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Partnership for Science & Technology The Partnership for Science & Technology is a nonprofit, grassroots organizationformed to provide accurate and timely information on existing and proposed activities at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site, and to advocate for nuclear and environmentaltechnologies and decisions that are in the public interest.Please review our goals and activities and if you find that you share in our vision become a partner by joining today. |
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Featured News 
URS-Led Team Named as Preferred Bidder for Sellafield UK Nuclear Complex
SAN FRANCISCO, Jul 11, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE)
DOE and Federal Govt. agree on Waste Cleanup Plan!
DOEThe agreement implements a 2006 federal court order in coordination with ongoing Superfund cleanup of the area. It marks the end of six years of litigation between the U.S. Department of Energy and the State of Idaho, and it will satisfy DOE’s commitment to Idaho to remove transuranic (plutonium-contaminated) waste buried at INL decades ago.
International Isotopes
Great news from PST Founding Member, International Isotopes Inc.
Areva to Idaho Falls: "OUI!"
Idaho beats out 4 other states for $2 billion project points.
PST and Grow Idaho falls' press release concerning Areva
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A recent editorial raised important questions about the uranium enrichment facility planned for construction west of Idaho Falls. While some of the answers to those questions will be years in the making, there is a lot we know today that will help allay the concerns of Magic Valley residents.
We agree that the permitting process for the enrichment plant must be open and inclusive. Several permits are required before the Areva facility can be constructed, but the most extensive process will be the one to request a license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The NRC licensing process is designed to be scientific, objective and thorough, and to give all interested citizens an opportunity to be heard.
Before construction of the plant can begin, the NRC must issue a license for construction and operation. To issue a license, the NRC must prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and a Safety Evaluation Report for the project. The EIS process includes public hearings and comment periods on both the scope of the EIS and on the content of the draft EIS.
The NRC must also conduct a formal hearing before issuing a construction and operation license, and members of the public may use the hearing to raise safety or environmental issues. Even after a license is granted, operations cannot begin until the NRC verifies that the facility has been constructed as required by the license. Throughout construction, NRC inspectors verify that the design, construction, installation and tests of safety-significant features, equipment and components comply with the license and NRC regulations.
As construction nears completion, the NRC conducts inspections of the most safety-significant features, including but not limited to chemical safety, fire protection, radiological controls, emergency preparedness, and training and qualification of facility personnel. Enrichment operations cannot begin until the NRC determines that the facility can operate safely.
The editorial also raised questions about the disposal of depleted uranium hexafluoride, or depleted UF6. While UF6 is only mildly radioactive, it is indeed a hazardous material that must be managed responsibly. UF6 is a fluorine compound that can react with water to produce toxic fumes of hydrofluoric acid. The chemical hazard posed by UF6 is similar to the hazard posed by chlorine. To protect against accidental release the UF6 will be kept in sturdy cylinders before and after enrichment, as well as during storage and transportation.
Depleted UF6 cannot be disposed of directly. Government-owned facilities are being built in Kentucky and Ohio to convert depleted UF6 from past government enrichment operations into disposable waste forms. These facilities are required by law to accept depleted UF6 from commercial enrichment facilities, so there will be an exit path out of Idaho. Private companies are also looking to build UF6 treatment facilities, so there should be ample capacity to treat the depleted UF6. Under the rules of the Rocky Mountain Low-level Waste Compact, of which Idaho is a member, the radioactive portion of the treated waste will be disposed in Utah or Washington. It will not be disposed at the INL.
We welcome the construction of the Areva plant because we know nuclear power must be part of a smarter long-term U.S. energy policy; because the Areva approach to uranium enrichment is better for the environment than other uranium enrichment processes; and because the plant will create good, secure jobs and add to our tax base. We also know the importance of ensuring the plant is constructed and operated safely and that wastes are managed responsibly. We will work with Areva and with permitting agencies to ensure the plant is safe for workers, the public and the environment.
Lane Allgood, executive director
Partnership for Science and Technology
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Partnership For Science And Technology
TO: All PST Members
FROM: Lane Allgood, Executive Director
DATE: Aug. 8, 2008
SUBJECT: Fall Calendar
Below is a list of PST upcoming activities. As you can see this is going to be a very busy fall. If you have any questions or would like to become involved in any of these activities, please contact me.
