Boston doctor says he almost had to be INTUBATED after suffering severe allergic reaction from Moderna Covid vaccine — RT USA News

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RED FILES: Secret Victories of the KGB - George Blake Interview

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In Nashville, 'Listen to the bomb.' - SpyTalk

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Yes, Hallmark Christmas movies are cheesy. Here’s why we still love them. | America Magazine

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COMMENTARY: Time to rebuild America's infrastructure and industrial base | Opinion | fredericksburg.com

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FERC Expands Cogeneration QFs for Certain Fuel Cell Systems

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Nuclear waste storage: Holtec might build Carlsbad manufacturing plant

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China plans clean energy future : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News

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Ohio Ratepayers Spared From Paying Into $1B Nuclear Bailout - Law360

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Local Judge Bans State From Collecting Fees In Nuclear Power Plant Bailout Law | WCBE 90.5 FM

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Judge grants injunction blocking Ohio's two nuclear power plants from collecting fees as part of HB 6 - The Highland County Press

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Kinzinger Introduces New Legislation To Save Nuclear Power Plants | WNIJ and WNIU

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Brunswick Nuclear Plant Sirens to be Tested | Coastal Review Online

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Polish group calls on Germany to reverse nuclear phaseout : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News

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Chinese demands on nuclear power investment complicate EU talks - WiWo | Reuters

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Armenia’s Nuclear Power Plant: A Delicate Solution to the ‘Dark and Cold Days’ | Asbarez.com

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China Releases New Energy Security Strategy to Diversify, Conserve Power - Sputnik International

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Belarus unit starts pilot operation : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

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DOE selects advanced reactor concepts for funding : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

DOE selects advanced reactor concepts for funding : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The US Department of Energy has announced USD20 million in awards for the third of three programmes under its new Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy has selected three teams to receive FY2020 funding for the ARDP's Advanced Reactor Concepts-20 programme.

Congress approves nuclear energy funding for FY2021 : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News

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To build a zero-carbon grid, we first need to model it accurately | The Energy Collective Daily

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Alex Padilla becomes California's first Latino U.S. senator - Los Angeles Times

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Pete Buttigieg wants to put 'millions' of electric cars on US roads - Electrek

Pete Buttigieg wants to put 'millions' of electric cars on US roads - Electrek: Pete Buttigieg, nominated by Joe Biden to be secretary of transportation, reiterated his stance on the future of EVs in the US yesterday.

White supremacists plotted attack on US power grid, FBI says

White supremacists plotted attack on US power grid, FBI says: White supremacists plotted to attack power stations in the southeastern U.S., the FBI alleges in an affidavit.

Japanese power companies promote use of mox fuel - Nuclear Engineering International

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TEPCO to postpone removal of radioactive debris | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

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DOE issues Versatile Test Reactor draft EIS, confirms INL as its “preferred alternative” -- ANS / Newswire

DOE issues Versatile Test Reactor draft EIS, confirms INL as its “preferred alternative” -- ANS / Newswire

$2.6 billion budget passed for Hanford, plus money for PNNL | Tri-City Herald

$2.6 billion budget passed for Hanford, plus money for PNNL | Tri-City Herald: There’s also money for construction projects at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland.

Department of Energy awards new SRNL management and operating contract

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New stimulus bill includes $35.2 billion for new energy initiatives | TechCrunch

New stimulus bill includes $35.2 billion for new energy initiatives | TechCrunch

ECA Alliance Update December 23, 2020

Image View this email in your browser ECA UPDATE Dec 23, 2020 FEATURED ADVANCED REACTORS Energy Department’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program Awards $20 million for Advanced Reactor Concepts DOE-NE | 12/22/2020 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $20 million in awards for the third of three programs under its new Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) has selected three teams to receive FY20 funding for the ARDP’s Advanced Reactor Concepts-20 (ARC-20) program. ARDP is designed to help domestic private industry demonstrate advanced nuclear reactors in the United States. DOE issued an ARDP funding opportunity announcement in May 2020 which included the ARC-20 awards, the Advanced Reactor Demonstration awards, and the Risk Reduction for Future Demonstration awards. For the ARC-20 projects, DOE expects to invest a total of approximately $56 million over four years with our industry partners providing at least 20 percent in matching funds. Continue reading >> Follow the latest DOE budget updates with ECA's budget tracker Image Monitor DOE spending bills, detailed site budgets, and more. Find everything you need to know about the DOE budget here! TEST REACTOR U.S. Department of Energy Releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Versatile Test Reactor DOE-NE | 12/21/2020 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invites the public to review and comment on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for construction of the Versatile Test Reactor (VTR). The proposed VTR would be a sodium-cooled fast-neutron-spectrum test reactor that will enhance and accelerate research, development, and demonstration of innovative nuclear energy technologies. Continue reading >> LEGISLATION Congress passes massive energy package Politico | 12/22/2020 After a frantic final week of negotiations, Congress passed a sprawling Covid-19 and government funding package, delivering the most significant energy legislation in more than a dozen years and authorizing approximately $35 billion toward new energy technologies, Pro's Anthony Adragna reports. The energy legislation — lengthy in its own right — was tucked into a sprawling 5,593-page omnibus spending and coronavirus relief package, H.R. 133 (116), released Monday. Both the House and Senate passed the $900 billion pandemic relief bill and $1.4 trillion spending package to fund the government through September on Monday night. Continue reading >> CONTRACT DOE Awards Savannah River National Laboratory Management and Operating Contract DOE-EM | 12/22/2020 Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) awarded the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) Management and Operating (M&O) contract to Battelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC (BSRA) of Columbus, OH. The Cost-Plus-Award-Fee contract will include a 5-year base period (inclusive of 120 day transition period) and potential award terms of up to 5 more years, for a total period of up to 10 years. The anticipated contract value is approximately $3.8 billion over the potential 10-year period of performance. The procurement was competed as a full-and-open competition, and EM received three proposals. The Department determined the BSRA proposal provided the best value to the Government considering Laboratory Vision, Key Personnel, Management and Operations, Past Performance, Transition Plan, and Cost and Fee. Continue reading >> IN OTHER NEWS LEGISLATIVE Trump Blasts COVID Relief Package, Demands Revisions Risking a Shutdown (Government Executive, 12/22) NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT House plans Dec. 28 vote to override Trump's possible defense bill veto (The Hill, 12/21) TEST REACTOR Energy Department: Idaho Top Choice for New Test Reactor (U.S. News & World Report, 12/21) TECHNOLOGY Memorandum on the National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion (White House, 12/16) UPCOMING EVENTS Sept. 8-10, 2021 National Cleanup Workshop; Alexandria, VA ECA PUBLICATIONS Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation. ECA's Key Points on DOE HLW Interpretation ECA's FAQs on DOE HLW Interpretation Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications ECA BULLETIN Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org. View current and previous editions of the ECA Bulletin at www.energyca.org/bulletin DOE SITE PROFILES Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments. Access your community's profile by visiting: www.energyca.org/site-profiles DOE Site Proflies Energy Communities Alliance 1625 Eye St., NW Suite 800 Washington DC 20006 USA © 2019 Energy Communities Alliance, Inc. All rights reserved.

