Oak Ridge Today

Sen. Alexander, others introduce bipartisan nuclear waste legislation

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U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

Four U.S. senators, including Lamar Alexander, introduced a bipartisan, comprehensive plan this week that they said would safeguard and permanently dispose of tens of thousands of tons of dangerous radioactive nuclear waste currently accumulating at sites dispersed across the country.

A press release said the proposal, the Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2013, would establish a new nuclear waste administration and create a consent-based process for siting nuclear waste facilities. It would also enable the federal government to “address its commitment to managing commercial nuclear waste, limiting the costly liability the government bears for its failure to dispose of commercial spent fuel.

“The integrated storage and repository system established by this legislation will expand opportunities for nuclear power to supply low-carbon energy, and will provide long-term protection of public health and safety for both commercial and defense high-level waste,” the release said. [Read more…]

Green author, activist to speak Aug. 18 in Oak Ridge

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Bill McKibben

Bill McKibben

Bill McKibben, “the planet’s best green journalist,” according to Time magazine and author of a dozen books about the environment, will speak on fossil fuels and climate change in August in Oak Ridge.

The lecture will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, at the Oak Ridge High School Performing Arts Center.

McKibben is a founder of the grassroots climate campaign 350.org, which has coordinated 15,000 rallies in 190 countries since 2009 and sponsored a 21-city “Do The Math” tour last fall. The “Do The Math” movie has been shown in numerous cities this past spring and several times at First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, including by a new Secret City Sustainability group of college students. The movie is available online at 350.org. [Read more…]

State approves city’s application for $18 million in low-interest loans for sewer repairs

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In February, the Oak Ridge City Council approved the borrowing of $18 million in low-interest state loans to help pay for a $23 million project to fix the municipal sewer system.

On Wednesday, Tennessee officials announced that the loans had been approved. [Read more…]

IMPACT Services cleanup scheduled to end Friday

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IMPACT Services Waste

The last of more than one million pounds of low-level radioactive waste at the former IMPACT Services site at Heritage Center in west Oak Ridge was scheduled be shipped out today.

It’s considered a success story—a one-year, $1.2 million state project to ship out more than one million pounds of low-level radioactive waste from a company that has declared bankruptcy—and it’s scheduled to end Friday, officials said last week. The last waste, stored in an open-air shed at the site, was scheduled to be shipped out today, but it has been delayed a day or two.

The project began in May 2012 after IMPACT Services Inc., a company that processed low-level radioactive waste, declared bankruptcy. The company had operations on property leased from the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee at the northwest corner of Heritage Center, the former K-25 site in west Oak Ridge.

In the past year, state and contractor officials said during a tour last week, a total of roughly 1.6 million pounds of waste and equipment has been shipped out, including to other processors and sites in Oak Ridge, Florida, and a landfill in Clive, Utah. The waste has been shipped from the site in 1,200 containers on some 220 truck shipments. [Read more…]

Haslam announces IBM executive as chief operating officer

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Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has announced that Greg Adams, who has been an IBM executive and longtime employee, will join the governor’s senior team as chief operating officer, a press release said.

His job will be to work with state departments to ensure they’re operating in the most efficient and effective way possible. [Read more…]

Haslam signs gang-enhanced sentencing bill in Memphis

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Governor Bill Haslam

Bill Haslam

Legislation changes the definition of “criminal gang offense”

MEMPHIS—Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam on Wednesday held a ceremonial bill signing in Memphis for legislation that rewrites and simplifies the criminal gang offense enhanced punishment law.

Gang-related crimes are of increasing concern across Tennessee, in the state’s rural and urban communities, and the bill, House Bill 196/Senate Bill 202, changes the definition of “criminal gang offense” from a vague and broad definition to a specific list of offenses that will make it easier for prosecutors to seek a greater sentence. [Read more…]

Officials celebrate opening of $40 million Volkswagen distribution center in Roane County

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Volkswagen Southeast Regional Distribution Center Opening

Volkswagen, Roane County, and Tennessee officials celebrate the opening of a $40 million parts distribution center in eastern Roane County on Tuesday.

ROANE COUNTY—A new $40 million Volkswagen distribution center in eastern Roane County will distribute domestic auto parts to a global market for the Passat, which is made in Chattanooga, the company said Tuesday.

The Southeast Regional Distribution Center started operating on a limited basis as a redistribution center in April. It serves five other depots in the United States, as well as warehouses in Canada, Mexico, and Germany.

Later, it will include a parts distribution center for 110 Volkswagen and Audi dealers in the Southeast. [Read more…]

July 4 plans announced for Clinton, Norris, Museum of Applachia

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Information from WYSH Radio

July 4 plans have been announced for Clinton, Norris, and the Museum of Appalachia.

Clinton—Clinton’s annual Independence Day fireworks show will be held at Lakefront Park again this year. Festivities get under way at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 4, with a host of activities for kids, live music, and more. Backyard Bouncers will have a 65-foot, three-lane “megawaterslide,” a bounce house, a two-lane slip and slide, a two-lane Bungee challenge, and an All-Stars basketball challenge. [Read more…]

State announces first Select Tennessee Certified Sites, including Horizon Center area

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Tennessee Certified Site at Horizon Center

The Select Tennessee Certified Site is pictured above at Horizon Center. (Submitted photo)

NASHVILLE—The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced on Tuesday the first six Select Tennessee Certified Sites.

As previously reported on Oak Ridge Today, one of the sites is at Horizon Center in west Oak Ridge.

The Select Tennessee program was launched in June 2012 with the goal of helping Tennessee communities prepare available sites for investment and expansion. The program sets a consistent and rigorous standard upon which companies can rely in making critical location decisions. [Read more…]

July 4 fireworks at A.K. Bissell Park

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July 4 Fireworks

The July 4 fireworks show in Oak Ridge starts at 10 p.m. at A.K. Bissell Park. (Photo by Charles Samuels)

Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley has announced that the fireworks display, sponsored by the City of Oak Ridge, will begin at 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 4. The display will be shot from A.K. Bissell Park.

The fireworks will be accompanied by music played live on-site by Merle 96.7 FM. Radio host Jack Ryan will be live from the park beginning at 6 p.m. and will conclude the live broadcast with a patriotic medley as the fireworks are shot. The countdown to the fireworks begins at 9:30 p.m. Listeners can tune their radios to 96.7 Merle FM and enjoy the show.

The Oak Ridge Community Band will perform its annual 4th of July concert at the A.K. Bissell Park Pavilion beginning at 7:30 p.m. [Read more…]

Clinton OKs no-tax-increase budget

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Information from WYSH Radio

On Monday, the Clinton City Council approved the city’s budget for Fiscal Year 2013-2014.

The budget is balanced with no property tax increase for city residents, leaving the tax rate at 76 cents per $100 of assessed value while providing 2 percent pay raises for city workers and taking into account projected increases of between 5 and 20 percent in employee-related and liability insurance. [Read more…]

Roane schools budget $1.5M out of balance

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Roane County school system is facing a $1.5 million budget shortfall and some are calling for a property tax increase to make up the deficit, while others are saying no tax increase is needed and that the schools need to live within their means. Among the options that have been floated include possibly closing Midway High School.

The Roane County Budget Committee has recommended a budget that includes no tax increase, but school leaders have asked for a 14-cent property tax rate increase. [Read more…]