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Conference Spotlight
2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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NRC approves TerraPower construction permit
Today, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced that it has approved TerraPower’s construction permit application for Kemmerer Unit 1, the company’s first deployment of Natrium, its flagship sodium fast reactor.
This approval is a significant milestone on three fronts. For TerraPower, it represents another step forward in demonstrating its technology. For the Department of Energy, it reflects progress (despite delays) for the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). For the NRC, it is the first approval granted to a commercial reactor in nearly a decade—and the first approval of a commercial non–light water reactor in more than 40 years.
Technical Session|Panel|Sponsored by Executive Panels
Wednesday, June 16, 2021|4:30–6:15PM EDT
Session Chair:
Kenneth J. Aupperle (Meridian)
Session Organizer:
Alternate Chair:
Charles W. Hess (Meridian)
Staff Producer:
John Starkey (ANS)
Building a new nuclear plant is a first of a kind (FOAK) mega project regardless of the size of the reactor. Project management experience and lessons learned from decades of past projects have been thoroughly documented in dozens of public domain reports. However, past lessons learned have frequently not been recognized, understood, and implemented, resulting in projects that continue to struggle to achieve success. Industry stakeholder implementation of past lessons learned has been inhibited and adversely impacted because of knowledge management "blind spots" that include: • Inadequate experience with nuclear industry large FOAK projects • Conservative owner licensee operating priorities vs. aggressive project mindsets • Corporate cultures coupled with human emotions and personalities • Strategic long-term vs. tactical short-term considerations This panel of industry experts includes representatives from consulting, owner/licensee, EPC, and legal organizations. The panel chair is Ken Aupperle from Meridian Services Group, a recent merger of High Bridge Associates and Work Management. He will provide an overview of fifteen (15) key project management lessons learned and the four (4) blind spots that have led project teams to repeat the errors of the past. Panel members will cite successful project experiences and examples of blind spots that caused project failures. Questions and answers amongst the panelists and with the audience will provide valuable insights and experiential anecdotes. This discussion will help you plan and organize the strategic approach to provide the foundation for success for your new nuclear project.
Charles Hess
Meridian
Diane Cameron
OECD Nuclear Energy Agency
Shawn Hughes
UAMPS
Ryan Lighty
Morgan Lewis
Teresa Magnus
Magnus & Company
John Simmons
Aecon-Wachs
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Session Notes — About the Panel Members
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