RW Monitor
11/21/2014
IN THE NRC
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Staff has recommended the Commission approve the exemptions requests for reduced emergency preparedness and security at Duke Energy’s Crystal River Nuclear Plant, according to a Staff paper released this week. Citing the decreased risk of a shutdown reactor in comparison to an operating one, the Staff found that public safety would not be reduced should the Commission approve the changes. The Commission earlier this year already approved a similar exemption request at the Kewaunee Power Station in Wisconsin. “The exemption request is consistent with previously granted exemptions and SECY-14-0066 for the Kewaunee Power Station, and is commensurate with the risk associated with the facility,” the Staff said in its paper. “The changes in regulatory requirements are appropriate because the traditional accident sequences that dominate operating reactor risk are no longer applicable. Continued application of the regulation to the licensee, to maintain its current level of EP, is not necessary to achieve the underlying purpose of the regulation.”
IN THE INDUSTRY
AVANTech Inc. has acquired Diversified Technologies Services, Inc., the company announced this week. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. DTS and its field services, system leasing and products will become a division within AVANTech. DTS will still remain in its Knoxville, Tenn., offices while AVANTech’s corporate headquarters will remain in Columbia, S.C., although the company plans to move to a larger facility. According to AVANTech, all current employees from both organizations will remain, and Jim Braun will continue to serve as the AVANTech’s President with DTS’ Chuck Jensen serving as Executive Vice-President. “This transaction between industry leaders doubles AVANTech’s capacity and provides us with key operations personnel and products needed to provide full services to the utility radioactive waste market. This rounds out our complete offering,” Braun said in a statement.