Lane
313-4166
Up and Atom Breakfast
Thursday Aug. 21
7:30-9:00 am
Red Lion on the Falls
Sam Shakir, AREVA’s General Manager, Strategic Enrichment Program will be the featured speaker. As always, the breakfast is free to PST members (Thank You EIRMC for sponsoring), but please RSVP by Aug. 18.
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DRAFT GNEP PEIS Public Meeting
September ??
A couple of weeks ago I was involved in a conference call with other representatives from GNEP communities and DOE. We were told that the GNEP PEIS would be out for public review in August and there would be public hearings in September.
Below is an update that currently is on DOE’s website. Please note the bolded text. Everyone is a little confused as to what the PEIS will contain. As soon as the PEIS is released, we will study it and prepare for the public hearing.
The Department received more than 14,000 comment documents during the scoping period for the GNEP PEIS. Consideration of these comments resulted in the addition of several programmatic alternatives (i.e., alternative open and closed fuel cycles and related technologies). In addition, DOE reconsidered its proposals regarding specific facilities in light of scoping comments and other considerations. As a result, DOE has eliminated the project-specific proposals for the siting, construction, and operation of a nuclear fuel recycling center, an advanced recycling reactor, and an advanced fuel cycle research facility from the GNEP PEIS. DOE will not make any decision based on this PEIS regarding sites for these facilities.
These changes required additional time to prepare the Draft GNEP PEIS. Public hearings will be scheduled to begin at least 30 days after the release of the Draft GNEP PEIS, which is expected in August 2008.
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PST, To Host Energy Communities Alliance Meeting
October 8-10
PST along with the City of Idaho Falls will be hosting the Energy Communities Alliance’s (ECA) Peer-Exchange in October. ECA is the organization of local governments that are adjacent to or impacted by DOE activities. The board members include elected officials and administrators from local governments impacted by DOE. Mayor Linda Milam served as the board president. Currently PST, The City of Idaho Falls, Butte County and the RDA are members of ECA.
ECA’s mission is to bring together local government officials in DOE-impacted communities to share information, establish policy positions, and advocate community interests in order to effectively address an increasingly complex set of constituent, environmental, regulatory, and economic development needs.
Below is the announcement that appeared in ECA’s July Bulletin. Please note that the theme of this meeting will be how coalition groups (like PST) are successful in participating in the DOE decision-making process. We should be very proud that we were asked to host (and help develop the sessions) this peer-exchange. Other ECA members consider our region as the leader in community-governmental relationship building.
ECA PEER EXCHANGE:
ECA Members to Meet October 9-10 in Idaho Falls to Discuss Lessons Learned from Local
Coalition Groups (Oct. 9-10)
ECA is planning to hold its next peer exchange on October 9-10 in Idaho
Falls, ID. The peer exchange will focus on lessons learned from local coalition
groups surrounding DOE sites, who have successfully advocated for environmental
cleanup, new missions, and general local government involvement
in DOE decision-making.
In addition, the meeting will also highlight some of the current activities related
to the Idaho National Laboratory, including the recent settlement agreement
reached between DOE, the state, and the Navy.
The peer exchange is open to all ECA members. Please contact Nithin
Akuthota at nithina@energyca.org or 202.828.2423 if you have any questions.
Additional details, including registration forms and travel information, will be sent to members. We would like to thank
Lane Allgood for assisting us with planning this event.
PST Energy Advocate Awards Banquet
November 6
The Partnership for Science and Technology will select two recipients (one recipient will be from Idaho, while the second recipient will be a national figure or organization) for the first annual PST Energy Advocate Awards. The awards will be presented at a banquet in conjunction with the Alternative Energy Investment Opportunities Conference. The Energy Advocate Award criteria and nominating forms are attached. Nominations are due to PST by August 31.
Alternative Energy Investment Opportunities Conference
November 6
PST is teaming with the Eastern Idaho Economic Development Partners to produce this one-day conference to promote alternative energy investment opportunities in eastern Idaho. I will forward details as they become available.
Member Update
Thank you for your support’
New Members
S. M. Stoller Corp.
Contact: Jim Van Vliet
(208) 525-9358, jvanvliet@stoller.com
Epsilon System Solutions Inc.
Contact: Bill Lapsansky
523-3774, blapsansky@epsilonsystems.com
La Rocco for Senate
Contact: Larry La Rocco
(208) 345-5678, Larry@LaroccoforSenate.com
Renewal Members
Portage Inc.
Founding member
Beth Sellers
Kenlon and Carol Johnson
Bruce Turner