Mitch Arvidson (CSG Midwest), Rodney Pitchford (former co-chair of The Midwestern Radioactive Materials Transportation Committee (MRMTC), and Mark Paulson (current co-chair of the MRMTC) attended the Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) Transportation Core Group Meeting on March 19 - 20 in Washington, D.C. whilst the cherry blossoms were in bloom (photo above right courtesy of Mitch Arvidson). The meeting featured an introduction by Paul Murray, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition, and a discussion of near term DOE transportation plans in addition to updates from DOE's Office of Integrated Waste Management (DOE-IWM), the Consent-Based Siting Team, state regional and Tribal groups, and the DOE-NE National Transportation Stakeholders Forum (NTSF) Ad Hoc Working Groups. There were also discussions about planning for the package performance demonstration, advanced reactor topics, and the Duane Arnold Site Evaluation. Meeting presentations and materials were disseminated to MRMTC members last week. Please contact Melissa Shahzadeh (mshahzadeh@csg.org) if you did not receive them.

Also in March, Melissa Shahzadeh (CSG Midwest) held the first virtual meeting of the reconvened Regional Outreach Ad Hoc Working Group. It was a short meeting in which the group identified deadlines and deliverables. The group intends to create a single-page "infographic" document that can be disseminated to state legislators regarding the work of the MRMTC and a longer multi-page document providing more details to the local decision-makers. The purpose of these documents is to both raise awareness of the MRMTC and cultivate more engagement by local officials and state legislators.

Melissa and Melanie Snyder of the Western Interstate Energy Board (WIEB) continue to collaborate on how to keep the Community Readiness Assessment Framework for Transportation (CRAFT) tool alive. Melissa has obtained approval from our federal partners at DOE to bring the results of that tool -- reports on community readiness assessed numerically on a weighted scale -- to additional communities in the Midwest. Melissa is in the earliest stages of planning "CRAFT Conferences" in Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois in 2024.

Melissa also attended two Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) webinars in March: the Pre-Submittal Meeting for the Palisades power plant in Michigan on March 18 and the Advanced Reactor Stakeholder Meeting on March 27. The Palisades webinar focused on license amendment requests for revisions to the site emergency plan. The thrust of the meeting hinged on the NRC's concern that there was insufficient detail regarding proposed changes to the facility's previous operating emergency plan. In effect, the commissioners want to see the full emergency plan delineated in complete detail rather than a listing of the proposed changes. When opened for comments, the public seemed generally sanguine about reopening Palisades though there were opposing voices from Beyond Nuclear and the Union of Concerned Scientists. The Advanced Reactor webinar included an overview of the Nuclear Energy Institute's input into regulatory priorities for new and advanced reactors, and an overview of DOE's Regulatory Development process and its four major components including Regulatory Framework Modernization, Fast Reactor Regulatory Development Research & Development (R&D), Molten Salt Reactor Regulatory Development R&D, and Gas Reactor Regulatory Development R&D. The focus is on resolving key regulatory framework issues that directly impact the "critical path" to advanced reactor demonstration and development. The program efforts are focused on achieving formal NRC endorsement or approval so that these areas of regulatory uncertainty are clearly resolved.

Who Wore It Better?

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." -- Mark Twain

We have a Throw Back Thursday (TBT) photo for this month’s Who Wore It Better e-newsletter segment, an insouciant study of panache made manifest in the niche world of radioactive materials transport. Whilst touring Xcel Energy's Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant in Minnesota, Chris Wells (Southern States Energy Board) and Melissa Shahzadeh (CSG Midwest) model the newest looks from that singular fashion line, Hard Hat Heroes. Chris reminds everyone that the sky is the limit when it comes to looking good and staying safe in industrial settings.

Members of the MRMTC should have received registration instructions for the annual meeting of The National Transportation Stakeholders Forum (NTSF) Annual meeting in mid-March. Please register at your earliest convenience and contact Melissa if you should require a confirmation that your travel expenses will be covered by CSG Midwest or any additional information. Whilst there are likely to be minor changes to the schedule in the months between now and June, the agenda is largely established and we are looking forward to a dynamic and rewarding forum. We hope to see everyone there!

If you missed the webinar on March 28 entitled "Civil Support Teams (CST) / Radiological Assistance Program (RAP)," you can watch the recording and review the slides on the NTSF webinar page here. The webinar focused on the origins, deployment scenarios, and capabilities of the CSTs and RAPs, and the speakers were Captain Colin Randolph, Nuclear Medical Science Officer with the U.S. Army 92nd CST, and Conrad Gilbert, Region Program Manager with the DOE RAP for Region 6.

