Planning
The Localism Bill will amend the regime for authorising nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) introduced by the Planning Act 2008. It is likely to amend the Planning Act to require National Policy Statements (NPSs) to be approved by a vote in Parliament. This was a pledge of the Conservatives before the election, but is only referred to obliquely in the Coalition Agreement when setting out the Lib Dems’ dispensations on nuclear power. It is likely to amend references to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) to refer instead to the Planning Inspectorate (or the Major Infrastructure Planning Unit of it), which will take over consideration of NSIPs from April 2012. MIPU will examine applications but decisions will be made by the government, as is currently the case until National Policy Statements have been finalised. We are expecting the government to give itself a three-month deadline for making decisions once MIPU has made a recommendation.
Bircham Dyson & Bell 22nd Nov 2010 more >>
Radwaste
The first of a series of meetings on proposals for a nuclear waste dump in west Cumbria have been held. The proposals, which would see an underground storage facility built between Whitehaven and Millom, were discussed at a drop-in session last week. The session, organised by the Managing Radioactive Waste Safely Partnership, took place in Millom Network Centre and was attended by more than 100 people. Further sessions take place this week, starting today in Carlisle at the Old Town Hall.
Cumberland News 22nd Nov 2010 more >>
Oldbury
Shepperdine Against Nuclear Energy is holding a series of lectures – an nideal opportunity to learn what DECC and Horizon have planned for the Severn Vale – on 27th November.
Shepperdine Against Nuclear Energy 22nd Nov 2010 more >>
Bradwell
THE Government’s head of new nuclear development has agreed to visit West Mersea to speak to residents worried about a power station being built in Bradwell. Hergen Haye, from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc), will outline the Government plans at the meeting, organised by campaign group Blackwater Against New Nuclear Group (Banng). And Professor Andy Blowers is urging everyone to attend as it could turn out to be the last chance for people to convince the Government to stop a new nuclear power station from being built in Bradwell.
Gazette 22nd Nov 2010 more >>
Kazakhstan
The Kazakh and U.S. governments recently moved about 100 tons of high-grade plutonium from a poorly secured location on the Caspian Sea to a better-secured secret location at the diagonally opposite corner of Kazakhstan.
IEEE 22nd Nov 2010 more >>
North Korea
The reported sighting of more than 1,000 centrifuges at North Korea’s main nuclear complex appears to confirm it is working to create a second source of arms-grade nuclear material.
Yahoo 23rd Nov 2010 more >>
The US special envoy for North Korea said Pyongyang’s claim of a new uranium enrichment facility is provocative and disappointing but not a crisis or a surprise. Washington, he vowed, will keep working with its regional partners in response.
Independent 23rd Nov 2010 more >>
Nuclear experts are trying to reach a balanced view about the revelation that North Korea has built a modern plant for the enrichment of uranium.
BBC 22nd Nov 2010 more >>
Italy
An octogenarian cancer surgeon chosen by Berlusconi to lead the relaunch of Italy’s nuclear industry says he did not really want the job and that his appointment may yet be stalled by the possible collapse of the centre-right government. With Italy the only member of the G8 without nuclear power, restoring the country’s industry after a 23-year moratorium was a major policy platform in Mr Berlusconi’s 2008 election campaign. But paralysis within the government caused by corruption scandals and internal rifts has set the timetable back.
FT 23rd Nov 2010 more >>
Iran
When news of the Stuxnet worm hitting Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant came out back in September, officials claimed that it had not caused any serious damage.
However Ollie Heinonen, formerly of the United Nations nuclear inspections team has told Reuters news agency that the worm could have caused centrifuges at the plant to fail. Stuxnet was first discovered in June, after which 160 centrifuges were taken offline at the plant in just a couple of months, leading to speculation that the malware could have interfered with the speed of the motors, damaging Iran’s nuclear capability.
Techwatch 22nd Nov 2010 more >>
Devonport
David Cameron has quashed speculation that Devonport will be reduced to a nuclear “graveyard” by stating the Westcountry will have a “proper naval base”. The Prime Minister made the pledge after last month’s strategic and security defence review (SDSR) spelled out a potentially bleak future for Western Europe’s biggest naval dock. Under the worst-case scenario, analysts have suggested Devonport’s flotilla could consist of just one warship in ten years’ time, compared to 20 today.
Plymouth Herald 23rd Nov 2010 more >>
Nuclear Weapons
The latest NIS update includes news about a forthcoming mock weapons inspection at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) that will be undertaken under the auspices of the UK-Norway Initiative; AWE plc’s bid to take control of the Coulport nuclear weapons store; and industrial action planned by AWE staff. You can also read about recent nuclear emergency exercises at Aldermaston and Devonport, and about the plans of the permanent members of the UN Security Council to meet to discuss nuclear arms control.
Nuclear Information Service Oct/Nov 2010 more >>
Convoy drivers hired to transport US nuclear weapons have been arrested for being drunk and getting involved in bar brawls, according to a report by the US Energy Department’s watchdog.
Belfast Telegraph 23rd Nov 2010 more >>
Independent 23rd Nov 2010 more >>
Daily Mail 23rd Nov 2010 more >>
BBC 22nd Nov 2010 more >>
Test Veterans
The Court of Appeal’s decision to deny ex-servicemen compensation for the injuries they say they suffered during Cold War nuclear tests more than 50 years ago, is a setback for the thousands who were watching the test cases anxiously.
BBC 22nd Nov 2010 more >>
Independent 23rd Nov 2010 more >>
Metro 23rd Nov 2010 more >>
British veterans involved in Cold War nuclear tests in the 1950s will take their case for compensation to the Supreme Court after the Ministry of Defence won the bulk of its appeal against their claims for damages.
Scotsman 23rd Nov 2010 more >>
