Estonia nuclear preparations well organised, IAEA mission finds

30 October 2023

Estonia has developed a comprehensive assessment of its nuclear power infrastructure needs to enable the government to decide whether to launch a nuclear power programme, an international team of experts has concluded.

(Image: IAEA)

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team reached its conclusion after an eight-day Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission to Estonia, which was carried out at the request of the country's government.

Estonia's current domestic electricity generation is dominated by fossil fuels, notably oil shale. The country is seeking to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and is looking at nuclear power as a reliable and low carbon option to diversify its energy mix by 2035 when the country plans its phase-out of domestic oil shale, according to the IAEA.

Estonia was formerly part of an agreement - with Latvia, Lithuania and Poland - to build a new nuclear plant comprising two GE Hitachi ABWR reactors near the Iganlina site in Lithuania, but the project company was wound up in 2016. Now, Estonia's plans for nuclear energy feature the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs). A working group set up by the government in 2021 to review the nuclear infrastructure required for such a nuclear power programme is expected to finalise its report in December, providing recommendations to support governmental decision-making.

The INIR team of international experts from Brazil and the UK, as well as six IAEA staff, reviewed the status of 19 nuclear infrastructure issues using the methodology for Phase 1 of the IAEA's Milestones Approach which evaluates the readiness of a country to make a knowledgeable commitment to a nuclear power programme.

Good practices identified by the INIR team include: Estonia's commissioning of a comprehensive set of detailed studies with the support of external experts as part of its assessment to be presented to the government to support a knowledgeable decision; a strategy to support future human resource development which aims to ensure the short-term and long-term success of the nuclear power programme; and the inclusion of a review of possible locations for the geological disposal of used nuclear fuel in its assessment.

Eric Mathet, operational lead of the IAEA Nuclear Infrastructure Development Section and leader of the INIR mission said Estonia is well organised in its preparations towards a decision on launching a nuclear power programme to support its net-zero carbon transition. "During the cooperative and open discussions held over the past days, we observed the strong commitment from Estonia's highly motivated and competent professionals to developing the infrastructure needed for a nuclear power programme," he added.

Estonia now needs to finalise its comprehensive report to support the decision on a potential nuclear power programme, including with clear timelines for the major activities, the team said. It also needs to complete its plans and policies and give further consideration to the development of its legal and regulatory framework to support the next phase of the programme.

The IAEA and Estonia will now develop a workplan to provide coordinated support in line with the future development of the country's nuclear power programme.

Earlier this year, Fermi Energia selected GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 small modular reactor for potential deployment in the Baltic country by the early 2030s.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

 

Westinghouse, EDF and KHNP submit final Czech bids

31 October 2023

ČEZ subsidiary Elektrárna Dukovany II (EDU II) has received final bids from the three potential suppliers for a new nuclear unit at Dukovany, as well as non-binding offers for three more future reactors.

(Image: ČEZ)

The bids, from US-Canadian Westinghouse, France's EDF and South Korea's KHNP, were submitted electronically ahead of the deadline of 11.00am local time on 31 October.

What happens now?

EDU II will evaluate the bids from an economic, commercial and technical point of view using a model based on International Atomic Energy Agency recommendations. Its report will then be submitted to the Czech government "early next year" with the intention of having the contracts finalised within the next year.

The new unit will be built next to the existing Dukovany nuclear power plant, with the goal of construction commencing in 2029 and it being ready for trial operation in 2036.

Tomáš Pleskač, member of the Board of Directors and Director of ČEZ's New Energy Division, said: "We are happy to confirm the strong interest of all three bidders in constructing a new nuclear power plant in Czechia. We have seen careful preparation by all bidders since the tender was launched in March last year. Now we will evaluate the bids and, according to the contract with the state, we will submit the evaluation report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and then to the Czech government for final approval."

Here are more details of the three bids:

EDF

The French company is proposing a generation III+ EPR1200 reactor at the site, and says it "proposes to be the single source of supply and integration of the EPR1200 technology and its project execution, whilst relying on the know-how and industrial prowess of its subsidiary Framatome to supply the engineering studies and equipment for the nuclear steam supply system and, Instrumentation & Control and on its historical and trusted partners: GE Steam Power for the supply of the engineering studies and equipment of the conventional island, which is to be equipped with the French Arabelle 1000 steam turbine; and Bouygues Travaux Publics for its proven performance in nuclear new build civil works activities." It says it is undertaking in-depth work to identify Czech companies that could be selected as suppliers for the project, with nearly 300 identified so far and 90 involved in EDF's prequalification process.

