IN THE U.S.
Republic Services, owner of the West Lake Superfund site, said late last week that it remains “ready” as the Environmental Protection Agency moves forward with plans to build an isolation barrier at the landfill meant to prevent a nearby underground fire from reaching nuclear waste material.
Republic Services spokesman Richard Callow weighed in on the matter via email Friday, saying, “The company’s comment on construction of an isolation barrier remains the same: ‘Ready.’”
The EPA has regarded the barrier as a “top priority,” for both the community and the agency, in mitigating potential impacts from he smoldering fire at the adjacent Bridgeton Landfill in Bridgeton, Mo. The agency is working on plans for the barrier.
The Missouri Coalition for the Environment citizens’ group and lawmakers have criticized the EPA’s 25-year cleanup effort at the site. Last week, Ed Smith, the coalition’s safe energy director, questioned whether the barrier is the best plan of action, arguing that removal of waste material should be the priority. He also called Republic Services actions in opposition to the community’s efforts “deplorable.”
Callow wrote that the barrier will reassure landfill neighbors, whether it’s necessary or not. He also cited a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article from 2013, in which Smith called the barrier “a good first step,” but ultimately said “full removal (of the waste) is the only option for long-term safety.”
“His opposition to construction of a barrier that, necessary or not, would reassure many of the neighbors, was not nearly as strong in 2013," Callow stated.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will allow nuclear facilities in New York and California to staff security personnel with certain firearms and large-capacity magazines, despite local, state, and federal restrictions.
The NRC granted the pre-emption authority on Wednesday to the following facilities: Indian Point, James A. FitzPatrick, Nine Mile Point, and R.E. Ginna in New York, and San Onofre and Diablo Canyon in California. The authority is also extended the sites’ dry cask spent fuel storage facilities, according to the NRC announcement.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 allows the NRC to authorize security personnel’s use of certain firearms and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices. This went into effect in 2009, when the Attorney General approved the NRC’s publication of guidelines.
INTERNATIONAL
The U.K. Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) announced Wednesday that Tony Fountain will take over as chairman at Settafield Ltd. as the site license company becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of NDA.
Fountain, who boasts 30 years of industry experience, will start his three-year appointment on April 1, replacing current chairman Tony Price. Fountain’s resume includes stints with BP and more recently, Reliance Industries, where he led refining and marketing business in India. Fountain also served as NDA CEO between 2009 and 2011.
“I am delighted to be asked to chair the organisation and help Paul Foster, his executive team and workforce to progress the decommissioning mission as effectively and efficiently as possible on behalf of the NDA,” Fountain said in a statement. “From previous experience I know of the tremendous expertise and passion within Sellafield Ltd to make real progress. I am also fully aware of the significant role the organisation fulfills within its communities. I am looking forward to playing my part in what will be a pivotal period for the organisation and the site.”
Sellafield is nuclear fuel decommissioning and reprocessing site in Cumbria, England. With annual expenses topping £2 billion and a workforce of 10,000, Sellafield accounts for 60 percent of the NDA budget.
