Save the Date – Virtual Spring 2021 Low-Level Radioactive Waste Forum Meeting

The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Forum (LLRWF) will be hosting its Spring 2021 meeting virtually using the Webex Events platform. Originally planned for Baltimore, MD, the Forum Board voted to hold the Spring meeting in a virtual format due to continued COVID concerns and travel restrictions. There will be three, two hour meetings starting April 7 and concluding April 8, 2021. …

NRC to withdraw proposed interpretation of its low-level radioactive waste regulations

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is withdrawing a proposed interpretation of its low-level radioactive waste disposal regulations that would permit licensees to dispose of waste by transfer to persons who hold specific exemptions for the purpose of disposal by burial. The proposal is being withdrawn based on the NRC staff’s assessment that the proposed changes may not benefit the …

Newsflash: Frank Hahne selected by the Southeast Compact Commission to receive the Hodes Award

The Southeast Compact Commission (SECC) selected Frank Hahne to receive the 2021 Richard S. Hodes Award (Award) for the significant role he played in successfully designing, implementing and leading the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) successful uranium bartering program during the deactivation and decommissioning (D&D) clean-up work at the former enrichment site in Portsmouth, Ohio. The Award is given to …

Daniel B. Shrum Named LLW Forum Executive Director

LLW Forum is pleased to announce that Daniel (Dan) Shrum has accepted the position of Executive Director. He will assume the position on December 3, 2019. Mr. Shrum comes to the Forum with numerous years of professional experience in licensing and permitting of low-level radioactive waste management, processing, and disposal facilities; executing technical responsibilities for all environmental monitoring activities; conducting …

NRC to Conduct Public Webinar on July 16 to Discuss Three Mile Island 1 Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Topics

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will present a webinar for interested members of the public on July 16 regarding the decommissioning of the Three Mile Island 1 nuclear power plant, located in Londonderry, Pa. The purpose of the webinar is to provide key facts about the decommissioning process and how the NRC regulates such activities through on-site inspections and other …

Radiation incident in research facility on Harborview campus

OLYMPIA – Late Thursday night while an irradiator used in a University of Washington research facility on the Harborview Medical Center campus was being removed from service, radioactive material was accidentally released and contaminated 13 people. The personnel involved include two radioactive materials inspectors with the Washington State Department of Health and law enforcement officers who were present to observe …

NRC Terminates Rulemaking re Special Nuclear Material Accounting

In April 2019, it was announced that all five members of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) voted unanimously to terminate a decade-long, multimillion dollar program to update federal regulations on material control and accounting (MC&A) of special nuclear materials. “The Commission has disapproved the draft final rule,” stated NRC Commission Secretary Annette Vietti-Cook in an April 3 memorandum to NRC …

NRC Proposes FY 2020 Budget to Congress

On March 11, 2019, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced that the agency is proposing to Congress a budget of $921 million for fiscal year (FY) 2020.  The request is $10 million higher than the FY 2019 budget, reflecting 44 fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. Overview The increase in the FY 2020 request takes into account the inclusion of …