Carnival of Nuclear Bloggers at APR

atomic power review

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Carnival of Nuclear Bloggers at APR Posted: 05 Aug 2011 06:00 PM PDT 64th CARNIVAL OF NUCLEAR BLOGGERS Atomic Power Review is proud to again host the rotating Carnival of Nuclear Bloggers. This feature appears weekly on a varied roster of distinguished pro-nuclear blogs and showcases absolutely the best work that the pro-nuclear blogosphere has to offer. In keeping with the popular theme APR used the first time it hosted the Carnival, I offer the following photograph with the question: "What is this?"

 

TVA: Storms cause power outages at Browns Ferry nuclear plant in Alabama

Main Regain public trust with unified N-safety body

Regain public trust with unified N-safety body

Small Modular Nuclear Reactors – A Big Part of America’s Energy Future?

Small Modular Nuclear Reactors – A Big Part of America’s Energy Future?

Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant to be Start in Dec

 

Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant to be Start in Dec

Federal security concerns since 9/11 have turned U.S. nuclear power plants into armed fortresses

Atomic Bomb Survivors Join Nuclear Opposition

Human influence on the 21st century climate: One possible future for the atmosphere

Human influence on the 21st century climate: One possible future for the atmosphere

from ScienceDaily: Top Environment News

New computer modeling work in the journal Climatic Change shows that by 2100, if society wants to limit carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to less than 40 percent higher than it is today, the lowest cost option is to use every available means of reducing emissions. This includes more nuclear and renewable energy, choosing electricity over fossil fuels, reducing emissions through technologies that capture and store carbon dioxide, and even using forests to store carbon.

Related articles

• Human influence on the 21st century climate: 1 possible future for the atmosphere (physorg.com)
• Human influence on the 21st century climate: 1 possible future for the atmosphere (eurekalert.org)
• NOAA study: Slowing climate change by targeting gases other than carbon dioxide (yubanet.com)
• Limiting Greenhouse Gases Beyond CO2 May Help Stop Climate Change (huffingtonpost.com)
• NOAA study: Slowing climate change by targeting gases other than carbon dioxide (eurekalert.org)
• How oceans impact climate change (news.bioscholar.com)
• Beyond Carbon Dioxide: Study Points Out Other Greenhouse Culprits (livescience.com)
• Carbon emissions not the only thing contributing to global warming: researchers (news.nationalpost.com)
• Climatic Benefits from Carbon Sequestration Are Largely Offset by Increased Nitrous Oxide Emissions, Study Finds (edmortimer.wordpress.com)
• Climate Change Reducing Ocean's Ability to Absorb Carbon Dioxide (treehugger.com)

What the Commissioner Said from NEI Nuclear Notes by Mark Flanagan

What the Commissioner Said

from NEI Nuclear Notes by Mark Flanagan

Updated EIA Subsidy Report for 2010

Updated EIA Subsidy Report for 2010

from NEI Nuclear Notes by David Bradish

In 2008, the Energy Information Administration published a report that provided a snapshot of the amount of federal incentives each energy technology received during the year 2007. Three years later, EIA released an updated analysis that looked at the federal incentives received in 2010.
Below is the summary table EIA generated by examining the energy incentives for all sectors (p. xii). Renewables by far have received more incentives in 2010 than any other beneficiary: 40 percent of the total.

If we look at the incentives received in just the electric sector (a subset of the overall energy sector), the numbers expose even more favor for renewables, which garnered 55 percent of the electric sector’s incentives in 2010 (p. xviii).

What about nuclear?
Incentives for nuclear have largely been for research and development. Since 1978, nuclear has received more R&D incentives than any other technology. Most of the R&D expenditures for nuclear took place in the 1970s and 1980s (p. 34).

Times have changed though. R&D for renewables has doubled over the last three years and surpassed nuclear in 2010 (p. 35).

Predictably, the report has not been well received by a number of the renewable fans. Basically, folks are knocking the new analysis because it only looks at one year’s worth of incentives and doesn’t quantify fully all of the incentives available for all technologies (as if that’s easy to do).
It’s interesting that the Union of Concerned Scientists, Climate Progress, Grist and others looked for reasons to dismiss the whole report, and – surprise – found some.

