July 31, 2015 Decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) should be conducted in a manner consistent with placing utmost priority on the safety of workers, the public, and the environment. Perhaps the major cost driver for D&D activities is the volume of material that needs to be disposed of as radioactive waste; thus, reduction of this volume

International Fast Reactor R&D Cooperation: Advantages, Challenges, and Possible Roadmaps June 25, 2015 Fast neutron reactor technology has received significant interest from numerous nuclear power countries given its inherent advantages in terms of safety, sustainability, and uranium utilization. Collaboration in fast reactor RD&D, particularly in bilateral or multilateral arrangements, present opportunities to address both policy

Sustainable Nuclear Energy for the Future: Improving Safety, Economics, and Waste Management May 28, 2015 Although today's commercial light water reactor technology will be the cornerstone of the nuclear power industry in the upcoming decades, Generation IV technologies have the potential to significantly push the envelope on passive safety, resource utilization, and fuel cycle optimization.

April 30, 2015 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to finalize rules for its Clean Power Plan, governing new and existing sources under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act. EPA plans to set standards, regulations, and guidelines to address carbon pollution from power plants. Although U.S. nuclear power plants provide 63% of U.S.

March 26, 2015 Although the Gyeongju Low-to-Intermediate Level Waste (LILW) Repository has been cleared to begin operations, the path towards siting and establishing the repository was tortuous and fraught with numerous difficulties. Although the Korean government took various approaches towards repository siting, including basing siting decisions solely on geological and technical factors, targeting remote and

Realities of Today’s Civil Nuclear World: The Significance of International Partnerships March 11, 2015 The continued expansion of nuclear power worldwide, particularly in various countries throughout Asia, has presented new opportunities in the international nuclear market. However, the US nuclear industry presently faces considerable challenges that have the potential to impact its ability to compete

January 22, 2015 Nuclear power is the largest carbon-free energy source in the US, with a steady and predictable cost of electricity that is not subject to fluctuations as with conventional fossil fuels. Although the US remains the largest producer of nuclear generated electricity in the world, the future of American nuclear power faces many

December 17, 2014 According to most reports, the US-ROK 123 negotiations were expected to conclude by the end of 2014. However, more recent developments suggest that the negotiations will bleed over into 2015. Although it is accepted that the main points of the agreement have already been finalized, perceptions of the agreement by the South

November 14, 2014 Although 2013 public opinion polls in the ROK regarding nuclear weapons development came as a surprise to many, further examination of survey studies over the past two decades reveal declining public support for a tit-for-tat strategy in response to North Korea’s nuclear activities. Moreover, among opinion leaders, experts, and academics in Korea

September 30, 2014 Political instability in the Middle East and geopolitical disputes between the US and Russia pose grave threats to energy security worldwide. While the shale gas revolution has dramatically improved energy independence in the US, many countries throughout the world remain critically dependent upon fossil fuel imports from key regions. With global energy