U.S.
Advanced nuclear reactor work, light-water reactors, and the accident-tolerant fuel program are expected to be among the topics officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission discuss with Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy officials on June 20. Representatives from the two offices are set to meet at NRC headquarters.
Bill Wicker, senior adviser for communications with the Office of Nuclear Energy, said via email that the advanced reactor work will include discussion of small-modular reactors, DOE’s Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear program, and DOE test/demo reactor study. Officials are also expected to discuss grants and fellowships.
The Office of Nuclear Energy is leading the Obama administration’s replacement for the canceled nuclear waste repository at Nevada’s Yucca Mountain: the consent-based siting initiative. The program is not on the meeting agenda but could come up in discussion, Wicker said.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of the Inspector General has recommended the agency take four actions to improve internal controls related to decommissioning fund reviews at nuclear power plants.
Following an NRC audit that concluded in April, the OIG released its recommendations last week, suggesting the following: that NRC develop guidance for considering power reactor exemptions to plant operators; re-evaluate estimation mechanisms for determining minimum decommissioning funding; strengthen user controls and guidance on conducting decommissioning financial assurance reviews; and improve consistency in documenting decommissioning financial assurance reviews.
The report was delivered to NRC Executive Director for Operations Victor McCree on June 8.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has named longtime federal employee Kimberly Howell as director of the Office of Investigations, a position responsible for developing policy, procedures, and quality control standards, along with investigating nuclear licensees and applicants.
Howell, who has held positions with the Office of Personnel Management, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Postal Service, and the Secret Service, takes over from Cheryl McCrary, who retired. She had been Office of Personnel Management deputy assistant inspector general for investigations since 2011.
“Kimberly Howell brings more than 20 years of federal law enforcement experience to NRC’s investigations program and law enforcement liaison activities,” NRC Executive Director for Operations Victor McCree said in a statement Monday. “We are pleased she is joining us.”
A federal employee since 1993, Howell earned a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from Howard University and a graduate certificate in inspector general leadership from American University.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued five findings of no significant impact (FONSI) to Duke Energy for five separate independent spent fuel storage installations (ISFSI), meaning the utility’s applications will not require environmental impact statements.
The FONSIs were issued for ISFSIs planned at the McGuire Nuclear Station and Brunswick Steam Electric Plant in North Carolina; and the Catawba Nuclear Station, Oconee Nuclear Station, and H.B. Robinson Stream Electric Plant in South Carolina. Duke Energy submitted decommissioning funding plans for each plant in 2012.
INTERNATIONAL
Posiva Oy, the Finnish company building the world’s first deep geological nuclear waste repository, announced Tuesday the formation of Posiva Solutions Oy, a subsidiary that will offer marketing and consulting services for the final disposal for spent nuclear fuel.
“Posiva Solutions can offer complete solution models and overall services, based on local conditions, for companies planning to engage in nuclear waste management operations,” Posiva Solutions Oy Managing Director Mika Pohjonen said in a statement. “Solutions for the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel are being investigated and designed in several countries, which means now is a good moment to start this service business.”
Posiva Oy was granted its construction license for the Onkalo spent nuclear fuel repository in 2015, and the repository is scheduled to begin operations in the 2020s. According to Tueday’s announcement, Posiva Oy Solutions will “focus on the marketing of the knowhow accumulated from design, research and development efforts in the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel, as well as on associated consulting services.”
“Clients can take advantage of our expertise and long-standing experience to execute their final disposal projects safely, faster and more cost efficiently,” Pohjonen said.
