Free Republic

A US nuclear expert brought in to offer advice about the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant says leaks of radioactive water into the sea are not a major concern. It is believed about 300 tonnes of contaminated water is seeping into the ocean every day. Responding to criticism over its handling of leaks at Fukushima, the plant's operator TEPCO brought in expert Lake Barrett, who spent several years dealing with the Three Mile island nuclear accident in the United States. Mr Barrett has just completed his first tour of the shattered Fukushima complex. Appearing in Tokyo after inspecting the site, he...

A British nuclear expert has fallen to his death from the 17th floor of the United Nations offices in Vienna. The 47-year-old man died after falling more than 120ft to the bottom of a stairwell. He has not been named. He worked for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, an international agency charged with uncovering illicit nuclear tests. A UN spokesman in the Austrian capital said there were no "suspicious circumstances" surrounding the man's death. Police said no other person was believed to have been involved. No suicide note has been found. Four months ago another UN worker also believed to...

<p>LAS VEGAS – The head of a panel of scientists reviewing plans for a national nuclear waste dump in Nevada is quitting, telling President George W. Bush that allegations of conflict of interest are hampering the board's work.</p> <p>One Nevada lawmaker opposed to the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository welcomed the departure of Michael Corradini from the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, saying he "displayed a wanton disregard for impartiality."</p>