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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Center for Used Fuel Research: Building confidence in storage and transport
Used nuclear fuel storage and transportation have reached a critical juncture.
Dozens of utilities need reliable data on how used nuclear fuel performs in dry storage casks and canisters to extend regulatory licenses at sites across the United States. Likewise, the Department of Energy expects to take ownership of the used nuclear fuel—termed “spent nuclear fuel” in the laws and regulations governing its stewardship—and transfer it to one or more federal staging facilities for management and disposition.
Meanwhile, dozens of reactor companies are testing prototypes of advanced reactors and advanced reactor fuels. Eventually, regulators and industry must also verify the safety and security of storage methods for these advanced fuel types.
To help address these challenges, the DOE established the Center for Used Fuel Research (CUFR) in January 2026 for work related to the long-term storage and transport of used nuclear fuel.
Educational Session|Panel|Sponsored by Regulatory Relations|Cosponsored by Risk Management
Tuesday, August 11, 2020|2:00–3:30PM EDT
Session Organizer:
Ken Lowery (Southern Nuclear)
Knowledge Manager:
Maxwell Daniels (IAEA)
The scope of these activities includes both agency-wide efforts intended to address cross-cutting aspects of culture, innovation, technology, and staff development, as well as elements driven at the office-level focused on reactor licensing, oversight, and rulemaking. Though they vary in objective, the common themes that motivate the transformation activities are: (1) gaining efficiencies in our processes such that more time can be devoted to matters of greatest importance to the agency’s mission, (2) enhancing agility to manage evolving workloads and responding adeptly to emerging technology trends in the nuclear energy sector, (3) developing a workforce that has the appropriate skills and tools to meet the mission needs, and (4) using new approaches to data analytics to inform our decision-making. Staff will provide an overview of the transformation, an update of the most recent activities, and identify ways in which the agency will engage with licensees and other stakeholders throughout the transformation process.
Mirela Gavrilas
Be RiskSmart
Shaun Anderson
EMBARK Venture Studio
Jonathan Greives
NRC Region I
Dan Dorman
OEDO
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Session Notes