On December 9, 2021, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s International Regulatory Development Partnership (IRDP) conducted a short virtual presentation on Regulatory and Licensing Considerations for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). This presentation was part of a consultancy sponsored by U.S. Department of State (DOS) under the U.S. Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program. The purpose of the consultancy was to discuss topics the Ghanaians would be interested in learning more about and included presentations by DOS, U.S. National...
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The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s International Regulatory Development Partnership (IRDP) conducted a virtual presentation and preliminary consultation with members of the Forum of Nuclear Regulatory Bodies in Africa (FNRBA), on November 30, 2021, to discuss aging management of research reactors.Participants from FNRBA Member States included Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria. To elicit interest and focus on the highest priorities for FNRBA Member States, AdSTM experts Dr. Steve Reese, Mr. Rich Holm, and Mr. Al Adams presented an overview of topics that can be discussed in...
From October 19-21, 2021, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s International Regulatory Development Partnership (IRDP) conducted a workshop titled “Overview of Nuclear Power Plant Regulatory Oversight” for the Ghana Nuclear Regulatory Authority (GNRA). The workshop allowed participants to broaden their understanding of several important topics to related to the regulatory infrastructure needed to review an application for, and oversee construction and operation of, a nuclear power plant (NPP).During the workshop experts from NRC’s contractor, AdSTM, including Mr. Richard Emch, Mr...
From September 6-8, 2021, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) International Regulatory Development Partnership (IRDP) conducted a virtual workshop for the Romanian National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN). The 3-day workshop focused on potential changes to a nuclear power plant’s licensing basis. It consisted of presentations conducted by experts Dr. Richard Barrett and Mr. Michael Scott from NRC’s contractor, Advanced Systems Technology and Management, Inc. (AdSTM), along with multiple interactive exercises that enabled participants to gain additional...
From August 24-26, 2021, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) International Regulatory Development Partnership (IRDP) conducted a virtual workshop for the National Atomic Energy Agency of Poland (PAA). The 3-day workshop focused on quality assurance (QA) and vendor inspection lessons learned and consisted of presentations conducted by Mr. Greg Galletti and Mr. Odunayo Ayegbusi from the NRC’s Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, supported by AdSTM experts Dr. Charles Miller and Mr. Mark Tonacci.On the first day, the presenters described foundational information regarding the QA...
On July 14, 2021, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s International Regulatory Development Partnership (IRDP) conducted a virtual workshop on licensing Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for regulatory authorities and other stakeholders from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. This was part of a remote consultancy series sponsored by U.S. Department of State under the U.S. Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program. FIRST is a capacity-building program started by the U.S. Government in 2020 to support nuclear energy...
The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s International Regulatory Development Partnership (IRDP) conducted a virtual presentation and consultation with the Chilean Commission of Nuclear Energy (CCHEN), on May 27, 2021, to discuss CCHEN’s request for a proposed workshop on aging management of research reactors. The CCHEN Executive Director and senior staff members of the Chilean RECH-1 research reactor management, U.S. NRC and NRC contractor AdSTM attended the meeting. A brief presentation was provided by AdSTM experts Dr. Steve Reese, Mr. Rich Holm, and Mr. Al Adams. The...
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s International Regulatory Development Partnership (IRDP) conducted a virtual workshop for Thailand’s nuclear regulatory authority, The Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP) entitled, “Overview of Computer Codes Used in the Regulatory Process.” Participants included staff from the NRC’s Offices of Nuclear Reactor Research (RES), Nuclear Security and Incident Response (NSIR) and International Programs (OIP), as well as experts from NRC contractor AdSTM. The workshop was conducted using a virtual platform (Zoom) in three-hour segments over seven separate...
From April 20-22, 2021, the NRC’s International Regulatory Development Partnership (IRDP) conducted a virtual workshop for the National Atomic Energy Agency of Poland (PAA) on managing the documentation for a new reactor construction permit application. Participants included staff from the NRC’s Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) and Office of International Programs, as well as NRC contractor AdSTM.Discussions on day one focused on the overall importance of document management during the process of construction permit application review. The NRC’s key document management systems such...
The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s International Regulatory Development Partnership conducted a virtual workshop in March 2021 on “Reactor Siting Application Review” for 67 managers and staff at the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA).The workshop was conducted using a virtual platform (Zoom) in three-hour segments over nine separate days between March 3 and 17. The workshop detailed the NRC’s approach to performing the safety review of an application for a permit for reactor siting and was focused on Early Site Permit application. The workshop materials were primarily...