Part 1 of 3 Parts
       The U.S. Department of Energy just announced that it was going to spend up to twenty-four million dollars to fund ten projects as part of a new program under their Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) division. The program is called Modeling-Enhanced Innovations Trailblazing Nuclear Energy Reinvigoration (MEITNER). The purpose of the new projects is to develop innovative technologies that can be used in the design of advanced nuclear reactors that are safer and cheaper than the current generation of power reactors. The DoE says that nuclear energy is a “… reliable source of power that complements the country’s diverse portfolio of energy generation sources.”
       The U.S. Energy Secretary, Rick Perry, said, “Nuclear energy is an essential component of the U.S. energy mix, and by teaming up with the private sector to reduce costs and improve safety, we are keeping America ahead of the curve in advanced reactor design and technology. These next-generation ARPA E technologies help us maintain our competitive, technological edge globally, while improving the resilience of the grid and helping provide reliable, baseload electricity to each and every American.”
       In the U.S., nuclear power supplies about twenty percent of the electricity. All of the current U.S. nuclear power reactors are conventional light water reactors. This technology was first developed in the 1950s and has been steadily evolving since then. The future of nuclear power in the U.S. is uncertain. High costs and a rapidly changing national power grid which includes renewable power sources such as wind and solar have presented new challenges to existing and proposed nuclear power plants.
       If nuclear energy is to continue to contribute substantially to the U.S. power equation in the future, the next generation of nuclear power reactors will have significantly lower capital costs for new nuclear power plants and provide what is called “walkaway” safe and secure operation which means that the staff of a power plant could “walk away” from the nuclear plant control room and the nuclear power reactors would autonomously and safely shut themselves down without human involvement.
       It is hoped that the MEITNER projects will be able to make use of new designs, new manufacturing processes, and new technologies that will lower expenses and increase the ability of nuclear power to compete in today’s energy market. These enabling technologies will establish the basis for a modern domestic supply chain to support the continued use and growth of nuclear technology.
       The MEITNER projects that have been funded are expected to support the creation of advanced reactor designs that will permit lower construction costs and autonomous operating while increasing the safety of the new nuclear power reactors.
       The U.S. DoE’s Office of Nuclear energy worked closely with the ARPA-E to develop this new funding opportunity. MEITNER teams will be permitted to access DoE modeling and simulation software and simulation resources. Project teams will coordinate with a DoE-supported resource team of experts from the DoE and DoE’s National Laboratories. Here is the list of new projects that are being funded under the MEITNER program.
Please read Part 2.

Ambient office  = 81 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 118 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 106 nanosieverts per hour

Vine ripened tomato from Central Market = 142 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 110 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 93 nanosieverts per hour

Part 2 of 2 Parts (Please read Part 1 first)

       The NERA issued a report in November of 2016 titled The economic impact of ONR safety regulation in which it said that the ONR was an “impressive regulator.” It reported on a number of positive findings including ONR’s current regulatory strategy for Sellafield and the Generic Design Assessment process. However, the report also concluded that there was room for improvement. The NERA report was revised in August and December of 2017. The ONR responded to the NERA report by listing the actions that it was prepared to take based on the reports recommendations.

       The ONR said, “Overall we believe that NERA’s report, and the positive engagement with the authors, has enabled us to identify a number of real improvement measures in terms of our awareness of, and approach to, our economic impact on the industry we regulate. Ensuring a safe and secure nuclear industry will always be our overriding priority and we are robust in upholding the law, using our regulatory enforcement powers wherever necessary. Any actions identified in response to NERA’s report are consistent with this priority.”

       The NERA report laid out five areas of consideration for the ONR. First, the report said that the ONR should encourage more external comments and comparisons. Second, the report suggested that there should be more effective promotion and monitoring of the Enabling Regulation initiative. Third, the ONR should improve its understanding of the costs of regulatory decisions. Fourth, the ONR should make use of economic advice in the framing and assessment of some issues. Fifth, the ONR should refine its current guidance as far as is practical.

