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Steve's favorite news links

* The Newseum's daily compendium of front pages from around the world

* Nevada state government's nuclear-oriented "What's New" page, updated daily with links to fresh articles from around the world.

* Google News, updated continuously throughout the day.

* America's Party News - God-fearing, liberty-loving, sovereignty-conserving folks have a great plan to save our nation

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FUKUSHIMA NEWS

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Trade figures reveal cost of Japan's nuclear shutdown, World Nuclear News
Huge energy imports last year caused Japan to record a rare trade deficit. Manufacturing was hit by the tsunami, but the use of fossil fuels to replace shut-down nuclear plants was a bigger factor.

* [Fukushima-exclusion area] Village in Fukushima no-go zone to call for residents to return permanently by March, Mainichi Daily News

* [Fukushima-exclusion zone] Fukushima's exclusion zone a ghost town, Kyung Lah, CNN

* [Fukushima-Japan-econ] Japan records 2.5 trillion yen trade deficit, Daily Yomiuri

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] After earthquake, Japan can't agree on the future of nuclear power, Chico Harlan, Washington Post

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Nuclear reactors staying idle, Washington Post

* [Fukushima-Japan-npp] Trade figures reveal cost of Japan's nuclear shutdown, World Nuclear News

* [Fukushima-nuclearbiz] More Japanese companies to join Fukushima cleanup, Tokyo Times

* [Fukushima-radiation-construction materials] Radioactive gravel tied to more prefabs, Japan Times

* [Fukushima-radiation-sunflowers] Sunflower oil pressed from nuke disaster no-go zone seeds almost radiation-free, Mainichi Daily News

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] TEPCO to continue halt of new recruitment in spring 2013, Mainichi Daily News

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco Idles Unit Cutting Japan Nuclear Capacity to 8.1%, Tsuyoshi Inajima, Bloomberg

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tepco Rises After Report on State-Fund Injection, Tsuyoshi Inajima, Bloomberg

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Japan's stricken nuclear operator set for $13 bln bailout - sources (Rpt-Update 2), Kentaro Hamada and Linda Sieg, Reuters

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Tokyo Elec to accept Y1 trln public fund injection -sources, Reuters

* [Fukushima-TEPCO] Japan taking center stage at Fukushima, UPI

* [Fukushima-workers-radiation] Japan's Nuclear Temp Workers Exposed to Unmeasured Risks, Jack Phillips, Epoch Times

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see previous Fukushima news at nuclear.com's Fukushima page

US NUCLEAR POWER PLANT NEWS

* [npp-US-Prairie Island] Prairie Island ISFSI license renewal application did not pass NRC acceptance review, Steve Schulin, nuclear.com

* [npp-US-reactor safety] Feb 9, 2012 - ACRS to be briefed by NRC staff and NEI on implementation of post-Fukushima task force recommendations, Steve Schulin, nuclear.com

* [npp-US-Palisades] Dave Lochbaum's 'bathtub effect model' praised by NEIS' Linda Lewison, Steve Schulin, nuclear.com

* [npp-US-Browns Ferry/MOV] Browns Ferry violation - 2 valves were not recognized as safety-related, Steve Schulin, nuclear.com

* [npp-US-Crystal River] Crystal River (March 2011) - a loud noise was heard from the fuel hoist while withdrawing a fuel assembly from the reactor core, Steve Schulin, nuclear.com

* [npp-US-newbuild-ESBWR] NRC staff to review approval schedule for ESBWR design, Yanmei Xie, Platts (via NEI email; the title here is NEI's - original is "Modeling errors in GEH design jeopardize certification schedule")
Here's NEI's description: Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will review the approval schedule for GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor design after they found errors in the reactor's steam-dryer modeling. GEH "will continue to work closely with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to successfully resolve this issue. GEH remains confident that we will receive final design certification of the ESBWR in the near future," company spokesman Michael Tetuan said.

* [npp-US-Vogtle] NRC probes low passing rate of new Ga. nuclear plant operators, Rob Pavey, Augusta Chronicle (via NEI email; title here is NEI's - original is "NRC questions failure rate of new Vogtle reactor operators")
Here's NEI's description: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is investigating the high failure rate of prospective Plant Vogtle reactor operators in 2011. "They are doing a root cause analysis, and we're going through a lengthy investigation and analysis, too," said Katherine Melvin, a spokeswoman at Southern Nuclear, which operates the facility. Only 3 out of 10 new applicants passed the written and operating exams last spring, according to records from the NRC.

