D.C. meltdown: Congress dragging feet on radioactive waste ban

If you’re holding your breath over EnergySolutions’ plan to import low-level radioactive waste from Italy, you might as well exhale. The company’s proposal, and a proposed law to ban foreign waste, are going nowhere fast.

Exposing Bush’s Historic Abuse of Power

The last several years have brought a parade of dark revelations about the George W. Bush administration, from the manipulation of intelligence to torture to extrajudicial spying inside the United States. But there are growing indications that these known abuses of power may only be the tip of the iceberg. Now, in the twilight of the Bush presidency, a movement is stirring in Washington for a sweeping new inquiry into White House malfeasance that would be modeled after the famous Church Committee congressional investigation of the 1970s.

ACLU Secures Religious Freedom for American Indians at Wyoming Prison

RAWLINS, Wyoming – July 30 – Corrections officials at the Wyoming State Penitentiary (WSP) have agreed to allow American Indian prisoners access to eagle feathers for use in their traditional Indian religious practices. According to a court order, prison officials must allow American Indian prisoners to posses up to four eagle feathers in their individual cells, as well as a feather fan comprised of more than four feathers that can be used in group religious activities and stored elsewhere at WSP.

Native Americans as Early Land Managers

ndigenous people used several techniques to cultivate plants. Pruning changed the structure of the plant and increased seed and fruit production according to M. Kat Anderson. Pruning often removed dead plant material that may be susceptible to insect infestation. The removal of dead material made room and light available to new growth. New growth increased fruit yield and/or produced long straight shoots that could be used in basket making.

Climate shift smogs up the nuclear discussion

Climate change has also been a godsend to the image of the nuclear power industry, enabling it to divert the public imagination away from an association with the Cold War and safety concerns following the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident.

Discover Lessons From Canada on Storing Spent Nuclear Fuel & High-Level Radioactive Waste in a Comprehensive Comparative Report

The United States has spent more than $6 billion on the Yucca Mountain repository, and debate still rages over when — or whether — it will open. In contrast, Canada is close to settling on a course for burying its nuclear waste that promises none of the divisiveness that the Yucca Mountain project has spawned.

Reid: Yucca Mountain dump site has history of seismic activity

Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke today about the potential for grave consequences at Yucca Mountain if an earthquake ever struck in the area of the proposed nuclear dump site.

Hundreds oppose rail line for Levy nuclear plant

The news of the rail line does not sit well with area residents, particularly those who live near the line, but also those who have concerns about the frequency of the trains, the cargo that would be carried, possible traffic delays and impacts on emergency vehicles. They also expressed environmental concerns.

We Lie and Bluster About Our Nukes — and Then Wag Our Fingers at Iran

What is the Iranian government up to? For once the imperial coalition, overstretched in Iraq and unpopular at home, is proposing jaw, not war. The UN security council’s offer was a good one: if Iran suspended its uranium enrichment programme, it would be entitled to legally guaranteed supplies of fuel for nuclear power, assistance in building a light water reactor, foreign aid, technology transfer and the beginning of the end of economic sanctions. The US seems prepared, for the first time since the revolution, to open a diplomatic office in Tehran. But in Geneva, 10 days ago, the Iranians filibustered until the negotiations ended. On Saturday President Ahmadinejad announced that Iran has now doubled the number of centrifuges it uses to enrich uranium. A fourth round of sanctions looks inevitable.

Moment of respite for Chernobyl’s lucky 13

On April 26, 1986, in the Kiev region, Ukraine, 12km from the Belarusian border, there was a major breakdown at the Chernobyl nuclear power station.

The failed reactor caused a huge explosion, which killed 30 people and masses of radioactive substances escaped into the atmosphere.

Nearly 30 to 40 times more harmful material was released in Chernobyl than had been by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of the Second World War.