More at:  http://neinuclearnotes.blogspot.com/2011/08/updated-eia-subsidy-report-for-2010.html

Related articles

• Scientists: EIA Report Undercounts Subsidies to Coal, Oil, Natural Gas and Nuclear Energy (yubanet.com)
• EIA Head Objected to Politically Dictated "Garbage" Subsidy Report, But Delivers it Anyway (desmogblog.com)
• Flawed EIA Report: Checks and Balances to File FOIA Request (yubanet.com)
• EIA's Politically Dictated "Garbage" Subsidy Report Obtained And Released Publicly (desmogblog.com)
• Debt Deal Warnings for Energy Subsidies (insightadvisor.wordpress.com)
• While Nation Watched $2.4 Trillion Added To Taxes By Congress: Secretly Obama Has Unilaterally Added $9.5 Billion More For Taxpayers To Pay ~ In Red Tape Bullshit During July! (politicalvelcraft.org)
• Natural gas adds to losses after EIA report (marketwatch.com)
• U.s. Primary Energy Sources - Eia.gov (thinker1956.wordpress.com)

Clean Energy: Green Jobs and Better Health from AREVA North America: Next Energy Blog

Clean Energy: Green Jobs and Better Health

from AREVA North America: Next Energy Blog by AREVA North America Blog

Clean energy, the green jobs it creates, and improved health drove panelists’ discussions and sparked numerous questions at LCLAA’s Education Conference this week. The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) annual event drew more than 400 participants from across the U.S. to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Despite Fukushima, Japan Still Bids for Turkish Contract

Despite Fukushima, Japan Still Bids for Turkish Contract

from OilPrice.com Daily News Update by peixej@oilprice.com (Joao Peixe )

Despite the March nuclear debacle at Japan’s Daichi nuclear power complex, Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Company is continuing to bid for a Turkish nuclear power plant contract.

According to the trade commercial attaché at Japanese Embassy in Ankara Shinli Hirai, Turkey had the concern that the Japanese side would completely abandon the project. Japanese officials will continue the talks. “The Japanese bid is not over yet,” Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper reported.

TEPCO has submitted a bid to construct Turkey’s second NPP, to be situated in the northern Black Sea coastal town of Sinop.

Turkey’s first nuclear power plant
Read more...

Clean Coal and Underground Coal Gasification

Clean Coal and Underground Coal Gasification

from OilPrice.com Daily News Update by thyu@oilprice.com (Al Fin)

The reserve limits for coal, for China as well as the rest of the world, can be postponed for several generations if the technology to gasify coal underground can be commercialized. Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) enables the access of deeper coal layers hitherto unavailable through conventional mining. Several modern pilot projects have been successfully completed in recent years and commercial projects are underway. _Rembrandt

Licenses for New U.S. Reactors Nearing Final Reviews

Industry/Regulatory/Political Issues

Hot River Prompts TVA to Power Down Reactors as Cooling Tower Nears Completion

Hot River Prompts TVA to Power Down Reactors as Cooling Tower Nears Completion

from Nuclear Power Industry News by Nuclear Street News Team

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Weekly Review from Nuclear Power Industry News by Nuclear Street News Team

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Weekly Review

from Nuclear Power Industry News by Nuclear Street News Team

Updates from ANS Nuclear Cafe 64th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

ANS Nuclear Cafe

64th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers By dyurman on Aug 06, 2011 08:19 am The nuclear renaissance began in the 1990s when reactors began to achieve better than 90% up time. The next step is to build new plants on time and within budget. – NEI The 64th Carnival of Nuclear Energy Blogs is … Continue reading → Read in browser » ANS Publishes Position Statement on Small Modular Reactors By dyurman on Aug 05, 2011 10:28 am Statement identifies advantages, makes recommendations The American  Nuclear Society’s Position Statement on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) was issued on August 5, ANS President Eric Loewen announced. “This statement recognizes the importance of SMRs  to the future of nuclear energy and … Continue reading → Read in browser »

More to read: Turmoil at nuclear regulatory agencies in Japan and U.S. ANS welcomes three new student sections Unwarranted fear of radiation can paralyze and prevent beneficial activity The HTGR is a game changer 63rd Carnival of Nuclear Energy Bloggers

South Korea APR1400 Nuclear Reactor Construction and Indian Uranium

South Korea APR1400 Nuclear Reactor Construction and Indian Uranium

The reactor pressure vessel for unit 4 of South Korea's Shin-Kori nuclear power plant has been put in place. The unit is the second APR-1400 to be built and its schedule follows the first, Shin-Kori 3, by one year.

