Nuclear safety
Relations with Russia chill, and nuclear security cooperation gets put on ice
The US and Russia have cooperated for two decades to secure Russia’s nuclear stockpile, a program that was a rare bright spot in the relationship between the two powers. But while the dangers haven’t decreased, Russia may be ready to end American aid because of the situation in Ukraine.
An Examination of the National Regulatory Commission
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission cited Alabama Brown’s Ferry nuclear power plant for a failed valve, that could have hindered efforts to cool one of the reactors in an emergency. This news comes on the heals of the NRC coming under criticism for being too close to the nuclear industry to really be an effective regulator. […]
Japan Raises Severity Rating of Nuclear Crisis
Japan has raised the severity rating of its nuclear crisis from level five to the highest level, seven. This decision reflects the total radiation release at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi power plant, which is ongoing, rather than a sudden deterioration.
Japan Nuclear Crisis: Two Weeks Later
It’s been two weeks since the earthquake and tsunami hit Northeastern Japan. Ever since that day, Japanese officials have been working tirelessly to avert a nuclear disaster. Friday morning, Japanese nuclear safety officials said that they suspect that the reactor core at one unit of the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant may have breached. […]