Publications: Nuclear Energy & Radwaste Monitor

The members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Monday unanimously approved a license for the Department of Energy to export nearly 5 kilograms of weapon-grade uranium to Europe for production of medical isotopes. The four commissioners offered no comments on the matter before or after a roll-call vote on the memorandum and order. The document […]

Both chambers of Congress will remain on recess later than scheduled, returning no earlier than May 4, lawmakers said this week. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced the upper chamber would add two weeks to its current recess in a Tuesday note to fellow senators, then in a press release. His announcement followed a […]

By John Stang Limited liability companies and the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on long-term scheduling dominated discussion in a Nuclear Regulatory Commission webinar Tuesday on nearly completed recommendations for financial assurances for decommissioning of commercial nuclear power plants. The session was intended to receive input from the public on April 6 draft final recommendations from a […]

A natural gas pipeline does not pose a significant danger to the nearby Indian Point Energy Center in upstate New York, according to a team of experts formed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The group’s report was filed with the industry regulator on April 8 and made public Wednesday. “The team determined that, even though […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has acceded to a request from three senior members of Congress to delay collection of fees from licensees for 90 days amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision appears to supersede a more limited approach for economic relief previously planned by the industry regulator. All invoices for annual fees scheduled to be […]

Companies in the radioactive waste processing and disposal industry acknowledged this week they are feeling the pinch from the COVID-19 pandemic, but emphasized that they remain fully open for business. At least one industry mainstay confirmed that it has sought federal assistance via the $2.2 trillion CARES Act signed into law on March 27 to […]

Pennsylvania’s top environmental official this week expressed deep reservations about plans for the expedited decommissioning of reactor Unit 2 at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. The reactor famously operated for only a few months before partially melting down in March 1979. It never resumed power production. “The TMI Unit 2 nuclear accident resulted […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering six staff recommendations for improving oversight of storage pads for spent nuclear fuel. The recommendations include increased training for inspectors and updating relevant documents. They were generated by a lessons learned evaluation from the agency’s Region IV office regarding the NRC response to an August 2018 mishap involving spent […]

The members of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Wednesday unanimously approved the next steps in revising state regulations to reduce one charge for disposal of low-level radioactive waste in a state-owned facility operated by Waste Control Specialists. The vote by the three-member panel sets up publication and a hearing on the amendment to […]

By John Stang The Nuclear Regulatory Commission as of Friday had approved three exemptions for nuclear plants to exceed federal limits on work hours to ensure they remain operational during the COVID-19 pandemic. All three facilities are owned by Chicago-based power company Exelon: the Limerick Generating Station in Montgomery County, Pa., on April 3; the […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Tuesday provided a large swath of its licensees with an overview of options for relief from federal nuclear rules as they strive to sustain operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency addressed a letter to more than 2,400 licensees authorized to hold byproduct, source, and special nuclear materials, excluding operating […]

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has canceled an upcoming public meeting on decommissioning of the SM-1A reactor at Fort Greely, Alaska, and is eyeing other possible impacts to the project from the COVID-19 pandemic. “The team made this decision based on the interest of public health and in accordance with recent Department of Defense, […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is giving the public additional time to comment on a proposed regulatory update that would ease the path for disposal of very low-level radioactive waste (VLLW) in commercial landfills. The deadline has been pushed back from April 20 to July 20, agency spokesman David McIntyre said by email this week. Very […]

International Isotopes said Tuesday it would no longer provide radiological field services for the Department of Energy, after the federal agency put a hold on all existing contracts in the wake of a cesium-137 spill last May during a job in Seattle. “Regardless of the DOE’s future plans for field service contracts, it is unlikely […]

By John Stang Holtec International has sued the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) in an effort to force the state agency to resume providing $260 million in tax credits promised in 2014. The Camden, N.J., energy technology company on Tuesday announced the lawsuit, filed March 20 in the Superior Court of New Jersey. “In […]

Radioactive waste management provider US Ecology said Tuesday it would cut tens of millions of dollars in costs this year to offset the economic uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Boise, Idaho-based company said in a press release that unspecified “cost control initiatives” should save $15 million to $20 million annually. A 30% cut […]

By John Stang The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is allowing nuclear power plants to request exemptions for certain limits on work hours for personnel to help ensure continuity of operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. “A sudden and potentially long-term reduction in available facility staffing, such as that which may result due to the COVID-19 (public health […]

Assistant Energy Secretary for Nuclear Energy Rita Baranwal suggested last week that a foreign entity could be used for recycling of U.S. spent nuclear fuel. “If we don’t build a recycling plant in the United States, that’s OK, there are other entities that certainly could do this for us,” Baranwal said during a March 27 […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission was urged Monday to give the public more time to comment on two controversial proceedings after the COVID-19 crisis has passed. Currently, stakeholders have a matter of weeks to provide input on a key environmental document in federal licensing of a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in New Mexico, as […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has signed off on the transfer of the license for the retired Crystal River nuclear power plant in Florida, a key step toward its planned decommissioning within seven years. The reactor license now passes from property owner Duke Energy to decommissioning contractor ADP CR3 – a subsidiary of Accelerated Decommissioning Partners […]

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is scheduled next week to consider updating its regulations to reduce a specific fee for disposal of radioactive waste at a state-owned facility operated by Waste Control Specialists. With approval from the commission, the curie inventory charge would be cut from $0.40 per millicurie (1/1000th of a curie) […]

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 […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]