Environmental Protection, Conservation, and Rehabilitation

[Animo]

Poor bird! Almost got eaten and boiled!

Endangered Birds News

A rare Philippines quail that was feared to have become extinct has been photographed alive for the first time -- as it was headed for the cooking pot, according to ornithologists. Hunters snared the Worcester's buttonquail, Turnix worcesteri, in the Caraballo mountain range last month and a TV crew took pictures and video footage of the live bird at a poultry market, the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines said. The quail was being sold at a Manila wet market in Manila in 1902 and since then, just a few single specimens have been documented in Nueva Vizcaya and Benguet provinces, which form part of the two mountain ranges, the club said.

More information here: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Endanger...y?curid=121157

[Dante_Tagle]

The videos below show methane bubbling up in a lake in Alaska. Methane, which is at least 10 times more potent than carbon dioxide, is now continuously being released in various areas (Siberia, Arctic) as a result of melting due to global warming. The methane release would result in a 'positive feedback' that would worsen further the carbon dioxide induced climate change.

http://www.alaska.edu/uaf/cem/ine/walter/videopage.xml

[venntro]

100,000 informal river settlers to be cleared
By Dennis Carcamo Updated February 24, 2009 02:29 PM


MANILA, Philippines--More than 100,000 families living along the Pasig river system will be cleared within the next seven years in a bid to rehabilitate the dying body of water, an official of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) said today.

PRRC head Deogracias Tablan said their partner in the cleanup, Bantay Kalikasan, hopes to revive the Pasig river with the efforts of relocating these families as soon as possible.

Although they would be undertaking a herculian task of cleaning the river and keeping it that way, Tablan said the project would be successful also with the help of the community and the private sector.

"The project will depend on the response of the community," Tablan said in an interview during the launching of the Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig project, spearheaded by Bantay Kalikasan Inc.

The cleanup will involve 44 esteros and four river systems, including Marikina river and Napindan channel, leading to Pasig river.

At present, the PRRC is working in the cleanup of three esteros, Tablan said.

He added that though there is also a problem of factories spewing chemicals into the river, domestic waste is the primary source of pollution , accounting for 65 percent of the pollutants in Pasig river.

Tablan also cited that they need to filter the domestic waste coming from households with the use of aeration, which uses oxygen to induce the production of good bacteria in canals, and bioremediation, a process of using biological plants to remove or neutralize contaminants in the soil or water.

PRRC estimtates that they have to clean Pasig river of 2.8 million cubic meters of toxic debris.

Bantay Kalikasan head Gina Lopez said another important component of cleaning up the Pasig river is the change of consciousness of the community.

"People see the riveras a toilet bowl. Pasig river is life and you don't urinate on your life," Lopez said during her speech of the launching of the Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig project and turn-over ceremony of the materials recovery facilities (MRFs) at the Makati Park in Makati City today.

[venntro]

Govt, private sector to clean up Pasig River system
By Dennis Carcamo Updated February 24, 2009 01:21 PM


MANILA, Philippines--A private sector foundation in partnership with the national and local governments today launched an ambitious undertaking of cleaning up and reviving the Pasig River system.

During the launching of the Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig, a project to rehabilitate the moribund 17-kilometer river system, the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Bantay Kalikasan teamed up with the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, which includes agencies like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Metro Manila Development Authority, National Housing Authority and the Laguna Lake Development Authority, to revive the Pasig river.

Local officials from Quezon City, Makati, Marikina, Mandaluyong, Taguig, Manila, and Pasig also expressed their willingness to support the project.

Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo pledged to give to the project P6 million spread in the next three years while Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte has initially given P2 million for the purchase of equipment for the materials recovery facilities (MRFs).

Pasig river is life. We have to revive it again," Belmonte said, referring to the olden times that the then clean river had been the main means of transportation.

Bantay Kalikasan head Gina Lopez signed several memorandum of agreement with the government agencies during the formal launching of the project. All the stakeholders also signed a commitment message

Lopez said she foresees the clean up project to  gain ground , with results of a cleaner Pasig river in the next seven years.