Mitch Arvidson:

A Tribute

In early March, the indefatigable Mitch Arvidson announced a change to his engagement with the MRMTC. “I will continue to work on the financial aspects of the project,” he wrote in his email announcement, “and I still plan to attend the Annual Meetings of the NTSF and the committee’s biannual meetings, but in a secondary [role]…”

Suddenly I was inundated with questions from an agitated committee that had come to rely on Mitch’s unflappable professionalism and quiet, assured countenance. 

“Is he leaving?”

“Is he retiring?”

“Is he defecting?”

"Why is he going?"

At the end of February, Laura Tomaka, Director of CSG Midwest, offered Mitch the position of senior program manager for the Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD). BILLD is the only leadership training program designed exclusively for Midwestern legislators, and it is designed to assist newer legislators develop the skills necessary to become effective leaders, informed decision-makers and astute policy analysts. Mitch had refined his talent for steadfastly managing a multi-pronged project with myriad deliverables and deadlines throughout his work on the MRMTC, and this, according to Laura, made him the ideal person to assume leadership of BILLD. "Time and again, Mitch has proven himself to be a valuable asset to the work we do at CSG Midwest," Laura said. "Over the years, BILLD has become one of our banner programs, and I know that the program and those who benefit from it will be well served by Mitch's unique brand of organizational and interpersonal skills. I have no doubt that Mitch's talents and hard work will not only ensure continued success for the Bowhay Institute, but he will take the program to new heights."

Mitch’s promotion does not come as a surprise to Tad Rumas, co-chair of the MRMTC, who stated, "When my predecessor Mike Snee retired, Mitch played a pivotal role in helping both the Governor's office and me navigate the cumbersome process of selecting/appointing the new Gubernatorial designee to the MRMTC by answering various questions related to the roles and responsibilities of the position as well as providing a better understanding of the desired goals and outcomes of the MRMTC." However, one question that continues to perplex Tad, and which Mitch has promised to answer despite his evolving duties away from the MRMTC, is "what exactly does 'ground-truthing' actually mean?” (Mitch, Tad is waiting on this answer.)

Rodney Pitchford, former co-chair of the MRMTC, observes that Mitch’s ascent was both rapid and wholly deserved. “In a very short period of time, Mitch transitioned from his role as policy analyst into the main staffer for the MRMTC, and from someone new to the radioactive materials transportation world into a significant player in national discussions involving the movement of these materials,” he writes. “He did [his work] flawlessly.” Miriam Juckett of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory also commented on Mitch’s tireless work ethic, noting in particular his assiduous attention to emails and his bonhomie. “Our team often jokes that if no one else responds to an email request, Mitch will!” She said. “I’ve greatly enjoyed Mitch’s dry sense of humor and ability to put up with any amount of professional cajoling from his peers."

Everyone who has encountered Mitch is struck by his self-possession and competence. Greg Gothard, former MRMTC co-chair, observed that Mitch’s calm professionalism even arrested members of the insect world. “I remember the time we toured Palisades [power plant] and he encountered a praying mantis that stared at him for a long time. I warned [the praying mantis] about getting too attached.”

Winston Churchill reminds us that there is nothing wrong with change so long as it is in the right direction, and this new professional opportunity for Mitch seems to be in the right direction. Whilst still providing budgetary and grant management support for the MRMTC, Mitch's primary focus will be on running a leadership institute for individuals seeking to better themselves and expand their capacities for civil excellence. And that, certainly, is a wonderful change. But G.K. Chesterton helps us understand why this change is discomfiting for those of us affected by it: "a really great person is the person who makes every person feel great." We all know we are losing a really great person.

The MRMTC wishes to thank Mitch for his service and wish him godspeed, clear skies, and smooth sailing in his new endeavor.

Nuclear News

NRC Releases Decision on Part 53

On March 4, the NRC released both its votes and its instructions for the initial draft of Part 53, which is a licensing framework that can accommodate a new generation of reactors that function in fundamentally different ways than the reactors currently in operation. The initial draft of Part 53 was sent to the NRC in March 2023, and that draft was itself similar to the draft sent to the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards in September 2022, according to The Breakthrough Institutes' reporting on the issue. In the staff requirements memorandum (SRM) released to the public last month, the NRC directs its staff to incorporate several changes within six months and targets September 2024 as the date for the final version of the proposed rule. This movement by the NRC represents rather "significant progress in [the NRC's] regulatory effort to deliver a new licensing process as an alternative to its existing large light water reactor (LWR) licensing approaches," according to POWER. Part 53 is intended to offer an alternative to advanced nuclear applicants under a framework that is "technology-inclusive" and applicable to all reactor technologies. Dr. Adam Stein, director for Nuclear Energy Innovation at the Breakthrough Institute, wrote in a recent analysis that "Part 53 should provide an innovative approach to licensing that is technology-inclusive, risk-informed, and performance-based. It should be transformational, not iterative, of existing licensing pathways." Patrick White, research director at the Nuclear Innovation Alliance (NIA), opines that the new framework of Part 53 should provide more predictability and, perhaps more importantly, more regulatory efficiency for advanced reactors.

