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The following article written by Bob Meyer appears in it's entirety in the Fall '06 edition of the Communicator.
Foreign & Domestic Affairs Column by Bob Meyer
The next generation of nuclear power plants that are now on the drawing boards will soon start
construction. This next year will be interesting. Who is going to build these plants, what happened
to all the expertise of the current generation of plants, and how are we ever going to do
this? Remember in the 1970's when plant construction was fast and furious? It is believed by
some that with 28 potential reactors, those who start early will be successful in staffing, obtaining
materials, contracts and meeting deadlines. Companies that wait to begin construction may
be so plagued with delays in material and manpower that they may be forced to put plant construction
projects on hold.
The NRC has opened the Office of New Reactors (NRO) in Region II in order to ensure effective
oversight of operating nuclear power plants and prepare for the industry's interest in licensing
and building new nuclear power plants in the near term. The agency is also adding a
new organizational unit, headed by a Deputy Regional Administrator for Construction in its
Atlanta office, to oversee inspections related to expected new construction of nuclear facilities.
I asked Bruce Boger, NRR Associate Director for Operating Reactor Oversight and Licensing,
to share his biggest concern. Bruce stated that it was maintaining adequate oversight of existing
nuclear power plants, while changing focus to new construction. Staffing for new construction
was also discussed. During one week alone I noted that the NRC had 25 new arrivals;
to me that means 200 additional personnel will be required.
The new Deputy Regional Administrator and the organizational unit in Atlanta will focus on
the agency's Construction Inspection Program. This program will be responsible for the
agency's oversight of any new nuclear power plant construction for the entire country. The
reorganized Region II office will be better equipped to carry out construction inspection activities
while maintaining its focus on ensuring safe operation of nuclear power plants in
Region II.
NRO will have full responsibility for licensing and program oversight of new reactor activities.
NRR will retain full responsibility for licensing and program oversight for activities related to
the current operating reactors. The NRC is expecting several applications for new nuclear
power plants in late 2007 and early 2008, with initial construction activities soon thereafter.
The office will also contain a section for Operator Licensing and Human Performance, pretty
much a mirror image of what exists today in Washington, for new reactors only. The task
analysis has yet to be completed.
Staffing has already started for many companies. Westinghouse indicates that there will be
preliminary contracts in place and people hired even before the final OK from Washington,
which is expected in 2007. Procedure writers have been hired and are already working on the
new generation of plants.
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