Public Meltdown describes the public debate around re-licensing the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power plant in Vermont. The plant's initial 40-year license expires in March 2012, and the plant's owner, the Louisiana-based Entergy Corporation requested permission to extend the license for another twenty years. This book describes the debate and ensuing "public meltdown" as plant owners announced leaking tritium and misleading comments.

In Japan's Nuclear Disaster and the Politics of Safety Governance, Florentine Koppenborg argues that the regulatory reforms taken up in the wake of the Fukushima disaster on March 11, 2011, directly and indirectly raised the costs of nuclear power in Japan. The Nuclear Regulation Authority resisted capture by the nuclear industry and fundamentally altered the environment for nuclear policy implementation. Independent safety regulation changed state-business relations in the nuclear power domain from regulatory capture to top-down safety regulation, which raised technical safety costs for electric utilities. Furthermore, the safety agency's extended emergency preparedness regulations expanded the allegorical backyard of NIMBY demonstrations. Antinuclear protests, mainly lawsuits challenging restarts, incurred additional social acceptance costs. Increasing costs undermined pronuclear actors' ability to implement nuclear power policy and caused a rift inside the "nuclear village." Small nuclear safety administration reforms were, in fact, game changers for nuclear power politics in Japan. Koppenborg's findings contribute to the vibrant conversations about the rise of independent regulatory agencies, crisis as a mechanism for change, and the role of nuclear power amid global interest in decarbonizing our energy supply.

This report provides technical details applicable to access control methods and technologies commonly used to protect facilities licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It contains information on the application, use, function, installation, maintenance, and testing parameters for access control and search equipment and the implementation of protective measures that support access control. This information is intended to assist licensees in designing, installing, employing, and maintaining access control systems at their facilities.

The Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) is a fast reactor system developed at Argonne National Laboratory in the decade 1984 to 1994. The IFR project developed the technology for a complete system; the reactor, the entire fuel cycle and the waste management technologies were all included in the development program. The reactor concept had important features and characteristics that were completely new and fuel cycle and waste management technologies that were entirely new developments. The reactor is a "fast" reactor - that is, the chain reaction is maintained by "fast" neutrons with high energy - which produces its own fuel. The IFR reactor and associated fuel cycle is a closed system. Electrical power is generated, new fissile fuel is produced to replace the fuel burned, its used fuel is processed for recycling by pyroprocessing - a new development - and waste is put in final form for disposal. All this is done on one self-sufficient site. The scale and duration of the project and its funding made it the largest nuclear energy R and D program of its day. Its purpose was the development of a long term massive new energy source, capable of meeting the nation's electrical energy needs in any amount, and for as long as it is needed, forever, if necessary. Safety, non-proliferation and waste toxicity properties were improved as well, these three the characteristics most commonly cited in opposition to nuclear power. Development proceeded from success to success. Most of the development had been done when the program was abruptly cancelled by the newly elected Clinton Administration. In his 1994 State of the Union address the president stated that "unnecessary programs in advanced reactor development will be terminated." The IFR was that program. This book gives the real story of the IFR, written by the two nuclear scientists who were most deeply involved in its conception, the development of its R and D program, and its management. Between the scientific and engineering papers and reports, and books on the IFR, and the non-technical and often impassioned dialogue that continues to this day on fast reactor technology, we felt there is room for a volume that, while accurate technically, is written in a manner accessible to the non-specialist and even to the non-technical reader who simply wants to know what this technology is.