Bantay Kalikasan, she added, will update its partners every six months on the progressof the clean up campaign.

For his part, Eugenio Lopez III, chairman and chief executive officer of ABS-CBN, the biggest media conglomerate in the country, said they are hoping to apply the La Mesa Watershed experience to Pasig river clean up as Bantay Kalikasan has been successeful in rehabilitating the watershed in the past years.

The ABS-CBN top boss lamented that the Philippines has been plagued with the problem of cleaning up the historic river in the past.

He said he hopes that project to ultimately address this problem as many countries in the Southeast Asian region, such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, has already solved theirs.

[venntro]

'Squatters' relocation a must for Pasig River clean-up
by MARIA ALTHEA TEVES, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak | 02/24/2009 6:31 PM

The relocation of informal settlers is key to cleaning up the Pasig River, Gina Lopez, managing director of ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. said Tuesday at the launching of the Kapit Bisig Ilog Pasig, a government-private sector effort to revive the "Nation's River."

Contrary to popular belief, 65% of the waste that flows in the Pasig River comes from households including waste dumped by informal settlers along riverbanks, not from industries or businesses.

Aside from the waste, the health and safety of the informal settlers are also at risk, Ms. Lopez said, citing an incident last year where a baby of a family illegally living on the banks of the San Juan river fell into the water which flows directly to Pasig .

Lopez said that with the help of the National Housing Authority, the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), Habitat for Humanity and Globe Asiatique, the informal settlers will hopefully be relocated to Calauan, Laguna, where a model community has already been established.

She said the community can accommodate 10,000 settlers. She is eyeing the relocation of 1,000 by June, but it should start in March.

“Hopefully, we will get money to be able to relocate 4,000 more informal settlers,” she added.

She said the informal settlers should be relocated in sustainable communities, such as in Calauan.

Livelihood, transportation aid

Pasig City Mayor Roberto Eusebio said his government is providing livelihood assistance to 100 settlers in his area so that “relocated individuals who want to earn, could earn a little money.”

Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte said that they have relocated families to Bulacan, Montalban, and Rodriguez.

“These places are close to the city and people can continue to work in the city,” Belmonte said.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay added that “aside from livelihood, there should be transportation assistance."

"It is really a matter of transportation costs that attracts them back to settle in their former area,” he said.

If local government units (LGUs) work together, “not only will there be a physical change in Pasig River, but also a change in the people’s attitude,” Belmonte said.

“There is no use beautifying the river if the people think it is impossible,” Ms. Lopez said.

“Working together with the National Government, LGUs, NGOs, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and PRRC, mayors and congressmen is the whole point of Kapit Bisig Ilog Pasig. We are all working together as one," she said.

[venntro]

House bill seeks options to BNPP
By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:04:00 02/25/2009

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) A bill has been submitted at the House of Representatives seeking a study of the possible options for sources of energy to replace the controversial measure seeking to revive the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

The measure, filed by Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, Quezon Representative Lorenzo Tañada III, and Akbayan party list Representative Risa Hontiveros, mandates the National Power Corporation to “conduct and complete a technical, economic, environmental, and financial feasibility study comparing technology options for electricity generation and appropriating funds thereof...”

The proposed study will not focus on the viability of nuclear power but will treat it as one possible source of energy and seeks a P10 million appropriation from the Napocor and the Department of Energy.

If this is not acceptable, then the three lawmakers proposed that the pending bill to revive the BNPP be amended to insert provisions that would mandate and fund a feasibility study on the revival and commercial operation of the mothballed facility.

This study will cover the technical, safety, financial, economic and environmental aspects of running the plant, and would be a condition for its reopening.

The hearing by the appropriations committee this Wednesday was supposed to tackle the “appropriation language” for Pangasinan Representative Mark Cojuangco’s House Bill 4631, but was deferred after the proposed substitute bill was filed.

Quirino Representative Junie Cua, head of the committee, said that right now “there seemed to be no meeting of the minds as far as these proposed amendments were concerned.”

