The President’s high profile speech is upstaged by a North Korean missile
U.S. President Barack Obama went to the Czech Republic on April 5 and 41 years after Soviet tanks crushed the bloom of “Prague Spring” stood in the middle of that city and called for all nations to strive to rid the world of nuclear arms.
Reuters reported that it had echoes of famous cold war speeches like that of President John F. Kennedy who brought an entire city to its feet with his famous phrase"Ich bin ein Berliner.” [Photo is a link to the NY Times]
Even as President Obama spoke in Prague, North Korea launched a missile over the sea of Japan. While the debris from it reportedly fell harmlessly into the Pacific Ocean, it created world wide tension that the spread of nuclear weapons could not be checked. ABC news reported that military analysts say the Taepo-dong 2 missile has the potential of being able to reach Alaska, Hawaii, or the Western United States.
In response the President called on the U.N. to punish North Korea over the rocket launch. The New York Times reported that President Obama said that North Korea violated international rules when it unsuccessfully tested the rocket and he called on the Security Council to take action.
“This provocation underscores the need for action — not just at the U.N. Security Council, but in our determination to prevent the spread of these weapons. Rules must be binding. Violations must be punished. Words must mean something.”
Stopping the spread of nuclear weapons takes on new importance
Speaking in Prague, Obama strove to turn back the worldview that the spread of nuclear arms is inevitable. At the same time he committed to taking concrete steps to controlling weapons grade materials while enabling reliable fuel services for civilian nuclear reactors.
Some argue that the spread of these weapons cannot be stopped, cannot be checked -– that we are destined to live in a world where more nations and more people possess the ultimate tools of destruction. Such fatalism is a deadly adversary, for if we believe that the spread of nuclear weapons is inevitable, then in some way we are admitting to ourselves that the use of nuclear weapons is inevitable.
And here are some additional highlights leading to an issue of immense interest to the global commercial nuclear industry, which is reliable fuel services.
* * * So today, I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.
* * * To reduce our warheads and stockpiles, we will negotiate a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with the Russians this year. President Medvedev and I began this process in London, and will seek a new agreement by the end of this year that is legally binding and sufficiently bold.
* * *To achieve a global ban on nuclear testing, my administration will immediately and aggressively pursue U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
* * * And to cut off the building blocks needed for a bomb, the United States will seek a new treaty that verifiably ends the production of fissile materials intended for use in state nuclear weapons. If we are serious about stopping the spread of these weapons, then we should put an end to the dedicated production of weapons-grade materials that create them. That's the first step.
* * * And we should build a new framework for civil nuclear cooperation, including an international fuel bank, so that countries can access peaceful power without increasing the risks of proliferation.
Reuters has additional highlights online. Full transcript courtesy of Time Magazine. Hat tip to Cheryl Rofer at WhirledView. See her blog for additional analysis of Obama's speech. As Cheryl writes, "he is really serious about this."
Kazakhstan offers nuclear fuel deal to U.S.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Kazakhstan, one of the world’s leading producers of uranium, said it would volunteer to host an international "nuclear fuel bank," where nations that renounce nuclear weapons can purchase fissile fuel for nuclear energy reactors. White House officials said that President Obama is seriously considering the offer.
The WSJ reported that after the Soviet Union broke up, Kazakhstan still had a nuclear arsenal of its own, which it voluntarily gave up.
An European Union diplomat in Prague familiar with the nuclear security issues told the WSJ Kazakhstan made sense as a potential site for a nuclear fuel bank. He said,
"This is one of the very few countries that had nuclear weapons and destroyed them. So Kazakhstan is a very interesting offer," the diplomat said, noting that the EU has given the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna €25 million ($34 million) to figure out how to structure such a fuel bank.
However, Kazakhstan is also an unstable dictatorship and might not sign up for the kind of transparency needed to operate the fuel bank. It is wholly within Russia’s sphere of influence so the fact that Obama is giving serious consideration to the idea may be a signal to Moscow that the U.S. is open to diplomatic agreements that span the entire range of nuclear issues.
The IAEA has been promoting the idea of an international fuel bank for some time. It’s efforts were opposed by the Bush Administration which pushed GNEP as an alternative.
