U.S., Canada sign MOU on safeguards and nonproliferationNuclear NewsNonproliferationOctober 19, 2020, 9:29AM|Nuclear News StaffBrent Park, the NNSA’s deputy administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, and Richard Sexton (on screen), president and chief executive officer of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, show the signed agreement. Photo: NNSAThe United States and Canada have signed a memorandum of understanding—Cooperation and Exchange of Information in Nuclear Security, Safeguards, and Nonproliferation Matters—to enable a more effective collaboration between the two countries in the areas of nuclear safety and security.The five-year agreement was signed virtually on October 16 by Brent Park, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s deputy administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, and two Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) executives: Richard Sexton, president and chief executive officer, and Shannon Quinn, vice president of Science, Technology, and Commercial Oversight.ExpandTags:aeclbrent parkcanadadoemounnsanonproliferationnuclear securitysafeguardsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
A national security argument for U.S. leadership on nuclear powerANS Nuclear CafePower & OperationsOctober 13, 2020, 9:43AM|ANS Nuclear CafeA recent commentary from Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy—the second in a series by the center’s Matt Bowen titled “Why the United States Should Remain Engaged on Nuclear Power”—examines the geopolitical and national security implications of the United States’ relinquishing the international nuclear energy marketplace to China and Russia.ExpandTags:civil nuclear energy programsnational securitynnsanonproliferationShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Shellenberger: Stop the war on nuclearAround the WebNonproliferationAugust 24, 2020, 10:34AM|Nuclear News StaffShellenbergerU.S. civil nuclear cooperation pacts—so-called 123 Agreements—are too strict, says Michael Shellenberger, founder and president of Environmental Progress, in an August 13 City Journal article.Shellenberger reasons that the 123 Agreements force nations that have expressed interest in developing nuclear energy programs to turn to Russia and China. That result is bad, Shellenberger continues, not only for the American nuclear industry, but also for the global nonproliferation movement.ExpandTags:123 agreementsnonproliferationshellenbergerShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Senators press Trump for answers on Saudi nuclear capabilitiesNuclear NewsPower & OperationsAugust 21, 2020, 10:08AM|Nuclear News StaffVan HollenAmid news stories of possible undeclared nuclear facilities in Saudi Arabia and China's involvement with them (see here and here, for instance), Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D., Md.) on August 19 led a bipartisan group of senate colleagues in sending a letter to President Trump requesting more information on the matter.Cosigners included Sens. Rand Paul (R., Ky.), Jeff Merkley (D., Ore.), Susan Collins (R., Maine), Tim Kaine (D., Va.), and Jerry Moran (R., Kan.).ExpandTags:additional protocolenrichmentfuel cycleiaeanonproliferationnptnuclear suppliers groupsaudi arabiaShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
President’s Session: U.S global leadership in nuclear energy and national securityNuclear NewsJune 9, 2020, 10:33PM|Nuclear News StaffThe President’s Special Session of the 2020 American Nuclear Society Virtual Annual Meeting, organized by ANS’s Young Members Group (YMG) and Student Sections Committee (SSC), featured an all-star group of nuclear policy luminaries opining on the current influence of nuclear technology on U.S. national security and where the nation stands with regard to leadership of the future global nuclear industry.Go to ArticleTags:ans annual meetingdoenational securityneinonproliferationntipresident’s sessionu.s. leadershipShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Fact-checking Amazon's new season of BoschNuclear NewsIsotopes & RadiationMay 5, 2020, 1:19PM|Edited June 2, 2020, 5:03PM|Nuclear News StaffThe latest season of Amazon’s detective series Bosch premiered recently on its streaming service, Prime. The season opens with the murder of a medical physicist and the theft of radioactive cesium, with plenty of drama following as the protagonist tries to solve the murder and end the “catastrophic