Under the 'nuclear shadow' of Colorado's Rocky Flats

Kristen Iversen, author of the new book,  Full Body Burden: Growing up in the Nuclear Shadow of Rocky Flats, spoke eloquently on NPR's Fresh Air about what led her to write the book. Part memoir and also an investigation, the book examines the decades-long environmental scandal involving nuclear contamination in and around Rocky Flats, a nuclear weapons production facility. Listen to the show here.

Iversen spent her childhood in Colorado, close to the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons factory, playing in fields and swimming in lakes and streams that it now appears were contaminated with plutonium. Weapons production ended at Rocky Flats in 1989 after FBI agents raided the plant. Its operators later pleaded guilty to criminal violations of environmental law.

"N.R.C. Nomination Shines Spotlight on Waste-Disposal Issue

Dr. Allison Macfarlane (pictured left), nominated by President Obama to chair the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), faces her U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee confirmation hearing tomorrow morning. The New York Times reports that her questioning will likely focus on "waste, waste, and earthquakes." More.

"What is the United States government waiting for?"

Japanese diplomat Akio Matsumura, more than anyone, has raised the alarm about the structural integrity of the Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 high-level radioactive waste storage pool. Matsumura has published a new essay explaining the Japanese government's inaction, and calling for international action. Matsumura argues that the U.S., in order to protect its own interests, must urge the Japanese government to allow in an independent assessment team to determine the status of the Unit 4 pool, and the best path forward on removing its irradiated nuclear fuel, before another big earthquake strikes.

Geologists predict a 90% chance of a Magnitude 7.0 quake hitting the Fukushima area in the next three years. Unit 4's collapse could result in its high-level radioactive waste catching fire, unleashing a global catastrophe. Unit 4's high-level radioactive waste pool contains 8 to 10 times the Cs-137 released by Chernobyl, but its release would put in jeopardy all seven high-level radioactive waste storage pools at Fukushima Daiichi, containing 85 times, or more, Chernobyl's Cs-137. Such a worst-case scenario would certainly result in significant radioactive fallout on the North American mainland, not to mention further contamination of the Pacific Ocean, and radioactivity bio-concentration in the food chain. 

Please contact the White House, and urge President Obama to offer cooperative assistance to the Japanese government, in order to independently assess the Unit 4 pool, and determine how best to quickly remove the irradiated nuclear fuel before the reactor building collapses.

A powerful, moving plea, from the women of Fukushima

On June 7, 2012, about 70 women, including 10 women from Fukushima, did a "die-in" in front of Prime Minister Noda's official residence to protest against the start of the Ohi nuclear power plant. Before the die-in, 10 Fukushima women visited the Cabinet office and met with officials to submit a letter of request addressed to Prime Minister Noda. The next day, Noda announced he would re-start Ohi. This video shows the testimony of the women - one by one - in powerful, moving orations that should not fail to move anyone thinking rationally. At the end there is footage of the die-in. Unfortunately, Noda failed to heed their pleas. Watch our bulletin, website and Facebook pages for actions to protest the irresponsible criminality of restarting reactors in Japan.

9 States, NCSL, and Vermont NGOs join VT AG's appeal of Entergy Vermont Yankee atomic reactor ruling

Vermont Attorney General William SorrellThe Attorney General of the State of Vermont, William Sorrell (pictured left), fresh off his victory against the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's "Nuclear Waste Confidence Decision" at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, has filed his brief in New York City appealing a Brattleboro, VT federal district judge's ruling in January which enabled the Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee atomic reactor to continue operating, in contravention of State of Vermont laws. AG Sorrell's brief was supported by "friend of the court" briefs from nine states (Connecticut, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, and Utah), as well as the bipartisan National Conference of State Legislatures. Also filing "friend of the court" briefs in support of VT AG Sorrell were VT NGOs Conservation Law Foundation, the Vermont Natural Resources Council, the New England Coalition, and the Vermont Public Interest Research Group.