Decommissioning in Switzerland

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Decommissioning in Switzerland Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate ENSI Decommissioning in Switzerland Regulatory Information Conference 2017 Bethesda MD, 15 March 2017 Dr. Hans Wanner, Director General ENSI Nuclear Power Plants in Switzerland Leibstadt Beznau I & II Gösgen Mühleberg NPP Type Year MWe Vendor Beznau I PWR 1969 365 Westinghouse Beznau II PWR 1971 365 Westinghouse Mühleberg BWR 1972 373 General Electric Gösgen PWR 1979 985 Siemens-KWU Leibstadt BWR 1984 1165 General Electric Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 2 ENSIENSI Decommissioning Projects Basel PSI: SAPHIR DIORIT PROTEUS VVA Mühleberg Lucens reactor Installation Type Operating time Decommissioned Lucens reactor HWGCR 1968-1969 1995/2004 DIORIT RR 1960-1977 * Geneva RR 1958-1987 1989 Geneva SAPHIR RR 1957-1994 * VVA Incinerator 1974-2002 * PROTEUS RR 1968-2011 * Basel University RR 1959-2013 Starting 2019 Mühleberg NPP BWR 1973-2019 Starting 2019 Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 3 ENSIENSI 1 Nuclear Phase-Out New build projects suspended (14 March 2011) Phase-out decided by Government and approved by Parliament New Energy Strategy 2050 Parliamentary elections in 2015 In March 2016 Parliament rejected restricting operational lifetime of Swiss NPPs, also rejecting compulsory LTO concept after 40 years operation In November 2016 a public initiative to limit operational lifetime to 45 years was rejected by popular vote Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 4 ENSIENSI Key elements of the Energy Strategy 2050 • Exploiting energy efficiency potentials • Promotion of renewable energy sources • Nuclear phase-out: no new builds • Ban on reprocessing spent fuel Popular vote on 21 May 2017 Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 5 ENSIENSI Institutional Framework Federal Council General licences DETEC Construction and operation licences Nuclear Safety Swiss Federal Other nuclear licences and safeguards Commission NSC Office of Energy SFOE Supervise nuclear safety and security: • NPPs • Research reactors • Interim storage facilities Supervise safety of transports of Swiss Federal nuclear materials to and from Nuclear Safety nuclear installations Inspectorate Assess safety for geological ENSI disposal of radioactive waste Approve safety-relevant changes to nuclear installations within current licences Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 6 ENSIENSI 2 Decommissioning: Legal Background (1/2) Decommissioning is addressed in the Swiss legal framework: • Nuclear Energy Act (NEA, SR 732.1) • Nuclear Energy Ordinance (NEO, SR 732.11) • Decommissioning Guideline ENSI-G17 • Ordinance on the Decommissioning Fund and the Waste Disposal Fund for Nuclear Installations (SEFV, SR 732.17) Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 7 ENSIENSI Decommissioning: Legal Background (2/2) Art. 13 NEA: Conditions governing the granting of a general licence A general licence may be granted if the following conditions are met: a. … c.a a conceptconcept has has been been submitted submitted for decommissioning for decommissioning, or for the monitoring period and the closure of the installation; Art. 16 NEA: Conditions governing the granting of a construction licence A construction licence is granted if the following conditions are met: a. … e. a plan has has been been submitted submitted for decommissioning for decommissioning, or a , or a project for the monitoring period and a plan for the closure of the installation. Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 8 ENSIENSI All Swiss NPPs have Decommissioning Plans Leibstadt Beznau I & II ZZL Gösgen Mühleberg Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 9 ENSIENSI 3 Financial Aspects (1/2) Principle of “user pays” (Swiss Nuclear Energy Act) • Operators of NPPs are responsible for the management and disposal of radioactive waste and the decommissioning of their plants. • Costs arising after final shutdown of NPPs are covered by the Decommissioning Fund and the Waste Management Fund. • Contributions to be paid by Beznau, Mühleberg, Gösgen and Leibstadt NPPs and Zwilag (interim storage facility). • Funds are supervised by a special Commission appointed by the Government. Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 10 ENSIENSI Financial Aspects (2/2) • The decommissioning and waste management costs are calculated every five years under the supervision of the two funds. • Currently the cost study 2016 is being reviewed. Annual contributions Annual contributions Interests from NPP operators from NPP operators Interests Decommissioning Waste Disposal Fund Fund Funding of Funding of waste decommissioning costs management costs Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 11 ENSIENSI Current financial situation CHF (~ USD) Decommissioning Waste disposal Cost study 2011 2,974,000,000 15,970,000,000 To be covered by the funds 2,974,000,000 * 8,448,000,000 Debit amount as per 31.12.15 1,972,100,000 4,100,800,000 Fund holding as per 31.12.15 1,999,813,210 4,222,622,357 Surplus/underfunding 27,713,210 121,822,357 Surplus/underfunding 1.41% 2.97% * The waste management costs arising during operation are covered by the operators on an on-going basis (5.5 billion USD spent to date). Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 12 ENSIENSI 4 CNS 06 Challenges Nuclear Phase-Out and Decommissioning • ENSI guideline G17 (Decommissioning Guideline) • Information on staff situation, their competence and motivation for the remaining operating time of Mühleberg NPP • First permanent shutdown of a Swiss commercial power reactor (Mühleberg NPP) in 2019 • Backfittings for remaining operating time period of Mühleberg NPP Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 13 ENSIENSI Regulatory Process of Decommissioning • Decommissioning plan, submitted for Construction License, is updated every ten years. • Submission of Decommissioning Project by licensee • Review of decommissioning project by ENSI, comments by NSC • DETEC enacts Decommissioning Order, including final state of decommissioning • Supervisory authority for decommissioning is ENSI Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 14 ENSIENSI First permanent shut-down of a Swiss NPP Oct 2013: Licensee (BKW) decides to permanently shut down Mühleberg NPP in 2019 Nov 2013: ENSI issues a formal order with conditions for operation until 2019 Jan 2015: ENSI accepts proposed backfitting measures for residual lifetime with certain conditions Dec 2015: BKW submits decommissioning project for review. ENSI assessment is expected in late 2017 2019: Decommissioning order expected from DETEC Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 15 ENSIENSI 5 Phases of decommissioning of Mühleberg NPP 2nd legal procedure Submission of Cessation of Permanent Spent fuel Clearance of Subsequent decommissioning operation shutdown removed nuclear site usage project 2015 2019 2020 2024 2031 2034 Power operation Preparation of Nuclear dismantling Nuclear Conventional and planning of dismantling - dismantling dismantling decommissioning Removal of spent fuel Phase 0 Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Source: BKW Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 16 ENSIENSI for more information please visit: www.ensi.ch www.ifsn.ch http://twitter.com/#!/ENSI_CH Decommissioning in Switzerland | RIC 2017 | Dr. Hans Wanner 17 ENSIENSI 6.
Recommended publications
  • Security Operational Skills 2 (Tracing).P65
    Unit - 4 K Operating Skill for handling Natural Disasters Structure 4.1 Objectives 4.2 Introduction 4.3 Operating Skill for natural and nuclear disasters 4.4 Accident Categories 4.5 Nuclear and radiation accidents and incidents 4.6 Geological disasters 4.7 Operating Skills for handling Mines and other Explosive Devices 4.8 Operating Skills for handing hijacking situation (other than an airline hijacking 4.9 Operating skills for antivehicle theft operations 4.10 Operating skills for facing a kidnapping or hostage situation 4.11 Operating Skill for handling coal mines and other explosive devices 4.12 Hostage Rights : Law and Practice in Throes of Evolution 4.12.1 Terminology 4.13 Relative Value of Rights 4.14 Conflict of Rights and Obligations 4.15 Hong Kong mourns victims of bus hijacking in the Philoppines 4.16 Rules for Successful Threat Intelligence Teams 4.16.1 Tailor Your Talent 4.16.2 Architect Your Infrastructure 4.16.3 Enable Business Profitability 4.16.4 Communicate Continuously 4.17 Construction Safety Practices 4.17.1 Excavation 4.17.2 Drilling and Blasting 4.17.3 Piling and deep foundations 234 4.18 Planning 4.18.1 Steps in Planning Function 4.18.2 Characteristics of planning 4.18.3 Advantages of planning 4.18.4 Disadvantages of planning 4.1 Objectives The following is a list of general objectives departments should consider when creating an Information Disaster Prevention and Recovery Plan: O Ensure the safety of all employees and visitors at the site/facility O Protect vital information and records O Secure business sites
    [Show full text]
  • Medical Association for Prevention of War BRIEFING PAPER