threat to Los Angeles.” The show is a work of fiction, but let’s take a closer look at the depiction of radiation to sort out the scientific facts.The setup: The series stars Titus Welliver as Los Angeles Police Department detective Harry Bosch and Jamie Hector as his partner, Jerry Edgar. The first episode of the sixth and latest season begins late in the evening at a Los Angeles hospital. We are shown a nervous-looking medical physicist as he walks into a laboratory, the camera dramatically focusing on the radiation sign on the door. No one else is around as the medical physicist clears out the lab’s inventory of what we find out later is cesium. The physicist then walks the material out of the hospital without anyone giving him a second look.Go to ArticleTags:amazon primeboschcesiummedical isotopesnonproliferationradiationShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Nuclear Nonproliferation and Safeguards Education at UniversitiesANS Nuclear CafeAugust 28, 2014, 2:57PM|Lenka KollarI recently attended a Safeguards Education Roundtable at the Argonne National Laboratory sponsored by the Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI). University professors and nonproliferation experts from U.S. national laboratories met at this event to discuss safeguards education at universities. The goal of NGSI is to "to develop the policies, concepts, technologies, expertise, and infrastructure necessary to sustain the international safeguards system" as it evolves in the future. A major pillar of the program is developing the next generation of professionals to work in the nonproliferation and safeguards field-and to make sure that the next generation of nuclear professionals is aware of nonproliferation and safeguards issues.Go to ArticleTags:national laboratoriesnonproliferationscience & engineering educationShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
ANS Supports US-Vietnam Nuclear Export AgreementANS Nuclear CafeMay 8, 2014, 7:27PM|ANS Nuclear CafeExpanding U.S. nuclear exports a key component of effective nonproliferation policyGo to ArticleTags:american nuclear societynonproliferationnuclear technologyShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
ANS Nuclear Security International Panel focuses on the Middle East and North AfricaANS Nuclear CafeOctober 23, 2013, 6:00AM|ANS Nuclear CafeThe American Nuclear Society's Nuclear Non-Proliferation Technical Group (NNTG) will host a distinguished two-part panel session on the Middle East as part of its embedded topical at the 2013 ANS Winter Meeting and Nuclear Technology Expo in our nation's capitol.Go to ArticleTags:american nuclear societymiddle eastnonproliferationShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
ANS Meeting Preview: Nuclear nonproliferation panel on Middle EastANS Nuclear CafeOctober 31, 2012, 6:00AM|ANS Nuclear CafeNuclear Nonproliferation, International Safeguards, and Nuclear Security Challenges in the Middle EastGo to ArticleTags:american nuclear societyjordanmiddle eastnonproliferationturkeyShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
The future of nuclear at #MOXChatANS Nuclear CafeSeptember 25, 2012, 6:00AM|Laura ScheeleOn September 11, the National Nuclear Security Administration (U.S. Department of Energy) hosted a public meeting in Chattanooga, Tenn., concerning its Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the disposition of surplus weapons-grade plutonium as mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel for use in power reactors. You may have seen the ANS Call to Action for the hearing and perhaps read the ANS position statement or background information.Go to ArticleTags:alex woodsamerican nuclear societyans local sectionsans student sectionscenter for nuclear science and technology informationchattanoogachattanooga state community collegelessons learnedmox fuelnon-proliferationnonproliferationnuclear fuel cyclenuclear literacy projectnuclear opponentsnuclear powersteve skutniktvaShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Intermission bloggingANS Nuclear CafeSeptember 11, 2012, 11:16PM|ANS Nuclear CafeThe draft SEIS meeting for disposition of surplus weapons plutonium in MOX fuel started out relatively smoothly-lots (and I mean lots) of pro-nuclear folks in the room; my initial estimates would put the pro-nuclear folks from the University of Tennessee and Chattannooga State University at over half the crowd present. No zombie sightings as of yet.Go to ArticleTags:mox fuelnonproliferationShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Live from Chatanooga - IntroductionsANS Nuclear CafeSeptember 11, 2012, 9:47PM|ANS Nuclear CafeHi folks, Steve Skutnik here-you may know me from The Neutron Economy blog. I'm also currently an assistant professor of nuclear engineering at the University of Tennessee. I'll be here with Suzy Hobbs-Baker (of PopAtomic Studios) and Laura Scheele live-blogging the public hearing on the use of surplus weapons plutonium in MOX fuel. I've also got a healthy contingent of eager students from the University of Tennessee here as well, eager to speak up for the nonproliferation benefits of disposing of surplus plutonium in MOX fuel.Go to ArticleTags:mox fuelnonproliferationShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Call to Action: Public hearing on MOX fuel tonight in ChattanoogaANS Nuclear CafeSeptember 11, 2012, 7:15PM|ANS Nuclear CafeWHO: Go to ArticleTags:american nuclear societyans student sectionsmox fuelnonproliferationnuclear opponentsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Revisiting Reprocessing in South KoreaANS Nuclear CafeAugust 2, 2012, 6:00AM|Dan YurmanThe U.S. doesn't want to hear about itGo to ArticleTags:international fuel banknonproliferationspent nuclear fuel reprocessingShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
ANS adopts position statement on U.S. global nuclear leadership through export-driven engagementANS Nuclear CafeJuly 2, 2012, 6:55AM|ANS Nuclear CafeOn Thursday, June 28, the American Nuclear Society's Board of Directors formally adopted a position statement entitled U.S. Global Nuclear Leadership through Export-Driven Engagement. ANS position statements reflect the Society's perspectives on issues of public interest that involve various aspects of nuclear science and technology. The text of the June 2012 position statement is below, and the full list of ANS positions statements can be accessed via the ANS website by clicking HERE.Go to ArticleTags:american nuclear societyinternational fuel banknonproliferationspent nuclear fuel reprocessingShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
ANS's Mark Peters testifies to Congress on recycling used nuclear fuelANS Nuclear CafeJune 6, 2012, 7:05PM|ANS Nuclear CafeOn Wednesday, June 6, Dr. Mark T. Peters appeared on behalf of the American Nuclear Society before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. Peters is the Deputy Laboratory Director for Programs at Argonne National Laboratory and testified at the invitation of the subcommittee.Go to ArticleTags:american nuclear societymox fuelnational laboratoriesnonproliferationnuclear fuel cycleplutoniumsouth koreaspent fuelspent nuclear fuel reprocessingShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Congressional debate over terms of future 123 agreementsANS Nuclear CafeMay 7, 2012, 6:00AM|Jim HopfIn 2009, the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a "123" agreement, which allowed the transfer of US nuclear technology (e.g., reactors, etc.) to the UAE. As a condition of the agreement, the UAE gave up all rights to enrich uranium or reprocess spent nuclear fuel, now and at any point in the future. Thus, the UAE agreed to give up significant rights that are granted to it as a signee of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).Go to ArticleTags:dc perspectivenonproliferationnuclear fuel cyclenuclear technologyu.s. congressShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
Plutonium in Space: Why and How?ANS Nuclear CafeFebruary 1, 2012, 7:00AM|Wes DeasonThe reasons for using plutonium in space missions are often unclear to those outside the mission planning community. Observers may see or hear only that the space mission is nuclear related, and that the power source uses plutonium.Go to ArticleTags:american nuclear societydepartment of energyengineeringnasanonproliferationphysicsspace applicationsShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook
GE-Hitachi proposes to burn U.K. plutonium stockpileANS Nuclear CafeDecember 22, 2011, 7:00AM|Dan YurmanAn advanced reactor could be used to consume 112 tonnes of weapons grade materialGo to ArticleTags:department of energyengineeringenvironmental benefits of nuclearintegral fast reactornational laboratoriesnonproliferationnuclear fuel cyclenuclear pioneersphysicsprism reactorpwrsreactor designssmall modular reactorsspent fuelspent nuclear fuel reprocessingunited kingdomShare:LinkedInTwitterFacebook