First concrete for Shin-Kori 4 was poured in August 2009 and the APR-1400 unit is scheduled to begin commercial operation in September 2014. Its schedule is running about one year behind that of Shin-Kori 3, the first APR-1400 to be built. Two more of the 1350 MWe pressurized water reactors are planned for construction at Shin-Ulchin and scheduled to start up in 2016 and 2017. Four have been ordered by Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation for the Braka plant in the United Arab Emirates to start between 2017 and 2020. The construction and power generation costs of the APR-1400 are reported to be 10% lower than those of OPR-1000 units.

Indian Point shutdown could increase costs and emissions

Indian Point shutdown could increase costs and emissions

A report from Charles River Associates found that if the 2,045 MW Indian Point nuclear power plant owned by Entergy (NYSE: ETR) were to close down, electricity prices would rise, air quality would be affected and reliability problems could be increased.

Nuclear watchdogs divided over safety recommendations

Utility Scale Storage: Moving from Trials to Real World

Any day now or not for a decade, depending on whom you ask.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/utility-scale-storage-moving-from-trials-to-real-world/

Hutton fears nuclear industry has lost confidence of the public By Oliver Wright, Whitehall Editor

Hutton fears nuclear industry has lost confidence of the public

By Oliver Wright, Whitehall Editor

Say No to 'No Nukes' Revival

Feds Worried About Aging Nuclear Waste

Feds Worried About Aging Nuclear Waste

The Obama Doctrine and the Dangers of the $185 Billion Increase in US Nuclear War Preparations

The Obama Doctrine and the Dangers of the $185 Billion Increase in US Nuclear War Preparations
Dr. Joseph Gerson, Truthout: "Let me begin with a few words about the US political landscape, the fluid state of the global (dis)order and the emerging Obama Doctrine. The sad truth is that President Bush has been succeeded by another US war president. The US remains at war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama escalated the Pakistan and Yemen wars and the aggressive military exercises in the Yellow and South China Seas. Washington has deepened its alliances across the Asia-Pacific with Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia and India and in Europe with NATO's new 'strategic concept.'"
Read the Article

Climate change, nuclear power risks linked

FPL faces new scrutiny on nuclear plant costs

Japan Starts Probe of Attempts to Sway Opinion on Atomic Power

Greenpeace sets out nuclear cost

Pledge to Kyoto the bottom line YOLANDI GROENEWALD

Pledge to Kyoto the bottom line

YOLANDI GROENEWALD

PEST(EL) in the Nuclear Industry – The Political (part 3)

PEST(EL) in the Nuclear Industry – The Political (part 3)

UN leader to visit Japan nuclear zone

UN leader to visit Japan nuclear zone
United Nations (AFP) Aug 5, 2011 - UN leader Ban Ki-moon sets out Saturday on a trip to Japan, where he will become one of the most senior foreign leaders to enter the Fukushima nuclear disaster zone. The tour, which will also take him to his native South Korea, is intended as a tribute to Japan after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami on March 11 triggered the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl 25 years ago. ... more

Points to Ponder: Realities for the National Energy Policy debate in 2012

Greenpeace urges S. Africa to abandon nuclear plans

Greenpeace urges S. Africa to abandon nuclear plans
Johannesburg (AFP) Aug 4, 2011 - Greenpeace urged South Africa Thursday to abandon its plans to expand nuclear power as part of its $127-billion scheme to overhaul the national energy supply. "Nuclear energy is a dangerous distraction from the clean energy development needed to prevent catastrophic climate change," Kumi Naidoo, Greenpeace's global chief, said in a statement. "Nuclear power simply delivers too little, to ... more

Japan vows to continue nuclear plant exports

Japan vows to continue nuclear plant exports
Tokyo (AFP) Aug 5, 2011 - Japan said Friday it would continue exporting atomic power plants, despite uncertainty over its own use of them as it continues to grapple with a crisis at the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant. Tokyo had actively promoted nuclear plant exports until a massive quake and tsunami on March 11 sent the Fukushima Daiichi facility into meltdown, causing it to leak radiation in the world's worst ... more

NRC: Months Later . . . Concerns About Effects Remain

Months Later . . . Concerns About Effects Remain Moderator | August 5, 2011 at 1:17 pm | Tags: nuclear | Categories: General | URL: http://wp.me/p1fSSY-oM

