Declaration of Independence from proposed Fermi 3 new atomic reactor: "No indoctrination without representation!" regarding Fermi 1 meltdown history

Beyond Nuclear and its allies in the intervention against the proposed new Fermi 3 atomic reactor in Monroe, Michigan have filed their 25th contention opposing the proposed new atomic reactor, citing a violation of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). NRC, Detroit Edison and the State of Michigan have finalized a NHPA mitigation Memorandum of Agreement about the demolition of the Fermi 1 containment shell, despite its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, in order to make room for the construction of Fermi 3, a General Electric-Hitachi so-called "Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor" (ESBWR) . However, the decisions were made without even notifying -- let alone involving -- the public, a violation of NHPA. The coalition has issued a media release. Read more, including links to the historical documents.

"The story of Fermi 1's nearly catastrophic failure offers a large window into the history of commercial nuclear power, an institutional void of safety culture within the primary regulatory agency, and nuclear power’s inherent weapons connection," said Keith Gunter of Livonia, Michigan, a launch partner of Beyond Nuclear and an official intervenor against Fermi 3. "After all, as John G. Fuller's book and Gil Scott-Heron's song title puts it, 'We Almost Lost Detroit,' not to mention Monroe, Toledo, and beyond," Keith Gunter added. (see image, above left)

Will imminent report on Japan nuclear disaster point to earthquake?

A Japanese parliamentary panel is due to release - as early as this week - the results of its in investigation into the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. The report could point to what many experts have already asserted was the cause: the magnitude 9.0 earthquake. Despite denials by the government and TEPCO, a number of seismologists and other experts have suggested the earthquake and not the tsunami caused the meltdowns. Fumiya Tanabe, a former senior researcher at the government's Japan Atomic Energy Agency, conducted his own analysis of data released by the government and Tepco, and concluded that reactor No. 2's cooling facility, called a suppression chamber, was likely seriously damaged by the earthquake, possibly releasing radioactive substances. If that were the case, all other reactors of similar design—11 of which are still in use in Japan— "would come under close scrutiny," Mr. Tanabe said. Concerns have already been raised about the two Oi reactors approved for restart that, seismologists say, could be situated on an active fault line. An estimated 150,000 people demonstrated outside Prime Minister Noda's residence on Friday. Oi unit 3 was restarted on Sunday.

Giant "Trojan Cow" tells Entergy (owner of VT Yankee) to moooooove on!

Update on July 4, 2012 by admin

The Brattleboro Reformer reported on the 300 protestors who rallied at the Vermont Yankee atomic reactor's front entrance, including 40 who were arrested in a non-violent civil disobedience trespass. Relations between protestors and state police were peaceful, friendly, and cooperative. The action, themed for the 4th of July holiday, declared "Independence from Entergy."

"Fermi 3, Don't Tread on Me!"

A growing movement of human beings feeling endangered by the Fermi 3 proposal are declaring their independence from the tyranny of atomic energyBeyond Nuclear and its environmental coalition allies intervening against the proposed Fermi 3 atomic reactor have defended their threatened Eastern Fox Snake contention against a motion for summary disposition filed by nuclear utility Detroit Edison. The filing, submitted by the coalition's attorney Terry Lodge, challenged DTE's proposed mitigation plans, as well as the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' (MDNR) woefully inadequate enforcement of threatened and endangered species protections. DTE's plan for replacement habitat for land ruined by Fermi 3's construction and operation is a former farm field immediately under its Monroe Power Plant, one of the largest coal burners in North America (3,000 Megawatts-electric), meaning the land is likely contaminated with acids, radioactivity, mercury, and other toxic chemicals fallout.

Even the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Atomic Safety (sic) and Licensing Board (ASLB) has agreed with the intervenors that harm to the Eastern Fox Snake species will be inflicted by the 1,000 acre (29.4 mile long, 300 foot wide) transmission line corridor to be built, which neither DTE nor NRC have adequately addressed. And the State of Michigan has de-funded MDNR endangered species regulatory activities, meaning no staff are available to review DTE's proposals, nor to monitor its mitigation activities.

The intervenors issued a press release. Don't Waste Michigan's Michael Keegan of Monroe, MI, was quoted as saying "DTE, don't tread on me! No irradiation without representation!" The other coalition groups include Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination, Citizens Environmental Alliance of Southwestern Ontario, and the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter.