Transport to ‘temporary’ storage sites with option of reprocessing

The transportation and storage subcommittee of America’s Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future (BRC see www.brc.gov) endorsed centralizing the tens of thousands of tons of irradiated (or “spent”) nuclear fuel currently in storage at nuclear reactor sites and some nuclear weapons production sites in 32 states. The panel did not name a proposed location, but used the words “consent-based” to indicate that a volunteer site would be preferred.

Earlier this year, members of the business sector near both the Savannah River Site in South Carolina and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico indicated to the panel an interest in “volunteering” to take the waste. Community members and other officials in both South Carolina and New Mexico have expressed strong opposition to such a plan, and an opposition campaign already has started in North Carolina (see www.nonuclearwasteinwnc.com) .

MedWest Health System has named Steve Brown as director of the foundations for three hospitals in Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties. He joined MedWest in April.

When Brown started his job as executive director for the Haywood County Schools Foundation, he was escorted to an area of the school system where foundation records are stored. As he exited the elevator, he felt a sense of déjà vu. The school system offices are located in the former Haywood County Hospital building, where Brown’s father, Dr. Alan Brown worked more than 60 hours a week.

“I grew up in the old hospital, playing in the area that is still a bomb shelter,” Brown said. With Brown’s new role as foundation director, that sense of déjà vu has resurfaced. “I’ve always been passionate about education, but my other passion is health care.”

N.C. Department of Labor officials urge those who work outdoors to prepare for one of the most dangerous summertime workplace hazards—hot and humid weather. Thousands of workers face the threat of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke every summer.

“Employers and employees need to take the hot and humid conditions seriously and prepare for them,” Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry said. “For example, they should plan the heaviest work during the coolest part of the day and drink plenty of water. Water is your best friend on a hot and humid day in the North Carolina.”

The Labor Department is kicking off its heat stress campaign June 21, the first day of summer. During the hot summer months, safety and health officers will emphasize the effects of the heat to employers and employees. In addition, the department will create public awareness through webinars, advertising, trade publications and educational heat stress materials.

State Controller David McCoy has begun the expansion of CJLEADS (Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Automated Data Services) to criminal justice professionals in Henderson, Transylvania, Polk, Rutherford, Cherokee, Graham, Clay, Macon, Swain and Jackson counties. At a recent event, area legislators as well as criminal justice professionals (law enforcement officers, district attorneys, judges, magistrates and clerks) in the respective counties.

CJLEADS integrates data found within the state’s various criminal justice applications and provides up-to-date criminal information in a centralized location via a secure connection for use by state and local government criminal justice professionals. CJLEADS has two primary objectives: to provide a comprehensive view of an offender through a single application, allowing for positive identification of an offender through a photographic image; and to provide an “offender watch” capability to alert criminal justice professionals when an offender has a change in status.