Is radiation good for you? The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission could decide it is

The Ecologist leads, "The well-founded idea that nuclear radiation is dangerous even at the lowest levels is under attack, writes Karl Grossman. Three determined nuclear enthusiasts have filed petitions to the NRC calling on it to apply the doctrine of 'radiation hormesis' - that low levels of radiation actually stimulate the immune system and promote better health. Disagree? You'd better act fast. "

(You can sign The Beyond Nuclear petition to the NRC here.)

Karl writes,  "The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering a move to eliminate the 'Linear No-Threshold' (LNT) basis of radiation protection that the US has used for decades and replace it with the 'radiation hormesis' theory - which holds that low doses of radioactivity are good for people."

"The change is being pushed by 'a group of pro-nuclear fanatics - there is really no other way to describe them', charges the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) based near Washington DC."

"'If implemented, the hormesis model would result in needless death and misery', says Michael Mariotte, NIRS president. The current US requirement that nuclear plant operators reduce exposures to the public to "as low as reasonably achievable" would be "tossed out the window."

"Emergency planning zones would be significantly reduced or abolished entirely. Instead of being forced to spend money to limit radiation releases, nuclear utilities could pocket greater profits. In addition, adoption of the radiation model by the NRC would throw the entire government's radiation protection rules into disarray, since other agencies, like the EPA, also rely on the LNT model."

"'If anything', says Mariotte, 'the NRC radiation standards need to be strengthened.'"

Read the full article.

Update on September 11, 2015 by admin

Harvey Wasserman just hosted Karl Grossman on the "Solartopia" radio program on PRN. Grossman spoke on the lethal dangers of nuclear power, how it must be eliminated, and about the safe, clean, renewable energy technologies ­ we can live with ­ here now, being implemented, and more than ready to be more widely implemented. Focused on, too, was NRC's current consideration of adopting the big lie “hormesis theory," that radioactivity is good for people.

Cue up the bailout plea: Entergy might close aging FitzPatrick nuclear plant in New York State

Entergy's FitzPatrick atomic reactor (NRC file photo).The subject line above is Scott Stapf of the Hasting Group's Tweet pointing to an article at Syracuse.com. The dirty, age-degraded, dangerous, expensive, uncompetitive Fukushima Daiichi twin design (a General Electric Mark I Boiling Water Reactor) on the Lake Ontario shore in upstate NY (see photo), couldn't close a moment too soon!

Vital cancer study canceled: NRC will hide the truth about nuclear reactor risks

Beyond Nuclear today decried the outrageous decision by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to cancel a study that would have examined cancer incidence and mortalities and the connection to U.S. nuclear facilities.

“Study after study in Europe has shown a clear rise in childhood leukemia around operating nuclear power facilities, yet the NRC has decided to hide this vital information from the American public,” said Cindy Folkers, radiation and health specialist at Beyond Nuclear. 

The study, initiated in 2009 and carried out under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), had completed Phase 1 and was looking at seven pilot nuclear sites around the country, a project that was estimated to cost $8 million.

“An $8 million price tag for the next phase of this study is a drop in the bucket for an agency with a $1 billion annual operating budget,” added Folkers.  The NRC identified  the “significant amount of time and resources needed and the agency’s current budget constraints” as its excuse for terminating the study.  

Folkers noted that, in reality, nuclear industry manipulation, rather than budget constraints, could be behind the NRC’s sudden decision to abandon the NAS study. 

In documents obtained by Beyond Nuclear it was revealed that NRC staff had been approached by the president of U.S. National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), John Boice, offering a cheaper, faster and less sensitive study design to replace the NAS study, although the NRC has not yet agreed to accept the NCRP bid.

Read the full press release and feel free to circulate. 

"Czech agency: Russian spies are focusing on nuclear sector"

As reported by AP:

PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Republic's counter-intelligence agency says the number of Russian spies remains high and they are particularly interested in the country's nuclear program.

The agency, also known as BIS, says in its annual report published Friday: "Russia does not consider a fight over the Czech nuclear energy sector a lost battle."

BIS says the Russian spies focus on a recently approved government plan to build at least one more reactor at the Temelin nuclear plant and another at the Dukovany plant. They also target anyone whose task is to make this plan reality, it says.

[The] Kremlin is also trying to take control over the Russian community's organizations here, BIS charges, and is building a spy network in Europe, similar to what the Soviet Union did before World War II.

VOX: "This Ohio utility has an innovative plan to save coal power: force customers to buy it"

A FirstEnergy ratepayer (Shutterstock). In fact, AARP has spoken out forcefully against the FirstEnergy bailout, as at PUCO public comment hearings in Akron, OH -- FirstEnergy's hometown -- in Jan. 2015.Should we laugh or cry? David Roberts has written an appropriately sarcastic, comprehensive review of FirstEnergy's attempt to gouge Ohio ratepayers to the tune of $3 billion over the next 15 years, to prop up its uncompetitive Davis-Besse atom-splitter on the Lake Erie shore, and its climate-fouling Sammis coal burner on the banks of the Ohio River.

Never mind that a decade ago, FirstEnergy lobbyists led the charge for "deregulation." Now, they're leading the charge for killing the competition (efficiency and renewables), as NIRS executive director Tim Judson has put it. And they're leading the charge for this ratepayer bailout. More.