The WSJ quoting a senior administration official, usually a code phrase for the Secretary of State, noted there hasn't been a final decision by President Obama, but he is considering Kazakhstan to be the host.
Opponents at Indian Point, Vermont Yankee may find it harder to prevail
The nation’s oldest operating commercial nuclear reactor is going to get older, and continue operating. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), by a vote of 3-1, will renew the license for the 650 MW Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Ocean County, NJ, for another 20 years. The New York Times reports that in doing so the NRC rejected multiple claims submitted by opponents to close the plant.
The reactor entered revenue service in 1969 and over the years rust accumulated on its steel liner. Opponents claimed that the corrosion had weakened the liner and it would not be able to contain radioactive water in the event of a core accident. However, after NRC engineers evaluated the liner they decided it could still do the job.
The NRC concluded the opposition groups failed "to provide factual or expert evidence" to merit overturning the findings of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.
"Nothing ... disturbs our overall confidence that Oyster Creek can and will operate safely during the renewal period," the commission concluded in its 96-page decision.
Anti-nuclear agenda thwarted for now
NRC Commissioner Gregory Jaczko (right) voted against license renewal and is often the lone vote representing the positions of anti-nuclear groups opposing the license renewal of older reactors. He previously worked for Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) who’s primary contention with the NRC is over the review of the license application for Yucca Mountain.
The NRC is also considering the license renewals of the Indian Point, NY, nuclear power station and Vermont Yankee. Coincidentally, both of these sites are owned and operated by Entergy (NYSE:ETR), a major U.S. nuclear utility. Environmental groups are hoping that President Obama will name someone like Jaczko to the NRC’s vacant seat.
However, the NRC’s rejection of the usual grab bag of claims by anti-nuclear groups may indicate the agency is going to push back on political agendas aimed at influencing its evaluation of reactor license applications. The New York Times reported the NRC “sent a signal” that opponents of plant license renewals “may find it harder to prevail.” The NYT also reported that while Jaczko voted against renewal of the Oyster Creek license, in his remarks about the decision he said he agreed with parts of it.
Incendiary rhetoric lights the Jersey shore
In other developments anti-nuclear groups did not prevail with the argument that the threat of terrorist attacks requires the shutdown of the nation’s nuclear reactors. According to the Newark Star Ledger, a federal court judge dismissed a lawsuit in which anti-nuclear groups argued the NRC should consider the environmental impact of a terrorist attack before relicensing the plant.
Opponents pushing for closing the plant are the Nuclear Information and Resource Service; Jersey Shore Nuclear Watch Inc.; Grandmothers, Mothers and More for Energy Safety; New Jersey Public Interest Research Group; New Jersey Sierra Club; and New Jersey Environmental Federation.
In case anyone thinks dialog with this group is going to produce some benefit, consider this incendiary comment by one of them.
"This decision is radioactive. To keep open the nation's oldest nuclear power plant for another 20 years is just going to lead to a disaster," said Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club. "We could easily replace the plant with 200 windmills that will not pose a danger. If they would re-license this plant, they would renew Chernobyl."
This kind of rhetoric is irresponsible and serves only to create divisive debate. At least for now the NRC sees it for what it is, political rhetoric, and not evidence of engineering facts.
Robert Hargraves opens his 2009 class online at Dartmouth
Last year, Robert Hargraves offered his now acclaimed online class on nuclear energy over the Internet. This year he’s added new content and launched a new program called “Aim High” to accompany the class.
He’s developed material on a little known nuclear reactor concept – the Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor (LFTR). It is also sometimes called the “molten salt reactor” (large image).
Readers of this blog will recall that Hargraves published the well-designed and accessible blog on the Pebble Bed reactor designs for several years until he began teaching the “Rethinking nuclear power” class. He is now updating the blog with LFTR materials.
You can download the 2009 class slides in Powerpoint or PDF format and the audio portion of the class. Some of these files are quite large so get a fast connection or bring your lunch.
Not everyone is sold on LFTR but it is interesting
The commercial nuclear industry has considerable skepticism about the LFTR, but Hargraves has a vision for its future which is undeterred by such doubts.
While this blog will continue to focus on the commercial nuclear industry, it won’t ignore new technologies and ideas even if they are outside of mainstream industry market focus.