China to open energy sector to foreign investment as it seeks to balance energy security with carbon neutral pledge _ South China Morning Post.pdf

China to open energy sector to foreign investment as it seeks to balance energy security with carbon neutral pledge _ South China Morning Post.pdf

EM Update December 22, 2020

banner EM Update | Vol. 12, Issue 39 | Dec. 22, 2020 GreenBar DOE Successfully Transfers SPRU Site, Achieving EM 2020 Priority ‘2020 Year in Review’ Highlights EM Accomplishments, Cleanup Priorities Crews Begin Pre-Demolition Work for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Reactor Oak Ridge's UCOR Earns 98% of Fee for Second Half of Fiscal 2020 EM Leaders Focus on Engaging Communities During STGWG Meeting DOE, FIU Welcome New Fellows Into Program Shaping Cleanup Workforce Hanford Workers Complete Construction of Capsule Transfer Mock-Up Idaho Site Crews Inspect 1970s-Era Vaults, Spent Nuclear Fuel Assemblies 2020 a Year of Completions and Beginnings at Oak Ridge The Art and Science of Welding at Hanford’s WTP New Cranes Ready to Support Cleanup at Hanford Site Paducah Site Contractor Receives Environmental Leadership Award Next EM Update Scheduled Jan. 12 DOE Successfully Transfers SPRU Site, Achieving EM 2020 Priority NISKAYUNA, N.Y. – DOE officials approved the transfer of the former Separations Process Research Unit (SPRU) areas to the Office of Naval Reactors (NR) on Dec. 16, capping a successful remediation and completing an EM 2020 priority. The milestone resulted from a joint effort between DOE, NR, and the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, and advanced EM’s legacy cleanup mission. The former SPRU nuclear facilities were located at the laboratory. “Completing the SPRU project removes the longstanding liability of a Cold War-era nuclear facility and enables returning the former SPRU areas to the Naval Reactors landlord for future site operations. Significant credit is due to the government-contractor team that completed this project,” said Hugh Davis, program manager for SPRU. p This 1948 photo shows construction of tank vaults at the former Separations Process Research Unit. p A view of the restored site of the former Building H2 at the former Separations Process Research Unit. Prior to the transfer, the joint team restored and revegetated the former building grounds, issued final radiological and chemical cleanup reports, and constructed a temporary storage area for 24 containers of waste that will be treated and disposed offsite. The SPRU nuclear facilities consisted of a main processing facility known as Building G2, a waste processing facility called Building H2, underground tank vaults, and an underground pipe tunnel connecting the two buildings. Buildings G2 and H2 housed process cells with thick concrete shield walls and contained more than 8 miles of process piping and 85 process vessels with capacities ranging from 5 to 10,000 gallons. SPRU operated from 1949 to 1951 as a pilot plant for researching plutonium production methods. The SPRU facilities were decommissioned in 1953. That work included flushing the process equipment and placing the facilities in safe caretaking status. The deactivation, decontamination, and demolition work began in 2007 and was completed last year. -Contributor: Stephanie Shewmon ‘2020 Year in Review’ Highlights EM Accomplishments, Cleanup Priorities p WASHINGTON, D.C. – EM has published its 2020 Year in Review, summarizing the accomplishments of cleanup work across the DOE complex over the course of the year, including numerous major program priorities. The Year in Review highlights achievements at each EM site and at EM headquarters, including: Completing the East Tennessee Technology Park Vision 2020 at Oak Ridge, which became the first site in the world to remove an entire uranium enrichment complex. Starting operations at the first-of-a-kind Salt Waste Processing Facility at the Savannah River Site (SRS) — the last major piece of the site’s liquid waste treatment system — with the potential to process as much as 9 million gallons of liquid waste per year. Achieving significant advancement of two other key components of DOE’s tank waste treatment mission: Increasing progress in construction, startup, and commissioning critical to the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste system at the Hanford Site. Continuing modifications at the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit, which will turn about 900,000 gallons of liquid radioactive waste into a granular solid at DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory Site. Completing demolition of the Plutonium Finishing Plant, which was once the highest-risk building at the Hanford Site. Breaking ground on a 2,275-foot deep utility shaft at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, a key infrastructure piece to support future operations at the site. Resuming cleanup at the Energy Technology Engineering Center after more than a decade, including demolition of a dozen buildings and setting a path to completing demolition of all DOE-owned buildings at the site in 2021. Reaching a milestone 11 million tons of mill tailings shipped from a former uranium ore processing site in Moab, Utah, to a disposal cell near Crescent Junction, Utah. Completing remediation activities on and around the historic Tonopah Test Range in Nevada, and conveying 70 sites to the DOE Office of Legacy Management (LM) for long-term stewardship — the first EM-to-LM transfer in more than a decade. Completing site restoration at the Separations Process Research Unit in New York state and turning the site back to the DOE Office of Naval Reactors. Implementing the full Interim Measure for addressing the chromium plume at Los Alamos to hold the spread of chromium contamination within the site boundaries as a final solution is developed and put in place. Successfully implementing the Department’s first application of its science-based high-level radioactive waste interpretation through the shipment of a small quantity of waste from SRS for safe off-site treatment and disposal. Putting in place the first end-state style contracts at the Hanford and Nevada sites, with several others progressing across the EM complex. Click here to read EM’s complete 2020 Year in Review report. Crews Begin Pre-Demolition Work for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Reactor p Crews from the U.S. Army Corp Engineers perform pre-demolition activities at the Livermore Pool Type Reactor at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. LIVERMORE, Calif. – Workers have begun activities to prepare for the demolition of a nuclear reactor at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), accomplishing one of EM’s 2020 priorities. A team from EM, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and the U.S. Army Corp Engineers (USACE) performed core drilling, surveying, sampling, and a study of potential demolition impacts this month. “Hitting this significant cleanup milestone took a lot of cooperation between the NNSA, EM, and USACE teams, particularly given the challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic,” EM LLNL Federal Project Director Kevin Bazzell said. “But everyone came together with a commitment to safety, and to ensure we met EM’s commitment to start pre-work for demolition by the end of 2020.” p A view of the Livermore Pool Type Reactor, which was deactivated and decommissioned in 1981. p U.S. Army Corp Engineers crews conduct surveys within Building 280, which houses the Livermore Pool Type Reactor. p Workers conduct a simulated demolition as part of a study to determine potential impacts from the Livermore Pool Type Reactor demolition scheduled to begin in spring next year. The Livermore Pool Type Reactor operated for more than 20 years, supporting radiation research at what was then known as the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory. The reactor was cooled and moderated with light water, and its power came from a uranium chain reaction. The reactor was defueled and decommissioned in 1981. The remaining reactor vessel sits within a concrete-and-steel shielding structure inside Building 280. Removal of the reactor from Building 280 is scheduled to begin in spring next year, with completion of the demolition expected in fall 2021. “We will be removing a significant risk from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory by demolishing the Livermore Pool Type Reactor,” Bazzell said. Following the demolition, EM will focus on tearing down Building 280 and other high-risk excess facilities at the site. -Contributor: Stephanie Shewmon Oak Ridge's UCOR Earns 98% of Fee for Second Half of Fiscal 2020 p UCOR completed demolition on the final structures