Luc Rémont, Chairman and CEO of the EDF Group, said: "EDF is deeply focused on mobilising its efforts to be selected as preferred partner for Dukovany 5 and the further expansion of ČEZ’s nuclear fleet with its European EPR1200 technology. As the only vendor and builder of third generation nuclear technology in Europe, we believe that the long-term strategic partnership we are proposing will set a precedent for our continent and serve as the backbone for a more resilient and independent European nuclear industry. By joining the European EPR community, the Czech Republic will benefit from a massive fleet effect and create many industrial synergies between our current and future nuclear programmes in France, the UK and beyond. I am convinced that the partnership between ČEZ and EDF will further underscore our shared role as two leading European nuclear operators committed to supporting Europe's energy independence and achieving net-zero in Europe."

Westinghouse

The US-Canadian company is proposing an AP1000 reactor, which it calls the only operating generation III+ reactor with passive safety systems, modular construction design and the smallest footprint per MWe on the market. Its construction partner is Bechtel and says that it has "deep ties" to the Czech nuclear industry dating back to the 1993 supply of advanced Instrumentation & Control systems to the country's Temelin plant "creating a local supplier network that continues to grow" and from next year it will supply nuclear fuel to both Czech nuclear plants. It says that as well as its strategy of utilising local supply chains, increasing opportunities for Czech businesses to participate in the new nuclear project for the deployment of AP1000 technology in Poland and Bulgaria "creates additional share for suppliers to contribute to projects throughout central and eastern Europe".

David Durham, Energy Systems President, Westinghouse, said: "Westinghouse first partnered with the Czech Republic on nuclear energy three decades ago and we are proud and excited to be able to further honour that commitment by providing safe, reliable nuclear energy from our proven AP1000 technology. Together we can lay the foundation for a clean, secure energy future that extends for the next 80 years of operation, and beyond."

US Ambassador to the Czech Republic Bijan Sabet said: "From a strategic energy security perspective, selecting a US technology would provide the Czech Republic with a reliable source of clean energy that not only will combat climate change and reduce emissions, but will be an investment in the Czech people, creating thousands of green jobs across the nuclear supply chain. We hope the Czech Republic partners with Westinghouse/Bechtel for their proven and advanced AP1000 technology, which has been designed, licensed, built, and is operating in other parts of the world."

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power

South Korea's KHNP is proposing its III+ generation APR1000 pressurised water reactor. According to the ČEZ project information website, it was developed based on OPR1000 reactors that are already in operation and incorporating safety features of the APR1400, which are in operation in South Korea and the UAE, and its European version the EU-APR, which received European Utility Requirements (EUR) certification in 2017. The APR1000 received EUR certification in March. Last month KHNP invited representatives of the Czech Power Industry Alliance to Korea to discuss opportunities for cooperation in the new nuclear project.

Speaking at the time, Insik Park, Executive Vice President of the Overseas Business Division at KHNP, said: "The nuclear power industries of both countries will closely cooperate to ensure the success of the Czech new build project by exceeding the standards for all areas from safety to economics, construction schedule, etc."

Nuclear Power in the Czech Republic

Four VVER-440 units are currently in operation at the Dukovany site, which began operating between 1985 and 1987. Two VVER-1000 units are in operation at Temelín, which came into operation in 2000 and 2002. Past Czech energy policy has proposed two new units at each of the two existing sites. There are also developing plans for small modular reactors in the country in an area near the existing Temelín plant. The Czech Republic gets about 34% of its electricity from its nuclear power plants. A zoning permit for up to two new nuclear units at Dukovany was issued on Monday by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

 

X-energy, Ares drop merger plan

31 October 2023

Small modular reactor (SMR) and advanced fuel technology developer X-Energy Reactor Company - known as X-energy - and Ares Acquisition Corporation (AAC) have "mutually agreed to terminate their previously announced business combination agreement, effective immediately".

In December last year, X-energy and AAC - a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company affiliated with global alternative investment manager Ares Management Corporation - entered into a definitive business combination agreement. The combination was set to establish X-energy as a publicly traded company, a move that was expected to accelerate the company's growth strategy.

At that time, the business combination ascribed a pre-money equity value of approximately USD2 billion to X-energy, the companies said. The transaction, which had been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies and by members of X-Energy, was expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2023 subject to closing conditions including the approval of AAC shareholders and the receipt of governmental and regulatory approvals.

In June, X-energy and AAC announced a strategic update to their business combination agreement that revises the valuation of the transaction. Under the amended terms, X-energy's pre-money equity value was revised to USD1.8 billion. In September, Ares increased its total investment to USD80 million through a USD50 million PIPE investment on top of the USD30 million initial investment it announced last December.

However, in a joint statement the companies have now said: "Over the course of 2023, X-energy received strong interest from potential investors. However, given challenging market conditions, peer-company trading performance and a balancing of the benefits and drawbacks of becoming a publicly traded company under current circumstances, X-energy and AAC jointly determined that it was the best course of action at this time not to proceed with their previously announced transaction."