It’s been almost five months since the accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Japan, but the phones still ring and letters and e-mails still arrive at the NRC. Although the level of worry has declined, concerns remain.
Some members of the public are still concerned about possible effects from Fukushima on the American people. One member of the public, for example, “perceives” radiation fallout where he lives in Oregon. Another refuses to purchase any import from Japan for fear of contamination and will eat no fish caught on the west coast. Some people believe the lessening media coverage of Fukushima means the public is purposefully being kept in the dark.
Other members of the public still offer creative ways to fix the leakage and contamination problems at Fukushima.
Of course, there are those concerned  the Fukushima accident could happen at U.S plants. Concerns include the age of our nuclear plants, proximity of some plants to geological fault lines, and the ability to evacuate all the people if there were an accident.
The Office of Public Affairs helps those with radiation fears understand that no unsafe levels of radiation reached the U.S. and explains to those with creative solutions that the NRC is not a channel for possible “fixes” to the crippled plants in Japan.
Importantly, we also provide information about nuclear plants in the U.S., how the NRC regulates them to maintain safety and how the NRC is looking at “lessons learned” from the accident.
We will continue to respond quickly to public inquiries, which can be directed to OPA.Resource@nrc.gov .

Elizabeth Stuckle

Public Affairs Officer

Putting green energy front and centre

US NRC Safety Culture

On this page:

• Overview
• What Is Safety Culture?
• NRC-Developed Safety Culture Case Studies
• What Is Safety Conscious Work Environment?
• Internal Safety Culture
• Public Meetings and Materials
• Historical Documentation:
• 2005- Safety Culture Public Meetings and Materials
• 2006- Safety Culture Public Meetings and Materials
• Training on Safety Culture and Changes to the ROP

Overview

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recognizes the importance of nuclear plant operators establishing and maintaining a strong safety culture -- a work environment where management and employees are dedicated to putting safety first. In a January 24, 1989 policy statement (Federal Register), the Commission described its expectations for such a safety culture and how it supports the agency’s mission to protect public health and safety.
Following an event at a nuclear power plant where the licensee determined that the causes that led to the event were indicative of a weak safety culture, NRC lessons learned pointed toward the need for additional NRC efforts to evaluate a licensee’s safety culture (SECY-04-0111 and Staff Requirements Memoranda (SRM), and SECY-05-0187 and SRM). As part of this effort, the NRC reviewed the agency’s Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) to determine how it can be enhanced to more fully address safety culture and engaged stakeholders through Public Meetings and through this Web page. The Commission issued SECY-06-0122, dated May 24, 2006, which describes the safety culture initiative activities and the outcomes of those activities, including the changes made to the ROP to more fully address safety culture. A Regulatory Issue Summary 2006-13, "Information on the Changes Made to the Reactor Oversight Process to More Fully Address Safety Culture," was issued on July 31, 2006 to provide information to nuclear power reactor licensees on the revised ROP.
On February 28, 2008, the Commission issued a Staff Requirements Memorandum (SRM) SRM-(COMGBJ-08-0001), "A Commission Policy Statement on Safety Culture." SECY-09-0075, "Safety Culture Policy Statement," dated May 18, 2009, provides staff's response to the SRM. The SECY included a draft Safety Culture policy statement in Enclosure 1. In response to SECY-09-0075, the Commission issued SRM-SECY-09-0075 on October 16, 2009, that provided additional guidance to the staff on the development of the Safety Culture policy statement. As part of that guidance, the Commission directed the staff to publish the Draft Safety Culture Policy Statement in the Federal Register. The document was published on November 6, 2009 for a 90-day public comment period, which was subsequently extended 30 days until March 1, 2010, in response to requests by several stakeholders. After evaluation of the public comments that were received and the staff's additional outreach efforts, including public workshops, public meetings and teleconferences, and participation in various industry forums, the staff published a Revised Draft Safety Culture Policy Statement in the Federal Register on September 10, 2010, for a 30-day comment period. In SECY-11-0005, dated January 5, 2011, the staff provided the Proposed Final Safety Culture Policy Statement to the Commission. On January 24, 2011, the staff briefed the Commission on the Safety Culture Policy Statement. The Video Archive Webcast of this briefing can be found here. On March 7, 2011, the Commission voted to approve the Safety Culture Policy Statement. The Final Safety Culture Policy Statement package can be found in the NRC's Agencywide Documents and Management System (ADAMS). The NRC has also prepared a brochure on the Policy Statement (NUREG/BR-0500). A printer-friendly version is also available.

What Is Safety Culture?