    Medical Association for Prevention of War BRIEFING PAPER NUCLEAR POWER AND PUBLIC HEALTH By Peter Karamoskos MBBS, FRANZCR1 May 2010 “… there is a linear dose-response relationship between exposure to ionizing radiation and the development of solid cancers in humans. It is unlikely that there is a threshold below which cancers are not induced.” – National Academy of Science, BEIR VII report, 2006 “We need to develop a very firm commitment to the elimination of nuclear power as a source of energy on the earth.” – Russell Train, former US Environmental Protection Agency administrator, 1977 “[t]he [economic] failure of the U.S. nuclear power program ranks as the largest managerial disaster in business history, a disaster on a monumental scale.” – Forbes, 1985 1 Nuclear Radiologist; Treasurer, Medical Association for the Prevention of War (MAPW) & Treasurer, International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons (ICAN); Public representative, Radiation Health Committee, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) [For informational purposes and does not represent an endorsement by ARPANSA of this document.] Medical Association for Prevention of War Introduction without heavy tax-payer subsidies and loan The public health implications for a resurgence of guarantees. Throughout this period however, nuclear power appear to have taken a subordinate public health concerns increased on a backdrop of position to the economic and global warming reactor safety concerns and the effects of ionising arguments that the industry has advanced to radiation on the surrounding populations, with ten justify its expansion. The purpose of this essay core meltdowns in various nuclear reactors, therefore is several-fold: to review the scientific including several in nuclear power reactors, evidence for public health impacts of nuclear culminating in the Chernobyl disaster of 1986.
    [Show full text]
  • Learning from Fukushima: Nuclear Power in East Asia
    LEARNING FROM FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR POWER IN EAST ASIA LEARNING FROM FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR POWER IN EAST ASIA EDITED BY PETER VAN NESS AND MEL GURTOV WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ANDREW BLAKERS, MELY CABALLERO-ANTHONY, GLORIA KUANG-JUNG HSU, AMY KING, DOUG KOPLOW, ANDERS P. MØLLER, TIMOTHY A. MOUSSEAU, M. V. RAMANA, LAUREN RICHARDSON, KALMAN A. ROBERTSON, TILMAN A. RUFF, CHRISTINA STUART, TATSUJIRO SUZUKI, AND JULIUS CESAR I. TRAJANO Published by ANU Press The Australian National University Acton ACT 2601, Australia Email: [email protected] This title is also available online at press.anu.edu.au National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: Learning from Fukushima : nuclear power in East Asia / Peter Van Ness, Mel Gurtov, editors. ISBN: 9781760461393 (paperback) 9781760461409 (ebook) Subjects: Nuclear power plants--East Asia. Nuclear power plants--Risk assessment--East Asia. Nuclear power plants--Health aspects--East Asia. Nuclear power plants--East Asia--Evaluation. Other Creators/Contributors: Van Ness, Peter, editor. Gurtov, Melvin, editor. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design and layout by ANU Press. Cover image: ‘Fukushima apple tree’ by Kristian Laemmle-Ruff. Near Fukushima City, 60 km from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, February 2014. The number in the artwork is the radioactivity level measured in the orchard—2.166 microsieverts per hour, around 20 times normal background radiation. This edition © 2017 ANU Press Contents Figures . vii Tables . ix Acronyms and abbreviations .
    [Show full text]
  • Benefit-Function of Two- Identical Cold Standby Nuclear Reactors System Subject to Failure Due to Radioactivity Or Overheating, Steam Explosion, Fire, and Meltdown
    International Journal on Mechanical Engineering and Robotics (IJMER) ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Benefit-Function of Two- Identical Cold Standby Nuclear Reactors System subject to failure due to radioactivity or Overheating, steam explosion, fire, and meltdown Ashok Kumar Saini BLJS COLLEGE, TOSHAM (BHIWANI) HARYANA INDIA Email ID [email protected] The accident killed 30 people directly and damaged Abstract- A nuclear and radiation accident is defined by approximately $7 billion of property. A study published in the International Atomic Energy Agency as "an event that 2005 estimates that there will eventually be up to 4,000 has led to significant consequences to people, the additional cancer deaths related to the accident among environment or the facility." Examples include lethal those exposed to significant radiation levels. Radioactive effects to individuals, large radioactivity release to fallout from the accident was concentrated in areas of the environment, or reactor core melt." The prime Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. Approximately 350,000 example of a "major nuclear accident" is one in which people were forcibly resettled away from these areas soon a reactor core is damaged and significant amounts after the accident. of radioactivity are released, such as in the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. Benjamin K. Sovacool has reported that worldwide there have been 99 accidents at nuclear power plants from 1952 The impact of nuclear accidents has been a topic of debate to 2009 (defined as incidents that either resulted in the loss practically since the first nuclear reactors were constructed of human life or more than US$50,000 of property damage, in 1954. It has also been a key factor in public concern the amount the US federal government uses to define about nuclear facilities.
