Nuclear Watch New Mexico: More than 120 Groups and Individuals Ask Udall and Heinrich to Extend Public Comment Period on Los Alamos Lab Plutonium Bomb Core Production

See the Nuclear Watch New Mexico press release:

Nuclear Watch New Mexico

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, April 21, 2020

Contact:   Jay Coghlan, Nuclear Watch NM, 505.989.7342, jay@nukewatch.org

                  Scott Kovac, Nuclear Watch NM, 505.989.7342, scott@nukewatch.org

More than 120 Groups and Individuals Ask Udall and Heinrich to Extend Public Comment Period on Los Alamos Lab Plutonium Bomb Core Production

Santa Fe, NM – Today, on behalf of more than 120 groups and individuals, Nuclear Watch New Mexico sent a letter to New Mexico Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich. It asks them to act upon their own words and demand that the public comment period be extended for plutonium “pit” bomb core production that the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is fast tracking during the coronavirus epidemic. As sitting members of the Senate Appropriations and Armed Services Committees, Udall and Heinrich are in strong positions to make that demand of NNSA.

See full press release, here.

Groups petition NRC over Fermi 2 repair

Petition alleges mishandling of maintenance

As reported by the Monroe (Michigan) News.

See the Beyond Nuclear and Don't Waste Michigan press release, here.

PANDEMIC -- Zoom bombings, cancellations: Energy hearings in chaos

"Freedom of Speech," by Norman Rockwell, 1943As reported by E&E News. The article quotes Beyond Nuclear:

...[C]itizen groups, environmental advocates and some legislators are voicing concerns about their ability to be heard on projects including wind farms, pipelines and nuclear waste.

Proposals for two interim used-fuel storage facilities are pending before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which could approve the license applications as soon as next year.

Opponents have balked at the plans and said they pose safety risks. And a number of parties are asking for more time to vet a proposal in New Mexico — including through public meetings.

New Mexico's congressional delegation is calling for extending a 60-day public comment period on a draft environmental impact statement until it's safe to attend public meetings, noting that any decision on nuclear waste storage may have long-lasting consequences.

Beyond Nuclear, a frequent industry critic, is part of a coalition seeking a 199-day comment period and meetings in a number of states that could occur once it's safe to gather at public events. [See coalition press release, here.]

Kevin Kamps, a radioactive waste specialist with Beyond Nuclear, called in-person public meetings an "important American tradition."

"You know," he said, the "Norman Rockwell town hall meeting where people can look at each other in the eye and can say what they have to say. And it's called democracy."

For its part, Holtec International, the company proposing the New Mexico site, doesn't object to having the NRC consider more time for comments.

"Stakeholder participation is an important part of the regulatory approval process and Holtec welcomes continued feedback," spokesman Joe Delmar said in an email. "An extension is the NRC's prerogative and considering the current environment it seems appropriate for the NRC to give ample opportunity for public comment."

New rules for nuclear plant workers: 12-hour days for two weeks straight

As reported by Bloomberg and published in Crain's Chicago Business.

Beyond Nuclear is quoted:

But watchdog groups are concerned that employees may be overworked, leading to fatigue and potentially errors. “You want an alert workforce,” said Paul Gunter, a director at Beyond Nuclear. “You don’t do this with bus drivers, but they’re saying it’s OK for nuclear power plant workers.”

...Beyond Nuclear’s Gunter says the Indian Point leak may have been prevented if the inspection had taken place on schedule, and the incident points to the potential risks of extending maintenance reviews. As the coronavirus affects the entire global economy, he’s concerned that a wave of extension requests from utilities may lead to other incidents.

“It’s a gamble,” Gunter said. ”Our concern is that they’re creating the conditions for a perfect storm. There could be a catastrophic incident that results from postponing inspections combined with fatigue from people that are overworked.”

Fermi 2 Reactor Compromised by Torus Debris: Risking Failure of Pressure Suppression Chamber and Meltdown

NEWS FROM BEYOND NUCLEAR & DON'T WASTE MICHIGAN

For immediate release: April 16, 2020

Fermi 2 Reactor Compromised by Torus Debris

Risking Failure of Pressure Suppression Chamber and Meltdown

MONROE, MI & WASHINGTON, DC -- Don’t Waste Michigan in conjunction with Beyond Nuclear filed a formal 2.206 Petition with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regarding the Fermi 2 nuclear reactor near Monroe, MI. The 2.206 Petition calls on the NRC to take Enforcement Action and prove why the Fermi 2 should be allowed to restart and operate given the severely compromised Pressure Suppression Chamber, risking reactor core-melt damage. Of particular concern is that loose paint chips/coating chips in the drains could make it difficult for vital reactor coolant pumps to move water in the event of an emergency. The 2.206 Petition compels the NRC to follow their own Inspections and Confirmatory Action Letter (October 4, 2019) which required torus repair. See the full press release, here.