       The ONR expressed its belief that, in general, its activities are aligned well with the themes of the Regulators’ Code. These themes include the following ideas for the behavior of regulators: First, regulators should execute their duties in a way that helps those they regulate to comply with regulations. Second, there should be easy ways for those who are regulated to provide feedback. Third, regulatory activities should be based primarily on risk. Fourth, the regulators should share important information about compliance and risk. Fifth, the regulators should make sure that there is clear information, guidance, and advice provided to help regulated parties to comply. Sixth, regulatory activities should be transparent to the regulated.

      The ONR said, “In particular our regulatory framework and enabling approach embrace proportionality, our approach with other regulators is highly collaborative, and the publication of our staff guidance for inspection and assessment provides a good basis for openness and transparency.”

       The ONR also said that there have been a number of significant improvements such as the introduction of the Security Assessment Principles and the publication of its Risk Informed Decision Making guidance. There will be another update on ONR’s compliance with the Regulators’ Code in 2020. The new update will coincide with the end of its current five year strategy.

       Since the U.K. voted to leave the European Union in 2016, the ONR has been scrambling to put in place a set of nuclear regulations that will match the Euroatom regulations in order for the U.K. to be able to purchase nuclear technology and fuel from the E.U.

Ambient office  = 141 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 112 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 85 nanosieverts per hour

Barlett Pear from Central Market = 155 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 101 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 94 nanosieverts per hour

Part 1 of 2 Parts
         The U.K. Better Regulation Delivery Office “…is working towards a regulatory environment in which businesses have the confidence to invest and grow and citizens and communities are properly protected. We do this by operating Primary Authority to ensure consistent regulation, improving the professionalism of front-line regulators, and giving businesses a say in their regulation.”
        The Regulators’ Code was put into effect in April of 2014 in the U.K. by the BRDO. The Code “…provides a clear, flexible and principles-based framework for how regulators should engage with those they regulate. Nearly all non-economic regulators, including local authorities and fire and rescue authorities, must have regard to it when developing standards, policies or procedures that either guide their regulatory activities with business or apply to other regulators.”
        The U.K. Office of Nuclear Regulation is the agency charged with the oversight of nuclear power plants. It is an independent statutory corporation that was created formally in the Energy Act of 2013. The ONR assumed the duties of several other agencies including the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, the Office for Civil Nuclear Security, the UK Safeguards Office, and the Department for Transport’s Radioactive Materials Transport Team.        The cost of ONR operations is covered by fees that are charged to the nuclear industry. The ONR reports to the U.K Department for Work and Pensions, although it also works closely with the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
      In 2015, the ONR issued a report on its compliance with the Regulators’ Code. Since then, it has executed further self-assessment exercises on the progress that it is making on the action recommendations from the initial report. The ONR has just provided an update to its compliance with the Regulators’ Code.
       The ONR has issued a statement which reads, “In the UK, we have a goal-setting framework for regulation of the nuclear sector which places accountability clearly on duty holders to achieve the high standards of safety and security required. Reflecting on our experience of regulating in accordance with the Code we generally found, as in 2015, that our regulatory framework allows us to regulate according to the high standards expected while also operating in accordance with the Code. However, we are not complacent and following this self-assessment exercise we have identified further improvements that we can make to better align our activity with themes in the Code, while also supporting our broader desire to continuously improve.”
       After the ONR published its 2015 review, the ONR Board commissioned a review of the economic impact of its regulation on industry duty holders. NERA Economic Consulting was charged with investigating the economic impact of ONR’s civil nuclear safety regulation.
      With regard to the new study of economic impact, the ONR said, “From the outset, we were clear that any consideration of cost crucially depends on the circumstances and there are clearly instances, such as meeting fundamental nuclear safety principles or established relevant good practices, where we will not entertain arguments that such measures are too costly. We also asserted that our existing guidance reflects a willingness, where appropriate, to take account of costs during engagement with duty holders.”
Please read Part 2