The Commission’s “Policy Statement on the Conduct of Nuclear Power Plant Operations,” Federal Register notice, January 24, 1989, refers to safety culture as “the necessary full attention to safety matters” and the “personal dedication and accountability of all individuals engaged in any activity which has a bearing on the safety of nuclear power plants. A strong safety culture is one that has a strong safety-first focus.”
The recently published NRC Safety Culture Policy Statement expands the Commission’s focus to all NRC regulated entities and defines safety culture as follows: “Nuclear safety culture is the core values and behaviors resulting from a collective commitment by leaders and individuals to emphasize safety over competing goals to ensure protection of people and the environment.”

NRC-Developed Safety Culture Case Studies

The NRC has developed Safety Culture Case Studies to provide real-life events where review of the circumstances surrounding the event and the results of the investigations found clear examples of the role that safety culture played in contributing to or in lessening the causes and consequences of the event. 
These case studies are learning tools.  Those of us that are responsible for regulating or using radioactive material in a safe and secure manner should not become complacent and should be open to learning from the mistakes and the problems others have faced in an effort to prevent recurrences.  The case studies that will be selected for this initiative represent a breadth of industries, including energy, medical, and transportation.
The NRC has also developed a Safety Culture Case Study User Guide to help individuals and organizations use the various case studies more effectively, providing them with a better understanding of why a strong safety culture and safety-first focus are critically important. It is recommended that you review the User Guide prior to reviewing the case studies.
Currently available case studies:

• June 2009 Collision of Two Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Metrorail Trains
• [Additional case studies are under development and will be added as they are completed.]

What Is Safety Conscious Work Environment (SCWE)?

The Commission’s policy statement “Freedom of Employees in the Nuclear Industry to Raise Safety Concerns Without Fear of Retaliation,” May 14, 1996, describes SCWE as "a work environment where employees are encouraged to raise safety concerns and where concerns are promptly reviewed, given the proper priority based on their potential safety significance, and appropriately resolved with timely feedback to the originator of the concerns and to other employees." SCWE is described as an attribute of safety culture in SECY-04-0111, “Recommended Staff Actions Regarding Agency Guidance in the Areas of Safety Conscious Work Environment and Safety Culture,” August 30, 2004. The NRC has developed Guidance for Establishing and Maintaining a Safety Conscious Work Environment.

Internal Safety Culture

The NRC Internal Safety Culture Task Force was chartered in October 2008 in response to Commission direction, SRM-M080317B, to provide a report outlining potential initiatives that could improve the agency’s internal safety culture.
Based on the results from a range of data collection activities and the experience and knowledge of its members, the Task Force developed a set of recommendations. These recommendations, which are under implementation, aim to create effective and lasting improvements for supporting a strong safety culture.
Related documents:

• SECY 09-0068 Report of the Task Force on Internal Safety Culture
  • Internal Safety Culture Task Force Final Report
  • Report Appendices
• SECY 10-0009 Internal Safety Culture Update

Public Meetings and Materials

The NRC holds public meetings to discuss agency activities related to safety culture initiatives. Handouts from the meetings are included below. If you have any questions about our public meetings and materials, please contact us.
This page includes links to files in non-HTML format. See Plugins, Viewers, and Other Tools for more information.