They added that an investment vehicle affiliated with Ares Management Corporation has agreed to make a private investment into X-energy "in order to support X-energy's continued growth as a private company".

"In view of the termination of the Business Combination Agreement, AAC determined that it will not be able to consummate an initial business combination within the time period required by its amended and restated memorandum and articles of association," the statement said. "As such, AAC intends to dissolve and liquidate in accordance with the provisions of the articles."

X-energy is the developer of the Xe-100 pebble bed high-temperature gas reactor, capable of a thermal output of 200 MW (or 80 MW electrical). It uses fuel made from robust TRISO (tri-structural isotropic) fuel particles which are able to withstand extremely high temperatures without melting. Optimised as a four-unit plant delivering 320 MWe, the reactor can provide baseload power to an electricity system or use its thermal output to support industrial applications with high pressure, high temperature steam.

In January this year, X-energy announced a strategic investment of USD25 million from South Korea's DL E&C and Doosan Enerbility. The investment was made in a private round of financing pursuant to X-energy's previously announced Series C-2 investment round to support the advancement of the global deployment of its Xe-100 SMR.

"The X-energy team will continue to make critical progress toward our long-term objectives," said X-energy CEO Clay Sell. "Looking ahead, we will continue to execute against our strategy that capitalises on our proprietary clean energy technology, competitive advantages and strategic relationships to the benefit of our customers and stakeholders around the world."

NuScale Power was the first SMR developer to undergo a business combination to accelerate the commercialisation of its technology. In May 2022, it merged with Spring Valley Acquisition Corp to create the world's first publicly traded SMR technology provider.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

 

Cameco announces supply contract at Beijing uranium forum

30 October 2023

The supply agreement with China Nuclear International Corporation was finalised earlier this year, Cameco said. The 2023 International Natural Uranium Industry Development Forum also included updates on China's domestic uranium efforts.

The inaugural international forum took place in Beijing on 28 October (Image: China Nuclear Energy Association)

The terms and details of the agreement with the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) subsidiary are commercially confidential and will not be disclosed publicly, Cameco said. The contract volumes are reflected in the 215 million pounds U3O8 (82,699 tU) the Canadian company reported having under long-term contracts as of 27 April and its reported average annual delivery volumes of 28 million pounds per year from 2023 through 2027 (as of 30 June this year), it added.

"China is counting on nuclear energy to play a major role in its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions, and CNNC is a large and growing part of that effort," Cameco President and CEO Tim Gitzel said. "Cameco is very pleased to continue increasing our contribution toward the attainment of China's important climate goals."

The International Natural Uranium Industry Development Forum, hosted by the China Mining Association and co-sponsored by the China Nuclear Society and China Uranium Industry Co, Ltd, took place on 28 October and was attended by some 300 delegates from around the world, including government officials and experts as well as representatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the China Atomic Energy Authority.
 
In a virtual address to the forum's opening session, IAEA Deputy Director General Liu Hua said the forum demonstrated "responsibility and commitment" from China.

"Today, as carbon peaking and carbon neutrality have become widely recognised, countries are working together to promote the rapid development of global nuclear energy and jointly address the challenges of climate change. The global economic recovery and energy security have placed higher demands on the sustainable development of nuclear energy. Establishing a global uranium resource partnership is crucial to ensuring the security, stability, and reliable supply of uranium resources needed for the development of nuclear energy worldwide, which is particularly important for the healthy development of nuclear energy," Liu said.

Liu's words were reported by the Global Times.

China has been developing its uranium industry for more than 60 years, but new resources identified over the past decade account for one-third of its total confirmed reserves today, Chen Junli, president of China Nuclear Uranium Co, said. As well as establishing a "complete industrial chain" from exploration through to mining, refining and processing of uranium, it has developed a natural uranium supply system that combines domestic development, overseas growth, international trade and strategic reserves, he said.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

 

Moltex announces waste recycling breakthrough

31 October 2023

Laboratory experiments carried out using simulated fuel have substantially derisked the Waste To Stable Salt - or WATSS - process, and experiments using real used fuel are currently ongoing.

(Image: ElasticComputeFarm from Pixabay)

WATSS is part of a suite of reactor technologies that are being developed by Moltex Energy Canada that can be deployed individually or jointly: the Stable Salt Reactor - Wasteburner (SSR-W), a fast reactor that uses recycled nuclear waste as fuel; the WATSS recycling process; and GridReserve thermal energy storage tanks. Together, these allow the generation of inexpensive electricity that can be dispatched as needed, complementing intermitent renewable sources such as wind and solar, the company says.