    [Show full text]
  • Consequence Management: Evaluating and Developing International Responses to Nuclear and Radiological Disasters
    City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works Dissertations and Theses City College of New York 2015 Consequence Management: Evaluating and Developing International Responses to Nuclear and Radiological Disasters Timothy Taylor CUNY City College How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/365 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] Consequence Management: Evaluating and Developing International Responses to Nuclear and Radiological Disasters By Timothy Taylor May 2015 Master’s Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of International Relations (MA) at the City College of New York Advisor: Jean Krasno, PhD 1 Acknowledgments This research could not have happened without the inspiration and help of so many people. First and foremost, I want to acknowledge my academic and thesis advisor, Dr. Jean Krasno, for being a driving force for this research, as well as for my academic and professional success. Her level of knowledge and expertise within the field of International Relations is only surpassed by her love and compassion for others, especially those whom she inspires through her teaching. I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Barry J. Balleck for pushing me as an undergraduate student to pursue research and a graduate degree. Dr. Balleck helped me to hone my research and writing skills in International Studies, and to analyze critical global issues as a policy-maker. I will always value my friendship with him and the Balleck family.
    [Show full text]
  • Ornl/Nsic-176
    4 ggcBvePBtnc APR 291980 ORNL/NSIC-176 MASTER Descriptions of Selected Accidents that Have Occurred at Nuclear Reactor Facilities H. W. Bertini and Members of the Staff of the Nuclear Safety Information Center NUCLFAR SAFETY INFORMATION CENTER DIEmu'lhj \i 'uNLIMIlt.il c ORNL/NSIC-176 Contract No. W-7405-eng-26 Engineering Technology Division DESCRIPTIONS OF SFLEuTED ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AT NUCLEAR REACTOR FACILITIES H. W. Bertini and Members of the Staff of the Nuclear Safety Information Center Date Published: April 1980 Prepared by the OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORArORY Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830 operated by UNION CARBIDE CORPORATION for the DEPARTMENT OP ENERGY tP MTOWiOtl Cf THIS MCU«»T It IHWWTW iii CONTENTS (7 Page FOREWORD ...» v PREFACE . vli 1. INTRODUCTION 1 2. NUCLEAR REACTORS: FUNDAMENTALS .' 3 2.1 Basic Theory 3 2.2 The Components of a Nuclear Reactor 8 2.3 Radioactivity , 11 2.4 Electric Power Plants .... 16 2.5 Classification of Reactors 17 2.6 Light-Water Reactors for the Production of Electricity ..... 19 3. CENTRAL STATION POWER PLANTS. 32 3.1 Fuel Melting Incideat at the Fermi Reactor (1966) 32 3.2 Electrical Cable Fires at San Onofre 1 (1968) 33 3.3 Fuel Meltdown at St. Laurent (1969) 35 3.4 Uncovering of the Core at La Crosse (1970) 38 3.5 Seven Injured When Steam Nozzle Breaks at Robinson 2 (1970) 39 3.6 Discharge of Primary System into Drywell at Did 'en 2 (1970) 42 3.7 Turbine Damage Caused by Human Error at Robinson 2 (1970) 45 3.8 Construction Fire at Indian Point 2 (1971) 46 3.9 Valve Separations at Turkey Point 3 (1971) 47 3.10 Turbine Basement Flooded at Quad Cities V?I2) 48 3.11 Steam Generator Damaged in Hot Tests at Oconee 1 (1972) 49 3.12 Two Fatalities in Steam Line Accident at Surry 1 (1972) 50 3.13 Seawater Intrusion into Primary System at Millstone 1 (1972) ..
