GAO: Agency’s billing process could be improved

March 6, 2020, 12:02PMNuclear News

A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office concludes that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s fee-setting, billing, and budgeting processes have improved in recent years, but that industry stakeholders continue to identify challenges with these processes and that further enhancements should be implemented.

DOE to award $30 million for new fusion research

March 5, 2020, 12:06PMNuclear News

The Department of Energy announced on March 4 that it will provide $30 million for new research on fusion energy. The funding will provide $17 million for research focused specifically on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) approaches for the prediction of key plasma phenomena, management of facility operations, and accelerated discovery through data science, among other topics. An additional $13 million under a separate funding opportunity will be devoted to fundamental fusion theory research, including computer modeling and simulation, focused on factors affecting the behavior of hot plasmas confined by magnetic fields in fusion reactors.

Senate approves Danly for commission spot

March 5, 2020, 11:58AMNuclear News

The Senate on March 12 confirmed Republican James Danly to a seat on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission by a vote of 52 to 40. All GOP senators voted to confirm, as well as three Democrats often described as “centrist”: West Virginia’s Joe Manchin, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee’s ranking member; Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema; and Alabama’s Doug Jones.

Lace up for nuclear!

March 4, 2020, 3:05PMANS News

To raise awareness about safe, clean, and reliable nuclear energy and enrich the experiences of students in nuclear science and technology, ANS student sections around the country will soon be hosting a first-ever 5K fundraiser.

“Nuclear Power: Let’s Keep It Running” is launching on Earth Day (April 22) and will consist of an online donation platform where student sections can form teams, organize runs, and connect to donors within their communities and throughout the country. Proceeds will support ANS student section activities and the ANS Student Program.

New Senate bill promotes advanced nuclear reactors

March 4, 2020, 11:22AMNuclear News

On February 27, Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska) and Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.) introduced the American Energy Innovation Act (AEIA), a 555-­page piece of policy legislation that incorporates over 50 energy-­related bills considered and individually reported by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last year—measures sponsored or cosponsored by more than 60 senators from both sides of the aisle.

Standards Community of Practice for RIPB methods

March 3, 2020, 2:33PMANS News

The Risk-informed, Performance-based Principles and Policy Committee (RP3C), a special committee of the ANS Standards Board, has launched a Community of Practice (CoP) to support risk-informed, performance-based (RIBP) methods in ANS standards. The CoP consists of interested professionals who can contribute to standards development priorities identified in the Standards Committee Strategic Plan and in ANS Position Statement #46, “Risk-Informed and Performance-Based Regulations for Nuclear Power Plants.”

FES debuts new name following bankruptcy

March 3, 2020, 11:51AMNuclear News

FirstEnergy Solutions (FES) announced on February 27 that it has emerged from bankruptcy and officially taken the new name Energy Harbor Corporation. Originally the unregulated power generation arm of Akron, Ohio–based FirstEnergy Corporation, Energy Harbor remains headquartered in Akron but is no longer affiliated with FirstEnergy Corporation. The name chosen to represent the newly independent business was announced last November (NN, Jan. 2020, p. 16).

Siting factors for geological disposal facility set out

March 2, 2020, 9:52AMRadwaste Solutions

Following a comprehensive and open national consultation, the United Kingdom’s Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) organization on February 18 published its approach to evaluating possible sites in England and Wales for a deep geological disposal facility. A wholly owned subsidiary of the U.K. government’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, RWM will be responsible for the siting, construction, operation, and eventual closure of a disposal facility for the United Kingdom’s high-­ and intermediate-­level radioactive waste.

Recent changes to ABET accreditation criteria

March 2, 2020, 8:32AMNuclear NewsWalid A. Metwally

ABET, originally an acronym for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that accredits college and university programs in the disciplines of applied and natural science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. ABET accredits degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, and master’s levels. Over the years, the organization has expanded its domestic and global accreditation presence, and it currently accredits over 4,000 programs in 32 countries.


Washington, DC: Hearings of interest this week

March 2, 2020, 8:28AMNuclear Policy Wire

Nuclear to see more time in the limelight. Here are seven hearings this week to keep on your radar:

  • Tuesday, March 3, 9:30 am EST: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing to examine the President's FY 2021 budget request for the Department of Energy. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette will provide testimony. To watch the hearing click here.

IAEA project on research reactor spent fuel management options

March 1, 2020, 10:35PMRadwaste SolutionsFrances M. Marshall

International Atomic Energy Agency member states operating or having previously operated a research reactor are responsible for the safe and sustainable management of associated radioactive waste, including research reactor spent nuclear fuel (RRSNF). Management includes storage and ultimate disposal of RRSNF, or the corresponding equivalent waste generated and returned following reprocessing of the spent fuel. Currently, there are 259 research reactors operating, planned, or under construction around the world [1]. An additional 147 research reactors are in extended or permanent shutdown, or under decommissioning.

One key challenge to developing general recommendations for RRSNF management options lies in the diversity of spent fuel types, locations, and national or regional circumstances, rather than mass or volume alone, particularly since typical RRSNF inventories are relatively small. Currently, many countries lack an effective long-term strategy for managing RRSNF. Many research reactor organizations know they have responsibility for the spent fuel, however, they do not know how to decide among multiple options for its management. A methodical review and compilation of technology options for RRSNF management is needed.

Brouillette takes budget to the Hill, and other nuclear policy news

February 28, 2020, 8:24AMNuclear Policy Wire

Yesterday afternoon Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette testified on the proposed FY2021 DOE budget before the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development (EWD). You can view the hearing here. Secretary Brouillette's next stop with the budget request will be before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee on March 3.

SuperGel to the Rescue

February 28, 2020, 7:55AMRadwaste SolutionsArgonne National Laboratory

The gel is applied to an area (left), where it is allowed to work for two to three hours before being removed. The final activity of the cleaned area (right) was counted using HPGe and Ludlum alpha/beta radiation detectors. Photos courtesy of ANL.

Current techniques for radiological decontamination often involve debasing or demolishing structures to contain contaminated dust and haul debris away. This is a costly method of decontaminating buildings and structures. If, however, effective nondestructive methods can be found, significant savings are possible. One such method, based on new research from engineers at the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Ill., is now available.

ANS publishes revised standard on PWR reload startup physics tests

February 25, 2020, 2:43PMANS News

The ANS Standards Committee has just published ANSI/ANS-19.6.1-2019, “Reload Startup Physics Tests for Pressurized Water Reactors” (revision of ANS-19.6.1-2011). The standard, approved December 19, 2019, provides guidance for verifying the nuclear characteristics of a commercial pressurized water reactor core following a refueling or other alteration of the reactor core for which nuclear design calculations are required. The standard provides the minimum acceptable startup physics test program, while recognizing that additional tests may be required by special design features of a particular core.