This "Technical Evaluation Report on the Content of the U.S. Department of Energy's Yucca Mountain License Application; Administrative and Programmatic Volume" (TER Administrative and Programmatic Volume) presents information on the NRC staff's review of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Safety Analysis Report (SAR), provided on June 3, 2008, as updated on February 19, 2009. The NRC staff also reviewed information DOE provided in response to NRC staff requests for additional information and other information that DOE provided related to the SAR. In particular, this report provides information on the NRC staff's evaluation of DOE's proposed administrative and programmatic activities regarding the following: * Research and Development Program to resolve safety questions; * Performance Confirmation Program; * Quality Assurance Program; * Records, reports, tests, and inspections; * DOE organizational structure; * Key positions assigned responsibility for safety and operations; * Personnel qualifications and training; * Plans for startup activities and testing; * Plans for conduct of normal activities; * Emergency planning; * Controls to restrict access and regulate land uses; and * Uses of geologic repository operations area for purposes other than disposal of radioactive wastes.

This document is a supplemental safety evaluation report (SSER) for the license renewal application for Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 and 3 (IP2 and IP3) as filed by Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

This short history of nuclear regulation provides a brief over-view of the most significant events in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's past. Space limitations prevent discussion of all the important occurrences, and even the subjects that are included cannot be covered in full detail. The first chapter of this account is taken from George T. Mazuzan and J. Samuel Walker, Controlling the Atom: The Beginnings of Nuclear Regulation, 1946-1962 (University of California Press, Berkeley, CA, 1984). The second chapter is largely based on J. Samuel Walker, Containing the Atom: Nuclear Regulation in a Changing Environment, 1963-1971 (University of California Press, Berkeley, CA, 1992). The third chapter is adopted in significant part from J. Samuel Walker, Three Mile Island: A Nuclear Crisis in Historical Perspective (University of California Press, Berkeley, CA, 2004). The findings and conclusions on events that occurred after 1979 should be regarded as preliminary and tentative; they are not based on extensive research in primary sources.

The advantages of space nuclear fission power systems can be summarized as: compact size; low to moderate mass; long operating lifetimes; the ability to operate in extremely hostile environments; operation independent of the distance from the Sun or of the orientation to the Sun; and high system reliability and autonomy. In fact, as power requirements approach the tens of kilowatts and megawatts, fission nuclear energy appears to be the only realistic power option. The building blocks for space nuclear fission electric power systems include the reactor as the heat source, power generation equipment to convert the thermal energy to electrical power, waste heat rejection radiators and shielding to protect the spacecraft payload. The power generation equipment can take the form of either static electrical conversion elements that have no moving parts (e.g., thermoelectric or thermionic) or dynamic conversion components (e.g., the Rankine, Brayton or Stirling cycle). The U.S. has only demonstrated in space, or even in full systems in a simulated ground environment, uranium-zirconium-hydride reactor power plants. These power plants were designed for a limited lifetime of one year and the mass of scaled up power plants would probably be unacceptable to meet future mission needs. Extensive development was performed on the liquid-metal cooled SP-100 power systems and components were well on their way to being tested in a relevant environment. A generic flight system design was completed for a seven year operating lifetime power plant, but not built or tested. The former USSR made extensive use of space reactors as a power source for radar ocean reconnaissance satellites. They launched some 31 missions using reactors with thermoelectric power conversion systems and two with thermionic converters. Current activities are centered on Fission Surface Power for lunar applications. Activities are concentrating on demonstrating component readiness. This book will discuss the components that make up a nuclear fission power system, the principal requirements and safety issues, various development programs, status of developments, and development issues.

For operating in severe environments, long life and reliability, radioisotope power systems have proven to be the most successful of all space power sources. Two Voyager missions launched in 1977 to study Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and their satellites, rings and magnetic fields and continuing to the heliosphere region are still functioning over thirty years later. Radioisotope power systems have been used on the Moon, exploring the planets, and exiting our solar system. There success is a tribute to the outstanding engineering, quality control and attention to details that went into the design and production of radioisotope power generation units. Space nuclear radioisotope systems take the form of using the thermal energy from the decay of radioisotopes and converting this energy to electric power. Reliability and safety are of prime importance. Mission success depends on the ability of being able to safely launch the systems and on having sufficient electrical power over the life of the mission. Graceful power degradation over the life of a mission is acceptable as long as it is within predictable limits. Electrical power conversion systems with inherent redundancy, such as thermoelectric conversion systems, have been favored to date. Also, radioactive decay heat has been used to maintain temperatures in spacecraft at acceptable conditions for other components. This book describes how radioisotope systems work, the requirements and safety design considerations, the various systems that have been developed, and their operational history.