* [npp-US] US energy demand to outstrip nuclear growth, World Nuclear News
While US nuclear generating capacity is expected to grow by 11% by 2035, its share of the country's total electricity output will drop slightly, according to a forecast by the US Energy Information Administration. Coal use will fall significantly during this period, with gas seeing the highest growth.

* [npp-US-Davis-Besse] Nuclear plant safety questions amid U.S. House primary, Homeland Security Newswire

* [npp-US-Grand Gulf] NRC to Discuss Safety and Environmental Review Process for Grand Gulf Nuclear Plant License Renewal Application, NRC

* [npp-US-Limerick] Exelon: 'Limerick Generating Station Operates Conservatively', Teresa McMinn, Phoenixville.Patch

* [npp-US-newbuild-Blue Castle Project] Battle over nuclear energy looms in Utah, Summit County Citizens Voice

* [npp-US-newbuild-Iowa] Key lawmaker thinks nuclear bill will be approved, cbs4qc

* [npp-US-newbuild-SMRs] Energy plan could boost small reactor research at SRS, Rob Pavey, Augusta Chronicle

* [npp-US-newbuild-VC Summer] SCE&G issues debt offering of $250M, Columbia Regional Business Report

* [npp-US-newbuild-Vogtle] Georgia Power's rates a key part of Southern's fourth-quarter profit, Kristi E. Swartz, Atlanta Journal Constitution

* [npp-US-Oyster Creek] Oyster Creek Stands By Closure Plan Following Federal Court Ruling, Elaine Piniat, Barnegat.Patch

* [npp-US-Pilgrim] Chesto: Six years later, Pilgrim still awaits license renewal, Jon Chesto, Milford Daily News

* [npp-US-Pilgrim] Activists say Pilgrim is too close to drinking water supplies, Jon Chesto, Patriot Ledger

* [npp-US-Sequoyah] TVA nuclear protection can't withstand worst-case flood, feds say, Anne Paine, The Tennessean

* [npp-US-TMI] Equipment wear questioned at TMI, Sean Adkins, York Daily Record

* [npp-US-Vermont Yankee] Sorrell says state's case rested on reliability concerns, Alan Panebaker, Vermont Journalism Trust

* [npp-US-Vermont Yankee] Letter: Why support a state that enabled VY in the first place, Hattie Nestel, Windham County Commons

* [npp-US-Vermont Yankee] Letter: Why would I choose to spend my birthday getting arrested?, Cate Woolner, Windham County Commons

* [npp-US-Vermont Yankee] Local lawmakers say VY case is far from over, Randolph T. Holhut, Windham County Commons

* [npp-US-Vermont Yankee] 'Clocks cleaned', Olga Peters, Windham County Commons

* [npp-US-Vermont Yankee] Help Vermonters Combat Federal Overreach, Dan DeWalt, OpEdNews

* [npp-US-Vermont Yankee] Shumlin Still Mulling Over Appeal of Vermont Yankee Ruling, John Dillon, Vermont Public Radio

* [npp-US-Vermont Yankee] Not everyone a fan of Vt. Yankee's legal victory, Jennifer Reading, WCAX

* [npp-US-Vermont Yankee] Shumlin answers questions on Vt Yankee, Susie Steimle, WCAX

* [npp-US-Vermont Yankee] Shumlin Defends His Approach to Yankee, WPTZ The Champlain Valley

* [npp-US-Vermont Yankee] The Decision and the Next Decisions plus Some Relevant Links, Yes Vermont Yankee

* [npp-US-Watts Bar] TVA takes stand on safety by idling contract workers, Knoxville News Sentinel editorial

* [npp-US-Wolf Creek] Recent Wolf Creek shutdown triggers federal inspection, Rick Plumlee, Wichita Eagle

* [npp-US-Wolf Creek] NRC to Send Augmented Inspection Team to Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station, NRC

* [npp-US] Report: Water of millions in peril from nuclear plants, Michael Symons, Asbury Park Press

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see previous nuclear plant news at nuclear.com's main nuclear power page

OTHER NUCLEAR POWER PLANT NEWS

* [npp-Canada-radiation] Radioactive Release Data from Canadian Nuclear Power Plants 2001-10, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

* [npp-Romania-nuclearbiz] SNC-Lavalin wins nuclear-services contract worth about $48M, Nicolas Van Praet, National Post (via NEI email; title here is NEI's - original is "SNC-Lavalin secures $48M contract with Romania nuclear power plant")
Here's NEI's description: SNC-Lavalin Group won a contract worth about $48 million to provide services for Romania's Cernavoda nuclear plant. Under the terms, SNC will install reactor containment filtering venting systems at the facility, which generates about 20% of Romania's power.

