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From page 14... ... Unedited Prepublication Draft committee's opinion, the key will be to ensure its independence, transparency, and a focus on the most important strategic issues. The committee has not attempted to design a specific oversight capability, but the following characteristics would be appropriate for the body it has in mind: • Encourage objectivity by recognizing that knowledgeable persons have points of view and that balance is therefore best achieved by including diversity among the members of the oversight body. Read the entire page →
From page 15... ... The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 and its 1987 amendments make the government responsible for long-term management of spent reactor fuel. In addition, because power plant construction can be an expensive and lengthy process with substantial uncertainties, particularly those associated with regulatory and environmental permitting, the industry looks to government for assistance in managing the risks of making investments in the first new reactors ordered in the United States since 1973. Read the entire page →
From page 16... ... It is intended to address concepts that excel in safety, cost effectiveness, sustainability, and proliferation resistance and that will be attractive to the private sector for commercial development and deployment. With international participation, the initiative developed a technology roadmap that identified the six most promising nuclear energy systems, including attention to the complete fuel cycle, power conversion, waste management, and other nuclear infrastructure issues. Read the entire page →
From page 17... ... scientists and engineers studying science and technology issues related to transmutation and advanced nuclear fuel cycle systems. • Idaho Facilities Management. Read the entire page →
From page 18... ... TABLE 1-1 Office of Nuclear Energy Budget History FY 2003 to FY 2008 (thousands of dollars) Program FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2007 FY 2008 CR Request 4,806 2,863 2,412 0 0 0 Nuclear Energy Plant Optimization 17,413 6,410 2,416 0 0 0 Nuclear Energy Research Initiative Nuclear Power 2010 31,579 19,360 49,605 65,340 80,291 114,000 Generation IV 16,940 26,981 38,828 53,263 35,586 36,145 Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative 2,000 6,201 8,682 24,057 19,265 22,600 Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative 57,292 65,750 66,407 78,408 167,484 395,000 Subtotal – R&D 130,030 127,565 168,350 221,068 302,626 567,745 Idaho Facilities Management 62,983 75,534 122,320 99,358 100,358 104,713 Total reviewed accounts 193,013 203,099 290,670 320,426 402,984 672,458 Radiological Facilities Management 62,928 63,431 68,563 54,049 46,775 53,021 Safeguards and Security 52,560 56,654 58,103 71,285 72,946 72,946 University Programs 18,034 23,055 23,810 26,730 16,547 0 Program Direction 57,909 60,256 60,076 60,498 62,652 76,224 Total Energy Supply 271,307 291,186 393,339 430,565 482,191 801,703 Total NE Budget 375,441 402,804 521,903 532,988 601,904 874,649 NOTE: CR, continuing resolution. Read the entire page →
From page 19... ... While hydrogen production remains a goal of the NGNP program, a number of process heat applications are possible as well, and these have been considered. Because this is a well-documented research program, the committee has used appropriate criteria from the Program Assessment and Review Tool (PART) Read the entire page →
From page 20... ... • Provide for effective proliferation resistance and physical protection of nuclear energy systems, both at home and in support of international non proliferation and nuclear security regimes. • Create economical and environmentally acceptable nuclear power options for assuring long-term nonnuclear energy supplies while displacing insecure and polluting energy sources; such options include electricity production, hydrogen production, process heat, and water desalinization. Read the entire page →
From page 21... ... • The rate of near-term expansion of nuclear power plants, both domestically and internationally, would matter since it drives the timing and need for advanced reactors and fuel cycle technology. How these uncertainties affect the elements of the NE program is discussed at the appropriate place in the balance of this report. Read the entire page →
From page 22... ... standby support provisions for the construction of new nuclear plants. • Complete the entire nuclear plant final designs for two different nuclear plants. Read the entire page →
From page 23... ... standard plant designs, and implementation of the standby support and loan guarantee financial incentives of EPACT05. Based on these results, responsibility for the procurement and construction of new nuclear plants rests solely with the nuclear industry. Read the entire page →
From page 24... ... ⎯ COLs 5 See Nuclear Energy Institute, "Nuclear Technologies, Evolutionary Nuclear Plants": Advanced Boiling Water Reactor, 2006. 6 See Nuclear Energy Institute, "Nuclear Technologies, Evolutionary Nuclear Plants": System 80+ Pressurized Water, 2006. Read the entire page →
From page 25... ... . Licensing Demonstration Status DOE solicited proposals from industry for New Plant Licensing Projects and design completions that would demonstrate the validity of the USNRC 10 CFR Part 52 process and its related standardization policy in assuring a reasonably predictable path to completion of design, construction, and start of operation of new nuclear plants. Read the entire page →
From page 26... ... ESBWR application in; Application submittal North Anna, Va. May 2007 USNRC approval April November 2007; USNRC 2010 approval April 2010 NuStart-Entergy Permit* Read the entire page →
From page 27... ... Design Finalization A substantial portion of the plant designs will be completed to obtain a COL but much more remains to encompass all features of the entire plant. The 5-year program plan of DOE's Office of Light Water Reactor Deployment for NP 2010, issued in January 2007, schedules completion of the full ESBWR design early in FY 2011 (DC in mid-FY 2010) Read the entire page →
From page 28... ... DOE also enters into a cooperative agreement with the EPRI to develop generic COL application guidance and resolve generic issues that would affect the licensing demonstration projects. Read the entire page →
From page 29... ... To support the anticipated number of new nuclear plants, USNRC is updating its regulations, regulatory guides, standard review plans, and other guidance documents governing the licensing and operation of new nuclear power plants (Reyes, 2006) , so that these will be in place prior to the receipt of the first COL application, expected in the fall of 2007. Read the entire page →
From page 30... ... Laboratory technical support in several key areas has been used to date for soil characterization, spent fuel transportation analysis, and economic analysis. The national laboratories are also contracted by USNRC to provide technical support on USNRC reviews of nuclear plant safety issues. Read the entire page →

From page 14...

... Unedited Prepublication Draft committee's opinion, the key will be to ensure its independence, transparency, and a focus on the most important strategic issues. The committee has not attempted to design a specific oversight capability, but the following characteristics would be appropriate for the body it has in mind: • Encourage objectivity by recognizing that knowledgeable persons have points of view and that balance is therefore best achieved by including diversity among the members of the oversight body.