Safety Culture Public Meeting
Date	Locations and Documents
June 16, 2011 Stakeholders / NRC Meeting Regarding Updates to the Draft Safety Culture Policy Statement Sponsored Office: OE	Meeting Notice Agenda Meeting Minutes
September 28, 2010 Stakeholders / NRC Meeting Regarding the Draft Safety Culture Policy Statement Sponsored Office: OE	Meeting Notice Meeting Logistics (including details about lunch, time zone difference, and NRC points of contact) Webinar and Teleconference Instructions How to Submit Public Comments on Safety Culture Policy Statement Agenda Traits Comparison Document with the Traits Preamble Attendance List Presentation Materials NRC Independent Evaluation of INPO's Safety Culture Traits Validation - Valerie Barnes (NRC) NRC Safety Culture Policy Statement - Maria Schwartz (NRC) NRC Safety Culture Workshop - Bob Link (AREVA) Power Reactor Stakeholder Perspective on the Safety Culture Policy Statement - Tom Houghton (NEI) NRC Safety Culture Workshop - Lynne Fairobent (American Association of Physicists in Medicine) NRC Safety Culture Workshop - Kevin Buckley (Harvard Medical School) What is Safety Culture? Theory, Research, Challenges - Valerie Barnes (NRC) Perspective on the Safety Culture Policy Statement - Wayne Rice (AFL-CIO) Safety Culture Traits Validation in Power Reactors - G. Kenneth Koves (Ph.D) Nuclear Culture of Safety - George Marshall (APNGA) NRC Safety Culture Workshop - Industrial Radiography Comments - Gayle Staton (Acuren Inspection) Principal Component Analysis Results from Surveys Used in Non-Power Plant Settings - Valerie Barnes (NRC) Meeting Minutes
September 16, 2010 Public Meeting Between NRC and Stakeholders Regarding Safety Culture Sponsored Office: OE	Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Summary
July 28, 2010 Public Meeting Summary and Slides Between NRC and NEI Sponsored Office: NRR	Meeting Summary Attendance List NEI Presentations Dominion Presentation Exelon Presentation PSEG Nuclear LLC Presentation STP Nuclear Operating Company Presentation NEI Handouts NRC Handouts NRC Presentation
July 15, 2010 Conference Call - Safety Culture Panelists Sponsored Office: OE	Meeting Notice Agenda List of Invited Stakeholders and NRC Staff Safety Culture Definition and Traits Safety Culture Outreach Activities Timeline for NRC Safety Culture Initiative Meeting Summary
June 30, 2010 Health Physics Society / NRC Special Joint Session on Safety Culture - Health Physics Society Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT	Meeting Notice Agenda Presentation Materials NRC's Safety Culture Initiative (RSO View) by Kevin Nelson (Mayo Clinic Florida) NRC's Safety Culture Initiative by Jose Ibarra (NRC) Initiative on RP Culture by B. Lu Guen (International Radiation Protection Association - HPS) NRC Workshop on Nuclear Safety Culture by R. E. Toohey (CHP) What is Safety Culture? Theory, Research, Challenges by Catherine Thompson (NRC) A Collaborative Effort to Develop Safety Culture Terminology by David Solorio (NRC)
March 30, 2010 Commission Meeting: Briefing on Safety Culture	NRC Staff Presentation Shawn Seeley, Chair, Organization of Agreement States William Webster, Senior Vice President, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations Billie Garde, Attorney, Clifford & Garde, LLP Duann Thistlethwaite, Director Manufacturing Compliance, Triad Isotopes, Inc.
February 2-4, 2010	Meeting Notice and Agenda Panelist List Role of Panelist Developing a Common Definition of Safety Culture Developing Common Safety Culture Principles/Characteristics/Traits Draft Workshop Agenda (Detailed) Presentation Materials INPO and IAEA Approaches to Describing Safety Culture by Dr. Kenneth Koves (INPO) Workshop Breakout Sessions by Maria Schwartz (NRC) EIR Behaviors by David Collins (Member of the Public) What is Safety Culture? Theory, Research, Challenges by Dr. Valerie Barnes (NRC) NRC Safety Culture Definition and Characteristics by Dr. Valerie Barnes (NRC) Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Safety Culture Policy Statement by Martin Virgilio (NRC) HRO Safety Culture Definition - An Integrated Approach by David Collins (Member of the Public) NRC Activities Leading Up to the Safety Culture Policy Statement by Jose Ibarra (NRC) and Molly Keefe (NRC) Industry Examples of Safety Culture Definitions and Traits Traits, Characteristics, Principles, Components or Attributes of Safety Culture by Dr. Valerie Barnes (NRC) Safety Culture Definition and Traits Developed from the February 2-4, 2010 NRC-Sponsored Safety Culture Workshop Workshop Summary
February 3, 2009 (rescheduled from January 28) Sponsored Office: OE	Meeting Notice and Agenda Panelist List Open House Handouts Topic Questions Proposed Safety Culture Components and Questions Presentation Materials Session 1: Opening and Introduction Presentation Materials Session 2: Safety Culture/Security Culture Martin Virgilio, NRC Pete Stockton, Project on Government Oversight Shawn Seeley, Organization of Agreement States Session 3A: Materials Area Considerations Shawn Seeley, Organization of Agreement States Michael Sheetz, University of Pittsburgh John Nagy, Nuclear Fuel Services Session 3B: Reactors Area Considerations ROP Safety Culture Overview Ed Scherer, Regional Utility Group IV Frank Maciuska, Professional Reactor Operator Society Tom Houghton, Nuclear Energy Institute Summary and Wrap-up Session Presentation Materials External Stakeholders Written Comments (revised March 11, 2009) Workshop Summary Development of the Safety Culture Characteristics The majority of the workshop discussions were recorded through Webinar. For instructions on how to access the workshop recording, please contact June Cai at 301-415-5192.
December 4, 2008	Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Slides Tracy Dillenger, NASA Tom Valenti, Baltimore Gas & Electric John Bresland, U.S. Chemical Safety Board Dave Lochbaum, Union of Concerned Scientists Meeting Transcript
June 17-19, 2008 Sponsored Office: NMSS	Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Materials Meeting Slides NMSS Safety Culture Pilot Workshop June 19, 2008 Summary
May 14, 2008 Sponsored Office: NRR	Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Materials Meeting Slides Draft IP 71152 - Problem Identification and Resolution Draft IMC 0612- Power Reactor Inspection Reports Draft IMC 0612/Appendix B - Issue Screening Meeting Summary External Stakeholders' Comments - Lessons Learned Recommendations Region I Utility Group - Draft IP71152 and Draft IMC0612 Exelon - Draft IP71152 and Draft IMC0612 NEI - Draft IP71152 and Draft IMC0612
May 13, 2008 Sponsored Office: NRO	Meeting Notice and Agenda
April 17, 2008 Sponsored Office: NRR	Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Material IP 95003 (DRAFT) - Supplemental Inspection for Repetitive Degraded Cornerstones, Multiple Degraded Cornerstones, Multiple Yellow Inputs, or One Red Input Draft Enclosures 95003.02 A-F Draft Inspection Manual Chapter 0305, "Operating Reactor Assessment Program Lesson Learned Inputs for the Reactor Oversight Program Safety Culture Evaluation Enclosure 24 - NEI Chart of ROP Action Matrix Placement Meeting Slides Meeting Summary External Stakeholders' Comments - Lessons Learned Recommendations Region I Utility Group - Draft IP95003 and Draft IMC0305 Exelon - Draft IP95003 and Draft IMC0305 NEI - Draft IP95003 and Draft IMC0305 Union of Concerned Scientists - Draft IP95003 and Draft IMC0305
April 2-3, 2008 Sponsored Office: NRO	Meeting Notice and Agenda Meeting Slides Meeting Summary

