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A new research program headed by the US Department of Energy will begin to investigate the case for reactor lifespans of greater than 60 years.

A severe accident at a US nuclear power plant would not be likely to cause any immediate deaths, while the risks of fatal cancers caused by such an accident would be millions of times lower than the general risks of dying of cancer, a long-running research study has found.

After nearly two years of work, the Blue Ribbon Commission has issued its final recommendations for "creating a safe, long-term solution" for dealing with the USA's used nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. Efforts to develop a waste repository and a central storage facility should start immediately, it says.

A letter from senior US officials signals that the country will continue to seek nuclear trade agreements with conditions on enrichment and reprocessing implemented on a "case-by-case" basis.

While US nuclear generating capacity is expected to grow by 11% by 2035, its share of the country's total electricity output will drop slightly, according to a forecast by the US Energy Information Administration. Coal use will fall significantly during this period, with gas seeing the highest growth.

The US Department of Energy is to help push forward the manufacture of small modular nuclear reactors through new cost-sharing arrangements with private industry to support design and licensing activities.

A district court has ruled that Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant may continue to operate beyond the end of its original 40 year licence in March, granting Entergy a long awaited victory over the state of Vermont. The state is considering whether to appeal.

The Governor of Virginia has called on the state's General Assembly not to take any action this year on lifting the state's 30-year moratorium on uranium mining, allowing further studies to be conducted before a decision is made.

Progress Energy is studying proposals from contractors for the repair of the damaged containment structure of its idled Crystal River nuclear power plant. The company has also extended its merger agreement with Duke Energy.

Entergy has been fined $140,000 after control room workers at River Bend nuclear power plant were caught surfing the Internet.

US senators, congressmen, mining companies and nuclear industry representatives have criticised a final decision to ban new uranium mining on land near the Grand Canyon for the next 20 years.