I will leave it to readers to make up their minds about the LFTR. Hargraves’ material can speak for itself. Here are the links
Rethinking Nuclear Power 2009 – Energy policy and environmental choices, a Dartmouth ILEAD course with class materials online
Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor – In this presentation, Hargraves claims it produces energy cheaper than from coal and can solve more crises than just global warming
Air High – Hargraves’ book on the LFTR available on Amazon
Kirk Sorensen’s blog Energy from Thorium is an excellent resource on this technology. Charles Barton also writes about the LFTR at NuclearGreen. See Barton's comment below which clarifies some of the history of the technology.
Portions of this blog post were published in Fuel Cycle Week, V8N321 on April 2, 2009 by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC
~ Note to readers: This column will shift from biweekly to monthly starting with this issue. The next edition will appear in mid-May. ~
The nightmare in uranium stock prices continues with western uranium juniors haunted by an average loss of 90% of the value of their stock compared to this time last year. The other thing that makes worrisome sounds and goes bump in the night is the record low price of uranium. Both Ux Consulting and Trade Tech pegged it at $43/lb which many producers said was too low to mine ore. There is plenty of bad news to keep a uranium miner awake at night.
Ghost riders in the sky
Sixty years ago at the dawn of the atomic age, songwriter Stan Jones penned and turned into a #1 hit the awesome country ballad 'Ghost Riders in the Sky.' Readers would not be surprised to learn that some uranium miners are humming a few bars along with these lyrics.
As the riders loped on by him he heard one call his name If you want to save your soul from Hell a-riding on our range Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride Trying to catch the Devil's herd, across these endless skies
Personally, I would go for the version sung by Johnny Cash, but there is no end to the choices anymore than there is for that endless sky. It still raises the hairs on the back of my head.
The quest for uranium profits and value for stockholders may be for now as elusive and as perilous as chasing the devil's herd across the sky.
URI puts Churchrock on Hold
Despite a long wait, which is getting longer, for the U.S. 10th Circuit Court to decide who can issue a permit for an underground injection control permit in New Mexico, Uranium Resources Inc. (NASDAQ:URRE) has decided it's had enough of sleepless nights. The reason is its partner in the joint venture, Itochu, a Japanese conglomerate, pulled out of the deal. Basically, the Japanese lost patience with delays caused by litigation.
The firm is contesting a 2005 ruling by the EPA that the Churchrock property is under the jurisdiction of the Navajo Nation, which has banned uranium mining, rather than the New Mexico Department of Environmental Management. The 10th Circuit Court has not yet ruled on oral arguments submitted last May.
Rick Van Horn, Uranium Resources CEO, told the Gallup Independent March 27, the whole project is back in its corner forcing it to seek new investors. Van Horn blamed the combination of a pending court decision and depressed uranium prices. "Basically," Van Horn said, "the project was not going anywhere."
Denison suspends production at Tony M Mine
In its annual report released earlier this month, Denison (AMEX:DNN) announced the suspension of mining at the Tony M mine located at Ticaboo, Utah. Despite the suspension, Denison also announced new resources at the mine indicating that when uranium prices improve it is likely to reopen operations there to feed its White Mesa Mill at Blanding, Utah.
Denison has published an updated NI 43-101 resource estimate for the Tony M Mine located in the Henry Mountains complex of southeastern Utah. Indicated resources are estimated at 8.1 million pounds U3O8 and Inferred resources at 2.8 million pounds U3O8.
These resource estimates update the previous historic resource estimate for Tony M of 1.3 million tons at an average grade of 0.21% U3O8, containing 5.3 million pounds. The Southwest deposit was previously estimated as an Indicated resource totaling 339,600 tons at an average grade of 0.32% U3O8 (2.2 million pounds) and an Inferred resource of 121,142 tons at an average grade of 0.30% (0.8 million pounds). The updated current resource estimate for Tony M is based on data from 1,082 holes drilled by prior operators. All past mine production has been accounted for in the current Tony M estimates.
Denison has reportedly invested $50 million on the Tony M mine and construction of surface facilities. Denison began operations at Tony M in September 2007, but put the mine on stand-by in November 2008. The firm said mine is being maintained in order to bring it back into operation as quickly as possible once sales contracts are in place.