at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP) during the performance evaluation period of April 2020 through September 2020. Pictured is Building K-1600, the final structure to fall at ETTP. It was previously used for centrifuge technology research and development. OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – EM recently awarded Oak Ridge cleanup contractor UCOR $28 million for its performance from April 2020 through September 2020, amounting to 98% of the available fee for the evaluation period. The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) issued its fee determination scorecard for UCOR for the second six-month period of fiscal 2020 after completing its evaluation of the contractor. EM releases information relating to contractor fee payments — earned by completing work called for in the contracts — to further transparency in its cleanup program. The contractor received “excellent” ratings for project management and business systems, quality and safety culture, and regulatory and stakeholder activity; a “good” rating for operations management; and “high confidence” for cost and schedule incentive, according to the scorecard. Among UCOR’s significant accomplishments: Achieved all performance-based incentives designed to complete Vision 2020, resulting in the world’s first demolition of a former uranium enrichment complex at the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP). The project finished ahead of schedule and under budget. Seamlessly transitioned to limited operations and implemented the Phase 1 resumption-of-work plan during the COVID-19 pandemic, with effective safety protocols and no confirmed workplace COVID-19 cases. Successfully transitioned approximately 250 workers from ETTP to perform cleanup work at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex upon achieving Vision 2020. Implemented effective safety and health programs, and received the DOE “Legacy of Stars Award,” which is provided to sites that have earned the DOE Voluntary Protection Program Star of Excellence for three consecutive years. Maintained regulatory compliance. UCOR had no regulatory permit infractions, non-compliances, reportable spills, or notices of violation. The contractor also met all enforceable regulatory milestones or supported renegotiation of them. UCOR hosted numerous visits and formal regulatory inspections by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency personnel with no violations identified. Provided excellent support as part of the Regulatory Partnership initiative, enabling the Executive Leadership and Emerging Issues Teams to proceed more quickly to address longstanding issues, fostering improved relationships between OREM and regulators. OREM also noted areas for improvement. UCOR experienced several issues with work planning and controls, including conducting a task without an approved work plan. Additionally, there were several transportation collision incidents. In response, the contractor promptly established a collision taskforce to evaluate options for improving the transportation program’s performance. View the fee determination letter and UCOR's scorecard here. -Contributor: Ben Williams EM Leaders Focus on Engaging Communities During STGWG Meeting EM Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Todd Shrader emphasized the importance DOE places on input from communities in determining the end state for cleanup sites in remarks to the recent fall meeting of the State and Tribal Government Working Group (STGWG). Shrader said communication among DOE, state and local governments, and tribes is critical to moving forward with EM’s mission. “We all have the same shared goal ultimately, and that is the safe cleanup of our sites,” Shrader said. “We of course want to do it as soon as possible and as efficiently as possible. So working with stakeholders and working together to do things like define end states and understand where you are going from Day One is critical. “Probably the number one feedback we can get from stakeholders is what do you want the end state of the site to be,” Shrader said. Mark Gilbertson, EM Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regulatory and Policy Affairs, and Mary Kruger, EM Office of Regulatory, Intergovernmental, and Stakeholder Engagement Director, joined Shrader in underscoring the importance of EM’s engagement with stakeholders. Kruger emphasized the need to continue EM’s dialogue with STGWG. “Since we have been working together for over three decades, both EM and STGWG have grown up together, helping each other navigate the complex world that is the nuclear weapons cleanup,” Gilbertson said. “I value and appreciate the partnership that has grown with time. We are dealing with one of the most sophisticated challenges in history.” STGWG brings together representatives from states and tribes. The working group is focused on three priorities: long-term stewardship, natural resource damage assessment and restoration, and tribal issues related to the cleanup and closure of DOE sites. STGWG provides a forum for communication among states and tribes affected by EM sites and activities. Shrader noted significant accomplishments in EM’s cleanup mission this past year, including the start of operations of the Salt Waste Processing Facility at the Savannah River Site, continued progress on the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste system at the Hanford Site, and advancements in demolition work at the Energy Technology Engineering Center and the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Shrader noted in particular the progress of the Long-Term Stewardship Working Group. That group is a cross-program team established by EM, the DOE Office of Legacy Management, and the National Nuclear Security Administration to address national and cross-cutting site-level long-term stewardship activities and issues. “We have a real chance to continue a lot of good momentum here,” Shrader said. The coming year expects to see the initiation of tank waste treatment at the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit at the Idaho Site, and continuing progress at Hanford that will soon lead to the treatment of tank waste there as well. “Those are really big achievements and really moves us down the line to addressing our needs across the complex,” he said. -Contributor: Elizabeth Lisann DOE, FIU Welcome New Fellows Into Program Shaping Cleanup Workforce p DOE and Florida International University (FIU) officials recently introduced FIU science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students as the new DOE Fellows Class of 2020 in a virtual ceremony. Top row, from left, Fellows Brendon Cintas, Eduardo Rojas, Stevens Charles, and Sebastian Story; second row, from left, Fellows Christian Dau, Joel Adams, Ryan Ocampo, Phuong Pham, and Christian Gonzalez Lopez; third row, from left, Fellows Josue Estrada, Alicia Maratos, Adrian Muino, and Lorryn Andrade, and FIU Applied Research Center Executive Director Inés Triay; fourth row, from left, EM Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Program Manager Genia McKinley, Fellow Thi Tran, FIU DOE Fellows Program Director and Director of Research Dr. Leonel Lagos, DOE Fellows Program Manager Ravi Gudavalli, and DOE Office of Legacy Management (LM) Site Manager Jalena Dayvault; and fifth row, from left, LM Director Carmelo Melendez, Fellow Olivia Bustillo, Class of 2019, Fellow Aurelien Meray, and Fellow Gisselle Gutierrez-Zuniga, Class of 2019. MIAMI – DOE and Florida International University (FIU) officials recently introduced the EM Fellows Class of 2020 — 15 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) students inducted into a program intended to shape future candidates for the cleanup workforce. The FIU students join current fellows in the university’s Science & Technology Workforce Development Program, also known as the DOE Fellows program. An additional FIU STEM student was inducted as a DOE Office of Legacy Management (LM) Fellow. Undergraduate and graduate minority STEM students at FIU are usually welcomed into the program annually in a ceremony hosted at FIU’s Modesto Maidique campus. This year, due to health and safety concerns in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held virtually. The Fellows program strives to attract, train, and retain the next-generation workforce in nuclear, engineering, science, and construction fields to assist in addressing EM's many long-term scientific and basic research needs, and complex cleanup challenges. Students in the Fellows program work with DOE scientists and researchers at FIU’s Applied Research Center (ARC) — which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year — to learn about EM and LM technical areas of need. In an address during