The Change of Command ceremony for the commander of the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) will be held Friday, Dec. 5, where Vice. Adm. Richard Correll will replace Gen. Anthony Cotton.
Correll was confirmed Thursday, Nov. 21 in the Senate by voice vote.
The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Central time at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and can be viewed virtually by emailing STRATCOM public affairs here.
The Department of Energy Nov. 24 expanded its list of “generally authorized destinations” in the code of federal regulations to include the Philippines and Singapore, making the total list of destinations an even 50.
The Philippines and Singapore are now authorized by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright as eligible places to export certain nuclear technology and assistance.
Part 810 of DOE’s federal regulations, which has this list of destinations, implements a part of the Atomic Energy Act to allow exports of material that are not harmful. According to the National Nuclear Security Administration’s press release on the addition of the two countries, the expanded list coupled with new 123 civil nuclear agreements are an effort to implement President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14299, “Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security.”
The National Nuclear Security Administration announced Wednesday it removed all cesium-137 irradiators in the state of Oklahoma with aims to reduce radiological risk.
Cesium-137 is used for medical applications including blood treatment and cancer research. However, the radioactive material inside is at risk for potential adversarial uses if stolen, including a “dirty bomb” or a mix of radioactive material and conventional explosives, the release said. Due to this risk, NNSA is working to replace the irradiators with alternatives.
Oklahoma is the 12th U.S. state now free of cesium irradiators, with Kansas joining the list in September.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently launched a pilot school focused on regulating the emerging technology for small modular reactors (SMRs).
In a Nov. 28 publication, IAEA said experts from 17 countries came together in Warsaw, Poland for the pilot session hosted by Poland’s National Atomic Energy Agency. During the event, attendees discussed SMR regulatory and safety issues. With SMRs being planned around the world, a strong regulatory framework is pivotal, IAEA said. In July, Paris-based agency Nuclear Energy Agency said there are more than 120 SMR projects announced and at least 74 under development.
Though SMRs have a smaller electrical output than large reactors, the units are designed to be more flexible and scalable than their larger counterparts. So far only two SMRs are known to be in commercial operation: one in China and one in Russia. IAEA said it is critical to get regulations in place to address the technology’s unique characteristics. IAEA said the Pilot School for Regulating SMRs highlights global regulatory cooperation on this front.
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced its return to “normal operations” to contractors on a federal procurement website following the end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
“Contractors are advised that DOE/NNSA contracting activities have resumed,” the notice said Nov. 13. “DOE/NNSA appreciates the patience and cooperation of our contractor community and values your continued partnership in advancing the Department’s mission.”
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), whose district abuts the Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, told the Exchange Monitor last month contractors have had “sufficient reserves to weather” the shutdown, but still had to curtail hours for some contract workers. He also said the funds halted during the shutdown would be slow to start, potentially six months to a year slow.