Home
Energy Net's Library tagged → View Popular
Turkish court blocks nuclear plant project - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review
"The Council of State has suspended three articles in the regulations governing the tender process," the Union of Turkish Engineers' and Architects' Chambers, or TMMOB, said in a statement.
"With this decision, the nuclear power plant tender has legally ended. It has been rendered invalid," it stated.
There was no immediate response from the government to the court decision.
The tender process has been under fire since it emerged in September last year that only one consortium had bid for the project and offered an above-market price.
The consortium, including Russia's Inter Rao and Turkey's Park Teknik, later revised down its proposed price for supplying electricity, but Ankara said the new offer was also very high.
Radiation victims lose compensation
Court rules damages paid earlier 'adequate'
Twelve victims of radiation poisoning have lost their appeal for 12 million baht in compensation from an engineering and electrical equipment distributor over its reckless storage of radioactive materials.
Sonthaya: Right hand crippled SURAPOL PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN
The members of the group claimed Kamol Sukosol Electric Co Ltd was negligent when it stored radioactive materials not properly secured in its car park.
This allowed a cylinder of cobalt-60 - a radioactive isotope that can cause cancer - to be stolen from the company property.
But the Appeals Court yesterday ruled in the company's favour saying the 640,276 baht in compensation the Civil Court had earlier ordered Kamol Sukosol to pay was sufficient.
Officials explain proposed Hanford settlement - Tri-City Herald
Extending deadlines for cleaning up Hanford's worst waste by years or decades is not ideal, but officials who reached a proposed settlement agreement say meeting the proposed new deadlines is more realistic.\n\nA round of public hearings in Oregon and Washington starts this month on the proposed agreement, but already officials are answering questions like why these deadlines would be more enforceable than legal deadlines that already have been missed. And why leaving waste longer in leak-prone underground tanks may be a better option than building new storage tanks.\n\n"The bottom line is that while we don't like the dates, we don't believe it is technically possible to dramatically move them forward, at least right now," said Ken Niles, assistant director of the Oregon Department of Energy, in a written response to concerns posted in an online discussion.\n\nThe settlement agreement reached between Washington and DOE was announced in August during a visit by Energy Secretary Steven Chu to the Hanford nuclear reservation.
NC officials agree to pay more on litigation
North Carolina's top elected officials have agreed the state should pay another quarter-million dollars for outside lawyers and expert witnesses for three pending lawsuits.
Council of State members approved yesterday giving $253,000 from a special fund to the state Justice Department.
Attorney General Roy Cooper said the money will pay invoices for defending North Carolina against lawsuits filed by other states involving a low-level radioactive waste compact and the Catawba River basin. And Cooper said the state's lawsuit against the Tennessee Valley Authority already is leading to reduced pollution from TVA power plants.
Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry voted no because she's not persuaded all expenses are justified.
The council has authorized more than $4 million for the three lawsuits over the years.
French Polynesian nuke test veterans stunned by French U-turn
The Moruroa e Tatou nuclear test veterans association in French Polynesia has expressed surprise that a fresh compensation ruling is being appealed by the French state.
This follows an undertaking by the French defence minister, Herve Morin, that in such matters the state would no longer go ahead with a challenge but accept court rulings.
According to Tahitipresse, the head of Moruroa e Tatou says he wonders if the minister had lied or just used deceptive language.
As the French compensation bill is to go to the French senate, the association has questioned the significantly lower compensation being considered for victims in French Polynesia over that offered in France.
RN&R > Tribes admitted to Yucca case
A panel of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has recognized councils of the Shoshone and Paiutes as having standing for the purpose of being a party to the Yucca Mountain case.
The NRC’s Atomic Safety Licensing Board Panel Construction Authorization Board found that Native Americans will be directly affected by the proposed waste dump for high level wastes and are therefore entitled to be parties to the case.
The tribes have been opposed to the dump on grounds that it would be built on Native American lands. The Board found this a “viable” claim that the tribes can argue in the case.
Associated Press: Groups say they'll sue to stop Grand Canyon mine
Environmental groups have given notice that they'll sue the federal Bureau of Land Management over its decision to allow a uranium mine to reopen near the Grand Canyon.
Canadian mining company Denison Mines Corp. says it could reopen its mine about 20 miles north of the canyon by the end of the year. Dennison received the final state permit it needed last week.
The BLM says Denison has an approved mine plan and should be allowed to resume operations after closing the site about 20 years ago.
But the Center for Biological Diversity, the Grand Canyon Trust and the Sierra Club argue that the BLM is relying on an old environmental analysis and isn't considering potential impacts on endangered species.
The notice the groups filed Tuesday says they plan to file a lawsuit in 60 days.
Georgia nuke site challenged | Jacksonville.com
The question of a controversial law's constitutionality could halt new nuclear reactors in Georgia, such as the proposed Plant Vogtle.