The experiments in Moltex's own uranium-licensed laboratory were carried out using simulated fuel made of uranium dioxide and cerium oxide proportional to levels found in used nuclear fuel: the use of cerium oxide as an analogue to transuranic oxides is supported by literature and thermodynamic modelling. Building from these studies, experiments in secure hot cells at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories facilities are now under way, using "real" used fuel from Candu reactors.

"These important experiments not only demonstrate the viability of our waste recycling technology but also reaffirm our unwavering commitment to developing clean energy solutions that combat climate change," Moltex CEO Rory O'Sullivan said.

The company is also currently in discussions with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to formalise a service agreement to help facilitate a bilateral dialogue on its used fuel recycling design.

CNSC completed the first phase of the pre-licensing vendor design review of the SSR-W in 2021, and the design has now reached a technology readiness level that "inspires confidence in its feasibility and economic viability", allowing the technical team to reallocate resources towards optimising the WATSS process, Moltex said. This strategic refocus is supported by Moltex partners AtkinsRéalis and IDOM, it added.

The company said it is planning to deploy the first WATSS unit at the Point Lepreau site in New Brunswick, where it has also plans to deploy the first SSR-W by the early 2030s. NB Power's existing Candu reactor at Point Lepreau is expected to retire around 2040.

"Waste recycling is poised to be a game-changer in the nuclear industry, offering a cost-effective and socially acceptable solution to reducing global waste stockpiles prior to final disposal," it said.

Construction under way of new Dutch radwaste facility

31 October 2023

Work has begun on the Multifunctional Storage Building (MOG) - a new storage building for low and intermediate-level waste - in Nieuwdorp, in the municipality of Borssele, in the Netherlands, the Central Organisation for Radioactive Waste (Covra) announced.

The pilings in place for the new MOG facility (Image: Covra)

The order to begin construction of the MOG was given and the first bored pile was driven into the ground on 22 September, Covra said. All 438 bored piles for the MOG have now all been installed.

Covra applied to the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS) in August 2022 for a permit change under the Nuclear Energy Act to construct the MOG facility. Among the documents submitted by Covra along with the permit application were an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and a supplement to its safety report. ANVS granted the final permit to Covra in June this year. Covra subsequently applied for and obtained a building permit from the municipality of Borssele.

Completion of the new storage building - plans for which were announced by Covra in March 2021 - is expected in 2025.

The new storage building is mainly intended for the storage of historical radioactive waste that is currently stored on the site of medical isotope producer NRG in Petten. Future decommissioning waste from nuclear installations in the Netherlands will also be placed in the MOG. The current processing and storage at Covra is not yet suitable for this, Covra said. The new building - designed for the storage of drums of radioactive waste in special stackable storage containers - will provide sufficient storage capacity until 2050.

The 2400-square-metre MOG will have a repacking area where drums with radioactive waste will be packed from the transport container into the storage container. These stackable storage containers will also be used for final storage. Covra said the building will also be made suitable for waste that it currently receives and which could possibly be processed and packaged in a different way in the future with a view to disposal.

MOG - designed for a lifespan of at least 100 years - will be able to accommodate 4000 cubic metres of radioactive waste. The building has been designed in such a way that the storage capacity can easily be expanded later.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

 

Viewpoint: Industry's key role in radiation protection rules

26 October 2023

The nuclear industry's expertise and perspective must be involved in the setting of policy, guidelines and standards, says Marcel Lips as he steps down after a decade as chairman of World Nuclear Association's Radiological Protection Working Group.

(Image: World Nuclear Association)

The expert

Marcel Lips is a chemical engineer with a PhD in technical science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. He is currently deputy plant manager at the Gösgen nuclear power plant in Switzerland, where he has worked for 33 years, including two decades as director of chemistry and radiation protection. He is also vice-president of Zwilag, a Swiss waste treatment and intermediate storage facility. Since 2005, Marcel has been a member of World Nuclear Association's Radiological Protection Working Group (RPWG), including more than 10 years as chairman, and has also been a member of the Decommissioning Working Group. Ahead of his retirement next year, the association presented an award to him at the Members Forum meeting in September, recognising his outstanding service to the nuclear industry.

Marcel, in simple words, what is the role of the RPWG?

We represent industry's point of view on radiation protection, promote leading practice, share knowledge and ideas and assure that industry expertise and perspectives are considered in the setting of radiological protection standards with global implications for nuclear commerce and operations. Our work is necessary because the voice of industry delivers practical input for those who set the standards, guidelines, rules and regulations in the field of radiological protection. For example, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has initiated a process for the review of the system of radiological protection, which is likely to lead to a new set of General Recommendations. This process will shape radiation-related policy, practice, guidelines, and regulations around the world in the decades to come. We as an industry need to get involved in this process.

