Nuclear Legislative Working Group Meeting in Oak Ridge, Tenn. | June 2015

NCSL’s Nuclear Legislative Working Group met in Oak Ridge, Tenn., to discuss federal and state nuclear energy and waste management policy. The Working Group toured Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s nuclear science-related applications, cleanup sites both from the lab and the Y-12 National Security Complex and visited TVA’s Sequoyah nuclear plant.

Sessions

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Tour of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Welcome and Introductions

• Delegate Sally Jameson, Maryland (chair)
• Representative John Ragan, Tennessee (vice-chair)
• Kristy Hartman, NCSL

Overview with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Office of Environmental Management

• Thom Mason, director, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Sue Cange, manager, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management

This session highlighted the mission and activities of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and provide a program and budget update for the Office of Environmental Management.

Dialogue with Mark Whitney, acting assistant secretary for environmental management (dial-in)

Site Visit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory

• Consortium for the Advanced Study of Light Water Reactors (CASL)
• Historic Graphite Reactor
• Overview of ORNL Advanced Reactor Research 
• High Flux Isotope Reactor

Site Visit: Oak Ridge Cleanup Sites

• Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Y-12 National Security Complex and the Environmental Management Waste Management Facility (EMWMF)
• East Tennessee Technology Park

 

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Nuclear Energy in the U.S.

Approximately 20 percent of the nation’s electricity comes from 100 large nuclear reactors operating in 31 states. However, dramatic changes in energy technology, fuel prices and government regulations are affecting energy planning and investments in baseload generation. This session will examine some of these changes—including the potential impacts of EPA’s proposed Clean Power Plan regulations— and highlight state efforts to respond to these challenges.

• Joe Watson, director of Public Advocacy, Exelon Corporation |  Presentation
• Senator Sharon Brown, Washington

Steps Forward on Used Nuclear Fuel: Recent Proposals on Interim Storage Options

In April, Holtec International announced a consent-based approach with two New Mexico counties to establish a consolidated interim storage facility. This announcement follows a similar proposal by Texas-based Waste Control Specialists (WCS) to design and license an interim consolidated storage facility for commercial used nuclear fuel in west Texas. These proposals also follow a recent DOE announcement to adopt consent-based siting approaches for waste management, including the development of interim storage facilities that accept spent fuel from shutdown commercial reactors. This session will examine these proposals, discuss where they are in the licensing process and explore how they support DOE’s path forward.

• Betsy Madru, vice president, Government Affairs, Waste Control Specialists | Presentation
• Joy Russell, vice president, Corporate Business Development, Holtec International  | Presentation

NLWG Business Meeting

Travel to TVA’s Sequoyah Nuclear Plant

Welcome and Introductions

Site Visit: TVA Sequoyah Nuclear Plant

Sequoyah is the Tennessee Valley Authority’s second nuclear power plant. Unit 1 began full commercial operation in 1981 and Unit 2 began operation in 1982.