the ceremony, EM Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Nicole Nelson-Jean reflected on her experience in a similar mentorship program, which helped steer her on the path to a successful federal government career. Nelson-Jean stressed the importance of such programs to the environmental missions of EM and LM. She commended the DOE Fellows program’s success stories, highlighting former DOE Fellows hired by DOE and its national laboratories, including EM’s Savannah River National Laboratory. Gisselle Gutierrez-Zuniga, who was inducted into the program last year as an undergraduate student, delivered a message to the new Fellows highlighting her personal experience, which she found fulfilling academically and professionally. Also participating was LM Director Carmelo Melendez, who delivered a keynote address to the new DOE Fellows. Since its inception in 2007, the Fellows program has inducted 179 STEM students mentored in research, development, and deployment of new cleanup technologies. The Fellows program has resulted in a 95% hiring rate for students who complete the program, including three Fellows hired by DOE, nine by DOE contractors or national laboratories, 19 hired by other government agencies, and 74 hired by the STEM industry. “FIU continues to train and mentor future leaders,” said DOE Fellows Director Dr. Leonel Lagos, the DOE-FIU Cooperative Agreement’s principal investigator. “This program provides the opportunity for many first-generation students to complete their degrees at FIU, obtain hands-on research and work experience, and participate in internships across the DOE complex.” -Contributors: Ravi Gudavalli, Angelique Lawrence, Genia McKinley Hanford Workers Complete Construction of Capsule Transfer Mock-Up p Workers with EM Richland Operations Office contractor CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company recently finished building a replica of areas of a Hanford Site facility where workers will use specialized equipment to remove highly radioactive capsules of cesium and strontium from a water-filled basin, load the capsules into stainless steel and concrete casks, and transport the casks to a nearby concrete pad for safe, dry storage. RICHLAND, Wash. – EM Richland Operations Office (RL) and contractor CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company (CHPRC) recently completed construction of a full-scale mock-up of the system that will be used to transfer nearly 2,000 radioactive capsules from an underwater basin to safer, dry storage on the Hanford Site. The mock-up, which was built at Hanford’s Maintenance and Storage Facility (MASF), replicates the areas of the Waste Encapsulation Storage Facility (WESF) where the capsules of cesium and strontium will be loaded into dry storage casks, sealed inside, and loaded onto trucks for transportation to a nearby concrete storage pad. Check out this time-lapse video of construction of the mock-up in MASF. Transferring the capsules from the water-filled basin in WESF to dry storage in stainless steel and concrete casks reduces the risk of a radioactive release in the unlikely event of loss of water from the basin. ”Finishing the mock-up is another important step toward transferring the capsules to dry storage,” said Gary Pyles, RL project director for the WESF project. “Moving the capsules will enable the planned deactivation of WESF and will reduce the risk and costs for the storage of the capsules.” p Hanford Site electrician Fonzie Lopez looks inside a simulated radiation containment chamber called a hot cell during construction of a mock-up to prepare workers to safely move nearly 2,000 capsules of highly radioactive cesium and strontium from a water-filled basin into dry storage casks in Hanford’s Waste Encapsulation Storage Facility. p A view of the hot cell inside Hanford’s Waste Encapsulation Storage Facility through which workers will safely move nearly 2,000 capsules of highly radioactive cesium and strontium from a water-filled basin into dry storage casks. Over the past several months, workers followed strict COVID-19 protocols as they built the 1,400-square-foot mock-up, where they will test and train on the actual equipment that will be used for the transfer from WESF. Over the next year, workers will install hot-cell manipulator arms, capsule transfer equipment, and welding systems in the mock-up, and they will develop procedures to work with the radioactive material. “I am so proud of the employees and the hard work that brought this mock-up to life,” said Marie Gillespie, CHPRC project manager. “The mock-up allows employees to train in a safe environment to gain confidence in using the equipment before they perform work in the radiological environment at WESF.” Mock-ups have been used successfully at Hanford to prepare workers, equipment, and procedures to work safely and efficiently with radioactive materials in hazardous facilities. The most recent example is a mock-up constructed at MASF to prepare to safely retrieve 35 cubic yards of radioactive sludge from an underwater storage basin near the Columbia River, package the sludge in shielded containers, and transfer the containers from the K West Reactor to interim storage at Hanford’s T Plant. The cesium and strontium in the capsules were removed from Hanford tank waste in the 1970s to reduce the temperature of that waste. -Contributor: Joan Lucas Idaho Site Crews Inspect 1970s-Era Vaults, Spent Nuclear Fuel Assemblies IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – EM’s spent nuclear fuel program at DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site recently determined that fuel canisters identified as high risk continue to be safely stored in five underground vaults following inspections to characterize the integrity of the fuel packages. No water was present, hydrogen levels remain acceptable, and minimal fuel canister degradation due to corrosion was observed in the inspections inside the vaults at the Idaho Nuclear Engineering and Technology Center (INTEC). “The results were very encouraging,” said Robert Gentry, the INTEC nuclear operations director for Fluor Idaho, EM’s cleanup contractor at the INL Site. “Our teams were able to gain valuable video information that showed the integrity of the vaults and fuel canisters remains satisfactory.” p A shield plug is removed to gain access to a Peach Bottom spent nuclear fuel basket. The fuel canisters were shipped from Pennsylvania to the INL Site following the closure of the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Unit 1 in 1974. Due to concerns of corrosion to fuel canisters in long-term pool storage, the canisters were placed in underground carbon-steel vaults at INTEC. During the inspection, a mobile boom crane was used to lift the fuel baskets up to 12 inches, allowing a remote camera to capture video footage of the bottom of the baskets. Inspectors also obtained video footage of the fuel package tops and accessible surfaces, along with the interior surfaces of the vaults. Gentry said long-term plans call for moving all Peach Bottom spent nuclear fuel canisters to new vaults that have welded, drainable steel-plate bottoms unlike the grouted bottoms of the current vaults. The steel plates prevent fuel packages from being in contact with pooled water, thereby mitigating elevated hydrogen concentrations and corrosion concerns. The new vaults are lined with steel and have purge and water removal capabilities. -Contributor: Erik Simpson 2020 a Year of Completions and Beginnings at Oak Ridge p In October, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette was joined by congressional, state, and local leaders to celebrate the completion of Vision 2020 at Oak Ridge. It marked the first time in the world an entire enrichment complex was removed. OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – While 2020 was an unusual and challenging year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was also one of the most notable and accomplished for DOE’s Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) and its contractors. Together, they competed the Department’s largest-ever cleanup effort and began a new chapter of work at Oak Ridge’s research and national security sites. Check out this video on Oak Ridge's 2020 accomplishments. “I’m very proud of what our incredible workforce was able to accomplish despite all of the challenges and adjustments required to perform their jobs this year,” OREM Manager Jay Mullis said. “They made history and positioned us for another year of success and transformation in 2021.” This year, Oak Ridge became the first site in the world to remove an entire uranium enrichment complex. This milestone was the culmination of two decades of decontamination, demolition, and soil remediation at the

