The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is accepting nominations for experts to a new panel that will write reports on the nuclear fuel cycle and waste issues linked to advanced nuclear reactors.
Nominations are due by June 11, according to the National Academies.
The experts will “evaluate and assess (1) the merits and viability of different nuclear fuel cycles and technology options, and (2) the waste aspects of advanced nuclear reactors (that could be commercially deployed within the next 30 years),” the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit science organization said in its notice. “A consensus report will be produced to respond to each topic.”
Current and anticipated fuel cycle and technology options are expected to be considered in the first report, which will focus on the fuel cycle program at the Energy Department’s Office of Nuclear Energy, the notice says.
The second report will address volumes and characteristics of the waste streams from multiple planned advanced nuclear reactor systems, along with storage and disposal of those wastes and the potential effect of spent-fuel recycling on waste production. The experts will study
“the economics of the possible waste disposal systems that could be required for advanced reactors,” according to the notice.
The committee is planned to have 16 volunteer members, in specialties including nuclear engineering and design, reactor physics and neutronics, fuel cycle options and technologies, waste transportation, and nuclear waste storage and disposal issues.
The National Academies said it wants two members from outside the United States. “Their international perspectives are relevant for the event in which the United States provides fuel to other countries and maintains ownership of the special nuclear material in the fresh and irradiated fuels.”
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission in April spent just $84 of its remaining balance from the federal fund intended to pay for a radioactive waste repository.
As has been the case each month for more than a year, the agency used the money for unspecified “program planning and support.” The expenditure left it with a Nuclear Waste Fund carryover of $430,084, according to the latest spending report to Congress.
The NRC is the federal adjudicator for the Department of Energy’s 2008 application for a license to build and operate a repository at Yucca Mountain, Nev., for spent fuel from nuclear power plants and high-level radioactive waste from defense nuclear operations. The Obama administration cut off funding for the proceeding two years later, but a federal appeals court in August 2013 directed the NRC to resume work on the license.
At the time, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission had a fund balance of over $13.5 million for Yucca Mountain licensing activities. It has since spent more than $13.1 million of that, including nearly $8.4 million to complete a safety evaluation report for licensing and over $1.5 million on a supplement to the environmental impact statement for the project.
The NRC has committed $8,097 for contracts with the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses, dropping its unexpended, unobligated balance to $421,987.
It remains unknown when or if the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would receive more money from the fund. For three consecutive budgets, the Trump administration asked Congress to appropriate funds to resume licensing Yucca Mountain at the regulator and Energy Department. Lawmakers balked each time, and the White House for the upcoming fiscal 2021 ditched Yucca Mountain in favor of seeking $27.5 million for the Energy Department to work on interim storage of nuclear waste.
The House and Senate Appropriations committees have yet to release their own budget plans for any federal agencies. Fiscal 2021 begins on Oct. 1.
Nuclear fuel management specialist NAC International said Tuesday it has hired a longtime Duke Energy manager and executive as its director of fuel cycle consulting.
David Culp will head the Peachtree Corners, Ga., company’s “consulting activities related to the nuclear fuel cycle,” according to a press release. He will report to Michael McMahon, NAC’s vice president of consulting and strategic projects.
“Adding Dave Culp to our team is a part of NAC International’s ongoing strategy to expand and enhance our Consulting capabilities to meet customer needs,” a company spokesman said by email Wednesday. “It is also part of our succession planning for [current consulting director] Dan Collier, who will transition into retirement over the next several months. Dan has been an integral part of NAC for the last 50 years and his expertise, experience and professionalism have been essential to our accomplishments and success.”
Culp started on the job in May, after 17 months as a self-employed nuclear fuel consultant, according to his LinkedIn profile,
Prior to that, he spent 33 years at Duke Energy, starting as an engineer in 1986 and closing out as general manager, nuclear fuels and analysis, in December 2018. In that role he oversaw the full scope of nuclear fuel management of Duke’s 11 nuclear power units, NAC said in its press release.
“With Dave Culp’s extensive nuclear utility leadership experience developing and licensing independent fuel reload analysis methods, demonstrating advanced fuel designs in lead test assembly programs, and implementing fuel assembly design transitions, we are very pleased to have him join our team,” NAC President and CEO Kent Cole said in prepared comments. “His background and professional capabilities will help strengthen and expand NAC International’s growth in the coming years.”
NAC International was formed in 1968 and was bought in 2013 by Hitachi Zosen Corp., a manufacturing and engineering company based in Osaka, Japan. Its business includes manufacturing of storage and transportation systems for spent fuel from nuclear power plants. It is participating in a project for temporary storage of used fuel in West Texas, led by a joint venture of Orano and Waste Control Specialists.
In March, NAC announced the hiring of former Veolia Nuclear Solutions chief executive William Gallo as chief strategy officer.
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