Why it is important for the nuclear industry and World Nuclear Association member companies to get involved in the ICRP?

The outcome of this process could have an enormous impact for the nuclear industry and other nuclear technology sectors. That's why it is appropriate to ensure due consideration is given to practicality and proportionality in relation to any changes in the system for radiological protection and to ensure that industry expertise and perspectives are considered in the setting of radiological protection standards with global implications for nuclear commerce and operations. Member companies should be aware that the impact of current RPWG activities, in particular their inputs and feedback regarding ICRP review process, will only be visible in about 20 years from now. We should encourage our member companies to actively participate in these very important RPWG activities even if the results are two decades ahead of us.

What is the best way to get involved in ICRP review process?

The backbreaking work within the ICRP review process takes place in ICRP task groups. At present, 31 of them are active. Currently less than 1% of the members of the ICRP's task groups and committees are drawn from nuclear industry. If we, as an industry, want to make a difference and/or significantly influence the process to have practical, proportionate and simple radiological protection legislation, then we need to change that picture. Member companies should encourage and allow their radiological protection experts to apply for ICRP or task group membership.

As part of the ICRP review process, World Nuclear Association's RPWG hosted and organised, in collaboration with ICRP, a workshop on 27-28 September in Bristol. The workshop provided an excellent opportunity to promote wider understanding of optimisation of risk, based on the all-hazards approach and effective communication of the system of radiological protection. We had sessions on good practices in effective communication of the radiological protection system and practical examples in applying the optimisation process based on an all-hazards approach. Presentations were provided from different nuclear industry sectors starting from uranium mining, naturally-occurring radioactive materials (NORM), new build, small modular reactors (SMRs), operating nuclear power plants, research, decommissioning and geological disposal. Views from ICRP itself and from regulatory bodies were also part of the workshop.

I think the workshop was really successful. ICRP recognised that radiation is not always a primary hazard and will endeavour to recognise that radiation is one of a number of hazards and risks. ICRP agreed to explore opportunities to reduce complexity to ensure that its system was practical and implementable. World Nuclear Association has offered to provide member support for any work groups. At this point I would like to thank all World Nuclear Association staff and RPWG members involved. Thanks to their support, the workshop was so successful.

As the chair of RPWG, what are the benefits you received by joining the working group?

I see the nuclear industry as an important pillar of climate-neutral energy supply, which is why I am happy to get involved in the preservation and expansion of this technology on a global scale. Except for a few countries, the benefits of nuclear energy are fully recognised. It goes without saying that the commitment is associated with effort. On the other hand, thanks to my involvement in World Nuclear Association, I was able to make many contacts and get to know interesting people all over the world. Although working with our stakeholders is challenging and not always easy, it also provides knowledge that can be used beneficially in daily work. It provides indications of the direction in which developments are going. In this way, members' own programmes and activities can be set up appropriately and with foresight.

What is your message to encourage new members and young professionals to join RPWG?

Our working group is always looking for new members to join, notably younger professionals. Current members work across the industry including at uranium mines, nuclear power plants, and at research institutes. Regular participation in RPWG provides an important support network and can help with professional accreditation. You will moreover be contributing to work that influences the future of our industry.

Researched and written by World Nuclear News

Beaver family that moved into Seattle park may complicate salmon-spawning journey
2023/10/31

A family of beavers has built a series of dams along Pipers Creek in Carkeek Park, the largest of which uses two trees and an installed bench.

 - Amanda Zhou/The Seattle Times/TNS

SEATTLE — Called by the sound of flowing water and ample trees, a family of beavers have moved into Carkeek Park, building a series of dams along the mouth of Pipers Creek.

The largest dam — which incorporates a fixed park bench and two large trees — has widened and grown to the degree that water is spilling on to a walking trail nearby. The dam, reinforced with mud and branches, also may present a challenge for chum salmon, which are set to return and spawn at any moment, said David Koon, the salmon program director at the Carkeek Watershed Community Action Project.

It's not clear yet how the beaver dam will impact the spawn, he said, and some of that will depend on how much and when it will rain this season. Beavers build dams to create a pond where they can build a "lodge" to provide protection from predators.

In a natural environment — where a river flows consistently all the time — a beaver dam would be no problem for spawning salmon, he said. But Pipers Creek, surrounded by a highly urbanized and concrete-laden watershed, is no natural river.

Even without beavers, the survival rates of the salmon's eggs are low at Carkeek Park, he said. Due to the nonporous nature of the watershed, the stream's depth often increases and decreases rapidly before and after rain, leading the eggs often to be washed out. Plenty of other things like runoff from fertilizers, tire dust and dog poop also threaten the eggs.