The news out of Abu Dhabi on Dec. 27, 2009 was the direct motivation to write this book. South Korean consortium has just won the largest single nuclear power plant construction project in recent years to deliver four state-of-the-art Generation III pressurized water reactors to the United Arab Emirates. This book will bring to life the agonizing process of pursuing peaceful nuclear energy in South Korea during the last half-century for the "Atoms for Peace" dream from a poor developing country. Particular focus is placed on the localization process of nuclear power technology since 1980 from an insider's view. This case study on the Korean nuclear power technology could shed some light for other nations as they enter the brave new world of nuclear renaissance. Once on the Silk Road countries like China, India, UAE and Turkey show the most active nuclear power programs together with Japan and Korea today. After all, history repeats itself as new technologies transfer through the Nuclear Silk Road, crossing civilizations.

This second volume identifies and evaluates Cold War residual consequences, especially those related to nuclear weapons and their evolution. It provides a knowledgeable assessment of current risks and future potential of peaceful nuclear technology and inherited nuclear weapons. In this revised edition, a comparative assessment has been included of the nuclear accidents at Fukushima (Japan), Chernobyl, and Three Mile Island reactors. The respective roles of the three volumes in "Nuclear Insights" Volume 1 is a insider history of nuclear weapons development during the Cold War, and Volume 3 is a technically informed perspective about nuclear reductions and arms control. Thus, Volume 2 reports on and examines current nuclear technology, peaceful applications, and proliferation risks. All three volumes are unique, having originated with a written collaboration by four nuclear scientists and engineers, from both sides of the Cold War Iron Curtain, all of whom had hands-on experience with nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors.

This report provides information about designing, installing, testing, maintaining, and monitoring intrusion detection systems (IDSs) and subsystems used for the protection of facilities licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

Do You Know? T. Boone Pickens is investing $10 billion in the biggest wind farm in the world, in Texas? Why not put that money into the nuclear power industry, which is lobbying for UNLIMITED corporate welfare government subsidies that are claimed to be necessary to build ANY new nuclear plants none of which could be online until 2015 at the earliest? The DNA from genetically modified organisms (GMO s), including viruses and other species normally alien to our bodies, has already entered our vital organs, and the bacteria in our intestines, though this was not supposed to happen as a result of the gene-alteration of our foods? One controlled study found that rats fed GMO potatoes developed smaller brains, testicles and livers, as compared to rats fed the unaltered parent line of the very same potatoes. Beware, half USA non-organic sugar may be GMO by 2008 if not stopped by labeling or angry consumers. Italy wants to dump 20,000 tons of its nuclear waste into the USA, with the help of the EnergySolutions corporation? This could be the first big step in making the USA the world s dumping ground for all the world s nuclear waste. Although most Tennesseans don t know it (yet) five landfills in their state are readied now to accept radioactive waste, much of it not to be monitored as it should be. Such waste can enter our industrial and food chains, concentrating in our bra-clips and zippers, for example, while also possibly causing cancer, abortions, mutations, etc., for thousands and millions of years. No safe technique to contain radioactive waste has yet been scientifically devised. The U.S. is about to start an arms race in space, under the cover of Missile Defense Nuclear weapons and nuclear powered launch vehicles could be included in our violation of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 which the USA primarily authored after the Soviet Union fired Sputnik, the first manmade satellite, into Earthly orbit. 163 nations formally reaffirmed opposition to weaponizing space on November 20, 2000. Weapons are now the USA s #1 industrial export, while defense consumes half of USA federal budget ($3 trillion) during economic crisis.