Accelerating Sea Level Rise | The Energy Collective Daily

Accelerating Sea Level Rise | The Energy Collective Daily Link to The Energy Collective Network Accelerating Sea Level Rise Betrayal coefficient (Brazil) How Biden Can Unleash $7.8 Trillion Investment And Create 6 Million Jobs By Expanding The Grid Protecting the Electric Grid with DBOM; A Proof of Concept Demonstration Achieving Near-Zero Industrial Emissions By 2050 Would Boost U.S. GDP 3.3%, Create 5 Million Jobs Energy: Preferences x Importance

DOE Awards Savannah River National Laboratory Management and Operating Contract | Department of Energy

DOE Awards Savannah River National Laboratory Management and Operating Contract | Department of Energy: DOE Awards Savannah River National Laboratory Management and Operating Contract

Polish group calls on Germany to reverse nuclear phaseout : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News

Polish group calls on Germany to reverse nuclear phaseout : Nuclear Policies - World Nuclear News: Polish climate and environmental activists are asking Germany to reconsider its 2011 decision to phase out nuclear power. On 18 December, activists from the FOTA4Climate initiative submitted to the German embassy in Warsaw an open letter signed by Polish scientists, intellectuals, activists and citizens.

Czech Republic shortlists geological repository sites : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News

Czech Republic shortlists geological repository sites : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News: The Czech Cabinet has approved a shortlist of four potential sites for a deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive nuclear waste. The government also approved a new schedule calling for the site to be selected by 2030, five years later than originally planned. The repository is expected to be operational by 2065.

US DOE issues draft Environmental Impact Statement for new test reactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

US DOE issues draft Environmental Impact Statement for new test reactor : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News: The US Department of Energy has released the draft Environmental Impact Statement for construction of the Versatile Test Reactor, a sodium-cooled reactor that will provide a source of fast neutrons needed to test advanced reactor technology, fuels and related materials. The draft EIS will be open for a 45-day public comment period.

China plans clean energy future : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News

China plans clean energy future : Energy & Environment - World Nuclear News: While still primarily relying on coal to meet its energy needs, China says it is committed to playing its part in the global fight against climate change. A white paper published yesterday by the State Council says the country will increase the share of clean energy sources, including nuclear, in its energy mix.

Nuclear plant bailout fee blocked from going on Ohioans’ electric bills | NBC4 WCMH-TV

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Belarus starts pilot operation of nuclear power plant’s first power unit - World - TASS

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Belarus nuclear plant: right of reply

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Energy Department: Idaho top choice for new test reactor - WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports

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Westinghouse to dismantle Ågesta reactor : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News

Westinghouse to dismantle Ågesta reactor : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News: Westinghouse will segment the reactor at the Ågesta nuclear power plant near Stockholm, Sweden, under a contract signed with Vattenfall. The country's first commercial power reactor - it operated between 1964 and 1974 - the R3 heavy water reactor supplied electricity and district heating to the Stockholm suburb of Farsta.

Post-COVID, a nuclear energy future would boost NC

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Canada forges ahead with nuclear small modular reactor action plan | Power Engineering

Canada forges ahead with nuclear small modular reactor action plan | Power Engineering: Canada is stepping full-square into advancing small modular reactor technologies in the near future. Noting carbon-free nuclear’s role in future emissions reduction goals, Natural Resources Canada announced its action plan which would facilitate teamwork including governmental, provincial, indigenous, local, power utilities, industrial, research laboratories and more in making more affordable, smaller footprint nuclear energy possible. […]

Trump Signs Directive to Bolster Nuclear Power in Space Exploration - Scientific American

Trump Signs Directive to Bolster Nuclear Power in Space Exploration - Scientific American: Scientific American is the essential guide to the most awe-inspiring advances in science and technology, explaining how they change our understanding of the world and shape our lives.

New radionuclide enables PET imaging of targeted alpha cancer therapies

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Security experts warn of long-term risk tied to Energy Department breach | SC Media

Security experts warn of long-term risk tied to Energy Department breach | SC Media: The department formally confirmed the hackers' tentacles had reached into the agency, but that the malware injected had been isolated to its business networks. Some security experts argue, however, that visibility into the IT network may give hackers a path to the OT network.

Biden needs massive funds for climate plans. Where will he find them? - The Washington Post

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Congress Approves Record Funding For National Laboratories And For Locks, Dams And Harbors - Chattanoogan.com

Congress Approves Record Funding For National Laboratories And For Locks, Dams And Harbors - Chattanoogan.com

Energy Technology Export Controls - AAF

Energy Technology Export Controls - AAF: Executive Summary Dual-use products and materials, those with both military and civilian applications, are subject to export controls. These export controls make U.S. clean energy technologies less competitive in the global market just as governments and consumers are prioritizing efforts to combat climate change. Trade barriers to the export of U.S. clean energy technologies, such …

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East Coast nuke plants to send waste to NM » Albuquerque Journal

East Coast nuke plants to send waste to NM » Albuquerque Journal: Holtec is undergoing an ongoing licensing process to build and operate a temporary nuclear fuel rod storage facility

Advice for red states that want to secede to escape Biden presidency

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Global Nuclear Imaging Devices and Equipment Market Report 2020: Market to Decline at a CAGR of 21.2% Before Recovering in 2023 - Forecast to 2030

Global Nuclear Imaging Devices and Equipment Market Report 2020: Market to Decline at a CAGR of 21.2% Before Recovering in 2023 - Forecast to 2030: Dublin, Dec. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Nuclear Imaging Devices and Equipment Global Market Report 2020-30: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery" report...

FERC proposes incentives for voluntary cybersecurity investments, in race to secure nation's electric grid | Utility Dive

FERC proposes incentives for voluntary cybersecurity investments, in race to secure nation's electric grid | Utility Dive: Utility industry news and analysis for energy professionals.

Federal stimulus includes wind, solar tax credit extensions, adds first US offshore wind tax credit | Utility Dive

Federal stimulus includes wind, solar tax credit extensions, adds first US offshore wind tax credit | Utility Dive: Utility industry news and analysis for energy professionals.

Hot tests completed at Ukraine’s ISF-2 storage facility - Nuclear Engineering International

Hot tests completed at Ukraine’s ISF-2 storage facility - Nuclear Engineering International: Hot tests have been completed at Ukraine’s ISF-2 dry used nuclear fuel storage facility constructed by Holtec International at the Chernobyl NPP site.In April 2021, it is expected that the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine...

Swedish NPPs meet independent core cooling requirements - Nuclear Engineering International

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American Bureau of Shipping assesses Seaborg’s Compact Molten Salt Reactor - Nuclear Engineering International

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Westinghouse Signs Contract For Reactor Segmentation At Agesta :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency

Westinghouse Signs Contract For Reactor Segmentation At Agesta :: The Independent Global Nuclear News Agency: US-based Westinghouse Electric Company has signed a contract with Swedish utility Vattenfall to segment the nuclear reactor at its Agesta nuclear power plant near Stockholm.

Under the terms of the contract, Westinghouse will plan, design and manufacture the tools for segmentation and perform the site work. This includes the underwater mechanical cutting of the reactor vessel and its internal components and packing the pieces in containers for Vattenfall to remove from site.

Oyster Creek settlement allows Holtec to store more nuclear waste

Oyster Creek settlement allows Holtec to store more nuclear waste: A new Oyster Creek settlement means more nuclear waste will be removed from the plant and placed into concrete and steel storage in Lacey.

NRC withdraws LLW rule interpretation -- ANS / Newswire

NRC withdraws LLW rule interpretation -- ANS / Newswire

Judge blocks fees set by tainted Ohio nuclear bailout law

Judge blocks fees set by tainted Ohio nuclear bailout law: COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A central Ohio judge on Monday blocked the subsidies from a $1 billion nuclear bailout law at the center of a $60 million bribery probe, as state lawmakers scrambled to...

