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Month: January 2014

The Future “Jellification” Of Our Oceans?

The Future “Jellification” Of Our Oceans?

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By: Patrick Rodefeld, Associate Autumn replaces the warm, long days of summer with gradually cooler, shorter ones. It is worth reflecting upon the summer period we leave behind, remembering the activities available to us during the summer months. Many Americans chose to spend portions of this June, July, and August at or near a beach in the United States. Americans have enjoyed going to the beach for generations along our country’s coasts. Yet despite this history and familiarity, it might…

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Domestic Nuclear Power Plant Licensing and Foreign Ownership and Control: Heating Up Cold War Policies

Domestic Nuclear Power Plant Licensing and Foreign Ownership and Control: Heating Up Cold War Policies

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By: Lindsay Hall, Notes Editor Congress passed the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (AEA) during the Cold War political climate, and it reflects an ideology of American nuclear supremacy and fear of nuclear catastrophe at the hands of foreign entities. In the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster,[1] and in light of the tensions over Iran’s nuclear capacity,[2] the safety and non-proliferation concerns behind the AEA remain relevant today. However, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is facing pressure from the…

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The Continuing Delay In Nuclear Power Plant Licensing

The Continuing Delay In Nuclear Power Plant Licensing

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By: Peter Glaser, Associate On October 1st, 2013, the government of the United States of America ordered 800,000 “non-essential” federal employees to stay home.[1] Though the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”) was able to remain open for a period of time, about a week later it, too, ran out of money.[2] As a consequence of the shutdown, hearings on a new waste confidence decision (“WCD”) were postponed, extending the current directive to avoid issuing final decisions on licensing issues for nuclear…

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About Fracking Time: An EPA Report Anticipated in 2014 May Catalyze Federal Legislation

About Fracking Time: An EPA Report Anticipated in 2014 May Catalyze Federal Legislation

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By: Natalie Walet, Associate  The benefits of hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, are generally accepted: the drastic increase in supply of natural gas has kept the price of gas low and improved the nation’s energy security.[1] Its costs, on the other hand, particularly on human health and the environment, remain highly contested.[2] It is difficult to discern the truth about fracking’s impact from the ubiquitous reports, articles, and editorials on the matter, as there are many points of disagreement.[3]…

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