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2026 ANS Annual Conference
May 31–June 3, 2026
Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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Latest News
Holtec hits milestones in Palisades restart, new reactor projects
Steam rises from the Palisades nuclear power plant. (Photo: Holtec International)
The restart of Palisades nuclear power plant in Covert, Mich., has hit a milestone with the passivation of its primary system, plant owner Holtec International announced Monday, even as a firm restart date has yet to be announced.
Passivation is a chemical process that improves corrosion resistance by making plant materials less reactive. During the process, the reactor’s primary system was brought to normal operating temperature and pressure. Holtec called this passivation phase an “essential step” in maintaining the long-term reliability of equipment.
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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