Guest Post from NeutronBytes - Energy Department’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program Awards $20 million for Advanced Reactor Concepts

News Media Contact: (202) 586-4940 For Immediate Release: December 22, 2020 Energy Department’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program Awards $20 million for Advanced Reactor Concepts WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $20 million in awards for the third of three programs under its new Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) has selected three teams to receive FY20 funding for the ARDP’s Advanced Reactor Concepts-20 (ARC-20) program. ARDP is designed to help domestic private industry demonstrate advanced nuclear reactors in the United States. DOE issued an ARDP funding opportunity announcement in May 2020 which included the ARC-20 awards, the Advanced Reactor Demonstration awards, and the Risk Reduction for Future Demonstration awards. For the ARC-20 projects, DOE expects to invest a total of approximately $56 million over four years with our industry partners providing at least 20 percent in matching funds. Advanced Reactor Concepts-20 (ARC-20) Projects The goal of the ARC-20 program is to assist the progression of advanced reactor designs in their earliest phases. DOE has selected three U.S.-based teams to receive ARC-20 funding: Inherently Safe Advanced SMR for American Nuclear Leadership - Advanced Reactor Concepts, LLC (Herndon, VA) will deliver a conceptual design of a seismically isolated advanced sodium-cooled reactor facility that builds upon the initial pre-conceptual design of a 100 MWe reactor facility. Total award value over three and a half years: $34.4 million (DOE share is $27.5 million) Fast Modular Reactor Conceptual Design - General Atomics (San Diego, CA) will develop a fast modular reactor conceptual design with verifications of key metrics in fuel, safety, and operational performance. The design will be for a 50-megawatt electric (MWe) fast modular reactor (FMR). Total award value over three years: $31.1 million (DOE share is $24.8 million) Horizontal Compact High Temperature Gas Reactor – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (Cambridge, MA) will mature the Modular Integrated Gas-Cooled High Temperature Reactor (MIGHTR) concept from a pre-conceptual stage to a conceptual stage to support commercialization. Total award value over three years: $4.9 million (DOE cost share is $3.9 million) “ARDP is significant because it will enable a market for commercial reactors that are safe and affordable to both construct and operate in the near- and mid-term.” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette. “All three programs under ARDP pave the way for the United States to be highly competitive globally.” Risk Reduction for Future Demonstration Projects On December 16, 2020, DOE announced the selections of five teams to receive $30 million in initial funding under ARDP’s Risk Reduction for Future Demonstration program. Advanced Reactor Demonstration Projects In October 2020, DOE announced the selections of TerraPower LLC (Bellevue, WA) and X-energy (Rockville, MD) to receive $160 million in initial funding for ARDP Demonstration projects to build two advanced nuclear reactors that can be operational within seven years. Funding for ARDP beyond the near-term is contingent on additional future appropriations, evaluations of satisfactory progress, and DOE approval of continuation applications.

ENERGY COMMUNITIES ALLIANCE ECA Update December 22, 2020 Roadmap for DOE to Successfully Engage with Local Communities

Image Dec 22, 2020 FEATURED ENERGY COMMUNITIES ALLIANCE ECA Transition Paper: Roadmap for DOE to Successfully Engage with Local Communities ECA Staff | 12/21/2020 ECA released its transition priorities and recommendations for the incoming Biden Administration in the following paper. The paper includes key priorities, each with their own set of recommendations, for the next Administration to adopt as they engage in discussions regarding ongoing DOE operations and performance, budget and appropriations, and environmental cleanup prioritization. Continue reading >> Follow the latest DOE budget updates with ECA's budget tracker Image Monitor DOE spending bills, detailed site budgets, and more. Find everything you need to know about the DOE budget here! ECA Transition Paper: Executive Summary Energy Communities Alliance’s (ECA) goal is to promote a collaborative working relationship with the Department of Energy, including the National Nuclear Security Administration (collectively “DOE”), that benefits the communities and DOE. ECA works with DOE to achieve solutions that protect and contribute to the health, safety, and economies of the communities that host DOE’s federal facilities. This collaboration can facilitate opportunities around DOE sites and further the success of the DOE mission. While DOE missions bring jobs and economic benefits to a region, many ECA communities suffer from environmental contamination, making economic diversification extremely challenging. In addition, tax exemptions related to the federal facilities place a special burden on local citizens to fund services that the federal government utilizes. Local communities are partners, customers, and advocates of DOE’s ongoing operations and performance, budgeting, cleanup prioritization, and mission integration. Although DOE and the community may not always agree on the approaches to achieving success, ECA aims to identify common goals, to bridge the gap, and to bring local and federal officials together to create viable solutions. Over many years working with DOE and communities directly impacted by DOE activities, ECA recognizes that the greatest successes have been achieved when DOE actively pursues meaningful engagement with host communities. To that end, ECA developed the following priorities for working with DOE to foster collaboration and to best address future challenges and opportunities: I. Success of DOE missions can be accomplished through local government involvement in DOE (including NNSA) decision making Engage communities in planning for both short-term and long-term site goals; Engage communities in the contracting process; Engage local governments in nuclear waste management and disposal policies; and Engage DOE host communities as potential champions for advanced nuclear development. II. Fund environmental cleanup and ensure local government input into cleanup decision-making and resource allotment Ensure adequate mission funding as communities are the customer in the EM mission; Engage with communities using better risk communication practices and tools; and Where conflict exists on cleanup remedies try to resolve through early and regular engagement. III. Support the current and future workforce at DOE facilities and economic development of host communities Invest in workforce development, education and apprenticeship programs; Identify opportunities to work with the community on economic activities that facilitate the DOE/NNSA mission; and Support real and personal property transfers that support community reinvestment. IV. Create a high-level waste and spent nuclear fuel storage and disposal program ECA desires to work with the incoming Administration to find solutions for the storage and disposal of high-level waste and spent nuclear fuel; Analyze risk of inaction to communities; Continue evaluating alternative disposal options if waste is classified by radiological content rather than origin; Recognize that the absence of a solution could impact development and deployment of new nuclear technologies that are key to a low-carbon energy future; Engage local governments and others on the siting process; and Pursue interim storage in parallel with siting a permanent geologic repository. V. Support the development of new nuclear technologies Support development of nuclear missions and projects in communities that are willing to host the facilities. Collaborate with local communities, colleges/universities, and trade schools to bolster education and STEM programs. VI. Integrate ECA’s DOE contracting (acquisition) reform recommendations and principles VII. Promote intra-agency cooperation and communication across DOE program offices, headquarters, and sites to avoid delays, confusion and inconsistent decision-making VIII. Invest in host communities and the DOE complex Resolve the DOE maintenance and infrastructure backlog; Utilize national laboratories for project development and workforce development opportunities; and Support the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. ECA encourages the Administration and DOE leadership to support strong relationships with partner organizations, particularly local governments and their elected officials. Strong communication and relationships built on trust can endure transitory moments of disagreement or difficulty. More importantly, these relationships provide all interested parties with the information needed to make educated decisions that can ensure progress toward our shared goals. ECA members and staff are available as expert resources to all involved in the Administration transition. Questions and requests for appointments may be directed to MacKenzie Kerr, ECA Program Manager, by phone 202-828-2410 or email mackenziek@energyca.org. UPCOMING EVENTS Sept. 8-10, 2021 National Cleanup Workshop; Alexandria, VA ECA PUBLICATIONS Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation. ECA's Key Points on DOE HLW Interpretation ECA's FAQs on DOE HLW Interpretation Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications ECA BULLETIN Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org. View current and previous editions of the ECA Bulletin at www.energyca.org/bulletin DOE SITE PROFILES Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments. Access your community's profile by visiting: www.energyca.org/site-profiles DOE Site Proflies Energy Communities Alliance 1625 Eye St., NW Suite 800 Washington DC 20006 USA

