On December 17, 2014, Mr. Skip Young participated in the Texas A&M University Nuclear Power Institute’s Interregional Group Fellowship Workshop on Nuclear Power. The four week program focused on providing a basic knowledge of nuclear sciences and engineering. The program was built around the nineteen issues identified in the International Atomic Energy Agency "Milestones" document for new entry Member States that are considering the use of nuclear power for the first time. A central element was the need for an independent regulator and the importance of the safety culture. Topics for the specialized program also included nuclear project management, legal, financial and public policy/public communication questions, and human resource and human capacity development.
Mr. Young provided a brief overview of the need for an independent regulator and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). A discussion of the NRC’s International Regulatory Development Partnership program was also provided. The group seemed most interested in regulatory authority infrastructure development (e.g., laws, regulations, processes and procedures as well as with organizational structure, budgetary process, staffing, training, and qualification).