Monitors a host of energy and nuclear issues from a public interest perspective
“NNSA Nuclear Plan Shows More Weapons, Increasing Costs, Less Transparency”
The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA’s) new Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan (SSMP) doubles the number of new nuclear warhead programs compared with the previous plan from 2019.
“Under Trump, the nuclear weapons industry has boomed – Expansion could be scaled back as President-elect Biden and Congress prioritize pandemic and recession problems.”
SRS Watch in “DOE publishes reactor impact statement”
Idaho Falls Post Register, December 21, 2020
“The U.S. Department of Energy has released the draft environmental impact statement for a test reactor it would like to build at Idaho National Laboratory.”
Congress has finally posted funding language for Fiscal Year 2021.
Full Omnibus bill: https://rules.house.gov/sites/democrats.rules.house.gov/files/BILLS-116HR133SA-RCP-116-68.pdf
Division D – Energy & Water funding:
https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20201221/BILLS-116RCP68-JES-DIVISION-D.pdf
page 108
Plutonium Pit Production.-The agreement reiterates House direction regarding plutonium pit production and clarifies that the plan to complete a resource-loaded integrated master schedule shall include all pit production-related project and program activities that shall provide additional details within high-level milestones for projects based on GAO best practices.
DOE Announces Release of Draft EIS on Versatile Test Reactor (VTR); Lacking Justification and Due to Proliferation Risks, VTR Project Must Not Go Forward – SRS Watch news,
DOE needs to fully reveal what’s going on with the start-up of the new high-level waste processing facility – Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) – at SRS.
Unjustified Plutonium Bomb Plant (PBP) proposed for SRS faces new challenges from key member of US House
News article in Charleston (South Carolina) Post &
“Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Surplus Plutonium Disposition Program” – Federal Register on December 16, 2020
“Public scoping” comment period begins December 16,
Chairman of House Armed Services Committee Reveals Great Skepticism in NNSA’s Ability to Covert SRS MOX Facility to Plutonium Pit Production, Refers to $6 Billion Project as Potential “Rat Hole”
Representative Adam Smith Asserts that Failed Plutonium Fuel (MOX) Project at SRS is “Pretty Close to White Collar Crime”
The powerful chairman of the House Armed Services Committee,
Peace Train: Greenpeace brings half-century of sheer courage
The environmental nonprofit organization’s many voyages have made a mark on nuclear testing sites
Boulder (Colorado) Daily Camera,
The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety (DNSB) is an independent agency providing invaluable oversight of DOE operations. A recent report on recommendations by the board points out numerous shortcomings by DOE in its operations.
The Nuclear Ship Savannah, the world’s first commercial nuclear powered ship, remains at dock in Baltimore Maryland and awaits being fully decommissioned and possibly turned into a museum.
The Defense Nuclear facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) has confirmed that a potential radiation exposure concern is present in the newly started Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF). SRS Watch was alerted about this problem about two months ago but DOE has kept it on the down low.
“Everything You Need to Know About the Savannah River Site (SRS)”
Want to learn about SRS? Listen to this BREDL podcast with the SRS Watch director,
As SRS aims to fill more high-level waste tanks with “grout,” the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission submits an analysis on the approach DOE took with in-situ tank closure of Tank 12H.
New Aerial Photos Released of the Trio of Failed Nuclear Projects in South Carolina & Georgia: Plutonium Fuel/MOX (Proposed to be Converted into a Plutonium Bomb Plant) and the Vogtle &
“Is jobs-rich nuclear plant in jeopardy? Biden expected to re-examine SC factory”
The State, Columbia, South Carolina, November 27, 2020
Earlier this month, efforts to build a jobs-rich nuclear weapons component factory in South Carolina reached a milestone that boosters hoped would keep construction plans on track over the next decade.
New Aerial Photos of VC Summer Nuclear Construction Site Obtained Day After Former SCANA CEO Agrees to Plead Guilty to Fraud for His Role in Failed Nuclear Reactor Construction Project;
“Nuclear fiasco: SCANA ex-CEO to plead guilty to fraud, get prison, pay $5 million”
The State, Columbia, SC, November 24, 2020
article linked here: https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article247398515.html
Kevin Marsh plea agreement,
An initial take: Two dodgy characters close to the Biden transition merit in-depth investigation
Check out this quick comment about Mignon Clyburn and Ernest Moniz –
Ship Carrying Radioactive Waste (Stronium-90) from France to Arrives in Charleston, SC
Three U.S.-Supplied Strontium-Bearing Electricity Generators to be Trucked to Nevada to by Dumped in Ground-Level Trench in Area 5 at the Nevada National Security Site;
Safety Board Notes “Hard Shutdown” of the Key Cesium-Removal Step during Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) Startup; For Second Time, DOE Failed to Publicly Reveal Operational Problems with SWPF,
Ship Carrying Radioactive Waste (Stronium-90) from France to Arrive in Charleston, SC around Nov. 16; Three U.S.-Supplied Strontium-Bearing Electricity Generators to be Trucked to Nevada to DOE Nuclear Waste Dump;
Safety Board Confirms Rumors about Problems with Start Up of Salt Waste Processing Facility at Savannah River Site; DOE-SRS has Refused to Provide an Update on Status of the Facility until after the SRS Watch News Release – Why?
For the last four year, DOE officials have been shaking in their fraidy-cat boots and have refused to meet with public interest organizations working on SRS and DOE issues.
National Nuclear Security AdministrationU.S. Department of EnergyFor Immediate ReleaseFriday, Nov. 6, 2020Contact: NNSA Public Affairs, (202) 586-7371 or nnsanews@nnsa.doe.gov
Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty Resigns as NNSA Administrator
Dr.
Savannah River Site Watch, Nuclear Watch New Mexico (Santa Fe, NM) and Tri-Valley CAREs (Livermore, California) news, November 5, 2020: DOE Issues Controversial Decision to Pursue a Plutonium Bomb Plant (PBP) at Savannah River Site (SRS);
“THE ALLIANCE FOR NUCLEAR ACCOUNTABILITY (ANA) TOP TEN LIST PRIORITIES FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS COMMUNITIES”
Advice of ANA – SRS Watch is a member –
The focus these days of Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette seems to be putting out as many news releases as possible about his travels and money that DOE is doling out.
“Poverty and the Pandemic: Ending Poverty, Creating Solutions and Fighting for Environmental Justice in SC”
Livestreamed program by the Sierra Club, Columbia, SC, Monday,