Ambient office  = 91 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 53 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 55 nanosieverts per hour

Carrot from Central Market = 135 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 128 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 111 nanosieverts per hour

        Last week, The U.S., Canada, and Japan launched a new nuclear initiative partnership called the Nuclear Innovation: Clean Energy Future or NICE Future. The launch was a side event at the Ninth Clear Energy Ministerial (CEM) taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark. The primary intent of the initiated was to stimulate a discussion on innovation and advanced nuclear engineering.
        The new initiative was launched by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Canadian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and the Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. A joint statement was issued which said, “The initiative will, for the first time, put the spotlight at CEM on nuclear energy in clean energy systems. The NICE Future initiative will address improved power system integration through innovative, integrated and advanced energy systems and applications, such as nuclear-renewable systems, combined uses of heat and power, hydrogen production and industrial decarbonization. It will highlight the opportunities for nuclear energy technologies to reduce emissions and air pollution from power generation, industry and end-use sectors.”
       The purpose of the NICE Future initiative is to encourage discussion among the CEM attendees about how nuclear energy can help to stimulate economic growth, energy security and access, and environmental stewardship. The focus will be on innovative applications for advanced nuclear systems that will contribute to coordinated and/or integrated clean energy systems for the future.
       The executive summary says that “Recognizing that not all countries see nuclear energy as part of their national approach, there remains a need for exploration of the roles that clean, innovative and advanced nuclear technologies could play in simultaneously furthering economic growth and effective environmental stewardship/ For this dialogue to be successful, it must work across sectoral boundaries to develop integrated perspectives on the complementary roles that nuclear energy could play alongside all other forms of clean energy. This activity is unique in that it addresses nuclear energy holistically within the context of broader clean energy systems, as opposed to a singular focus on specific nuclear technologies and associated issues.”
        There will be a focus on full scale nuclear power for grid baseload electricity. There will also be a focus on innovative, next-generation technologies and integrated renewable clear energy systems in four areas. The four areas are: “technology evaluations of innovative energy systems and uses; engagement of policy makers and stakeholders in future energy choices; valuation, market structure and ability to finance; and, communicating nuclear energy’s role in clean, integrated energy systems.”
        Other countries including Argentina, Poland, Romania, Russia, the UAE and the UK have joined the initiative. More than a dozen other countries have said that they were interested in joining. International organizations such as the International Energy Agency and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency are also interested in joining.
        The U.S. DoE Deputy Secretary said, “I would like to acknowledge the countries and organizations that have joined the USA, Canada and Japan in the creation and launch of the NICE Future initiative. Having nuclear included at the Clean Energy Ministerial will create greater global recognition of its many unique benefits.”
        The U.S. DoE Secretary said, “Nuclear energy’s vitally important but under-recognized contributions to clean air are made even greater by constant innovation. The NICE Future initiative highlights these contributions by reimagining nuclear’s advanced uses and applications. Nuclear provides a cleaner, safer, more reliable and more resilient energy supply for our world.”
       The Canadian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources said “Canada is excited to be a part of this initiative. Nuclear energy is already an important part of Canada’s energy mix and innovative nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors, have a key role to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy. As a non-emitting source of energy, nuclear is, and will continue to be, an important part of our energy mix.””
       “I expect this initiative would bring the wisdom of the world on nuclear innovation together and contribute to policy making for realizing clean energy systems that solve challenges in each country. Our aim is to promote nuclear innovation utilizing out-of-the-box ideas from the private sector, pursuing the development of reactors with new concepts, including harmonization with renewable energy, combined with enhanced safety, efficiency and flexibility.”
       The World Nuclear Association Director attended the launch of the initiative at CEM. She said, “Countries will need to use nuclear energy alongside other forms of clean energy to deliver a sustainable energy mix that is affordable to all and that supports economic development. Nuclear energy is one of the most competitive low-carbon energy sources, but it needs a fair and stable energy framework to go forward. We should explore how to combine different clean technologies together.”