Faced with opposition from various sectors, Cojuangco announced that he was now open to have the BNPP “validated” to determine if it should be rehabilitated and operated commercially or remain mothballed.

Cojuangco’s bill previously called for the “rehabilitation, commissioning, and commercial operation” of the facility.

House Bill No. 4631 now seeks for the “immediate implementation of a validation process, which satisfies internationally accepted norms and culminates in either the immediate rehabilitation and commercial operation or the immediate permanent closure and salvage value recovery of the BNPP.”

[Arciga_01]

Para maging sucessful pa to, dapat ang meralco at iba pang powerplants ay mag shut down!

Para nationwide "lights off" talaga

[tonight]

SC asked to probe court over landfill

MANILA, Philippines—An environmental group urged the Supreme Court on Wednesday to review the dismissal of the petition for a temporary restraining order against the new San Mateo landfill in Rizal.

Joey Papa of the Bangon Kalikasan (Rise Nature) Movement said Chief Justice Reynato Puno should avoid a miscarriage of justice by reviewing the dismissal of the TRO issued by a San Mateo RTC.

This after, Papa said, the Supreme Court ordered in 2005 the closure of the old San Mateo landfill.

“Supreme Court Justice Reynato Puno should immediately investigate the hasty ruling denying an appeal for temporary restraining order on the operation of what is known as the new San Mateo ‘sanitary landfill,’ after the old one was ordered permanently closed by the Supreme Court in 2005. This is to avoid a miscarriage of justice and violations of human rights,” Papa said in a statement on Wednesday.

He said Judge Manuel Taro of the San Mateo Regional Trial Court Branch 75 denied last February 18, the plea for a TRO filed two days earlier by the EcoWaste Coalition and Filinvest Land, Inc. on the grounds that the “court finds no compelling urgent reason and no threat of irreparable injury to justify the grant of a temporary restraining order.”

Papa also noted that Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Act, had deemed as illegal the establishment and operation of so-called "sanitary landfills" and called them “glorified garbage dumps or dumps in disguise.”

The San Mateo Regional Trial Court Branch 75 is one of 117 environmental courts that the Supreme Court designated on January 28, 2008.

“The RTC court is viewing the issue with traditional lenses with which the judicial eye interprets legal provisions and applies them to facts (as these) have become inadequate. These lenses must be readjusted in order to be able to take into account such concepts like environmental economics and sustainable development,” Papa said.

Contrary to Taro’s reason for dismissing the application of a TRO, “the new San Mateo dump will add to the increasing number of glorified dumps or dumps in disguise which are eating up hundreds of hectares of productive land and threatening the ecological balance and the health of the people in these areas.”

Papa also bewailed that the list of applications for the establishment of “sanitary landfills” has been getting longer. There are already dumps in Rodriguez, formerly Montalban, a newly opened dump just beside the closed Cuerpo dump, also in Rizal; San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan; Capas, Tarlac; San Fernando, La Union and several others, he said.

Papa also asked Puno to review other environmental courts to check for their readiness “to appreciate the scope and impact of environmental issues.”

[anakngpasig]

panu kaya yung
sa mga malls?

SM MOA will participate
daw. so will they be closing
early?

[manila_eye]

naku kalokohan to!

[venntro]

Landfill locations are really crucial and very complex since you have to think of both the interests of the nearby community and the environment as well. Many argue that landfills are really not environment-friendly.

[venntro]

This is a good example of Corporate Social responsibilty for the environment..

Originally Posted by ZukiChirO";32817460][CENTER][COLOR="SeaGreen

Globe Telecom cancels underwater cable in whaleshark town[/COLOR]
02/25/2009 | 06:23 PM
[/CENTER]
LEGAZPI CITY, Albay - Whalesharks or the butanding in the waters of Donsol town in Sorsogon province will no longer be threatened after the Globe Telecom cancelled the installation of underwater cable as part of its service improvement and expansion.

Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda, chairman of the Regional Development Council in Bicol, cited Globe president Gerry Ablaza for acceding to his request to move the landing of its fiber optic cable away from Donsol.