    [Show full text]
  • Medical Association for Prevention of War1.34 MB
    LC EPC Inquiry into Nuclear Prohibition submission 34 Medical Association for Prevention of War (Australia) Submission to the Inquiry into potential benefits to Victoria in removing prohibitions enacted by the Nuclear Activities (Prohibitions) Act 1983. February 2020 mapw.org.au | [email protected] | 03 9023 1958 3 of 23 LC EPC Inquiry into Nuclear Prohibition Submission to the Inquiry into potential benefits to Victoria in removing prohibitions enacted by the Nuclear 2 submission 34 Activities (Prohibitions) Act 1983 CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................................. 3 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 NUCLEAR POWER AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS ................................................................................................ 5 NUCLEAR POWER AND RADIATION IMPACTS ............................................................................................... 6 Children’s increased cancer risks ..................................................................................................................... 7 Childhood leukaemia near nuclear power plants ...................................................................................... 7 Childhood cancer and CT scans ........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Heavy Water Reactors: Status and Projected Development Designed in the Russian Federation
    01-01915_TRS407.qxd 17.04.2002 14:04 Uhr Seite 1 Technical Reports Series No. This report commences with a review of the historical development of heavy water reactors (HWRs), detailing the various national efforts made in developing reactor concepts and taking them to the stage of prototype operation or commercial viability. Sections cover HWR economics, safety and fuel cycles. 4 0 7 Technical Reports Series No. 407 The future directions likely to be taken in the development of HWR technology are addressed through discussion of three national programmes: the Canadian CANDU design, the Advanced HWR currently under development in India, and an 'Ultimate Safe' reactor being Reactors: Status and Projected Development Heavy Water designed in the Russian Federation. Heavy Water Reactors: Status and Projected Development ISBN 92–0–111502–4 ISSN 0074–1914 €99.00 INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, VIENNA, 2002 HEAVY WATER REACTORS: STATUS AND PROJECTED DEVELOPMENT The following States are Members of the International Atomic Energy Agency: AFGHANISTAN GREECE PARAGUAY ALBANIA GUATEMALA PERU ALGERIA HAITI PHILIPPINES ANGOLA HOLY SEE POLAND ARGENTINA HUNGARY PORTUGAL ARMENIA ICELAND QATAR AUSTRALIA INDIA REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA AUSTRIA INDONESIA ROMANIA AZERBAIJAN IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION BANGLADESH IRAQ SAUDI ARABIA BELARUS IRELAND SENEGAL BELGIUM ISRAEL SIERRA LEONE BENIN ITALY SINGAPORE BOLIVIA JAMAICA SLOVAKIA BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA JAPAN SLOVENIA BRAZIL JORDAN SOUTH AFRICA BULGARIA KAZAKHSTAN SPAIN BURKINA FASO KENYA SRI LANKA
    [Show full text]
  • Nuclear Power in East Asia, Edited by Peter Van Ness and Mel Gurtov, Published 2017 by ANU Press, the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
    10 Decommissioning nuclear power reactors Kalman A . Robertson Abstract Global demand for decommissioning services is poised to rise rapidly over the next 20 years, creating major technical and administrative challenges for a large number of states and operators that have only limited experience in this field. This chapter explains the radiological risks associated with each step from shutting down a reactor to releasing the former reactor site for a new use . The selection of a strategy for decommissioning a reactor involves competing policy imperatives that may be assessed in light of two key principles related to funding decommissioning and assuring safety, inter-generational equity and the polluter/user pays principle . Based on an assessment of current trends in decommissioning, there are opportunities to improve cost estimates for decommissioning and strengthen international cooperation to meet rising demand . Risk communication and public participation also warrant special attention due to the highly technical nature of the risks associated with decommissioning and remediation of reactor sites . Introduction As commercial nuclear power generation enters its seventh decade, the world is set to undergo an unprecedented increase in the number of reactors requiring decommissioning. The combination of ageing reactor 287 LEARNING FROM FUKUSHIMA fleets and early shutdowns will see a doubling in the number of reactors undergoing decommissioning within the next 20 years, and it is projected to create a global market for decommissioning and waste storage worth over US$100 billion by 2030 (Nucleonics Week 2016). In principle, many of the risks to nuclear safety associated with a reactor site progressively decrease as it is shut down and decommissioned.