Historical Documentation:

• 2005 - Safety Culture Public Meetings and Materials
• 2006 - Safety Culture Public Meetings and Materials
• Training on Safety Culture and Changes to the ROP
  • Inspector Counterpart Meeting Training Presentation - 2006
  • Region IV Utility Group (RUG) Safety Culture Workshop -2006

ANS Publishes Position Statement on Small Modular Reactors

ANS Nuclear Cafe

All Things Nuclear

 

ANS Publishes Position Statement on Small Modular Reactors

Posted on August 5, 2011 by dyurman| Leave a comment

It Identifies Advantages, Makes Recommendations
La Grange Park, IL – August 5– The Position Statement of the American  Nuclear Society (ANS) on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) was issued today, announced ANS President Eric P. Loewen, PhD. “This statement recognizes the importance of SMRs  to the future of nuclear energy and provides some specific recommendations to make SMRs a near term reality,” Loewen said.
The Position Statement (No. 25) describes (SMRs) as nuclear reactors with power levels less than or equal to 300 MWe and notes that they use safe, proliferation-resistant technologies. In addition, they have the following advantages:
• Use manufacturing capability currently available in the U.S.;
• Have lower capital cost with reduced debt profile;
• Require shorter construction time;
• Are deployable in markets in the U.S. and abroad that cannot accommodate or afford large reactors;
• Meet some mission requirements for government and military applications; and;
• Provide electricity to remote populated areas such as in the northern latitudes.
Donald Eggett, past Chairman of the Operations and Power Division of ANS, who was instrumental in the development of the statement, when asked about its importance noted, “ANS’s recommendations for actions by the United States government include expediting research and identifying and resolving generic licensing issues through interaction with all stakeholders and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; if adopted, this technology will put us well on our way to implementing this beneficial nuclear energy technology to enhance our energy mix.”
Loewen concluded, “By taking a leadership role in addressing licensing issues for SMRs, the American Nuclear Society has helped set the stage for all the benefits associated with their deployment which include job creation, potential opportunities to export SMRs and supporting technologies and services, and opportunities to incorporate proliferation-resistant features into SMR designs and manufacturing.”
ANS Café talked with Vince Gilbert, Chief Knowledge Officer of Excel Services Corp. who helped draft the position statement. Gilbert noted that the position statement is the result of the work of more than 60 nuclear professionals who participated in the ANS President’s Special Committee on Generic Licensing Issues for Small Modular Reactors.
“Our purposes are to engage public dialog and contribute to the interactions with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,” Gilbert said.
LWR designs
Gilbert noted that the current mindset at the NRC is on light water reactors. The agency has published a list of issues it needs to resolve with regard to licensing SMRs, but metal cooled reactor designs are further down the list in terms of its priorities.
“The primary LWR reactor designs getting attention are those from B&W, NuScale, Westinghouse, and Holtec. NGNP and other fast reactors present additional challenges,” Gilbert said.
One of the reasons the ANS committee was formed is to help the U.S. safely export this technology. The U.S. will lose its global technology leadership potential if it lags in this regard and also lose the jobs that would be created manufacturing SMRs in factory settings in the U.S.
The SMR committee published an interim report which is available on the ANS website. One of the issue papers which is still under development is on emergency planning. The events in Fukushima, Japan, last March raised new issues about emergency planning.
A key issue is that at Fukushima multiple reactors were impacted by a single natural disaster. Since SMRs are by design intended to be multi-unit sites, the whole concept of emergency planning for them needs to be assessed in light of recent events. Gilbert says that as a result the emergency planning white paper is still a work in progress.
Topical Conference on SMRs
The American Nuclear Society will hold a topical conference on SMRs embedded in its national meeting to take place in Washington, DC, October 30-November 3. Gilbert, who is a key figure in organizing the conference, said the meeting is a must attend for anyone in the business.
“The meeting will allow participants to interact and learn about the new wave of SMRs from multiple points of view and will address technical issues, licensing approaches, university and national lab involvement, and plans for commercial realization. ANS recognizes SMRs as a key to maintaining U.S. national security and energy security through generation of clean electricity as well as meeting the needs of a variety of industrial applications.”
For more information about the American Nuclear Society, visit www.ans.org.
Information on the SMR conference
http://www.new.ans.org/meetings/c_1
To view the SMR position statement, follow the link
http://www.new.ans.org/pi/ps/docs/ps25.pdf
# # #

