Andrew Canfield, Intelligence Communications 12 December 2008 Nuclear Waste: Intelligence Summary 5 December 12 December 2008 PermaFix Announces Eighth Annual Mixed Waste Treatment Forum 8 December 2008 MARKETWATCH (ATLANTA)—PermaFix Environmental Services announced its eighth annual Mixed Waste Treatment Forum from 15 December – 18 December 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee. The conference will focus on innovations in the management of nuclear wastes. The forum brings together nearly 200 nuclear waste management experts from governmental and commercial sectors. Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/PermaFixAnnouncesEighth Annual/story.aspx?guid={DAF4F77310BD41EA948D2FAD5DE37634} (Reliability: High – 48.36) Energizing the Energy Agenda 11 December 2008 WASHINGTON POST (WASHINGTON)—United States (US) President Elect Barack Obama named Steven Chu the next US Secretary of Energy. Before the selection, Mr. Chu ran the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Mr. Chu won the 1997 Nobel Prize for physics and has since advocated on behalf of energy and climate change issues. Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/ article/2008/12/10/AR2008121003681. html? hpid=topnews (Reliability: High 51.59)
Steven Chu Source: http://tinyurl.com/5n7gl7
Comment: Mr. Obama and Mr. Chu face serious choices on the direction of the US energy portfolio. For example, the administration must choose between developing clean coal technology or nuclear power. Mr. Obama has previously stated he is not against nuclear energy; rather guidelines surrounding nuclear waste must be laid out first. Money in the budget will ultimately determine where the administrations interests lie.
US Plans To Sign Nuclear Pact With UAE 12 December 2008 WSJ (WASHINGTON)—The Bush administration plans to sign a nuclear agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) within weeks. The UAE claims it will purchase its nuclear material through outside vendors rather than developing its own fuel. Used fuel will be stored externally. Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/ SB122904102094400097. html? mod=googlenews_wsj (Reliability: High – 48.53)
Map of United Arab Emirates http://tinyurl.com/5c8zem
Analysis: Chances are a slightly better than even this deal will exist after the next 12 months. In spite of congressional support against this agreement and a history of arms trading between Iran and the UAE, the value of UAE as a trade partner and Mr. Obama’s indecisive stance on nuclear power make reversing this agreement less likely. (Analytic Confidence: Moderate) Cumbria County Council Cabinent Agrees To Explore Nuclear Waste Options 12 December 2008 YOUR NUCLEAR NEWS (ENGLAND)—The Cumbria County Council passed an expression of interest in the governmental proceedings for finding a deep geological nuclear waste repository in the United Kingdom. The decision comes after a number of boroughs passed similar measures; those boroughs were included in the countywide measure. A geological repository would greatly impact the current system of transporting of nuclear materials throughout Cumbria County. Source: http://www.yournuclearnews.com/cumbria+ Cumbria County (Shaded) http://tinyurl.com/5w3hf7 county+council+cabinet+agrees+to+explore+ nuclear+waste+options_18266.html (Reliability: Moderate – 38.87)