A group opposed to reactors on environmental grounds is using a legal challenge to the financing mechanism granted to Georgia Power during the last legislative session as a way to prevent what it considers to be an ecological mistake. Senate Bill 31 violates the state and federal constitutions on several points, argue lawyers for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
The group, which is based in Tennessee but has members and offices in Georgia, has often spoken out against nuclear power and in favor of solar and wind power. Sara Barczak, of the group's Savannah office, relied on environmental arguments in December when she testified against the plant before the Public Service Commission.
"Downstream communities should be concerned about project water consumption at the proposed Vogtle site because consumptive water loss, especially during low river flows, can pose significant negative impacts to water quality and aquatic resources," she said.
Waste ruling drawing rivals - Salt Lake Tribune
Opposition mounted this week against a federal court ruling that limits the power of a regional waste compact to restrict radioactive waste going to disposal facilities like the one operated in Tooele County by EnergySolutions Inc.
Nothing short of states' rights are at stake in a federal court ruling on the government authority over radioactive waste headed to EnergySolutions Inc.'s Utah disposal site.
In filing a friend-of-the-court brief Thursday in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, New Mexico joined a growing line of opponents to a May ruling by U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart. It basically said EnergySolutions no longer has to answer to the Northwest Interstate Compact on low-level radioactive waste.
Utah, the Northwest Compact and the Rocky Mountain Compact, which share a low-level waste disposal site in Hanford, Wash., are appealing Stewart's ruling, and they filed papers in the case last week.
Six regional compacts, joined by New Mexico and the Council of State Governments, weighed in Thursday. And, with all the papers filed Thursday, eight of the nation's ten congressionally established compacts have weighed in the effort to overturn Stewart's ruling. Compacts represent all but six states. The two remaining compacts, which manage waste within eight states, have through Tuesday to join the fray.
Panel tosses NRC’s Indian Pt. waiver case | LoHud.com | The Journal News
A federal appeals court has dismissed an Indian Point case arguing that regulators improperly allowed the nuclear plant's owners to loosen a fire safety equipment standard at the Buchanan site.
Advertisement
"This case tests the limits of our jurisdiction ... to review orders of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission," Judge John Walker Jr. of the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals wrote in the 20-page decision.
"Petitioners challenge only that exemption in this appeal," Walker wrote. "Because we lack jurisdiction ... we must dismiss the petition."
Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, D-Greenburgh, brought the case and said yesterday that he would decide his next move soon.
NM seeks to intervene in uranium case - KVIA.com El Paso, Las Cruces - Weather, News, Sports -
The state of New Mexico has filed a court brief backing a uranium company's request for a federal appeals court review of an April decision.
The decision says a proposed uranium mine site in western New Mexico is on American Indian land.
The attorney general's office and the governor's chief counsel filed the friend of the court brief Monday before the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.
Maryland Gets More Time to Review Constellation-EDF Deal - washingtonpost.com
The Maryland Public Service Commission has granted a request by state officials to extend hearings regarding the proposed $4.5 billion investment in Constellation Energy by EDF, a French energy company.
Constellation and EDF had been moving toward a Sept. 17 deadline to complete the deal. But the Maryland Energy Administration and other state agencies had asked for more time to review terms of the proposal.
Activists battle new uranium mine - Salt Lake Tribune
Two environmental groups are trying to block Utah's first new uranium mine in three decades.
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and Uranium Watch want the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to rethink its approval of the Daneros Mine, located about 10 miles from Natural Bridges National Monument.
The groups also want the federal agency to stop Australia-based White Canyon Uranium from mining its Daneros claim until BLM's Utah director, Selma Sierra, determines whether her agency studied the environmental consequences sufficiently.
"There are a lot of issues associated with uranium mining that were not adequately assessed before the permits were issued," Liz Thomas, an attorney for SUWA, said Friday.
Economist files opposition to Progress Energy nuclear reactors - St. Petersburg Times
Opposition to Progress Energy's proposed rate increases continued bubbling up this week amid public hearings across the state. Among the latest opponents: Mark Cooper, an economist and author on the financing of nuclear power reactors. Cooper told the Florida Public Service Commission that it is "not prudent" to proceed with plans for building new Progress Energy nuclear reactors in Levy County and a similar Florida Power & Light project near Miami. Cooper estimated it would cost $1.9 trillion to $4.1 trillion more over the life of 100 new nuclear reactors than it would to generate the same electricity from a combination of more energy efficiency and renewables. Separately, the business-affiliated group Associated Industries of Florida intervened for the first time on a rate case, backing Florida Power and Light's base rate increase. Associated Industries did not take a stance "at this time" on Progress Energy's filings. Progress is seeking to raise its base rates 30 percent and wants to add roughly $3 to the average monthly bill to help pay for its planned nuclear plant. On Thursday, community hearings were held in St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Hearings continue Friday in Inverness and Ocala and wrap up next week before the issue heads to the PSC.