Prairie Island Nuclear Plant Back Online After Protracted Outage

The Star Tribune reported on March 18 that Xcel Energy's Prairie Island Nuclear Plant in Minnesota has been restored to full power after being either fully or partly cold since October 2023. Xcel wrote in a filing with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission that "the recent outage is unusual for Prairie Island, which has a 50-year track record of reliable operations." Both Unit 1 and Unit 2 at the facility were powered down in October for repairs and scheduled refueling (respectively), and were expected to return to full service in January 2024. Unfortunately, the refueling of Unit 2 could not be completed until Unit 1 was repaired, which delayed the process, and then Unit 1 experienced a short outage due to a water leak in February after it had been returned to service. Whilst the collision of events did require Xcel to turn to other power sources and purchases on the open-energy market to compensate for the lost electricity from Prairie Island, the company said they were able to use the downtime to complete maintenance that would have otherwise been delayed until the 2024 refueling of Unit 1. "We were also able to conduct inspections and maintenance that cannot take place while both units are running. This helps us plan for future maintenance needs. All this work will improve the performance of the plant and simplify future refueling outages."

Incipient Transatlantic Collaboration on Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Regulation

A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) was signed between the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), the UK's Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), and the US NRC on March 12, reports World Nuclear News. The MoC represents a commitment to share best practices and regulatory experience as new technologies emerge and move toward development, deployment, and standardization. ONR's Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector Mark Foy remarked: "Importantly, the trilateral agreement signals a partnering approach that will improve both regulatory effectiveness and efficiency, essential given the rapid growth in reactor technologies that are seeking regulatory consideration and approval." The NRC Chair Christopher Hanson indicated that the agreement "shows the great progress we've made with our international counterparts to ensure advanced reactor technology can be safely and efficiently deployed." International collaboration and initiatives that harmonize regulatory processes across national boundaries are expected to be vital to the deployment of new reactors designs such as SMRs. The recent MoC builds on several years of collaboration between CNSC and NRC, who in 2019 signed an MoC covering technical reviews of advanced reactor and SMR technologies.

Bipartisan Plan Aims to Make Michigan A National Nuclear Leader

The Michigan Legislature announced on March 19 that a bipartisan effort is underway in the Michigan House of Representatives that will pave "the way for a brighter, more sustainable future for all Michiganders" by committing the state to clean energy leadership. According to the reporting, the plan will:

1. Pave the way for advanced nuclear reactors;
2. Establish a nuclear and hydrogen education grant;
3. Encourage innovation in the nuclear energy field;
4. Establish the fund for education grants program supportive of the nuclear and/or hydrogen industries;
5. Establish a workforce attraction and retention scholarship program.

The legislation anticipates the successful bid by Holtec International to restart Palisades Nuclear Power Plant. Rep. Pauline Wendzel observes "Michigan is on the verge of a historic achievement as we successfully revive a dormant nuclear power plant. Our plan will take us a step further, positioning Michigan as a national leader in the development of the next generation of nuclear technology." Todd Allen, chair of the Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences at the University of Michigan, expressed his support for the legislation: "This initiative recognizes the importance of nuclear energy and hydrogen in supporting the state's growth and emphasizes the need for incentives to train and retain highly skilled personnel in these fields."

However, on March 22, Michigan NPR published an article referencing a 2023 interview with Paris-based international nuclear policy analyst Mycle Schneider. Schneider publishes the annual World Nuclear Industry Status Report and advises various European governments on nuclear power issues. In the 2023 interview, Schneider suggested that nuclear power plants generally close due to poor economics, and NPR referenced a 2012 report (though the link to said report was broken) in which the NRC declared Palisades one of the four worst-performing plants in the country. In a recent email exchange with NPR, Schneider stated that an attempt "to bring back to service life a machine of an entirely different technological era is a stunning idea," referring to the fact that construction at Palisades commenced in 1967 and the plant was connected to the grid in 1971. Schneider suggests that Michigan would be better suited pursuing more wind and solar rather than pouring state and federal monies into an antiquated reactor on the shores of Lake Michigan. Nevertheless, WZZM13 reported on March 27 that Palisades will receive $1.5 billion in federal loans through the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment program.