Publications: Nuclear Energy & Radwaste Monitor

Federal agencies will gradually return to normal operations in parallel with the White House’s three-phase plan to reactivate the national economy as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes, the Trump administration said Monday. The new guidance does not provide a set schedule for the process, but rather says managers must make decisions on reducing telework and staffing […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Thursday rejected nearly all appeals to a 2019 decision by one of its bodies against holding any adjudicatory hearings sought on a license application for storage of spent nuclear fuel in southeastern New Mexico. However, the commission did direct the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) to reconsider one set […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has renewed the license of Honeywell’s Metropolis Works uranium source conversion plant in Illinois for 40 years. The license now expires on March 24, 2060, according to an April 15 notice in the Federal Register. Metropolis Works has been largely idled since November 2017, due to an oversupply in the product […]

US Ecology said Monday the value of its stock has been nearly halved by the “unprecedented time of uncertainty” generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company’s filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission provided further illustration of the stress being placed on the radioactive waste management industry, within the larger chaos the crisis has created […]

By John Stang The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Tuesday it intends by the end of 2020 to finish its evaluation of the application to transfer the licenses for the Indian Point Energy Center in New York state from owner Entergy to prospective buyer Holtec International. “Our review could be completed later this year,” according to […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has yet to implement a set of “priority” recommendations from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on securing radiological sources that could be weaponized. Congress’ auditor issued its findings on April 17, part of a series of new reports on priority open recommendations at various federal agencies. “Our April 2019 report, in […]

A coalition of four jurisdictions supporting development of a storage facility in New Mexico for spent nuclear fuel has supported giving the public more time to comment on a key document from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Stakeholders currently have until May 22 to comment on the NRC draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Holtec International’s […]

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has received two protests to a potential $1 billion support services contract announced earlier this month by the Energy Department’s Office of Legacy Management to environmental services firm RSI EnTech. The Oak Ridge, Tenn.-based company’s five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract was announced April 1, following its award in […]

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 […]