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Radiation Protection News Room
The news articles posted on the “Radiation Protection News Room” are provided solely as a service to readers. The intent is the raise awareness of current radiation issues in the news. Providing links to a non-EPA Web site does not constitute an endorsement by EPA or any of its employees of the sponsors of the site or the information or products presented on the site.
Radiation in the News
Get e-mail updates when this information changes.
News for September 5, 2008
Radioactive Waste
- Romania to build two radioactive waste storage facilities, by 2055 (EMportal)
By one percent fewer tourists Romania will be obligated to build one storage facility for low-level radioactive waste by 2014. - At a nuclear waste industry meeting, officials say the regional compact needs revamp (Salt Lake Tribune)
Railroad cars hauled all but 5 percent of the nation's low-level radioactive waste last year to the EnergySolutions Inc. disposal site in Tooele County. - Asse 2: Europe's worst nuclear dump (PRESS TV)
The German government has been forced to do something about radioactive leaks in one of Europe's most problematic nuclear storage dumps. ...
Hanford
- Court upholds Hanford pipefitter $4.8M jury award (Mid Columbia Tri City Herald)
In 2005, a Benton County jury found that the pipefitters had been wrongfully dismissed from their jobs at the Hanford nuclear reservation. The pipefitters said they were targeted as whistleblowers.
Nuclear Power
- Spokesman Dismisses Sarkozy's Remarks on Iran's N. Program (FARS)
Tehran on Friday rejected remarks by French President Nicolas Sarkozy who termed Iran's nuclear program a threat to the region and the whole world. - India pledges seen inadequate for nuclear deal (Khaleej Times)
India, hoping the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) will clear the way for a controversial US-India atomic energy deal to take effect.
Nuclear Weapons
- US urges NKorea to accept nuclear verification (AFP)
In a landmark deal signed last year, North Korea agreed to abandon its nuclear weapons in return for economic aid and diplomatic recognition. - India underlines policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons (Khabrein.info)
We affirm our policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons". "We stand for the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime..," Mukherjee said.
News for September 4, 2008
Radioactive Waste
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Utah one-stop shop for N-waste (Salt Lake Tribune)
When some people refer to Utah as a "national treasure," it's not for the state's picturesque deserts or breathtaking mountains but because of a mile-square disposal site in Tooele County for much of the nation's radioactive waste.
Hanford -
Energy Department awards Hanford contract (Examiner.com)
One month later, the department awarded the contract to empty underground tanks of radioactive and hazardous waste to Washington River Protection Solutions.
Safety and Security
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Radiation Detector Plan Falls Short, Audit Shows (Washington Post)
The current machines are effective at detecting the presence of radiation but often cannot distinguish benign sources, such as cat litter, from materials.
Health
- Mayo: New way to spot breast cancer shows promise (Pioneer Press)
MBI uses radiation, too, but in a different way. Women are given an intravenous dose of a short-acting tracer that is absorbed more by abnormal cells.
Nuclear Power
- US general reassures Japan over nuclear carrier (Reuters)
But a fire on board the warship in May and news last month that water containing a small amount of radiation had leaked from a US nuclear-powered submarine. - Nuclear Plant Decision Expected (WYFF)
Late this month, there could be a decision on whether to build a nuclear power plants in Cherokee County.
Nuclear Weapons
- US says nuclear states nearing deal on India trade (San Diego Union Tribune)
The United States said on Thursday nuclear supplier nations were making progress towards agreement on lifting a ban on trade with India. - US was told N Korea would restore nuke operation (Washington Post)
Before workers began moving mothballed equipment back into place, North Korea informed U.S. personnel at its Yongbyon nuclear plant it would start reassembling its nuclear facilities, a South Korean official said Thursday.
Science
- Russia to create electromagnetic super weapon (Pravda)
Computers or cell phones have to be screened from such radiation,” Mikhail Yalandin, a senior specialist of the Institute of Electrophysics said.
