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Updates from the SRSCRO
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July 2019
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Follow us on Twitter!
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Rick McLeod @atomicasset
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World Nuclear Power vs Climate Change
Previous articles in this series covered carbon dioxide emissions, petroleum supply and demand, the production and consumption of coal, global natural gas trends, and the continued explosion in the growth of renewable energy. The article on July 11 covered nuclear energy and provided some statistics on nuclear energy.
As reported
: In 2018, the world produced 2,701 terawatt-hours (TWh) of nuclear power. This represents a slight decline over the past decade. Global nuclear power production dropped by 10% from 2010 to 2012, a consequence of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan. However, global nuclear power generation has risen every year since 2012.
The U.S. remains by far the world's leading producer of nuclear power. In 2018, the U.S. generated 850 TWh of nuclear power, which represented 31.4% of the world's total nuclear generation. France was in second place, well behind the U.S. with 15.3% of the global share. Nevertheless, the U.S. has nearly five times the population of France, so France does lead on a per capita basis.
China was in third place with a 10.9% global share of nuclear generation. However, China's nuclear program is noteworthy, as they are only one of two countries that grew nuclear power by an annual average above 10% over the past decade. China also has more nuclear power plants being planned than any other country. Rounding out the Top 5 global nuclear producers were Russia (7.6% global share) and South Korea (4.9% global share).
 Germany remains committed to completely phasing out nuclear power, but the country's nuclear power generation was nearly unchanged from 2017. Germany remains one of the world's Top 10 producers of nuclear power. However,
German utilities were forced to plan a shutdown of their nuclear power plants by the Energiewende, or energy transition, that the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel introduced in response to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in Japan in March 2011. At that time, Germany was obtaining around a quarter of its electricity from 17 nuclear reactors.
In May, a group of nearly 100 Polish environmentalists and scientists wrote an open letter to the leadership and people of Germany asking the country to reconsider its nuclear phase-out plans. Excerpts from t
he text of the letter is as follows:
"We are aware of the ongoing discussion concerning the place for nuclear power in a long-term sustainable power generation model and we think it still requires more deliberation based on complete scientific data. However, abandoning low-carbon nuclear power before the complete end of burning of hard coal and lignite will result in technical and technological problems, which will be very difficult to overcome in a short time period and will require the continued use of other fossil fuels, mainly natural gas. This in turn fails to provide expected rapid and effective decarbonisation."
"That is why we appeal to you to reconsider your decision to end the use of nuclear power in Germany or to delay it until you have completely phased out the use of fossil fuels in the power industry and implemented effective, state-of-the-art technologies for the storage of power generated by renewables. This would accelerate the decarbonisation processes, serving as an example and giving hope to other countries on our planet, which will be making decisions on the future of their power systems and on their role in preventing climate change and degradation of the biosphere."
As the Forbes article concludes, "absolute rejection of nuclear power almost certainly means higher global carbon dioxide emissions. That's a high price to pay if you are concerned about the impacts of climate change."
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High-Level Radioactive Waste (HLW) Interpretation Update
 Previous SRSCRO newsletters have had articles related to DOE's recent actions as it relates to interpretation of what constitutes or defines HLW. As a reminder, here is a timeline provided by DOE in its June
fact sheet -
Timeline:
- DOE issued a Federal Register Notice inviting the public to comment on the HLW interpretation - October 2018
- DOE extended the public comment period to January 9, 2019 at the request of stakeholders - December 2018
- DOE issued a Supplemental Federal Register Notice explaining how DOE considered public comments on the HLW interpretation - June 5, 2019
- DOE issued a Federal Register Notice announcing intent to prepare National Environmental Policy Act documentation to analyze disposing of Defense Waste Processing Facility recycle wastewater from the Savannah River Site at a commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal facility under the HLW interpretation - June 5, 2019
Not everyone agrees with the benefits identified in the DOE fact sheet. Washington State Governor Jay Inslee said he would not stop state efforts to clean up the Hanford site to a higher standard and challenged the legality of the federal change. "By taking this action, the administration seeks to cut out state input and move towards disposal options of their choosing, including those already deemed to be unsafe by their own assessments and in violation of the existing legally binding agreement," he said. "We will consider all options to stop this reckless and dangerous action."
There has been additional action by
Representative Adam Smith, the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, a Washington State Democrat. He proposed and won approval for an amendment in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act for the next fiscal year to prohibit DOE from using any money to apply the new interpretation to any waste in Washington State. The House bill passed on July 12 by a vote of 220 - 197. The Senate has already passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act, which does not include the restriction. The two versions of the bill must be reconciled before the final version is sent to the president to be signed into law.
Mark Senderling, EM Deputy Assistant Secretary for Waste and Materials Management, participated on a webinar with Energy Committee Alliance members on July 17 to further explain DOE's response
to significant and recurring comments received through the public comment process. DOE received a total of 5,555 comments, roughly 360 of which were distinct, unrepeated comments, from a variety of stakeholders. Mr. Senderling will also be presenting to the SRS Citizens Advisory Board on July 30 on this subject and possibly hosting a question and answer period.
It should be noted; this DOE interpretation does not change or revise any current policies, legal requirements, or agreements with respect to HLW. Decisions about whether and how this interpretation of HLW will apply to existing wastes, and whether such wastes may be managed as non-HLW will be the subject of subsequent actions -see story below concerning SRS DWPF recycle wastewater. Also of interest are these two documents from ECA concerning this topic:
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SRS "Up First" on HLW Interpretation
 As discussed above, DOE's decisions about whether and how its interpretation of HLW will apply to existing wastes and whether such wastes may be managed as non-HLW will be the subject of subsequent actions on this topic. The first action taken by DOE will be the preparation of National Environmental Policy Act documentation to analyze disposing of Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) recycle wastewater from the Savannah River Site at a commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal facility under the HLW interpretation
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Last month DOE announced its intent to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) to dispose of up to 10,000 gallons of stabilized (grouted) DWPF recycle wastewater from the Savannah River Site (SRS) at a commercial low-level radioactive waste (LLW) disposal facility located outside of South Carolina licensed by either the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) or an Agreement State.