Constellation appeals decision on PSC investigating EDF nuke deal
Constellation Energy Group said Tuesday that it has appealed a Baltimore judge's decision to dismiss the company's request for review of a plan by the Public Service Commission to investigate the proposed sale of half the company's nuclear operations. The PSC said in June that it has jurisdiction to review the sale plan to French firm EDF because it would give EDF major control over Baltimore Gas and Electric, Constellation Energy's regulated utility. The PSC is considering whether the proposed $4.5-billion transaction is in the public interest. Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Stuart Berger on July 2 said the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the appeal of the PSC decision because the commission's decision to review the sale was not a final decision and therefore not subject to review. The company filed the appeal Monday to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. "We are taking this step to preserve our legal rights in the future," spokesman Robert Gould said.
Environmentalists seek to bar TVA nuclear reactor :: WRAL.com
Five environmental groups petitioned federal regulators Wednesday to block the only commercial nuclear reactor now under construction in the United States - an unfinished 1970s-era reactor the Tennessee Valley Authority is working to complete after three decades in mothballs.
The groups claim TVA failed to consider the impact on the Tennessee River, public health and safety and the utility's need for more electricity when it revived a 1976 application for an operating license for the Watts Bar Plant Unit 2 reactor near Spring City, Tenn.
"TVA keeps pushing for more nuclear reactors in spite of the massive cost overruns they always have when they build them," said Bill Reynolds, the nuclear committee chairman for the Sierra Club's Tennessee chapter.
High Court Denies Nuclear Whistleblower’s Appeal - News Briefs - Israel National News
The Supreme Court accepted the government’s stance Monday that nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu will have to undergo a trial period before he can leave Isreal. Vanunu served 18 years in prison for revealing Israeli nuclear secrets to a London paper, and since his release in 2004 has not been allowed to leave the country.
The government told the High Court that it would give Vanunu a half-year trial period in which he is forbidden from talking to any press or foreigners. If Vanunu passes the trial, the government will consider allowing him to leave the country.
ABC North and West SA - Atomic test veterans launch class action
A class action is being launched against the Federal Government by a group of Australian veterans of British atomic tests in the 1950s and 1960s.
They are seeking compensation for ill health as a result of exposure to the tests at Maralinga in South Australia's far west.
Their action follows a court ruling in Britain which has allowed veterans there to sue the British Government.
Ric Johnstone from the Australian Nuclear Veterans Association says many veterans have already died, but they are determined to press on with the court case.
"We could be long gone by the time it comes to a conclusion, but we're concerned mostly about our offspring and some of those will still be around in 40 or 50 years to come, we hope," he said.
"And if they have any problems related to the exposure of their parents, then that should be covered by the Federal Government.
State will fight radioactive waste ruling - Salt Lake Tribune
Utah is joining the fight to stop EnergySolutions Inc. from burying large volumes of foreign radioactive waste in its Tooele County landfill.
The paperwork has not been filed yet, but the state's plans to appeal were revealed in papers filed last week in Washington.
Last month U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart ruled that the Northwest Interstate Compact on Low-level Radioactive Waste had no authority over EnergySolutions' Utah disposal site. And there has been some question whether the state of Utah, which is a Northwest Compact member, would join an appeal of that ruling.
Stewart's ruling, in effect, crimps Utah's power through the compact to control the low-level radioactive waste that goes to EnergySolutions, including the leftovers from cleaning up Italy's dismantled nuclear reactors that the company wants to import.
Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. aligned the state with the compact. But Huntsman has been nominated to become U.S. ambassador to China and is expected to be replaced soon by Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, whose views on the lawsuit are unknown.
Deseret News | Utah appeals ruling on Italian nuclear waste
State attorneys officially filed notice of their appeal of a federal court ruling which said EnergySolutions Inc. falls outside the regulatory purview of the Northwest Interstate Compact.
The appeal of the May ruling had been anticipated for weeks, in light of U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart's decision that dealt a blow to the state and compact's efforts to block EnergySolutions' plan to import low-level radioactive waste from Italy.
The waste, intended for disposal at the company's 439-acre facility in Tooele County's west desert, would occupy 4.3 acres of the total site and is no more "hot" than waste the site currently accepts, company officials have said.
Still, vehement opposition by the state, watchdog groups and the compact led to the federal court battle that played out this year in a set of two separate rulings by Stewart, delivering victory to EnergySolutions on both fronts.
Selected Tags
Related Tags
Sponsored Links
Top Contributors
Groups interested in legal
-
中國維權 China Human Rights
Items: 7 | Visits: 119
Created by: hk alliance
-
Blawgs
Legal and Law-Related Blogs
Items: 62 | Visits: 105
Created by: aeschylus
-
Wind Legal Update News
Industrial wind industry le...
Items: 29 | Visits: 110
Created by: CWWgroup
Highlighter, Sticky notes, Tagging, Groups and Network: integrated suite dramatically boosting research productivity. Learn more »
Join Diigo