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Division Spotlight
Operations & Power
Members focus on the dissemination of knowledge and information in the area of power reactors with particular application to the production of electric power and process heat. The division sponsors meetings on the coverage of applied nuclear science and engineering as related to power plants, non-power reactors, and other nuclear facilities. It encourages and assists with the dissemination of knowledge pertinent to the safe and efficient operation of nuclear facilities through professional staff development, information exchange, and supporting the generation of viable solutions to current issues.
Meeting Spotlight
Conference on Nuclear Training and Education: A Biennial International Forum (CONTE 2025)
February 3–6, 2025
Amelia Island, FL|Omni Amelia Island Resort
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Jan 2025
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Nuclear Science and Engineering
February 2025
Nuclear Technology
Fusion Science and Technology
Latest News
State lawmakers across the country push for more nuclear
From lifting moratoriums to launching studies to labeling it as clean, state lawmakers are exploring ways to give nuclear energy a boost in 2025. Here’s a look at some of the pronuclear legislation under review.
Kai Hämäläinen, Päivi Mäenalanen, Jouko Mononen, Jussi Heinonen (STUK)
Proceedings | 16th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference (IHLRWM 2017) | Charlotte, NC, April 9-13, 2017 | Pages 963-967
Finland is the first country in the world to license a spent nuclear fuel encapsulation plant and disposal facility. Posiva Ltd. (Posiva) submitted the construction license application (CLA) in the end of 2012 and Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland (STUK) made its’ review of the CLA within next two year and gave the statement and safety evaluation report to Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (MEAE) in February 2015. The construction license for Posiva was granted by the Government in November 2015.
STUK started planning the regulatory oversight of construction activities after finishing the CLA review. Regulatory oversight of encapsulation plant construction will follow mainly standard principles for nuclear facilities taking into account the graded approach. Oversight of construction of the underground disposal facility will require novel approach since excavating safety classified rooms in bedrock keeping in mind the long term safety aspects differs from traditional nuclear facility construction.
Posiva has constructed underground rock characterization facility, Onkalo, at the facility site during 2004-2016. STUK has regulated the construction of Onkalo as it would have been a nuclear facility because it was planned from the very beginning to expand the Onkalo in the future for the disposal facility. The gained experience will be used for the future regulatory oversight concept but it will require more development for the central tunnels, disposal tunnels and disposal holes which are the safety classified parts of the disposal facility.
Article will give an overview on the regulatory oversight of spent nuclear fuel encapsulation plant and underground disposal facility during the construction period and licensing of these nuclear facilities. Oversight during construction covers oversight of detailed design of systems, structures and component, feasibility demonstrations, construction activities for both facilities, monitoring the effects of construction of the underground disposal facility and commissioning of both facilities