Part of the Government Series, Energy, from TheCapitol.Net

According to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy, nuclear energy provides about 20 percent of U.S. electricity through the operation of 104 nuclear reactors. Combined construction and operating license applications have been submitted for 28 new U.S. nuclear power plants, with eight more expected.

Nuclear power started coming online in significant amounts in the late 1960s. By 1975, in the midst of the oil crisis, nuclear power was supplying 9 percent of total electricity generation. Increases in capital costs, construction delays, and public opposition to nuclear power following the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 curtailed expansion of the technology, and many construction projects were canceled. Continuation of some construction increased the nuclear share of generation to 20 percent in 1990, where it remains currently.

Nuclear power is now receiving renewed interest, prompted by volatile fossil fuel prices, possible carbon dioxide controls, and new federal subsidies and incentives. The 2005 Energy Policy Act (P.L. 109-58) authorized streamlined licensing that combines construction and operating permits, and tax credits for production from advanced nuclear power facilities.

All U.S. nuclear plants are currently light water reactors (LWRs), which are cooled by ordinary water. DOE's nuclear energy research and development program includes advanced reactors, fuel cycle technology and facilities, and infrastructure support. DOE's Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems Initiative is developing advanced reactor technologies that could be safer than LWRs and produce high-temperature heat to make hydrogen. The Nuclear Power 2010 program is a government-industry, 50-50 cost-shared initiative. It focuses on deploying Generation III+ advanced light-water reactor designs, and is managed by DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy.

Congress designated Yucca Mountain, NV as the nation's sole candidate site for a permanent high-level nuclear waste repository in 1987 amid much controversy. To date no nuclear waste has been transported to Yucca Mountain. In March 2010, the Secretary of Energy filed to withdraw its application for a nuclear-waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

Current law provides no alternative repository site to Yucca Mountain, and it does not authorize the DOE to open temporary storage facilities without a permanent repository in operation. Without congressional action, the default alternative to Yucca Mountain would be indefinite on-site storage of nuclear waste at reactor sites and other nuclear facilities. Private central storage facilities can also be licensed under current law. Such a facility has been licensed in Utah, but its operation has been blocked by the Department of the Interior.

Nuclear energy issues facing Congress include federal incentives for new commercial reactors, radioactive waste management policy, research and development priorities, power plant safety and regulation, nuclear weapons proliferation, and security against terrorist attacks.

37 Chapters

Ch. 38, Other Resources From TheCapitol.Net

Congressional Deskbook: The Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Congress, by Michael L. Koempel and Judy Schneider, ISBN: 1587330970

Live Training, www.CapitolHillTraining.com

Congress In A Nutshell: Understanding Congress
www.CongressInANutshell.com

Congressional Dynamics and the Legislative Process
www.LegislativeProcess.com

Capitol Hill Workshop
www.CapitolHillWorkshop.com

Advanced Federal Budget Process
www.BudgetProcess.com

Ch. 39, Other Resources

Complete Table of Contents at www.TCNNuclear.com

On January 3, 1961, nuclear reactor SL-1 exploded in rural Idaho, spreading radioactive contamination over thousands of acres and killing three men. The army blamed "human error" and a sordid love triangle. Though overshadowed by Three Mile Island, SL-1 remains the only fatal nuclear reactor incident in American history.
Todd Tucker, who first heard the rumors about the Idaho Falls explosion as a trainee in the navy's nuclear program, suspected there was more to the accident than rumors suggested. Poring over hundreds of pages of primary sources and interviewing survivors revealed that the army and its contractors had deliberately obscured the true cause of the accident, which resulted from poor engineering as much as uncontrolled passions. The National Reactor Testing Station, where the meltdown occurred, had been a proving ground where engineers, generals, and admirals attempted to realize the Atomic Age dream of unlimited power--amid the frantic race for nuclear power between the army, the navy, and the air force. The fruit of those ambitious plans included that of the nation's unofficial nuclear patriarch, Admiral Rickover, whose "true submarine," the USS "Nautilus," would forever change naval warfare. But with the meltdown in Idaho came the end of the army's program and the beginning of the navy's long-standing monopoly on military nuclear power. "Atomic America" provides a fast-paced narrative history, advocating caution and accountability in harnessing nuclear energy.