Cosmic and Space Radiation
- NASA Funds New Space Radiation Studies (U.S. Medicine)
This is space radiation. These particles have so much energy that when they strike other atoms, they can knock away those atoms’ electrons.
News for September 3, 2008
Radioactive Waste
- Potential sites picked for radioactive waste disposal (China Post)
After many twists and turns, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has finally announced a shortlist of three potential sites for a permanent low-level radioactive waste disposal facility. - Blunders” blamed for Belgian radioactive leak 02/09 20:51 CET (euronews)
A Belgian nuclear research plant faces severe sanctions including the sacking of its senior security officer, after a series of blunders led to a radioactive discharge.
- State still has more questions about RH containers from Los Alamos (Carlsbad Current-Argus)
Heaton said the drums would be accepted as being eligible for delivery to WIPP under "acceptable knowledge" criteria meaning detailed documented information about the contents of the drums could be used instead of an actual inspection.
Safety and Security
- Spain calls for tighter nuclear safety after halts (Reuters)
Spanish Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian called on Wednesday for increased vigilance from the country's nuclear plants after recent unscheduled stoppages due to safety issues. - U.S. gears up to detect nuclear material at sea (USA Today)
Dozens of law enforcement and emergency boats in one of the nation's largest and most congested waterways will be outfitted this fall with radiation detectors aimed at preventing terrorists from smuggling deadly weapons into the country.
Risk Assessment
- Safety - Renewed Concerns for Nuclear Plant Critics (NY Times)
The Indian Point nuclear power plant may be more vulnerable to earthquakes than experts previously thought, because it sits less than a mile south of a newly identified seismic zone running from Stamford, Conn., to Peekskill, according to a study by Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
Health
- Canada to compensate soldiers for atomic tests (USA Today)
Many of the surviving former soldiers have complained of health problems associated with being exposed to radioactivity during the test blasts or the nuclear cleanups. - Cancer patients to wait longer for diagnoses because of reactor (AFP)
Cancer patients across Europe face a longer wait for their diagnoses after a nuclear reactor in the Netherlands was shut down for safety reasons.
Nuclear Power
- Nuclear states mull U.S.-India deal again as clock ticks (Washington Post)
Forty-five nations meet on Thursday to try to bridge differences over a move to lift a ban on nuclear trade with India, needed to seal a U.S.-Indian atomic deal but seen by some as a threat to non-proliferation. - Report: North Korea Reassembling Nuclear Facility (Washington Post)
North Korea has begun reassembling its Yongbyon reactor that can make material for atomic bombs in violation of U.S. conditions for improved diplomatic relations, media reported. - Russia will complete Iran nuclear plant (AFP)
The Russian company building Iran's first nuclear power plant has renewed a commitment to complete the project, the official IRNA news agency reported on Tuesday. - 'The Most Problematic Nuclear Facility in Europe' (Spiegel Online)
Leaking nuclear waste in a storage facility in Lower Saxony has raised the temperature of the conversation over nuclear power in Germany. Conservatives say nuclear power is safe and clean, but the Left is saying, 'I told you so.' But no one knows what to do about radioactive water leaking from the mine.
Other
- Australia threatens to stop Russia uranium sales (USA Today)
Australia threatened Monday to withhold uranium for Russian nuclear reactors unless Moscow respects Georgia's sovereignty and withdraws its forces from the country.
News for September 2, 2008
Safety and Security
- Tennessee Valley Authority cuts contract for nuclear security (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
The Tennessee Valley Authority announced today that it will end its contract with a private security firm that has provided guards at TVA nuclear plants.
Health
- Exercise may reverse brain damage from radiation (Reuters)
Exercise may reverse some damage that radiation does to the brain, Swedish researchers reported on Tuesday in a study that offers a way to help childhood cancer survivors.
Nuclear Power
- Russia to build Baltic nuclear power plant (RIA Novosti)
Russia decided to build a nuclear power plant in its westernmost region to ensure its own energy security, but the new power plant will also export energy to its European neighbors.