* [npp-UK-plutonium burner] U.K. regulator rejects plutonium-fueled reactor project, Rob Edwards, The Guardian (via NEI email; title here is NEI's - original is "Plans for Sellafield plutonium reactor rejected; Nuclear Decommissioning Authority sees technology as immature and commercially unproven, internal emails reveal")
Here's NEI's description: The U.K.'s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority rejected GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's proposal to construct a plutonium-fueled reactor at the Sellafield site in the U.K. The project is unproven commercially and would generate large quantities of radioactive waste, according to e-mail messages from the NDA.

* [npp-Belarus] Belarus might take part in creating international nuclear research center, Belarusian Telegraph Agency

* [npp-France] Failed deal and spying claims haunt France's Areva, Caroline Jacobs, Reuters

* [npp-IAEA] Workshop on Nuclear Infrastructure Development Begins in Vienna, IAEA

* [npp-India-Kudankalam] 'Anti-KNPP protestors received foreign funds', Zee News

* [npp-newbuild-Taiwan] Taiwan's Nuclear Future?, Henry Philippens, The Diplomat

* [npp-UK] Hundreds protest against nuclear power station plans, Elgan Hearn, Holyhead and Anglesey Mail

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IRAN NEWS

* [Iran-assassination-UK] UK's Hague questioned over Iran assasination, Press TV

* [Iran-China] Iran-China trade soars to top $45 bn: report, AFP Google

* [Iran-EU-Belarus] Belarus censures EU sanctions on Iran, Press TV

* [Iran-Israel] 'Israel lies about Iran to escape crimes', Press TV

* [Iran-Japan] Japan urges diplomacy on Iran N-issue, Press TV

* [Iran-oil-EU-Israel] Israel hails EU embargo on Iran's oil, Press TV

* [Iran-oil-EU] 'EU in for severe crisis due to Iran ban', Press TV

* [Iran-oil-EU] 'EU will suffer most from Iran oil ban', Press TV

* [Iran-oil-EU] Iran Considers Preemptive Ban of Oil Sales to Europe, Mehr Says, Ladane Nasseri, Bloomberg

* [Iran-oil-EU] Iran dismisses 'irrational' EU oil ban, has other markets, Platts

* [Iran-oil-EU] Statoil exempted from EU ban on Iran oil, Press TV

* [Iran-oil-Russia] Iran oil ban jeopardizes market: Russia, Press TV

* [Iran-oil] IMF warns over risk of Iran oil price shock, BBC News

* [Iran-oil] IMF: halt in Iran oil could push crude up 30 percent, Lesley Wroughton and Timothy Gardner, Reuters

* [Iran-Russia-Turkey] Russia, Turkey call for resumption of talks on Iran's nuclear program, Xinhua News

* [Iran-Russia] Russia urges early renewal of Iran talks, Press TV

* [Iran-sanctions-EU] News Analysis: Will EU sanctions bring Iran to heel?, Xinhua News

* [Iran-Strait of Hormuz] Even without Hormuz blockade, Iran has options, Peter Apps, Reuters

* [Iran-UK] Britain in war and peace with Iran, Press TV

* [Iran-US] 'Obama anti-Iran threats, propaganda', Press TV

* [Iran-US] Frustrated US rambles on Iran: Gary Sick?, Press TV

* [Iran-US] Obama: No options off table on Iran nuclear program, Laura MacInnis, Reuters

* [Iran-wardrums] 'EU sanctions pretext for Iran war', Interview with Ralph Schoenman, Press TV

* [Iran] Iran won't move toward nuclear weapon in 2012: ISIS report, Tabassum Zakaria and Mark Hosenball, Reuters

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see previous Iran-related news at nuclear.com's Iran page

KOREA NEWS

* [North Korea-South Korea-US] N. Korea denounces planned S. Korea-U.S. joint military drills, Yonhap News

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see previous North Korea-related news at nuclear.com's North Korea page

OTHER NUCLEAR WEAPON NEWS

* [n-weapons-US] USA balances trade and proliferation concerns, World Nuclear News
A letter from senior US officials signals that the country will continue to seek nuclear trade agreements with conditions on enrichment and reprocessing implemented on a "case-by-case" basis.