Bluerock tries to come back from the dead
After suspending all mining operations in western Colorado, and its toll milling agreement with Denison, Bluerock (CVE:BRD) announced this week a private placement that it had raised CDN $275,000 in a private placement for which it issued stock and warrants. The funds will be used to pay near term debts and for general corporate purposes. The firm also announced that Clifford C. Rennie, Chairman of the Board of Directors, has resigned and left the company.
Strathmore completes NI 43-101 for Nose Rock, NM
Strathmore Minerals (CVE:STM) completed NI 43-101 technical reports for portions of Nose Rock and Dalton Pass Uranium Properties. Nose Rock measured & indicated resource at Section 1 Totals 2.6 million pounds U3O8; Dalton Pass measured & indicated resource at Section 32 Totals 3.07 million pounds
The Nose Rock NI 43-101 report covers Section 1, which comprises approximately 540 acres of the company's property. The historical resource for the remaining 4,520 acre property as reported by Phillips Uranium (1979) is 4,383,582 tons at an average grade of 0.163% U3O8 for a total of 14,303,085 pounds (not NI 43-101 compliant).
The Dalton Pass NI 43-101 report covers Section 32, which comprises approximately 640 acres of the 1,120 acre project. The previously reported historical resource prepared by Pathfinder (1980) examined Section 32 only. Updated mineral resource estimates for the remainder of both properties will be prepared, subject to the availability of historical databases.
In an unrelated action, Strathmore Minerals (CVE:STM) has signed a letter of intent with Great Bear Uranium (CNQ:GBR) granting Great Bear an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Chord Uranium Property located in South Dakota. Great Bear has until the end of September of this year to close on the transaction.
The Chord Property comprises 22 claims totaling 440 acres and is located approximately 15 miles north of the town of Edgemont, South Dakota. Uranium was first discovered at Chord in the 1970s and extensive drilling by previous operators Tennessee Valley Authority and Union Carbide outlined a historical uranium resource estimate totaling 3.8 million lbs U3O8 at an average grade of 0.11%. These numbers are not compliant with NI 43-101 standards as they exist today.
PacMag digs for uranium, gets germanium in North Dakota
Formation Resources, the U.S. operation of Australia's PacMag Metals (ASX:PMH) is discovering that its exploratory drilling for uranium in North Dakota is turning up more valuable deposits of molybdenum and germanium.
PacMag consultant Jim Guilinger told the Associated Press in Bismarck on Feb 25 that last year the firm drilled 450 holes and the results are showing that it will be worthwhile to develop the uranium if there is enough germanium at least at current prices. While uranium has a spot price this week of $43/lb, the germanium is worth eleven times that amount because of rising demand for use the mineral in the manufacturing of solar panels.
The two minerals have been found in a coal seam that PacMag has targeted in a lease of 25,000 acres of private land. Ed Murphy, the North Dakota State Geologist, said it is currently the only permitted uranium exploration project in the state. There were numerous uranium mining claims being worked in the 1980s in North Dakota. PacMag has designated the area the Sentinel Project and plans to resume drilling in the Spring.
Virginia studies uranium
After nearly two years of contentious debate, the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission has approved a study of the potential pros-and-cons of uranium mining in Virginia to be carried out by the National Academy of Sciences. The NAS study will look at environmental and health issues. A separate study will look at the financial and economic impacts of mining. The studies will take about 18 months.
Uranium mining has been banned in Virginia since 1982, but the lure of one of the world's largest untapped uranium deposits in southwestern Virginia has forced the state legislature's hand. That body has blocked previous efforts to carry out the study. Rural legislators from the area may try to convince their colleagues to refuse to pay for this one. Walter Coles, who owns the property, has offered to put up the nearly $1 million that will be needed to complete it.
Critics of the financing move said it would doom the study results because it would be tainted by the biases of the people who want to open the mine. However, Michael Karmis, Director of Virginia Tech's coal and energy resource center, which will manage the state's relationship with the NAS, said the academy is "totally independent" and won't let its deliberations be shaped by lobbyists or the Coles family.