The cancelation of the 164 underwater cable from Donsol to Calbayog, Northern Samar would preserve the habitat of the friendly whale shark, Salceda said.

It is because of the whale sharks that Donsol has become a popular tourist destination. - Michael B. Jaucian GMANews.TV

[venntro]

This is just voluntary but the malls should likewise participate since they are the major consumers of electricity by 8:30 in the evening.

[venntro]

Group to teach Pinoy nurses in Qatar occupational health safety
02/25/2009 | 07:34 PM

MANILA, Philippines - A group will teach Filipino nurses who work for big Qatari companies the new trends in occupational health safety on March 5.

According to the Peninsula, the Occupational Health Nurses Association of the Philippines-Qatar Chapter (OHNAP-Qatar) will hold a scientific meeting and fellowship program for Filipino nurses at the Opera Cafe Mall in Qatar next week.

OHNAP-Qatar president Randy Apines said their activities are part of “continuing education on the latest technologies to keep workers from their respective companies safe and sound at work places."

This, Apines said, is because there is a need for Filipino nurses to update their knowledge on the trends on occupational health safety since many of them are holding vital jobs in big companies like Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Gas, RasGas, Qatar Steel, Qatar Airways and Qatar Telecommunications.

He said that expert physician Dr Wasis Alam, Consultant Physician on Occupational Health, Department of Health at the Ministry of Health, will give inputs as guest speaker at the program.

OHNAP-Qatar has reportedly been doing such activities in the last six years and has thus been helping upgrade nurses’ expertise.

In addition, Apines said that they have also been extending community services to locals.

He said they have previously been holding medical outreach programs for skilled workers living in the industrial area, conducting free blood pressure and blood sugar medical check-ups.

Aside from that, he said, they also conduct yearly beach cleanups at the Al Wakra and Sealine Beach in Qatar as part of their environmental awareness thrust. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV

[venntro]

P162-M DENR projects in Bicol exist


THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Wednesday denied allegations of some local government officials that the reforestation projects in the Bicol region worth P162 million do not exist.

DENR-Bicol Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada denied The Manila Times story on “ghost reforestation project” in the Bicol Region saying that the three-year project was just started in November 2008.

In the story published last Monday, Mayors Evelyn Yu of Calabanga town and Romy San Luis of Pili town in Camarines Sur claimed that the DENR reforestation projects worth P162 million were non-existent.

Fragada explained that the first budget allotted is P33 million for the project but the money was not completely released in late 2007, and the remaining fund was given to the Regional office in middle of 2008.

Fragada stepped in as regional executive director for Region 5 last March 2008.

“Supposedly, the fund will be a World Bank loan but since the process will take longer, the DENR has allocated a budget, from the annual budget of the department, to start the project,” Fragada further explained referring to the first budget allotted for the project.

Moreover, Fragada said that only P38 million was release to the contractors from the P54 million released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The project has generated jobs to some 2,134 individuals in the Bicol region.

Fragada explained that the P54 million is part of the P129-million additional budget allotted for the reforestation project in the Bicol region and the remaining P75 million is still with the DBM.

“The 38 million was released to people’s organization, NGOs and contractors for their mobilization fund and payment per accomplishment submitted,” Fragada explained in a phone interview adding that the regional office does not pay the contractors without submitting an accomplishment report.

Fragada also said that the DENR Bicol region has planted a total number of seedlings of 2.126 million in an area of 4,054.3 hectares. He added he has videotapes that would validate his claim.
-- Ira Karen Apanay

[tonight]

Boracay corals to be regenerated

In a landmark public-private partnership, two entities have come up with the Philippines’ contribution to the United Nations Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) – the deployment of an artificial reef around Boracay’s waters aimed at regenerating the island’s denuded corals.

Eco-Coral Corp., a subsidiary of the Winace Group of Companies chaired by Teodorico T. Haresco Jr., established a working arrangement with the local government of Malay, Aklan, headed by Mayor Ceciron Cawaling, for the deployment of EcoCoral’s artificial reef. Only 2 percent reportedly remain of Boracay’s natural corals.

