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Denver, CO|Sheraton Denver
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WIPP: Lessons in transportation safety
As part of a future consent-based approach by the federal government to site new deep geologic repositories for nuclear waste, local communities and states that are considering hosting such facilities are sure to have many questions. Currently, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico is the only example of such a repository in operation, and it offers the opportunity for state and local officials to visit and judge for themselves the risks and benefits of hosting a similar facility. But its history can also provide lessons for these officials, particularly the political process leading up to the opening of WIPP, the safety of WIPP operations and transportation of waste from generator facilities to the site, and the economic impacts the project has had on the local area of Carlsbad, as well as the rest of the state of New Mexico.
Advanced Reactor Safety (ARS) SPeaker
Dennis is a Consulting Engineer in GE Hitachi (GEH) Nuclear Energy, with over 42 years of Risk and Safety Analysis experience and 18 years at GEH. He technically oversees the PRAs for the BWRX-300, Versatile Test Reactor (VTR), and Natrium Reactors, and was the Technical Lead for the UK ABWR and PRISM PRAs. Prior to working for GEH, Dennis worked for 10 years as a nuclear utility PRA Engineer (Duke and San Onofre) and 14 years as a contractor/consultant. Dennis has authored or co-authored more than 150 publications, including the recently issued IAEA Safety Report 96 on Multi-unit PRA, and is currently supporting the development of an IAEA TECDOC on Multi-Hazard Assessments.
Dennis is being inducted into 2024 class of the National Academy of Engineering. Dennis is the ANS-Chairman of the ANS/ASME Joint Committee on Nuclear Risk Management (JCNRM), is a member of the ANS Standards Board, and has supported PRA standard development since 1999. Dennis was awarded the ANS Theos “Tommy” Thompson award for outstanding contributions to the field of nuclear reactor safety, October 2020, and is an ANS Fellow. Dennis received his MS and BS in Nuclear Engineering from University of Florida.
Last modified April 2, 2024, 6:03am PDT