While beaver dams can sometimes help salmon eggs, slowing down water and filtering silt, the ones in Carkeek Park may prevent the salmon from traveling fully upstream. If the downstream waters are high enough — which they aren't right now — Chinook and coho salmon can jump over the dams and the chum can beat their way through the gaps, Koon said. Otherwise, the salmon will have to wait for when the water levels get high enough during active rain.

"I don't think there's going to be anything so dire from this, that we're like 'we've got to get rid of these beavers right now' ... I think it's kind of like 'let's wait, watch, learn and adapt,' " Koon said.

Normally dead salmon at the end of the season are found as far as a half-mile up from the mouth of Pipers Creek in Venema Creek, he said. The beaver dams sit on the first 300 feet of that path.

Seattle Parks and Recreation is working with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to "explore mitigation strategies" to "manage" the beavers, said Parks spokesperson Rachel Schulkin; though the department will have to wait until after the migration season to make any changes.

Parks and Recreation intends to apply for a permit to install a device within the dam that would drop the water level, and may also implement fencing to protect trees. The beavers, which likely came over from Golden Gardens, may be relocated, she said.

Standing next to a 2-by-6-inch plank built into the largest dam, Koon estimated the dam's length is more than 50 feet and the depth of the pooled water is at least 5 feet. Koon, who has kept an eye on the salmon at Carkeek Park for years, said he's seen small dams at Pipers Creek likely built by young inexperienced beavers that get washed out after one big rain in the past.

"These ones are clearly experienced," he said. "They've done some really good, amazing engineering."

This year, as the stream has moved and broken through some of the smaller dams, he's seen the beavers expand and lengthen the large dam, patching up sections overnight. Koon said the two adult beavers and a "kit" or baby beaver have had additional baby beavers since moving into Carkeek.

_____

A family of beavers has built a series of dams along Pipers Creek in Carkeek Park, the largest of which uses two trees and an installed bench. - Amanda Zhou/The Seattle Times/TNS

David Koon, the salmon program director for the Carkeek Watershed Community Action Project, examines a beaver dam on Pipers Creek. - Amanda Zhou/The Seattle Times/TNS

A family of beavers has built a series of dams along Pipers Creek in Carkeek Park, the largest of which uses two trees and an installed bench. - Amanda Zhou/The Seattle Times/TNS

David Koon, the salmon program director for the Carkeek Watershed Community Action Project, examines a beaver dam on Pipers Creek. - Amanda Zhou/The Seattle Times/TNS

© The Seattle Times

Dozens of elephants mysteriously dropped dead in Zimbabwe. Now, researchers know why

2023/10/27

A carcass of an elephant that succumbed to drought in the Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe 

 - Zinyange Auntony/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

Several years ago, dozens of elephants mysteriously dropped dead in Zimbabwe, a landlocked country in southern Africa. Now, researchers finally know why.

Over several months of 2020, 35 African elephant carcasses were discovered in the Kavango–Zambezi conservation area, which encompasses five countries and is home to Africa’s largest population of elephants.

Intriguingly, the carcasses showed no signs of outward trauma or distress; their skin was bite-free, and their tusks were intact, which ruled out predators and poachers as the cause of death.

Additionally, their bodies were in “good” condition, indicating the animals had not succumbed to hunger or dehydration.

Perplexed by the elephants’ demise, researchers set out to discover what exactly killed them, according to a study published Oct. 25 in the journal Nature Communications.

With a shrinking global population of several hundred thousand, African elephants are considered critically endangered, and understanding the risks they face is paramount to the species’ conservation.

Using tissue samples collected from 15 of the carcasses, researchers ran a variety of tests, including toxicological analyses.

The tests revealed that six of the animals died from blood poisoning caused by Bisgaard taxon 45, a poorly understood type of bacteria. It may have been detected in more elephants if not for testing delays, which can last months, researchers said.

The bacteria’s origins are unknown, but it’s previously been found in humans bitten by lions and tigers, as well as captive parrots and one chipmunk, researchers said.

How exactly it managed to infect the elephants is unclear, but several hypotheses have been put forward.

“Intraspecific transmission via inhalation or ingestion is possible,” researchers said, “especially given the highly social behavior of elephants, which includes contact between trunks or even placing trunks in each others’ mouths.”

The animals also gravitate toward their dead, which could have facilitated the spread of the bacteria.

“More research is needed to understand the epidemiology of Bisgaard taxon 45 in elephants and whether latent carriers or other species play a role in maintaining this organism,” researchers said.

The bacteria now adds to the growing list of “disease-related threats” imperiling elephant conservation, including anthrax, tuberculosis and the herpesvirus.