A small firm that has big plans to recover fluorine for industrial use from depleted UF6 reported a 19% increase in revenue in two business segments – radiochemical sales and cobalt products. Last year International Isotopes announced that it planned to build a $55 million plant to extract high purity fluorine via uranium de-conversion using wastes generated by uranium enrichment plants.
International Isotopes reported earlier this year raising $2 million from investors to build a demonstration facility in Idaho Falls. The firm reported a net loss for the year due to its development of the pilot plant. If successful, the firm will build the first commercial depleted uranium de-conversion and fluorine extraction plant in the U.S.
Update: International Isotopes chose Hobbs, NM, for its main plant on March 31.
LES plans Operational Readiness Review
A key step in the hot start process for a uranium enrichment plant, the Operational Readiness Review (ORR) is coming up for Louisiana Energy Services (LES) at its plant now under construction in the far southeast town of Eunice, NM.
The Hobbs, NM, Sun reports that Gregory Smith, Chief Operations Manager for LES, says he hopes to complete the ORR by September 2009 and spool up the plant's first centrifuges by December. Once fully operational, the plant will supply enriched uranium for use in manufacturing of fuel for civilian nuclear power plants.
Another uranium firm collides with rural subdivisions
South American Minerals (PK:SAMM) wasn't looking for trouble when it exercised three options in November 2007 to acquire 10-year leases covering 19,300 acres of mining claims in San Juan County, Utah. The company started exploratory drilling and liked what it found, that is, until residents of the nearby Bridger Jack Mesa subdivision, with 42 platted large lots, began to howl about real and imagined impacts on their luxury homes.
To begin the homeowners want the reclamation bond for cleaning up the exploratory drilling raised from $11,000, as set by the State of Utah, to $872,000 in the event their drinking water wells are contaminated by the drill holes. They are not getting much sympathy from local government which approved the subdivision in the early 90s.
According to the Salt Lake City Tribune for Feb 28, Bruce Adams, the chairman of the San Juan County Commissioners, told the newspaper homeowners, " didn't do due diligence on ownership of minerals rights and now they want the county to solve their problems."
The Utah School & Institutional Trust Lands Administration, which leased the land for exploratory uranium drilling, agrees. Kevin Carter, the agency's executive director, says the signs of past uranium drilling and mining are everywhere. He also has a harsh assessment of the homeowner's plight. He said that the Trust's first obligation is to obtain revenue from state lands to support Utah's schools.
"They [the homeowners] want us to subsidize their Shangri-las by giving up children's rights to the minerals."
For South American's part, the company points out the drilling won't impact drinking water because the aquifer is below the uranium in the geology of the sites being explored. Phil Gramlich, a spokesman for the firm, told the ‘Tribune his company can "work in harmony with the home owners if they will get rid of their hysteria about uranium."
The homeowners remain stumped, the newspaper says, because they can't figure out how the mineral rights take precedent over the fact they bought homes on the surface. They are pushing a revised zoning ordinance that would establish a one-mile buffer around any uranium mining activities. The county refuses to support it.
Chairman Adams told the Tribune the county would face litigation if it took away mining rights guaranteed by state law. The Trust also objects pointing out that such a move would involve a "taking" of its property.
In the end it is another example of how rural gentrification of former uranium mining districts collides with the realities of mineral rights laws. In the rocky mountain west, the outcome of the battle between trophy home entitlement and the legal standing of minerals leases is that the trophy home developer, who doesn’t check mineral rights, loses every time.
“There's too much confusion, I can't get no relief. Businessmen, they drink my wine, Plowmen dig my earth. None of them along the line Know what any of it is worth.”
Funds will remediate hazardous & nuclear waste at INL creating over 500 jobs.
President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package showed up in Idaho this week with a whopping $468 million for cleanup of hazardous and nuclear waste in eastern Idaho. The Department of Energy approved the funding drawn from a $6 billion line item included in the package passed by Congress earlier this year. A portion of the money assigned to the Department of Energy is designed to accelerate environmental cleanup work and create thousands of jobs across 12 states.
The Idaho Statesman reported that In Idaho it will create 500 new jobs and speed-up the clean-up at the DOE's facilities at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The Idaho Cleanup Project will get most of the money which will be used to demolish old nuclear facilities . Bechtel’s Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP), an Idaho cleanup contractor that is shipping waste to WIPP, will also get new money.
