USNIC News

Joint letter signed by the USNIC, ANS, Third Way and NEI supporting the continuation of the Director of Nuclear Energy Policy position at the NSC amid "informed reports that the White House is contemplating the elimination of the position..."

May 3, 2016
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U.S. & Turkey Nuclear Industry Councils Sign Agreement for Cooperation

Two leading global nuclear business consortiums -- the Nuclear Industry Association of Turkey (NIATR) and the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council (USNIC) -- have executed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding to develop cooperative activities between the nuclear industries of the two countries.

March 17, 2016
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New independent review raises safety issues with sending weapon grade plutonium to WIPP

High Bridge Associates, Inc. performed an assessment of technical parameters and estimated costs for the US DOE surplus plutonium disposition program for the WIPP and MOX alternatives. This included an analysis of the adequacy of the WIPP to accept significant quantities of surplus weapons plutonium in addition to those legacy transuranic (TRU) wastes already committed for storage in the repository… A series of safety and regulatory concerns were identified for the DOE/NNSA plan to store tons of plutonium not originally planned for emplacement in the WIPP repository. The most serious concern is that the plutonium packaging endorsed by the DOE will be crushed over time as the salt chambers in WIPP close up, creating a high likelihood of an uncontrolled criticality.

March 2, 2016
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Sweeping Advanced Reactor Licensing Modernization Proposed

Washington DC -- Former U.S. NRC Commissioner Jeffrey S. Merrifield called for a comprehensive new framework for Advanced Reactor licensing reform in an issue brief outlined at the National Press Club today (2/23/16). Merrifield, who served two terms with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, chairs the Advanced Reactors Task Force of the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council...

February 23, 2016
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USNIC letter sent to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Energy and Water Development regarding urgent action on comprehensive spent fuel & HLW management & FY2016 Appropriations.

As the Congress moves to develop consensus on FY2016 appropriations beyond the present Continuing Resolution, it remains crystal clear that urgent action is needed to re-establish a comprehensive program to manage the Nation’s growing inventories of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste – as well as to provide a path forward for the backend of the fuel cycle for the present fleet and pave the way for new nuclear energy plants required for U.S. energy independence...

October 8, 2015
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Final Independent Review Shows MOX Best Path Forward

High Bridge Associates, Inc. (High Bridge) performed an Independent Review of the Department of Energy’s Aerospace April 13, 2015 LCCE Report TOR-2015-01848 Plutonium Disposition Study Options Independent Assessment. The purpose of this review was to provide an objective analysis of the approach/process used by Aerospace, and of the results contained in its Assessment of the April 2014 Plutonium Working Group (PWG) Report of Disposition Options for the MOX Option and Dilute and Dispose Option Life Cycle Cost Estimates (LCCE). High Bridge performed an additional independent Review of the August 13, 2015 DOE Red Team Final Report of Plutonium Disposition Options. This September 21, 2015 document is the independent review of the Red Team report. Links to the final report, executive summary (note that is does not address the Red Team response which was written beforehand) and response to the MOX Red Team are below.

September 1, 2015
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U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy John Kotek and the Chairman of the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Energy Randy Weber (R-TX) will keynote a Special Summit

July 21, 2015
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Independent Review Pokes Holes in Aerospace MOX Numbers

High Bridge Associates, Inc. (High Bridge) performed an Independent Review of the Department of Energy’s Aerospace April 13, 2015 LCCE Report TOR-2015-01848 Plutonium Disposition Study Options Independent Assessment. The purpose of this High Bridge task was to provide an objective analysis of the approach/process used by Aerospace, and of the results contained in its Assessment of the April 2014 Plutonium Working Group (PWG) Report of Disposition Options for the Option 1 MOX Fuel Project and Option 4 Downblend Life Cycle Cost Estimates (LCCE). Links to the final report and executive summary are below.

July 1, 2015
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Council Warns on Consequences of Nuclear Export Control Amendments To Senate National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

The U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council (USNIC) has advised the Senate Committee on Armed Services’ leadership of its “vigorous opposition” to pending amendments to the NDAA adding new regulations for nuclear exports to certain countries with naval propulsion programs.

June 11, 2015
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USNIC Joins U.S. Delegation for 2nd Japan-U.S. Fukushima Recovery Mission

The U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council (USNIC) was tapped for a 17-company U.S. delegation to the Second Japan-U.S. Decommissioning and Remediation Fukushima Recovery Forum held in Tokyo on April 9-10, 2015.

April 10, 2015
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USNIC Named American Pavilion Sponsor for Asia Nuclear Business Platform 2015

The U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council (USNIC) has been named the American Pavilion sponsor and a co-organizer for the third annual Asia Nuclear Business Platform to be held April 23rd and 24th, 2015 at the Asia World Expo in Hong Kong.

