U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

It was marked by a cross-ocean asynchronous signing – but the new MOU between the NRC and the Environment Agency of England is official. The Memorandum of Understanding is based on our usual template for bilateral cooperation, but with a shift from nuclear safety broadly to environmental issues and fusion systems. The Environment Agency regulates the use of radioactive substances to protect people and the environment from their harmful effects. We already have an agreement with the Office for Nuclear Regulation, the UK’s independent nuclear safety regulator. This MOU provides a conduit for sharing more information about the environmental aspects of regulated facilities. Given the burgeoning interest in fusion, the agreement benefits both countries by allowing for greater collaboration and information sharing.

When we say Gerry Stirewalt is a rock star, we mean literally! Whether he’s hiking in Peru, rafting wild rivers in Alaska, or photographing beluga whales in the tundra, Gerry carries with him the passion for the earth that led him to become a geologist. Gerry has been #OnTheJob with us for almost 20 years and serves as a senior geologist and technical reviewer. He’s been developing and implementing software to ensure licensees are characterizing geologic features at proposed nuclear power plants properly, performing in-person field audits, and so much more! Gerry received his PhD in structural geology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed post-doctoral studies at Columbia University and The University of British Columbia and previously worked in academia and with private engineering firms. And while it’s hard for him to pick his favorite mineral, he touts his 317-pound museum-level amethyst geode to be a top contender.  

Shaun Hamilton worked in digital cinematography producing music videos and commercials before writing a book to help the partners of survivors of sexual violence. Diana Stagner spent 13 years at the Federal Aviation Administration, where she worked on systems that help pilots communicate with control towers. Both were looking for new challenges and are now among our new hires looking forward to futures as inspectors who will help us oversee the safety of nuclear power plants in Region IV. Diana has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington. Shaun is a veteran of the nuclear Navy and holds a bachelor’s degree from Excelsior University in Albany, N.Y. We’re glad to have them aboard! #NRCHires

Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Yes, it’s a holiday week and job hunting might not be top of your list. But we have a very special opportunity that is only open for a few more days – our Honor Law Graduate Program. This program offers a small number of graduating law students or judicial law clerks a two-year program of rotational assignments through different divisions in our Office of the General Counsel. It’s our primary mechanism for hiring entry-level attorneys. The program allows you to collaborate with seasoned attorneys and work independently on a variety of assignments. There are education and other requirements. For the full account of who is eligible and how to apply, go here: https://lnkd.in/eBpJn8TD

Commissioner Crowell was #OnTheRoad recently spending a jam-packed week in Japan. He met with officials from our regulatory counterpart - the Nuclear Regulation Authority – as well as with other nuclear and energy-related entities. In addition, he toured the Rokkasho Nuclear Fuel Processing Facility. There, he paused for a fun photo at the Visitor’s Center with NRC staff and Naohiro Masuda, the Executive President and CEO of Japan Nuclear Fuels Limited, plus -- the center’s frog “mascot.” Commissioner Crowell also toured the decommissioning Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and saw the waste storage facilities and the site’s ongoing remediation activities.  

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell came to the NRC today on an important mission -- to sign a revised MOU on how the agencies cooperate on emergency preparedness at nuclear power plants. This revision is noteworthy because it includes small modular or advanced reactors and new nuclear technologies. This 4th revision -- the MOU was first signed in 1980 -- also sets out FEMA's and NRC's roles in responding to natural disasters such as hurricanes and establishes a joint steering committee to foster coordination on specific licensing and oversight issues. Acting EDO Ray Furstenau signed for the NRC. More information at: https://lnkd.in/e7KcWgRN

It’s almost Independence Day for us, but for our neighbors to the north, it’s #CanadaDay, when they honor their history and celebrate their culture and achievements. Coincidentally, it’s also the 10th anniversary of our International Policy Statement. This important document is a public acknowledgement of the importance of international engagement on our activities here at home. Today, our Office of International Programs works with dozens of countries around the world, supporting both independent nuclear regulatory programs and U.S. foreign policy objectives. One of our success stories is the ongoing work we do with Canada under our Memorandum of Cooperation on small modular reactor activities. For more about our global activities, including the policy statement and our international strategy, go here: https://lnkd.in/g7dUF3YF

You could be missing out! While some of our social media posts are published across all our platforms, others are unique to only one. In honor of #WorldSocialMediaDay, we’re highlighting unique content from another social media platform as an incentive for you to follow us there! For example, on X you’ll find #NRCNews posts highlighting emergent agency news. Don’t miss out! Follow us on X at: https://x.com/NRCgov

It was time to talk serious business for our Chair Hanson at yesterday’s Nuclear Energy Security Summit, held by the United Coalition for Advanced Nuclear Power. Chair Hanson noted the strong safety performance of existing nuclear plants as well as the increasing engagement with applicants and developers of new and novel technologies and designs. He talked about the “chicken and egg” challenges to deploying new nuclear such as supply chain, workforce, and regulatory issues. Chair Hanson noted that “business as usual” cannot be the way forward for the NRC and that risk-informed thinking is critical. For the full text of the speech, visit: https://lnkd.in/dGUuXBMy