NRC Strips Whistleblower Protection w/ Arnie Gundersen
Channel: MsMilkytheclown1
Date: 08/11/2013

In sworn testimony in Monroe, Michigan, the NRC admitted that it has stripped whistleblower protection from the licensing of new nuclear power plants.  By flip-flopping on what it means to be an applicant, the whistleblowers who are truly looking to protect the public health and safety are having their lives and livelihoods jeopardized. Fairewinds Chief Engineer Arnie Gundersen discusses what this means as utilities look for short cuts and cheaper ways to build new nukes. http://tinyurl.com/luexxq9
http://tinyurl.com/oxcmyav
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Doubtful Data for Fermi 3, reports Beyond Nuclear

Beyond Nuclear has a great article on Detroit Edison's creative use of the English language in their application for a permit for the proposed Fermi 3 Atomic Reactor. Fairewinds' Arnie Gundersen points out issues with the geotechnical data presented, as well as with Edison's unusual spin on the topic:

    "Given Detroit Edison's violations of quality assurance requirements, the geological borings and soil samples are suspect. Fermi 3's building structures would be very heavy, so the geotechnical data has to be verifiable, so that the atomic reactor's foundations are rock solid, and seismically qualified."

    Gundersen pointed out that Detroit Edison's playing fast and loose with the definition of the word "applicant" presents dangers not only at Fermi 3, but would set a very bad precedent across the nuclear power industry. 
http://tinyurl.com/pe75lsw
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FERMI COMPLEX
NRC to hear arguments on DTE license for 3rd reactor
http://tinyurl.com/q8yq88
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Let The Games Begin
Today [Wednesday, October 30, 2013], The Games Began in Monroe Michigan as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (NRC ASLB) started hearings on Detroit Edison's "Fermi 3 Licensing Project". Outgunned? Fairewinds' Arnie Gundersen and the seven expert witnesses retained by the NRC staff and Detroit Edison agree that there was no Quality Assurance (QA) program in place for two years as required by federal law, but the seven industry experts say build it anyway! Damn the safety regulations; full speed ahead to the pork-barrel federal loan guarantees to build a one of a kind Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor. Listen as Maggie, Arnie, and host Nathaniel White-Joyal discuss the stacked deck on this week's Fairewinds Energy Education Podcast. http://tinyurl.com/lpl93j2
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FAIREWINDS FERMI 3 NON-PROPRIETARY FINDINGS
TESTIMONY OF ARNOLD GUNDERSEN SUPPORTING OF INTERVENORSCONTENTION 15:
DTE COLA LACKS STATUTORILY REQUIRED COHESIVE QA PROGRAM
http://tinyurl.com/q9nppb
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FERMI INTERVENORS INITIAL POSITION STATEMENT
TESTIMONY THAT THE QUALITY ASSURANCE ACTIVITIES OF DETROIT ELECTRIC COMPANY ("DTE" OR "APPLICANT") DO NOT SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ATOMIC ENERGY ACT AND REGULATIONS PROMUL-GATED PURSUANT TO IT.
http://tinyurl.com/p3vqhs
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http://tinyurl.com/qeka8e8
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Barrier to Entry with Terry Lodge
On this week's podcast we interviewed Terry Lodge, a trial lawyer with significant experience working on nuclear issues. We have worked with Terry on cases involving San Onofre, Fermi, and Davis Besse, and today he joins us to discuss the challenge of participating meaningfully with the NRC. Is the NRC doing their job to protect citizens, or have they designed a byzantine system to thwart the public and protect the industry?
http://tinyurl.com/omevbxa

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