The DWPF recycle wastewater would be treated, characterized, and if the performance objectives and waste acceptance criteria of a specific disposal facility are met, DOE could consider whether to dispose of the waste as LLW under the Department's high-level radioactive waste (HLW) interpretation.
Recycle wastewater is generated as part of DWPF operations. The wastewater is a combination of several dilute liquid waste streams consisting primarily of condensates from the pretreatment and vitrification processes. Other components of the recycle wastewater include process samples, sample line flushes, sump flushes, and cleaning solutions from the decontamination and filter dissolution processes. Currently, the recycle wastewater is returned to the tank farm for volume reduction by evaporation or is beneficially reused in salt dissolution and pretreatment, or sludge washing.
DOE has identified three action alternatives for the proposed action. The EA will also analyze a no action alternative under which the DWPF recycle wastewater would remain in the SRS liquid waste system until disposition occurs.
DOE will issue another Federal Register Notice later this year on the availability of the Draft Commercial Disposal of Recycle Wastewater EA and will include instructions on how to submit public comments on the Draft EA. So, stay tune. The SRSCRO will continue to follow the topic.
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Student
Spotlight
Wesley Brison began studies at the University of South Carolina Aiken in 2016 and received his first WORC scholarship for the 2018 - 2019 academic year. He is participating in WORC-funded research activities involving constructed wetlands for the remediation of heavy metals, and is pictured here presenting his research at the 2019 meeting of the Carolina's Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Wesley also presented at the 2019 meeting of the SC Academy of Science, where he won an award for best oral presentation.
Wesley is a first-generation college student with no family financial support.
The WORC scholarship has helped ease the burden of tuition and is introducing him to the career opportunities at the Savannah River Site. Wesley will graduate in May 2020 and sincerely hopes for a job at the Savannah River Site.
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2019 Savannah River Safety Summit
Free Registration Now Open
The
Savannah River Safety Summit will take place on August 27, 2019, at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion in Martinez, GA. The day-long Summit will feature a welcome address, a keynote speaker, 4 sessions focused on nuclear safety and transportation, a Safety Expo with networking opportunities, door prizes, and more.
"This is a great way for the CSRA community to become more aware of safety practices on our DOE site, learn how area nuclear facilities maintain a healthy safety culture, and enjoy learning about some of our local companies that provide safety products and services,"
said Tim Griffin, ETEBA Executive Director and a member of the Summit's planning committee.
Registration is required , but the event is free of charge. Breakfast, lunch and beverages throughout the day will be provided.
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Ice Cream
Fun Facts
1. In the United States, July is deemed to be "National Ice Cream Month".
2. One cone of ice cream can be finished off in 50 licks - Legitimate Licks!!!.
3. The largest worldwide consumption of ice cream is in United States, where one average person consumes 48 pints of ice cream per year.
4. 90% of American households eat ice cream.
5. The biggest ice cream sundae was created in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1988. It weighted 24 tons.
6. The most popular flavor of ice cream is vanilla. After that comes chocolate, strawberry, cookies and cream, and others.
7. Ice cream cones were invented during 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, when large demand forced ice cream vendor to find help from nearby waffle vendor. Together they made history.
8. One of the most unusual ice cream flavors is hot dog flavored ice-cream that was created in Arizona.
9. Over her entire lifetime, one dairy cow can produce enough milk for 9,000 gallons of ice cream!
10. The most profitable day for ice cream sellers is almost always Sunday.
1. Continental Europe was introduced to ice cream in the late 13th century when Marko Polo returned to Italy with his tales of travel in China.
12. Market analysts confirmed that ice cream sales increase many times during times of recession or wars.
13. The most popular ice cream topping is chocolate syrup.
14. California is the larger producer of ice cream in United States. During 2003, they alone made 121 million gallons of this cold treat.
15. Standard ice cream machines have 3 levers. Two for flavors and one for twisting.
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. Over $21 billion is moved by the ice cream industry in United States alone.
17. Ice cream's "Brain Freeze" effect is triggered when cold ice touches the roof of your mouth, which causes blood vessels in the head to dilate.
18. There are 273 calories in one cup of vanilla ice cream.
19. Ice cream can be made in many types - ordinary ice cream, frozen custard, frozen yogurt, reduced-fat ice cream, sherbet, gelato, and others.
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Closing Thoughts
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It would not be possible to praises nurses too highly. -- Stephen Ambrose
It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers. -- James Thurber
I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand. -- Confucius
Trouble shared is trouble halved. -- Lee Iacocca
A person will sometimes devote all his life to the development of one part of his body - the wishbone. -- Robert Frost
Adventure is worthwhile. -- Aesop
We have, I fear, confused power with greatness. -- Stewart Udall
It is not so much our friends' help that helps us, as the confidence of their help. -- Epicurus
There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.
-- Alexis de Tocqueville
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Contact Information
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SRSCRO, PO Box 696, Aiken, SC 29802
Staff:
Rick McLeod - President/CEO - 803-508-7402
Mindy Mets - NWI® Program Manager - 803-508-7403
Amy Merry - Administrative & Business Manager - 803-508-7401
Kim Saxon - Assistant Coordinator - 803-508-7656
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