* [n-weapons-CD] UN calls for progress from disarmament body, Xinhua News

* [n-weapons-Ghana] Arrest of Atomic Energy officials implicates Ghana, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation

* [n-weapons-Ghana] Demolition At Kwabenya - Atomic Boss, 36 Others Arrested, Michael Gyasi Ampofo, Modern Ghana

* [n-weapons-history] US forced to defend Manhattan Project park to Japan, Julian Ryall, Daily Telegraph

* [n-weapons-India-Pakistan] A precarious Indo-Pak nuclear balance, Happymon Jacob, The Hindu

* [n-weapons-India-US] The Coming U.S.-India Train Wreck, Richard Fontaine, The Diplomat

* [n-weapons-radiation-Downwinders-Idaho] photo: Haunting voices of the past, Messenger Index

* [n-weapons-Russia-US] Putin Says U.S. Seeks 'Vassals' Not Allies as Campaign Heats Up, Ilya Arkhipov and Henry Meyer, Bloomberg

* [n-weapons-US] Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Risk Assessments, DHS Should Establish More Specific Guidance for Their Use, GAO-12-272, GAO

* [n-weapons-US] Construction Begins On Semi-Secret Air Force Project, WESH Orlando

* [n-weapons] USA balances trade and proliferation concerns, World Nuclear News

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see previous nuclear weapons-related news at nuclear.com's main Nuclear weapons page

OTHER NUCLEAR NEWS

* [enrichment-US-American Centrifuge] Ohio lawmaker touts potential benefits of enrichment project, Jessica Wehrman, The Columbus Dispatch (via NEI email; the title here is NEI's - original focuses on Rep. Markey: "House Democrat opposes aid to Piketon uranium plant; He questions USEC's finances, plant's technology")
Here's NEI's description: Ohio lawmakers continue to support USEC's uranium-enrichment project in the state despite calls from Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., to end federal government financial aid for the plant. Markey said the project's technology is "highly problematic" and that USEC has become too dependent on government money. "We need to continue working to bring this technology to fruition, not just because it will create some 8,000 jobs -- including nearly 4,000 in southern Ohio -- but because it is so vital to our national-security interests," said Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio.

* [n-waste-Canada] Canada requests third-party study of radioactive-waste plan, Ian Macleod, Postmedia News (via NEI email; title here is NEI's - original is "Feds exploring plans to bury nuclear waste in Ontario")
Here's NEI's description: Natural Resources Canada wants Atomic Energy of Canada's plan to store low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste at the company's Chalk River Laboratories in Ontario to undergo a third-party review. While there are "many unknowns and uncertainties ... no features have been found to disqualify the bedrock of the CRL site" from becoming a repository, according to an initial company study.

* [depleted uranium-Iraq] Rage, Illness, and US Weaponry In Fallujah, Michael Youhana, NYU Local

* [n-waste-transport-native americans] NOTICES Meeting: Sunshine Federal Register Notice Pages 3804-3805 [FR DOC# 2012-1600], Nuclear Regulatory Commission

* [n-waste-UK] West Cumbria not committed to underground nuclear repository, meeting told, Caroline Ivison, News & Star

* [n-waste] Intensive research needed for safer handling of nuclear waste, Vishnu Mohan, Meri News

* [nuclearbiz] Technically speaking, nuclear engineers make the most in New Mexico, New Mexico Business Weekly

* [nuclearbiz] Citizens Urge President Obama to Sign Executive Order Requiring Government Contractors to Disclose Political Spending, Public Citizen

* [radiation-Japan-radium] Setagaya decontamination work continues 3 months after radioactive radium found, Mainichi Daily News

* [radioactive material control-US] PROPOSED RULES Withdrawal of Proposed Rule and Closure of Petition for Rulemaking: Withdrawal of Proposed Rule and Closure of Petition for Rulemaking: Organization of Agreement States and Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Radiation Control Pages 3640-3646 [FR DOC# 2012-1523], Nuclear Regulatory Commission