EU foreign ministers pave way for revival of Iran nuclear deal | Iran nuclear deal | The Guardian

EU foreign ministers pave way for revival of Iran nuclear deal | Iran nuclear deal | The Guardian: Step would allow Tehran to come back into compliance with deal, so long as US sanctions were lifted

ANS Nuclear Policy Wire December 21, 2020 FY 2021 Appropriations Provisions Released

ANS Nuclear Policy Wire December 21, 2020 FY 2021 Appropriations Provisions Released Today, Congress released text of its funding bill and bipartisan Covid-19 stimulus plan. For FY 2021, the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy would be issued 1.5 billion, an increase of $14.2 million above the FY 2020 level and $328 million above the request. This funding invests in activities to further improve the safety and economic viability of our current reactor fleet, develop the next generation of clean and safe reactors, and supports the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. For a division-by-division summary of all appropriations provisions click HERE. You can access the entire bill text HERE. What happens next? The House will vote first to approve the rule governing floor debate. That rule will also include a seven-day stopgap to keep the government open for another week. This will give Congress time to get the necessary paperwork to the White House without risking a government shutdown. The Senate then would have to approve the seven-day stopgap. Under the rules, the massive spending-relief package will be divided in two. There will be one floor vote on funding for Commerce-Justice-Science, Financial Services, Defense and Homeland Security. Then there will be another floor vote to approve the rest of the spending package that will include funding for Covid-19 relief. After the two bills are passed by the House, they will be tied together in one giant package and sent to the Senate for final passage.

Guest Post from NeutronBytes The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is releasing the Draft Versatile Test Reactor Environmental Impact Statement (Draft VTR EIS) (DOE/EIS-0542). The proposed VTR would be a sodium-cooled, fast-neutron-spectrum test reactor that will enhance and accelerate research, development, and demonstration of innovative nuclear energy technologies. The Draft VTR EIS, prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), analyzes potential impacts of the VTR alternatives and options for reactor fuel production on various environmental and community resources. The Draft VTR EIS evaluates: · Construction and operation of the VTR at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) or the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This includes operating and performing experiments in the VTR, post-irradiation examination of irradiated test specimens in hot cell facilities, and spent fuel conditioning and storage pending shipment for interim or permanent disposal. · Production of fuel for the VTR at INL and/or the Savannah River Site (SRS), including preparing feedstock for the fuel, fabricating fuel pins, and assembling the fuel pins into reactor fuel. · A no-action alternative under which DOE would not pursue the construction and operation of a VTR. The Draft VTR EIS identifies the construction and operation of the VTR at the INL Site as DOE's Preferred Alternative. To the extent possible, existing facilities (modified as necessary) would be used for the VTR support facilities. The public is now encouraged to comment on the Draft VTR EIS. The public comment period on the Draft VTR EIS will conclude 45 days after the date that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register (expected to be published December 31, 2020). A copy of the Draft VTR EIS can be downloaded at https://www.energy.gov/nepa or https://www.energy.gov/ne/nuclear-reactor-technologies/versatile-test-reactor. DOE plans to hold two public hearings on the Draft VTR EIS. In light of ongoing public health concerns, DOE will host internet-based, virtual public hearings in place of in-person hearings. During the hearings, DOE will give a brief presentation on the Draft VTR EIS, followed by a period during which DOE will accept oral comments on the Draft VTR EIS. There will also be a phone line available to allow people who do not have an internet connection the opportunity to participate. The comments will be transcribed. The dates of the hearing will be provided in a future notice posted on the following website: https://www.energy.gov/ne/nuclear-reactor-technologies/versatile-test-reactor and advertised in newspapers near INL, ORNL, and SRS. DOE will hold the hearings no earlier than 15 days from the posting of the notice. Written comments on the Draft VTR EIS may also be submitted during the public comment period. Comments should be sent to Mr. James Lovejoy, Document Manager: By mail: U.S. Department of Energy Idaho Operations Office 1955 Fremont Avenue MS 1235 Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415 · By e-mail: VTR.EIS@nuclear.energy.gov In preparing the Final EIS, DOE will consider and respond to comments received during the Draft EIS comment period, giving equal consideration to both written and oral comments. DOE plans to reproduce all comment documents in their entirety in the Final EIS (as appropriate). Any person wishing to have his/her name withheld from the public record of comment documents must state this request prominently at the beginning of any comment document. DOE will honor the request to the extent allowable by law. All submissions from organizations and businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses will be included in the public record and open to public inspection in their entirety. DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy established the VTR program in 2018 in response to the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act (NEICA). NEICA directs DOE to assess the mission need for and cost of a versatile, reactor-based, fast-neutron source with high neutron flux, irradiation flexibility, multiple experimental environment capabilities, and volume for many concurrent users. DOE approved the mission need for VTR in February 2019 and approved Critical Decision 1 in September 2020. Critical Decision 1 is the second step in the formal process DOE uses to review and manage research infrastructure projects. The Department will make a final decision regarding the VTR following the completion of the EIS and a Record of Decision, which is expected in late 2021. The Department is committed to reviving and expanding the nuclear energy infrastructure in the United States. An important step to achieving this goal is building the VTR in a manner that is protective of the public and the environment.