Poaching and habitat loss, mostly to make way for agricultural production, also pose significant threats to the species’ conservation, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

© The Charlotte Observer

Second snow crab season canceled as researchers pinpoint cause

2023/10/28

Deckhands aboard the crab boat Arctic Hunter in the Bering Sea off Alaska separate male and female snow crab

- Steve Ringman/The Seattle Times/TNS

SEATTLE — Rewind, for just a second, to 2018 and imagine a series of nets trawling the depths of the east Bering Sea.

Most every year, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration look for snow crabs. They drop nets for half an hour across 400 different spots in the sea. They haul in and weigh their catch and then calculate a rough number of snow crabs in the area.

For that particular year, those scientists estimated 11 billion crabs were living, crawling, eating and reproducing in the frigid waters below, said Cody Szuwalski, a fishery biologist at NOAA. They had never seen such high numbers.

But by 2021, more than 90% of them would vanish.

That year's survey showed only about 1 billion crabs remaining. If the crustaceans were few, so were the theories. "Were they overfished?" Szuwalski asked, considering the options. Did they die of disease? Were they eaten? Did they eat each other?

"It was a very precipitous drop," he said.

Szuwalski and a few other NOAA scientists set out to find an answer and last week published a report indicating that marine heat waves collapsed the snow crab population.

Those findings fit into a long line of data points showing the devastating effects of climate change caused by humans burning fossil fuels. Greenhouse gases are warming the earth, and as ocean waters absorb that heat, marine temperatures also rise.

Remaining crab populations will take years to rebound, Szuwalski said. That spells pain for fishing fleets who suffered a first-ever canceled snow crab season in 2022-2023. Officials in Alaska decided earlier this month to cancel yet another snow crab season.

These swings are likely the new normal, scientists and wildlife experts say because marine heat waves are predicted to become more common and severe as climate change worsens.

"There are going to be winners and losers with climate change," Szuwalski said.

Whether those winners are species that humans like to eat remains to be seen, he said.
Compounding heat waves

While the ocean captures about a third of the planet's greenhouse gas emissions, it also absorbs about 90% of its heat, and over the past half-century, marine heat waves have been increasingly common.

Perhaps the most prominent example in recent memory is a widespread marine heat wave that spanned from 2013-2016. Now known as "The Blob," those years of warmer temperatures killed hundreds of thousands of seabirds and led to increased toxic algal blooms.

Marine temperatures then spiked in 2018 and 2019 and again in 2022 and 2023, said Andrew Leising, a research scientist with NOAA.

Of those three spikes, the 2018 and 2019 marine heat waves resulted in a mass die-off of snow crabs for a few reasons, Leising and Szuwalski said.

First, Szuwalski said high numbers of snow crabs — like the record peak in 2018 — put the whole population at greater risk, particularly because there were greater numbers of mature crabs.

Then, warming temperatures increased their metabolism, meaning the crabs needed more food than normal to survive, Szuwalski said.

So the snow crabs starved, he said. Billions of them.

The depth and location of the marine heat waves also play a role, Leising said. While The Blob's warm temperatures reached into the Bering Sea and penetrated some 160 meters down, snow crab populations weren't as high so the entire group wasn't as much at risk, he said.

The 2018 and 2019 marine heat wave reached into the sea as well, Leising said. While it warmed waters half as deep, the high crab populations and repeated warm waters in recent years compounded and led to the mass die-off.

More recent heat waves have neither reached as far north nor as deep and likely haven't cut into crab populations nearly as much, Leising said.

No two marine heat waves are exactly alike, Leising said, so their influence on the ecosystems they hit will differ.

Crustaceans are particularly sensitive to these types of water temperature fluctuations, Leising added, so as marine heat waves become more common and severe, the damage they cause will add up.

"The long-term underlying trend is really going to zap them," Leising said. "Twenty years down the line, it's probably going to be really tough for them."
Another season lost

Scientists canceled the 2020 snow crab survey because of the pandemic. Some hoped the population would rebound, but the 2021 data showed the situation had worsened.

"We knew we were in deep doo doo," said Benjamin Daly, a research coordinator with Alaska's Department of Fish and Game. "We were in the midst of a population collapse."

State officials decided to allow snow crab fisheries to keep operating for the 2021-2022 season, which runs from fall to spring, trying to "eke out" even the smallest harvests but returns were dismal, Daly said. The 2022 survey showed snow crab numbers were still shrinking.

So, for the first time, officials with Alaska Fish and Game canceled the snow crab season.

The economic impacts were in the hundreds of millions of dollars, Daly said. A fleet of about 60 vessels run, based out of Alaska, Washington and Oregon, typically with a crew of six or seven people.

This year's survey remained below the state's threshold, Daly said, and earlier this month, the department canceled the 2023-2024 season.