The project will help create livelihood and food security, two priorities set forth in the UN Coral Triangle Initiative espoused by the Philippine government. During her visit to the United States in June, 2008, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared, "It is good for our people, for jobs, for growth, and for a healthy, sustainable environment to make initiatives like CTI work. Our people will only suffer more in the long run if we do not invest today for our generations tomorrow.’’

The coral program serves as the Winace Group of Companies’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) program. "While our goal is to support Malay and Boracay tourism and livelihood, we’re also taking a longer view.

We leave this legacy behind for others, including our children, to benefit from," Chairman Haresco said.

Eco-Coral, with the Malay government, will deploy a patented, pH-neutral artificial reef that promotes quick coral growth. It will be assembled in various underwater structures, including a grotto.

"We’re raising Boracay’s attractions to the next level," Haresco said. "It will now be possible to get married in Boracay, underwater!"

Eco-Coral’s sister company, Technostrat, plans to deploy an observation platform and "EcoWalker" undersea walking systems.

[tonight]

BFAR pushes mariculture projects


DAVAO CITY — The Region 11 office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR 11) will continue to intensify and establish mariculture parks in Davao Region as government support to local fisherfolks.

George Campeon, BFAR 11 regional director, said that there is a need to intensify aquaculture production in Davao since the region’s fish catch is not enough to supply the needs of fish in both local and international markets.

Just recently, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and officials of BFAR in Davao Region briefed President Arroyo on the fish-caging facilities and business opportunities of the Samal Mariculture Park at Sitio Leydao in Barangay Adecor, Katipunan District, in the Island Garden City of Samal.

It was learned that the sprawling 224-hectare Samal Mariculture Park was established in 2001 and gets continuous support from BFAR 11 to fully develop the project.

It is named as one of Asia’s best projects, it was gathered.

Rupert Mata, Samal Mariculture Park staff, said that the park has a total of 50 cages measuring 10 meters by 10 meters, in which each cage yields 6,000 kilos of bangus, or milkfish, per harvest.

There are nine investors operating the mariculture park, which include the Formentera Aquaventures, Quiboloy Fish Farm, the Crismar, and Free Willy Aquaventures, Bereso Fish Farm, Inju Piniel, and Estrera Fish Farms, and Jorona Aquatic Resources.

Mata said they are targeting at least eight shipments of 20,000 kilos of bangus this month for the United States (US), Canada, Hawaii and Japan.

He said they were able to ship 340 tons of bangus to both local and international markets last year.

Meanwhile, Mata revealed that one of the challenges in the Samal Mariculture Park is the cost of feeds.

"Commercial feeds are too expensive. A feedmill is needed in Samal that can supply low-cost feeds to the park," he added.

The mariculture park is consuming about 50 bags of feeds per day at the present commercial price of RR700 per bag, Mata said.

Joining Mrs. Arroyo in her visit at the Samal mariculture park were some investors from China and Thailand who expressed interest to invest in aquaculture ventures in the region.

Tagged as one of Asia’s best projects, the Samal Mariculture Park has also benefited local fishermen in 31 coastal villages.

Rey Marquez, 44, who used to fish with only a few catch expressed gratitude over this project.

"Nagpapasalamat kami kay Pangulo sa proyektong ito dahil ngayon, may pang-araw araw na akong kita na susustento sa pamilya ko," he said in the vernacular.

While Jomar Masucat, 22, who used to work in coastal maintenance, said that with the project, he was able to experience how to breed fish through the training the project provides.

"Dahil dito, napaaral ko ang aking bunsong kapatid at tumaas ang aking natatanggap buwan buwan," he said.

[venntro]

We should likewise have the same program in other places like Panglao, Palawan etc.

[venntro]

Bacolod City sets new garbage policy
02/26/2009 | 12:29 AM

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The city government will enforce the "no segregation, no collection" garbage policy starting April 1 pursuant to the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Councilor Greg G. Gasataya, chairman of the environment committee, said the campaign would start in nine urban villages under the jurisdiction of the Our Lady of Fatima Parish, which implements its own solid waste management program.

