NRC

  • What does the “open phase condition” petition mean for US nuclear plants?

    ByRod Adams

    On March 1, 2016, Reuters published an article titled U.S. NRC engineers urge fix for nuclear power stations. Here is how the article seized my attention. A group of engineers within the U.S. nuclear power regulator is concerned that a design flaw in nearly all U.S. nuclear plants could endanger emergency core cooling systems. The…

  • Proposal: Fund NRC by a fee on each kw-hr generated by nuclear energy

    ByRod Adams

    Initial conditions: NRC is an independent safety regulator working for the US public Its services mainly benefit customers that in electricity service areas that include nuclear power plants as suppliers Customers will benefit by cost efficient, effective safety regulations that enable continuous improvement in plant operations and performance. Customers will benefit by cost efficient, effective…

  • NRC needs an independent budget process to match its independent mandate

    ByRod Adams

    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is an independent regulatory agency whose focus is the safe use of radiation and radioactive materials. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard from regulators, commissioners, and elected officials that the agency must make its safety decisions without regard to their cost implications. However, as any teenager, project…

  • Senator Feinstein deserves better staff support. Crystal River concrete NOT age related issue

    ByRod Adams

    Apparently, someone on Senator Feinstein’s staff believes that the concrete delamination (cracking) issue at Crystal River was an age-related issue. With that incorrect knowledge of the situation, they decided that it could be used to publicly discredit the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s cooperation in an industry-led initiative to extend the operating lives of nuclear plants beyond…

  • Licensing demonstration reactors in the United States

    ByRod Adams

    During the joint DOE-NRC workshop on advanced non-light water reactors held last week (Sep 1-2, 2015), John Adams of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation gave a presentation on reactor license classification terminology. It made me squirm in my chair with the desire to interrupt. Probably because he has read and…

  • No intrigue at NRC regarding Stephen Burns

    ByRod Adams

    On September 16, 2014, Stephen Burns and Jeff Baran were confirmed as Commissioners at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by the Senate. Thirty days later, on October 14, 2014, Jeff Baran was sworn in and began serving out the remainder of the term of William Magwood, who left the commission to take over as Director-General of…

  • "Small and Medium Reactors" or "Small Modular Reactors" – Either Way, The US NRC and US DOE Notice a Growing Interest in SMR, Are Listening Carefully and Ready to Engage

    ByRod Adams

    On Thursday, October 8 and Friday, October 9, the US Nuclear Regulator Commission hosted a workshop to discuss generic issues related to licensing of small and medium-sized nuclear reactors. The meeting was billed as the first in a series on the topic. The NRC managers responsible for Advanced Reactors organized the meeting because they have…