Snow crab numbers will likely take between three and four years to recover, Szuwalski said.

Marine conditions are expected to be cooler in the months ahead than in recent years, Leising said, which might offer the crustaceans a much-needed break.

Even so, Daly said conditions might sink lower before they improve. Officials in Alaska won't decide until late next year whether to open the 2024-2025 snow crab season, and even if they do, harvests will likely be modest.

These closures and recovery periods are a sign of things to come, Daly said. Climate change is making for unpredictable conditions. At one point, the snow crab might suffer. Another year, Bristol Bay red crab might be on deck (state officials closed those fisheries in 2021 and 2022). At other points, an entirely different species might fall prey to the changes, he said.

The marine heat wave that killed billions of snow crabs amounts to a lightning strike, Daly said. It was the combination of several factors that led to catastrophe.

"The problem is we're probably going to have more lightning strikes in the future," he said.

© The Seattle Times

Lawn equipment spews ‘shocking’ amount of air pollution, new data shows

Tik Root, Grist
October 31, 2023 

A San Francisco Recreation and Parks worker uses a gas-powered mower to cut the grass at Golden Gate Park  in San Francisco, California.

 Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Lawn-care equipment — leaf-blowers, lawnmowers, and the like — doesn’t top most people’s lists of climate priorities. But a new report documents how, in aggregate, lawn care is a major source of U.S. air pollution.

Using the latest available data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2020 National Emissions Inventory, the report found that the equipment released more than 68,000 tons of smog-forming nitrous oxides, which is roughly on par with the pollution from 30 million cars. Lawn equipment also spewed 30 millions tons of climate-warming carbon dioxide, which is more than the total emissions of the city of Los Angeles.

“When it comes to these small engines in lawn and garden equipment, it’s really counterintuitive,” said Kirsten Schatz, the lead author of the report and a clean air advocate at Colorado PIRG, a nonprofit environmental organization. “This stuff is really disproportionately causing a lot of air pollution, health problems, and disproportionately contributing to climate change.”

Lawn equipment also contributed to a litany of other air toxics, such as formaldehyde and benzene, according to the report, which is titled “Lawn Care Goes Electric.” But perhaps the most concerning pollutant it releases is the fine particulate matter known as PM2.5.

PM2.5 is far smaller than the width of a human hair and can lead to health problems ranging from cancer, reproductive ailments, and mental health problems to premature death. The report found that gas-powered lawn equipment belched 21,800 tons of PM2.5 in 2020 — an amount equivalent to the pollution from 234 million typical cars over the course of a year.

That outsize impact comes because gas-powered lawn equipment runs on different types of engines than passenger cars. They are smaller — coming in two- and four-stroke versions, which reference the differences in the engines’ combustion cycles — and are generally less efficient, with two-stroke engines being particularly problematic because they run a mix of lubricating oil and gasoline.

“[This] really inefficient engine technology is, pound for pound, more polluting than the cars and trucks,” said Schatz. “Outdoor equipment generates a pretty shocking amount of pollution.”

Emissions also vary widely by state. California and Florida ranked highest for carbon dioxide emissions from lawn equipment, while Florida and Texas topped the list of PM2.5 pollution. While one might expect the sheer amount of lawn care in California, the most populous U.S. state, to rank it higher on PM2.5 pollution, it only comes in 29th. Lower two-stroke engine use accounts for the gap between the state’s carbon and particulate emissions, according to Tony Dutzik, a senior policy analyst at Frontier Group and contributor to the report.

He explained that nationally, two-stroke engines are responsible for 82 percent of PM2.5 from lawn equipment, but in California it’s only 41 percent. Researchers are not exactly sure why the use difference is so stark, but one theory is that California’s history of regulating small engines is paying off.

“California has consistently led on [small engine] emission standards since the mid-1990s,” said Dutzik. That leadership is ongoing: A statewide ban on small off-road engines, including lawn equipment, is set to go into effect next year. Schatz argues that the rest of the country should follow California’s lead and promote electric alternatives that run on rechargeable batteries.

“We have so many cleaner, quieter electric alternatives available now,” said Schatz. “Battery technology has come a long way.”

Many states and municipalities offer rebates on battery-powered lawn equipment, and more people are making the switch. That’s true even in the commercial lawn-care sector, which is responsible for the bulk of emissions but is more difficult to electrify because companies often need more powerful machines, with longer runtimes, than residential users.

Kelly Giard started the Clean Air Lawn Care company in 2006, at a time when he said the technology for commercial work was “limited.” But that’s rapidly changing and it’s helped his company grow. His franchisees now serve roughly 10,000 customers across 16 states.

“At this point,” said Giard of the performance of his electric fleet, “it’s very comparable to gas.”

Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org