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is releasing the Draft Versatile Test Reactor Environmental Impact Statement (Draft VTR EIS) (DOE/EIS-0542). The proposed VTR would be a sodium-cooled, fast-neutron-spectrum test reactor that will enhance and accelerate research, development, and demonstration of innovative nuclear energy technologies. The Draft VTR EIS, prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), analyzes potential impacts of the VTR alternatives and options for reactor fuel production on various environmental and community resources. The Draft VTR EIS evaluates: · Construction and operation of the VTR at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) or the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This includes operating and performing experiments in the VTR, post-irradiation examination of irradiated test specimens in hot cell facilities, and spent fuel conditioning and storage pending shipment for interim or permanent disposal. · Production of fuel for the VTR at INL and/or the Savannah River Site (SRS), including preparing feedstock for the fuel, fabricating fuel pins, and assembling the fuel pins into reactor fuel. · A no-action alternative under which DOE would not pursue the construction and operation of a VTR. The Draft VTR EIS identifies the construction and operation of the VTR at the INL Site as DOE's Preferred Alternative. To the extent possible, existing facilities (modified as necessary) would be used for the VTR support facilities. The public is now encouraged to comment on the Draft VTR EIS. The public comment period on the Draft VTR EIS will conclude 45 days after the date that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register (expected to be published December 31, 2020). A copy of the Draft VTR EIS can be downloaded at https://www.energy.gov/nepa or https://www.energy.gov/ne/nuclear-reactor-technologies/versatile-test-reactor. DOE plans to hold two public hearings on the Draft VTR EIS. In light of ongoing public health concerns, DOE will host internet-based, virtual public hearings in place of in-person hearings. During the hearings, DOE will give a brief presentation on the Draft VTR EIS, followed by a period during which DOE will accept oral comments on the Draft VTR EIS. There will also be a phone line available to allow people who do not have an internet connection the opportunity to participate. The comments will be transcribed. The dates of the hearing will be provided in a future notice posted on the following website: https://www.energy.gov/ne/nuclear-reactor-technologies/versatile-test-reactor and advertised in newspapers near INL, ORNL, and SRS. DOE will hold the hearings no earlier than 15 days from the posting of the notice. Written comments on the Draft VTR EIS may also be submitted during the public comment period. Comments should be sent to Mr. James Lovejoy, Document Manager: By mail: U.S. Department of Energy Idaho Operations Office 1955 Fremont Avenue MS 1235 Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415 · By e-mail: VTR.EIS@nuclear.energy.gov In preparing the Final EIS, DOE will consider and respond to comments received during the Draft EIS comment period, giving equal consideration to both written and oral comments. DOE plans to reproduce all comment documents in their entirety in the Final EIS (as appropriate). Any person wishing to have his/her name withheld from the public record of comment documents must state this request prominently at the beginning of any comment document. DOE will honor the request to the extent allowable by law. All submissions from organizations and businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses will be included in the public record and open to public inspection in their entirety. DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy established the VTR program in 2018 in response to the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act (NEICA). NEICA directs DOE to assess the mission need for and cost of a versatile, reactor-based, fast-neutron source with high neutron flux, irradiation flexibility, multiple experimental environment capabilities, and volume for many concurrent users. DOE approved the mission need for VTR in February 2019 and approved Critical Decision 1 in September 2020. Critical Decision 1 is the second step in the formal process DOE uses to review and manage research infrastructure projects. The Department will make a final decision regarding the VTR following the completion of the EIS and a Record of Decision, which is expected in late 2021. The Department is committed to reviving and expanding the nuclear energy infrastructure in the United States. An important step to achieving this goal is building the VTR in a manner that is protective of the public and the environment.

Energy Communiies Alliance ECA Update December 21, 2020

Image View this email in your browser ECA UPDATE Dec 21, 2020 FEATURED BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS Energy and Water Development House Appropriations | 12/21/2020 Department of Energy – Provides $39.6 billion for the Department, an increase of $1 billion above the fiscal year 2020 level and $4.5 billion above the budget request. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – Provides $2.86 billion, an increase of $72 million above the fiscal year 2020 level and $2.1 billion above the request. This funding provides for clean, affordable, and secure energy and ensures American leadership in the transition to a global clean energy economy. Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response – Provides $156 million, equal to the fiscal year 2020 level. This funding provides for efforts to secure the nation’s energy infrastructure against all hazards, reduce the risks of and impacts from cybersecurity events, and assist with restoration activities. Electricity – Provides $211.7 million, an increase of $21.7 million above the fiscal year 2020 level and $16.7 million above the request. This funding will advance technologies to increase the resiliency and efficiency of the nation’s electricity delivery system with capabilities to incorporate growing amounts of clean energy technologies. Nuclear Energy – Provides $1.5 billion, an increase of $14.2 million above the fiscal year 2020 level and $328 million above the request. This funding invests in activities to further improve the safety and economic viability of our current reactor fleet, develop the next generation of clean and safe reactors, and supports the advanced reactors demonstration program. Fossil Energy Research and Development – Provides $750 million, equal to the fiscal year 2020 level and $19.4 million above the request. This funding provides for research, development, and demonstration activities to ensure the safe, efficient, and environmentally sound use of fossil energy resources. Science – Provides $7.026 billion, an increase of $26 million above the fiscal year 2020 level and $1.2 billion above the request. The Office of Science funds basic science research in physics, biology, chemistry, and other science disciplines to expand scientific understanding and secure the nation’s global leadership in energy innovation. Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy – Provides $427 million, an increase of $2 million above the fiscal year 2020 level and rejects the budget proposal to eliminate this program. This funding supports research aimed at rapidly developing energy technologies that are capable of significantly changing the energy sector to address our critical economic, environmental, and energy security challenges. National Nuclear Security Administration – Provides $19.7 billion, an increase of $3 billion above the fiscal year 2020 level. This funding will maintain a safe, secure, and credible nuclear deterrent while addressing the threat of nuclear proliferation and terrorism. This includes: Weapons Activities - $15.35 billion, an increase of $2.9 billion above the fiscal year 2020 level to maintain a credible nuclear deterrent and critical scientific and R&D capabilities. Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation - $2.26 billion, an increase of $95.6 million above the fiscal year 2020 level and $229 million above the request. This funding secures nuclear material at home and abroad. Naval Reactors - $1.68 billion, an increase of $35.6 million above the fiscal year 2020 level and equal to the request, to continue safe and reliable operation of the Navy’s nuclear-powered fleet Environmental Cleanup – Provides $7.59 billion, an increase of $131 million above the fiscal year 2020 level and $1.52 billion above the budget request. This funding is used for nuclear waste cleanup at 16 sites across the country and includes: Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup - $319.2 million, equal to the fiscal year 2020 level and $43 million above the request. Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning - $841 million, $35 million above the request. Defense Environmental Cleanup - $6.426 billion, an increase of $171 million above the fiscal year 2020 level and $1.4 billion above the request. Power Marketing Administrations – Provides the net budget request levels for the Southeastern Power Administration, Southwestern Power Administration, and Western Area Power Administration. The agreement rejects the President’s proposal to sell the transmission assets of the PMAs, change the laws governing how the PMAs establish power rates, and repeal the borrowing authority for the Western Area Power Administration. Nuclear Regulatory Commission – Provides a net appropriation of $123 million. This funds regulatory activities to ensure the safe use of nuclear reactors and radioactive materials while protecting people and the environment. Appalachian Regional Commission – Provides $180 million, which is $5 million above the fiscal year 2020 level and $15 million above the budget request. The Commission funds projects in the Appalachian Region to promote economic development, education and job training, critical infrastructure, and community development. Northern Border Regional Commission – Provides $30 million, which is $5 million above the fiscal year 2020 level and $29.1 million above the budget request. This funding targets the economic development needs of distressed portions of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. Policy Provisions: A provision to prevent the reorganization of the Army Corps of Engineers, or to transfer Corps functions to other agencies. A provision to allow a transfer of funds from the Western Area Power Administration to the Bureau of Reclamation for environmental stewardship and endangered species recovery purposes. Continue reading >> Follow the latest DOE budget updates with ECA's budget tracker Image Monitor DOE spending bills, detailed site budgets, and more. Find everything you need to know about the DOE budget here! UPCOMING EVENTS Sept. 8-10, 2021 National Cleanup Workshop; Alexandria, VA ECA PUBLICATIONS Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation. ECA's Key Points on DOE HLW Interpretation ECA's FAQs on DOE HLW Interpretation Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications ECA BULLETIN Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org. View current and previous editions of the ECA Bulletin at www.energyca.org/bulletin DOE SITE PROFILES Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments. Access your community's profile by visiting: www.energyca.org/site-profiles DOE Site Proflies Energy Communities Alliance 1625 Eye St., NW Suite 800 Washington DC 20006 USA © 2019 Energy Communities Alliance, Inc. All rights reserved.

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