Public notice of sewage spills often inadequate - Local / Metro - TheState.com

By JOEY HOLLEMAN - jholleman@thestate.com

"The state Department of Health and Environmental Control says initial notification is the responsibility of utilities. It’s also voluntary so the state agency can’t force utilities to make that notification quickly or uniformly."

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A quarter of U.S. nuclear plants not reporting equipment defects, report finds - The Washington Post

By Steven Mufson and Jia Lynn Yang, Thursday, March 24,

"Although the report doesn’t assert that any imminent danger resulted from the lapses, many experts said the lack of communication could make it harder for other nuclear reactor operators to learn about flaws in their own equipment, because many similar parts are used in other reactors."

A quarter of U.S. nuclear plants not reporting equipment defects, report finds - The Washington Post

By Steven Mufson and Jia Lynn Yang, Thursday, March 24,

"Although the report doesn’t assert that any imminent danger resulted from the lapses, many experts said the lack of communication could make it harder for other nuclear reactor operators to learn about flaws in their own equipment, because many similar parts are used in other reactors."

What’s so scary about nuclear power plants? - Local / Metro - TheState.com

By SETH BORENSTEIN - The Associated Press

"Ropeik calls this mismatch between statistics and feelings “a classic example of how public policy gets made — not about the numbers alone, but how we feel about them, and it ends up doing us more harm.”"

Lobbyists’ Long Effort to Revive Nuclear Industry Faces New Test - NYTimes.com

By ERIC LICHTBLAU

Published: March 24, 2011

"One turning point, people on both sides of the issue agree, was that proponents took advantage of the public concern over climate change and carbon-producing fuels beginning in the early 2000s and were able to recast themselves — first to fence-sitting lawmakers, then to the public as a whole — as a “clean” alternative that would not harm the environment."

NRC officials cite problems at SC nuclear reactor - State & Regional - Wire - TheState.com

PAGE IVEY - Associated Press

"None of the issues reported by Progress Energy or found during inspections created a safety threat to the public, NRC officials said. The incidents were categorized as the second-lowest level of concern. Overall, they said, the plant performed safely last year."

Don’t rush to judgment on nuclear - Editorial - TheState.com

"ANYONE WHO looks at what’s happening in Japan and says there’s no need to worry about nuclear power isn’t paying attention. But anyone who argues that what’s happening there should derail or, at this point, even slow down the nascent, painstakingly slow nuclear revival in this country is making a purely emotional argument. The fact is that it’s simply too soon to draw any conclusions."