* [radiography] NOTICES Confirmatory Orders: Accurate NDE & Inspection, LLC; Confirmatory Order Pages 3800-3804 [FR DOC# 2012-1502], Nuclear Regulatory Commission

* [site-Hanford] Hanford truck crash spills soil, injures driver, Tri-City Herald

* [site-Los Alamos] Los Alamos Lab Responds To Lujan's Cancer Claims, KOAT Albuquerque

* [site-Los Alamos] Lujan's fight for sick Los Alamos lab workers becomes personal battle, Kate Nash, The Republic

* [site-Oak Ridge-site-Pantex-site-Savannah River] M & O Contract Recompete Site, NNSA

* [site-Oak Ridge-site-Pantex] Frank Munger: Y-12/Pantex HQ could go to Amarillo, Knoxville News Sentinel

* [site-Oak Ridge] DOE responds to security allegations, says it will monitor WSI's investigation 'very closely', Knoxville News Sentinel blog

* [site-Oak Ridge] Was mercury project a success? Y-12 says it may take a year to answer that question, Knoxville News Sentinel blog

* [site-Oak Ridge] 'A Nuclear Family' - New TV series about Y-12 plant begins Thursday, Oak Ridger

* [site-WIPP] Nuke Us: Meet The Town That Wants America's Worst Nuclear Waste, Christopher Helman, Forbes (another version is titled Nuked Us!

* [uranium mining-Virginia] Letter: Wealthy shouldn't delay uranium project, Larry Roach, Chatham Star Tribune

* [uranium mining-Virginia] Second week of the 2012 session, Del. Matt Fariss/House of Delegates, 59th District, Chatham Star Tribune

* [uranium mining-Virginia] Letter: Uranium risks far outweigh benefits, Jesse Andrews, Chatham Star Tribune

* [uranium mining-Virginia] second week of the General Assembly session, Del. James E. Edmunds II/House of Delegates, 60th District, Chatham Star Tribune

* [uranium mining-Virginia] This week brought good news and bad, Sen. Frank Ruff/State Senate, 15th District, Chatham Star Tribune

* [uranium mining-Virginia] Letter: 'Uranium is economic game-changer, Kenneth O. Shelton, Chatham Star Tribune

* [uranium mining-Virginia] Letter: 'Killing the goose to feed the gander', Michael Edwards, Chatham Star Tribune

* [uranium mining-Virginia] Del. Marshall's General Assembly report, Del. Danny Marshall (R) 14th House District, Chatham Star Tribune

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OTHER ENERGY NEWS

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* [energy-Asia] Asian quest for energy security, Michael Richardson, Japan Times

* [energy-CO2-npp] Nuclear power boosters used climate change to ride to energy supremacy, Mainichi Daily News

* [energy-coal-nuclear-site-Yucca Mountain] President Obama comes to Las Vegas -- shish, boom bah!, Sherman Frederick, Las Vegas Review-Journal blog

* [energy-India-solar-diesel] Solar Cheaper Than Diesel Making India's Mittal Believer: Energy, Natalie Obiko Pearson, Bloomberg

* [energy-Oil-OPEC] 'KSA oil offset offer breaches OPEC law', Press TV

* [energy-oil-radiation-North Dakota] State to start tracking radioactive oil waste, Lauren Donovan, Bismarck Tribune

* [energy-US-environment] The future of energy: Environmental impact, Colin Tetreault, BusinessJournalism

* [energy-US-npp] US energy demand to outstrip nuclear growth, World Nuclear News

* [energy-US] State of the Union 2012: Heritage Reaction Roundup, Mike Brownfield, Heritage Foundation

* [energy-US] Chu leads DOE's post-SOTU road show, Knoxville News Sentinel blog

* [energy-US] State of the Union: Obama Opens Public Land and Waters to Energy Industry, Environment News Service

* [energy-US] State of the Union 2012: Barack Obama's environment agenda in review, Suzanne Goldenberg, The Guardian

* [energy-US] Broken Promises on Energy Independence, Ilario Pantano, National Review

* [energy-US] Energy.gov: Where information goes to die, Dawn Stover, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

* [energy-US] Obama's 2012 State of the Union: Energy, environment, Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post

see previous energy-related news at nuclear.com's main Energy page