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Division Spotlight
Decommissioning & Environmental Sciences
The mission of the Decommissioning and Environmental Sciences (DES) Division is to promote the development and use of those skills and technologies associated with the use of nuclear energy and the optimal management and stewardship of the environment, sustainable development, decommissioning, remediation, reutilization, and long-term surveillance and maintenance of nuclear-related installations, and sites. The target audience for this effort is the membership of the Division, the Society, and the public at large.
Meeting Spotlight
Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Latest News
Take steps on SNF and HLW disposal
Matt Bowen
With a new administration and Congress, it is time once again to ponder what will happen—if anything—on U.S. spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste management policy over the next few years. One element of the forthcoming discussion seems clear: The executive and legislative branches are eager to talk about recycling commercial SNF. Whatever the merits of doing so, it does not obviate the need for one or more facilities for disposal of remaining long-lived radionuclides. For that reason, making progress on U.S. disposal capabilities remains urgent, lest the associated radionuclide inventories simply be left for future generations to deal with.
In March, Rick Perry, who was secretary of energy during President Trump’s first administration, observed that during his tenure at the Department of Energy it became clear to him that any plan to move SNF “required some practical consent of the receiving state and local community.”1
Layton J. Wittenberg
Nuclear Technology | Volume 38 | Number 3 | May 1978 | Pages 434-440
Technical Paper | Hot Laboratory | doi.org/10.13182/NT78-A32041
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Concepts being developed for tritium containment at proposed fusion power plants will rely on existing laboratory experiences. The successful operation of a glove-box containment system was demonstrated by the control of an accidental release of 0.65 PBq (1.75 × 104 Ci) of tritium to the glove-box atmosphere. The total gaseous release to the environment was 79 ± 10 GBq (2.2 Ci). In addition, the tritium concentration in the body fluids of the sole worker in the laboratory increased by only 74 kBq/ℓ (2 µCi/ℓ). The appearance rate of tritium in the room and the absorption of tritium by the worker were adequately described by permeation of the molecular species of T2 and HTO through the gloves.