March 17, 2015
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Statement by the US Nuclear Infrastructure Council

USNIC Statement on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's (EPW) potential consideration of the nomination of Jeffery M. Baran without a full hearing to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a term ending June 30, 2018.

December 2, 2014
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HII Hosts U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council at Newport News Shipbuilding

Huntington Ingalls Industries showcased its nuclear capabilities to a USNIC nuclear supply chain industry delegation during a tour of the company's Newport News Shipbuilding division on Thursday, Nov. 6.

November 7, 2014
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Special Session Caps WNE USA Pavilion Activities

Special Session Caps WNE USA Pavilion Activities - A USA Pavilion-led session focusing on American nuclear energy technology development was among the featured highlights of the inaugural gathering of key international nuclear energy principals at the World Nuclear Exhibition (WNE). The U.S. session was sponsored by the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council (USNIC). It included reports on Plant Vogtle new build; Gen 3+ and small reactor developments; and the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility.

October 24, 2014
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Statement by the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council

Regarding the release by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of the pivotal Volume 3 Safety Evaluation Report on repository safety after permanent closure pertinent to the U.S. Department of Energy’s pending license application for the operation of Yucca Mountain as the Nation’s national repository for commercial fuel and high-level waste.

October 16, 2014
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WNE USA Pavilion Showcases American Supply Chain

The U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council-led (USNIC) USA Pavilion at the World Nuclear Exhibition 2014 (WNE) in Paris hit the ground running at the inaugural global gathering of key international players in the nuclear energy community.

October 15, 2014
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NIC SMR Mapping Initiative to be featured at ATI Supply Chain Summit

The U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council's (NIC) generic supply chain mapping campaign for small modular reactors (SMRs) will be featured at a special session on Tuesday, October 7, in conjunction with the 2nd ATI Nuclear Supply Chain Summit in Birmingham, Alabama.

September 15, 2014
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Statement by the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council

Regarding the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) approval today of a Final Rule on continued spent fuel storage and the ending of the suspension of final licensing actions for nuclear plants and renewals.

August 26, 2014
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USNIC Working Group Launches Small Modular Reactor Supply Chain Mapping Initiative.

The U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council (NIC) has deployed a campaign to develop a generic supply chain map enveloped from available design concept information from member company small modular reactor (SMR) designers.

August 20, 2014
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USNIC Environmental Management Task Force Statement on WIPP: "WIPP is an indispensable national resource."

Regarding U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Ernie Moniz's Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) town meeting and surface tour this past week.

August 19, 2014
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Edward Davis, Senior NIC Fellow: EPA’s Proposed Clean Power Plan Needs to Strengthen The Role of Nuclear Energy Emission Free Generation

Last week, EPA held public meetings around the country on its recently proposed Clean Power Plan (CPP) that seeks to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from fossil plants by 30 percent by 2030 relative to 2005 levels. While the EPA proposed Clean Power Plan recognizes nuclear energy’s potential contribution in providing zero-emission generation, the EPA Clean Power Plan does not do enough to incorporate a strong role for nuclear energy in achieving future CO2 emission reductions.

August 1, 2014
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Industry Special Summit Convenes on Nuclear Energy Economics

EIA Deputy Administrator Howard Gruenspecht and former NRC Commissioner and Barclays Capital Managing Director James Asselstine headline a one-day Special Summit on Nuclear Energy Economics organized by the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council on Wednesday, July 23 in Washington DC.

July 18, 2014
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David Blee and Llewellyn King get the ANS Chicago Section excited about the future of nuclear energy

David Blee, the executive director of the NIC, served as a the keynote speaker at January 2014 meeting of the Chicago Local Section of the American Nuclear society. Along with White House Chronicle host Llewellyn King, he excited Chicago ANS members about the future of nuclear energy.

February 4, 2014
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Industry Special Summit Convenes on Nuclear Energy Economics

EIA Deputy Administrator Howard Gruenspecht and former NRC Commissioner and Barclays Capital Managing Director James Asselstine headline a one-day Special Summit on Nuclear Energy Economics organized by the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council on Wednesday, July 23 in Washington DC.

January 5, 2014
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USNIC Key Mover Update: NuScale Power Completes Merger with Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. to Create World’s First and Only Publicly Traded Provider of Transformational Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Technology

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NuScale Power, LLC (“NuScale” or the “Company”), the industry-leading provider of proprietary and innovative advanced nuclear small modular reactor (“SMR”) technology, today announced that it completed its previously announced Business Combination with Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: SV, SVSVW) (“Spring Valley”), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company. The combined company will operate as NuScale Power Corporation and its shares of stock and warrants will start trading on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) May 3, 2022, under the ticker symbols “SMR” and “SMR WS” respectively...

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