The city government will enforce the policy due to a final notice from National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) sent last January on the city’s commitment to comply with the closure of a dump site in Barangay Felisa.

NSWMC Executive Director Gerardo Calderon said in a letter to Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia that reports dated Dec. 8, 2008 of the Environmental Management Bureau-Region 6 showed the city is still rehabilitating the dump site. - BusinessWorld

[venntro]

CBCP rejects nuclear power plant revival

Recommends Bataan facility ‘must be dismantled’

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:20:00 02/27/2009

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has thrown its weight behind the opposition to rehabilitating the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP).

In a pastoral statement, the CBCP urged Congress to “completely and irrevocably reject the opening of the nuclear plant as the most dangerous and expensive way to generate electricity.”

The statement was issued by the CBCP president, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo.

“Multiple risks and the possibility of corruption outweigh dreamed benefits. We recommend with other anti-BNPP congressmen and the Greenpeace Forum that the mothballed facility in Morong, Bataan, be dismantled as its revival will be most hazardous to health and life of the people,” read the CBCP statement.

The power plant was built by the Marcos regime in response to the Middle East oil embargo in the 1970s.

The $2.3-billion project, designed to generate 621 megawatts of electricity, was scrapped by the Aquino administration in 1986.

The Diocese of Balanga headed by Bishop Socrates Villegas earlier in the week staged a prayer rally against plans by some congressmen led by Pangasinan Rep. Mark Cojuangco to rehabilitate the nuclear plant to stave off an energy crisis.

The CBCP also strongly opposed the use of a coal-fired power plant as source of energy in Iloilo province and other parts of the country.

“We recommend the implementation of the approved bill on the use of renewable energy, such as solar, wind and water as safe sources of electricity,” the CBCP said.

No rush

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is in no rush to reactivate the nuclear power plant.

Malacañang Thursday said it would first await the study and series of consultations being done by the Department of Energy (DOE) before coming up with a firm position on whether to reopen the country’s only nuclear facility.

“The President will never compromise safety over speed,” Anthony Golez, deputy presidential spokesperson, told reporters in a briefing.

But Golez said that should the DOE study and consultations recommend reactivating the power plant, “then we would find no reason why we would have to delay.”

Asked if reopening the BNPP was a priority of Ms Arroyo, he said: “We know that her priority is that we should be energy-sufficient in the next few years.”

Golez said the government had “a lot of programs” to achieve this goal and that the BNPP was just one of them.

Last year, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes said the government was seriously considering reopening the BNPP, noting that it had spent $2.3 billion to build the facility, which had generated not a kilowatt of electricity.

Rehabilitation cost

Reyes said a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had checked the facility and had pegged rehabilitation cost at $800 million for at least five years.

If it becomes operational, the BNPP will be one of the most dangerous nuclear power plants in the world, Greenpeace said Thursday.

The group said the BNPP, which has a light water reactor made by Westinghouse, did not conform to the current safety standards of the IAEA.

Outdated

Beau Baconguis, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Campaigns Manager for the Philippines, said the design of the BNPP was not only outdated but also faulty.

The BNPP’s compliance to IAEA nuclear plant construction and site selection protocols were already in doubt even before the BNPP was finished, Baconguis said.

Tessa de Ryck, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Nuclear campaigner, also said the BNPP was never evaluated according to standards of the IAEA which were raised after the 1986 Chernobyl meltdown.

The standard for nuclear reactors is “Generation 3,” which has double containment for its reactor and passive safety systems, according to De Ryck. The BNPP has a “Generation 2” reactor.

“We cannot be sure whether the BNPP can be upgraded to meet current reactor standards,” De Ryck said.

She said Westinghouse reactors were “breaking down with alarming regularity” because of design defects, including cracks in the main steam turbines, deterioration of the steam generator tube, and the reactor pressure valve turning brittle.

De Ryck also cited problems of other nuclear plants designed by Westinghouse and similar to the BNPP in Brazil and South Korea, which were plagued by outages and leakages of radioactive water.