AMERICAN NUCLEAR SOCIETY ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF NONPROLIFERATION TECHNICAL GROUP

For Immediate Release                                                                                CONTACT:

August 4, 2011                                                                                 Fritz Schneider (301) 728-4811                                                                                                                                              Laura Scheele   (708) 579-8224

AMERICAN NUCLEAR SOCIETY ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF NONPROLIFERATION TECHNICAL GROUP

New Group to Promote Peaceful Use of Nuclear Technology, Prevent Misuse of Nuclear Materials

La Grange Park, IL August 4 – The American Nuclear Society (ANS) has formed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Technical Group (NN-TG), ANS President Eric P. Loewen, PhD, announced today.   “This technical group will transition from the former Special Committee on Nuclear Nonproliferation, which was very active and successful,” said Loewen.  “The Society’s action today recognizes the importance of the work that was done and will enable the Society to be even more effective in this important area.”

One of the main organizers of the Technical Group, Dr. John E. Gunning of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, when asked about the formation, noted, “The formal creation of this Nuclear Nonproliferation Technical Group will help to increase the visibility of this important subject to those within ANS as well as those in the community at large, and also provides a clear indication that ANS plans to be active in this area.     We’ve been very successful in the past as a Special Committee on Nuclear Nonproliferation in initiating ANS position papers, technical sessions at ANS National meetings, feature articles in Nuclear News, and providing timely responses to inquires to the Society on NN subjects.  We are excited about achieving our new status and are eager to get started.”

Dr. Michaele (Mikey) Brady Raap, chairperson of ANS Professional Divisions, observed, “This new technical group will certainly be useful in promoting the goals of the Society; I’m very happy to welcome the recognition of the work they have done as a Special Committee.”

Loewen concluded by saying, “This technical group’s charter is to promote policy that discourages the proliferation of nuclear technology and material to inappropriate entities; provide information to ANS members, the technical community at large, opinion leaders, and decision makers to improve their understanding of nuclear nonproliferation issues; become a recognized resource on nuclear nonproliferation, safeguards, and security issues; serve as the integration and coordination body for nuclear nonproliferation activities for the ANS; and work cooperatively with other ANS Divisions to achieve these objectives.  Based on their achievements as a Special Committee, I know they will be very successful in their new role and will certainly add to the continued relevance of the Society.”

For more information about the American Nuclear Society, visit www.ans.org.  For information specific to the NN-TG, visit http://committees.ans.org/nn. 

Established in 1954, ANS is a professional organization of engineers and scientists devoted to the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology.  Its 11,500 members come from diverse technical backgrounds covering the full range of engineering disciplines as well as the physical and biological sciences.  They are advancing the application of these technologies to improve the lives of the world community through national and international enterprise within government, academia, research laboratories and private industry.

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