NRC GIVES MOX CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH IN 2013
NS&D Monitor
4/04/2014
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission did not identify any areas needing improvement in Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility construction in 2013, contractor Shaw AREVA MOX Services announced last week. The annual review conducted by NRC’s resident inspectors aims to identify potential construction and procedure safety issues at the MOX project, which is currently slated for suspension by the Administration. “We could not be prouder of our project staff, employees and contractors for this remarkable achievement,” MOX Services president Kelly Trice said in a statement. “For the past four years, the NRC review has validated our continuing commitment to build the MOX facility in the safest manner possible while ensuring that all NRC quality and regulatory requirements are met.”
NEW WATCHDOG GROUP FORMED
NS&D Monitor
4/04/2014
Savannah River Site Watch, a new South Carolina-based watchdog group for nuclear issues, was launched this week. The group plans to focus on nuclear cleanup activities at the Savannah River Site, as well as other projects including the H-Canyon facility, the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility and nuclear energy projects in the region. Longtime South Carolina activist Tom Clements is director of the group. “As it is the Department of Energy’s nature to operate outside public scrutiny, our job will be to highlight to SRS programs that warrant public attention and involvement. A major first initiative will be to highlight the problem-plagued MOX program at SRS, while advocating for plutonium disposition methods that reduce environmental risks to South Carolina and reduce costs to taxpayers,” Clements said, adding: “As cleanup is of paramount importance at SRS, we will support adequate funding for that mission and question proposals by SRS management and contractors that could result in the accumulation of more nuclear material at the site.”
The group will be a project of the nonprofit Fairewinds Energy Education. SRS Watch President Frances Close, former head of the Energy Research Foundation, said in a statement: “Given the host of environmental problems and proliferation threats associated with the Savannah River Site, we felt it was time to increase public interest monitoring efforts by creating a new oversight organization.”
