Vol. 13, No. 13 
SONGS Decommissioning to Temporarily Ramp Down in Face of COVID-19
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Reactor Licensing & Regulation
Energy Dept. Lauds Strength of Nuclear Power Fleet, as Industry Seeks Federal Assistance
The Department of Energy on Thursday expressed confidence in the strength of the nation’s nuclear power fleet, even as a leading industry group has asked the Trump administration to provide economic relief in the face of potential damage from the spreading COVID-19 pandemic. “Rest assured that our fleet of operating reactors and the nuclear energy […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
No Signs of Coronavirus at Nuclear Cleanup Industry Conference, Organizer Says
The Waste Management Symposia on Tuesday said both attendees at this year’s event who showed signs of possible COVID-19 infection had tested negative. Test results for “Attendee #1” were received Tuesday, one day after the results for “Attendee #2,” according to a statement from James Gallagher, chairman of the board for the annual nuclear cleanup […]
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Interim Storage & Waste Disposal
NRC Weighs More Time for Comments on New Mexico Spent Fuel Storage Document
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Thursday it is considering a request from New Mexico’s congressional delegation for more time to submit comments on a key document in licensing a planned spent nuclear fuel storage facility in the state. The NRC, like agencies at all levels of government, is wrestling with managing its regular operations while […]
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Decommissioning
Sewage Spill Being Investigated at San Onofre Plant
By John Stang Management at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) in California is investigating the spill before dawn Wednesday of 7,000 gallons of nonradioactive sewage into the Pacific Ocean. Officials with plant majority owner Southern California Edison (SCE) discussed the spill Thursday evening with the SONGS Community Engagement Panel during a Skyped meeting. […]
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International
First Nations’ Approval Key to Advancing Canadian Used-Fuel Repository
The organization planning Canada’s deep geologic repository for spent fuel from nuclear power plants hopes engagement with First Nations peoples can help it avoid a major complication that recently befell a similar project for radioactive waste disposal. In February, Ontario Power Generation terminated plans to build a repository for low- and intermediate-level waste on the […]
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Reactor Licensing & Regulation
Wrap Up: NRC Schedules ‘Virtual Meetings’ on URENCO, Westinghouse Performance
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has scheduled a March 30 “virtual meeting” to discuss the results of its latest performance assessment for URENCO USA’s uranium enrichment plant in Eunice, N.M. The assessment period covered the entirety of 2018 and 2019. Agency staff determined URENCO did not need to make improvements in five operational spheres: safety operations, […]