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.

A businessman has been sentenced to three years in prison for his part in a scheme to illegally export restricted nuclear-related materials and equipment from the USA to Pakistan.

Robert Willard has been selected as the next president and CEO of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). A former fighter pilot and commander of two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, Willard is currently the Commander of US Pacific Command, Camp HM Smith, Hawaii. He will join INPO in early April 2012 and will assume his new duties upon the retirement of the current President and CEO, Jim Ellis, the following month. "We conducted an extensive search to find an individual who can continue the excellent tradition of industry leadership that Jim Ellis has provided during his seven-year career at INPO," said Mayo Shattuck, chairman of the INPO board. He added, "Admiral Willard's experience, nuclear background, and impressive career accomplishments make him well-suited to lead the Institute." INPO was set up after the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 to share operating experience and safety knowledge among US nuclear companies. It was supplemented by an international version - the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) - after the 1986 Chernobyl accident.