In a DOE press release, DOE Sec. Steven Chu said, "These investments will put Americans to work while cleaning up contamination from the cold war era. It reflects our commitment to future generations as well as to help local economies get moving again."
John Fulton, CEO of CWI, the prime contractor at the Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP), told KIFI TV in Idaho Falls the money will mean more jobs and a quicker clean-up for the next few years at the Idaho National Laboratory.
"We're going to dig up more and dig it up faster. We're in the process of demolishing buildings. We'll be able to demolish more and demolish it faster. We're already moving spent fuel, but we're going to be able to do more of that when we hire more people, so we'll have parallel crews."
Fulton emphasized to KIFI that the money came to Idaho because of the site's track record of accomplishment.
"The workforce here delivers. We deliver on time, we deliver safely and we deliver the clean-up promises made."
The other benefit of the stimulus money is that it will keep 250 people employed who would have been laid off without it. According to KIFI, the Department of Energy was expecting staff reductions at the cleanup site.
"It has put a real stress on our operations. We were expecting a substantial amount of layoffs but with the stimulus money, we're able to retain our workforce," said Jim Cooper with the Department of Energy.
The work scope for the stimulus money involves demolishing 80 nuclear facilities and excavating several acres of buried waste. A key task is moving thousands of spent nuclear fuel rods from wet basins to dry storage.
Idaho Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), who opposed the President’s economic stimulus bill, and voted against it, said in a press release he supported the cleanup provisions in it. He told KIFI doing the cleanup work now will save money in the long run.
"By spending it early we save money in the long-run for tax payers and we're able to have shovel-ready work if you will, that will get underway right now and does provide a stimulus to the economy."
Simpson meets with Chu
In other Idaho nuclear news, Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) met with Energy Secretary Steven Chu as part of a 4-member delegation representing the nation’s four large nuclear cleanup sites.
Simpson covered a range of topics in the discussion including funding for the Idaho National Laboratory and development of a new long-term strategy for spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste. Simpson said in a statement he wants results.
“The DOE has said what it won’t do. Now it needs to articulate what it will do, and I expect those answers sooner rather than later.”
Other parts of the discussion included long-term funding for the Idaho Cleanup Project and Areva’s pending loan guarantee for construction of a uranium enrichment plant 18 miles west of Idaho Falls.
Simpson said he got “articulate” feedback from Chu on the issues that are important to Idaho.
“He clearly understands the importance of nuclear energy to our base load supply and its crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I made clear my strong support for nuclear energy and my intention to renew my pro-nuclear message with him in budget hearings later this spring.”
Simpson was joined at the meeting by was joined in the meeting by Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA), Rep. Zack Wamp (R-TN), and Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-SC). They represent DOE sites in Hanford, WA, Oak Ridge, TN, and Savannah River, SC. All of these sites also got economic stimulus money to speed up their respective DOE cleanup programs.
More information?
For small businesses and subcontracting information, call Natalie Packer at 208-533-0243 or email her at: natalie.packer@icp.doe.gov.
If you are interested in job opportunities, check the home page of the Idaho Cleanup Project - job listing tab - and use the “search” link on that page.
U.S. President Barack Obama went to the Czech Republic on April 5 and 41 years after Soviet tanks crushed the bloom of “Prague Spring” stood in the middle of that city and called for all nations to strive to rid the world of nuclear arms. 
* * * So today, I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Kazakhstan, one of the world’s leading producers of uranium, said it would volunteer to host an international "nuclear fuel bank," where nations that renounce nuclear weapons can purchase fissile fuel for nuclear energy reactors. White House officials said that President Obama is seriously considering the offer.
Opponents pushing for closing the plant are the Nuclear Information and Resource Service; Jersey Shore Nuclear Watch Inc.; Grandmothers, Mothers and More for Energy Safety; New Jersey Public Interest Research Group; New Jersey Sierra Club; and New Jersey Environmental Federation. 
In an unrelated action, Strathmore Minerals (CVE:STM) has signed a letter of intent with Great Bear Uranium (CNQ:GBR) granting Great Bear an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Chord Uranium Property located in South Dakota. Great Bear has until the end of September of this year to close on the transaction. 