In Fueling Our Future, Quakers expert in both the technical and ethical issues, provide key information, critical analysis and thoughtful dialogue on choices for our energy future. Fueling Our Future will assist concerned citizens in their evaluation of public policy and personal choices.

In this book, Ralph Nader and John Abbotts replace the myth of nuclear energy with a clear description of the technology and its attendant perils. They analyze the performance of the atomic energy industry as it affects workers, consumers, taxpayers, and future generations. They take the reader step by step through the political thicket of atomic energy from the local community level to international relations. Decisions now being made about nuclear power will have far-reaching effects upon our economy, our institutions, and our freedom. Above all, this book emphasizes that such choices must not be left only to experts and politicians. This is both a chilling and a hopeful book, one for readers who want to be informed as well as for those who want to get involved. It is a book of solutions. Alternative energy sources-safer, cheaper-are discussed, as are the efforts of citizens' groups around the country to explore these possibilities. For the paperback edition, the authors have revised and expanded the chapter "Challenging Electric Utilities," the list of information sources, and the notes, and have added a chapter detailing new developments.

Le parc lectronucl aire fran ais est l'un des plus importants de la plan te. Ils suscitent, comme tout ce qui concerne le nucl aire, de nombreuses interrogations. Ainsi, les grands enjeux autour de ce parc sont des th mes essentiels pour l'autonomie nerg tique sont la s ret, la disponibilit, la radioprotection et la protection de l'environnement. Fruit d'un retour d'exp rience de plus de 1100 campagnes d'irradiation r alis es sur 4 paliers de tranches depuis 1977, le pr sent ouvrage pr sente la d clinaison industrielle et quotidienne de ces enjeux, dans le domaine de l'exploitation des c urs. Les principes et objectifs de la gestion du combustible sont tout d'abord rappel s et illustr s par un historique l'ensemble des gestions mises en uvre sur le parc des r acteurs; l' laboration des plans de chargement est ensuite d crite, et on aborde les contraintes techniques industrielles ainsi que les enjeux conomiques et de s ret . La surveillance du c ur en exploitation est trait e au travers de la description de l'instrumentation des REP et de son utilisation dans le cadre des essais physiques p riodiques et de red marrage. Le volet s ret pr sente les risques encourus par la premi re barri re (gaine du combustible) et expose les principes des syst mes de surveillance et de protection des c urs. La disponibilit et le service au r seau, exigence sp cifique au parc nucl aire fran ais qui assure 80 % de la production nationale d' lectricit, sont illustr s dans le chapitre consacr au pilotage des c urs, avec le rappel des ph nom nes physiques associ s et la description des diff rents modes de pilotage utilis s. Enfin, l'application de la r glementation est abord e partir de quelques l ments des R gles G n rales d'Exploitation li s au combustible. Cet ouvrage int ressera les tudiants en sciences et techniques nucl aires, mais galement la communaut des ing nieurs et techniciens qui optimisent, exploitent et surveillent les nombreux r acteurs eau pressuris e du parc lectronucl aire fran ais.

An informed look at the myths and fears surrounding nuclear energy, and a practical, politically realistic solution to global warming and our energy needs. Faced by the world's oil shortages and curious about alternative energy sources, Gwyneth Cravens skeptically sets out to find the truth about nuclear energy. Her conclusion: it is a totally viable and practical solution to global warming. In the end, we see that if we are to care for subsequent generations, embracing nuclear energy is an ethical imperative.

