As promised, the NRC has put together a team to look at our regulations, programs and processes in light of the unfolding nuclear emergency in Japan. The team will produce a public report in about three months, which will include recommendations for ways to improve NRC’s regulatory system.
The task force is led by Dr. Charles Miller, the head of the NRC office that oversees radiological materials and environmental management. He is joined by Daniel Dorman, deputy director of the office that oversees nuclear material safety; Jack Grobe, deputy director of the office that oversee nuclear reactor regulation; and Gary Holahan, deputy director of the office overseeing new reactors. Nathan Sanfilippo, a technical assistant for the Executive Director for Operations, and Amy Cubbage, a team leader in new reactors, round out the team.
Together, they offer almost 150 years of experience at the NRC.
The team is tasked with conducting a “near-term” review while also identifying topics to be included in a longer-term review. The near term will look closely at U.S. nuclear reactors, including their spent fuel pools, station “blackout” scenarios, events that could lead to a long loss of cooling and emergency preparedness.
The task force expects to offer recommendations for Commission consideration on whether we should require immediate enhancements at U.S. reactors.
Important dates: On May 12 and June 16 the task force plans to brief the Commission in public meetings on the status of the review, and to offer final recommendations in a public Commission meeting on July 19. We’ll let you know more as we get closer to those dates.
The task force charter is available online. Just enter ML11089A045 under the “Simple Search” tab.
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