missiles are being destroyed in accordance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. 14 January 1989. Photo: Wikimedia Commons / US Department of Defense / MSGT Jose Lopez Jr.

Trump administration secretly shipped radioactive plutonium to Nevada despite state’s opposition

The US Department of Energy secretly shipped about half a metric ton of weapons-grade radioactive plutonium to Nevada last November without informing state authorities. Court filings revealed this week that the Trump administration’s National Nuclear Security Administration transferred the lethal plutonium from South Carolina after which, unaware of the transfer, the state of Nevada sued to stop the shipment. Nevada Governor, Steve Sisolak (D) this week expressed outrage at “this  completely unacceptable deception from the US Department of Energy.” Democratic Nevada senator, Jacky Rosen, said the secret shipment had put “the health and safety of thousands of Nevadans and Americans who live in close proximity to shipment routes” at risk.

See links to extensive news coverage, as well as to the State of Nevada's lawsuit filings opposed to the weapons-grade plutonium shipments.