    [Show full text]
  • Mobilizing After Disasters in Advanced Industrial Democracies
    MOBILIZING AFTER DISASTERS IN ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACIES by MIRIAM MATEJOVA B.A. (Honours), University of Northern British Columbia, 2009 M.A., Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, 2012 A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL STUDIES (Political Science) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) April 2019 © Miriam Matejova, 2019 The following individuals certify that they have read, and recommend to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for acceptance, the dissertation entitled: Mobilizing after disasters in advanced industrial democracies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for submitted by Miriam Matejova the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science Examining Committee: Peter Dauvergne Supervisor Lisa McIntosh Sundstrom Supervisory Committee Member Catherine Corrigall-Brown Supervisory Committee Member Brian Job University Examiner Terre Satterfield University Examiner Additional Supervisory Committee Members: Supervisory Committee Member Supervisory Committee Member ii Abstract Environmental disasters are frequently catalysts for social and political change. Yet, disasters of similar scale and impact seem to encourage collective action in some cases but fail to do so in others. For example, while some large oil spills have generated mass nationwide (and international) protests, others have gone largely unnoticed and protests, if any, remained small and localized. If disasters are political triggering events, as the existing literature suggests, why do they often fail to generate large scale collective action? In fact, why do some highly damaging industrial environmental disasters succeed, and others fail to catalyze protest movements? This research strives to explain a variation in the occurrence and size of non-violent protest after industrial environmental disasters in advanced democracies.
    [Show full text]
  • Switzerland CNPP.Pdf
    SWITZERLAND 2012 1. GENERAL INFORMATION 1.1. Country overview Switzerland is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe, with more than 70% of its area covered by the Alps and the Jura. It has 7,870,134 (2010 data) inhabitants, with an overall population density of about 191 people per km2. The major language communities are: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Foreign nationals and their families make up roughly 22% of the population. Sources: Federal Statistical Office, http://www.bfs.admin.ch, 11 April 2012 1.1.1. Governmental System Switzerland is a federal state, with three political and legal levels: the communes (2551, 2011 data), the cantons (26) and the Confederation. The Swiss parliament, or Federal Assembly, is made up of two chambers: the National Council and the Council of States. Every four years, the people elect the 200 members of the National Council, most recently in October 2011. The government is made up of seven members, elected by the United Federal Assembly. Sources: The Federal Authorities of the Swiss Confederation, http://www.admin.ch, 11 April 2012 1.1.2. Geography and Climate Switzerland covers an area of 41,285 km2, comprising 31% forest and grove, 37% cropland and pastureland, 7% built-up and 25% un-productive land (situation in the mid-1990s). Around 4% of the country’s surface area is covered by water. Climatic conditions, average temperature and precipitation patterns vary significantly across Switzerland, depending mainly on altitude and location. Sources: Federal Statistical Office, http://www.bfs.admin.ch, 11 April 2012 Federal Office for the Environment, http://www.bafu.admin.ch, 11 April 2012 1.1.3.
    [Show full text]
  • Calls Are Closer Than Others
    HDT WHAT? INDEX SOME CALLS ARE CLOSER THAN OTHERS CLOSE CALLS There was a steam explosion and fire in an atomic pile at Leipzig shortly after Werner Heisenberg and Robert Döpel had used it to generate Nazi Germany’s 1st signals of neutron propagation. While checking their device for a possible heavy-water leak, air June 23, 1942 got in and the device’s uranium powder ignited. This caused the water jacket to boil and generated enough steam pressure to blow the pile apart, scattering burning ura- nium powder throughout the lab. There was an unexpected criticality nuclear reaction at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. The material went beyond criticality into prompt-criticality, which is the February 11, 1945 next stage after criticality in the generation of a bomb-like nuclear detonation. This was the 1st time in the history of the US’s nuclear program that such a supremely dan- gerous Chernobyl-like event had occurred in the laboratory. At the Omega site in Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, Harry K. Dagh- lian, Jr. inadvertently creating a critical mass when he dropped a tungsten carbide August 21, 1945 brick onto a plutonium core. Although he quickly removed the brick he had been fatally irradiated, and would die on September 15th. At Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico there was another accidental criti- cality. Demonstrating his technique for the benefit of 7 visitors, Louis Slotin used a screwdriver to manually assemble a critical mass of plutonium. His hand slipped. May 21, 1946 He received an estimated dose of 1,000 rads (rad), or 10 grays (Gy) and would die on May 30th.
    [Show full text]