Section titles are ...(1) Temperature Detectors ...(2) Pressure Detectors ...(3) Level Detectors ...(4) Flow Detectors ...(5) Position Indicators ...(6) Radiation Detectors ...(7) Process Controls.

Indem wir Energie verbrauchen, wandeln wir sie in Nutzenergie um. Damit erfullen wir Energiedienstleistungen" etwa die Beheizung oder Beleuchtung von Raumen. Gegliedert nach verschiedenen Energiedienstleistungen stellen die Autoren die physikalisch-technischen Gesetzmassigkeiten dar. Hierbei zeigt sich, welche quantitative Bedeutung einzelne Energieverbrauchsbereiche haben und welche Moglichkeiten es gibt, Energie rationeller zu nutzen. Fur Ingenieure in der Energieversorgung und beratung sowie Studierende der Energietechnik und -wirtschaft."

The story of the explosion and contamination was and still is suppressed in the Soviet Union and, the author contends, by the CIA and other Western intelligence organizations fearful of public resistance to nuclear power plants. Now, after an intensive study of Soviet scientific articles (written to disguise the fact that they were about the Ural explosion) and after many interviews and reports from friends in the scientific community as well as from witnesses, the author has pieced together the story of what actually happened. He analyzes the extent and consequences of the contamination and draws forbidding conclusions about the possibility of similar disasters in the rest of the world.

Dans le but d'aider les tudiants, physiciens et ing nieurs nucl aires suceptibles d'avoir besoin d'un cours de G nie Atomique rigoureux et p dagogique, cet ouvrage nous pr sente les connaissances de base n cessaires la compr hension et la mod lisation des ph nom nes thermohydrauliques monophasiques et diphasiques rencontr s lors de la conception ou du fonctionnement des r acteurs nucl aires. Les coulements et transferts de chaleur dans les coulements diphasiques sont en particulier pr sent s en d tail. La plupart des chapitres comportent des exemples d'application des concepts tudi s des probl mes de g nie nucl aire, et des exercices destin s ma triser ces concepts. Ces exemples et exercices ont t le plus souvent adapt s de probl mes pos s lors de contr les des connaissances associ s au cours de Thermohydraulique des r acteurs du G nie Atomique. Chaque exemple d'application comporte une solution d taill e. Les connaissances math matiques requises ne vont gu re au-del de celles enseign es dans les coles d'ing nieurs. Les chapitres sur les caract ristiques thermohydrauliques des r acteurs et sur la conception et le dimensionnement thermique des r acteurs ont t r dig s par Patrick Raymond (CEA). Le chapitre traitant de la thermique de l' l ment combustible a t crit en collaboration avec Claude Renault (CEA) et celui sur le blocage des coulements diphasiques en collaboration avec Michel Giot (Universit Catholique de Louvain). Enfin le chapitre sur la thermohydraulique des r acteurs de propulsion navale a t r dig en collaboration avec Laurent Mahias ( cole des Applications Militaires de l' nergie Atomique).

This book offers a complete panorama of the pressurized water reactor industry, beginning from its origin in the USA and the realization of nuclear engines for naval propulsion, to its most recent developments in the field of civil energy production, particularly in France with the 56 reactors of the multinational electric utility company, Electricite de France (EDF). This comprehensive two-volume masterwork features detailed descriptions of all the crucial components driving a pressurized water nuclear reactor. Volume 1 deals with the main components, such as the main primary circuit, the reactor core, and the steam generators. Volume 2 covers the secondary circuit and the cold source, including components such as the turbine, condenser, alternator, transformers and power supply. Written by Serge Marguet, a leading specialist in reactor physics and author of several books on the subject, this book draws on his experience of more than 35 years in research and development at EDF, a global leader in civil nuclear energy. Featuring a richly illustrated, full-color iconography, as well as a detailed index and bibliography, The Technology of Pressurized Water Reactors is an indispensable work for seasoned nuclear energy professionals, as well as inquisitive newcomers to the field.