Part 1 of 2 Parts
     TerraPower is backed by Bill Gates and the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE). It plans to construct the pilot “Natrium” liquid-sodium-cooled nuclear energy plant in Kemerer, Wyoming. TerraPower hopes that its success will spur the deployment of Natrium and other small nuclear reactors (SMRs) around the world.
     The next-generation nuclear technology presents a variety of considerations for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). It would also be the first industrial nuclear facility in Wyoming. The local people have many questions including whether or not the NRC takes seismic activity into account, when the spent nuclear fuel be shipped to a permanent storage facility and, will there be regular NRC inspections.
    Senator Dan Dockstader (R-Afton), however, shares another concern that is front and center for locals who are eager for the economic boost that developers promised: Can the NRC accelerate the approval process “if you get the right people into place?” He said, “I’m running out of time planning and creating legislation to make sure this all comes together.”
     Dockstader was among more than one hundred local residents who came to the NRC’s two information in Kemmerer recently. The NRC sent a dozen staff member to this isolated southwestern Wyoming town of two thousand four hundred to take questions about what many anticipate will be an expedited review process.
     TerraPower and its contractors have already drilled more than a hundred boreholes in Kemmerer to help “investigate” the suitability of the chosen location, according to the company. It plans to begin building the sodium testing facility and other non-nuclear portions of the three hundred forty-five megawatt Natrium nuclear reactor plant in 2024.
     The new commercial nuclear power plant will be “co-located” next to PacifiCorp’s Naughton power plant just outside Kemmerer. One coal-burning furnace at the plant was converted to nuclear gas. The two remaining coal-burning units will be converted to natural gas in 2026.
     Before TerraPower can start assembling the nuclear components, however, it must complete a licensing application that can pass the NRC’s review process. There will be several opportunities for the public to weigh in on the proposal. The NRC expects to receive TerraPower’s application and begin the official process in March.
      William Jessup is NRC’s Chief of Advanced Reactor Licensing. He said, “Now is an opportune time to conduct this initial outreach and to explain the analysis process of reviewing applications for construction and operation.”
     Natrium uses molten sodium as a coolant instead of water. Although the NRC is developing a new review process specific to “advanced” reactors such as Natrium, TerraPower has tentatively agreed to seek approval via the long existing “Part Fifty” review. It includes multiple review tracks, each with safety and environmental components. One review considers a construction permit. A second review considers an operating license. The process requires the NRC to produce an environmental impact statement. All of the reviews include public input and multiple opportunities for the normal administrative and legal challenges that come with bit federal permitting activities.
Please read Part 2 next

Ambient office = 81 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 130 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 126 nanosieverts per hour

Serano pepper from Central Market = 100 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 115 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 103 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient office = 74 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 95 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 97 nanosieverts per hour

Red bell pepper from Central Market = 100 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 108 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 95 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient office = 73 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 130 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 126 nanosieverts per hour

Jalapeno from Central Market = 76 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 117 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 105 nanosieverts per hour

Dover Sole from Central = 102 nanosieverts per hour

     European Commissioner (EC) for Energy Kadri Simson has announced that the EC will establish an Industrial Alliance dedicated to small modular reactors (SMRs) in early 2024 in response to calls from the nuclear industry, research community and nuclear safety regulators.
     The Commission established a European SMR pre-Partnership in June with the overall objective of identifying enabling conditions and constraints, including financial ones, towards safe designs, construction and operations of SMRs in Europe in the next decade and beyond. This will be done in compliance with the E.U. legislative framework in general and the Euratom legislative framework in particular.
     Simson spoke at a European Small Modular Reactor Partnership event in Bratislava, Slovakia in early November. She said, “After a long and intense work of preparation, we must now draw conclusions on the opportunity and potential for establishing a European Industrial Alliance on SMRs. Industrial alliances are a tool to facilitate stronger cooperation and joint action between all interested partners. Industrial alliances can play a role in achieving key EU policy objectives through joint action by all the interested partners. A successful deployment of SMRs by the next decade will be an important and timely milestone on our path to climate neutrality by 2050. I am confident that the EU can have a leadership role in achieving technological maturity for SMRs. This means to me that the first SMRs must be connected to the European electricity grid within a decade at the latest. This must be our goal.”
     Simson noted that analyses undertaken by the European SMR pre-Partnership have indicated that an industrial alliance “is the appropriate concept” for the European SMR Partnership. The Stakeholders’ Forum “confirmed interest and readiness” for an industrial alliance. The Forum took place in Brussels in late October.
     Simson added that “With a clear mandate from the Member States willing to use this technology in their energy mix, this determination of the stakeholders calls on the Commission to do its part and prepare the establishment of an Industrial Alliance on SMRs. I believe that there is today both the political opportunity and the industrial case to promote the development of SMRs in Europe. I stand ready to initiate within the Commission the necessary steps to establish the EU Industrial Alliance for SMRs early next year.”
      Simson mentioned that skills and industrial competence, licensing, management of use fuel and radioactive waste will need to feature prominently in the next steps towards a European initiative on SMRs.
     Yves Desbazeille is the Director General of European nuclear trade body Nucleareurope. He welcomed the announcement of the creation of the industrial alliance. He went on to say that “SMRs are expected to bring many benefits to the EU as a whole in terms of helping to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors, as well as creating jobs and generating economic growth in the EU. The groundwork has been laid by its predecessor, the European SMR pre-Partnership and we are delighted that the European Commission is now giving its full backing to this key technology of the future.”

Ambient office = 86 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 95 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 97 nanosieverts per hour

English cucumber from Central Market = 101 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 103 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 94 nanosieverts per hour